At Dizzy Waggle Books, we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire, comfort, and teach children.

We use colour, rhyme, and child-friendly text to help kids navigate topics like big feelings and grief, self-love, and resilience in a way that feels magical and relatable.

Our Dizzy Waggle books are found in homes, primary schools, kindergartens, health practices, hospitals, charities, funeral homes, and libraries across Aotearoa.

Meet the characters

  • ZOZO

    Zozo is a Dizzy Waggle with a heart so big it can light up the sky. When Zozo is happy, it glows bright like stardust! But life isn’t always so easy for this deep feeling Dizzy Waggle, who teaches readers tricks for emotional regulation while unearthing the power of empathy.

    Find Zozo’s Story 

  • LULU

    Lulu is the loveable and sassy Dizzy Waggle who learns a powerful lesson about bullying, forgiveness, and inner-happiness.

    Find Lulu’s Story 

  • BRITE

    Brite is an inquisitive and caring Dizzy Waggle and cares very much for her friends, including Thea the tūī, who teaches Brite important lessons about death and grief.

    Find Brite’s story 

The educational benefits and emotional impact of our books.

Why Choose the Dizzy Waggles?

Promotes Emotional Literacy

Our books help children recognize and express their emotions, which is essential for developing emotional intelligence. Through relatable characters and situations, kids learn that it’s okay to feel a wide range of emotions and that these feelings are a natural part of life.

Teaches Resilience

Every Dizzy Waggle book encourages children to build resilience. By following characters who face challenges and grow stronger, young readers learn important life skills like coping with loss, embracing their own worth, and dealing with adversity.

Supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Our books align with SEL principles, fostering skills such as empathy, self-regulation, and interpersonal communication. These values not only help children thrive emotionally but also make them kinder, more compassionate individuals.

Engaging and Uplifting Stories

While our books tackle serious topics, they do so in a way that’s accessible and engaging for kids. The characters and storytelling are designed to spark curiosity, ignite imaginations, and create space for meaningful conversations with parents, educators, and peers.

Inclusive and Accessible

We believe in making emotional learning available to all children. Whether it's through colorful illustrations, relatable scenarios, or thoughtful language, our books cater to a wide range of age groups and reading levels, ensuring every child can benefit.

Cloe Willetts

Meet the Author

Cloe Willetts is an award-winning New Zealand journalist, and children's creative writing teacher with a passion for people and storytelling. A mother of one, Cloe specialises in human interest stories and using literacy to help children and adults express themselves.
After a busy and fulfilling newspaper and magazine career, Cloe launched her business EQ Storytelling in 2020. A year later, she published her first book, The Dizzy Waggle Who Lit the Dark, followed by Thea and the Dizzy Waggle in 2022, a story about loss and grief.
Her third book, Lulu and the Forest Troll, was released in 2024 and covers bullying and self-love. All three tales are inspired by real life experiences.

Fabienne Joni Sopacuan

Meet the Illustrator

Fabienne Joni Sopacua, founder of FJS-Art, is a self-taught Dutch artist and passionate creator, with a deep love for animals and diverse cultures. Split between New Zealand and the Netherlands, Fabienne has exhibited at New Zealand Art Trails and the New Zealand Art Show, where she was a finalist for the People’s Choice award in 2021.
With exceptional attention to detail, she’s known for capturing the soul of her subject through their eyes, which she has done for all three Dizzy Waggle titles.
Recently, Fabienne expanded her craft by founding FJS Tattoo, which she runs alongside her work as a children's illustrator and artist.

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