At Dizzy Waggle Books, we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire, comfort, and teach. Through heartfelt tales and vibrant illustrations, our books help children navigate big topics like big feelings, grief, self-love, and resilience in a way that feels magical and relatable. Behind every story is a passionate team dedicated to creating meaningful experiences for little readers and their families. Join us on this journey as we bring stories to life, one page at a time!

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.

  • LULU

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

  • BRITE

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

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 storytelling. A mother of one, Cloe specialises in human interest stories and using literacy to help children and adults express themselves.
After a busy newspaper and media 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 designed to teach emotional literacy and resilience.

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.

What professionals say...

  • Leonie Murch, Birthright New Zealand, Regional leader.

    "Love Thea and the Dizzy Waggle.
    I've worked for over 20 years with children suffering from grief and loss and this is the best book I've come across as a resource in my work.
    Looking forward to what you write next."

  • Martin Sloman, Counsellor. Queens Service Medal recipient for services to mental health

    "I love the fact you’ve created something that focuses on mental health and acknowledging emotions. We need to teach our children resilience at the earliest possible age, and this covers it beautifully. The illustrations and rhyming style gives it a nice warm flow and I liked the bit at the end, which encourages feedback and coaches some good strategies."

  • Tash Love, Therapeutic Community Social Worker

    "This book is so beautiful. Today I read it with two different aged children with completely different life journeys. They had different ideas about Zozo, but all positive.
    Thank you for being my favourite new tool to explore feelings with the children I work with."

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