A Leaf on a Car Becomes a Lesson in Courage: Laure Stack's Real-Life Inspiration for The Leaf's Road Trip
Oct 15, 2026
How one small, true moment became a children's adventure about fear, change, and going with the journey
Crestline, California Oct 14, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Children's author Laure Stack has a habit of noticing small moments -- and turning them into stories. The idea for The Leaf That Went on an Unexpected Road Trip began when a real leaf unexpectedly stayed put on her car during a road trip. She fictionalized the journey, gave the leaf a personality, and created a story about a leaf facing unfamiliar circumstances entirely beyond his control, traveling from Hollywood and Joshua Tree all the way to the beach. It is a perfect example of Stack's creative process at work: an ordinary observation becomes an age-appropriate way for young readers to think about fear, adapting to change, trusting new experiences, and responding to situations they cannot control. Where her other books tackle self-doubt and difference, The Leaf speaks to every child who has ever felt swept along by something bigger than themselves -- and shows them that unexpected journeys can lead somewhere wonderful. "As a teacher and a parent, I need children to believe in themselves, be proud of themselves, and understand how to deal with fear and conflict in healthy ways," Stack said. The story reflects the through-line of all of Stack's work. After more than 20 years as a special education teacher working with children from kindergarten through high school, she began writing in retirement, transforming classroom observations -- a student's self-doubt, her son's individuality, a leaf on a car -- into stories with a practical emotional purpose: helping children feel capable, accepted, curious, and understood. Stack lives in Lake Arrowhead, California, where the mountain nature around her -- along with her pets and local wildlife -- increasingly shapes her storytelling.
In 2026 she was named Best New Children's Book Author in California, United States, by the Evergreen Awards. Audio editions of all of Stack's books are also in production and will be available soon. The Leaf That Went on an Unexpected Road Trip by Laure Stack -- 35 pages, illustrated children's adventure; ISBN 9798251062571. Find the Book: Author website https://laurestack.com/ ; Facebook @authorlaurestack; Instagram @authorlaurestack. ### Laure Stack is a children's author and former special education teacher with more than 20 years of experience working with young people from kindergarten through high school. After retiring from education, she began turning the emotional barriers she had observed in children -- self-doubt, fear of difference, loneliness, and uncertainty -- into stories designed to encourage confidence and self-acceptance. She lives in Lake Arrowhead, California, with her husband and pets. In 2026 she was named Best New Children's Book Author in California, United States, by the Evergreen Awards. Media Contact: Laure Stack | [email protected] | (626) 488-3547 | https://laurestack.com/
Source :Laure Stack
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