‘What Luck!’ — Resilience is theme of retired Miami teacher’s book for children

We all need to find resilience, determination, and courage in our lives.

Sometimes, we might even use good luck charms. “Kenny,” the boy in children’s book “What Luck!”, is sure that his lucky items will help him get picked for the baseball team.

Sweetly written by Anita Meyer Meinbach and David Meinbach, the book for kids 4-8 is illustrated by Nancy Simons Sica.

It tells the story of a child’s ability to try, fail, and start all over again.

“What Luck! was a labor of love and an outgrowth of a conversation my son David and I had when reminiscing about the days he spent as a young boy waiting in the outfield for a ball to come his way,” said Meyer Meinbach.

“I’ve always been fairly superstitious,” her son said. “I would feel that a certain shirt or a certain order for things would be ‘good luck.’ Conversely, I believed other items may bring ‘bad luck.’ When it came to any endeavor, if something didn’t go well, I would often attribute it to something I was wearing or something I forgot to do.”

He grew up to be a doctor, and the childhood memories make for a memorable book.

“Kenny discovers where the magic really is when things don’t go as he plans. ‘What Luck!’ is a celebration of the human spirit—a tale we hope will touch our readers,” Meyer Meinbach said.

Selected as Miami-Dade County Teacher of the Year 2003 and USA Today’s All-USA Teacher First Team, she is the author of over a dozen books for educators. She hopes they help bring the joy of children’s literature into the classroom.

Her son and co-author David Meinbach is a graduate of Northwestern University and the University of Miami School of Medicine. He is now a urologist in Delray Beach.

Award-winning art director Simons Sica, a University of Florida graduate, also illustrated another children’s book during the pandemic called “The Secret in The Clouds.”

Written by Ron Sachs and Gay Webster-Sachs, this book sensitively deals with a child’s grief at losing a loved one to COVID-19. Aurelio Sica is also one of the illustrators. He and his wife Simons Sica own Aurelio & Friends Advertising Inc.

“Recently, I have returned to my first love and have been illustrating children’s books,” Simons Sica said. “And ‘What Luck!’ is beautifully written by my friend Anita.”

Meyer Meinbach is retired from the University of Miami Department of Teaching and Learning, and is director of Building Bridges-Joining Hands. She can be reached at www.buildingbridgesjoininghands.com and a.meinbach@miami.edu

To see Simons Sica’s art and contact her, visit www.nancypaints.com Both books are available on Amazon.

Student musicians receive awards

The 25th annual Bob Novack Music Awards, hosted by 1308 Productions, were presented to Isabella S. Sanchez and Sydney L. Parker.

“These awards create so much inspiration amongst the students all year long,” said Onil Rodriguez, Ruth K. Broad K-8 music lead educator. “All of our students are aware of 1308 Productions’ great support of our program. They positively boost our students in so many ways.”

For 25 years, the Bob Novack Music Awards have been presented in memory of the late Bob Novack, a life-long musician, band leader and music educator. He also performed with famous big bands throughout the U.S. including the Glenn Miller Band.

Novack’s son, attorney Paul Novack, participated in the ceremony and spoke to the students about their success and unlimited potential. 1308 Productions was created by family members Jason Novack and Allison Novack to support music education, music scholarship awards, and live performances. More at www.1308productions.org

Youth Symphony to host fundraiser

The Emmy and Gold Medal-winning South Florida Youth Symphony will hold a fund-raising 1920’s costume gala starting at 6 p.m., Oct. 29, at Miami Shores Country Club, 10000 Biscayne Blvd.

The event will benefit the 58-year-old organization’s ongoing mission of empowering young musicians.

Set to perform are ‘Miami’s First Lady of Jazz,’ Wendy Pedersen, and pianist Jim Gasior. Gasior has performed and/or recorded with international artists.

Tickets are $125 and a limited number of gala sponsorships are available. Purchases can be made at https://sfys.net/2022gala/ or by phone at 305-238-2729.

Garden Club starts 98th season

“Holiday Floral Extravaganza” is the theme of the upcoming fundraiser for the Coral Gables Garden Club at 10 a.m., Nov. 4, Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ, 3010 Desoto Blvd. The event will feature the designs of Master Florist Mario Fernandez of Belle Fleur.

Fernandez will share the art of floral design and arrangements for the holidays. A pop-up shop, reception and bake sale are planned, and you can start holiday shopping at the Fair Trade Marketplace at the church.

“It’s a perfect way to kick off the holiday season,” said event chair Marlene Riesco.

The historic garden club raises funds for conservation and environmental projects, the City of Coral Gables beautification projects, gardening therapy for the elderly, and scholarships for college and graduate students studying in the fields of the natural sciences.

“The funds raised from this event will help plant a pollinator garden at Camp Mahachee, a local Girl Scout Camp serving the needs of Miami-Dade girls. It will be filled with native trees, shrubs, orchids, and native ferns,” said president Susan Rodriguez.

Tickets are $50 at https://www.coralgablesgardenclub.org/event/holiday-floral/

Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.