Works In Progress

A child with a mobility impairment can't access all the places she wants to go, even with her wheelchair. When an idea sparks, then ignites, family and friends join her in designing and building an off-road device so she can come ALONG FOR THE RIDE.  #PB #DIS #OWN #STEM #SEL

This 324-word book will join other uplifting PBs that highlight and honor the challenges of living with a disability, like OUTSIDE AMELIA’S WINDOW by Nastro and Budisan (2023). ALONG FOR THE RIDE includes SEL and STEM themes, a strong family bond, a model of determination and an Author’s Note about my personal journey.

A young girl and her dad embark on a bike ride adventure in the desert southwest–past darting lizards, across sandy arroyos, and up, up, up hills, long and steep, and hard in the heat–only to find themselves in A RACE WITH THE RAIN as the afternoon monsoon rolls in! A  literary PB celebrating nature and family, reminiscent of Pete Oswald’s HIKE, told with a lyrical tone similar to Kristy Dempsey’s A DANCE LIKE STARLIGHT: ONE BALLERINA’S DREAM.  A dusty-dry, high desert nod to Jane Yolen’s classic, OWL MOON.

Rumble-hum, Maddie’s mama rides a motorized mobility scooter everywhere they go…to the bus stop, along the riverwalk and even at the carnival.  But, when a new kid asks too many questions, Maddie’s tummy flip-flops. Can she help him understand that her mama is extra special because she rides–her scooter and the Scrambler? A celebration of family, diversity and acceptance.

Shane Burcaw’s Not So Different meets Amy Webb’s When Charley Met Emma with a side of James Catchpole’s What Happened to You? 

Picture book manuscript

When Zander starts school, he  worries that his best friend, Willy Barrow (a wheelbarrow), won't be there with him  in case of a school adventure emergency.

Picture book manuscript

Elevator pitch: 

High energy and distractible, Oliver is working hard to stay focused and on track during library time.  But, when he hears “Psst, hey you!” coming from the bookshelf, he can’t resist finding out more.  He discovers Creative Spark who has come on behalf of an author, to get to know Oliver and figure out which literary genre would best tell the boy’s story.  Together, the two consider possible genre options and imagine how Oliver’s story might look in each one. 

Oliver ultimately suggests that a wordless picture book would be best—both to tell his story and to keep both of them out of trouble.

Middle Grade Informational Fiction

TIES TO EDUCATIONAL CONTENT:

• Cause and effect
• Primary sources
• Vocabulary