Elsie’s Adventures to Harmony Hills: The Big Move follows a seven-year-old girl who faces a move that turns her world upside down and learns that big feelings don’t have to be scary. Was Elsie based on a real child, a personal experience, or a blend of many stories?

Yes, Elsie is inspired by a combination of my own experiences as a mom and my work as an educator. I’ve seen firsthand how moving can turn a child’s world upside down, whether it’s a local relocation or a family starting over in a new country. Many of the children I’ve worked with were English language learners navigating not just a new home but a whole new culture and environment. I’ve also worked with students in higher education who are teachers or aspiring principals, and through their experiences, I’ve seen how families cope with big changes and how children adapt and grow in the process. All of these experiences helped me shape Elsie’s story, allowing me to explore the mix of fear, excitement, and resilience that children feel during major transitions, and to show that big feelings, while challenging, don’t have to be scary.

Anxiety can be hard to explain, even to adults. How did you decide what language would feel safe and understandable for kids?

Anxiety can be an abstract and sometimes intimidating concept, even for adults, so making it understandable for children required careful thought. I wanted to create language that felt safe, clear, and relatable, so that kids could see their own experiences reflected without feeling overwhelmed. In my first book, Elsie’s Adventures to Brainy Cove, I introduced children to the brain science behind emotions, helping them understand why they feel what they feel in a way that is concrete and empowering. With The Big Move, I wanted to take that a step further by addressing anxiety—a feeling that can be confusing and even scary.

To make it approachable, I rely on visual language, metaphors, and storytelling.  Illustrations and scenarios in the book also help children see that big feelings are normal, that they come to everyone, and that there are ways to cope and feel safe. My goal is for children to not only recognize their feelings but also feel validated and equipped to navigate them. Ultimately, I hope the book gives children the language and understanding to talk about anxiety and know that big feelings don’t have to be frightening—they can be understood, managed, and even a source of growth.

What skills do you hope children carry with them long after reading the book?

I hope children gain a strong sense of emotional literacy and resilience from reading the book. I want them to recognize and name their big feelings, understand that it’s completely normal to feel nervous, anxious, or overwhelmed, and know that these feelings don’t have to be scary. Beyond just recognizing emotions, I want to give children practical coping skills—ways they can calm themselves, stay grounded, and navigate change with confidence. A key part of this is helping them identify how anxiety or worry feels in their own bodies, so they can notice early signs and respond in healthy ways. Ultimately, my goal is for children to carry the understanding that their feelings are valid, that it’s okay to ask for support, and that they have tools to move through life’s transitions with courage, resilience, and self-awareness.

Will this book be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?

Yes, this book is part of an ongoing series following Elsie’s adventures. Each book is designed to explore a different emotional challenge or growth moment, giving children practical tools and strategies for understanding and managing their feelings. Through Elsie’s experiences, readers can see that it’s normal to have big emotions, that they can navigate change and uncertainty, and that learning about feelings can be both empowering and even fun.

I’m also exploring new stories that continue to center on children’s emotional and social development, so there is much more to come from Elsie and her world. Each installment will introduce relatable situations, imaginative storytelling, and supportive lessons that children and the adults guiding them can carry into their own lives. My hope is that the series grows into a resource that children can return to again and again, helping them build resilience, empathy, and confidence as they face the ups and downs of growing up.

 
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