Blog Archives
Making Memories
If I Were A Butterfly? follows a little girl whose backyard daydream carries her into a magical world in which she becomes a beautiful butterfly and learns an important lesson about true beauty from the Flower Queen. Where did the idea for this story come from?
The story comes from my granddaughters, of course, mainly because of my service dog. She loved butterflies, she’d let them land on her nose, and she’d sit there for as long as she could.. the smiles on her face… Anyway, the grands and I started a little story. The little girl in the story at first didn’t have a name, then I thought of a sweet friend from Indiana I’d known her more than 30 years, she reminded me of a butterfly, even back then, so beautiful and sweet. Always made people feel so good when she was near. She just had that way about her. She encouraged me to write long before I started. The kids would flap their wings and say I’m a butterfly and I’d ask, “What do you see?” Anyway, that’s how it started
What was the most enjoyable part of creating a story together?
The fun of making memories to last a lifetime with your grandchildren–it’s priceless.
What makes Michelle relatable to children?
Maybe because real children helped to create it. Just like they’d say, “Why can’t they put coloring pages in books so we can enjoy the books longer?”
What conversations do you hope families have after reading the book together?
Oh, my. Maybe how special every child is, just the way they are. They don’t have to be someone or something else. They are a joy, and they are beautiful just as they are.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Guided by kindness and wonder, Michelle’s adventure leads her to the enchanting Flower Queen, who teaches her that the true beauty of being a butterfly lies in spreading joy and simply being yourself.
Perfect for children aged 4-8, If I Were a Butterfly is a gentle, uplifting tale celebrating imagination, nature, and self-worth. With vivid storytelling and a magical message, it’s a bedtime favorite that will leave young readers smiling and inspired.
If I Were A Butterfly?
If I Were a Butterfly?, written by MM Myers and her granddaughters, Samantha, Hope, and Ellie, follows little Michelle as a sunny backyard daydream carries her into a magical garden where she becomes a butterfly with sparkly pink wings. Along the way, she meets a friendly bumblebee, watches ants at work, talks with a dragonfly, gets help from a kind ladybug, and finally meets the Flower Queen, who teaches her that beauty isn’t only about wings or sparkle. It’s about the joy we bring into the world simply by being ourselves.
I found the sweetest part of this children’s book to be its tender belief in a child’s imagination. The writing has a soft, storybook quality, full of sunshine, flowers, nectar, and wonder, and I could easily picture reading it aloud to a little one who still sees magic in the backyard. The phrasing is gentle and affectionate, especially in the scenes between Michelle and her mommy, and that emotional warmth gives the story its heart. Michelle is enchanted by her pink wings, then slowly learns that her real value is deeper than how beautiful she looks. I appreciated that.
The artwork is bright, dreamy, and unabashedly whimsical. The garden scenes glow with golden light, bright flowers, and soft fantasy details that make the world feel safe and enchanted rather than strange or overwhelming. I especially liked the images of Michelle with her butterfly wings, because they capture that childhood feeling of stepping completely into a pretend world and believing in it with your whole body. The coloring pages at the end are a nice touch, too. They extend the experience beyond the story and invite children to spend more time in the book’s butterfly world with their own crayons and choices.
If I Were a Butterfly? is a loving picture book with a gentle message about imagination, confidence, and self-worth. It has the kind of tenderness that feels especially suited to bedtime reading or a quiet afternoon with a child curled close beside you. I’d recommend it for young children who love butterflies, gardens, princess-like fantasy touches, and reassuring stories that remind them they already make the world brighter just as they are.
Pages: 49 | ASIN : B0FJ3VYRWD
Self-Taught Illustrator
Happy Bumble Bee follows a cheerful little bee on his daily nectar-gathering adventures, teaching children about pollination, friendship, and the beauty of working together in nature. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I always love animals and nature, and I love bees. And so is my 4-year-old son. One day, he asked me if I could find a book about round bumble bees for him, and I decided that I should be the one who wrote and illustrated that book. That’s how Happy Bumble Bee was born. It is the book per my son’s request.
How did you balance scientific facts with storytelling to keep the book both educational and engaging?
I did a bit of research about bees, and I also read other authors’ works regarding bees.
Can you describe your illustration process and the choices you made along the way?
