Welcome aboard the Freedom Train!
Nestled in the quaint town of Phenix City, Alabama, our Veteran and Woman-owned company, Freedom Train For Kids, LLC creates innovative and one-of-a-kind patriotic children’s books. From empty blank pages being filled with the curious historical story of the 1947 Freedom Train to meeting the characters that come to life with beautiful original art, co-authors Kathy Maggart and Kathie Eidson invite you to join them in their mission; to connect kids across America with a heart full of love for our country.
Our company’s two new books are All Aboard America’s Freedom Train (PreK – 2nd grade) and America’s Patriotic Freedom Train (3rd – 5th grade); they will take kids on a funtastic journey and teach them that caring ideas can change the world. We believe this will inspire a generation of future leaders to chase their dreams and positively impact their communities. Freedom Train For Kids, LLC was built with a roof of passion, walls of freedom, and a door of literacy for all to open and become Best Freedom Friends!
Happy Reading!
CEO: Kathy Maggart
Co-authors: Kathy Maggart and
Kathie Eidson
Illustrator: Jon McGregor
Kathy Maggart
Contact Kathy Maggart
Email: kathymaggart@freedomtrainforkids.com Telephone: (334) 614-2089
Shortened Bio
Through her creative, artistic, musical, and
magical teaching style, Kathy Maggart's
passion to encourage children to have a
love for reading shines in everything she
does.
Kathy Maggart is ...co-author and publisher of
both All Aboard America's Freedom Train
and America's Patriotic Freedom Train. Her
continued quest to capture the excitement of
reading compelled Kathy to write these
patriotic children's books that encompassed
the inspirational and true historical event of
the 1947 Freedom Train.
Enriched with
beautiful art by illustrator, Jon MacGregor, the captivating characters, and storylines
bring to life this fantastic story.
Kathy Maggart has a master's degree in
Elementary Education K-6 from Troy
University. She taught 1st and 2nd Grade in
the Phenix City school district for many
years. She has won multiple teaching
awards including her district's "Rookie
Teacher of the Year" in 2003.
Kathy also
won the prestigious "Golden Apple
Teacher" award in 2008. In addition, Kathy
integrated creative techniques of learning
through art, music, and promoted literacy
with her remarkable approach to education.
Kathy Maggart is also the owner and CEO
of Freedom Train For Kids, LLC. She is the
active director of their non-profit, Freedom
Train For Kids Foundation, a 501(c)(3).
+ Show More
Full Bio
Through her creative, artistic, musical, and
magical teaching style, Kathy Maggart's
passion to encourage children to have a love
for reading shines in everything she does.
Kathy's unique teaching abilities are filled ...with years full of fun educational initiatives.
This includes a life-size replica of a Blue
Whale heart inside an interactive "Ocean
Museum" with hands-on activities she
helped create.
With guitar in hand, Kathy
also established a sensational musical
storytelling time business to encourage
children to develop a love for reading. All
the while, this entrepreneurial spirit led her
down the path to a life-long dream of
writing children's books.
Kathy Maggart is now co-author and
publisher of both All Aboard America's
Freedom Train and America's Patriotic
Freedom Train.
Kathy recalls, "I never
thought that being "Businesswoman of the
Month" with a two day a week paper route
when I was 14 would lead to starting a
company and becoming the CEO!"
Kathy's continued quest to capture the
excitement of reading, compelled her to
write these patriotic children's books that
encompass the inspirational and true
historical event of the 1947 Freedom Train.
This red-white-and-blue train carried the
Nation's most important documents of
freedom and stopped through every state in
our wonderful nation, igniting a spirit of
patriotism. Millions of people lined up for
miles and miles to see this stunning train, walk aboard, and get a glimpse of the
documents that made this country strong.
Few people have heard about this story, and
Kathy wanted to share with young readers
its message of caring ideas, patriotism, and
having the freedom to chase your dreams.
