• Age: 0 to 3
• Grade: p

Kaboom! It's a dark and stormy night. Will Spookie find a way to make it through?

Bold and bright, the Simply Small books are perfect for little ones with growing minds. Meet all these cute baby animals that find clever ways to solve their not-so-small problems. This new book in the Simply Small series features adorable Spookie, the baby bat.

I am a Dutch-Canadian artist, author, and designer. I love creating stories that encourage inner resourcefulness, compassion, and self-empowerment. I have been a professional graphic designer for over 15 years, working on a wide range of projects from corporate marketing to themed attractions. I also illustrate and paint in a number of styles. My first book deal (for "One Little Bug") resulted from an art show at which some of my illustrations were noticed by the publisher Simply Read Books. Under the pen name Paola Opal, I illustrate and write the Simply Small series, published by Simply Read Books. Bold and bright, these board books feature baby animals that find clever ways to solve their not-so-small problems. The series has over 50, 000 books in print and two of the titles have been produced as apps.

Paola Opal's profile page

Praise for Spookie:

"Highly Recommended. Opal’s simple cartoon-like artwork, with its bold, black outlines, is most appropriate for the intended target audience who will delight in the uncluttered double-page spreads. Though the story is about Spookie’s dealing with fear (and acquiring a friend), Opal imbeds some subtle learnings about bats, including the fact that bats 'flap' while owls 'flutter.' Since Opal’s text does not attach a gender to either of the two little flyers, Spookie is equally accessible to both girls and boys. Additionally, the book’s small size makes it appropriate not only for small hands but also for sliding into a diaper bag during outings." — CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Praise for the Simply Small series:

~ Multiple books chosen as Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book News
~ Multiple titles chosen as a Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) Best Books Picks and Top 10 Great Books for Children

“Just perfect for the youngest readers.” — ABC Best Books for Children

“Bare beauty is what you find in the Simply Small Series books...almost haiku-like.” — Word of Mouse Book Reviews

“Opal uses vibrant onomatopoeic language which makes reading aloud to children fun.” — ABC Best Books for Children