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Welcome aboard!
Catch all the latest posts, highlights, and fun moments from SAILING THE ABCs
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Hop on Deck—Let’s Launch Together!
Hop on Deck—Let’s Launch Together!
✨ INVITATION
I'm thrilled to invite you to the SAILING THE ABCs launch team! This charming adventure will help little ones fall in love with each letter of the alphabet as they join them on exciting, nautical-themed adventures.
As a valuable member of my launch team, you'll receive exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and all the details on how you can help spread the word.
Simply fill out this quick form, and you'll receiving continuing information about the SAILING THE ABCs adventures.
Don't forget to follow my Facebook and Instagram Author Pages linked below for more exciting news.
✨ 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!
WHY I - Teleprompter-2025-05-09_15-49-47.MOV👉 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!!!
WHY II - Teleprompter-2025-05-09_16-22-51.MOV⚓️ WHY I WROTE SAILING THE ABCs (11/20/25)
⚓️ WHY I WROTE SAILING THE ABCs (11/20/25)
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
PQR Age 2yr 9.5.mp4FINAL 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.
A LITTLE GIRL AND A BIG W SPARKED AN ALPHABET ADVENTURE. (12/27/25)
Two years ago, on our Costa Rica family vacation, our granddaughter Lila noticed a giant red W at its namesake hotel we passed every day on the way to the beach. Seeing it so often helped her recognize W as its own unique character, inspiring me to bring letters to life as independent personalities for early learners to befriend.
Meet V, W, and X — V steers , W hugs , and X meditates .
VWX and the rest of the crew are waiting for you in SAILING THE ABCs .
💙
Reading to preschoolers — and watching letters come alive
— is exactly why I wrote this book. (1/3/26)
I recently had the joy of reading SAILING THE ABCs in two preschool classrooms, including my granddaughter Lila’s class and a friend’s grandson’s class. Each child wore a handmade headband with the first letter of their name, decorated it themselves, and then met that letter as a character in the story.
Together, we discovered hidden surprises — B in blue with his bell, Q wearing a queen’s crown, S shaped like a snake — found Mr. Seagull on every page, and even learned how to fold an origami boat like the one in the book.
The most meaningful part for me was sharing this moment with Lila, who has been part of this book’s journey from the very beginning. Watching her proudly share the story she helped shape — with her friends — was a full-circle moment I’ll never forget. 💙
SEEING SAILING THE ABCs IN THE HANDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES -- (1/10/26)
-- being read, explored, and shared — has been deeply rewarding. Every one of these photos was sent to me unsolicited, and each one feels like a quiet confirmation that the book is landing as I hoped it would.
Watching children engage with the letters, the artwork, and the adventure — and seeing adults enjoy the experience alongside them — reminds me why I created this story in the first place: to spark curiosity, connection, and a joyful relationship with learning.
(Photos are shared with permission; faces are shown only where consent was given, and others are respectfully covered.)
If you’re one of the families who’s been enjoying the book and haven’t yet left a review, even a sentence makes a meaningful difference in helping this story reach other families beyond my own circle.
An Evening of Connection for Women in Business | January 27 (1/13/26 & 1/22/26)
An inspiring women-only evening focused on connection, collaboration, and community. Join us as we spotlight incredible women-owned businesses, hear from powerful speakers, and create meaningful relationships—beyond business.
I'm honored to be included among such an inspiring group of women at the W2W B2B Empower Connect Showcase this Tuesday evening. I’ll be sharing my professional journey and the story behind SAILING THE ABCs at this women-only event celebrating connection, creativity, and collaboration.
Grateful for the opportunity to participate in the W2W B2B Empower Connect Showcase and to be included among such an inspiring group of women in business. (2/5/26)
It was meaningful to share my professional journey as an LCSW, therapist, trainer, and instructor — and how that path led me to conceptualize, collaborate, and create SAILING THE ABCs. What stayed with me most was the genuine curiosity and enthusiasm in the room. Connecting with attendees and seeing their excitement about bringing the book into the lives of children they care about was incredibly fulfilling.
Thank you to Orna Eilon / LA Real Estate 4 Sale - W2W Empower Connect for creating such a thoughtful and welcoming space for women in business.
As featured in The Acorn Newspaper (1/24/26)
As featured in The Acorn Newspaper (1/24/26)
🔗 Read the full article: “Local author introduces ABCs with Acorn newspaper assist” (January 23, 2026 edition)
I’m honored to share that my book Sailing the ABCs was featured in the Acorn newspaper!
When my granddaughter Lila was learning the alphabet, I noticed a gap between the ABC song and phonics books — and I wanted to create a fun bridge that helps children “befriend” letters before learning their sounds. Sailing the ABCs was born from that idea.
One of my favorite parts of the book is that the letters sail on an origami boat made from the Acorn newspaper — a paper I’ve loved for decades as an Oak Park resident. The Acorn has been a meaningful part of my family’s story for years, and to have my book featured feels like a full-circle moment.
Earlier Acorn moments that inspired SAILING THE ABCs (1/24/26)
Earlier Acorn moments that inspired SAILING THE ABCs (1/24/26)
🔗 Read the article: 2001 PYFL “Super Bowl” Champions – The J2 Screaming Blue Eagles
(An Acorn feature highlighting my son, Carmel’s championship team, featured on the boat carrying “ABC” in SAILING THE ABCs)
🔗 Read the article: 2010 Acorn Vacation Photo Winner
(A family photo contest winner featured on the boat carrying “STU” in SAILING THE ABCs)
🔗 Read the article: Critter Tails
(An Acorn family favorite whose featured photo appears on the “JKL” boat in SAILING THE ABCs)
🔗 Read the article: Youth Congress XIX Explores Stress and Its Effect on Teenagers
(An Acorn feature highlighting my son, Dor's participation, appearing on the "VWX" boat in SAILING THE ABCs)
Gingie, our beloved family dog, was featured in The Acorn after being photographed climbing a tree. That photo was later selected to appear on the boat in the “JKL” spread of SAILING THE ABCs, and ultimately became the basis for my publishing imprint, Gingie Publishing, created in his honor.
Mark Your Calendars – FREE Kids E-Book Day is Coming! (2/10/26)
Mark Your Calendars – FREE Kids E-Book Day is Coming! (2/10/26)
On Thursday, February 12, 2026, over 200 children’s ebooks will be available for FREE download for one day only — a “Stuff Your Kindle”-style event just for kids, sponsored by Amy Doslich Books.
On Thursday, simply head to the Amy Doslich Books website (link below). The books will be organized into 13 different download groups by age range to make browsing easy.
I’m happy to share that SAILING THE ABCs will be included in the Ages 0–3 Picture/Board Books group — and while it’s listed there, it’s designed to be enjoyed by children ages 0–6.
You do not need a Kindle to participate. Just download the free Kindle app on your smartphone or tablet. Once you download the books, they stay in your Kindle library so you can read them anytime — perfect for travel, quiet time, or reading together.
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