I really enjoyed reading Mato to Ms. Mannon's class at Winterpock Elementary School.
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Dave Bowles

Author of Mato's Journey​/Leadership coach

"A fantastic resource for Virginia's elementary educators. The beautifully told coming of age story can be accessed across all contents."
—Allison Jordan, assistant superintendent of King and Queen County Public Schools, Virginia

"This engaging story told through the personification of a variety of backyard birds is entertaining and provides readers an insightful view about becoming comfortable and proud of who they are."
—Betsy Poulsen, Ed. D., retired elementary principal, York County, Virginia

"Mato's Journey is a captivating tale that entertains as well as teaches. The aviary antics that Dave Bowles writes about are straight from my bird feeder and backyard, with delightful tidbits of bird specific knowledge sprinkled within the paragraphs. Dave's discernment of human nature is evident as Mato wrestles with the universal desire to be special, as well as the mockingbird parents' compulsion to raise him well. 
"Children, adolescents, and adults alike will enjoy and relate to Mato's Journey. As the sparrow replied, 'You can't be special trying to be someone else.'
"As a retired classroom teacher, I highly recommend Mato's Journey for personal, classroom, school, and civic libraries. This will definitely be a favorite read-aloud in our home."
—Sharon Carpenter, retired teacher, Memphis, Tennessee

"As a 25 year kindergarten teacher, I had a 'go to' collection of favorite children’s books that I called my 'top shelf.' One of my greatest joys was to take a book from my top shelf and share it with my students. Mato’s Journey is forevermore a part of my top shelf collection. What a wonderful and captivating adventure."
—Regina Huggins, retired teacher and member of the Department of Defense Education Association