Meet Sheressa

The short version

I write picture books for young readers in the Central Valley and beyond. My stories live where imagination meets identity, where big feelings get named and held, and where every child gets to see themselves reaching for something just out of reach.

Based in Stanislaus County, California, I'm the author of Touching the Sky: Dream Big, Build High and Kayla's Cloud, two heartfelt picture books designed for read-alouds, classrooms, and the kind of bedtime that gets asked for again the next night.

Why I write

I write because I remember being the kid who needed a book to feel less alone. I write because literacy isn't just about decoding words on a page, it's about a child learning they belong in every room they walk into. I write because the stories children hear in their earliest years quietly shape what they believe is possible.

Behind every book is a small, stubborn belief: that picture books matter, that families deserve characters who reflect them, and that a story read out loud at bedtime is one of the most underrated forms of love.

Beyond the books

Outside of writing, I lead author visits, community literacy events, and book signings across the Central Valley. I'm building Grove Leaf Press, a small publishing imprint dedicated to children's stories that honor identity, imagination, and emotional honesty. Donated copies of my books are distributed through Knowledge Grove Foundation to extend literacy access to families and classrooms who need them.