Photo: Living Love Forward author, Kim Dawson, right, and illustrator, Paige Anocibar, a Klamath Union alumni from the class of 2016, put together a read along for a kindergarten class at Pelican Elementary School.
Kim Dawson took one look at Pelican Elementary School and knew she had her school design for a children’s book series she wanted to start. Living Love Forward, by author Kim Dawson, is a children’s book series, helping children cope with situations they face day-to-day.
Pelican, a 100-year-old school, appealed to Dawson as more than its brick and mortar but for its rich history and a mirror of how the school in her book would look like. Pelican Elementary will forever be mentioned and seen in a book, where it is referenced as Huckleberry Elementary.
Dawson published her first four books of the series in 2023, Through the Eyes of a Bully, Having a Voice, Being Your Own Best Friend and Kill ‘em with Kindness. During 2024, she has published four more books and intends on releasing four books every year.
She currently is a teacher in Southern California but has a sister who lives in Klamath Falls. It was her sister who helped bring Dawson and her illustrator together for the series.
Paige Anocibar, a Klamath Union High school alumni from the Class of 2016, is the book's illustrator.
“It happened all of a sudden as my sister was talking to me because she is friends with Paige’s mom and said, ‘why don’t you connect with her for your book?’ My sister has known Paige since she was a baby,” Dawson said.
From there, a friendship began. Anocibar and Dawson took a trip to Klamath Falls just before the summer of 2023 for more inspiration and ideas for future books through visiting Pelican.
Anocibar was in Pelican Principal, Michelle McCabe’s, then first grade class, and was a student of longtime Pelican teacher, Stephanie Dahm.
“I drew naturally and visualized her (Dawson’s) writing. How she would write, I automatically put myself in my own elementary school,” Anocibar said.
Anocibar was crucial in helping Dawson realize the differences between schools in Oregon and California. Dawson’s hallways were outside in warm weather, and since the book was based from a school in Southern Oregon, it would not correlate.
Dawson’s students in California had a hard time believing Huckleberry Elementary was a school; they believed it looked like a bank. She brought the book to her school to help determine the book’s reading level, and it was tested with over 250 students.
Finding a happy place
The main character in the series is Lexie, who faces many pressing issues a child faces today, much of what Dawson said she overcame during grade school. During a recent trip to Klamath Falls for the second time, Dawson participated in a read-along and a question and answer with Pelican students.
Dawson made sure she read to each grade level and class at the elementary school.
“Self-bullying is when you have negative thoughts in your head and say you’re not good enough, or at math, cannot read, play soccer. I was two grade levels behind, could not read. I could not say my r’s. I said tractor funny and kids made fun of me,” Dawson said. “I was part of the special education program. It was really embarrassing for me because I just wanted to be like everybody else.”
She recalls not being a strong reader until eighth grade. Dawson is specific in the messages she wants children to come away with once they read her book.
In the series, Lexi’s brother, Sam, struggles with anxiety and whispers harmful words to himself.
“There are not many conversations about bullying yourself. You tap your leg or you stand up a lot, that energy needs to be released. For Sam, it comes handy on the soccer field,” Dawson said. “When Sam can’t make a goal, he says mean things in his head. If you can get a handle on it when you’re younger, you will be happier. You're the only one who knows those negative thoughts. Don’t give up on the adults.”
Pelican scenery, persona brought to life
A striking mural found on the wall near the gymnasium at Pelican reoccurs in the series of books, a painting made by Ruth Chamberlin.
Dawson had the itch of bringing in another adult character in her book and found one, none other than Pelican head cook, Leanne Cullen.
“There was something about her personality, the way she was smiling and so helpful. I knew she was my new character,” Dawson said. “I felt her kindness from the moment I first saw her; I felt her kindness with her big smile she had.”
Cullen’s name is not referred to in the book but you can find her as Mrs. Carleton, with Anocibar’s illustration having a staggering resemblance.
A new home
In four years, Dawson has plans on retiring and said she wants to move to Klamath Falls.
She made a promise, each time she completes a book, two copies will go in the Pelican library. All books in Living Love Forward can be found at the elementary school.
“Pelican is my happy place. I come here to write. My sister lives near the lake and it’s where I enjoy sitting and writing,” Dawson said. “I have publicly spoken as an international writer and author. If I can move or help any of these students with what I went through … I hope that is where my books are left with.”
