Overview

Journey of the Lost Wagon: A Maryland Nature Story is a lyrical picture book that follows a little boy named Lucas after his beloved purple wagon slips away into Piscataway Creek. What begins as a windy-day mishap becomes a gentle and memorable journey through the natural beauty of Maryland, where the wagon floats downstream and encounters a world of wildlife, berries, branches, and discovery just beyond the backyard. As the wagon travels along the creek, it meets a cast of charming animal friends. Buster the Beaver finds elderberries hanging low in deep purple clusters. Bella the Bluebird discovers sweet hackberries near a tall creekside tree. Theo the Turtle gathers ripe wine raspberries, and Suki the Squirrel pulls the wagon beneath a black walnut tree where nuts tumble down all around her. With each stop, young readers are introduced to real plants and animals that can be found along Maryland waterways, making the story both imaginative and rooted in the natural world. When Lucas is reunited with his wagon, he realizes it has returned carrying more than treasures from the creek. It has brought back a deeper understanding of the life around him and the importance of protecting it. Inspired by what the animals need to survive, Lucas makes a promise to care for the creek, the branches, the berries, and the wild spaces that support them all. Perfect for ages 3-6, this beautifully illustrated read-aloud blends rhyme, rhythm, environmental awareness, and regional nature study into a warm and engaging story for families, classrooms, and libraries. Includes back matter introducing real creekside plants featured in the book. A portion of proceeds benefits Crystal Stairs Foundation.

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9798995872801

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Author Information

Ayanna Fowlkes is a children's author, entrepreneur, and community builder based in Accokeek, Maryland. A University of Maryland graduate with a background in Finance and Human Resources, she spent 17 years in the corporate world before channeling her expertise into entrepreneurship and community impact. She is the founder and Executive Director of Crystal Stairs Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to closing opportunity gaps for youth and young adults in Southern Maryland, and the Creek Collective, an environmental education initiative rooted in the Piscataway Creek watershed. She also owns and operates two My Gym Children's Fitness Centers in Waldorf, MD and California, MD, bringing movement and enrichment programming to families across the region. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Ayanna is deeply committed to her community. Journey of the Lost Wagon is her debut picture book, inspired by her family's kayaking, foraging, and creek cleanup work along Piscataway Creek.

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