Meet Wizzy — a wise, worldly tree with branches full of stories.
Coming August 25, 2026
Soul Sparks Press
The Book
It started with a true story…
My 5-year old daughter asked a coworker where she was from.
“Here!” my coworker said.
“Cool — you're Native American,” replied my daughter, without skipping a beat.
My coworker said no, and then told her story: her grandparents came from Europe, then settled on the east coast of the US, and finally on the west coast.
She later came to tell me, “Jalpa, what a beautiful way to view our world—we ALL have a story.”
Everyone has a story.
Everyone belongs.
About Me
I'm Jalpa Vaidya Patel, LCSW, an adjunct professor of social work and school social worker who believes cultural curiosity and belonging are deeply connected.
I’ve always loved being surrounded by diversity and learning about cultures. I studied Native American studies in college and always taught my children that Indigenous peoples are the first caretakers of this land and still are today.
And I'd add this — over time, many families have come with their own stories of culture & heritage. Every story belongs. That's what I wanted my kids to understand — and what eventually became Wizzy.
When I'm not dreaming up Wizzy's next adventure, I help schools and families build cultural curiosity into everyday life.
Wizzy's Toolkit
Recess, Reimagined
Turn recess into a joyful cultural learning moment — no big budget required. This step-by-step guide shows PTA volunteers and staff exactly how to organize a celebration, from finding a coordinator to welcoming the whole community.
Bring Wizzy to Class
Bring Wizzy into your classroom with this ready-to-teach lesson plan. Students read, reflect, and add their own leaf to a class "Wizzy tree" — complete with discussion questions and teacher tips every step of the way.
Wizzy's Words
The world is full of beautiful words — and Wizzy collected them all. From Ba-Dadaji to Tongva, this glossary defines key words across food, family, and tradition, with pronunciations included.
Color Your Story
A coloring page straight from Wizzy's world. Color in speech bubbles full of real traditions — tamales, kimonos, tabla music, and more — and add your own story to the mix.