As a self-taught illustrator, it is not easy at all to write and illustrate the book yourself. I had to do research on how to do mood boards and format the book. I looked for different references, did many sketches, and learned more about color theory when I started coloring the book. There were a few artists that I admire and I joined their online courses, it did help me a lot through the process of illustrating the book.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m currently sketching my 2nd book. It is another children’s picture book, age group is 2-6. It is about the friendship of a little boy and his rescued cat. This one will be a little longer, 44 pages. Therefore it may take me a while to finish. Hopefully early 2026 it will be available.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Website | Amazon
He wakes up, he does his morning routines, and flies out of his cozy nest to look for flowers.
On the way, he also meets many friends. If it rains, he will find shelter so his little wings can stay dry.
He works hard all day as a pollinator, bringing lives and happiness to all the plants, crops, animals and people.
“Happy Bumble Bee” is a a perfect book for children and parents who love to learn more about animals and nature. It also teaches young children about nature and the benefits of bumble bees with the important message : Bees are friends!
The book is a Gold Award Recipient of Mom’s Choice Award (April 2025).
A Reason for Gratitude
Spiker the Jumping Spider Learns About Joy follows a little spider and his cricket friend as they discover what it means to choose joy. Where did the idea for this book come from?
As I was looking at a homeschool curriculum that included teaching the fruits of The Spirit, I wanted to highlight that joy is more than just fleeting happiness. Given that children easily recall animal stories, I got the idea for Spiker and his friends to show children how to find joy in commonplace events.
Are any of your own childhood experiences included in Spiker’s story?
I remember complaining a lot as a kid when things didn’t go my way! One day, I overheard someone tell another that I griped too much. Realising that I wanted to be different, I asked God to show me how. It took a long time, but I am never more joyful than when I get to do something for someone else!
What were some themes you felt it was important to include in your book?
The themes that I felt were important to include in this book were:
Things will not always go as planned, but there is still a reason for gratitude
Treasure friendships and kindness
Help others to enjoy life too.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am hoping to publish Pari the Panda Learns about Patience in a few months.
Author Links: Goodreads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Spiker the Jumping Spider Learns About Joy
I just finished reading Spiker the Jumping Spider Learns About Joy by J.M. Ashmore with my little one, and it was such a sweet surprise. The story follows Spiker, a cheerful little jumping spider, and his cricket buddy, Crispin, as they learn what it means to have joy—even when things go wrong. From thunderstorms to getting lost and even helping a crying grasshopper with a hurt knee, the two friends (plus a few others they meet) figure out that being glad and doing nice things for others is what true joy is all about. It’s based on the idea that joy is one of the “Fruits of the Spirit,” and it sneaks in those gentle faith-based lessons in a fun, relatable way.
As a mom, what really got me was how naturally the story worked in those big feelings and life lessons. The way Spiker builds a silk tent to shelter them while Crispin sulks had my daughter wide-eyed. It’s such a simple but powerful message—make the best of a situation and find something good, even if it’s small. And that scene under the peach tree where Spiker wants to complain but then finds a buffet of ants? We both laughed at how fast he changed his tune. I’ve seen my kids do the exact same thing when they realize things aren’t that bad. The illustrations are absolutely charming as well. They’re colorful and soft and do a great job of conveying the emotions of the characters.
I also really appreciated how the book doesn’t shy away from everyday disappointments and frustrations kids face. When Sully the spider is sad because he can’t jump like the others, or when Gerry the grasshopper cries after bumping his knee, the story slows down and shows kindness, problem-solving, and how friends support each other. It reminded me to pause and ask my own kids how they’re feeling, even over the little stuff. Plus, there’s something precious about the way Spiker realizes that “the best way of all to have joy is to do something nice for somebody else.” That’s something I want my kids to really take to heart.
This children’s book is a gem for kids around 3 to 7, especially if you’re looking for something uplifting that gently weaves in Christian values. It’s got heart, humor, and just the right touch of silly bug antics. Parents, Sunday school teachers, or even grandparents looking for a read-aloud with a meaningful message—this one’s worth adding to your shelf.
Pages: 42 | ASIN : B0BSQPK29K
Marvel at the Magic
The Paper Butterfly follows a delicate butterfly as she emerges from her glass cocoon and takes flight while protecting a tiny monarch egg till it hatches and joins her on her adventure. What was the inspiration for your story?
