What Really Matters!

A serious theme discussed in a lighthearted, illustrative way for children to easily grasp and understand it. In this story, children meet Zeke the zebra, who sees his reflection and gallops off on an adventure to learn about the color of his skin. Set in the African savanna, the story begins as Zeke wonders whether he is a black zebra with white stripes or a white zebra with black stripes. In his search for answers, his animal friends’ opinions have only left him both confused and feeling confused and inferior. Still perplexed, Zeke decides to approach his wisest friend, Matilda the elephant. With Matilda’s sensible words, Zeke soon discovers that color or physical appearance is unimportant, as long as one realizes what really matters.

A serious theme discussed in a lighthearted, illustrative way for children to easily grasp and understand it. In this story, children meet Zeke the zebra, who sees his reflection and gallops off on an adventure to learn about the color of his skin. Set in the African savanna, the story begins as Zeke wonders whether he is a black zebra with white stripes or a white zebra with black stripes. In his search for answers, his animal friends’ opinions have only left him both confused and feeling confused and inferior. Still perplexed, Zeke decides to approach his wisest friend, Matilda the elephant. With Matilda’s sensible words, Zeke soon discovers that color or physical appearance is unimportant, as long as one realizes what really matters.

Ralph Redding was raised in Lethbridge Alberta, Canada. After graduating from the public school system, he attended the University of Alberta for both his undergraduate and medical school training. He got additional medical training in London and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He then moved to New England with his family and taught pulmonary medicine at Brown University. He is the author of fifty scientific and medical articles, and this is his first children’s book. The most significant event in his life was the discovery of bone cancer at age thirty-five, which prompted amputation of his left shoulder, arm and some ribs. His survival and recovery spurred him into newer interests such as death education for medical students, and participation in the early development of hospices, both in Miami FL and Tulsa OK where he practiced medicine for fifteen years. Ralph is now retired in New Bern NC and lives with his wife, Beverlee. Married for 38 years, they share six children between them, and twelve grandchildren. In New Bern, they started a free clinic that provides medical attention and medicines to un-insured low income individuals.