Uniontown native writes children’s book
?A schoolteacher, comedian and songwriter also is an author of three children鈥檚 books, including 鈥淲ingo,鈥� his most recent work.
Originally from Uniontown, author Justin Ezzi grew up on Derrick Avenue across from Hatfield Elementary School.
He now resides in the Los Angeles area of California with his wife, teaching the fifth grade and practicing writing and music on the side.
Ezzi said that he began writing 鈥淲ingo鈥� 20 years ago for fun.
鈥淚t kind of started out as a joke,鈥� said Ezzi. 鈥淎t the time, there were so many children鈥檚 books with dragons that mine seemed like just another book.鈥�
At first, Ezzi kept the finished book in a drawer. He eventually started to take the book to school and read it to the students.
鈥淧eople kept telling me that it was a good book,鈥� said Ezzi. 鈥淚t started to evoke some emotion.鈥�
The heartwarming book is about a little, lonely dragon named Wingo who struggles to fit in.
Wingo tries to change the way he looks so that he can fit in with the other forest animals, but in the end he learns that outward appearances do not matter.
鈥淚 wanted to teach children at a young age not to get caught up in looks,鈥� said Ezzi.
Ezzi said that he feels like most people see occurrences such as this every day in society but just walk through it. He said that his message is particularly valid because of how multicultural society is today.
鈥淚 wanted to make a comment about what is going on around me,鈥� he said.
Two years ago, Ezzi鈥檚 cousin, Brigitta Sabatini, originally from Uniontown, flew to California for a visit.
Sabatini, who now lives in Ohio and is pursuing a career in art, agreed to be the illustrator for 鈥淲ingo,鈥� and the two collaborated.
鈥淚 received a lot of input for my drawings from my 5-year-old stepson,鈥� said Sabatini.
The book is self-published, along with two other children鈥檚 books written by Ezzi, including 鈥淎wesome Possum鈥� and 鈥淢r. Funny Pants.鈥�
As a teacher, Ezzi believes that concepts are more easily taught to students through songs and skits.
鈥淚 really love directing my kids, it鈥檚 so funny to watch them,鈥� said Ezzi.
In addition, Ezzi is a comic writer for the 鈥淔rank and Earnest Cartoon Strip,鈥� 鈥淐omic Bible,鈥� 鈥溾�楥alifornia Style鈥� Magazine鈥� and Laugh Factory magazine.
In 1995, he won the America鈥檚 Best Comedy Writing Competition.
He was also the winner of the Reader鈥檚 Digest 鈥淭ell us a joke鈥� contest and the Archangel Shecky Joke contest.
More information about Justin Ezzi and his work can be found on his website at www.justinezzi.com.
Sabatini can be reached to purchase books at 724-322-5918 or bsabatini@verizon.net.