Winner of the 2019 High Plains Book Award for Best Children's Book, Double! Not Half. contains a beautifully simple message of inclusion that fosters an appreciation for the value and potential that lies within every human being. 

When a little boy from Montana and his family move across the world to Japan, he faces the challenges of moving, learning a new language and adapting to a new culture. But his new school and the friends he makes there make living in Japan fun! One day, when he overhears another boy calling him "half", he asks his father what it means—and learns a lesson he'll never forget. Loosely based on his own experiences as a father living and teaching in Japan, Rod Gottula's book explores how people of mixed races or cultures are referred to as "half"—a term which fails to take into account the tremendous beauty and sophistication that accompanies those who "walk in two worlds." By emphasizing the positive aspects of being multicultural and bilingual, Double! Not Half. aims to increase the reader's understanding of cultural diversity and the benefits that come with it. Its beautifully simple message of inclusion will foster appreciation for the value and potential that lies within every human being. The book's illustrator, Arthur Lin, utilizes the warmth of watercolors to create an authentic cultural experience that brings the story to life.

Award-winning children's-author Rod Gottula grew up in Shepherd, Montana, studied English Literature and Philosophy at Rocky Mountain College in Billings and earned his M.A. in Linguistics on his way to becoming a National Board Certified Teacher of English Language Arts and a high school administrator. His four years on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program fueled his passion for helping young people experience the wonders of other cultures and the beauty of everyday folks in different lands. Whether sharing Montana with the world or marching off into the world with Montanans, he takes joy in learning and seeing something new. His hobbies include reading, writing, struggling to play the guitar, and an occasional evening of imbibing and karaoke. Rod and his wife, Rie, have two children and are constantly nagging them to study more and make the most of their bilingual and multicultural opportunities.