An Exclusive Feature on One of the World’s Most Awarded Authors in Children’s Education Literature
For over thirty five years, Dr. Dawn Menge has stood at the intersection of compassion, creativity, and courage. As an award winning author, special education expert, and lecturer, she has touched thousands of lives across continents through her classrooms, her research, her books, and her heartfelt advocacy. Today, she is celebrated globally for her Queen Vernita Educational Series and Queen Giggles Kingdom stories, which have earned over ninety international literacy awards and more than two hundred film festival recognitions.
But behind this extraordinary journey lies a story that is deeply human, shaped by resilience, unexpected detours, and a profound belief in the dignity of every learner.
Finding Her Calling, A Journey She Never Expected
Dr. Dawn never planned on becoming a special education teacher. Her early life was pointed in a different direction, built on goals around child development and business management. She earned her child development credential, completed an associate degree in business management, and secured a preschool teaching position.
Then life intervened.
A sudden and severe case of thyroid poisoning shifted everything. The illness took three years to recover from, forcing her to reevaluate her path.
When she eventually entered the world of education again, she found herself drawn toward a position in a special needs classroom. The decision was filled with uncertainty. She had heard frightening stories about the challenges teachers faced in this environment.
Yet, when she stepped into her first special education classroom, something clicked.
“I was fortunate to have two wonderful mentors who taught me well,” she shares. Their influence sparked a passion that would define her entire career.
She pursued degrees through one of the earliest distance learning programs, studying from VHS lectures while raising her children. She completed her BA in Human Development, took on her first junior high class, and then began teaching the same students through high school and into adulthood.
“We had such a great time during those years,” she recalls. “They worked hard, raised their reading levels, learned to navigate the community, and even went swimming with dolphins.”
Her students stayed with her until their twenty second birthday, becoming part of her extended family. These early years set the foundation for a lifetime of dedication to students with autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, orthopedic disorders, and diverse cognitive delays.
A Creative Universe Born From the Classroom
One of the most extraordinary parts of Dr. Dawn’s journey is how her teaching experiences transformed into one of the world’s most beloved educational book series.
The first Queen Vernita book began as a simple math class assignment. It was originally titled Queen Victoria’s Visitorsand featured her students as characters. When she decided to publish the book, she renamed it after her grandmother Vernita, a respected matriarch and businesswoman in their family.
That decision sparked a legacy.
The Queen Vernita series, now fourteen books strong, blends adventure with educational structure. Each book is built around the months of the year, the seasons, and the rhythm of daily experiences. The Queen welcomes a new visitor each month, all of whom are real children from Dr. Dawn’s own family.
“Children love the fact that the Queen’s friends are real people, and sometimes they are at the readings,” she explains. “It makes everything more exciting and personal.”
The stories have created emotional connections across cultures and generations.
One teacher told Dr. Dawn that an immigrant family from Africa used the books to practice English together, from the grandmother to the daughter. Another reader from China connected deeply with the themes of friendship and cultural understanding.
Her stories became bridges, linking families, cultures, and learning styles.
An Author Who Never Stopped Learning
When Dr. Dawn published her first book, she won first place at the Evvy Awards. The unexpected recognition motivated her to build her author platform. She began entering literacy awards and found herself welcomed into an international writing community.
Through the Story Monster Magazine awards, she built treasured friendships and eventually became a book reviewer and literacy contest judge for the publication.
Soon, her work found its way into film festivals.
She attended her first festival in Las Vegas during the pandemic, where her book trailers appeared on the big screen.
“One of my most memorable moments was when Precious the Baby Dragon was chosen as the featured live action screenplay,” she shares. The children at a local playhouse adapted her book into a musical, complete with singing, dancing, and humor. “It was an author’s dream come true.”
Her journey continued to expand, taking her to London, where she received an award at Parliament. She then traveled to Scotland for a wellness retreat, staying in a castle and connecting with global audiences eager to hear her story.
