“Books are like potato chips. You can never read just one.”
- Piccolo Tales
The Mission
Read, Laugh, Learn together!
READ. Our books are meant to foster a love for reading and give you another reason to do less screen time and enjoy a great book instead!
LAUGH. We hope our books make you and your kids laugh out loud!
LEARN. Reading together opens up conversations, stimulates language, builds vocabulary, and is just plain FUN!
TOGETHER. Sharing a good book builds connections and fosters a love for reading that lasts a lifetime!
The Creators
Lorraine Loria has taught children in both the public and private sector for over 25 years. She also enjoys facilitating trainings and workshops for parents and teachers alike. Most recently, Lorraine worked as an early literacy coach helping to support teacher’s endeavors to see that all children become successful readers. When she is not writing, Lorraine enjoys traveling, reading inspirational books, drawing and spending time with family and friends at her home in northern California.
Bonnie Spino works in a wide range of mediums and subjects, from watercolor and oil painting, to printmaking, photography and clay. Regardless of subject or media, her work is characterized by a fresh and exuberant energy and the unerring ability to capture her subject’s essence. Bonnie received her BFA in studio art and Master’s in Curriculum Design at the University of Tennessee. Before devoting herself full-time to painting, Bonnie taught art in private and public schools.
Lorraine’s Story
I’ve had the privilege of teaching young children in a variety of settings. My jobs include teaching with the public, private and homeschooling communities. For several years, I enjoyed my own business teaching enrichment classes for grades K-12. I spent several years as an early literacy coach giving workshops to teachers and parents about the building blocks of reading.
Another love of mine is writing children’s stories. I wrote my first book in 5th grade. Stories are a great way to bring people together. Then there’s creating fun characters…well let’s just say Bonnie and I laugh a lot bringing them to life in our books. We hope you will enjoy them too!
Bonnie’s Story
I love to work in a wide range of mediums and subjects, from watercolor and oil painting, to printmaking, photography and clay. Regardless of subject or media, I enjoy exploring the emotions, storylines, and motivations behind bringing characters and the worlds in which they live to life.
Now working in children’s publishing, it’s so great to see children interacting with these worlds I’ve helped to create. And better yet, applying their own imaginations and taking Piccolo characters and worlds in their own new directions.
The Story of Piccolo Tales
Two cousins were sitting by the shores of Lake Michigan one day during a family vacation. Lorraine had a dream to write books for children that were fun with an important message. Bonnie was the artist who had a passion for creating illustrations that help bring a story to life. The two talked for hours and shared ideas for a possible children’s book and that was the spark that created Piccolo Tales.
In 2013, Lorraine Loria, an educator and literacy coach and Bonnie Spino, a studio artist and art teacher, formed Piccolo Tales, a publishing company committed to producing quality children’s books, art, and other products for kids that have an important message, too.