In addition to his long teaching career, Mike Mirabella enjoyed 50 years as an ASCAP singer-songwriter. In 1988 he published a limited-edition CD anthology entitled Special People, still available on the website below.
In 2016 Mike started to publish children’s books using his already published songs. His first children’s book was entitled, On the Luck of an Irish Sailor, based on a story-song he wrote when he was 15 years old. This adventurous tale owes its inspiration to stories Mike heard as a little boy. His Italian clan swapped such stories during family dinners at the kitchen table. It was recorded much later by the legendary Shay Black, the eldest of Ireland’s renowned Black Family. This children’s book received the following book awards: Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards and Readers’ Favorite-Five Stars.
Mike then published his two-book series called The Carla Stories about inclusion, belonging, and compassion for his daughter, Carla Elaine, who was born with Down’s syndrome.
Book 1 of this series is entitled Sister Butterfly, written for Carla when she was only three years old. A bonus song entitled “I Am So Like You” is included. This children’s book received the following book awards: Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, Readers’ Favorite- Five Stars and Pinnacle Book Achievement Award.
Book 2 of this series is entitled I Used to Be Shy, co-written by Mike and Lenny Lipton, author of “Puff the Magic Dragon,” sung by Peter, Paul and Mary. On rainy days, Mike’s and Lenny’s daughters would play on the living room rug while their fathers would pitch lyrics back and forth, making up silly songs; some of these songs are shared in The Carla Stories. This children’s book received the following book award: The Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA): 1st Place in Category for Little Peeps Children’s Books.
Coming soon will be the Book 3 of The Carla Stories entitled Special People and an audiobook, based on how Carla’s amazing life inspired others who knew and loved her to be more creative and to excel past social limits and personal expectations.
The outstanding illustrations in all of Mike’s children’s books were drawn by the talented Amy O’Hanlon, an inspired artist who does stage production designs for several musicals, one of which was the Bay Area Children’s Theatre’s She Persisted, based on the book by Chelsea Clinton.