Kathy's patriotism flourishes from her
upbringing in a Navy family and reinforces
her love for our country, and enthusiasm to
reach kids to encourage generations of
heroes and leaders.
Enriched with beautiful art by illustrator,
Jon MacGregor, the captivating characters,
and storylines bring to life this fantastic
story. Kathy knew these books would be
one-of-a-kind treasures for kids to read
while instilling a positive message. She
wanted these inquisitive characters through
the pages to invite readers to join them on
exciting roller-coaster adventures and
travels through time. Kathy says, "I believe
these books will help connect kids across
America with a heart full of love for our
country."
Her genuine smile and outgoing
personality are a warm welcome for anyone
to talk with her about these exceptional
books and her passion for literacy.
Kathy Maggart has a master's degree in
Elementary Education K-6 from Troy
University. She taught 1st and 2nd Grade in
the Phenix City school district for many
years. She has won multiple teaching
awards including her district's "Rookie
Teacher of the Year" in 2003. Kathy also
won the prestigious "Golden Apple Teacher"
award in 2008. In addition, Kathy integrated
creative techniques of learning through art,
music, and promoted literacy with her
remarkable approach to education.
Kathy Maggart is the owner and CEO of
Freedom Train For Kids, LLC. She is the
active director of their non-profit, Freedom
Train For Kids Foundation, a 501(c)(3). You can
contact Kathy for school author visits, radio,
TV, and all media events at:
KathyMaggart@FreedomTrainForKids.com.
+ Show More
Kathie Eidson
Contact Kathie Eidson
Email: kathieeidson@freedomtrainforkids.com Telephone: (615) 440-2919
Shortened Bio
Chasing fireflies, skipping rocks, and
exploring creeks, Kathie Eidson grew up on
the beautiful plains of Auburn, Alabama
with a love for the outdoors. The art within the sky, clouds, and nature captured her ...imagination and inspired her early on to
have a passion for writing.
This fascination with art and words fueled
Kathie's passion for literacy in the
educational realm. Her years of experience
homeschooling her four amazing children
helped her develop unique and fun educational initiatives applicable to
individual learning styles.
Kathie believes
that positive words are powerful and can
inspire reading which opens the door to a
world of opportunities that we can step
through, pursue, and reach our dreams.
Over the years, Kathie Eidson dreamed of
writing children's books and was excited
when her good friend, Kathy Maggart,
asked her to write All Aboard America's
Freedom Train and America's Patriotic
Freedom Train, with her.
Kathie says, "I
am blessed to be able to write about this
incredible historical event with my good
friend, Kathy Maggart. Our passion for
literacy and making reading fun is poured
into every word on each page of these
unique patriotic children's books."
+ Show More
Full Bio
Chasing fireflies, skipping rocks, and
exploring creeks, Kathie Eidson grew up on
the beautiful plains of Auburn, Alabama
with a love for the outdoors. The art within
the sky, clouds, and nature captured her ...imagination and inspired her early on to
have a passion for writing. Kathie is intrigued daily by the creativity of
words and how they can be strung
together to eloquently paint a picture.
This fascination with art and words fueled
Kathie's passion for literacy in the
educational realm. Her years of
experience homeschooling her four
amazing children helped her develop
unique and fun educational initiatives
applicable to individual learning styles.
Kathie believes that positive words are
powerful and can inspire reading which
opens the door to a world of opportunities
that we can step through, pursue, and
reach our dreams.
Over the years, Kathie Eidson dreamed of
writing children's books and was excited
when her good friend, Kathy Maggart,
asked her to write All Aboard America's
Freedom Train and America's Patriotic
Freedom Train, with her.
Kathie says, "I
am blessed to be able to write about this
incredible historical event with my good
friend, Kathy Maggart. Our passion for
literacy and making reading fun is poured into every word on each page of
these unique patriotic children's books. I
look forward to writing more in the series,
taking these wonderful characters and the
readers on super "train-tastic" adventures,
plus I get to spend time with my amazing
friend!"
