What if learning felt like an adventure instead of a lesson?

I'm Ali... an Aussie nutritionist who somehow ended up in Hawaii with my Texan husband and our golden retriever named Apollo, who takes his Chief Nap Officer duties (and zoomies!) very seriously.

I'm also an aunt to twelve little humans. Yes, twelve... Between being "favorite aunty”, looking after 4 under 5 for weeks on end, and working as a nutritionist with families, I've seen the same struggles play out again and again. Parents exhausted from the never-ending to-do list… the school drop-offs, meal prep, homework, soccer, dance, swim lessons, laundry… and then trying everything to get their kids to eat their vegetables, share, be kind, and care for others.

And then the pushback. The vegetables left untouched, the fighting over toys… the “but I don’t want to share”… even when you’ve asked nicely a hundred times.

Here's what I knew from the research: children learn when something genuinely enchants them, NOT from lectures or worksheets.

That’s when I decided to write a story about a little girl named Maddy (my eldest niece) and my golden retriever, Apollo. A magical garden with a bossy Mr. Rabbit, giant disappearing fruits and vegetables, and a witch who lives on a cotton candy cloud.

Because kids are naturally enchanted by these things. And when they're enchanted, they learn.

That little book ended up winning two awards, made its way to retailers across six continents, and somehow found its way into bedtime routines, classroom read-alouds and family conversations I never imagined.

That’s when I realized this was about so much more than just one book. This is about creating wholesome childhood moments that actually matter. It’s about raising little ones who are healthy, kind, and genuinely connected to the world around them. And, it’s about the magic of stories, the magic of coloring… and the magic of childhood.

That's when Maddy & Apollo truly began.

Today, we create magical, story-based coloring books for wholesome childhood moments. Where healthy habits, kindness and caring for our planet feel like magic through unicorns and rainbows, dinosaurs and volcanoes, talking rabbits and disappearing gardens, magic strawberry farms, and underwater ocean adventures with friendly dolphins, curious little sharks, and playful seals.

Themes children are naturally enchanted by, with lessons woven into stories they'll ask for again and again.

Every page is grounded in childhood development research from Harvard, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and CASEL, supporting early literacy, fine motor development, creativity, focus, and emotional regulation through story-based, screen-free play. And every book gives back. Our original storybook gives 100% of proceeds to children fighting cancer, and every coloring book gives 50% to animal rescue and conservation. If we can create magic in your home, we want to share it with animals and children in need.

So here’s to the cozy afternoons when crayons are everywhere. The bedtime cuddles and stories. The colorful masterpieces proudly displayed on the fridge… and the moments when time slows down and it’s just you and them, completely present and together.

Here’s to all the magical moments still to come.

Thank you for being here and for trusting us with your family’s time. It means more than you know.

With love,

Ali 💛
Founder, Maddy & Apollo
(Ps. Apollo says the dinosaur book is his favorite)