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Variety and Discovery
In Balu the Paw-Traveler Visits the Seven Modern Wonders, an adventurous black Labrador takes children on a trip around the globe to see how diverse our world is. What inspired you to create Balu the Paw-Traveler and make him the guide for children’s adventures around the world?
Traveling is my passion, and showing the world to my boys is something I truly enjoy. The idea for Balu the Paw-Traveler came to me when I was looking for a book about the Seven Modern Wonders to share with my sons. I couldn’t find one that felt suitable for their ages and included the kind of adventure and learning I was looking for, so I decided to create the story myself.
Balu was inspired by my own black Labrador. He isn’t a puppy anymore, but he still has that sweet puppy face that made him the perfect character to guide young readers around the world.
I also wanted to give parents a tool to spark curiosity and show their kids that there are so many amazing places, cultures, and experiences to discover around us. I believe an adventure can start long before we actually visit a place. Sometimes, reading about it is that first step—it opens their imagination, encourages them to ask questions, and makes them excited to discover more.
The book introduces geography alongside food, language, music, traditions, animals, and activities. Why was it important to show children several different aspects of each culture?
When I travel, I’m always looking for variety and discovery. When I plan an itinerary, I don’t want to simply visit a famous landmark and move on. I want to try the food, hear the music, learn about the traditions, see the wildlife, and experience the little details that make each destination unique.
I wanted to bring that same feeling into Balu the Paw-Traveler. That’s why I tried to include as many different elements as possible throughout his journey. I want young explorers to see that discovering the world is about much more than seeing a famous place. It’s about experiencing the variety, diversity, cultures, flavors, sounds, and traditions that make every destination unforgettable.
That is what makes traveling so exciting to me, and it’s the feeling I hope readers take with them on Balu’s adventure.
In your story, you frequently invite children to participate through movement, imagination, language, and other activities. Why was interactive learning important to you?
I didn’t want Balu the Paw-Traveler to be a story that you simply read and then put back on the shelf. I wanted young explorers to participate in the adventure and feel like they were traveling alongside Balu.
Throughout the book, readers are invited to do things themselves: learn a samba step, practice yoga, close their eyes and use their imagination, and even think about what it might feel like to have the wind on their faces or butterflies in their tummies.
Reading about an experience is wonderful, but when you read, move, imagine, and participate at the same time, it becomes something you can actually feel. Those feelings are often what we remember most. That was my goal with Balu: to make the adventure feel as real as possible and turn reading into an experience rather than just a story.
Is The Seven Modern Wonders the beginning of more journeys for Balu, and are there other parts of the world or subjects you’d especially like him to explore?
Absolutely! The Seven Modern Wonders is only Balu’s first adventure. I’m already working on more journeys that will take him to new places and give young explorers even more opportunities to discover our incredible world. Future adventures may take Balu across continents, oceans, national parks, and beyond.
My goal is to continue creating adventures that encourage families to explore, learn, ask questions, and stay curious about the world around them. There is so much for Balu to discover, and I’m very excited about where his paws will take him next!
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Perfect for children ages 4-12, this educational travel adventure blends fun storytelling with real-world learning. Kids will explore Machu Picchu, the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum, and more, all through the eyes of a lovable dog.
With vibrant illustrations and an engaging narrative, Balu the Paw Traveler: Visits the Seven Modern Wonders is a multicultural picture book and a geography learning tool that sparks curiosity and a love for exploring our planet.
Ideal for bedtime reading, classroom learning, or as a gift for young adventurers, this travel story will inspire them to keep exploring our amazing world.
Ready, set, paws.
Adventure awaits, let’s go!
So You Want To Be A Psychotherapist
So You Want To Be A Psychotherapist, by Linda Soules, is another excellent addition to the So You Want To Be A… series. Rather than focusing on vehicles, technology, or specialized equipment, this career guide introduces children to a profession in which the most powerful tool is the ability to listen. Soules explains how psychotherapists help people understand their emotions and heal through careful, honest conversation. Written for readers ages ten to fourteen, the book treats children as thoughtful equals while presenting mental health and therapy in a warm, approachable, and respectful way.
