Santa Clarita children’s author Melissa Cenatiempo hosted a read-aloud for her new book about breaking boundaries and expectations on Saturday.

Cenatiempo hosted the reading, which featured a holiday craft and a writing worksheet based on the book, Saturday afternoon at The Open Book in Canyon Country.

The former special needs teacher said her students often felt limited by their challenges.

“I thought it was an important message for any child who’s ever felt confined by a label,” Cenatiempo said. “Just to put that out there and show there’s no limit on what you can do, as long as you follow your heart.”

Over time, the author realized the power of having a “can” mindset.

“What you tell yourself really becomes your reality,” Cenatiempo said. “What’s in your heart you really can achieve, and it really starts with just believing it.”

The mom started writing children’s books after she realized she loved reading picture books to her students and her kids.

“Something just kind of sparked in me,” Cenatiempo said. “Ideas for stories just kept coming to me, and sometimes I’d be driving and have to pull to the side and quickly just get it out on my phone.”

Cenatiempo’s books are available on Amazon.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.