Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Johnson.
Valerie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
For more than 30 years, I worked as an elementary teacher, sixth-grade math teacher, mathematics specialist, and curriculum developer, helping make math engaging, accessible, and fun.
Later in life, I discovered my own inner math kid, which shaped my mission to help children build a positive relationship with math before they doubt their abilities or believe math isn’t for them.
When I retired from education, I wasn’t ready to stop teaching—I wanted to reach children differently. I became a children’s book author, combining my love of teaching, storytelling, and math.
My first picture book, 1 2 3 Count with Me on Granddad’s Farm, introduces counting through a heartwarming story about family and farm life. My newest book, I Am a Math Kid, helps children discover math in everyday experiences—from games and questions to creating and problem-solving. Its message challenges the belief that some children are math kids and others aren’t: every kid is a math kid.
Through my company, West Oak Lane Kids, I bring math and literacy together to build confidence and nurture curious, capable thinkers. I’m also growing Math Champions for Kids, which provides books and hands-on math resources to children in Title I schools and underserved communities.
I may have retired from the classroom, but I’ve never retired from my passion for helping children learn, grow, and believe in themselves.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges has been building visibility and getting my books in front of the people who need to hear their message. Writing and publishing a book is one thing; marketing it, building relationships, and growing a business are entirely different challenges. As an educator, I was accustomed to focusing on children and learning, not promoting myself or running a business.
I’ve had to learn new skills, find creative ways to share my work, and step outside my comfort zone to connect with schools, families, and community partners. There are moments when it feels overwhelming, but I’ve learned to embrace opportunities even when they feel intimidating. My motto has become, “Do it scared.” I remind myself that it’s never too late to try something new or pursue a dream.
Ultimately, my mission keeps me moving forward: helping children build confidence and discover that every kid is a math kid. When I remember why I started, I find the motivation to keep learning, making connections, and finding new ways to make a difference.
As you know, we’re big fans of West Oak Lane Kids, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
West Oak Lane Kids is a children’s publishing company built around a simple but powerful belief: every kid is a math kid. Through books and joyful learning experiences, I help children discover the math in their everyday lives, build confidence, and recognize and embrace their identity as math kids.
My specialty is bringing math and literacy together. Through books like 1 2 3 Count with Me on Granddad’s Farm and I Am a Math Kid, I make math approachable, engaging, and fun. I want children to see that math is more than numbers and worksheets—it’s something they use naturally when they play, explore, create, ask questions, and make sense of the world.
As a retired educator with more than 30 years of experience, I know that helping children develop a positive relationship with math is just as important as building skills. I want them to recognize their abilities before they begin to believe math isn’t for them.
I’m also growing Math Champions for Kids, an initiative connecting community supporters with books and hands-on math resources for children in Title I schools and underserved communities. So far, we’ve reached 2 schools, 6 classrooms, and 108 books—and counting! I’m proud to turn my mission into action and help more children access joyful learning experiences and see their potential reflected in the books they read.
What I’m most proud of is building a brand that brings together my experience as an educator, my passion for math, and my belief in every child’s potential. Math became my superpower, and I want children to discover theirs—to embrace math with confidence and proudly say, “I am a math kid!”
How do you think about luck?
I’m not sure I believe in luck as much as I believe that sometimes life leads you in directions you never expected. Becoming a children’s book author wasn’t something I set out to do. In many ways, I feel like being an author chose me rather than me choosing it.
After more than 30 years in education, I found a new way to continue doing what I’ve always loved: helping children learn and believe in themselves. I took the knowledge and passion I’d developed as an educator and turned them into books and a business with a purpose.
There have been unexpected opportunities along the way, but I’ve also had to work hard to create opportunities for myself, learn new skills, and put my work out into the world. I believe that being open to new possibilities, taking chances, and continuing to move forward—even when you don’t have everything figured out—can lead you somewhere meaningful.
Looking back, I’m grateful that this unexpected path led me here. What may have started as an unplanned next chapter has become a way to reach children beyond the classroom and share a message I deeply believe in: every kid is a math kid.
Pricing:
- I Am a Math Kid — Paperback: $14.99 | Hardcover: $19.99
- 1 2 3 Count with Me on Granddad’s Farm — Paperback: $12.99 | Hardcover: $17.99
- Write and Illustrate Your Own Book: You’re the Author Journal for Kids — $13.99
- Math Champions for Kids: Readers can support efforts to provide books and hands-on math resources to children in Title I and underserved schools: https://www.gofundme.com/gift-books-to-title-i-schools
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.westoaklanekids.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolkidsllc/