The book offers a thorough look at what psychotherapists actually do, where they work, and what a typical day might involve. Young readers learn about the familiar two chairs, the tissue box, the fifty-minute hour, and the surprising “doorknob moment,” when a client reveals something important just as a session is ending. Soules also explores settings beyond the traditional office, including schools, hospitals, video appointments, and barns where therapists work alongside horses. Fun facts, practical listening exercises, a self-assessment quiz, and a kid-friendly glossary make the material informative and engaging.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its honesty. Soules doesn’t sugarcoat the educational requirements, licensing process, ethical responsibilities, emotional strain, or risk of burnout that can accompany this career. At the same time, these challenges are presented without discouraging readers. The book emphasizes the importance of empathy, curiosity, emotional steadiness, self-awareness, and self-care. It also introduces influential figures such as Carl Rogers, Mamie Phipps Clark, Virginia Satir, Marsha Linehan, Anna Freud, and Derald Wing Sue, showing how different people and ideas have helped shape the profession.
The warm, inviting illustrations and straightforward language make So You Want To Be A Psychotherapist accessible to younger readers while offering valuable insights for teenagers, parents, and adults. It’s especially well suited to the child whose friends naturally turn to them, the quiet listener who offers patience rather than judgment. The book may also reassure young people who feel nervous about attending therapy by showing that psychotherapists are caring professionals trained to listen and help. Realistic, encouraging, and deeply compassionate, this career guide invites readers to consider whether one of those two chairs in a quiet room might someday be theirs.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0H7GJDPJV
So You Want To Be An Activist
So You Want To Be An Activist by Linda Soules is a thoughtful and empowering children’s book that introduces young readers to the real meaning of activism. Part of the larger So You Want To Be A… career-exploration series, this entry focuses on a subject many children may already sense in their everyday lives: unfairness. Rather than presenting activism as something distant or only for adults, the book shows kids that noticing a problem is often the first step toward meaningful change.
What makes this book especially effective is its honest look at what activists actually do. Young readers learn that activism is not just about marches, rallies, or loud public moments. It’s also about research, writing emails, gathering signatures, attending meetings, listening to communities, making phone calls, and organizing people around a shared goal. The book’s “day in the life” approach helps children picture the practical side of the work, from scanning the news early in the morning to attending community meetings in the evening. It also introduces tools such as petitions, megaphones, spreadsheets, and handmade signs, making the work feel both understandable and achievable.
Soules writes with warmth and respect for her audience, never talking down to young readers. I appreciated that the book does not pretend activism is always exciting or easy. It discusses burnout, patience, rejection, slow progress, and the quiet work that often goes unnoticed. At the same time, it remains inspiring through profiles of courageous changemakers such as Frederick Douglass, Wangari Maathai, Malala Yousafzai, and Mohandas Gandhi. These historical examples, along with fun facts, a glossary of civic terms, and practical first steps, help readers understand that activism requires courage, empathy, strategy, and persistence.
So You Want To Be An Activist is an excellent resource for children, parents, teachers, and librarians. The illustrations are engaging and diverse, helping young readers imagine themselves in the work, while the content is substantial enough to be useful even for older students exploring future careers or civic involvement. This book teaches children that their voices matter and that they do not have to wait until adulthood to care about their communities. It’s a grounded, encouraging, and highly recommended guide for any young reader who notices something unfair and wants to learn what they can do about it.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B0H592VH75
Every Creature Has Value
Alex’s Scuba Diving Thrills: Discovering Fish Species follows a curious young diver and his turtle companion on an underwater journey that introduces sea creatures while teaching respect for marine life. What inspired you to create Alex and his sea turtle companion, Tony?
Alex was created out of a desire to give children a character they could follow with excitement, curiosity, and a sense of wonder. I wanted Alex to be adventurous, brave, and open to learning, because those are qualities I believe every child should be encouraged to develop. Tony, the sea turtle, was the perfect companion because turtles represent wisdom, calmness, and a deep connection to the ocean. Together, Alex and Tony create a friendship that feels safe, uplifting, and full of discovery. I wanted young readers to feel like they were swimming right alongside them, exploring a world that is both beautiful and worth protecting.
