Welcome aboard!
Catch all the latest posts, highlights, and fun moments from SAILING THE ABCs
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✨ ANNOUNCEMENT (11/7/25)
I’m about to launch my very own CHILDREN’S BOOK — a lifelong dream come true!
A special book for kids and the grownups who love reading with them — and it’s almost ready to set sail. ⛵📚💛
I can’t wait to tell you more soon. Stay tuned… this adventure is just beginning!
Follow the exciting news from my new Facebook and Instagram Author Pages linked below for updates.
✨ SNEAK PEEK TIME! (11/10/25)
Meet Mr. A — he's more than just a letter... he's the very first sailor in our ABC adventure! 📚
Here’s a side-by-side look at how a simple sketch became the fully illustrated Mr. A — from my upcoming children’s book!
Working with my incredible artist and illustrator, Mateo, has been such a joy — these alphabet characters feel alive in ways I never dreamed possible. 💛
From dream to page, from sketch to sail… this book is almost ready to set sail. ⛵
Stay tuned — more ABC crew members are on the horizon!
COVER REVEAL + LAUNCH TEAM INVITE! (11/12/25)
I’m thrilled to finally share the cover + title of my very first children’s book — a dream years in the making.
✨ Introducing… Sailing the ABCs ✨
A joyful, rhyming journey through the alphabet — made for little ones (ages 1–6) and the grownups who love reading with them.
This 32-page picture book is filled with:
Colorful illustrations
Fun activity pages + surprises
Read-aloud joy — already grandchild-tested with awe, wonder, and endless requests for “again, again!”
Whether you have kids in your life or not, all are welcome aboard!
The adventure begins! (11/17/25)
From clicking “order proof” to anxiously awaiting its arrival, to spotting the little box in my mailbox… and now finally holding my very own Sailing the ABCs!
Seeing my ideas, rhymes, and Mateo's sketches and characters come to life as a real book I can hold is pure magic.
I can’t wait for little readers to meet this joyful ABC crew soon!
👉 THE SPARK BEHIND THE STORY (11/20/25)
Originally shared on Facebook & Instagram as part of the Sailing Toward Launch series.
Why I wanted to write a children’s book.
For the joy of “aha moments.”
For years, as a child therapist and supervisor, I've had the privilege of accompanying others in their personal and professional growth.
With clients and students – my greatest joy has been in helping people reach their own magical “aha moments.”
That moment when something clicks…
When a new idea makes sense...
When understanding turns into real change and lasting growth.
Those powerful moments have inspired everything I do – including writing this book.
➡️ Curious how this turned into a playful ABC adventure?
Stick around for why I wrote THIS book!!!
Originally shared on Facebook & Instagram as part of the Sailing Toward Launch series.
Wait… Is LMNOP the 12th Letter of the alphabet? 🤔
Of course, it’s not—but try telling that to a preschooler!
As a parent, grandparent, and lifelong story lover, I’ve seen how young children joyfully sing the ABC song… yet don’t always recognize the letters themselves.
After years of helping both children and adults reach their “aha moments,” I wanted to create that same spark for little ones just beginning their alphabet journeys.
I imagined a story that would slow things down, bring each letter to life, and help children see the alphabet in a joyful and memorable way.
SAILING THE ABCs is a playful, rhythmic picture book where every letter becomes its own character on a colorful nautical adventure.
From M dipping toes in the ocean…
to V sipping smoothies on deck…
each letter gets a moment to shine.
My hope? That this book brings big smiles, little “ahas,” and a love for letters — one delightful page at a time. Thanks for watching!
🎉✨ IT’S OFFICIAL — SAILING THE ABCs LAUNCHES TODAY! ✨🎉 (11/24/25)
SAILING THE ABCs ⛵🌈 is officially launching out into the world!
I can hardly believe it… today is the day! My very first children’s book,
This little book has been a dream in the making, Mateo and I have poured our hearts into every rhyme, every illustration, and every nautical detail. To finally share it with you today means more to me than I can express.
