8
Business Years
72
Medical Specialists
800+
Happy Customers
2
Awards
Meet The HOPEiDONT Team
Hello, I'm Franklin Smith, author of HOPEiDONT Books. I'd like to introduce you to the passionate team creating resources for your classroom, therapy office, or home. I trust them and I believe you will too. Each person involved brings something special to the table, and I want you to know why I chose them to be a part of the HOPEiDONT story. Born from the creativity of three knucklehead dads and guided by a team of dedicated educators and mental health professionals, HOPEiDONT Books blends playful storytelling with evidence-informed tools to support children's emotional growth. Our beloved Bigfoot characters, Buz and Budger, help kids navigate big feelings and important safety lessons-like fire, water, natural disasters, and bullying-in ways that feel fun, safe, and empowering. Together, our child-focused professionals collaborate with illustrators, animators, songwriters, and storytellers to create engaging characters and resources that connect with children while providing real tools for social and emotional learning.
TESTIMONIALS
CONTACT US
MICHAELA HYLE
DIRECTOR OF THERAPEUTIC SUPPORTS
WHY IS MICHAELA'S HOPEIDONT SOMETIMES PINK?
I met Micahela under unique circumstances. Close friends of mine were fostering three little angels who had a tough start to their lives. The girls' foster parents asked me to read Slime Time Fun to the kids. Through this interaction, I learned about Michaela. Worship may be too strong of a word, but that is how the girls viewed their counselor, Michaela. I knew I needed her on my team, and once she came on board, she became a leader in building interventions, trauma-related resources, and fun activities that kids can learn from. She's always studying our process and looking for creative ways to reach kids, and that is why her HOPEiDONT is sometimes pink.
QUALIFICATIONS:
BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CHILDREN'S STUDIES WITH MINORS IN PSYCHOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY
MASTERS DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY WITH EMPHASIS ON FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
PRACTICING THERAPIST FOR NINE YEARS, SPECIALIZING IN PLAY THERAPY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA
CERTIFIED IN CHILD PARENT PSYCHOTHERAPY
CERTIFIED IN INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS
GRACIOUSLY PUTS UP WITH FRANKLIN
ALI MARDEROSIAN LEAD EDUCATOR HOPEiDONT BOOKS
WHY IS ALI'S HOPEiDONT SOMETIMES PURPLE?
Ali often has a purple HOPEiDONT when working with me. I mean this as a compliment. Ali is always looking through the lens of how the child, caregiver, or child professional is going to engage with our resources. That means editing my stories and ideas to correspond with best practices for education while keeping it fun for the kids. I've also got to witness how Ali interacts with her own family and raises her children. Ali is an authentic and kind human being who has a way of identifying creative experiences for children. I hope you all get a chance to interact with Ali through HOPEiDONTt in person, on webinars, social media, or through correspondence. She is important to our team, and I hope you value her as I do. Ali is committed to her community, her family and your needs as a child professional. Ali and Michaela make a great team to coordinate the resources HOPEiDONT includes with each book.
QUALIFICATIONS:
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION
MASTERS DEGREE IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOLOGY FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY
SHE HAS WORKED IN BOTH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AS WELL AS HOME SETTINGS IMPLEMENTING ABA AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS
CERTIFIED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR WITH TRAINING IN BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT SERVICES
SHE GRACIOUSLY PUTS UP WITH FRANKLIN
MARK MARDEROSIAN
LEAD ANIMATOR AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR
WHY IS MARK'S HOPEiDONT SOMETIMES ORANGE?
Sometimes in life, you meet someone and from day one, you know they were meant to cross paths with you. With Mark, it wasn't just passing by, I held on tight because I knew this was who I trusted to create the characters in the HOPEiDONT stories. Mark is a great listener with a humble and kind spirit that stimulates the creative side of our team. I don't want to imagine a HOPEiDONTt world where Mark is not creating the last blade of grass. When you get to know Mark, you see his good character which translates to the personalities of the HOPEiDONT characters. I simply write stories, but Mark gives HOPEiDONT a heartbeat. My appreciation for Mark is immeasurable.
QUALIFICATIONS:
MARK HAS ILLUSTRATED FOR WALT DISNEY THEME PARKS AND DISNEY PUBLISHING FOR OVER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
MARK HAS WORKED ON PRINCESS BOOKS WHILE ILLUSTRATING BOOKS FOR NICKELODEON, CARTOON NETWORK, AND HASBRO TOYS
HE'S HOSTED A HOW-TO-DRAW EDUCATIONAL TV SHOW AND CREATED A DVD SERIES
HE'S TAUGHT DRAWING TO ALL AGES DURING GUEST APPEARANCES FROM KINDERGARTEN TO COLLEGE TO SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES.
KRYSTAL BAKER
SONGWRITER AND DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
WHY IS KRYSTAL'S HOPEiDONT SOMETIMES YELLOW?
The first time I heard Krystal sing was an accident. I was doing a call with Mark, our Illustrator, while in a restaurant. Krystal was doing a sound check, and ironically, Mark and I were discussing who we would get to write and sing the songs. I wanted a female voice for our customers, as most of them are female. I wanted a strong, independent, and talented singer who could authentically connect with teachers, parents, therapists, and, of course, children. I said to Mark, "I think she's standing right in front of me." I approached her in the parking lot after the show, just as any creep would do, and gave her a book. She was receptive and kind (her HOPEiDONTt was Pink), and that was the day I met Krystal Baker. Soon, I was introduced to her talented family, and today she is one of my closest friends. I could easily find 100 people who would make the same claim, and that is why Krystals HOPEiDONT is often yellow, because she manufactures peaceful and trusting relationships. People just like her. I think you are going to love her and her music. She will be one of your favorite humans. She's one of mine. I wanted a writer who would reflect real emotions and find people where they are at. I believe you and your children will value her as I do.
