GENRE: Humor, SEL
WORDS: 440
Query:
Dear PBParty Agents, Editors and Publishers,
Hazel’s barnyard friends have found many uses for her feathers, which they endlessly request. But when Hazel needs a hand, her friends are nowhere to be found. Will they learn to reciprocate her generosity, or will they leave Hazel feeling plucked?
PLUCKED (440 words) is a heartwarming tale of friendship with a humorous twist. With the emotional beat of The Sweater: A Story of Community by Larissa Theule and the absurdity of Towed by Toad by Jashar Awan, PLUCKED reminds its readers that kindness has a way of coming back.
I have a BA in Art and a BA in Creative Writing and continue to develop my craft through the SCBWI and Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge. I’m a contributing writer for Chicken Soup for the Soul: I Can’t Stop Laughing (Chicken Soup for the Soul, 2026). My first collaborative book, Duck & Rabbit ABC military adventure | Pato y Conejo ABC aventura militar (Elva Resa, 2025) was selected for the United Through Reading literacy program.
Thank you for considering my work.
Excerpt:
Hazel was warming her eggs when she heard a scratching on the henhouse door.
“Coming,” she clucked, stepping onto her stoop.
“Oh Hazel, thank heavens you’re home,” Clover said.
“Can I have a feather to use for a quill?” Clover pulled an inkwell from his pouch.
“I’m practicing my cursive.”
Hmm…Hazel thought. One feather would do no harm and besides, I have plenty.
What inspired you to write this story & what do you have in common with it:
This story was inspired by the military wives I’ve met in my 15 years as an Air Force spouse. These women know what loving your neighbor truly means, and would share their very last feather with those in need. Thank you for teaching me community.
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