My garden is a registered Monarch Waystation and a Canadian Wildlife Federation Habitat Garden. Three summers ago, while placing the tiny Monarch Watch paper ID tags on a couple of newly eclosed monarchs, I felt compelled to write and illustrate a story about their migration south to help raise awareness about this amazing species.
My protagonist in the book, a paper butterfly, evolved because the Monarch Watch tags are made of paper. A single piece of paper is also known as a ‘leaf of paper’, and monarch butterflies shelter under leaves for protection against the elements. From these connections, the idea for ‘The Paper Butterfly’ was born.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
When I worked as a teacher of the deaf one 13-year-old once said to me ‘Mrs Kingdon, you don’t teach us. We just have fun and I learn.’ It made me think about both education and the way most of us continue to learn through life. We absorb information when we are engaged; when we laugh or cry, get angry or empathize, not when we are given a list of isolated facts that have no meaning. It was the student’s words that echoed in my mind as I wrote The Paper Butterfly. As we laugh with, cry with, or feel many other emotions with her, we too are absorbing information.
I wanted the book to appeal on many levels to different age groups because, as both a teacher and a parent, I know that, even if it is essentially a story for children, it won’t be just children who will read, or become engaged in the book.
To the young, the paper butterfly will probably become as real as any butterfly in their minds. They will learn about the environment and marvel at the magic of metamorphosis with her. They will hopefully want to track her adventures on maps and follow her process as she migrates. A teenager, on the other hand, might be encouraged to reflect on what true beauty is and take on board the message the veteran monarch conveys. They might also empathize with the paper butterfly as she tries to find how she fits into the world and what her ultimate purpose is. To a mother reading the book, their focus may be more on the caring and love that the paper butterfly shows others. To someone who loves nature, whatever their age, it may encourage them to discover more about raising and tagging monarchs or making their garden a more pollinator-friendly environment. To someone older, it might encourage them to look more closely at the world around them and notice the small pockets of magic that the paper butterfly is so good at seeing.
If the book encourages people to dwell upon the questions the paper butterfly asks as she interacts with the world around her then, to me, it has been successful; if there is discussion or reflection afterwards, even better. Many of the questions the paper butterfly asks have no right or wrong answer and this in itself is an important thing to learn especially when reading to or working with children. Very little in life is black or white, yes or no. There are so many factors that can affect things including our experiences. Knowing that it is ok not to know the whole answer at that moment is important too. If we want to improve our world these are the things we need to be encouraging.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
As a young child, I grew up in the world of the theatre, so bringing the characters to life in the book was the part I enjoyed the most. Each animal that the paper butterfly meets became real in my mind. I imagined the Karner Blue butterfly that the paper butterfly meets early in her adventures as a knowledgeable university professor, the father of the Child of the Moon as a battle-worn veteran returning from duty, and the spider, who is my only animal antagonist in the book, as one of the witches of Macbeth to name but a few. All three were such fun to bring to life. My favourite part to write, however, was when the paper butterfly first met the Child of the Moon. As my two main characters of the book, I wanted to form a strong bond between them from the onset, and having such a young, innocent character to play with meant I could really have fun with it. I have made a short video of me reading a small snippet from this first interaction. I hope you enjoy listening to it.
What next book are you working on, and when will it be available?
I actually liken the creation of any book to the metamorphosis of a butterfly. At first, you have the small egg of an idea. The ideas grow and seem like a lumbering caterpillar with too many legs. The idea needs to be broken back down to the essence of what I want to convey, then and only then can I let my imagination truly fly. With my next book, I am still at the lumbering caterpillar stage, with way too many legs or ideas, so I am slowly breaking it down to its essence and then I will be ready to share my process of creation. I can reveal though that it will be brimming with watercolours and will be ecologically/conservation-based as these are where my two main passions lie.
When will it be available? Some things are just worth waiting for. To me, the joy is in the creation so writing and illustrating a book is not something I want to rush. I love to include my followers in the process of creation, so if you want to jump on board as I create the next book, follow me on Facebook, or bookmark my website. These will be the two places where I share my next journey of creation with you all.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Emotive Expressions | Website | YouTube | Amazon
The paper butterfly felt certain that her Maker had designed her to be beautiful, but she also wondered if there was a deeper reason why he had created her. Skillfully formed with many paper folds, she knew that he never intended her to take to the skies. But when a sudden gust of wind lifts her out of an open window, she is propelled into a world brimming with life, beauty, and adventure. How can a mere paper butterfly, however expertly crafted, play a role in this fascinating place?
