I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”

When a young island girl named Elsie discovers an old bait bucket washed ashore, she sets out to find who it belongs to. A curious gull, a cheerful crab, a playful seal, and even the Sea itself each share memories of the bucket’s past. At last, the Sea tells Elsie that both she and the bucket are ready for something new. With imagination and care, Elsie finds a new purpose for the bucket.

Set on the coast of Maine, Elsie and the Bucket is a gentle, timeless picture book about renewal, empathy, and listening to the natural world. With lyrical language and a tender sense of wonder, it reminds readers that every small act of care can make waves. Illustrations by John Rohman in progress.

When Rosie feels too tall and too different to fit in, she finds comfort among the animals along her walk home. A wise bunny, a gentle pony, a sharp-eyed crow, and a moonlit owl each share their quiet wisdom, helping Rosie see that being different can be its own kind of gift. By story’s end, she discovers that standing tall is exactly what she was meant to do.

Inspired by life on the Maine coast, The Tall Girl is a lyrical picture book about self-acceptance, kindness, and the quiet lessons the natural world offers to those who listen.

Readers who enjoyed The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig or Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell will appreciate The Tall Girl’s message of embracing what makes us unique. Unlike those titles, Rosie’s journey unfolds through the gentle wisdom of animals and the healing beauty of nature, offering a soothing, timeless take on finding confidence in one’s own skin.

On a warm August night on Deer Isle, Elsie and her mother stay late at a community campfire on Sand Beach, listening to stories. A boy named Tommy tells a spooky tale about a ghost goat named Elmer who haunts a nearby barn.

When it’s time to go home, Elsie feels uneasy—especially when her mother asks her to close the chicken coop by the barn. Remembering Tommy’s story, she’s frightened .

With her stuffed dog Cody in her arms, and a flashlight in hand, Elsie faces her fears and walks through the moonlit yard to the coop. Though she hears creaks and rustles that make her heart race, she bravely completes her chore and returns home proud and triumphant.

It’s a gentle nighttime adventure about bravery, imagination, and trust between a mother and daughter.

In early spring on Deer Isle, Elsie spends a sunny day birdwatching in her yard, wearing her safari hat and green birding cape. She knows the calls of many birds, but longs to hear the striking “Wuk-wuk-wuk!” of a Pileated Woodpecker. When she finally hears it, she follows the sound deep into the woods—too far.

Lost as the weather turns cold and snowy, Elsie remembers the safety lessons her mother taught her: Stay calm, stay put, stay warm, and be loud. The forest birds—sparrow, chickadee, and crow—seem to guide her, echoing each step of that advice.

Though frightened and cold, Elsie holds on, hearing her stuffed dog Cody’s comforting voice in her mind telling her to stay strong. Her calls for help lead her mother to find her, and soon Elsie is safe at home, wrapped in warmth and love.

The story ends with Mamma’s reassurance that everyone makes mistakes—but bravery and remembering what you’ve been taught can bring you safely home.

On a blustery autumn day on Deer Isle, Elsie and her mother discover a scrap of an old, yellowed map hidden beneath a stone wall near Lily Pond. It shows part of the coastline and a faded red “X.” That night, as they study it together, Elsie imagines it might lead to treasure—and later dreams she’s sailing with her stuffed dog Cody across a sea of stars.

Guided by the glowing map, Elsie and Cody meet a talking star who gives her a small charm and tells her that true guidance comes from the courage in her heart. They continue their journey and encounter a rooster pirate—who looks just like her rooster, Roo—guarding another “treasure.” When Elsie solves his riddle (“Kindness”), he rewards her with a white feather to remind her of the power of being kind.

Finally, the dream leads Elsie home to a wooden box waiting in her garden. Inside is a picture of Elsie, Cody, and Mamma, a heart-shaped stone, and a note: “You already have the greatest treasure of all.” Elsie smiles and whispers, “Love.”

The story celebrates imagination, kindness, and the discovery that love and family are life’s true treasures.

When Elsie is finally allowed to walk to the Fourth of July parade by herself—with her beloved stuffed dog, Cody, riding in her backpack—it feels like the start of something big. But when Cody falls out somewhere along the busy route, her first taste of independence turns to heartbreak.

As she searches the island beaches and confides in her friend Mrs. Gray and the whispering Sea itself, Elsie learns about loss, love, and believing in things she can’t quite explain. Then, one magical morning, the Sea keeps its promise—and Cody finds his way home in a way no one could have imagined.

A tender, sea-soaked story of hope, courage, and the quiet kind of magic that lives in small towns and faithful hearts. A Young Readers Chapter Book.