Whether it's writing songs in Nashville with
her co-writers, painting, designing clothes,
writing poetry, or writing children's books,
Kathie's entrepreneurial spirit continues to
inspire her to create.
Kathie Eidson graduated from Auburn
University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Psychology and a minor in Art. She is also
co-writer of songs in the Christian, Country,
and Pop genres, recorded in Nashville.
+ Show More
Jon MacGregor
Contact Jon MacGregor
Email:
jon@jonmacgregor.com
Learn more about Jon's Art:
www.jonmacgregor.com or
www.freedomtrainforkids.com
Shortened Bio
You can find intriguing melodies of color
that capture the intrinsic soul of a moment
throughout Jon MacGregor's exceptional art.
Whether it is a peaceful waterfront
landscape, portraits, or illustrations, Jon's
representational art encompasses ...an array of
emotions that entices the viewer to
experience the art's expressionism.
His
classical stylings mixed with a
contemporary flare build a beautiful bridge
colliding the past with the present.
Jon's talent continues to overflow while
creating the illustrations for the patriotic
children's books, All Aboard America's
Freedom Train and America's Patriotic
Freedom Train.
His fantastic creativity built
a wonderful world of characters that young
readers resonate and connect with
throughout the pages. The whimsical
Futuristic Freedom Train illustrations take kids on a fun journey through time.
In addition, his interpretation of the
"talking rollercoaster Freedom Train" is
so inquisitive and relatable that kids are
loving it. Children reading the books are
constantly saying, "we love the art" and
asking, "who is the illustrator, he is
amazing!"
Co-authors, Kathy Maggart
and Kathie Eidson relay, "We are so
honored to have Jon illustrating our
children's books. His talent is impeccable,
and his development of the characters
along each page is so fun and expressive.
Jon is such an amazing person, and his
beautiful talent and spirit are continually
reflective through his art."
Jon MacGregor graduated with a Bachelor
of Fine Art in painting with a Minor in Art
History.
His Art Exhibits include the
following:
Ithica Fine Art Gallery, New York, 2020
Highland Gallery, Columbus, Georgia
Marietta Museum of Art, Georgia 2020
Columbus Museum of Art Permanent
Collection
Huss Foundation Figure Show 2019
"Go Figure 2" Bo Bartlett Center 2019
Columbus Artists' Guild Member's
Exhibit 2019
Columbus Artists' Guild Member's
Exhibit 2018 "Go Figure" Bo Bartlett Center 2018
Columbus State University's Juried
Exhibition 2018 Columbus Public Library
+ Show More
Full Bio
You can find intriguing melodies of color
that capture the intrinsic soul of a moment
throughout Jon MacGregor's exceptional art.
Whether it is a peaceful waterfront
landscape, portraits, or illustrations, Jon's
representational art encompasses ...an array
of emotions that entices the viewer to
experience the art's expressionism.
His
classical stylings mixed with a
contemporary flare build a beautiful bridge colliding the past with the
present.
The youngest of eight children within a
military family, MacGregor got to
experience the creative wonderment of
travel and the world of European Art. The
intricate European architecture, 19th
Century French Artist, classicalism, and
American Realist, together influenced Jon
and was a wealth of inspiration with a
glimpse of different cultures and belief
structures.
Jon says, "Through art, I hope to
inspire and be inspired from the beautiful
complexities of this world; the beauty,
somber, and richness of the world that
connects us all." From watching sunsets tip
across the skyscrapers in New York, or
sketching in a coffee shop in Georgia, Jon's
art keeps leading him to new horizons.
Jon's talent continues to overflow while
creating the illustrations for the patriotic
children's books, All Aboard America's
Freedom Train and America's Patriotic
Freedom Train. His fantastic creativity built
a wonderful world of unique characters that
young readers resonate and connect with throughout the pages.
The whimsical
Futuristic Freedom Train illustrations take
kids on a fun journey through time. In
addition, his interpretation of the "talking
rollercoaster Freedom Train" is so
inquisitive and relatable that kids are
loving it.
