It All Started with a Raccoon and Some Cotton Candy… One afternoon during an Internet rabbit hole, I found myself watching a video of a raccoon washing his food. I mean, talk about super cute. If you didn't already know, raccoons are known for dipping their food in water, and this excited little trash panda was no exception. He swished around his cotton candy in the water, and was completely confused when it vanished. The poor little guy kept looking around like, “Wait… where’d it go?” And just like that, a story was born. (You can check out the cute little video here.) I started imagining what it would be like, not knowing that about how cotton candy dissolves. What if this raccoon thought someone stole his snack? Or ... wait for it ... What if he started blaming his friends? And then, what if he had to apologize for jumping to conclusions? Those, my dear reader, are the sweet ingredients of a life lesson for little ones.
What’s Remmy’s Sticky Situation All About? I'm so glad you asked. Remmy the raccoon loves a good snack—especially when it’s sugary, fluffy, and oh-so-sweet! So when he discovers a piece of pink cotton candy in the dumpster, he can’t wait to take a big bite. But every time he tries -- poof! It vanishes into thin air! Who’s behind this sticky mystery? Remmy is sure one of his friends, like Freida the frog, is playing tricks on him. But then he discovers a surprising truth that will make him think twice before pointing fingers again. This delightful children’s picture book is great little adventure that teaches kids about:
—but first drafts are extremely messy. I refined, rewrote, and trimmed the fluff (pun intended) a bazillion times. Writing for kids isn’t just about telling a fun story—it’s about making it engaging, clear, and memorable. Editing: The Tough Love Phase As an author, editing is the stage where you realize you added too much salt instead of sugar. A special shoutout to Annette Whipple and Brenda Covert who helped with their professional critique and editing services. I worked through multiple rounds of revisions, fine-tuning the dialogue, adjusting the pacing, and making sure kids would be able to relate to Remmy. Illustration: Bringing Remmy to Life That’s where Jasmine Wall worked her magic. With over 22 years of experinece in illustration and design, she brought Remmy's world to life with vibrant colors, expressive characters, and charming details. Your little ones will love finding the subtle background characters, as well. Her work truly makes this story shine. Beta Readers: Kids Are the Toughest Critics Before heading to print, I shared the book with beta readers—kids, parents, and educators. Their feedback was priceless. If something didn’t make sense, I heard about it. If an illustration didn't perfectly fit the narrative, they found it. Kids don’t sugarcoat their opinions, and that’s exactly what makes their feedback so valuable. Now: The Final Countdown! And here we are—just a month away from launch day on March 28. I'm making the final changes to the content, the cover is polished, and the excitement is building. Now, it’s all about getting Remmy’s story into the hands of young readers.
Final Thoughts: A Sticky, Sweet Adventure for Young Readers Remmy’s Sticky Situation is more than just a fun children’s picture book—it’s a story about friendship, forgiveness, and problem-solving, wrapped in a funny, engaging adventure. You will also find a special note from Remmy in the back and two pages of fun facts about raccooons to add to the fun. So, mark your calendars for March 28. And if you want to help bring Remmy’s story to life, sign up for the launch team through the button below. Meet the Creators of Remmy's Sticky Situation
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