Sarah Bolen and James Parisi create children’s stories that trust young readers as capable thinkers. Through thoughtful narrative and nostalgic, hand-painted illustrations that open fantastical worlds to explore, their books invite children to observe closely, reflect deeply, and arrive at their own interpretations.

Books

For so many of us, stories opened a doorway into worlds larger, stranger, and more magical than our own. Yet, through these stories, uncertainty becomes navigable, emotions find language, and, unexpectedly, experiences lived in the real world start to take shape as something meaningful and memorable.

My books grow out of my work as a teacher, storyteller, and late blooming observer. Across both children’s literature and educational writing, I return to the same idea: learning happens through experience, relationships, and the meanings we create for ourselves and share with the world.

Children’s Books

In Development

After several years teaching at a Title I high school in the rural Midwest of the United States, I began to notice something unsettling. Many of my students had stopped reading, stopped imagining, and stopped learning. This had nothing to do with their capability, of course, but stemmed from a deep fear of being wrong. Rather than trusting their own ideas, they consistently searched for the phantom answer they believed I was waiting to hear.

Watching them rediscover confidence changed the way I understand learning. The heart of my writing remains rooted in those students and the courage it took for them to reclaim their curiosity.

Inspired by Montessori philosophy and shaped by those formative years in the classroom, my stories explore emotional resilience, curiosity, courage, and self-trust. As an educator, I undestand that my role is only to create space for observation and reflection, so my books invite children to wonder, interpret, and arrive at meaning on their own terms. Confidence grows not from correctness, but from exploration, observation, and, most importantly, the freedom to be wrong every now and again and somehow keep moving forward.

  • Frankbert & The Dragon

    A timid mouse hides behind borrowed confidence until an unexpected encounter challenges him to listen to his own voice. Through a series of trials guided by a wise and surprising teacher, Frankbert learns that true courage comes not from pretending to be fearless, but from being honest about who he is… and who he is n ot.

    These stories are written for children who learn through imagination, play, and reflection and for the adults who want to protect that kind of learning.

  • A Fish Out of Water

    When we imagine a fish out of water, we usually see someone poorly adapted to their surroundings and perhaps even a bit awkward. What if a fish were actually more at home out of the water than in the sea? Follow the journey of a young fish who finds itself in unfamiliar waters, but who learns that its life doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but itself. Feeling out of place is not a failure, but an invitation to adapt, observe, and rediscover confidence from within. A Fish Out of Water is a story about identity, resilience, and the quiet transformation that happens when we learn to belong to ourselves before belonging anywhere else.

    These stories are written for children who love fantasy and adventure, with a deeper meaning folded delicately and subtly into its pages.

  • In the Shadow of Pumpkins

    Have you ever wished you could see the world through the eyes of your imaginative toddler? Based on actual toddlers and the things they unexplicably love, follow along the mundane routine of one of life’s greatest accidental teachers as he imagines his way into the hearts of all who encounter him. By shifting perspective, our days become exponentially more magical.

    This story is meant to be an heirloom artbook, filled with gorgeous hand-drawn illustrations and space to record your own toddler’s imagination that will guard your memories through the years.

  • Shear Confidence

    A humble sheep residing on an unkept hillside has no idea how much joy she brings the neighboring children with her songlike baas. I wonder how many of us live our lives not knowing the positive impact we make on those around us? What if we could find a way to let the sheep know? Then she’d have SHEAR CONFIDENCE.

    In spite of the inherent silliness in this story, the book is full of our trademark gorgeous illustrations that will no doubt inspire nostalgia and transform this story into an heirloom object for your family.

Illustration & Collaboration

My children’s book projects are developed in collaboration with illustrator James Parisi, whose visual storytelling complements my narrative focus on curiosity, emotion, and discovery. He is known for his whimsical and fantastical style, attention to detail, and traditional methods that lend to the nostalgic feel of our books.

Meet the Illustrator

A Note on My Work

Whether writing for children or adults, I’m interested in stories that invite participation rather than instruction. I believe readers, like learners, deserve space to interpret, imagine, and make meaning for themselves.

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