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ATTLEBORO -- Brennan Middle School fifth-grade teacher turned author Dawn Greening turned to the Halloween season to make a point about children facing challenges and being themselves.

"Orange Dreams and Lucky Snores," Greening's self-published children's book, features a story about a little girl with a big problem - she snores.

Lori, who wants to win a pumpkin-growing contest, is teased by her friends after her problem surfaces at a sleepover. However, she finds that her snoring turns out to be an asset at harvest time when her noisy rattling scares away pumpkin-eating pests.

Greening, a 39-year-old mother of two, conceived the book several years ago, but ended up publishing it in August after finding a publisher online.

She decided to set the story in the fall, "my favorite season." The book was illustrated by Greening's father, Raymond F. Tameo, a wildlife artist, and Mike Marini, a greeting card illustrator from Rhode Island. One of the scenes shows Brennan Middle School in the background.

Greening said she was inspired by her children, Krista, 6, and Kurt, 3, and her husband Stephen.

The fifth-grade teacher said she wanted to make a point to children about facing challenges.

"When you're faced with a challenge, you need to look to the positives," she said.

Greening's book, published by Author House, is already receiving positive notices online and was read aloud to students recently by Superintendent Pia Durkin.

"Orange Dreams and Lucky Snores," which is aimed at young readers, is available through barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.