Jeff Cortazzo’s latest release was more than just a children’s book. For him, it is the ribbon-breaking moment at the end of a 2-year-long triathlon made up of writing, drawing and composing.

“The Five Birds and the Cat Queen,” is a colorful narrative that is meant for kids of any reading level to follow.

The story begins with five feathery friends getting tossed into a new adventure, and ends with a meaningful lesson on inner-beauty.

“There’s a lot of things that are offered to our children that entertain them and others that teach them. But if you can entertain them and teach them at the same time, they don’t know they’re being taught,” Cortazzo said.

This is made possible through Cortazzo’s narration paired with original music and sound. All of which is written, composed and recorded by Cortazzo. The real story started with one composition written more than 40 years ago when Cortazzo was in college.

“When I was in college I wrote a woodwind quintet and I called it ‘The Five Birds,’ and I thought that’d be a cool children’s book,” Cortazzo said. “At the time I never did anything with it, so the idea is 40 years old.”

For as long as he could remember, Cortazzo was drawing cartoons. But it wasn’t until sixth grade when he discovered what would become his life’s work, music.

From sixth grade until he graduated in 1981, Cortazzo was in the Palmerton School Band. He shined in every show and practice and soon carried it into college, where he would study music.

Now more than 35 years into his career, Cortazzo is well-established as a professional bass trombonist for the Army Band in Washington D.C.

This isn’t his first time teaching, either.

Over his long-lived career, Cortazzo recalls teaching more than 2,000 students. Through his book he hopes to teach a lot more.

“The response has been very enthusiastic across the board,” Cortazzo said. “Readers not only intellectually understand the moral of each book, but they can imitate that beneficial trait, like kindness.”

Cortazzo is working on creating a five-part series, “The Five Birds and the Cat Queen,” was just the beginning. On July 11, he released the second book in the series, “The Five Birds and the Missing Macaw.” Both books are currently available on Amazon.

To keep up with Cortazzo’s latest releases, visit fivebirdsadventures.com.