All I Gained: The Gift of an Unforgettable Friendship

by Dale Maiella, Kara Shade, Kathleen Andrews (Illustrator)

Overview

Two Friends. Countless Adventures. One Incredible Gift.

A sweet bond between two unlikely grade school friends grows into an epic friendship spanning decades. Through their adventures and laughter, courage and heartbreak, Riley and Emma show us what it looks like to walk the path of life together faithfully, no matter what lies ahead.

Written in rhyming verse with breathtaking watercolor illustrations, All I Gained offers a fresh take on friendship for older children and adults alike.

Inspired by a real friendship of more than 30 years, this book:

1. helps older children and teens identify attributes of "true" friends so they can choose their crew wisely.
2. models how friendships can evolve from youth into adulthood, from more light-hearted fun to higher stakes challenges and transitions.
3. highlights the effort and intention it takes to cultivate close friendships for a lifetime.

Don't let the picture book format fool you; this story has resonated deeply with adult readers, too! We hope All I Gained will serve as a meaningful keepsake for lifelong friends, or to gift someone who has lost a dear friend.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798989754304
Publisher:	Grounded in Good Press
Publication date:	04/12/2024
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	551,649
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.08(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Dale is a first-time author from Texas. She's been married for more than 40 years and has two grown daughters and three precious grandchildren. She earned her bachelor's in business management and has worked in the health insurance field in various capacities for over 30 years. Ironically, Dale had no intention of writing a book. This story weighed on her heart for more than a decade - begging to be told. Her oldest daughter (who is nothing if not persistent) wore her down, and together they penned this story - inspired by true events - honoring Dale's treasured friend of more than 30 years. Dale hopes it will inspire young readers to choose great friends and to do the work to cultivate and maintain those friendships for the long haul (something she will never admit, but she does better than anyone we know).

Dr. Kara is a wife, mom of 3, and an award-winning relationship coach. For more than a decade, couples have let her peek behind the curtain into their relationships to offer encouragement and guidance. Most of her report cards said something to the effect of, "She's a bright girl, but she talks too much." To the dismay of her teachers, she was only getting started. She went on to earn her master's in dispute resolution and a PhD in family studies. She's blogged on relationships for Psychology Today and has been featured in outlets like Brides, The Knot, and the DFWChild podcast. Dr. Kara believes showing up well for our people is probably the hardest, most important work we'll ever do. She hopes her stories can offer a practical roadmap for doing just that.