EP #77 How a Fredericksburg Adventure Book Help Kids Thrive

A troll who loves snacks, a dragon with good intentions, and a city full of stories—this conversation lifts the curtain on how reading support can be both deeply personal and wildly fun. We welcome educator and author Jacquelene D'Amico, founder of Smart Cookies Education Services, to share how individualized tutoring turns reluctant readers into confident communicators and why local settings can spark big learning moments.

We walk through Smart Cookies’ one-to-one model and why a confidence-first philosophy outperforms one-size-fits-all curricula. Jacquelene explains how she targets handwriting, phonics, grammar, language arts, and essay writing for every learner—from preschoolers sounding out blends to teens writing personal statements. Then we step into The Adventures of Trollee and Alice, her new children’s book that transforms Fredericksburg landmarks into a playground for imagination and vocabulary growth. Bolded “tricky words” and a back-of-book guide make it easy for kids to expand their word banks while parents and teachers enjoy literary nods to classics like Alice in Wonderland.

You’ll hear how summer writing workshops weave games, themes, and snacks into practical skill-building that actually sticks. We also explore the book’s deeper heart: values like kindness, integrity, confidence, and optimism—and how a moving personal loss shaped its message about memory, love, and what truly lasts. With shoutouts to beloved local shops and venues now carrying the book, this is a love letter to community, storytelling, and the art of helping kids feel brave with words.

If you care about literacy, tutoring, children’s books, or the Fredericksburg creative scene, you’ll find ideas you can use tonight—whether that’s a playful vocabulary routine or a new way to talk about big feelings. Listen, share with a friend, and tell us which local landmark you’d love to see in Trollee’s next adventure. Subscribe, leave a review, and help more neighbors discover the show.

The Adventures of Trollee and Alice:
📸 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/author_jacquelene_damico/
📚 Website: www.jacquelenedamico.com
📖 Facebook: facebook.com/trolleeandalice

Smart Cookies Education Services:
📖 Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SmartCookiesEducation/
📚 Website:https://smartcookiesedu.wixsite.com/education

Jacquelene D'Amico

Smart Cookies Education Services 

smartcookiesedu.wixsite.com/education

[e-mail]

Episode Transcript

Speaker (00:01):
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors
Podcast, the place where localbusinesses and neighbors come
together.
Here's your host, Dori Stewart.

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG
Neighbors Podcast, where weshare the stories of our
favorite local brands.
I have a special guest joiningme today.
We have Jacquelene D'Amico withSmart Cookies Education
Services.
Jacquelene, welcome to thepodcast.
Great.

(00:34):
Thank you so much.
Well, I am really lookingforward to this interview and
learning more about you and yourbusiness.
So let's start off by sharingwith the listeners a little bit
about Smart Cookies EducationServices.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Okay, great.
At Smart Cookies, we arepassionate about helping
students from preschool throughcollege become confident readers
and writers, mainly throughproviding tutoring sessions,
both virtual and in person.
And this includes everythingfrom handwriting, phonics,
grammar to language arts, essaywriting, research papers, and

(01:11):
even helping prepare collegeapplication essays.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
Amazing.
Such a needed service.
So thank you for offering thisas a parent for our kids.
So tell me a little bit, let'sdive a little bit deeper and
tell me what sets you apart fromother tutoring services.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Well, our two main differences are that we focus on
the individual and we emphasizebuilding confidence.
So other tutoring centers use afixed curriculum and push group
tutoring sessions, but weevaluate each student's needs
and then tailor each one-on-onesession to that student.
So it's not a one-size uhfits-all method.

(01:55):
We also focus on buildingconfidence because when kids
feel good about learning andabout themselves, um, learning
and homework stops doing like achore.
So we try to instill this loveof learning.
We try to make it fun and thisthis love of learning that can
be applied to across allsubject areas.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
Awesome.
Awesome.
That's that's amazing.
I love that.
And so I'd love to learn moreabout you.
Tell me about your journey.
How did you get into this?
I need to know.

unknown (02:26):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (02:27):
Well, I started Smart Cookies in 2021 after, you
know, seeing the negativeeffects that COVID had on
education, uh, especially whenit came to reading.
And at the time I washomeschooling my daughter, and
through connecting with otherhomeschool families, I realized
there was such a need for extrareading support.
So I began offering one-on-onetutoring in small group classes,

(02:50):
and it's just grown from beyondthere.
It's been incredibly rewardingto build relationships with
families that extend beyond ourtutoring sessions.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
It's been really fun.
That's amazing.
What do you love most aboutwhat you do?
What's your favorite part?

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Favorite part.
Um, honestly, other than justgetting to know families, my
favorite part has to be ourthemed summer writing workshops
that we hold at the Ground SpeedStro, right here in Stafford,
uh, outside of Embry Mill.
And we go all out with thethemes.
Um, one year was a pirateworkshop complete with like
walking the plank and piratehats.

(03:30):
And um, this summer I'm veryexcited because the workshop
will be based on a book.
Um, my book, The AdventuresTrollee and Alice, which just
came out in June.
So there will be lots and lotsof snacks, marshmallows, games,
and just an overall greatopportunity for kids with a

(03:51):
risk.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
That's amazing.
So, yeah, you mentioned a newbook.
So uh tell us all about it.
It sounds exciting.
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
Thank you.
Well, it all started on acloudy, windy day at the
playground playing with mydaughter and pretending to be a
snack-deprived troll that livedunder a troll bridge named
Trollee.
And Trollee, this game Trollee,grew into all sorts of
adventures aroundFredericksburg.
And we had the new characterslike Perry Winkle, um, this

(04:24):
dragon.
Um, she means well, but shecan't resist eating a few
chickens at Brayhead Farm.
And she just has snack sedentsall the time.
And so I began jotting down ourlocal adventures and just
turned them into stories andstarted reading them to my
kids.
I love that.

