Books In Bloom: 20 Children's Authors Reflect on their Publishing Journey
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Each year on April 2nd – the birthdate of iconic children’s author Hans Christian Andersen – people all over the world gather to celebrate International Children’s Book Day.
The theme for 2026 – plant stories and the world will bloom – resonates particularly deeply for a publishing services provider like FriesenPress. Each day since our founding in 2009, we’ve assisted thousands of children’s authors in planting a veritable forest of wonderful children’s books for the next generation of young readers to enjoy.
This global celebration is the perfect time to re-visit the seedlings of many of our children’s authors’ books, which were nurtured and published over the last year. Below, you’ll find a selection of 20 reflections on why our authors wrote their book (or series!) and what the act of publishing has meant to them in their lives. In addition to their heartwarming anecdotes, we hope you find a new favourite title for your bookshelf – along with the inspiration to become a children’s author yourself.
Happy International Children’s Book Day!
I wrote Chaplin the Rescue Dog to fulfill two of my childhood dreams: writing a book and helping animals. Two years ago, I adopted the oldest dog in a South Florida shelter, my sweet boy Chaplin. He has brought so much joy into my and my family’s life that it inspired me to share his story for kids to enjoy, with the hope that it inspires future generations to adopt their pets.
It is so rewarding to share Chaplin’s story in a fun way that people have been loving. I donate $1 from every copy sold to dog rescue organizations in the United States and Canada, and it’s been beautiful to see the positive impact for rescue dogs from our donations. I’m so glad that I will be able to cherish Chaplin’s story forever! – Taylor Stewart, Author of Chaplin the Rescue Dog
As a kid, I was a bookworm, and as I got older, I fell in love with writing. I decided to write a book for the age I was when I couldn't get enough of books – around 8-12 years old. I took inspiration from my childhood summers at Waldameer, my family's amusement park. "Write what you know," as they say; eight books later, I have a whole series about kids solving mysteries at Waldameer.
It's rewarding to share both my creative storytelling and a place that's precious to me. Being a children's author has brought me so many meaningful connections. I meet kids who are excited for the next book in my series, teachers who invite me to their schools, and fellow authors who offer support and camaraderie. It's a rich life! – David Gorman, Author of the 8-book Waldameer Mystery Files series
When my daughter was young, she always asked me to tell her stories. At the time, she actually believed that this particular story was true, and every time we saw rainbows she always looked for the flying dust fairies! I vowed to one day illustrate and publish this story and dedicate it to her.
Publishing this book was a dream come true for me. This story that my daughter still loves (especially because I included the original 3 drawings that she helped me to colour when she was just 5 or 6) has been published. And it’s dedicated to her: the most beautiful person in all the land! – Belén Comas, Author of Watch Out for the Flying Dust
As an educator, my passion is to nurture curiosity, creative expression and the enchantment of play. Through my writing, I bring gentle lessons to life for my readers through silly, engaging and imaginative experiences. In my book, I invite children to discover that their body is a wise teacher and learning to listen to its messages or how it carries energy is healthy for their self awareness and development. A dream/legacy I always hoped to achieve to pass on to my grandchildren and beyond, keeping the heart of childhood alive for all my readers. – Wendy Delcourt, Author of Are Ants Really in My Pants?
Inspired by my own childhood insecurities about a stubborn cowlick that never seemed to behave, Hedi the Hedgehog and the Sparkle in the Pond grew from a simple but powerful idea: true friends lift you up instead of putting you down. Through Hedi and her woodland friends, the book gently celebrates kindness, acceptance, and the beauty of embracing our quirks – those “bad hair days” in life that become easier when good friends stand beside us (sometimes with a hat to share!). Publishing with FriesenPress allowed me to finally bring this heartfelt message to young readers and families who will recognize themselves in Hedi’s journey toward confidence and belonging. – Charly Ann, Author of Hedi the Hedgehog and the Sparkle in the Pond
Watching my daughters grow up, I’ve seen both the beauty and pain of being different in a world that doesn’t always understand differences. As the mother of two girls, one bi-racial and one who was bullied because of her disability, I felt compelled to write a book that honors their lived experiences. Through a child’s perspective, my hope is to share their stories, raise awareness, and inspire young readers to embrace kindness and understanding.
The outpouring of support has been truly overwhelming. Knowing this little book carries such a powerful message and resonates with so many parents and children means the world to me. – Tracey Martineau, Author of Different but Perfect
I wrote The Fort because some of the most magical memories of raising my boys happened at our river. I wanted to capture that spirit of childhood curiosity and the deep connection children naturally feel with nature. My hope is that families step outside and explore their own river, forests, parks, and the wonder that is waiting there. Publishing was a way of preserving my children's childhood, continuing my life's work with children, and giving legacy and meaning to my family. – Krista M. Phillips, Author of The Fort
One night, my kids wanted me to tell them a new story. Of course, we had already read every book we had (about 100 times), so I told them a tale of a chameleon that loved to travel. She went to the beach and ate slimy seaweed with a crab. The next night, the kids wanted more! "What is the chameleon's name?", "Can she play with a bat tonight?", "Where does she live?"... And just like that, Leaf was born. Then the cute little bedtime story became bigger than a little tale – it sparked something inside me. I knew that Leaf was meant to be out in the world for everyone to enjoy. – AA Vickers, Author of Leaf and the Travel Bug
The desire to write this book was a very personal one, since the essential story revolves around my youngest daughter's "complicated" relationship with her older sister. The book was undertaken as a way to help other siblings and caregivers navigate what is often a confusing and challenging environment. It has given me great pleasure to tackle this exciting project with my daughter Hayley – a true family endeavour. Having the book finally published has been extremely satisfying, and to already see the early positive response has been incredibly motivating. – Michael Leclair , Co-Author of Am I Special Too?
