“Poppy sniffles, ‘Oh, my quills…
they always get in the way!
I pop balloons and spoil hugs.’
she sighs, as her heart goes gray.

Mom sees how sad Poppy is.
She wipes away Poppy’s tears,
‘Even the sharpest edges can have beauty. 
I know that your quills can bring you cheer.”
​
Poppy’s Quills is a story about a porcupine who feels prickly and out of place.
She sets off on a journey to discover that her quills are unique treasures that make her wonderfully herself.
The biggest question still lingers at the end of the day. Will she truly learn to embrace herself, quills and all?
To those who love me, quills and all.
For those who taught me to take my quirks
and turn them into my most precious gifts. 
​I am forever thankful for your ability
to see the beauty I didn’t yet see.
Without you, my words would never have found
their cadence and rhythm.
I would never have found the courage
to be, just simply, me.

To every child who reads these page,
Your voice matters. 
Your light is needed. 
You are more than enough, exactly as you are. 
The world is brighter because you dared to be, just simply, you.
“Poppy's Quill's, shines with charm from the musical text to the sweet, calming illustrations. Through Poppy's adventure and character development of finding her beauty, children will be able to make connections to their personal gifts. From the very first page, the rhythmic, playful language invites young readers to join in, making it a wonderful choice for early literacy development. The rhyme scheme provides the opportunity for building phonemic awareness and helping children anticipate sounds and patterns as they read aloud.”

  • Amy Erb - Reading Specialist, Learning Support Coordinator, Elementary Teacher
"As a Mom to two toddlers and an Elementary School Counselor, I am always looking for unique books that explore friendship and self-love. I found it easy to connect with Poppy because we all have qualities we may not love about ourselves, but with the help of our friends and family, we can see our challenges in a new way. Poppy's Quills is a beautiful reminder that we don't have to sit alone when we feel sad, but instead we can lean on those who love us to help us through that feeling." 

Carly Davis - Elementary School Counselor
"A Peanut's Tale is a testament to Boiling Springs and Children's Lake as much as to the power of memory and imagination. Its rhymes and illustrations remind us of the value of family - not just the family we're born with, but the family we choose to build with one another."  
 - Benjamin Walker
"A Peanut's Tale recreates the pure essence of young life while navigating the emotional passageway of inevitable change. The naturalistic detail of the illustrations paired with the sweet sway of poetry depicts a story of warmth, compassion, and empathy. A book you'll keep for your children's children."
 - Dina Flickinger, LCSW
“Poppy's Quill's, shines with charm from the musical text to the sweet, calming illustrations. Through Poppy's adventure and character development of finding her beauty, children will be able to make connections to their personal gifts. From the very first page, the rhythmic, playful language invites young readers to join in, making it a wonderful choice for early literacy development. The rhyme scheme provides the opportunity for building phonemic awareness and helping children anticipate sounds and patterns as they read aloud.”
- Amy Erb - Reading Specialist, Learning Support Coordinator, Elementary Teacher
​"As a Mom to two toddlers and an Elementary School Counselor, I am always looking for unique books that explore friendship and self-love. I found it easy to connect with Poppy because we all have qualities we may not love about ourselves, but with the help of our friends and family, we can see our challenges in a new way. Poppy's Quills is a beautiful reminder that we don't have to sit alone when we feel sad, but instead we can lean on those who love us to help us through that feeling." 
- Carly Davis - Elementary School Counselor
ISBN: 978-1-54396-446-2
​ISBN: 979-8-31783942-0