A World Awaits Echo

"Decide what to be and go be it.” This lyric by The Avett Brothers struck me at a young age. It’s so simple and yet gives the listener so much power. In ‘A World Awaits Echo,’ I aim to convey a similar message. Echo, the central character, is merely a representation of the reader. We are all Echo. The story gives literal space for children to envision themselves as Echo as she traverses the globe visiting landscapes of natural beauty, balancing her innate desire to explore against the fear and dangers of doing so. The story encourages children to dream big and to not let anyone impose limits upon them, including themselves. All children (and truthfully all humans of any age) deserve to hear this message again and again. So, I wrote this story in a way that children and families can revisit it again and again, unlocking deeper meaning as they age. I dedicate this story to my daughter, who served as the initial inspiration for the book. – Dr. Z