[to order, book covers are linked to Amazon.com
or may be purchased directly from the Publisher
at Watermark Publishing, HI]

featured

  • Breaking the Silence

    Breaking The Silence

    Breaking the Silence is an essential book for Alzheimer's caregivers. It's a thoughtful and honest look into what caregivers face each day, coping with incredible pressure, anxiety, and difficult decisions. Frances weaves her poetry and that of six other caregivers together, along with journal entries and advice for the novice poet.


    "...a book of enormous hope and transformation."
    ~Bruce Jennings, Director of Bioethics Center for
    Humans and Nature New York, NY

  • Mosaic Moon

    Mosaic Moon

    Mosaic Moon is much more than an extraordinary collection of inspirational poetry. Here is a unique resource for anyone with a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's disease or other long-term illness. Created from poetry workshops conducted by the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter, this writing tool for non-writers is brimming with ideas and techniques for finding solace in journaling and poetry. Designed for both individual caregivers and for support groups organizing workshops, Mosaic Moon offers hope, humor and a powerful antidote to the heavy burden of caregiving.

  • Wordsworth The Poet

    Wordsworth The Poet

    Wordsworth writes poetry—about rainbows made of butterflies and castles in the clouds. But all the other mice in the Hawaiian rain forest make fun of Wordsworth and his "silly" poems, until the day the sun disappears, and the sky rumbles, and the rain begins to fall and fall. That's when Wordsworth takes pen in hand and shows the others how poetry can save the day. In this heartwarming children's story by poet and educator Frances H. Kakugawa, young readers can learn the value of self-expression, then try writing their own poems about the world around them.


    Wordsworth the Poet was the recipient of the 2004 Ka Palapala Book Award for Excellence in Children's Books from the Hawaii Book Publishers' Association.
    Age level: 4 and up.

  • Wordsworth! Stop The Bulldozer

    Wordsworth! Stop the Bulldozer!

    There are so many changes happening in Wordsworth's life— his best friend Emily has moved away, a new girl from Japan named Akiko is sitting in Emily's chair at school and, worst of all, a bulldozer has invaded Wordsworth's special koa grove where he thinks up new poems. What should Wordsworth do?

    "I would want someone to be nice to Emily," thinks Wordsworth. So he and his friends, Eliot and Dylan, invite Akiko to teach them about Japanese poetry. And what a good thing, too, because it is Akiko who has a clever idea to save the neighborhood trees from being knocked down.

  • Wordsworth Dances The Waltz

    Wordsworth Dances The Waltz

    Wordsworth, the little Hawaiian mouse who loves poetry, doesn't understand why there is so much whispering around the house since Grandma came to live with his family. He remembers her last visit, when the house was filled with laughter, and he and Grandma danced around the room together. But now, Wordsworth and his siblings have to walk softly and be quiet so they don't disturb Grandma. In Wordsworth Dances the Waltz, children are introduced to the concept that as grandparents age, they may become different, and even forget important things. Wordsworth finds comfort in writing poems that express his confusion over the changes in his beloved grandparent and the fond memories he has of her more vibrant days. He wonders, "Now that shes losing her memory/She's still my Grandma, isnt she?" The answer, of course, is yes—nothing could ever change that. Wordsworth's poems help his family understand that Grandma would still like to do things she always loved—spending time with the family, laughing and dancing.

    Wordsworth Dances the Waltz is dedicated to author Frances Kakugawa's late mother, Matsue, who was afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Frances was her primary caregiver for five years; during that time she found that poetry and journaling helped to ease the rigorous burden of caregiving.


    Wordsworth Dances the Waltz received the Bronze Award in the Best Book Overall category, as well as the award for Best Illustrated Children's Book from the Northern California Publishers & Authors (NCPA) group for books published in 2007.



    "As with all of Kakugawa's other works, this one provides powerful insights to young and old alike . . . The book makes it clear that the author is no arm-chair story-teller when it comes to caring for and about people."
    ~Red Slider
    • It's In Your Pocket

      Wordsworth, It's In Your Pocket

      Wordsworth has hardly seen his friends all summer. They have been too caught up in their electronic devices to pay attention to anything around them, and now they are tangled in wires and gadgets! A mysterious old mouse tells him that the secret to saving his friends is in his pocket-what does he have that can help?

      Emphasizing creative play, imagination and the fun of the outdoors over the allure of video games, computers and cellular phones, this new Wordsworth adventure is a gentle reminder for families that it's important for young minds to unplug and enjoy real-world friends and activities. Wordsworth, It's In Your Pocket is the fourth book in the award-winning series of Wordsworth books featuring the poetry-loving mouse.


      Previous Wordsworth titles have received top honors from the Hawaii Book Publishers Association and Northern California Publishers Association. as well as a Silver Award from Mom's Choice.