Hello! My name is Dr. Andrew Vassall. I am a passionate educator who serves students, professionals, and communities. In 2023, I earned recognition as a Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year semifinalist.
Early in my career in urban education, I discovered a passion for literacy. I dedicated myself to helping students who read below grade level. As I strengthened my expertise, I found new ways to improve reading skills and build student confidence.
My work also sparked a love for storytelling. I use stories to share my students’ experiences and amplify their voices. That passion inspired me to write The Black Crayon and Family Means Love.
I look forward to sharing many more stories with you. Thank you for joining me on this exciting journey!
The Black Crayon is a colorful, vibrant, and engaging story about a box of crayons. Among them is one black crayon who longs to be accepted. He feels different and struggles to see his own worth. Everything begins to change when a little girl named Laila shows him kindness and love. Through her friendship, the black crayon discovers his inner beauty and learns that everyone has a special purpose.
This book not only teaches self-awareness, but also teaches cultural awareness to young children. AMAZON
The Black Crayon Workbook offers five days of engaging activities that strengthen children’s literacy skills. Young readers practice identifying character traits, understanding story structure, recognizing themes, and writing summaries. The workbook reinforces key reading concepts while extending the lessons from The Black Crayon through fun, hands-on learning.
The activities in this book are broken down by grade levels. This workbook also supports Common Core State Standards AMAZON
Children will learn how to overcome obstacles in their lives as they follow with Black Crayon and his friends and fill their world with color in the coloring book! AMAZON
In a world of emotions, calm can be just one color away. Meet Blue, the crayon who helps children handle life’s ups and downs. Through simple moments of mindfulness and creativity, students learn how to relax their bodies, focus their minds, and feel safe again. A comforting story for every child learning to manage their feelings. AMAZON
The Blue Crayon Workbook is a five-day activity book that helps children build strong literacy skills. Young readers practice identifying character traits, understanding story structure, recognizing themes, and writing summaries. The activities align with specific grade levels, making it easy to meet students where they are. The workbook also aligns with Common Core State Standards, making it a valuable resource for parents, teachers, and homeschool families. AMAZON
Children will learn how to overcome obstacles in their lives as they follow along with Blue Crayon and his friends and fill their world with color. AMAZON