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Danna Southwell

About Author

Danna Southwell is a lifelong educator, musician, storyteller, and devoted mother and grandmother whose love for children is at the heart of everything she writes.

Raised in Utah and later Evanston, Wyoming, Danna earned her BA in Elementary Education from Brigham Young University, with a minor in Music. She went on to teach fourth grade in Salt Lake City before moving to California with her husband, where they raised one daughter and five sons.

Throughout her life, Danna has continued working with children through education and music. She built a successful piano studio, taught music in elementary schools, and had the honor of directing children’s choirs that performed at the Reagan Library during an event attended by President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Today, Danna is a proud grandmother of 15 and great-grandmother of 7. Her grandchildren helped inspire her love of storytelling, often asking her to invent stories using characters they chose. Those moments were filled with laughter, imagination, and meaningful lessons about happiness, kindness, and helping others.

When she is not writing or teaching, Danna enjoys gardening, quilting, spending time with her family, and raising chickens. Through her books, she hopes every child will understand one simple but powerful truth: you are special, and kindness and love can make a lasting difference.

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