Local Stamford Author Hopes To Teach Valuable Life Lessons

STAMFORD, CT — Cleaning your room as a child, and even as an adult, can be an arduous task. But one local resident is hoping to teach young kids valuable life lessons about organization, how to clean properly and responsibility.

Coby Greif, a Stamford native, recently self-published his first children's book titled "Jensen Cleans His Room."

Greif will hold a book launch party at the main branch of the Ferguson Library at 2 p.m. on April 10. All ages are welcome, and the event is free. There will be copies of the book available for purchase, a meet-and-greet with Greif, as well as activities for children.

For more information on the event, click here.

Named after his little brother, Jensen is told by his parents he can't go out and play until he cleans his room. The rhyming tale features illustrations from local artist, Haley Moss.

"I wanted to take the opportunity to have Jensen be that person the reader identifies with, who doesn't like cleaning their room, but at the same time, has to do it. Jensen kind of teaches the reader the skills to do it properly, how it's important to take everything out and go through everything," Greif said.

"I also have a lot of themes of how it's important to donate your old and unused things to any kind of charity or Good Will, and give it that second life. Part of what I talk about is that it's better to donate your things than just let it gather dust in your house."

Greif wrote half the book on his phone four years ago, and put it away. But about a year-and-a-half ago, he returned to it and decided to put the whole story together.

"I love cleaning and organizing, but I recognize that most people don't. I've always enjoyed rhyming stories and making cards for families and friends that rhyme. I definitely enjoy that kind of storytelling," Greif said. "Cleaning and organizing was just something I knew a lot about and had a passion for. I said, 'Why not make a children's book that focuses on that?'"

Greif launched a Kickstarter campaign and was supported by 98 donors. Altogether, he raised $4,000 to self-publish the book through Mill City Press.

"I'm very excited. It's been a long process," Greif said. "When the book finally came in through the mail and I got to see my name on the book and the copyright, it was very cool. I had never experienced something like that before."

Greif has a background in marketing, public relations and sales, but hopes to create more books in the future that feature similar life lessons.

"I'm just waiting for that inspiration to strike," he said.

"Jensen Cleans His Room" is available now on Amazon, Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble and Apple Books.

To learn more about Greif and the book, go to his website