Linda Francis and Judy Kvaale have been reading children’s books to their students and their own children for over 30 years, each hoping someday to write their own book. The idea of writing a children’s book together originated during one of their morning walks.
Linda taught kindergarten in the West Fargo School District for 30 years. Judy was a third grade teacher for 29 years at Eastwood Elementary and then a School Board member for 4 years in the West Fargo School District. Retirement afforded them the time to write children’s books.
Their book, “Miki, the Mixed Up Musher”, is the first in a series of children’s books featuring a gingerbread cousin as the main character. Each book will be about a cousin from a different state. .
Before writing each book, Linda and Judy thoroughly research the targeted state to portray accurate state features and events. For example, the North Dakota book includes its 125th birthday celebration, buffalo, prairie dogs, oil wells and more.
Here's the list of books that are completed:
Alaska: "Miki, the Mixed Up Musher"
Colorado: "Sammy, the Skillful Skier"
Florida: "Skip, the Spacey Surfer"
Minnesota: "Bitsy, the Busy Biker"
North Dakota: "Cash, the Carefree Cowpoke"
Pennsylvania: "Tanner, the Timely Traveler"
Arizona: "Diego, the Distance Driver"