In the Treasure Valley, the art of storytelling thrives in the hands of its local children's book authors. Picture books are more than just bedtime stories; they are crucial in helping children develop language skills, literacy, and empathy. Here in Idaho, a vibrant community of writers and illustrators brings these vital narratives to life, enriching the imaginations of young readers across the state.
These authors exemplify the unique blend of creativity and resilience found in Idaho. Their stories not only entertain but also inspire young readers to see the world through a lens of wonder and possibility.
Author/Illustrator Chad Otis experienced houselessness as a child, which inspired him to write The Bright Side, which was chosen for the 2023 National Book Festival of the Library of Congress. Chad lived with his parents and brother in a converted school bus that zig-zagged its way from Wisconsin to the west coast for four years until he was eight. Chad and his wife Cathy (originally from Ketchum) moved from Seattle to Boise in August 2021. The couple likes Boise because “we love the outdoorsy vibe and activities.” Chad’s latest humorous picture book, Neat Nick's Big Mess, is about an extremely orderly kid who has to cope with a big, drooly, energetic dog. With a BFA in design from the University of Washington, Chad has worked as an animator, illustrator, and creative director. Before creating picture books, Chad worked for digital agencies in Seattle where he worked with children's book illustrator Steven D'Amico (now Steven Henry), “who illustrated the very popular Ella the Elegant Elephant books, among many others." Chad's advice for aspiring picture book creators? "Whether you're an author or illustrator, the first step should be learning the basics of storytelling." https://www.chadotis.com/
A mother of two and Boise resident since 2010, Stephanie Mullani shares, “What I love most about living in the Treasure Valley is the people. There are so many wonderful humans here, I think of them as the ‘treasure’ in Treasure Valley.” As a student at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design a national educational publisher hired her to illustrate a children’s book series. After reading the manuscripts, she felt she could write better stories in addition to illustrating them, so she enrolled in a children's literature course “so I could combine my love for story-telling with my artwork and create my own children’s books.” Inspired by an incident that happened to her in kindergarten, Stephanie wrote Milo’s Glow, “the story of a teacher, an authority figure, who told a young pupil that he didn’t quite have what it takes and dimmed his spark. But the tiny firefly continued to protect his spark and use it anyway and succeeded in the end because he didn’t give up.” Stephanie hired illustrator Marina Alcoser to bring Milo’s Glow to life. In Milo's Glow readers discover that all talents serve a purpose and that all creatures have value to contribute regardless of size or stature. http://www.stephaniemullani.com/
Pamela Kleibrink Thompson's upcoming book, The Horse Who Wanted to Fly, tells the inspiring tale of Charlie, a workhorse with dreams of greatness. Based on the true story of Leland Stanford, founder of Stanford University, who hired a photographer to prove that horses can "fly," this children's book weaves historical facts with a motivational narrative about perseverance and believing in one's potential. Set for release in September by Firefly Books, The Horse Who Wanted to Fly is now available for pre-order. Since moving to Meridian in 2007, Pamela has been deeply involved in the local writing community, contributing to the Idaho Writers Guild, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and the Gypsy Writers. To pre-order her book and explore more about her work, visit pamrecruit.com.