Fern’s Fairylight Express

Coming Fall 2025!

All aboard the Foellinger Freimann Botanical Conservatory’s journey of discovery, imagination, and botanical wonder. Step into a one-of-a-kind exhibit where the magic of model trains transports you to a whimsical world as part of an enchanting story by local Author/Illustrator, Talitha Shipman. Read along and join your new favorite characters, Fern, Bug, and Sprout on an unforgettable adventure through Fairy Glen. Experience the magical transformation of the Fairylight Express as you collaboratively work to get it back on track. For visitors of all ages, don’t miss this opportunity to Let Your Imagination GROW!

Finding Beauty

You are beautiful from the top of your head to the tip of your toes--but beauty is far more than something you can have. It's also something you have to find. In other people. In nature. In acts of kindness. In math, and art, and music, and sports.

In this beautiful inspirational book for girls, author-illustrator Talitha Shipman turns the concept of beauty inside out, transforming girls into beauty-seeking adventurers charging out into the world with confidence and ambition to find beauty and make beauty wherever they go.

Review

“Lyrical and Heartfelt, Finding Beauty shows how and where to find beauty beyond the surface of things, and almost more importantly, how we can let beauty find us.” - Deborah Marcero, author of In a Jar and My Heart is a Compass.

Happy Smallidays

Created in partnership with the Foellinger Freimann Botanical Convervatory

Journey with Little Mouse through the Magical Winter Woods as he discovers the value of slowing down to take in the wonder and warmth of the Holiday Season. Written in collaboration with the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory in Fort Wayne, IN, this story was recreated as a Holiday exhibit featuring life-size cutouts of Little Mouse and his friends.

Eudora Space Kid: The Great Engine Room Takeover

The first in a new series of hilariously funny, early reader sci-fi chapter books perfect for elementary-aged kids. Meet Eudora Jenkins, the math and science whiz who lives in SPACE!

Review:

"…An entertaining, laugh-out-loud elementary children’s book..." - ReadersFavorite.com, 5 Stars

“A quick-witted and amusing outer-space escapade.” -Kirkus

Astrid the Astronaut: The Astronomically Grand Plan

A Junior Library Guild Selection

In this first book of a brand-new chapter book series, a young girl is determined to be the first astronaut with hearing aids in space!

Astrid can’t wait for the school year to start so she can put her Astronomically Grand Plan into action! She and her best friend, Hallie, are going to be in their first year of Shooting Stars, a club dedicated to all things space. Astrid’s big sister has told her all about it, and this year, there is a big, wonderful prize: a trip to a real-life space camp!

But Astrid’s Grand Plan isn’t off to a great start: it turns out Hallie is more interested in the art club, Petite Picassos! And Astrid isn’t sure that her goal of exploring space will happen the same way without her BFF by her side. Can Astrid figure out a way to complete her mission?

Review:

An exuberant portrayal of a girl with hearing restrictions reaching for the stars.

Kirkus Reviews

Inspire the World: A Kid’s Journey to Making a Difference

What started as 8-year-old Sammie Vance's mission to get a buddy bench for her school to fight loneliness grew to be so much more. Now Sammie is making a difference beyond her hometown. In her first-ever book, Sammie shares how she's encouraging others through recycling, community, giving, determination, bravery, helping, being herself, and celebrating. She wants to inspire the world one kid at a time.

On Your Way

A tender look back at a child's first steps, On Your Way is a celebration of growth, movement, and the importance of slowing down to observe life's milestones both big and small.

A mother recounts for her child "that day on the porch" when they first tried to walk. As the child totters, stumbles, and flops, young animals nearby gallop, jump, waddle, and hop. Kids will delight in the child's progress and think of the ways they're still learning to grow and move every single day now that they're on their way. A perfect book for looking back at how far kids have come...and how far they'll go.

Review

Talitha Shipman pours heart and soul into her vibrant, cheerful illustrations that follow a child as he successfully accomplishes a major milestone. An adorable book to share with children just starting out on life’s road or to celebrate their accomplishments. - Celebrate Picture Books Blog

First Snow

A 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medalist

Follow a group of children as they first set their eyes on new-fallen snow, rush to get on their clunky boots and funky hats, and scurry outside to a winter wonderland.

Review

Shipman’s illustrations feature the children’s bright snow gear against a light blue and white snowy backdrop, the outdoor scenes wonderfully speckled with the still-falling snow. Short sentences and spot-on rhythms give the outdoor adventure a bouncy excitement. A sweet suburban/rural contrast to the snowy day enjoyed by Peter in the city. ~ Kirkus Reviews

Judah Maccabee Goes to the Doctor

More than anything, Judah wants to be a good big brother to his baby sister, Hannah. He even uses his new Maccabee shield to protect her from danger! On the last day of Hanukkah, during a visit to the doctor, Judah refuses to have his shot. Surely, his shield can protect him from germs, too! From Apples and Honey Press!

Review

Brisk text and schoolroom-cheery illustrations introduce a boy named Judah, who’s trying his best to be a hero to his baby sister, Hannah. - Publishers Weekly

Applesauce Day

An American Farm Bureau Recommended Read

Maria and her family visit an apple orchard and pick apples. Then it's time to turn the apples into applesauce! Every year they use the special pot that has been in the family for generations to make applesauce. First they wash the apples. Then Grandma cuts them into quarters. Follow each step in the process as everyone helps to make delicious applesauce! From Albert Whitman!

Review

The exuberant, soft-edged paintings show a happy family working together, and the generational continuity lends an extra dimension to a simple story.

Read this aloud to complement apple units or family trips to the orchard. - Kirkus Reviews

You Are My Little Cupcake

From their sugar-sweet smiles to their scrumptious little toes, babies are as irresistible as frosting-covered cupcakes! Amy Sklansky's delightful rhyming text makes this new board book the perfect read aloud to show little ones just how much they are loved. With artwork from talented new illustrator Talitha Shipman, and featuring a pink, glittering cupcake on the front cover with a corrugated touch-and-feel base, this book is sure to become a favorite for cupcake fans everywhere!

You Are My Little Pumpkin Pie

This oh-so-sweet tribute to adorable babies evokes the warmth and comfort of a delicious piece of yummy pumpkin pie. Amy Sklansky's delightful rhyming text makes this new board book the perfect read aloud to show little ones just how much they are loved.

Review

The warm tones, pumpkin-pie theme, and orange and gold-leafed trees featured in the illustrations make this a natural choice for fall reading. A shiny corrugated pie plate and glittery whipped cream add a little zip to the cover, inviting readers to dig in -Kirkus Reviews

Baby Rise & Shine: A Hide & Seek Book

Little ones will love searching through Baby Rise & Shine, a sweet new board book from illustrator Talitha Shipman that will take them from morning to night. From breakfast to bedtime, you and your little one will love searching scenes of familiar daily activities for hidden objects.