Gold Coast educator publishes first picture book using funding from digital currency

A Gold Coast-based early childhood educator has published her first children’s book funded entirely by the digital currency Qoin (pronounced ‘coin’), which is headquartered on the Gold Coast.

Educator Suzette Ellison, who holds a Masters qualification and has 30 years experience in the sector, has written The Tree Song, which aims to teach children between the ages of three and eight years the skills of self regulation. 

“As a teacher, as an educator, I really believe all academic learning is of little value if we don’t know how to regulate our emotions,” Ms Ellison said. 

“The whole premise of the book is supporting children with self-regulation… how to manage ourselves in the world, how we get along with each other.”

Self regulation, she continued, is an underpinning skillset that children need to empower them as adults in the world. 

“I’m passionate about equipping children with these soft skills. I’m committed to ongoing learning professional development in wellbeing to support children and families.”

While there is a danger of concepts such as mental health and wellbeing becoming “buzz words”, the author believes learning mindfulness, breathing, and how to take real care of our bodies can serve as an antidote to “our fast-paced, high-tech world.”

Being able to bring her work to life is the realisation of a long held dream for Ms Ellison, who said that while she has written many children’s stories, this is the first time she has published one, a story which has been “in her head” for a decade.

“I didn’t have the money upfront. When I became a Qoin merchant, I saw there were printers on Qoin and I thought ‘Wow, I can actually do this with Qoin’.”

In addition to working part-time as an early childhood teacher, Ms Ellison owns and operates Rainbow Stories for Children, a creative and performing arts show which integrates puppets, music and yoga.

Copies of ‘The Tree Song’ are available for purchase on Qoin now. To order a copy, call Suzette on 0406 752 787 or email [email protected] 

More information about Qoin, a membership organisation that provides a framework for governance of the Qoin blockchain and reserve is available here.