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The Fruitful Orchard Children's Book Series by Wendy Hilberman

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The Fussy Finch by Wendy Hilberman
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Owen and the Dropsies Cover

Meet the animals of The Fruitful Orchard Children's Book Series: Francine the Fussy Finch, Owen the Owl, Calvin the Coyote, and more. Stories about animals, friendship, family, adventures, emotions, overcoming fears, and building self-esteem. Yodeling Coyote Publishing, LLC.

A little bit about me

Wendy

Wendy is an Oregon native and a proud alumnus of the University of Oregon. Go Ducks! Wendy’s stories are inspired by the vibrant life of her family’s working orchard, including the many animals that call their Northern California orchard home. Wendy weaves characters that tell stories of personal struggles, building self-esteem, friendships, and adventures. She treasures her time with her husband, two adult children, and a brood of fur kids.

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The Yodeling Coyote Reader's Favorite Review 5 Stars
Follow the playful adventures of a cute coyote pup with Wendy Hilberman's The Yodeling Coyote. A pack of fierce coyote hunters lives on a beautiful hilltop overlooking an orchard. Among their new litter, Calvin, the youngest pup, is the quietest. While Calvin's siblings bark, yap, and howl, his parents patiently wait for him to find his voice. Soon, a morning arrives when Calvin wakes his family with an unfamiliar voice. It's not a bark, a yap, or a howl. It's a yodel. As news of Calvin's unique yodeling travels across the land, his relatives visit their home and celebrate Calvin's beautiful singing. His grandpa reveals that yodeling had been lost throughout the generations until Calvin. Still, Calvin feels lonely, but his father reminds him that he can now teach the pack to yodel.

We all have our unique strengths that make us who we are. The Yodeling Coyote is a heartwarming tale about self-discovery and family. Featuring vibrant illustrations by Dorota Rewerenda-Mylnarczyk, this wonderful picture book charms its way into your heart with adorable characters you can't help but love. Additionally, the powerful message of self-belief and empowerment is sure to resonate with readers through the story of young Calvin. Children will find it easy to relate to him and discover a sense of pride in their unique talents. Even the secondary characters, such as Grandpa Griffen, Papa, and Calvin's siblings, have distinct and lively personalities. Wendy Hilberman's storytelling is not only engaging but also immensely inspiring. The scenery is beautiful and makes the setting even more immersive. It's a thoroughly entertaining and inspirational picture book for children.
From the Author
The Yodeling Coyote was inspired by a coyote who visited our orchard in 2022. This particular coyote was resting out in our field among the apple trees with his paws crossed, looking very peaceful and reflective. He stayed for a short time, but he made a big impact on me. I thought about how many stories I had read where the coyote was depicted as the trickster and predator. While the real-life coyote did not stay long, he had a significant impact on why I chose to write a positive story featuring a coyote family. The main character, Calvin is named after my great nephew.

                         

 

 

The Fussy Finch Reader's Favorite Review 5 Stars 

​It’s okay to be fussy. In Wendy Hilberman’s The Fussy Finch, Francine is a fussy finch who loves to bathe, eat choice treats from the feeder, enjoy feather-soft bedding in her nest, sing the brightest, and fly to put on a show. Her mother tries to teach Francine that being the best at everything isn’t really necessary. But Francine knows it’s best for her. Being fussy about little things defines who Francine is and she’s not ashamed. She realizes, as we all should, that we are unique individuals and we need to accept each other for our unique qualities, like being fussy.

Wendy Hilberman’s picture book, The Fussy Finch, is sweet and endearing. The language is simple to help young readers follow along and improve their reading skills. The author also includes many adjectives to describe each fussy notion, like scratchy or soft and cozy, when describing her nest preferences, or flashy words to describe her flying prowess, like “dips, twists, and dives.” The plot follows Francine as she goes through her many rituals and then the author ties things up at the end, summarizing all her fussy qualities. The illustrations are bright, bold, colorful, and full of life and energy. Overall, a beautiful story that will warm the hearts of young readers and help them learn to be accepting, not just of themselves, but of those around them, too. After all, Francine is a prime example of what it means to show individuality.

Amazon Customer, Texas

I bought this book for my 11 and 6 year old boys. My 11 year olds feedback was that it “Teaches you that it’s ok to be the person that you are and to not try to be someone else. Be unique!” My 6 year old said the fussy finch reminds him of someone… himself :) We loved the storyline and the beautiful illustrations. We can’t wait for the next book in the series!!

Barnes & Noble Customer, CA

This book was a hit in my classroom with both students and adults alike! It sparked a great conversation about valuing our own uniqueness and stretching for a flexible brain. Beautiful illustrations! Can't wait for the next book in the author's series.
 

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Amazon Customer, US

Loved the book! It is a gentle story about being OK with yourself! The illustrations are beautiful. I'm excited to read the next story in the series.!

Amazon Customer, US

What a beautiful story to help kids ( and their parents) embrace every part of themselves as just right. Francine the Finch owns her “fussiness” and can help kids build confidence in speaking their truth about what they need in order to feel safe, comfortable and happy. Ms. Hilberman reminds us that we don’t all have to be the same or act the same. The illustrations are whimsical and will keep kids engaged in the story. I can’t wait to share this sweet book with all of the “fussy finches” I know!

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
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