As a Springside Chestnut Hill Academy teacher for the last 23 years, Mary Ann Domanska definitely has an astute understanding of inquisitive, energetic young girls, which she has put to brilliant use as an acclaimed author of children’s books.

Her latest work, released on Sept. 22, “Fabemol Hears the Heart,” published by Chalk & Wonder Press, of Philadelphia, carries a message of empathetic listening. The book is a collaboration with New York illustrator Gabriela Guadalajara, a native of Mexico who is also a violin and viola maker.

“Actually, the illustrations came before the story,” Domanska told the Local last week, “which is unusual. Gabriela had created a collection of illustrations and had a vague sense of the characters, but there wasn’t yet a story to go with them. I was on the hunt for my next project, and a mutual friend connected us. It was an instant and positive collaboration, and we worked on the project throughout the summer.

“Fabemol, I think, represents the idea that each of us can be a better friend by truly listening and being intentionally present when someone else is hurting or reeling. It’s also about learning to sit with our own swirling emotions and understand that feelings will pass, just as they did for Fabemol. Sometimes the best thing we can do for someone is not to fix their problems but simply to be there — and that presence can be the greatest gift we give to each other.”

In the book, Fabemol is a quiet soul who doesn’t speak much but hears more than most people. When the character of Tutu tumbles, Lali’s wings droop, and Gluglucito hides behind silence. Fabemol doesn’t try to assuage their feelings but instead, just listens. The gentle journey unfolds through collage illustrations and whimsical characters. As Fabemol walks beside his friends, he discovers that empathy isn’t loud; it flickers softly, like a spark at midnight. Fabemol is a story about the beauty of emotional connection and the healing power of truly being heard.

“Although the book is geared toward children ages 4 to 8, I believe it resonates with readers of all ages,” said Domanska, who has taught kindergarten and second grade at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and also worked as a nursery teacher at Germantown Friends School. “It can certainly serve as a teaching tool, a way to introduce empathy and emotional awareness in a classroom setting, especially during [social-emotional learning] time.”

Domanska also has written a book inspired by two weeks she spent in a rural village in Kenya, titled “Nge and the Magical Drums: Bringing Rain to the Village,” a beautifully illustrated children’s book celebrating the power of music, courage and friendship. The illustrations are by a young Kenyan artist George Amadeus, who is part of the Maasai community.

In this story, a young orphan named Nge discovers that his unique drumming talent can summon rain, offering hope to his drought-stricken village. Guided by his animal friends — Tembo the wise elephant, Asani the brave lion and playful monkeys Kali and Kofi — Nge embarks on a rhythmic journey to bring life-giving water to his community.

A West Mt. Airy resident for 27 years, Domanska was born in Miami, but was raised in the foothills of North Carolina. She graduated in 1994 from Emerson College in Boston with a BFA in performing arts and a minor in creative writing, and then in 2003 from Chestnut Hill College with a master’s degree in elementary education.

Prior to teaching, she was interim director for the “Girl Scouting Behind Bars” program for the former Freedom Valley Girl Scout Council in Valley Forge, and a script reader for MGM Studios in Santa Monica, California. In 2016, she released a novel, “Emic Rizzle, Tinkerer,” more than five years in the making, which was inspired by a drawing her daughter, Clara, had made when she was 9 years old. Domanska is also the author of “Unraveled,” a poetry collection published by Moonstone Arts Center in Center City.

When she is not writing, teaching and parenting (with husband, Andrew, owner of The Little Gallery at 8622 Germantown Ave., who often travels to France to acquire more inventory), she enjoys performing in The Stagecrafters Theater productions, quilting, painting, riding her red Stella scooter and camping with her dog, Penny, in her Scamp travel trailer whenever possible. She considers herself a lifelong Girl Scout.

“And I love West Mt. Airy,” she said, “for its incredible blend of diversity, history and community spirit. It’s a place where neighbors know each other, the Wissahickon Woods can be accessed from your backdoor, and there’s a shared commitment to inclusion, creativity and civic engagement.”

For more information, visit maryanndomanska.com. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com.