Make. Belong. Become.
Guiding the next generation of kind, compassionate humans and makers.
Bring creativity, storytelling, and the magic of making into your school.
Jacquelyn Koester is a self-published children's book author and illustrator based in South Florida, available for author and illustrator visits at elementary schools, libraries, and community events.
Through her original books — What Should I Be, Letters From Home, and My Little Dragonfly — Jacquelyn brings a warm, hands-on, and interactive presentation that inspires kids to create, imagine, and believe in their own ideas.
Why Kids Love It:
This isn't a sit-and-listen experience. Kids get to see that real people — people who live right here in their community — make books, create art, and build things from scratch. And that they can too.
Jacquelyn brings her own creative journey into the room — the messy parts, the happy accidents, the moments where something that started as a sketch on paper became a real book that real kids can hold. She talks about what it means to have an idea and actually follow it all the way through.
For a lot of kids, this is the first time they've met someone who made something and put it out into the world. Someone who looks like a regular person — not a celebrity, not someone far away — just someone from their own backyard who decided to create something and did.
That moment of recognition — "wait, I could do that too" — is exactly what we're here for.
About the Visit:
Each visit is tailored to your students and typically includes a reading and discussion of one or more of Jacquelyn's books, an exploration of the illustration process from idea to finished page, an interactive drawing or creative activity kids can take home, and a Q&A where students are encouraged to share their own stories and ideas.
Visits are approximately 45–60 minutes and are designed for students in grades K–5.
Books by Jacquelyn
What Should I Be?
A nostalgic journey to inspire imagination and homemade Halloween magic.
As soon as August rolls around in our house, there is one question that starts to come to the surface over and over again: “What should I be for Halloween?” Growing up, my mom always hand-compiled my costumes from ordinary clothes and simple props and there was something so magical about never having a store-bought outfit.
What Should I Be? is a whimsical collection of those classic childhood Halloween costumes we all remember. It’s a fun book of characters to explore with your favorite tiny human - and perhaps it will inspire a creative project, a homemade costume, and a core memory you’ll both cherish forever.
Perfect for autumn bedtime reading, costume inspiration, and cozy family moments.
My Little Dragonfly
A tender celebration of love, growth, and new beginnings.
Written as a gift from Jac’s husband, Josh to Jac during pregnancy, and lovingly illustrated by Jac for their son Lucas’ second birthday.
The Little Dragonfly is a heartwarming family keepsake turned children’s book. Featuring gentle rhymes and beautiful, hand crafted illustrations, this story captures the pure magic of watching a little one grow.
Perfect for bedtime reading, new parents, and baby shower gifts.
To keep this release truly special, only 500 copies have been printed. Secure your family’s keepsake copy before they are gone.
Letters from Home
A beautifully illustrated A-to-Z journey designed for connection.
Born from a desire to find light and color during a quiet time in the world, Letters from Home is a whimsical alphabet book filled with hand-crafted illustrations and meaningful words. This book features 26 vibrant drawings- one for each letter of the alphabet- designed to spark curiosity and joy in your favorite tiny humans.
More than just an ABC book, it is an invitation to slow down, sit together, and explore the magic of language.
Perfect for early learners, cozy bedtime moments and nursery shelves.
To keep this release truly special, only 500 copies have been printed. Secure your family’s keepsake copy before they are gone.
Want More for Your Little Maker?
Want to keep the magic going?
Little Makers Market is Jac's 6-week entrepreneurship workshop series for kids ages 7–10 where they design, build, and sell their own products at a real market. School visits are just the beginning — this is where it all comes to life.
Book a Visit:
Whether you're a school employee, librarian, or part of a homeschool group — I'd love to bring the magic of making to your kids.