Our Butterfly Walk is a warm, interactive picture book that follows children and their grown-ups on a nature-filled walk, inviting young readers to notice the small wonders of the outdoors along the way. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The inspiration was taking grandkids for walks; they enjoy seeing the sights mentioned, but most of all, when I asked what the favorite part of the walk was, it was stopping by the house with flowers that attract butterflies. They held the butterflies in their hands. They were also able to put little stickers to track migration.

How did you decide on the interactive questions woven throughout the book, and were they based on real conversations with children?​

We interacted with the grandkids with most questions, but I knew I would be going to schools and libraries to read to the kids. I didn’t want the book to just be read, but also interactive as a short program also. It’s so fun for the children to see the little details.

Did any of the scenes in Our Butterfly Walk come directly from your own family walks or memories?​

Yes, they came from personal memory, and I grew up in the country, so I also added a couple from my childhood experience. Most were from grandkids’ walks with us.

How closely did you work with the illustrator to make sure the little hidden details in nature stood out on each page?​

My illustrator is amazing; he did my illustrations for both my children’s books. I gave him an exact description of what what I wanted, from the number of kids and adults, to colors of clothing. Also, the number and color of flowers and everything in between. He listened to my needs. The things we would see while on a walk here in Northern MN. The birds, bees and everything in between.

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