Written by Erick Baker, and illustrated by Tristan Napotnik, Willie The Weed is a whimsical tale of resilience about a brave young weed’s battle to grow in a flowerbed full of daffodils. This inspiring children’s book, by Emmy Award-winning writer and singer-songwriter Erick Baker, celebrates our differences, encourages optimism, and reminds us that #WeAllBelong.

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We’ve all had some experience with a wild dog that is constantly causing a ruckus and doing things it ought not to. In this interactive book, children can try their best to prevent Red the dog from doing things that most dogs aren’t allowed to do. Will Red settle down in the end? What could you possibly do to keep a dog like this out of trouble? Will you have the patience to deal with all of Red’s disorderly conduct?

Red is a crazy dog and loves to get into trouble! Can you keep a watchful eye out and try to keep Red in line for me?! While you’re at it, see if you can find Mouse hiding on every page.

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Pink, the pig, has a hard time making friends on the farm but doesn’t understand why. Will Pink find a friend? Or will Pink be all alone forever in the mud pit? You’ll have to read “PeeYew Pink! You Stink!” to find out!

Have you ever met someone like Pink before? Someone who makes you uncomfortable; who makes you want to run away and hide. Are you the one who avoids people like Pink? Or are you the kind of person that can see (or smell) through flaws and see the character beyond that discomfort? After all, we all have flaws.

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Brown, the bear, bullies every forest creature in his path, but eventually he gets hurt and falls down. Will anyone help Brown? Or did he just get what he deserved?

Is there really such thing as a bully who can’t change? Or are bullies in need of the same love that we all want for ourselves? What is the best way to help a mean bully become something better? This simple and fun story will help children (and maybe even adults!) to contemplate what real forgiveness looks like and could open up doors to meaningful discussion about love and mercy.

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A small, helpless, vulnerable chick, Yellow, wanders too far from the nest. Yellow becomes lost and tries to find her way home. Along the way, Yellow meets some questionable characters who, one after the other, invite her to join them for a meal, but Yellow is committed to finding her way home. Will poor, lost Yellow find her way back to the nest? Or will she take one of these suspicious strangers up on their offer and become their “guest”?

Are you anything like Yellow? It seems we all have a little Yellow in us. We all have distractions that can be detrimental to our missions and goals. Are you a person who lets the first distraction pull you further from your goal? What about the second, third, fourth, TENTH distraction? Will you stay the course? Will Yellow stay the course? You’ll have to read Hello Yellow to find out!

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A bothered young zebra asks fellow animals along the local water hole why Green is so mean. Green makes it very difficult for everyone to get a drink. Is Green mean or misunderstood? Chances are you’ve known someone who is quick to lash out and cause hurt. Why does it seem like some people “chomp” at others for no good reason? Should we judge them right away? Or should we try to grow in our understanding so that we can help?

This story is about the flip side of the Big Bad Brown Fell Down story. Brown’s story is about forgiving someone who is mean. This one is about understanding someone who is mean. Will the young zebra understand why Green is so mean? You’ll have to read to find out!

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We’ve all witnessed the dog that simply won’t do its business where we want it to. Blue is very particular about where he GOES. He wants to make sure he finds the PERFECT place to poo!

How patient will you be with Blue as he drags you to the most obscure places: through bushes, over rooftops, and into storms? Where will Blue finally settle on doing his business?

Every pirate story has a pirate parrot, but what about a parrot pirate? Purple, the caged parrot knows it is her destiny to become a pirate. But will she ever break free from the cage and set sail as the pirate she was meant to be? Or will she forever be a dirty pirate’s shoulder prop, with a hanging prison cell for a home and only crackers for food?

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Like most cats, Orange believes the whole world revolves around him. He is utterly oblivious of how big a nuisance he can be. Will you be patient with Orange as he goes about his day expecting everything to be done for him without giving anything in return? Orange You Glad To Have Me? is all about selfless love and patience. We show so much love and affection to cats, but do they show any love and affection to us? Or do cats only love to be loved? Is love about what we receive, or is love more about what we give?

Orange you gonna read it to see for yourself?!

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Uh oh! Red is back and up to no good again!

What sort of trouble will Red get into during the holidays? There is new excitement around every corner for Red to play with! Will you be able to keep Red out of trouble AGAIN?!

This is a story of a boy who doesn’t quite fit in at school. He gets picked on and bullied for being “different.” In his sulking he meets a magic ladybug who grants him unlimited wishes to change into anything else in order to become happy with who he is. What will he choose to be? Will he become content and happy with himself as something else? Will life really be easier if he changes into another form, or is he better off being who he is?

This story explores the struggles we all face with being ourselves, despite peer pressure, cultural pressure, etc… We will all at some point wrestle with who we are meant to be, but in the end it seems we are all much closer to who we should be than we think. Would you wish to change into something else? Or would you dare to be yourself even when others harass you for being you?

End of the story:

At first I thought they were mad, but then I saw they were glad

To have me back as me, the best me to be, was the best me they ever had.

 …And there’s nothing better than for me to be me.”

What sort of trouble will Tom Tiger’s tangly tail get him into? It isn’t easy getting around in the jungle with a tail this long! Many people get made fun of for having slightly unusual qualities, but isn’t it possible that those unique qualities can offer unique solutions to unique problems?

We’ve all heard tall tales, but this is a short tale about a long tail!

Can you imagine having a pet T-rex? What would it be like to take it for a walk? Where would it sleep? What would you feed it? How would you clean up after it? This little boy will tell you all about it!

Crazy little Nora refuses to let her mother wash or brush her hair. What sort of critters might take up residence in Nora’s hair? It seems her hair has become a perfect nest for a host of guests!

Dedicated to my wild and wonderful, tough and tender, strong and sweet daughter.

This is a true-ish story, based on one of my fondest childhood memories. It is, without a doubt, one of my favorite memories to tell children about, so naturally I thought it could make an entertaining children’s book.

Growing up homeschooled on a farm, there was no shortage of potential for imaginative adventure. One of those adventures was an elaborate attempt to catch a creature we had never seen up close before, a buzzard (or vulture). In real life, we went to pretty extreme measures to catch one, but is the book a bit of an exaggeration? Or should it be read as an historical document? You will have to read it and decide for yourself!

Who doesn’t love a good story about a knight who fights against all odds to rescue people from fierce and ferocious monsters? This is a classic tale of that sort, however, there is a twist to the story and a surprise ending.

Dedicated to my thoughtful, sensitive, caring, kind, imaginative son.

This book is a simply illustrated poem about phases of relationships. What happens when the spark is gone? When we blow past the “infatuation phase,” how can our unity be more than a coexistence? The answer is simply because love is black and white. When you love someone, you choose to work past difficulties in order to love them well.

I illustrated this story, written by a friend, which he used to propose to his -now- wife! What a fun and creative way to start that phase of life!