I am the creator of True Heart Tails, an award-winning children’s book series inspired by real wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation stories. Each book is developed in collaboration with wildlife rehabilitators, conservation organizations, therapy farms, and educators to help children better understand animals, ecosystems, and compassionate coexistence with wildlife.

My work focuses on combining environmental education with social-emotional learning, helping children explore concepts such as empathy, curiosity, stewardship, and respect for the natural world through the lens of real animals and their stories. The books introduce young readers to wildlife biology and ecological relationships while also helping them understand how humans and animals share the same landscapes.

Several of the books are accompanied by educator resource guides designed to support classroom learning and align with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and environmental literacy goals. These guides include vocabulary, discussion prompts, ecosystem concepts, and activities that encourage observation of nature and critical thinking about wildlife conservation.

Some examples of environmental themes explored in the series include:

• Seed dispersal and forest regeneration through the behavior of gray squirrels (Jack and the Hidden Seeds)

• Bird migration and navigation through the journey of a hummingbird (Bob and the Very Long Flight)

• Urban wildlife coexistence and predator ecology through the story of a coyote (Carmine: The Coyote of the Night)

• Wildlife rehabilitation and resilience through the story of a white-tailed deer (Sally the Brave)

My goal is to help children build a lifelong connection to wildlife and nature by presenting science in ways that feel accessible, compassionate, and story-driven. Many educators have shared that these stories help young readers shift from fear or misunderstanding of wildlife to curiosity and respect.

In addition to writing and illustrating the books, I also:

• Partner with wildlife centers, nature centers, and conservation organizations to ensure scientific accuracy and meaningful conservation messaging

• Develop educator guides and classroom resources to support environmental learning

• Speak at schools, libraries, and community programs about wildlife, storytelling, and empathy for the natural world

• Work to make environmental storytelling more inclusive through American Sign Language (ASL) story adaptations

My hope is that through these stories, children begin to see wildlife not as something distant from their lives, but as neighbors within the ecosystems we share.

Website:
https://www.truehearttails.com