Julie Benevento Ball, author
Known for nearly three decades as Nanny Julie, she is now embracing a new role – Author Julie Ball. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Julie currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida with her husband – her high school sweetheart from 1988. Julie’s passion for writing was born from her love of journaling which began at the age of 7.
With a degree in early childhood development and years of experience as a nanny, preschool teacher, and kindergarten teacher, she has always found joy in nurturing young hearts and minds. She now brings her boundless joy and love of life to children’s picture books, writing positive and uplifting tales that spark imaginations.
When Julie’s not writing, she enjoys volunteering with Friends of Manatee Lagoon where she educates others about these gentle giants.
Follow Julie on Facebook at @julieballauthor and on Instagram @julieballauthor for regular updates on her upcoming release of her first children’s book, The Gecko In The Cinnamon Broom.
If you’d like to receive text or email updates on book release dates, fill out the contact form here.
The Gecko in the Cinnamon Broom
Tucker’s First Adventure
Tucker the Gecko has a heart filled with joy like a tummy full of giggles, but he wants to find more friends to share it with. Normally Tucker only has nighttime friends because that’s when he’s awake. What would it be like for him to have daytime friends too? Will Tucker leave the comfort of his cinnamon broom and venture out during the day? Come along on Tucker‘s journey of joy and see the unlikely friendships he forms as he overcomes unexpected obstacles.
Testimonials
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
While not native to Florida, Tucker is the real-life Leopard Gecko that I raised back in college. The gecko in this story is a Mediterranean house gecko and lives in a cinnamon broom on my porch in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Learn more about Leopard Geckos here.
Learn more about the Mediterranean House Gecko here.
The Green Anole is a small, bright green lizard that can change color, climb trees, and loves to catch bugs. They are native to Florida.
Learn more about the Green Anole here.
Tucker and His Friends
A Zebra Longwing Butterfly is a black butterfly with bright yellow stripes and a three-inch wingspan. It is the state butterfly of Florida.
Learn more about this beautiful butterfly here.
The American Pink Flamingo is a big, pink bird with a long neck and skinny legs that loves to wade in water and sometimes stands on one leg. They get their pink color from the shrimp they eat.
Learn more about the flamingo here.
The Florida Box Turtle is a small, land turtle with a colorful, dome-shaped shell that keeps it safe from danger.
Learn more about Box Turtles here.
The Eastern Fox Squirrel is a large, fluffy squirrel with a long bushy tail that helps it steer when leaping out of tress. They can weigh up to 3 pounds.
Learn more about the Eastern Fox Squirrel here.
Loggerhead Turtle - A big ocean turtle with a huge head, strong jaws for crunching crabs, and a reddish-brown heart-shaped shell.
Learn more about Loggerhead Turtle rescue and conservation here.
The Florida Manatee is a giant, gentile sea cow that is a cousin to the elephant. It has a paddle-like tail to help it move through the water as it eats seagrass. In the wild, manatees only give birth to one baby and twins are extremely rare. My family has three kids in it, including me, so that was the reason I put that in my story.
Learn more about conservation efforts to protect manatees - Friends Of Manatee Lagoon