Children reading the books are
constantly saying, "we love the art" and
asking, "who is the illustrator, he is
amazing!"
Co-authors, Kathy Maggart
and Kathie Eidson relay, "We are so
honored to have Jon illustrating our
children's books. His talent is impeccable,
and his development of the characters
along each page is so expressive. Jon is
such an amazing person, and his beautiful
talent and spirit are continually reflective
through his art." Jon MacGregor graduated with a Bachelor
of Fine Art in painting with a Minor in Art
History.
His Art Exhibits include the
following:
Ithica Fine Art Gallery, New York, 2020
Highland Gallery, Columbus, Georgia
Marietta Museum of Art, Georgia 2020
Columbus Museum of Art Permanent
Collection
Huss Foundation Figure Show 2019
"Go Figure 2" Bo Bartlett Center 2019
Columbus Artists' Guild Member's
Exhibit 2019
Columbus Artists' Guild Member's
Exhibit 2018 "Go Figure" Bo Bartlett Center 2018
Columbus State University's Juried
Exhibition 2018 Columbus Public Library
+ Show More
Follow our Journey!
Our company, Freedom Train For Kids LLC, is a Veteran-owned, self-publishing book
company in Phenix City, Alabama. The authors Kathy Maggart and Kathie Eidson are
experienced Educators. Kathy Maggart taught in the Public School, and Kathie Eidson
taught in the homeschool community for 18 years. Our patriotic team of management,
distribution, consultants, and writers are highly experienced in each of their professional
roles.
Over the years, step-by-step our entrepreneurial spirit
and love for our country has led this dream to create a patriotic and educational children’s
book series. Our journey started with a song about the 1947 Freedom Train, and a blank
document on a computer screen. Very few people today have heard about this remarkable
historical event of the of the 1947 Freedom Train that traveled around the United States,
igniting a spirit of patriotism. This makes our books exceptional and unique. Day by day of
learning the ins and outs of writing, distributing, and publishing, we kept progressing with
hard work and a lot of faith.
We believe our goal is a positive one that is filling a niche. We understand there is a limited
amount of resources that encourage and inspire patriotism. Freedom Train For Kids book
series wants to encourage youth to value the freedoms we have fought for so long and never
be taken for granted. Our books and future series will help mold and shape kids to impact
their communities sharing the spirit of patriotism positively.
As proud Alums of Troy and Auburn University, we have written All Aboard America’s
Freedom Train for younger students, ages 4-8 years old. We’ve also written America’s
Patriotic Freedom Train, a chapter book for ages 9-11. We believe kids are the heroes of our
future and know that each child can make a difference. Our adventurous and unique books
help kids understand patriotism and its importance throughout history. Through the pages,
kids will learn that caring ideas can change the world. Freedom Train kids will pave the way
for all of us to join together hand in hand and embrace a heart full of love for our country.
The Freedom Train For Kids family is leading a generation of young heroes who will be
taking footsteps into the future and leaving patriotic footprints for younger generations to
follow in- all waving the American flag of patriotism.
Interview Topics
- What inspired you to write these books?
- Why are kids getting so excited about this historical event?
- What is the message you hope children will take away from reading, All Aboard America’s Freedom Train?
- What is the message you hope children will take away from reading, America’s Patriotic Freedom Train?
- With your endorsement from America’s First Female 4-Star Army General, Ann Dunwoody, who says that she “hopes every child in America embraces these books and it forever ignites a spirt of patriotism,” why do believe your books are a must-have read for children?
- How can kids connect across America to have a heart full of love for our country?
- What do the characters in your books encourage in kids?
- What is a Best Freedom Friend?
- What was the purpose of the 1947 Freedom Train?
- How can people learn more about these books?
- What authors have helped you along your journey?
- Will there be more books in the series?
- When you're not writing or working what do you like to do?
- What is your next project?
Freedom Train Images
