Sacha and The Magic Cookie Maker Coloring Story Book

from Musicwoman Magazine 2024

by Musicwoman and Musicman Magazines

Collaborating with Bertha Hope by Kim Clarke (con’t)

Written by Philip Michael Thomas & Sandi Morais

Illustrated by Imaj

In 1960, at 11, Philip Michael Thomas composed the lyrics and music to his first song, Troubled Child. PMT (as he is affectionately called) loves writing poetry, and composes music on piano and guitar. In 1996, In Costa Rica, he co-produced We Are the Children of the World, a children’s TV show with puppets and music in Spanish and English. In 1997, he produced the music for Sandi Morais’ children’s fitness show, Reggae Muffin for WLRN TV, in Miami, Florida.

Sacha and The Magic Cookie Maker coloring storybook was inspired by a 30-second jingle that Philip Michael Thomas composed in 1978, for his 4-year-old daughter Sacha Thomas. Philip took Sacha to the Magic Cookie Factory in Los Angles, California, and Sacha was fascinated, so Philip created a jingle entitled Magic Cookie Maker.

In May 1999, Sandi Morais taught Sunset Christian Academy in Miami, Florida, and she aimed to introduce her class to new material. Sandi asked Philip to create a CD of his children’s songs. Philip sent five children’s songs, The Big Old Elephant & The Teeny Weeny Mouse, Magic Cookie Maker, Granddaddy Said, I Love My ABC’S, and A.E.I.O.U. Sandi played the music and lyrics for her preschool class, and how quickly the children remembered the words amazed her.

She shared her excitement with Philip about the children’s reaction to his music. They transformed the Magic Cookie Maker jingle into a storybook about Sacha’s journey to the magic cookie factory. Sacha and The Magic Cookie Maker coloring storybook for children ages 3-9 years old became a reality in 2001.

The book was illustrated by Philip’s 11-year-old daughter, Imaj.

Then, Philip and Sandi created the Sacha and The Magic Cookie Maker musical fairy tale that premiered at the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater on January 12, 2001. The play was well received.

Later, that year Philip Michael Thomas was Artist in Residence at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, and Sacha and The Magic Cookie Maker was staged by the University for their year-end musical production.

The play was produced in 2005, at the Hollywood Performing Arts Center with Musical Director Melton Mustafa and at the Byron Carlyle Theater, in Miami, Florida, The Theater of the Riverside Church in New York City, and, in 2007, at Jones High School in Orlando, Florida.

In 2022, Philip and Sandi published the 20th Anniversary Edition of Sacha and The Magic Cookie Maker coloring storybook, illustrated by Herb Glen Bennett with activities for children to stimulate Auditory Skills, Critical Thinking, and enhance the Creative Imagination to help teachers and parents educate their children with music and storytelling. In 2024, the 23rd Anniversary Edition of Sacha and The Magic Cookie Maker coloring storybook, illustrated by Imaj, was re-published with entertaining sing-along music composed by Philip Michael Thomas. Philip and Sandi share similar goals in children’s education. They love to inspire, encourage, and empower the minds of children.