Balancing Many Hats With Purpose
Dr. Dawn describes her roles as author, educator, lecturer, and researcher as “many hats that are all connected.”
She emphasizes the importance of rest, family time, travel, and even simple pajama weekends.
“Self care is essential,” she says. “The paperwork will still be there in the morning.”
This philosophy is one she passes on to educators entering the field.
“Do not burn yourself out, and remember, you cannot solve all the problems,” she advises future teachers. “Spend time with your own families too.”
Creating Education That Feels Alive
What makes learning engaging for children, according to Dr. Dawn, is authenticity.
Her stories feel real because they are real. The characters are based on people she knows, the adventures stem from real events, and the themes draw from life experiences.
This authenticity resonates not only with children, but with adult learners as well.
Her Queen Vernita books help immigrant adults learning English grasp written language through repetition and context.
“Learning becomes exciting when stories feel personal,” she explains.
Her books also act as social tools. They teach lessons about friendships, culture, emotions, and social expectations. Through Queen Giggles and Queen Vernita, students learn empathy, choices, and consequences in ways that feel safe and accessible.
Curriculum Tailored for Every Child
Special education requires precision and collaboration.
Each student has an Individualized Education Plan developed by a team including the parent, teacher, school psychologist, nurse, counselors, and specialists in speech, occupational therapy, mobility, vision, and hearing.
California recently expanded high school diploma eligibility for students with disabilities, and Dr. Dawn’s school uses Teachtown, a differentiated curriculum designed for diverse learning styles.
Her students also grow vegetables, participate in supported employment programs, and learn life skills like riding the bus, budgeting, and navigating the community.
“Community integration opens opportunities,” she notes. “The more they learn during public schooling, the more they will have for the rest of their lives.”
Misconceptions and the Need for Empathy
One of the biggest misconceptions she encounters is when people see the disability before the person.
“Our students are people first,” she says. “They want happy, active lives just like their peers. They just need a little extra help.”
Her mission is to show that ability, not limitation, is what defines a person.
Writing Through Pain, Healing Through Storytelling
Queen Giggles Kingdom began from one of the most difficult chapters of her life.
For several years, she was stalked and harassed by a woman who created chaos in her personal and professional life.
The stress was overwhelming. But on a road trip to Las Vegas, she found healing through writing.
“Dragon’s Breath was born out of that pain,” she says.
She transformed the trauma into a story about a dragon who hurts villagers while pretending to help them. It was a narrative about manipulation, loss, resilience, and courage.
Publishing it took years, as she needed to feel safe again. But the story won major film festival awards and deeply connected with audiences.
The sequel, Precious the Baby Dragon, offers hope and healing, showing the Queen and King raising a baby dragon who brings joy and support to the villagers.
The series is continuing, expanding Precious’s adventures in new directions.
Bridging Creativity and Research
Dr. Dawn’s work as a researcher on IEP goals informs her writing, and her writing informs her teaching.
“I began writing because I am an educator,” she explains. “Many of my books include children with disabilities, and I am a huge advocate for literacy at every age.”
Her adventures are drawn from real life, and she believes in saying yes to opportunities that stretch her imagination.
“Each time you say yes, you open a door to something new,” she says.
The Future of Queen Vernita and Queen Giggles
Several new books are in editing, including:
• Queen Vernita Sleeps Under the Starry Skies
• Queen Vernita’s Adventures in Joshua Tree
• Queen Vernita Explores the Roman Empire
• Queen Vernita’s Adventures in Italy
Upcoming titles include adventures in Ireland, Ghana, London, Scotland, Dubai, San Diego, Big Sur, Zion, the Grand Canyon, and more.
She is also quietly developing new behind the scenes projects that she says will bring the Queens to an even larger global audience.
A Message to Parents, Educators, and Young Readers
“Thank you for allowing my adventures to enter your world,” she says warmly.
“The Queens are here to inspire, to educate, to build connections, and to show how we are all connected worldwide.”
She invites readers to stay tuned. There is much more to come.