About the Author
Amy Brunsting has dedicated her life to helping children learn, grow, and thrive. She earned her degree in Elementary Education from Wayne State College while working part-time at Rainbow World Day Care in Wayne, Nebraska. After graduation, she taught at Head Start Preschool in Ida Grove, Iowa, where she continued her education by earning endorsements in Reading and Early Childhood Education from Morningside College.
In 1999, Amy returned to her hometown of Cherokee, Iowa, to teach Preschool Special Education. While teaching, she completed additional coursework at the University of Northern Iowa to earn her Preschool Special Education endorsement. After five years, she transitioned to teaching kindergarten, where she spent four years before earning her master’s degree in School Counseling.
Since 2008, Amy has served as an elementary school counselor, a role she considers her dream job. She also earned a Talented and Gifted (TAG) endorsement and taught TAG while serving as a school counselor for five years.
Amy lives with her husband, Mike, and loves their blended family of eight. The addition of grandchildren has brought much joy to their lives.
Whether in the classroom, the counseling office, or through her writing, Amy is passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families. Guided by her Christian faith, she believes God has called her to serve others and hopes her books encourage young readers to grow in kindness, confidence, and character.
Addison James – Illustrator
About the Illustrator
Addison James is a sophomore at Buena Vista University, IA, where she is pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. She finds inspiration through the students she has worked with and is passionate about celebrating their unique ideas, personalities, and perspectives through her illustrations.
One of Addison’s greatest inspirations is her high school art teacher, Mr. K. His encouragement and belief in her abilities left a lasting impression. He taught her to embrace new challenges and to value constructive feedback as an important part of growing as an artist. His guidance played a significant role in helping her pursue illustration with confidence.
Addison lives in Cherokee, Iowa. She hopes to become an elementary teacher while continuing to illustrate children’s books. Through both teaching and art, she hopes to inspire young people to believe in themselves and discover that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
Books by Amy L. Brunsting
Choice = Change
Help children discover the power of their choices.
In Choice = Change, Max learns that his actions and attitudes affect more than just himself—they impact his friendships, his classroom, and the way he feels about who he is becoming. Through honest reflection and real-life situations, children see that mistakes are opportunities to learn, grow, and make better choices.
This engaging story provides a meaningful way for teachers and parents to start conversations about attitude, responsibility, kindness, and personal growth. Children will be encouraged to recognize their own choices, understand their impact, and become someone they can be proud of.
