ABOUT CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR — SERENA NOREEN BROWN
Meet children’s book author Serena Noreen Brown, creator of MeMe, JJ & Friends and Forest of Friends, a series inspired by real rescue pets, emotions, friendship, and SEL.
Serena N. Brown is a U.S. Navy veteran, engineer, training designer, and the creator of the MeMe, JJ & Friends children’s book series and the VNEC Model — Visual Narrative Emotional Comprehension.
Born in Woodbine, Georgia and rooted in Jacksonville, Florida, Serena brings more than 25
years of experience designing training systems, writing instructional frameworks, and
teaching complex skills in high-stakes environments — from naval vessels to industrial
production lines. That same instinct for building clear, structured learning experiences is
what gave birth to VNEC: a proprietary SEL model that helps children observe visual clues,
interpret emotions with evidence and connect story scenes to real-life communication.
Children’s book author Serena Noreen Brown holds two bachelor’s degrees — in Business Administration (Brewton Parker College) and Electronic Engineering Technology (ITT Technical Institute) — and an
Associate’s degree in Electromechanical Engineering Technology (Savannah Technical
College). She served as an Electrician’s Mate in the United States Navy, and has since
worked as a Marine Electrician, Project Manager, Electrical Manager, and training
coordinator across industries including defense, steel manufacturing, and shipbuilding. She
has written maintenance plans, conducted safety training, managed teams, and built
instructional programs for technical professionals throughout her career.
She is also a Florida Realtor® and the founder of the Forest of Friends universe — a world
built not from imagination alone, but from the real rescue animals who share her life.
The Pets Behind the Stories
The MeMe, JJ & Friends series is not fiction dressed up as fact. Every character is a real
rescue animal:
MeMe — the heart of the family and the series
JJ — adventurous, curious, and full of life
Tuffie — brave in the quietest ways
Tank — a gentle pit bull with a difficult past who became a symbol of courage and
second chances
Lexus — spirited and full of personality
Uno — Tank and Lexus’s son, born into the family, whose story anchors Uno’s Law (Book 10)
Ricky Ticky — a rescue ferret who proves that every kind of creature has something to
teach Serena’s mother — who lovingly named MeMe, JJ, and Tuffie — remains a guiding presence
in the series, appearing in the stories as an anchor of warmth and wisdom.
“I am a lifelong animal lover. Through the series you find out that my life has been touched
and blessed by many different animals — ferrets, iguanas, parakeets, dogs, cats, rabbits,
and more. I love to share the Forest of Pets with children, because every child deserves a
forest of friends.”
The VNEC Model
VNEC — Visual Narrative Emotional Comprehension — is a picture-book-based SEL and early literacy method developed by Serena through the MeMe SEL Academy. The model helps children observe visual clues in illustrations, interpret emotions with evidence, and connect story scenes to real-life communication and feelings.
VNEC is embedded in the Detective Uno Case File journal, a companion activity resource
featuring structured cases drawn from the book series. MeMe’s Memory (Book 2) alone
contains 10 distinct SEL moments — an illustration of how intentionally SEL-dense this
series is by design. The VNEC model is currently being expanded across the full series and is
being prepared for alignment with CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and
Emotional Learning) standards.
A companion VNEC app is also in development, designed to extend the journal experience
into a digital learning tool for early learners.
Recognition & Credentials
IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) newsletter feature — March 2026
MeMe’s Memory included in Indie Georgia: Discover Books From Local Authors — a curated BiblioBoard Library collection available to patrons of participating libraries across Georgia Series held in the Jacksonville Public Library Local Author Collection
Uno’s Law (Book 10) registered with the Library of Congress and assigned a Control Number Full series registered with the Library of Congress
VNEC framework presented at the college level with five-star educator recognition
What Drives the Work
“I didn’t set out to write children’s books — I set out to help children feel seen.
Many children don’t say when something feels ‘off.’ They show it — through behavior, silence, or pulling away. My stories are written to help children, and the adults who love them, recognize those quiet signals. Whether it’s a dog who doesn’t feel like himself or a friend who needs extra care, each book creates space for empathy, conversation, and
reassurance.
As a Navy veteran and engineer, I spent decades building frameworks for how people learn
under pressure. VNEC is that same work — applied to the most important learning of all:
how a child understands their own heart.”
