Stories by Sea—A Lighthouse Library’s Journey
Jessica Iwanski, author
Angela C. Hawkins, illustrator
Gnome Road Publishing, Fall 2026
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
A brass-bound case full of books journeys from lighthouse to lighthouse on boats carrying supplies to American lighthouse keepers and their families in the late 1800s.
Available Fall 2026 through most online US booksellers.
MousterWorks
Angela C. Hawkins
Gnome Road Publishing, 10 June 2025
Cosette and Pépin have joined Grand-mère for a visit to the MousterWorks Art Museum—and you’re invited! As you explore each gallery in this picture book, the paintings will awaken your senses and imaginations. But will Pépin find the cheese he’s looking for?
Available through most US booksellers, including:
Extra! Extra! Learn more about the art and artists, find coloring pages and artsy activities, browse the gift shop, and more at MousterWorks.com.
Editorial Reviews:
Through a mouse hole lies a gallery filled with teeny-tiny takeoffs on artistic masterpieces.
— Kirkus
. . . charmingly delightful picture book that fully engages the senses and will leave young readers filled with wonder, inspiration, and the motivation to create their own works of art.
— Midwest Book Review
Teacher Reviews:
As an art teacher I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it to be perfect for my elementary school students. The artwork is really beautiful and the story is simple enough for a kindergartener to understand but complex enough for a discussion with fifth graders. Five and six year olds immediately grasp onto the adventure of the mice looking for cheese and the older students were able to discuss the art AND loved the challenge of finding the hidden mice within each picture! Very well done children’s book!
— Elementary School Art Teacher, Sherman Oaks, CA
This brilliant book incorporates the magnificent and extensive world of artistic masterpieces through the lens of two young mice and their grandmother who are visiting an art museum. The author has delightfully woven mice into the artwork displayed while telling a charming story about a hungry little mouse. As an elementary school teacher, I enjoyed the simple plotline and appreciated the opportunities this book gives the reader to make comparisons to iconic artwork painted by the greats. The placement of the words on the page also made the text come alive in a streamlined, flowing way. This book is rich with picture clues, vocabulary opportunities, and literary elements that allow for the reader to take a deeper dive into the world of art and the world of these endearing mice! I am excited to add it to my personal collection and share it with my students!
— Elementary School Teacher, Phoenix, AZ
MousterWorks is an excellent resource and it shows that you poured a lot of love into it.
— Elementary School Art Teacher, Parker, CO
I bought and read your book to my kindergartners this year. They had a great time and I think the book is wonderful!
— Elementary School Art Teacher, Aurora, CO
My students LOVED your book.
— Media Specialist, Atlanta, GA
Children’s Reviews:
I love your book!
— Marian, 1st Grade
MousterWorks was very funny and interesting. I love the imagery. It was like I could do all it described. The play on words and pictures was funny and unique.
— Sophia, 5th Grade
I LOVED that book it was so cute, and I hope [Angela] keeps writing books!
— Malaya, 5th Grade
Nancy Bess Had a Dress
Claire Annette Noland, author
Angela C. Hawkins, illustrator
Gnome Road Publishing, Spring 2024
*A Foreward INDIES Picture Book of the Year Finalist
*Children’s Book Council 2025 Librarians’ Favorite Award Winner
After the family flour sack is emptied, Nancy Bess remakes it into a dress, only to find new uses for it as her needs change with the passing seasons. This exploration of repurposing and recycling in days gone by will have young readers in the modern era thinking of new ways to make do with what they have around them!
Available through most US booksellers, including:
Editorial Reviews:
Nancy Bess and her multi-purpose flour sack will make an excellent story for history units and environmental lessons, with the story’s gentle pitch for conservation and repurposing. A delightful addition to all primary library shelves.
— Tracy Cronce, School Library Journal
A resourceful girl imparts a history lesson and a message on sustainability in this period picture book . . . Bold colors and whimsical patterns stitch together to form dynamic illustrations as Nancy Bess skips along a creek’s edge, balances pies on her head, and picks oranges.
— Danielle Ballentyne, Foreward Magazine
. . . Noland’s writing is lovely. The colorful illustrations by Angela C. Hawkins are simply enchanting with marvelous details filling every page and complementing the story perfectly. Kids will love this beautiful book.
— Rosi Hollenbeck, Los Angeles Book Review
Children will enjoy seeing (and guessing?) how Nancy Bess will next use the pretty patterned cloth. The recurrent phrase,
— Elizabeth Caulfield Felt, Historical Novel SocietyNancy Bess knew how to make do
is catchy. The full-page, colorful illustrations hide a second story, revealed at the end. Delightful.
Look at that Squid!
Rebecca Cronin, author
Angela C. Hawkins, illustrator
Heinemann, Jump Rope Readers, 2023
A young girl and her parents enjoy a trip to the aquarium and are fascinated as they learn all kinds of facts about squids.
Only available as a non-fiction series through Heinemann.
See the Crabs!
Rebecca Cronin, author
Angela C. Hawkins, illustrator
Heinemann, Jump Rope Readers, Fall 2023
A young girl and her parents enjoy a trip to the aquarium to learn all kinds of facts about crabs.
Only available as a non-fiction series through Heinemann.
It’s Grann!
Arlaene Elizabeth Casimir, author
Angela C. Hawkins, illustrator
Heinemann, Jump Rope Readers, 2022
Lalin and her family are thrilled to welcome Grann for a visit from Haiti—but they know she won’t be thrilled with their messy house. In this early reader, Lalin and her family work together to make Grann’s visit extra special.
Only available as a series through Heinemann.
Maggie’s Secret Garden
Thurston Pope, author
Angela C. Hawkins, illustrator
Palmetto Publishing Group, Summer 2019
An outdoor adventure unlike any other! Maggie takes finding buried treasure to a different level when a new world is uncovered in her backyard.
Forgotten for more than a decade, sidewalks in an overgrown azalea garden find new life when Maggie’s Uncle T. uncovers them section by section. Uncle T. wants Maggie and her siblings to share in the fun he experienced as a child on the garden sidewalks, which were his favorite spot for riding bikes, building forts, and playing games.
In today’s world overcome with technology there are many outdoor treasures waiting to be discovered, some of which may be in our own backyards. Rediscovering this amazing place ignites the childhood spirit. What was lost is now found in this true story that is too good not to share with the world.
Available through Amazon.
Thunder & a Lightning Bug Named Lou
Rosalind Bunn, author
Angela C. Hawkins, illustrator
Deeds Publishing, 2017
Lou is a little lightning bug with a big problem—his light is too bright. But as Lou soon discovers, sometimes what makes you different is what makes you special.
Thanks for visiting!
All images © Angela C. Hawkins