With over 80 breathtaking watercolour illustrations, this book takes you on a journey of discovery through the eyes of the paper butterfly. Feel her curiosity as she eagerly interacts with the environment around her. Sense her excitement as she experiences the life cycle of the endangered monarch butterfly and sees, first-hand, the magic of metamorphosis. Connect with her as she befriends, defends, and journeys with a super monarch on his epic migration south. Follow her quest to discover her true purpose.
The Paper Butterfly
In The Paper Butterfly, Ona Kingdon weaves an evocative narrative that captures the delicate beauty of life through the journey of a Paper Butterfly. Crafted with care by the Maker, the Paper Butterfly listens intently from within her glass cocoon until the day she takes flight. Venturing into the vast world beyond, she encounters new friends and places, all the while reflecting on her purpose as she tends to a tiny monarch egg, endearingly called the Child of the Moon. When the egg hatches, the two form an enduring bond, embarking together on the profound adventure of life.
This poignant story is more than a simple tale. It is a deeply emotional exploration of the interconnectedness of all living beings. As Paper Butterfly and Child of the Moon navigate their shared path, themes of belonging, growth, and mutual impact unfold gracefully. Through their experiences, readers are reminded that life is a fragile but sacred tapestry where every thread matters.
Kingdon deftly intertwines environmental themes, emphasizing responsibility and awareness through the trials of the monarch migration. The depiction of a veteran monarch explaining the significance of his tattered wings stands out as a highlight, offering a profound message: scars are not marks of defeat but beautiful testaments to survival. This moment encapsulates the book’s soul, leaving a lasting impression. The backdrop of Kingdon’s stunning watercolor illustrations and the depth of the storytelling create a vibrant world that captures the emotional spectrum with artistry and warmth.
A journey of joy and sorrow, resilience and loss, The Paper Butterfly speaks to readers aged 12 and up who appreciate stories that resonate deeply and provoke thought. Mortality, danger, and the unyielding forces of nature shape the butterflies’ path, making this a tale as much about courage and hope as it is about the cycles of life.
Pages: 158 | ISBN : 098671111X
Environmental Responsibility
Jeremy and the Beetle Takedown follows a young boy in science class who discovers the world of entomology and is instantly fascinated with the subject. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My son’s school project inspired me to write Jeremy and the Beetle Takedown. It got me thinking about how hands-on experiences can inspire kids and I wanted to capture how even the smallest discoveries—like learning about insects—can make kids’ eyes light up with excitement.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to show that by asking questions, exploring, and working together, kids can solve problems and better the world. I also wanted to highlight environmental responsibility, like how invasive species affect ecosystems, and show kids that even the tiniest things they do can have a big impact.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Beatriz Gouveia?
Working with Beatriz was amazing! She brought the characters and the story to life in ways I never imagined. We had such a blast throwing ideas back and forth. Her work added so much to the story, and it was great to see how the illustrations made the adventure even more enjoyable for readers.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Yes! Jeremy and the Beetle Takedown starts the series. The second book, Sarah’s Gene-ius Discovery, came out on April 25th, taking kids into the world of DNA and genetics. Jeremy, Sarah, and friends will keep exploring new STEAM topics, solving real-world problems, and showing how curiosity and teamwork lead to big discoveries. Stay tuned for more adventures!
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Jeremy and his friends set off on an adventure to observe insects, but their bug-watching turns into a mystery they must solve to save their beloved ash trees. Can they do it in time?
This picture book unlocks the fascinating world of Entomology, a branch of zoology dedicated to insects, inviting young explorers to learn about non-native insects, and how they impact our planet. It features simple vocabulary, easy science experiments, and a glossary that supports young readers aged 5-10.
This is an introductory book that explores concepts for early grades in a fun and engaging way.
Visually stimulating and educational
Acclaimed, trusted and informative
Great for classrooms and summer camps
Perfect for curious children who love to ask, “Why?” or “What?”
Encourages continual student-led learning
Perfect for kids interested in bugs and insects
Why get this book?
Entertain and educate kids to pursue science
Developmentally appropriate for early grade readers
High quality, picture book illustrations
Easy-to-follow information and activities to engage young scientists
Written/illustrated by parents, teachers, and experts
So, join Jeremy and his friends as they work to restore balance to their environment. Read along as they discover and learn.