I have a passion for inspiring outdoor exploration – especially for children, who are becoming increasingly disconnected from the outdoors and lack opportunities for unstructured play and imagination.
This book has allowed me to connect with so many young families who have expressed joy in the interactive qualities of the book and turned it into an outdoor scavenger hunting adventure! This is exactly what I had hoped. – Angèle Watrin Prodaehl, Author of From My Treehouse I Can See…
I was on my way back to law school after a weekend visit with my family, and my nieces and nephews had been having great fun calling their Grammy "Grumpy Grammy". My mother is anything but grumpy – yet the name stuck. Every time I would hear the name, it would make me smile.
I love alliteration, so Tina the Toddler and Grumpy Grammy was born. My intention is to make this a series where Tina and Grumpy Grammy go on visits and have fun adventures and learn about different morals and life lessons. I want to make kids and adults laugh for a few minutes when reading this book. That’s why I decided to publish – to (hopefully!) spread some joy. – Samantha Maziejka, Author of Tina the Toddler and Grumpy Grammy Go On A Picnic
When living with a disability, you are often stereotyped into a box filled with limitations, and needing support. We are not given the opportunities to be curious about what we can do, and wondering what new things we can learn today. This book encourages your readers to shift their mindset into seeing what they can do, rather than limiting themselves. – Karen Lai, Author of I Wonder... Be Curious
The Great PB&J Plan is based on a true story: a 5 year old child's kindness and empathy needed to be acknowledged and celebrated. It highlights that anyone can be caring and kind and generous. I thought it was a wonderful message to share with children and the adults in their lives.
Publishing a book is a dream realized. It has allowed me to explore my creativity and share this with children and recognize how very creative, imaginative, and talented they are. I hope that I can be an inspiration to anyone who reads my books to dare to follow their dreams, too. – Venita Ramanna, Author of Hop, Stop or Go!, and The Great PB&J Plan
I have had the honor of having Cord [the horse] in my life for 27 years. I love him more every day and I know I’m so lucky to have him. I feel like everyone should get to be so lucky and I thought this [book] would be a fun way to share the love that I have for him with others.
Now, Cord will be remembered by more than just me — and I hope that he helps others like he has me. – CJ Ricci, Author of Cord’s Tails: Who Am I?
Beautiful Heartbreaks was written so my daughter knows how cherished she is. I wanted her to have her own book, about her, to grow alongside. This book is also written for all the moms out there who devote every ounce of their being to raising and fostering kind, inquisitive and thoughtful children.
Now that my daughter is old enough to read the book and know Mommy loves her every step of the way, I felt it was time to publish. Writing a children’s book has made me feel more accomplished and allowed me to keep my word that, one day, my own book would be a part of my daughter’s library. A forever gift. – Melissa Cotrone, Author of Beautiful Heartbreaks
I wrote Emma’s Electrical Services because I wanted children – especially young girls – to see that the skilled trades are an exciting & meaningful path they can pursue. After spending many years working in manufacturing, I realized that many children grow up without ever being introduced to these kinds of careers. I wanted to create a book that sparks curiosity and shows that girls can grow up to build, fix, and create things, too. Writing this book was also very special because I had the opportunity to co-author it with my daughter-in-law, which made the experience even more meaningful for our family.
Seeing children read the story and connect with Emma reminds me why representation matters at a young age. Knowing that this book might inspire even one young girl to believe she can build something, fix something, or pursue a trade someday makes the entire journey worthwhile. – Rosemary Cescolini, Co-Author of Emma's Electrical Services
I wanted to capture and preserve the moments of my grandson's childhood and anchor him to memories that he may soon forget. I sought to create a tangible keepsake of his experiences at "Grammie's" home and immortalize the pets that would influence his developing mind into adulthood. Much of our time together on our property is spent in nature, where he is learning to appreciate the wonder and vibrancy of this active community of wildlife. This aspect was paramount in the book — and publishing it is one of the most meaningful projects I have ever completed. – Sharilyn DeVos-Ritacca, Author of Head Goes Bonk!
I’ve struggled with Generalized Anxiety Disorder since I was very young. I taught in the public school system, and taught piano lessons for many years. During that time, I saw many children hurting with mental health issues, with the most prevalent being anxiety. I wrote these books to show children they are not alone, that there is help and understanding in family, friendship, and therapy. There is no shame in reaching out.
Since being published, I have met many children and adults who have shared their stories with me. I feel honoured to have touched some lives and hopefully helped them understand that there is support for those of us who struggle. – Elaine Armstrong, Author of the Amy Has Anxiety series
I wrote this book to help plant seeds of self-love, confidence, and gratitude in the hearts of children. When a child truly understands their worth and learns to appreciate who they are, the words and actions of others lose their power to harm them. My hope is that this story reminds children that they are unique, valuable, and deserving of kindness – both from others and from themselves. By nurturing self-love early in life, we help build strong hearts and minds so that bullying and negativity cannot penetrate their spirit.
Publishing this book has given me joy knowing I am planting seeds of lessons in the value of instilling self love – and also the fact that my daughter created the illustrations, which was very special to me. – Franni Welter, Author of I AM Cornelius
I wrote this children's book as a love letter to my younger self, as well as my son, to embrace the things that make us different and unique. In a world where we can be so hard on ourselves, I wanted to spread some positive energy on loving and accepting our beautiful selves, just the way we are. If The Dusty Cat helps even one child feel a little braver or more comfortable being different, then it has done exactly what I hoped it would. – Jaimie Clarke, Author of The Dusty Cat
