At RJ Julia's: Children's Book Author Shares Story Of Acceptance

MADISON, CT —Children’s author and Emmy-award-winning journalist Janet Zappala will be in Madison Feb. 27 at RJ Julia for a reading and signing of her latest book, “Guapo’s Giant Heart."

In the book, Zappala introduces young readers to Guapo — a true story of a "calf with no place to live until a kind human gives him a loving home." But, the calf grows and grows and grows, which leads to a problem.

"Sweet and friendly, not everyone is kind to him at first due to his size. While the animals who’ve known him since he was a baby calf love him, those who meet Guapo later on aren’t so sure—they find his larger-than-life presence intimidating," a news release on the book reads. "Towering over everyone he meets, can this gentle giant teach other animals that being different is a good thing?"

In the story, she hopes to "motivate kids to lean into one another despite differences and appreciate everyone."

As explained on the RJ Julia site, Zappala volunteers and serves on the Advisory Council of the Coachella Valley Horse Rescue in Indio, California.

And that's where she met Guapo.

"The animals in the story are all based on real-life characters" all living at the horse rescue. A portion of the proceeds from every book sale benefits Coachella Valley Horse Rescue.

The story time event at RJ Julia is slated for Sunday Feb. 27 from 11 a.m. to noon.

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