How did you choose which sea creatures Alex would encounter on his underwater adventure?
I chose the sea creatures with young readers in mind. I wanted to include marine life that children would recognize, enjoy, and be excited to learn about, while also introducing them to a wider variety of ocean animals. Each creature was selected to bring something special to the story, whether it was color, movement, mystery, or beauty. I wanted the underwater journey to feel vibrant and alive. At the same time, I wanted every encounter to help children see that the ocean is filled with incredible life and that every creature has value and a place in that world.
What do you hope young readers learn about respecting marine life and ocean habitats?
I hope young readers come away with a sense of awe, but also with a sense of responsibility. The ocean is not just a place for adventure; it is a living habitat that deserves our care and respect. I want children to understand that marine life is precious and that even at a young age, they can learn to appreciate and protect the natural world. If this story helps a child become more curious, more thoughtful, and more mindful about how we treat animals and the environment, then it has done something meaningful.
Are there more adventures planned for Alex, and where might his curiosity take him next?
Absolutely. Alex was created to be a young explorer whose curiosity can lead him into all kinds of meaningful adventures. On my website, readers can already see that his journey continues through different worlds and experiences, from bull riding and the circus to scuba diving, scouting, and even aviation. That is what makes Alex special. He is always learning, always discovering, and always finding wonder in the world around him.
Where might he go next? Anywhere that sparks imagination, courage, and growth. He may explore new places, take on new challenges, or discover lessons about kindness, responsibility, faith, and perseverance. I want every Alex book to open a new door for young readers and remind them that learning can be exciting, adventure can be wholesome, and curiosity can lead to something beautiful. As long as there are new horizons to explore, I believe Alex still has many adventures ahead of him.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
A Serious Answer
So You Want To Be A Vaccine Developer introduces young readers to immunology, vaccine science, and medical research in an honest and accessible format. What age group did you imagine while writing the book?
The series is officially designated for ages 10 to 14, and that’s the reader I write toward — but I aim a little high on purpose, because kids are almost always more capable than the market assumes. I wanted Vaccine Developer to read like a conversation with a future colleague, not a pitch to a customer.
What was different about this particular title is that today’s kids already have a vocabulary their parents didn’t have at their age: mRNA, clinical trials, antibodies, Phase 3. They watched a vaccine arrive in real time during COVID. They have questions — real ones, sometimes hard ones — and they deserve a book that answers them honestly.
All that said, this is genuinely one of the most science-heavy books in the series because that is simply the nature of the work. You cannot tell the story of vaccine development without immune cells, antigens, and the elegant logic of how the body learns to recognize a threat it has never seen before. Striking the balance between accessible and overly technical was harder here than on almost any other title. I’ll admit there was a moment when I considered directing this one to a higher age range — and then I caught myself, because that would have meant neglecting the very 10-year-olds who are already asking these questions and deserve a serious answer. The reach is the point. Pushing the book up the age ladder would have been the easy choice; meeting children where their curiosity actually is took more work.
So I wrote for the curious 10-year-old, trusted the 8-year-old to reach up, and trusted the 14-year-old to find elements that deepened their understanding. So far, some of the 8-year-olds have been the most ferocious readers of all!
The book emphasizes teamwork, patience, and responsibility. Do you think those parts of science are often overlooked in children’s media?
Constantly. The dominant kid-science story is the eureka moment — apple falls, lightbulb appears, world changes by Tuesday. Real science looks almost nothing like that. A vaccine candidate identified in the lab today probably won’t reach the public for 10 or 15 years, if it gets there at all. Most experimental vaccines fail. The work is patient, collaborative, and frequently disappointing — and it is still one of the most beautiful careers a person can have.
I don’t think kids need to be protected from that picture. If we tell them science is a string of breakthroughs and then they meet the real thing, the letdown is much bigger than the truth would have been. Patience, teamwork, and the willingness to be wrong are not the boring parts of science. They’re the substance of it. A book that hides them is doing a child no favors.
What was the most rewarding part of creating this book?
