Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Belinda Stoneís living room is packed full of a shared dream.

ìMoments In Time, a unique translation of original childrenís poetry in English and Spanishî is the fruition of a goal shared by Stone and her twin sister Brenda Lee Brummond.

The book, which fills those boxes in the Stone house, is a collection of childrenís poetry written in English and Spanish with illustrations by New Richmond, WI resident Susan Meeds.

A CD is included with ìMoments In Time.î The CD features the poems being read in Spanish and English by Stone and Brummond.

The book was put together in 2003 and self published in 2004.

Now in the classrooms at Lakes International Language Academy in Forest Lake and in the Robbinsdale School District, Stone is working to bring the book to the forefront.

ìWith so many charter schools and Spanish immersion schools popping up all over the country, this book is truly ready for its time,î Stone said.

The sisters grew up in White Bear Lake. Stone now makes her home here. Brummond lives on the outskirts of Caracas, Venezuela.

Their whole lives, Stone said, the two have been writing. Stone is passionate about the environment and her literary figures include folky like Jillian Giraffe, who is forever sticking her neck out for environmental issues.

Brummond is more into poetry.The next publishing project likely will center around her bug books. This is the first book the two worked to bring to the pageóthough it wasnít expected.

The book was created while Brummond was fighting for her lifeóliterally.

Diagnosed with aggressive lymphoma while home for a visit, Brummond underwent several months of chemotherapy and radiation.

Brummond wrote the poetry in pieces. Sometimes the poems would be written in Spanish and later translated to English. Sometimes the poems would be written in English and later translated to Spanish.

Some were scribbled on napkins. She took the poetry, her sister says, as they came to her.

Stone remembers a call from her sister where she said, ìBelinda, Iím a veritable fountain!î

As a show of appreciation to the hospital which provided Brummond with lifesaving care, the sisters are donating 20 percnet of the bookís profits to United Hospital, up to $200,000.

ìUnited Hospital was a godsend,î Stone said. ìThey treated her like she was the Queen of Englandónot some stranger from another country with no insurance,î she said. ìThey took such good care of my sister.î

Availablity

The books sells for $24.95 and is available at Red Balloon Book Shop on St. Paulís Grand Avenue, from the website at www.kayleeenterprises.com or by calling Stone at 651-329-7505.

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