I Am Not Missing uses a child's desire for a pet and independence to build respect and responsibility. Learn why Kayla convinces her parents to give her a pet and how she demonstrates independence and responsibility for Snow (her pet). It stimulates the reader's imagination while supporting cross-curricula skills. The following skills can be practiced, supported and/or reinforced using this literature: character feelings and emotions, settings, cardinal directions, fiction and nonfiction, inflectional endings, letter writing, parts of speech, predicting outcomes, drawing conclusions, following oral (verbal) directions, sequencing, problem-solving, and elapsed time. This book will immediately become a favorite book for readers and a tremendous resource for teachers. This book is the author's third children's book and written as a guide and resource for single parents, caregivers, foster parents, traditional, diverse and multiethnic families who share values such as building respect and accepting responsibility while spurring the imagination of children.