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Kiddo Publishing strives to do all of these things - by publishing excellent, inspirational resources that kids love, and materials that empower a community to understand and appreciate its children. Our music and our books give voice to the inner lives of children who sometimes aren't able to speak for themselves. We offer fresh, playful tools that can be used to cultivate relationship-based learning at home and in school. In short, we make really cool stuff for really cool kids and we love doing it! It all began with a relationship. Annie's Song, Kiddo Publishing's first, was written to help a little girl make sense of her mornings - getting ready for school was like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle without all the pieces. Greg Marshall, Annie's friend and therapist, wanted to create a song that would help her in practical, observable ways, but he also wanted to creatively show her how amazingly cool she was. Together, Annie and Greg wrote a song that changed both their lives. Annie doesn't miss the bus anymore, and she and her friends love the music. That one relationship, that one song, was the seed that has grown into the vision of Kiddo Publishing and its first gifts to the community. Kiddo Publishing and the Figureheads' first album release, You Come Too, has had a fantastic response! Teachers, parents, musicians, and kiddos alike have positively responded to the music in a way we never could've imagined. Since the release of You Come Too in December 2005, we've performed for and interacted with over 25,000 kiddos, teachers and parents. This year, we hope to reach even more people, sharing our new book You Come Too: A Step Toward Inclusion For Teachers and Parents, and our new CD The Movement. Join us on our journey, and listen to the music we believe will touch the world one kiddo at a time. Meet Kiddo Publishing:Andy Paulson, Ph.D., Executive Director of Kiddo Publishing, and also the founder and current president of Integrated Development Services ~ IDS, a multi-disciplinary clinic providing direct and consultative services for over 350 families and their children with behavioral and developmental challenges. In 2003 he created Imagine a Child's Capacity (ICC) a non-profit company serving children, families, schools and communities with innovative intervention, outreach and creative solutions to meet the challenges of developmental delays. Andy taught school in New York City before receiving his Ph.D. in psychology, from New York University. He completed his training at the University of Chicago before accepting a position at the University of Wisconsin. Andy has held numerous consultative positions, participated on government councils and has published and presented on relationship-based interventions. Stephanie Sutton is from Richland Center, Wisconsin. She received a B.A. in English literature from UW-Madison, and upon graduating discovered her gift and love for working with children. For the last 6 years, Stephanie has been supporting and learning from children with developmental challenges in their homes and schools. She loves to put her energy and playful spirit to use by teaching dance and yoga to kiddos of all ages, and has taught at numerous conventions, as well as worked with schools on incorporating movement into the classroom. Stephanie does an array of creative mind, body, and soul work at Kiddo Publishing, and feels grateful to be furthering its mission by doing the things she loves most! Rita Riehemann received her degree in Journalism from UW-Platteville and has spent the majority of her career in publishing, beginning with a small press in San Diego and later moving to New York City to work for Simon and Schuster and Putnam Publishing. She finds that being an avid runner and cyclist helps her keep up with her son, Max, daughter, Danika, and Ironman-triathlete-husband, Paul. A long-time advocate and volunteer for children's issues, particularly when they intersect with education and the arts, Rita is happy to be back in her home state of Wisconsin working with people who are passionate about children. Ryan Hurley is from Sun Prairie, WI. He recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science and double majored in Journalism/Communications and English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. He spends his free time writing, reading and indulging in the progressive hip hop culture. These passions coalesce into his job at Kiddo Publishing where he works in communication and media relations. Kelly Spitzner is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Art and Psychology and is thrilled to be a part of Kiddo Publishing. Born and raised in Lakeville, Minnesota, she discovered her love of music, art and performance early on. Kelly has used these passions as a fun way to interact and help other kiddos find their voice. Besides her work at Kiddo Publishing and cuddle time with her kitty Kai, Kelly loves spending her time in the great outdoors and continues to discover her personal art and musical ambitions (She's learning how to play the violin!) Kelly is happy to have found a place to use her talents in the arts to reach kiddos across the country! Meet the Figureheads:Greg Marshall is from Lodi, WI. He is a gifted communicator who discovered his love for language at UW-Milwaukee, where he got a B.A. in English language and linguistics. Greg has spoken, taught and performed at schools, youth programs, community centers and churches throughout the Midwest. His passion for engaging children through music was the vision that launched Kiddo Publishing. He lives in Milwaukee, WI with his wife Laura and daughter Genevieve. Jeremy Bryan spent his formative years in upstate New York. He finished his high school and college degrees in Milwaukee, WI. Enthralled with hip hop culture, he started rapping at age 12, and he's been performing and teaching in schools, churches and camps ever since from places like Denver, Colorado to Namibia, Africa. He lives with his wife, Hansi, and their sons, Samuel and Remnant, in Milwaukee, WI. Dave Olson is originally from Minneapolis. He graduated from Bethel College in St. Paul Minnesota with degrees in Psychology and Anthropology. He loves music, especially experimental electronic music, and he was part of pioneering that scene in the Midwest. His contributions at Kiddo Publishing include engineering, producing, and mastering the music we publish. He currently resides in Milwaukee, WI with his wife Jonna.