Burbank writer to share his ‘mouse’ adventures at Media City Center
A former writer of the TV show “The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” is looking to bring kindness and empathy back to children’s books.
Jimmy Danelli, 65, a Burbank native, will be at the Barnes & Noble in the Media City Center on Nov. 19 to promote his two books with Straight from the Heart Publishing — “Mouse for the Holidays” and “Mouse and the Big Show.”
“Mouse for the Holidays” is a story about a mouse who has to save the day after Santa Claus is hindered by a snowstorm, and it tries to teach children about giving and being selfless. On the other hand, “Mouse and the Big Show” teaches about the value of self-confidence and how to overcome fear.
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The two books are the latest stories from Danelli’s line of children’s books featuring Mouse as the protagonist. He has had several book signings with his first book, “Mouse Goes to the Beach,” and always gets a kick when he hears from parents and children who like his book.
“I’ve been approached by parents who tell me that they’ve been looking for books like this for their children,” he said. “That makes my day. There’s not a lot of money in this, but that is the real reward.”
Danelli, who also was one of the writers of Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving,” said he shopped his books around with several major publishers, but was denied by all of them because, according to Danelli, “Winnie the Pooh was not edgy enough.
“I wouldn’t let it deter me,” he said. “So I worked out a deal with Ingram [Publishing] and Barnes & Noble and now they’re selling my books. I’m just thrilled and thrilled that I’m able to give to the community and do something positive for children, which has always been a passion of mine.”
Though Danelli does not have any children of his own, he said that he understands how hard it is for parents to raise a child. After taking a parenting class at John Burroughs High School when he was 18 years old, Danelli said that he believed it was important to help new parents.
“When you have a child, it doesn’t come with a book of instructions on how to raise a child,” he said.
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Anthony Clark Carpio, anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com
Twitter: @acocarpio
