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A picture book for young readers

Simon's Talent

Written by Katie Bohannon Illustrated by Lauren Holley

A child in a blue striped dress holding the hardback Simon's Talent, its cover showing a winking snail in round glasses in a meadow

Arrives December 2026 in hardback.

Ask about copies Invite Katie to your school or church

The story

Everyone at Forest Elementary has a talent.

A boy reading Simon's Talent with the book open wide, its back cover showing forest animals gathered around an easel with a painting of Simon

Everyone, it seems, except Simon.

On Discovery Day, Simon the snail tries one club after another. His friends find things they love, but nothing seems to work out for him. Simon cheers them on anyway, even as he begins to wonder whether he belongs anywhere at all.

When a colorful accident leads Simon somewhere he never expected, he learns an important lesson. With help from his friends, he discovers that finding a talent takes courage, patience, and a little kindness toward yourself.

Kindness is not
limited to others.

Simon's Talent is a piece of children's literature in the form of an educational, engaging storybook that nurtures character building, emotional awareness, confidence, and the understanding that kindness is not limited to others, but a gracious form of compassion children should extend to themselves.

  • Parents and grandparents A read-aloud for the child who is still waiting to find their thing.
  • Teachers, librarians and schools A story that opens talk about confidence, trying again and how it feels to be left out.
  • Churches and children's ministry A gentle picture of compassion, including the kind children show themselves.
Simon the snail winking behind round green glasses, in front of a coral splash with yellow sparkles

Simon's world, drawn by Lauren Holley

Lauren Holley is an artist and illustrator from Gadsden, Alabama. She graduated from Jacksonville State University with a degree in Business Management and has experience in graphic design, museum work, and illustration.

Bring Simon to your school, library, church or community event.

Katie welcomes invitations from schools, libraries, churches and community groups. Send a note with your date, place and the ages of your group. It goes to Colin Edwards at Zion Publishing House.

Send an invitation colin@zionpublishinghouse.com