How Matteo and Antonio’s First Story Sparked Little Lessons Media
Starting Little Lessons Media was never part of any plan. It grew out of a small moment at home that sparked an idea. The whole journey began as we were talking about Matteo’s Halloween costume. He wanted to be a pirate and he was proud of it. I asked him if he was excited and he let out his best pirate growl.
At the same time Antonio had a tiny bat costume picked out. He looked proud flapping his little wings, ready to follow Matteo anywhere. When I asked Matteo if he was excited to take his little brother trick or treating, he protested right away. He said Antonio was too little and should stay home.
That moment stayed with me. I wanted Matteo to feel excited about being with his brother. I wanted him to see the fun in including him. I thought about it for days. That small exchange turned into an idea for a story. A story about Halloween. A story about inclusion. A story about two brothers who see the world differently but always find their way back to each other.
That is how Matteo and Antonio’s Halloween was born.
Shaping the First Draft
As I drafted the first version of the manuscript, I knew I needed help shaping it into something meaningful for children and families. I reached out to my step sister Rachel who has spent her career in education. She understands what helps young children connect, process feelings, and feel seen.
Rachel encouraged me to name the emotions directly in the story. She reminded me that children need clear cues to recognize feelings in themselves. With her guidance, I added more feeling words to Matteo’s reactions. Those small changes improved the story and helped anchor the Little Lesson Moments that now appear across the series.
Building the Little Lesson Moments
It was through those early conversations and revisions that the idea for Little Lesson Moments came together. Each prompt gives parents an easy way to pause, ask a question, and help children connect the story to their own lives. Those moments became the heart of the series and guided every book that followed.
From One Story to a Company
As the manuscript grew, so did the vision. One story turned into a collection. A collection turned into a publishing company. Little Lessons Media was created to bring these stories to life with care and consistency.
The goal has always been simple.
• Create stories that help children feel understood.
• Create stories that help families start meaningful conversations.
• Create stories worth returning to again and again.
Where It All Started
What began with one pirate costume, one tiny bat costume, and one simple conversation with Matteo has now become a growing series and a company focused on supporting families through storytime. It all started with something small. A feeling. A moment. A child saying his brother was too little to join him.
Sometimes the best ideas start that way. One little lesson at a time.
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