QUALIFICATIONS:
KRYSTAL STUDIED BUSINESS AND PSYCHOLOGY IN COLLEGE, DEVELOPING A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR
FOR THE PAST 28 YEARS, SHE HAS ALSO BEEN DEEPLY IMMERSED IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC--WRITING, PERFORMING, AND CREATING SONGS THAT RESONATE WITH DIVERSE AUDIENCES
HER BACKGROUND BLENDS ANALYTICAL THINKING WITH CREATIVE EXPRESSION, ALLOWING HER TO APPROACH EVERY PROJECT WITH INSIGHT, PASSION, AND DEEP CONNECTION TO PEOPLE.
MICHELLE DOMANOWSKI
DIRECTOR OF ANIMATION
WHY IS MICHELLE'S HOPEiDONT SOMETIMES ORANGE?
I was immediately impressed with Michelle's composure and mannerisms, which also translated to her obvious animation skills. She has a confident calmness in her nature that pairs well with her passion for animation. I trust Michelle to work closely with Mark to bring our readers the best animation options for learning and entertainment. Michelle is credited with introducing the only human in our stories, which is a young lady named Krystal (yes, after the singer) who is the only human that sees the Bigfoots. Michelle has had to have patience for several months while HOPEiDONT readied itself for animation, and that's why her HOPEiDONT is sometimes orange. I hope you are as excited as I am to see what this young lady creates.
QUALIFICATIONS:
MICHELLE IS A GIFTED STORYTELLER AND FOUNDER OF KRIS ANIMATION STUDIO, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN ANIMATED CONTENT FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
AFTER EARNING HER MFA IN SCREENWRITING FROM FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY AND GAINING YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN STORY DEVELOPMENT AT PIPLELINE MEDIA GROUP MICHELLE LAUNCHED KRIS ANIMATION STUDIO IN 2022
MICHELLE'S SEATTLE-BASED TEAM HAS PRODUCED SHORT FILMS, WEB SERIES, AND EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS FOR CLIENTS SUCH AS PEARSON, PICKLE SYSTEM, AND NON-PROFITS LIKE MARY'S MEALS USA
KRIS ANIMATION STUDIO IS ALSO THE TEAM BEHIND A GIRL CALLED ROUND, A 2024 NOMINEE FOR BEST CHILDREN'S ANIMATION AT THE BLACK FILM FESTIVAL OF NEW ORLEANS
PAUL LAZOWSKI
OPERATIONS
WHY IS PAUL'S HOPEiDONT SOMETIMES ORANGE?
Paul is a big part of the creative development behind HOPEiDONT Books. His eye for detail has really helped in our development as a company. Whenever I ask him for advice, regardless of the topic, he usually will end the conversation with "Make it fun." Paul wasn't just an early adopter of HOPEiDONT, he is the caretaker as well. Paul, Mark, and I enjoy finding ways to support the ideas of this creative team. Paul never stops believing in what is and what will be in regard to HOPEiDONT. He's more behind the scenes, but his impact is critical. When I wrote the story, I thought there would be 32 different HOPEiDONT'S, but Paul wisely told me, "There is only one HOPEiDONT and it changes color with its emotions like a mood ring." I had written the story, but Paul helped me mold it into an effective and sustainable resource. Paul always fills in the gaps for me. He's honest, smart, and patient. What better friend could I ask for? Paul is always anticipating what I don't see, and that's why sometimes his HOPEiDONT is orange.
QUALIFICATIONS:
BUSINESS OWNER, DAD, GRANDPA, AND FRANKLIN'S BUDDY
FRANKLIN SMITH
AUTHOR
THIS YOUNG LADY IN THE PICTURE IS WHY WE WORK SO HARD AT HOPEiDONT.
SHE IS WORTH IT AND SO ARE YOU
WHY IS FRANKLIN'S HOPEiDONT SOMETIMES YELLLOW?
I was encouraged to write a children's story by my daughters and one of my closest friends. I initially wrote the story to be read in five parts over a week. Each night, you could pick up where you left off. I completed the long manuscript, but something was missing, and I never moved forward with it.
One day, while helping a friend on a job site, I was asked by Paul Lazowski if I was going to play some Shania Twain music tonight? (I also play country music, and he and his wife would come and listen regularly) I was on a ladder six feet in the air, and I looked down and said, "I hope I don't." Having slurred the words together in my usual lazy speech, Paul looked up at me and said, "What is a HOPEiDONT?"
I immediately went to my truck and wrote "Slime Time Fun" and built the story around two adolescent Bigfoots that live on Mt. St. Helens with a new character called a HOPEiDONT.
Over the next year, I was told my book reflected social emotional learning. I didn't know what that was, but soon therapists, teachers, doctors, and many child life specialists at Children's Hospital brought me up to speed. Now we have a complete team of experts that understand how to incorporate our characters that Paul, Mark, and I created, into something that helps child professionals and families navigate the complex world of emotions.
I'm very thankful (that is why my HOPEiDONT is sometimes yellow) to be on this journey with the special people who contribute to the HOPEiDONT resources.
HOPEiDONT is for you and the children in your life, and HOPEiDONT commits to building your resources with people who value fun, effectiveness, and learning. It's been an exciting journey so far. Thank you for joining us as we build adventures for Buz and Budger.
QUALIFICATIONS:
DAD