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Paw--some Adventures for Little Readers
COMING SOON!
Marcelo Meets Elephant
A heartwarming book series for every child that's ever felt a little different
Every child deserves to see themselves in the stories they read. This heartwarming series speaks to the quiet hearts, the hesitant voices, and the beautiful potential that lives within every shy child.
This is more than just another picture book. It's a reminder that strength can be found in unexpected friendships, told through the unlikely bond between a shy elephant and his larger-than-life friend, a wooly white dog, Marcelo.
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This book is a love letter to every child who has ever felt different, and to the friendships that help us discover our own courage and says to shy hearts: "You are not alone."
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Please back our project to
COMING IN EARLY 2026!
PLEASE HELP BACK OUR PROJECT ON KICKSTARTER!
In the meantime, follow us for updates on Marcelo and Elephant, Kickstarter and more!

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Beautifully illustrated by New Zealand illustrator Richard Hoit, Marcelo and Elephant captures the tender, transformative moments of a very special friendship. Each illustration is carefully crafted to ensure every child who opens this book finds comfort, recognition and hope in it's pages.
Meet Our Characters


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Hi! I'm Marcelo.
I'm a big white friendly dog with lots to say. My owner Judi writes books about me and my best friend, Elephant, highlighting the power of authentic friendship and the importance of connections across differences.

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Hi! I'm Elephant.
Inspired by Marcelo's stuffy, Elephant is a character born from countless real moments with children who sometimes struggled to find their voice. This is more than just another picture book. It's a reminder that strength can be found in unexpected friendships, told through the unlikely bond between a shy elephant and his larger-than-life friend, a wooly white dog, Marcelo.

Learn more about Marcelo Meets Elephant
About the Kickstarter
Help us bring Marcelo and Elephant's story to life!
Our kickstarter, launching in Spring 2026, will help us fund the beautiful illustrations by Richard Hoit, along with layout and other production costs. Your support will help us bring the life-changing story of Marcelo and Elephant to the world!

Kids Love
Marcelo and Elephant!
We recently shared our initial storyboard of Marcelo and Elephant's adventures with a group of students...hear what they had to say!


Dive into a world of imagination and education with Marcelo and Elephant's Friendship Circle Community! Sign up and receive exclusive educational content, fun language learning activities, engaging short stories, and kickstarter updates to help your special child thrive! Let Marcelo and his friends guide your child through an exciting adventure of learning and discovery. Spark your child's creativity and language skills. Get ready to explore, learn, and grow with Marcelo and his pals!
Join Marcelo and Elephant's Friendship Circle
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About the Author
Hi! I'm Judith.
Judith LaMattina is a retired speech therapist and debut author of a children's picture book series inspired by her beloved service dog, Marcelo. Based in Northern New York Judith combines her background in communication with her love for storytelling to create engaging narratives that resonate with young readers.

