How To Purchase

The flat rate for shipping is $5.00. You can order 5 max at this time. Please contact for larger orders. Hardback is $25, paperback is $20. Credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Venmo and CashApp (accepted). If you live in the Rochester area, please contact me to make pick up/drop off arrangements if you do not want it shipped.Venmo: LaToya-Grady-1

I'm Local: I Will Pick Up Book

• Buy Hardcover $25 (PickUp)
• Buy Paperback $20 (Pickup)

Please mail book to me

• Buy Hardcover $25 plus $5 Shipping
• Buy Paperback $20 plus $5 Shipping

About La Toya

Hello friends!I’m La Toya and I adore whimsical and riveting children’s books! As a special education teacher for over 20 years, I’ve read, enjoyed, and celebrated countless books with dynamic characters and fascinating storylines. But every once in a while, I wanted to share a story with my students, and I couldn’t find the exact story I wished to share. Throughout the years when that would happen, I would write my own stories to help students better understand concepts or just to give concepts a little razzle-dazzle. If I needed a unique way to teach inferences, or to teach the multiple ways you can make 25 cents with coins. I would come up with something. Interestingly, I’ve never attempted to publish my work until now.“Luke’s Cello and the Funny Looking Stick” was inspired by my son, Roman Luke’s journey with the cello. In the book, Luke discovers that you can still be great even when no one is around to hear you, and the readers discover that you never truly know whose listening and appreciating what you do.“Luke’s Cello and the Funny Looking Stick” is an ode to the intersectionality of literacy, music, and diversity. All my books will not have a music theme to them, but all of my books are very intentional in helping children become better readers. My books will also highlight the beauty of humanity; And the differences that humanity has to offer while questioning are the differences even differences?I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it.Happy reading,La Toya

How I got here. :-)

Friends do you remember when we all had "pandemic" projects?The thought was while the world was on "pause" and when we weren't scouring the 'net trying to figure out how to survive........ or when we weren't at Target looking for Chlorox wipes and toilet paper; We were going to start a business, learn a new language, teach our kids a new language, clean out the garage, work out diligently or write a book.I decided to write a book. But here's the thing I have lots of children's books and ideas floating around but I promised myself during the pandemic that I would see this project to the end. I no longer wanted to have a good idea languish on my desktop or hide in my brain, but I would actually share my work with others!Sidenote: I will write more as to why I went the self-publishing route and didn't even attempt traditional publishing.I came up with the concept of Luke's Cello and the Funny Looking Stick because I sincerely enjoy listening and playing the cello. My 8-year-old son Roman "Luke" has been playing the cello 5 years. I'm a novice cellist. I've been playing 2 years! Cello is a pretty important aspect of our daily lives.I'm also passionate about children's literacy and children's books! So, it was a natural progression for me to write a children's book where the main character plays the cello. Interestingly enough there are practically zero published fictional books about a child that plays the cello. If anyone knows of such a book, please share with me.Ultimately, Luke's Cello and The Funny Looking Stick is a reflection of my fondness of cellos and high engaging juicy children's books!I also want to encourage my friends whose "pandemic projects" went the way to the dinosaurs. Find a way to revive it!With much love.