Celebrating Creativity: OSD Teachers Share Their Inspiring Children’s Books

Oxford, Mississippi (October 17, 2024) — Oxford School District is excited to spotlight the accomplishments of two dedicated teachers, Mary Dickerson and Rae Stokes, who are published authors of children’s books. Both Mrs. Dickerson and Mrs. Stokes each share their unique stories behind what inspired them to write while working in education.
Mrs. Stokes, gifted teacher at Central Elementary School, is the author of three books: The Wildrose Journey, The Not So Toothy Tooth Fairy, and The Not So Striped Tiger.
Mrs. Stokes explained that she always enjoyed reading and began to love to write. Each of her books share the common theme of embracing one’s individuality. Whether it is a dog learning to find its perfect job, a kid who finds confidence, or a tiger who learns to just be himself, these stories help young readers face challenges and overcome them.
“I hope that young readers embrace being unique and always have courage to do things that they think may be impossible,” Mrs. Stokes said.
Mrs. Dickerson, second grade teacher at Della Davidson Elementary School, wrote A Tale of Two Friends. This story helps young learners understand the importance of sentence structure – as it follows main characters Subject and Predicate exploring “Sentence Town” and learning what it means to work together.
Mrs. Dickerson said, “Through hilarious misadventures and thoughtful reflections, they [Subject and Predicate] discover that some things are better when shared.”
These stories not only highlight the creativity of Mrs. Dickerson and Mrs. Stokes but also serve as a reminder of the impact teachers have on young minds both inside and outside of the classroom.