West Elementary School teacher Linda Patten hopes the world can learn a thing or two from the Kingdom of Serenity.

Patten said she wrote “Princess Alese and the Kingdom of Serenity” in a deliberate attempt to teach readers about the benefits of being kind.

“When I set out to do the book, I wanted to focus on bullying because I see it in the schools,” she said. “But bullying isn’t just in the schools, I see it with adults too. A small gesture of kindness can make a big difference to stop things like bullying.”

The book begins in the Kingdom of Coldville, where the weather is gloomy and the residents are mean. Residents of Coldville frequently insult and scream at each other.

Coldville’s prince is unhappy with the mean-spirited atmosphere of the town. He leaves the town search of a wife.

The prince eventually falls in love with a woman named Alese, described as kind and gentle.

Once the prince brings Alese back to Coldville, attitudes change and residents insult each other less.

Coldville residents also decide to rename the town from Coldville to the Kingdom of Serenity.

Patten said she named the Kingdom of Serenity after her daughter — also named Serenity.

Patten said the change shows that small gestures of kindness can make a big difference.

“When I was in third grade, my parents were not rich, but they worked hard,” she said. “My classmates might have really nice things, but my third grade teacher wouldn’t treat me any differently. That’s the reason I wanted to be a teacher and the reason I realized that small things, like doing small things for people, can make a difference.”

She began writing the book in January, and it was published in March.

This isn’t the first story Patten has written, but “Princess Alese and the Kingdom of Serenity” is her first published work.

She said her “Princess Alese and the Kingdom of Serenity” was chosen by her husband after she showed him two stories.

After her husband chose the book, Patten said she contacted several companies about the book, including Trafford Publishing.

“Two companies were actually calling me,” Patten said. “It was pretty exciting.”

Since publication, in March, Patten said she has tried to stay relatively humble about the book being published.

But once her friends found out, Patten said she assumed an advisor role to others who might want to write.

“They were fascinated and encouraged that I was able to publish my own book,” she said. “I told them that if they have any questions to just call me anytime. I have thought about working on another book myself.”