Thanks to my incredible Launch Team and early supporters, SAILING THE ABCs has already earned some amazing accolades before today’s official release:
🏆 #1 Top New Release in Children's Boats & Ships Books
📚 #1 Best Seller in Alphabets
🏆 #2 in Baby & Toddler Alphabet Books
Thank you for celebrating this milestone with me. I cannot wait for the little ones in your life to meet the alphabet crew aboard this colorful nautical adventure! 🌟📘💙
Happy Thanksgiving! Feeling grateful and sending love from two of my ABC adventurers. (11/27/25)
Ahoy, friends! (11/27/25)
For Black Friday through Cyber Monday, the SAILING THE ABCs ebook is FREE — Friday to Monday only!
Hop aboard to meet the adventurous alphabet crew and share a joyful reading voyage with your little sailors.
Hardcover note: The hardcover is printed through IngramSpark and fulfilled by Amazon’s print-on-demand. If it shows “Temporarily out of stock,” you can still order — Amazon will print and ship your copy once processing finishes. I don’t control the timing, but I hope it updates soon!
Smooth sailing, Ophra
FINAL REMINDER (12/01/25)
— The SAILING THE ABCs ebook is FREE through the end of TODAY (Cyber Monday! )
Here’s a delightful clip of my granddaughter Lila at 2 years 9 months reading the book on the iPad:
She’s watching the PQR characters run so, so far along the beach, and having fun zooming in on their friends — the colorful Mr. Parrot, Mr. Sun, and Mr. Seagull — to capture all their whimsical details.
It’s such a joy to watch her discover something new in the story every time.
If you haven’t grabbed the free ebook yet (or want to share it with little ones), now’s the perfect time!
And if you’ve already enjoyed the book, I’d be so grateful if you left a quick review on Amazon — it truly helps the book reach more families.
Hardcover update: Still showing as “Temporarily out of stock,” but it can be ordered. I’m actively working with customer service to get it fully available soon.
Exciting news! (12/1/25)
Thanks to all of you, SAILING THE ABCs is now #1 in ALL THREE of its categories:
Children’s Boats & Ships Books
Alphabets
Baby & Toddler Alphabet Books
And we have 31 – 5-star reviews and counting!
I’m so grateful for your support in helping share this book with new readers and the adults who love reading with them.
What makes SAILING THE ABCs unique is its use of small clusters of 2 or 3 characters per page. Each letter comes to life in its own playful adventure, letting children get to know the letters individually — a fun step before moving on to learning letter-sound combinations, unlike the traditional ABC song where letters are “all squished together.”
HARDcover UPDATE! IT'S FINALLY HERE! 🎉 (12/02/25)
After a long journey wrestling with customer service… my hardcover edition of SAILING THE ABCs is officially in stock and ready to order on Amazon — just in time for the holidays!
If you’d like it for the holidays, please order now to ensure it arrives promptly.
💛 THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has already purchased the book and shared your sweet messages. If you'd like to leave a quick review on Amazon, it helps tremendously! 🙏
A QUICK NOTE FOR MY LOCAL FRIENDS (12/04/25)
If your SAILING THE ABCs hardcover order is taking a bit to arrive in time for the holidays, I have extra copies available for local pickup in the Agoura Hills area.
If you’re local and would like your book autographed, I’d love to sign it — and I’ll include a special alphabet-letter sticker of the recipient’s first initial (created by our amazing illustrator!).
If you’re interested, DM me or contact me through my website:
🌐 www.ophraashur.com
And if you’ve already purchased and enjoyed the book, a short Amazon review would mean so much — it truly helps a new book find its readers!
Thank you for supporting this little dream as it sets sail! ⛵💛
IT'S BEEN A LITTLE QUIET HERE (12/21/25)
— life has been full. We’ve been soaking up time with our beautiful granddaughters and family in Michigan, with a special highlight being requested live read-alouds of SAILING THE ABCs and a joyful visit to Lila’s preschool class.
I’m grateful that SAILING THE ABCs has continued to find its way into homes and classrooms, even while I’ve been less present here. More to come soon ⚓📘
And for local friends: I do have a small number of paperback and hardcover copies available now, with or without personalization, for those who prefer not to wait on delivery.