Researching and writing the Katalin Karikó section, without question. Here is a biochemist whose university demoted her, whose grant applications were rejected again and again, who came close to walking away from science altogether — and whose stubborn decades of work on a molecule almost no one believed in became the foundation of the mRNA vaccines that protected the world during COVID. The Nobel Prize arrived in 2023, long after the work that earned it.
I wanted a generation of children who lived through the pandemic to know her name, because her story carries a truth I think every young person deserves to hear early: being dismissed by institutions does not determine the worth of your work. And the willingness to keep going on an important problem when no one is paying attention — when the funding dries up, when the title gets taken away, when the consensus says you are wasting your life, when peer pressure is at its strongest — is a quiet form of courage, and it is the kind that changes the world more often than the loud kind.
I cannot teach that in a paragraph of advice. But I could tell a true story about a person it actually happened to, and let the story do the work. That is what made writing this section the most rewarding part of the project. It’s a lesson I wish I had learned earlier in my own life, and one that many adults are still trying to learn. Handing it to a 10-year-old, in the form of a real woman whose name they will now remember, felt like something worth doing.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I tend to work on a dozen titles at any one moment and publish each one only when it feels ready — which means my “intended order” is always evolving. I was thrilled to release So You Want To Be A Diplomat and So You Want To Be A Coder (Computer Programmer) a few days ago, and I’m currently working on a cluster I’m excited about, including Judge, Lawyer, Teacher, Therapist, and Activist. After a long run inside the science and engineering careers, the shift to professions built on language, judgment, and human nature is using an entirely different muscle, and I’m having a wonderful time with it. Readers can expect those to roll out in the coming weeks.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Years of it. And somewhere on the other end of all that effort is a child who will never get sick from a disease that once killed millions.
So You Want To Be A Vaccine Developer takes young readers ages 10 to 14 inside one of the most demanding and genuinely world-changing careers in all of science. Not the headline version — the real one. The years of immunology, microbiology, and medical research that happen before a scientist ever designs a vaccine candidate. The painstaking discipline of teaching the human immune system to recognize a threat it has never encountered, by presenting it with something that mimics the danger but cannot cause the disease.
This book goes far beyond how vaccines work. It follows the entire journey — antigen design, laboratory science, preclinical studies, clinical trials across thousands of volunteers, manufacturing scale-up, cold-chain logistics, and the regulatory review that ensures every single dose reaching a clinic anywhere in the world is safe and identical. It introduces the team behind that work: immunologists, virologists, structural biologists, statisticians, manufacturing scientists, regulatory specialists, clinical researchers, and the people who navigate the intersection of medical ethics and public health.
Young readers will also explore the history of vaccination — from the legendary curiosity that led to the eradication of smallpox and the dramatic decline of polio, to the decades of stubborn mRNA research that made the COVID-19 vaccines possible in less than a year. They will discover what it actually takes to build this career: the scientific rigor, the patience through setbacks and failed candidates, and the moral seriousness required when your work determines whether an outbreak starts or never happens at all.
Illustrated and written with the honesty that kids this age deserve, this book does not talk down to its readers. It brings them all the way in. It explains how the immune system learns, remembers, and defends. It shows why vaccines are among the most powerful tools in the history of medical science. And it offers real guidance for young people curious about whether this STEM career might be their calling.
For the kid who hears about a disease being defeated and does not just feel relief — they immediately want to know how it was done, and who did it. Every vaccine ever made began with someone who turned curiosity into discipline, ran the experiments, and stayed with the work for the years it took.
Maybe that someone is you.
I Have a Voice
“To all those who have silenced their inner voice, remember that it is never too late to rediscover it.”
Heidi Solomon-Orlick’s I Have a Voice is a rare children’s book with the power to resonate with both children and adults. Warm, empowering, and genuinely moving, this is a “book of listening” in the truest sense. It invites young readers to turn inward, recognize the voice they were born with, and understand just how deeply it matters.
The story’s message is simple yet profound: every voice matters. Some children have been told to be quiet. Others have felt unseen. Some may have lost touch with their own inner sense of self. I Have a Voice gently reminds them that it is never too late to rediscover what has always been there. The book teaches children that their voice is not only the sound they make. It is the part of them that knows they are loved, that they matter, and that they have a place in the world. It is also the quiet guide that helps them move through life. When we stop listening to that inner voice, we can lose our way. Still, we can always find it again.
