Christopher Sandoe spent two decades working for the state of California, earned a superior accomplishment award from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and built a career in music production that saw his work featured on VH1 and collaborations with artists from Daz Dillinger to billboard-charting performers. But his latest project might be his most ambitious yet: teaching young readers about confidence, faith, and resilience.
Together with his 12-year-old daughter Zairah, Sandoe has authored “Zairah’s World: Bump, Set, Soar!”, a children’s book addressing bullying and self-doubt through a story that blends sports, anime influences, and Christian values. The collaboration represents an unusual approach to children’s literature, written from both a parent’s protective instinct and a child’s lived experience.
Bridging Generational Perspectives
The dual-author approach isn’t just a novelty. Young readers, particularly girls interested in athletics and trying new activities, often encounter books written entirely by adults attempting to recall childhood emotions. Having a 12-year-old co-author creates an authenticity that’s difficult to manufacture, offering readers a voice that actually sounds like theirs.
The book targets multiple audiences simultaneously: parents seeking content that reinforces positive values, educators and librarians searching for anti-bullying resources, and children themselves navigating the social complexities of growing up. It’s a tall order, but the Sandoes’ combined perspectives may give them an advantage in speaking to both generations.
From Music Studios to Bookstores
Sandoe’s background in entertainment adds another dimension to the project. His music has appeared on TBN’s JUCE TV and radio, where he’s conducted multiple interviews and live performances. He’s even had a brief stint on reality television, appearing on Lifetime’s “Little Women LA.” Working with producers and performing artists taught him about storytelling across mediums, and now he’s applying those lessons to engaging young audiences through written narratives.
The transition from producing for Dogg Pound’s Daz Dillinger to writing children’s literature might seem like a sharp turn, but both require understanding what resonates with an audience and delivering messages that stick.
Plans Beyond the First Book
The Sandoes aren’t treating this as a one-off project. They’re planning a series of children’s books, with ambitions to make a sustained impact on young readers. Their goal extends beyond entertainment, aiming to communicate themes of redemption and faith through age-appropriate stories.
Whether schools and libraries will embrace their faith-based approach to children’s storytelling remains to be seen, but the anti-bullying angle addresses a universal concern among educators and parents alike. As children’s literature increasingly tackles difficult social issues, the Sandoes are betting that combining those contemporary concerns with traditional values will find an audience hungry for both.
For now, “Zairah’s World: Bump, Set, Soar!” represents an experiment in collaborative storytelling, proof that sometimes the best way to reach young readers is to include them in the creative process from the start.
