Author and Illustrator, Bethany Stahl, inspires children with her books, but her newest book, Caridee: The Long-Leggedy Chickadee has touched the heart of countless children!

Bethany first got the idea of Caridee, when she fell in love with the chickadees frequenting her home, overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains in Spring 2018. She loved watching the birds and knew one had to be the star of her next book.

Stahl thought back to when she was in school, and could recall children's books that were silly and fun, but wanted to capture the lighthearted quality while telling of accepting your differences, something that bullies tend to find and pick at.

While watching the little chickadees outside her home, she laughed at all their small quick hops with their tiny legs, and it hit her, what if there was a chickadee with long legs!

The first ideas of Caridee were born with concept paintings!