One of the most memorable aspects of the book is its surprisingly immersive artwork. I expected charming illustrations that would pleasantly accompany the words. Instead, the visuals do far more. Each page is filled with rich, detailed, and lush imagery that draws the reader directly into the story. The illustrations do not simply echo the text. They deepen it. They add emotion, texture, and meaning, making each page feel less like something to read and more like something to experience. This is the kind of artwork children will want to linger over, returning to favorite pages just to look a little longer.
The activity pages at the end are another brilliant touch. They encourage children to explore their own emotions and discover their own voices in ways that feel playful, thoughtful, and engaging. This creative addition extends the reading experience beyond the story itself. It transforms a beautiful book into something children can carry with them, revisit, and use as a gentle tool for reflection.
I Have a Voice is highly recommended for parents, caregivers, and educators looking for a children’s book that does more than entertain. This is a meaningful story for young readers learning about themselves, their minds, and the quiet power of the voice within them. It is also, quite honestly, just as valuable for the grown-ups reading alongside them.
Pages: 54 | ISBN : 978-1965541982
So You Want To Be A Surgeon
So You Want To Be A Surgeon, by Linda Soules, is an engaging and impressively detailed nonfiction guide for young readers who are curious about medicine. Written for children ages 10 to 14, the book takes readers beyond the dramatic television version of surgery and into the real world of operating rooms, medical training, anatomy, teamwork, and patient care. Soules explains what surgeons actually do, from diagnosis and preparation to the operation itself and the follow-up care that helps patients heal. The result is a clear, fascinating look at a demanding career that requires far more than steady hands.
One of the strongest parts of this book is how honestly it presents the long road to becoming a surgeon. Readers learn about the thirteen-to-fifteen-year path through college, medical school, and residency, as well as the thousands of hours of practice needed to build true skill. Soules also highlights the atmosphere of the operating room, including the cool temperature, bright lights, sterile field, surgical tools, robotic instruments, and precise communication among the medical team. These details make the profession feel real and understandable without oversimplifying it. The book respects its young audience by giving them serious information in language they can follow.
The book also succeeds because it shows the human side of surgery. Soules emphasizes that great surgeons need focus, stamina, confidence, compassion, and the ability to stay calm when something unexpected happens. I especially liked the section titled “The People You Work With,” where Linda states, “A doctor is never working alone.” This stood out to me because it shows young readers that surgery is not just about one skilled doctor making important decisions. It’s also about teamwork, trust, and communication. I appreciated how this section helps children understand that saving lives is a shared effort, and that being a great surgeon also means knowing how to work well with others.
Colorful and bold illustrations make the material even more accessible, helping readers picture the operating room, medical tools, and complex procedures. The ‘What You Can Do To Prepare Right Now’ section gives curious children practical ways to explore the field right away. So You Want To Be A Surgeon is educational, realistic, and encouraging. It’s an excellent choice for classrooms, homeschooling families, career units, and any child interested in science, medicine, or helping others through a life-saving profession.
Pages: 38 | ISBN : 978-1972766224
Noble Intention
The Dream House follows a family who starts to build their dream home when things start going wrong, and soon their dream home is a nightmare. What was the inspiration for your story?
The spark for this story, The Dream House, came from a deeply personal and meaningful connection. I have an acquaintance with roots in India who now lives on the other side of the world. He has long been a reader of my children’s books, and we often have deep conversations about the stories and characters I create. He has always appreciated how my books tackle real emotions through a child’s eyes.
During one of our discussions, he shared two “true stories” from his life that he felt might hold the seeds of new picture books. These anecdotes were vivid and rich in authentic human detail. They stayed with me for a long time, circling in my mind as I thought about how to give them narrative shape. In fact, both of those “story seeds” eventually blossomed into published books: one became The Old Rose Villa, and the other became The Dream House.
