In Life Lessons and Tales of Little MisFit – Book 1: “Life Isn’t Always What It Seems,” we are introduced to the main character Ivy Sue Klutz (Little MisFit – LMF) – as she narrates her first memory at the age of three and ties it in to Lesson 1, Life Isn’t Always What It Seems. The book continues using humorous tales about Lesson 1 through her fourth year of primary school where we leave her. Book 2 picks up with LMF starting her next year of school at the age of ten and learning through humor the next Life Lesson that “Life Isn’t Always Fair.”
In Book 3, Ivy Sue Klutz (Little MisFit – LMF) begins her most challenging years of her life – ages 11-15 or Middle School into High School. Where we last saw Little Misfit, she was fishing with her family the weekend before she started 6 th grade. She was about to turn 11 years old. She was having the time of her life. In Book 3, she learns another important Life Lesson: Life Is Like a Fountain- It Has Its Ups (opportunities/successes) and Downs (disappointments/failures). Through these humorous tales we see just how LMF learns to handle both “Ups” and Downs” in her life. This book shows “betweeners’ – ages 11-12 and young teens ages 13-15, how LMF began to prepare for the most challenging times of her young life. In this book we see how Little MisFit copes with the limited means of her family while she attended middle and high schools. Furthermore, we she that she was not allowed to take certain classes (woodshop) or have opportunities to play sports in school or attend events that she was invited to. Yet, LMF overcomes those and other challenges – changes in body and bullying, and learns to find, value and celebrate the Ups – opportunities and successes. While at the same time she learned how to build resiliency and overcome the Downs – the disappointments and failures that she encountered during these young and formative years. From the humorous tales of this book, Ivy Sue, Little MisFit learns that Life IS Indeed Like a Fountain – It has Its Ups and Downs and one has to find a path to navigate them and make the best of the Ups while learning to overcome the Downs.
As a former probation officer, an executive/life coach and professor/teacher, Dr. Susan Grunin saw firsthand how many people growing up are often made to feel inadequate or unwelcome in situations. She learned through using humor and working with others – particularly children and young adults, how to help individuals fit in those uncomfortable situations. Dr. Grunin believes that it is important that children and teens learn how to manage these situations and issues at a young age and how to do this by using humor to build their self-esteem. Thus, she created, Little MisFit, (LMF) a fictional character who through humorous tales, shares life lessons that she learns as she is growing up. Through these stories, LMF describes how she learned to overcome many life challenges and accept who she is as a person. Furthermore, the humorous tales allow adults to share their own tales and life lessons without coming off “too preachy” and to be able to bond and laugh out loud with their children and/or grandchildren or other loved ones. In an era with too much electronics being used to communicate these books facilitate a fun way to have a dialogue and laugh together with those we truly care about.
