The Story Behind The Woodland Village
The Woodland Village did not begin as a book we planned to publish.
It began quietly, one evening before bed. Matthew asked me to tell him a story about animals doing funny things or cute animals or something similar to that. I told him a story that evening about a curious cat named Maymo. The next day we told another. We ended up having so much fun that we continued these stories and started compiling them. We ended up working on these stories as part of our homeschool days—during read-aloud time we would choose to read our chapters together, sketching and brainstorming, reading the stories to MJ’s dad. MJ drawing a map of The Woodland Village, those moments I will cherish forever. This was such a fun project because we did it together. We even included our dog Teddy as a main character. Truly such a blessing to get to do this with MJ.
I’ve mentioned before that we homeschool. As MJ gets older we look more and more for value in projects that grow naturally from our child’s interests, and this one truly did. MJ is 10 years old and has always loved animals, nature, art and storytelling. He notices details—how creatures live, how they might help one another, he’s super creative. We used so many fun things from our imaginations and from our animal and nature studies to wind this in to a cohesive story. From this, The Woodland Village began to take shape.
Together, we read the stories aloud again and again over the course of about a year. We edited them together. We illustrated scenes in digital watercolor. We talked through characters, settings, and how one chapter flows into the next. What emerged wasn’t just a book—it was a shared creative process that taught MJ something invaluable: how an idea becomes finished work.
Along the way, he learned about the self-publishing process—drafting, revising, illustration, layout, and what it means to release something into the world with care and intention. Watching him realize that a story can move from imagination to printed pages has been one of the greatest joys of our homeschool journey this year.
At its heart, The Woodland Village reflects the things that matter most to us. The stories celebrate faith, friendship, kindness, and the simple joys of everyday life. The woodland animals mark the seasons, celebrate holidays and traditions, and learn how to support one another through both ordinary days and special moments. There is fun and adventure woven throughout, but always with a gentle, comforting tone.
The book is illustrated in soft watercolor, giving each chapter a cozy, storybook feel. It works beautifully as a read-aloud for families and is also well suited for independent readers who are ready for chapter books but still love illustrations.
I decided not to release this as a digital download like our other Storywood Press titles. This book is only available on Amazon.com as a physical 6x9 paperback book. It’s 117 pages with 26 manageable chapters (interwoven stories) If you’re looking for a gentle chapter book filled with heart, nature, and warmth, we hope The Woodland Village finds a place on your shelf.
With love and gratitude,
Kari, Matt, MJ and Teddy