Meet Dawnielle Edwards | Children’s Author and Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dawnielle Edwards and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dawnielle, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
A healthy work-life balance is delicate no matter who you are or what you do for work.
Being a full-time educator, mother of two, and now a children’s author has certainly made my own work-life balance a more complicated juggling act.

When I first began my teaching career (17 years ago), I often wondered how my mentor teacher balanced motherhood and her full-time profession. “How do you do it all?” I asked. She jokingly replied, “Not very well!”
Now that I am a mother, I know that we moms are often too hard on ourselves; never feeling like we can give any role our “all.” We need to give ourselves more pats on the back!

How do I, personally, keep it all straight? Determination. I am determined to be the kind of mother I always wished for. I am determined to be an excellent teacher. And I am determined to be a successful children’s author.
With that determination comes realistic goal setting. As much as I’d like to go “pedal to the metal” with writing children’s books, I remind myself that this journey is a marathon, not a sprint. In my current season, motherhood and teaching take center stage. Being a children’s author is my passion project, while teaching pays the bills (barely).

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The Books
“Birthday Underpants” and its sequel “Birthday Underpants: The Magical Day” are about twins who receive homemade clothing gifts from their grandparents. What Connor and Kate truly want is gift cards, games, or toys. But, instead, they are shocked to open this year’s present and discover homemade underpants! Little do they know, these are no ordinary underpants. Soon, the twins discover the extraordinary value of this unusual gift.

Both books humorously intertwine mystery, magic, and a valuable lesson. As a mother and educator, those are the elements I love most in children’s books (and so do the kids).

The Inspiration
My original inspiration and idea for these books came from my own experiences. As a child, my grandmother handmade clothes for my sister and me -nightgowns, dresses, skirts, etc. (though, never underpants). Wanting toys instead, we weren’t very grateful for the clothing. Looking back now, I wish I had shown more appreciation for her efforts, and now I hope to inspire other children to have an “attitude of gratitude.” So, I tie that message into my stories. If my grandmother was still here, I think she’d be proud of my books and how they honor her.

The Power of YET
My biggest challenge as a children’s author has also been my greatest joy: learning how to do something I’ve never done. “Growth mindset” is a central theme in my classroom and home. I constantly remind my students and daughters that if they can’t do something, just tag on the word “yet.” (It works for grownups, too.) If there is something you’re passionate about, but lack experience or information, remind yourself that you don’t know how to do it YET.
It has been incredibly rewarding to learn and try something new. Certainly, not every step of the journey has been easy, but even in times of failure or disappointment, I have grown.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
7:00 Morning walk around Veteran’s Oasis Park in Chandler or the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert (both have beautiful views)
8:00 Breakfast at the Hangar Cafe in Chandler (a quaint little diner where you can watch planes take off)
9:30 Horseback riding at South Mountain courtesy of Ponderosa Stables in Phoenix
11:00 Massage at Citrus Massage in Chandler
12:30 Lunch at Florindino’s in Chandler (pizza muffins for the win)
1:30 Nap (being realistic)
3:30 Shopping at Sip & Shop in Gilbert
5:30 Dinner at Serrano’s Mexican Restaurant in Queen Creek (best bean dip in town)
7:30 Nightcap at The Rabbit Hole in Gilbert (reservation-only speakeasy cocktail bar)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout goes to author Diane (Mylod) Rodriguez, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, and my illustrator, Paige Drewett.

Writing has always been a love of mine. In the Notes app on my phone, I have a precious list titled “Book Ideas,” and I’ve been adding to it for years. I had even turned a couple of those ideas into draft manuscripts, but that was as far as I’d gotten. Until I found Diane’s book in 2021.

While on summer break, my family and I visited the Children’s Museum of Phoenix. If you’ve ever been there, you know that the entire museum is amazing. My children especially love the kitchen area, and on this particular day they were “cooking” up a storm. I know a parenting-break when I see one (no matter how brief it may be). I slid into the built-in booth and reached for the nearest book. This one was titled “The Avocado Tree” and was written by local author, teacher, and mother Diane (Mylod) Rodriguez. Instantly, I felt a new sense of motivation. If she could fulfill all those roles AND write children’s books, so could I!

Motivated by Diane’s example, I wanted to reach out to her for advice but lacked the courage. At least for a few months anyway. When I finally “went for it,” she quickly and kindly responded to my questions with valuable feedback and direction. Diane has been a wonderful encouragement to me ever since!

Over the course of 2022 and 2023, I put my ideas into action. Initially, I wrote three new manuscripts and read them to my second-grade students. They voted on their favorite, and “Birthday Underpants” was the victor. My next task seemed to be the most elusive: finding an illustrator. After scouring Reddit on the matter, I decided to peruse illustration portfolios on the “Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators” website. After viewing upwards of a hundred portfolios on SCBWI, I fell in love with the work of Paige Drewett. and contacted her about working together. Via email, we collaborated on the project for several months, and in October of 2023, my first published book was born.

Fast forward to the summer of 2024. I contacted the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and shared my story. I told them I’d be visiting soon and wanted to pay it forward by donating a copy of my book. The CEO, Kate Wells, was moved by my story and graciously invited me to read my book and host a storytime event. It was an incredible “full circle moment.”

Thank you to Diane, Paige, and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix for playing such an instrumental part in this chapter of my life.

Website: https://dawnielleedwards.com

Instagram: @dawnielleedwardsbooks

Image Credits
Tara Dunn Photography