Speaker 1 (04:44):
Snack it in.
Okay, so you mentioned BrayheadFarm.
So I love the local flair here.
So, what uh local places kindof influenced the book?

Speaker 2 (04:56):
Well, a lot of local places, um, such as the chapter
A Dragon-sized belly ache,Perry Wingle has a snack sedan
at Brayhead Farm, and ChathamManor's Goldfish Pond is
featured in this chapter.
And Belmont's preschool paletteprogram inspired the last
chapter, A MemorableMasterpiece, where the
characters fly into a VincentVan Gogh painting.

(05:18):
Um, and the downtown library,the the branch appears on the
map illustration and inspiredthe chapter Lava in the Library.
So a lot of local, local placesmentioned throughout.

Speaker 1 (05:31):
I love it.
It sounds like a really funbook.
I love it.
Thank you.
Awesome.
So um, what uh age group do yourecommend for the book?

Speaker 2 (05:42):
Um, it's mainly for children in about uh first to
fifth grade, but honestly, Ithink adults can enjoy it as
well.
They might like finding theliterary references throughout,
such as Alice in Wonderland,where the wild things are, um,
different books like that, andeven some symbolism with Alice's
ribbon and sunflowers thatolder readers might pick up on

(06:03):
and enjoy.

Speaker 1 (06:05):
I love that.
I love that you thought of theparents reading the book too, so
they can enjoy reading it totheir kids and have just as much
fun.
I love that.
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yes, a lot of snacks, like I mentioned, because I
feel like kids are alwayshungry.

Speaker 1 (06:20):
Yes.
So I think they'd have fun.
Awesome.
What would you say is the keytakeaway of the book?

Speaker 2 (06:28):
Um, I think everyone will everyone will take
something a little differentaway from the book.
Um, some might enjoy thestories, while some might
connect more with the learningside.
Um, I think what makes itunique is that it's not just fun
stories that kids can laugh atand relate to.
It encourages values such asintegrity, kindness,
self-confidence, and optimism.

(06:50):
And so I hope it helps kidshandle challenges like standing
up to bullies or working throughbig emotions like anger, which
I show through a volcaniceruption in the library.
And um, another thing is thatit's a learning tool.
So these words, thesechallenging words are printed
throughout and they're bold.
And in the back of the book isTrollee's guide to tricky words.

(07:11):
And so the children will beable to find the parts of
speech, the definition, and thepronunciation.
And so it's really a way tobuild reading confidence and
grow vocabulary while they'reenjoying the stories.
So I think you know, somepeople might connect with that
learning side.
Um, but on a deeper level, mymom passed away from cancer

(07:32):
while I was writing it, whichreally made me reflect on life
and guided the entire writingprocess.
Um, so more than anything, Ijust hope readers remember,
Trollee tells Alice, um, thatthe memories of the people you
love stay in your heart.
And the things that trulymatter, like faith, hope, love,
uh, the time invested in ourchildren, the invisible yet very

(07:54):
real things last beyond thislifetime.
And um, any time spent with ourkids is just never, never
wasted.

Speaker 1 (08:01):
I love that.
So many important lessons.
Yes.
What great timing.
This is going to be such agreat Christmas gift for the
little ones.
I love that.
Thank you.
I really hope so.
Yeah.
So you clearly have a love forthe Fredericksburg area.

(08:23):
How long have you lived in thearea?
I've been here.

Speaker 2 (08:26):
I've met my husband here in college.
I've been here for so long.
Um, I can't even, you know, Igrew up here.
So it really has holds aspecial place in my heart.
Amazing.
What are some of the thingsthat you love about
Fredericksburg?
I love the community.
Um, I've met so many talentedlocal authors, wonderful
readers, and just supportivebusiness owners.

(08:48):
I mean, local shops, I'm I'm soexcited that I've been able to
meet so many local shop ownersand they they want to carry this
book, and it means so much tome.
Like the owner of Jabberwocky,Du Jardin, Tales and Tales, the
Book Market, Brayhead Farm, andsoon Agora, Downtown Coffee, and
Gary Melcher's Belmont will becarrying it.

(09:09):
And so I just think that's veryspecial the the community
support in Fredericksburg.

Speaker 1 (09:16):
That's amazing.
I love that.
I love that uh your book hasbeen received with open arms,
and it's clearly why it uhsounds like a really wonderful
book.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
So tell us if the listenerswant to learn more about the
book or want to connect withyou, how can they find you?

Speaker 2 (09:37):
They can go to the website jacquelendemico.com, and
that's J-A-C-Q-U-E-L E-N-ED-A-M-I-C-O.com.
And you can find links to myInstagram and Facebook pages
where I'll share updates on funauthor events and behind the
scenes inspiration.

Speaker 1 (09:57):
Amazing, amazing.
Well, I can't wait to get myhands on the book and
congratulations on the successof the book.
It's really exciting.
I can't wait to read it, andthank you so much for joining me
on the podcast.
Thank you.
I appreciate it.

Speaker (10:16):
Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.