For the underdogs who are really superheroes in disguise.
Before Pen Wand Press was a publishing company, it was an idea born in a classroom—and in a lifetime of learning what it means to think differently.
I'm R.W. Barnard, a mom, former special education teacher, and someone who has lived with ADHD my whole life. I know what it feels like to have a mind that moves differently, to have big ideas and feelings that don't always fit the shape a classroom expects, and to be underestimated.
That's part of why I became a special education teacher. I wanted to be the grown-up I had needed: someone who could see beyond a struggle to the strengths underneath.
What I Saw in the Classroom
I worked one-on-one with nonverbal students and taught children with ADHD, autism, and other learning differences. I met so many thoughtful, capable children whose needs weren't always obvious from the outside.
At IEP meetings, I heard a concern from parents again and again: “I just can't get my child to talk to me.”
I understood their frustration. But I understood the children, too. After a day filled with academic demands, social expectations, sensory experiences, and transitions, many were simply maxed out. They didn't need another round of questions the moment they walked through the door. They needed time to decompress.
The children needed space. The parents wanted connection. Both needs mattered.
One Question, Two Perspectives
So I tried something different. I gave students and their grown-ups journals with the same meaningful question. They could answer separately, at their own pace, and share when they were ready.
No pressure to talk on command. No interrogation about the school day. Just a chance to discover something about each other.
And something beautiful happened: the children were excited to read what their parents had written. They weren't only being asked to explain themselves. They were getting to know their grown-ups, too.
That simple, two-way exchange became the seed of Pen Wand Press.
Thoughtful Design Matters, Too
Teaching also showed me that accessibility is about more than the words on a page. I knew strong readers who preferred listening to books because rough paper felt uncomfortable against their fingers. Their reading ability wasn't the problem; the sensory experience was.
That stayed with me. It's why I think carefully about how a book feels in someone's hands, as well as what it says. Where production allows, I favor smoother premium-color paper, gentle illustrations, and layouts that invite children in rather than overwhelm them. No single design works for every child, but small choices can make a meaningful difference.
Why Pen Wand Press Exists
Today, Pen Wand Press creates connection journals, storybooks, and keepsakes rooted in kindness, curiosity, imagination, and understanding. Our work is shaped by neurodivergent experiences, but the invitation is for every family.
Some of our books help parents and children connect without pressure. Others celebrate milestones, make room for laughter, or keep a little wonder alive. They all begin with the belief that stories can bring people closer.
Every child has an inner world worth discovering. Every grown-up has a story worth sharing. And sometimes one thoughtful question opens a door.
Because being understood changes everything.
With love,
R.W. Barnard
Founder, Pen Wand Press