Support Illustrations:The Bel Air Kids & The Library Mystery

The Bel Air Kids is a book for young readers, approx ages 7-9, that chronicles the adventures of a group of friends in Maryland who work together to help their community while learning some important SEL lessons along the way!

In this first Installment of The Bel Air Kids series, a beloved local librarian goes missing! Club leader Jessie, pictured below, and her friends Addie, William, Rafa, Isaac, and San embark on a search and rescue mission in their tiny town to find her. Was she taken away, or is this a classic case of misunderstanding?

One of the story’s goals is to ignite a passion for reading in young readers and inspire them to pursue their own adventures, no matter what they may be! That’s why the tale is lighthearted, yet also includes some adventure and a touch of mystery to keep readers engaged. Additionally, the Reading activities included with the book allow young readers to practice key reading skills like inferencing and using context clues.

Hi there! I’m Deb, a teacher in Baltimore, Maryland. I live with my husband, Adam, and our three cats: Luka, Kira, and Amos. Publishing a book has always been a dream! Reading and creative writing have been two pastimes of mine since Kindergarten, and I want to inspire that same love for reading in more young readers! I’m hoping that my book gives readers a taste of mystery and adventure!

In January 2024, I was thrilled to sign with a children's book publishing company for The Bel Air Kids—my dream of publishing a book was finally coming true, and at no cost to me! Unfortunately, the company unexpectedly closed a few months later, just before we could start the process. So now, I'm embarking on the self-publishing journey!

The inspiration for The Bel Air Kids came during a summer 2023 stroll through Bel Air with my husband as we passed our local library. Now, this story is ready to meet the world, and I can’t wait to share it with you!

Funds raised via this GoFundMe will be used for illustrations, cover design, and formatting, with 8% taken by GoFundMe taxes and fees.

I have already found an illustrator for the book who is extremely talented. (Sneak a peek of their talent below! Character sketch for Bel Air Kids club leader, Jessie.) You can follow the illustrator, Abbey Bryant, on Instagram @maddyabbs!

Book Specs:

-A short, six-chapter book for young readers, ages 7-9.

-Will include 7 pages of interactive SEL and educational activities at the back of the book. These activities can be completed before, after, or during the reading.

The Bel Air Kids Need YOU:

Join me in bringing The Bel Air Kids to life! Your support will help cover the cost of beautiful illustrations, formatting, and an eye-catching cover design. Every contribution makes a difference!

Transitioning from being a signed author with no costs to self-publishing has been a big adjustment! But I can't wait any longer for everyone to experience this story—the adventure must continue! I would be so grateful for your support to help me reach my goal. The Bel Air Kids need you, and so do I!

Why did you decide to use GoFundMe and not Kickstarter to fund your illustration costs?

Great question! While I almost launched a Kickstarter, and the platform is great for creative projects, Kickstarter requires a prototype to launch.

I chose GoFundMe because I am raising funds to complete the illustrations for The Bel Air Kids, which I need in order to print that prototype!

What will you do after illustrations and formatting are completed?

I will move into the printing, marketing, and distribution phase of the project!

How can I learn more about you and The Bel Air Kids?

Follow my author insta @debtaylorauthor for sneak peeks, BTS content into my writing process and my author story, and fun literacy tips and strategies you can practice anywhere!

Also, if you would like a social media shout out after your donation, please message me your Instagram handle after your donation. Any kind words of encouragement are also appreciated more than you know! :)

Thank you!

Deb