Works In Progress
THIS IS HOW I HIKE
Jules loves to hike but, with a mobility impairment, she does it a little differently than others. As her class prepares for a hiking field trip, she must convince her friends she will be able to join them, and confirm for herself that the trail will be fully accessible. When she notices an ominous sign at the trailhead, will she have to give up on her hopes to be included?
A RACE WITH THE RAIN
A young girl with a mobility impairment and her visiting auntie embark on a bike ride adventure through the high desert of the Southwest. Startled by a darting lizard, stranded by a sandy arroyo and stymied by hills, long and steep and hard in the heat, they succeed–-only to find themselves in A RACE WITH THE RAIN when an afternoon’s monsoon rolls in.
WELCOME TO ARCHES!
The beauty and science of Utah’s red-rock wonderland piques a young visitor’s interest. But an unexpected, mid-night BOOM! rumble, rumble ignites a passion for geology that will last her lifetime.
(Photo by friends, Tink & Laura Shepardson)
LARRY'S CHERRIES
Cherries plink, plink into the bucket as Larry picks the tart and juicy fruit for his birthday pie. But little sister's cherry-chomping, birds’ peck-pecking and a close call with a splort! of bird poop thwart his efforts. Larry’s plan to stop the distractions succeeds and, with another splort! Larry discovers that sharing cherries with the birds will ensure CHERRY GOODNESS FOR ALL into the future.
CHERRY GOODNESS FOR ALL combines the science of The Blue Jays that Grew a Forest (Street and Hunter, 2025) and Bud Finds her Gift (Kimmerer and Stoop, 2025) with the joy of baking with homegrown fruit included in Peaches (Davis and Holt, 2024) . LARRY'S CHERRIES nods to the poignant experience of a child enjoying freshly picked fruit and incorporation of onomatopoeia of the classic Blueberries for Sal (McCloskey, 1948).
In addition, this book is aligned with the second-grade life science Next Generation Science Standard that addresses “Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems,” specifically LS2.A: “Plants depend on animals for pollination or to move their seeds around.” (link to NGSS specifics here).
KNITTING MAGIC
New to town and in search of a buddy, Em finds an unexpected friend who transforms a ball of yarn into a scarf. To Em, it seems like KNITTING MAGIC. She wants to learn! When stitches stall, her hopes unravel… until practice and perseverance create confidence and community for Em and her new-old friend, Mimi.
TWO TOGETHER: A BASEBALL DAY
A Lyrical, Atmospheric, Picture Book Manuscript
⚾️The "PITCH" ⚾️
Holding tight, staying close, TWO TOGETHER move with the crowd, past statues of legends, through twisting turnstiles, to emerge into stadium sun. The two, one young and one older, join hometown fans to chant and cheer, sing and celebrate as teammates dart and dash around the diamond dot-to-dot below. A lyrical, atmospheric story of shared first-experiences at the ballpark.
MY MAMA RIDES
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?
MARMOT STORY
Middle Grade Fiction
LOGLINE:
A spunky but reserved girl finds her voice, confronts a shape-shifting marmot and changes the future for her family while adventuring with her quirky brother in the mountains of Southern Colorado.
FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER BIKES IN THE RAIN: THE IMPACT OF THE ERUPTION OF MOUNT TAMBORA
Middle Grade Informational Fiction
TIES TO EDUCATIONAL CONTENT:
- Cause and effect
- Primary sources
- Vocabulary
