January 30th at 3:30-5:30, local Mom & son team are launching the publishing of their second book of their series at Novel Memphis. To make it extra special, it is on co-author, Payton’s, 10th birthday! “If You Take a Groundhog Home as a Pet” is the second book from our “Mom and son” co-author series about a very determined little boy hoping to fulfill his dream of finally having a pet.
The series started in hopes to inspire a frustrated, ADHD (son and co-author), Payton, to want to learn. The series is written from Payton’s voice and Mom as “guided author” which sets the tone of the relationship for Mom and Payton as they build trust to strengthen their bond to solve the chaotic problems and even mistakes together as a team.
“If You Take a Groundhog Home as a Pet” continues to build from the storyline of their previous book, “If You Take a Cicada Home as a Pet”, embarking on how slowing down and paying attention to details impacts not only us but also those around us.
The hope of the series is to inspire both child and parent that sometimes some of our greatest struggles can also be some of our greatest strengths. Having ADHD isn’t completely bad. Yes, there is the struggle of paying attention, being absent minded, or acting without thinking as we see with our young author’s character struggle within the series.
However, the book most importantly shows a creative, imaginative, courageous, and energetic little boy realizing that ADHD can also have some amazing strengths especially when asking for a little help. This humorous yet educational book on a little boy’s take on Groundhog Day gives an unforgettable experience of Payton’s journey in conquering obstacles leading to becoming the local town hero.
This blog was written by Kathleen Weatherford aka "Mom" & Payton Burk
Kathleen Weatherford and Payton Burk are a “Mom and son” co-author team of the “It’s Me Payton” book series about a very determined little boy hoping to fulfill his dream of finally having a pet. The series was started to inspire a very frustrated and ADHD, co-author and son, Payton, to want to learn. So far the Mom and son team have published “If You Take a Cicada Home as a Pet” and “If You Take a Groundhog Home as a Pet”, with plans of releasing the third potential pet in the series by May of 2025.
Payton is a fourth grader at Christ Methodist Day School in Memphis who loves sports, Georgia bulldogs, Memphis Tigers, traveling, and creating hot sauce for his hot sauce company that he co-owns with Mom called “Burning Bunghole- the kind of burn that lingers”. (Yes, our creative co-author, Payton named the company!) Throughout the series, you will see Payton’s favorite things featured in the illustrations.
Kathleen Weatherford, “Mom”, is a metalsmith and jewelry designer for her jewelry company, Grace by Kathleen Weatherford. Her studio is based here in Memphis in the Broad Arts District. She started her career in music and songwriting then entered the commercial insurance industry after moving home after her father’s diagnosis with a terminal cancer. Kathleen has always had a love for fundraising and has served on numerous boards including the Insurors of Memphis, the Insurors of Tennessee, the American Cancer Society, Carl Perkins Center, Memphis in May, The Rotary, Women in Business, and started a cancer research foundation based out of MD Anderson in honor of her late father.