ABOUT THE STORY.
“Turn Me Orange Pleaseeeee: A Story of Impatience, Living in the Moment, and the Magic of Perfect Timing” is a children’s book written by Emmy-award winner Elaine Minionis, that tells the sweet and funny story of Ralph: an impatient and worried green pumpkin who wants nothing more than to turn orange—right now!
Always distracted and never quite in the moment, Ralph sets out on a journey of self-discovery… though he's far too busy thinking about his color to notice much else.
As he travels through the seasons, he keeps missing the wonders of the changing world around him. His friend, the wise Sun, tries to help, but Ralph is determined to ditch his youthful green.
He tries everything—washing himself with water, meditating, begging, even asking a pigeon to peck away his shade! But nothing works… until one day at the local harvest fair, a girl named Ada crosses his path. And with her, everything begins to shift!
THE CORE INTENTION.
The hilarious, must-have children’s book about emotional resilience, impatience, slowing down, self-acceptance, and growing at your own pace!
An ideal gift for kids ages 3–8, it supports emotional resilience, no matter what a kid is going through: learning academic skills, health or developmental challenges, adjusting to change, building self-esteem, managing big emotions, navigating friendships or simply waiting to grow up!
... REALLY ANYTHING THAT NEEDS ROOM TO UNFOLD.
CHILDREN'S BOOK
BEYOND THE STORY.
This children’s book is meant to tackle our modern-day “rush to nowhere”—the constant hurry that sweeps up even the youngest among us.
Through playful language and humorous moments, this book reminds children (and adults too!) that there’s value in every stage of life, no matter how long or short it may seem. Everything happens in its own time. Change takes patience, and sometimes, the most wonderful transformations bloom when we slow down, breathe, and enjoy exactly where we are.
Maybe, in the end, learning to be present is the most powerful change of all.
This story is intended to create an opportunity for parents to explore their children's feelings, worries, or situations that may cause them anxiety. Through reading and conversation, this book aims to help ease that anticipation.
WHY THIS BOOK?
-
Ages 3-7, especially toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners.
-
Teaching patience and how to slow down, in a playful, relatable way.
-
Supporting emotional resilience, no matter what a child is going through.
-
THIS story reminds them it's okay to grow at their own pace.
-
Helping children manage frustration when things don’t happen as fast as they want.
-
Easing anxiety about growing up or “not being ready” like others.
-
Social-emotional learning (SEL) in early childhood education.
-
Encouraging self-acceptance, especially for kids who feel "different".
-
Practicing letter recognition, thanks to its oversized, easy-to-read font!
-
Parents and teachers looking for tools to talk about self-esteem or impatience.
-
Preparing children for transitions, like starting school or turning a new age.
-
Fall-themed storytime, especially around pumpkins, harvest, and changing seasons.
-
Non-scary Halloween or autumn reading, perfect for younger kids.
-
Gift-giving for birthdays, back-to-school, or fall celebrations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
Elaine Minionis has always been fascinated by fiction and non-fiction stories, whether told through words, images, or sounds. As a multidisciplinary explorer, she has journeyed across the worlds of writing, filmmaking, photography, and even songwriting, always fueled by the pursuit of meaningful storytelling in all its forms.
Elaine holds a degree in Literature and furthered her education with studies in Documentary Filmmaking. Her existential poetry and documentary photography have been published many times, and her most recent documentary film, "Uncanny: The Dolls of Mariana Monteagudo", earned her a regional Emmy(R) Award in 2020, after being nationally broadcast on PBS and receiving multiple honors at prestigious film festivals worldwide.
Elaine has also ventured into the field of fine arts, founding a contemporary photography gallery in Wynwood Arts District. Since 2011, she has been co-running a creative space called The Lunch Box Studio, where she devotes her time to personal and commercial photography, videography, creative writing and editing.
Elaine is also the vocalist and songwriter of her musical project Honey & The Moon, where her storytelling seamlessly transfers into the world of dark ambient folk music.
Today, Elaine is weaving her eclectic creative path into the world of children's books, crafting tales full of imagination, depth, and meaning-often inspired by her experiences as a mother to Daan. To her, the everyday joys, challenges, questions, and adventures of raising him have truly become the foundation of her stories, which often echo the insights and answers she's uncovered on her journey through motherhood."Turn Me Orange Pleaseeeee" is where her dive into children's literature begins.
