CHARLOTTE: A YELLOWSTONE WOLF PUP by Celia Straus

In the heart of Yellowstone National Park, little Charlotte the wolf pup dreams of chasing grasshoppers and dancing through meadows — not tracking prey or following rules like the rest of the pack. But when danger threatens her family and the powerful Alpha Queen, Charlotte’s mother and leader of the pack, it’s up to this free-spirited pup to race for help and prove that being different can be a strength. A heartwarming tale of courage, loyalty, and finding your place in the world, CHARLOTTE, A YELLOWSTONE WOLF PUP is a celebration of individuality and the unbreakable bonds of family. Perfect for children of all ages — and their grown-ups too. A portion of proceeds from this book supports wolf conservation efforts through The Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Wolf Conservation Center. TOPICS OF CONVERSATION Inspiration and purpose – Celia’s framework of choosing endangered animals, tying each book to a grandchild, and supporting conservation. Story and themes – Charlotte’s journey of independence versus belonging, and the lessons for kids about individuality and family. Research and authenticity – How Celia studied wolves and balanced realism with age-appropriate storytelling. Illustrations and collaboration – Working with Maria Hahn, capturing Yellowstone accurately, and adding interactive coloring pages. Takeaway for young readers – Charlotte as a relatable, brave, and lovable character, and what Celia hopes children remember after closing the book. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Celia Straus has written hundreds of shows for television and film throughout her career, and most recently, she is proud to have received an Emmy nomination for Kids Speak Out, a YouTube series created in partnership with the United Nations that features conversations with children worldwide about their lives. Her work has earned her Cine Golden Eagles and industrial film festival gold and silver awards, as she has served as a script-writer for numerous networks including Discovery, History Channel, and PBS. For five years, from 2012 to 2017, Straus created and wrote the Emmy Award Winning Memorial Day Concert that was broadcast nationally on PBS. She also had the honor of creating and writing the Anti-Defamation League’s Concert Against Hate, which was performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for several years. In addition to her television and film work, Straus has authored several books on different topics. Her poetry trilogy for middle school girls, including the national bestseller Prayers On My Pillow, was published by Ballantine Books in 1998. On military topics, she wrote Hidden Battles on Unseen Fronts: Stories of American Soldiers with PTSD and TBI, published by Casemate in 2009, and Pathfinder Pioneer: The Memoir of a WWII Bomber Pilot, published by Casemate in 2017. Her passion for storytelling extends to children’s literature, and she has collaborated with various illustrators to create children’s picture books, such as the three BoBo and Iris books about an orphaned baby elephant in Kenya, Livy Little Honey Bee, and Sophie, the Monarch Butterfly, Mission to Mexico. Straus currently resides in Washington, D.C. but travels frequently to see her two daughters and gorgeous grandchildren, who are the apple of her eye. LEARN MORE ABOUT CELIA STRAUS AND HER WORK AT: https://www.celiastraus.com/