While the core idea—the struggle of building a home—is rooted in real experiences, I let my imagination lead. As a storyteller, I didn’t want to write a literal biography. Instead, I transformed the experience into a “fable-like” version of reality, using the freedom of fiction to lean into fantasy and exaggeration where the story needed it. In a children’s book, you can amplify the “nightmare” aspects of the house—the cracks, the leaks, and the sheer absurdity of the situation—to create a stronger emotional impact. By stepping away from the literal facts, I was able to focus on universal feelings: the excitement of a new beginning, the frustration of being misled, and the ultimate joy of finding a solution.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
At the heart of this story is a father’s deep desire to reconnect with his roots by building a dream vacation home in the mountains where he grew up. He feels significant pressure and a longing to show his family how magnificent his home region is. However, this noble intention becomes tangled in a whirlwind of excessive enthusiasm and unrealistic expectations. I wanted to explore how our passions can sometimes blind us; the father is so eager to see the dream realized that he overlooks the warning signs about the builder. This is a very human trait—the way our hopes can outpace our common sense in a chaotic mix of excitement and pressure.
When I write, I usually start with a situation that forces characters to reveal who they really are. In The Dream House, one of the most important themes was exploring trust. We often teach children to follow their dreams, but we don’t always talk about how dreams often require help from others. When that help is dishonest, it creates a particular kind of hurt. I also wanted to highlight that the most stable foundation isn’t concrete or steel; it’s the relationships and the community around you.
The villagers’ role is crucial—they embody an honest strength that stands in stark contrast to the builder’s flashy promises. A key motivation was the idea that help often comes from unexpected, humble places. Ultimately, the story suggests that a “dream house” isn’t defined by its architectural grandeur but by the peace and authenticity within its walls. The story teaches us that being honest and keeping things simple is what truly makes a home beautiful.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Akanksha Priya?
For this project, I put a great deal of effort into finding an illustrator with the right cultural connection. It was very important to me that the artist be from India, so the environment, houses, and people would be depicted with authentic detail. Since the book’s inspiration came from a friend’s history, I felt a responsibility to ensure the book’s visual world honored those roots with a genuine spirit.
I was fortunate to find Akanksha Priya, a versatile artist who is also deeply involved in traditional handicrafts. Her approach was truly unique. She created the original illustrations by hand and incorporated mixed media elements, such as fabric scraps, to add a rough, tactile “local color” to the pages. This gave the art a wonderful texture that digital illustration simply couldn’t replicate.
I found this artistic choice incredibly successful. It brought a sense of the real world into the “fable.” Last summer, we displayed the original physical illustrations on the walls of the Wickwick Summer Shop in Finland. It was wonderful to see visitors’ reactions; the art sparked so much admiration because people could see the intricate details and the physical materials she used. Our collaboration was grounded in a shared goal of authenticity. I provided the narrative framework, but Akanksha brought the village to life with her artistic craftsmanship, ensuring the story remains beautifully rooted in the landscape that inspired it.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am always working on multiple projects simultaneously. My process is a constant flow: some stories are being written, others are being edited, some are in the illustration phase, and others are in the final layout stage. There is always interesting work to do in the world of books!
I recently presented several works, including The Hermit’s Hut, A Stargazer, The Fox and the Garbage War, and Thomas and the Magic Violin, to partners at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Now, my focus has shifted to new stories that address pressing contemporary issues. I am working on an important book about water—an essential condition for life. Water is the foundation of agriculture; it enables cities to function and provides energy. However, when water management fails, it can lead to serious disputes in real life. Even worse, neighboring areas, towns, and nations may start fighting over ownership of water supplies. I am exploring this vital theme through a fable, translating complex global issues into a story for children.
In addition, I have written three novels for young children, scheduled for publication later this autumn. My goal is to present them at the upcoming Frankfurt Book Fair. Before then, there is still much to do: we have to finalize the layouts and develop compelling cover art—designs that hint at the grand adventures within. It is an exciting time at Wickwick Books, and I am motivated by the chance to create more stories that help children think, feel, and see their own challenges in a new light.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Warm Values | Facebook | LinkedIn | Amazon
Fortunately, loyal friends from the village come to the rescue. But what will the vacation home be like in the end?
