HOW IT ALL BEGAN
As a pediatric Speech Language Pathologist, the number one question I hear from parents is:
“It’s great when you are here but how do I help my child when you leave?”
After hearing this question countless times from families, I realized that I didn’t have the ability to train everyone to be a Speech Pathologist or to handle every situation exactly the way I would. As a result, I along with my good friend Korey Costa wrote Mondy’s Mission: Under The Sea! A children’s book that exists as a supplemental resource for parents to engage with their child on a daily basis. While the typical reading of a story is mostly a monologue from the reader, Mondy’s Mission provides speech notes that encourage a two-way dialogue and participation from your child. On each page, speech notes targeting core vocabulary and various language concepts are provided. As the child progresses, the speech notes allow for multiple stages of development all within the same story. With that being said, Mondy’s delightful creativity & spirit will capture the ever-growing minds of children in all stages of life. Mondy’s Mission will remain a resource to parents and a joy to children for years to come.
ABOUT MONDY
MONDY
Mondy is an expressive, empathetic and at times clumsy character whose mission to travel through galaxies is often hindered by his problematic ship. As he seeks to rebuild his ship, he also finds himself rebuilding the confidence of all different creatures that he encounters along the way. Although he is a lone ranger, Mondy loves making friends everywhere he goes. Even if he ended up there by accident! Mondy has a peculiar ability to identify the gifts of others -- especially in areas that they are insecure about. While he may not be able to rely on his crash-prone spacecraft, he can always rely on the friends he meets along the way!
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
AUSTIN COLLIGNON
M.S. CCC-SLP
Austin Collignon is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist with a degree from Marywood University. After college, he jumped into the workforce with early intervention, a state run program for children with ages ranging from birth to 3 years old. Austin has worked with hundreds of families and seen children with challenges such as Speech and Language Delay, Autism, Down Syndrome, Hydrocephalus, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, William's Syndrome and Costello Syndrome among others. When you don't find Austin sitting on the floor playing with Mr. Potato Head, you can most likely find him in his workshop building a gift for his wife, kicking a soccer ball around with his teammates, serving at his local church with Korey with various youth ministries, or preparing the nursery for his expected child.
KOREY COSTA
As the co-author of Mondy's Mission, Korey Costa brings his passion for cultivating a community of empathy & encouragement to Mondy's universe. He also brings along his love for rhyming! Whether through playing the piano or rapping, Korey has always enjoyed being creative. When he isn't spending time with Austin crafting Mondy's next journey, you can find Korey serving at his local church, going for a long run or scouting out the best cafés with his wife Talia.