Saving Fortissima

Description

Stella’s Magic Equation

Written by Mary Tellefson

Illustrated by Mary Jo Manus

ABOUT THE BOOK

Harvey loves observing the natural world, especially his frog friend, Fortissima. From the edge of the pond, he notices details others miss.

But when a hungry heron strikes, everything changes. Forti is hurt. She can’t hop to catch bugs. She’s growing weaker, and without help, she won’t survive.

Harvey tries everything he can think of. Nothing works.

He needs a new idea, and the Teaching Tree might be the place to find one. But getting help means doing something that is really hard for Harvey. Can he find the courage to try?

With a wild storm coming and Forti running out of time, Harvey will need more than one good idea to save his friend.

Can Harvey save Fortissima before the storm blows her all the way to Antarctica?

Step into the world of the Teaching Tree, where a wise, deaf owl and a clever raccoon offer magical guidance, and children with unique abilities join forces to rescue their beloved animal friends. Each story weaves gentle magic with real-life lessons in empathy, teamwork, and courage, showing that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference. Perfect for early chapter book readers ages 7–10, this series is ideal for classroom read-alouds, book clubs and library story times.

Author Mary Tellefson is an educator and author with over 40 years of experience teaching children with special needs, specializing in visual impairment and blindness. She is a national speaker on culturally responsive teaching, orientation and mobility, and curriculum design. Mary’s Tales from the Teaching Tree books celebrate inclusion, friendship, and resilience. Her works include Two Canes on the Tundra, Blooming Besties, and the professional guide The Culturally Responsive Orientation and Mobility Readiness Standards.