Through her books and the VNEC model, Serena hopes every child knows:
You are loved. You belong. And no matter how small you feel, you matter.
Children’s book author Serena Noreen Brown continues to build stories, SEL resources, and VNEC-based tools that connect real pets, emotional learning, and meaningful conversations for children.
About me
Stories Rooted in Real Life, Care, and Connection
I’m Serena N. Brown — a children’s book author, U.S. Navy veteran, and lifelong animal lover. The MeMe, JJ & Friends series grew from real moments with real pets, each with their own story, personality, and lessons to share.
I didn’t set out to write children’s books — I set out to help children feel seen.
The MeMe, JJ & Friends series grew from real life: real pets, real moments, and real emotions that don’t always have easy words. Each story is inspired by the animals who have been part of my family — from MeMe and JJ to Tuffie, Tank, and beyond — and the lessons they quietly taught about kindness, noticing, patience, and love.
Many children don’t say when something feels “off.”
They show it — through behavior, silence, or pulling away.
My stories are written to help children (and the adults who love them) recognize those quiet signals. Whether it’s a dog who doesn’t feel like himself or a friend who needs extra care, each book creates space for empathy, conversation, and reassurance.
As a U.S. Navy veteran, Florida Realtor®, and lifelong animal lover, I bring a deep respect for service, community, and second chances into everything I create. These books are often used by parents, teachers, counselors, and librarians as gentle tools for social-emotional learning — especially around noticing feelings, asking for help, and staying connected.
Children’s book author Serena Noreen Brown writes from the heart of real rescue pet experiences, turning animal stories into gentle lessons about friendship, trust, courage, and emotional understanding.
For families, teachers, and young readers, children’s book author Serena Noreen Brown offers stories that connect real pets, expressive illustrations, and meaningful conversations about feelings.
Forest foundation
The Roots Were Planted
I am a lifelong animal lover. You find out through the series that my life has being touch and bless by a several different animals from ferrets, iguana, parkette, dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. I love to share the forest of pets with children because every “child deserves a forest of friends.”
What we offer
We create gentle, story-based resources that help children understand emotions and build empathy through shared moments.
The series began with MeMe, JJ, and Tuffie. When JJ met Tank, the stories expanded beyond friendship and grew into lessons of kindness, noticing, and care. What started as a simple trio evolved first into a message of Adopt-a-Heart and then into the Forest of Friends — a growing world that helps children explore empathy, recognize when someone needs support, and understand the value of connection and belonging.
Each book introduces familiar characters and gentle moments that encourage children to notice big feelings and quiet emotions, opening the door to meaningful conversations at home, in classrooms, and in libraries.
Our SEL reflection tools are designed to help children slow down, notice emotions, and talk about feelings in a way that feels safe and supportive.
Each reflection activity builds from the stories in the MeMe, JJ & Friends series, giving teachers, parents, and caregivers simple prompts to guide conversation rather than lead it. Instead of telling children what to feel, the tools encourage observation, empathy, and understanding — helping children recognize emotions in themselves and others.
These tools are especially helpful for children who may struggle to express how they feel. By focusing on noticing changes, asking gentle questions, and staying connected, the reflection activities support meaningful dialogue without pressure, labels, or judgment.
Used alongside the stories, SEL reflection tools help strengthen communication, emotional awareness, and trust in classrooms and at home.
Being equipped to notice when a friend is not feeling like themselves is important for children and adults alike. Through the stories, we teach how to observe even the smallest changes — the quiet moments that may signal when someone needs care or support.
Noticing does not always mean having the right words or knowing what to do next. Sometimes, the most important helping hand is simply being present and willing to listen. These tools encourage awareness, empathy, and the courage to respond with kindness when it matters most.
Feelings can be complex, especially when you can’t find the words to describe what you’re feeling. These stories allow children to sit with their emotions — to feel them safely and quietly — until they are ready to speak about what’s happening inside.
Through gentle storytelling, children learn that feelings don’t need to be rushed or fixed. With time, patience, and support, emotions can be understood, expressed, and allowed to pass — helping children return to feeling like themselves again.
Get in Touch
Inquiries are welcome to discuss educational use, library programs, or collaborations.
