Welcome! I'm so glad you're here.
Hi, I’m Desirea—writer, mom, and emotional translator for readers from preschool to preteen (and beyond).
I write stories that help kids understand what’s going on inside them—whether they’re four years old and trying to name a feeling, or fourteen and trying to carry one quietly. My picture books offer soft landings for big emotions, and my middle grade and young adult novels invite readers to navigate truth, grief, courage, and identity through wonder-filled worlds and wild-hearted characters.
Before I became a full-time author, I earned my Master’s in Education and spent years in the classroom, where I learned something essential: stories aren’t extras. They’re anchors. They help us feel, name, and grow through things we can’t always say out loud.
Now I spend my days wrangling feelings, writing them into stories, and parenting three beautifully wild kids who keep my heart tender and my coffee cup full.
My goal? To write stories that don’t just entertain—but soften shame, spark imagination, and remind readers they’re never too young (or too old) to be fully seen.
Newly Published & Coming Soon
The Umbrella That Followed Me Home
Publishing June 2025
The Hug I Forgot to Give
Coming July 2025
The Leaf I Didn't Mean to Break
Coming August 2025
The Words That Hurt
Coming September 2025
A tender picture book about emotions, empathy, and the magic of being seen.
Ages: 4–8
Themes: Emotional safety, friendship, inner feelings, self-expression
Summary:
When a mysterious purple umbrella shows up at Ava’s school one morning, it seems ordinary—until it follows her. Through teasing classmates and quiet storms, the umbrella becomes more than an object. It becomes a feeling—one that protects, listens, and holds space for everything Ava can’t quite say.
The Umbrella That Followed Me Home is a poetic story about the quiet ways we carry our feelings, and the power of being seen exactly as we are.
Why I Wrote It:
I wrote this story for the child who feels everything but doesn’t always have the words. The umbrella is a symbol of emotional safety—a gentle companion for the inner storms we often ask kids to hide. I wanted this book to be soft and safe and true, and to help families talk about feelings without shame or pressure.
Sometimes the smallest moments carry the biggest feelings.
Ages: 4–8
Themes: Guilt, empathy, self-forgiveness, emotional awareness, connection
Summary:
When a little one rushes past without giving a goodbye hug, a quiet feeling begins to grow inside. As the day unfolds, the missed moment turns into a swirl of emotions—confusion, guilt, and a longing to make it right. With gentle words and watercolor warmth, The Hug I Forgot to Give explores how to name our feelings, show kindness to ourselves, and remember that love always leaves room for another chance.
Why I Wrote It:
I wrote this book for every child (and parent) who has ever missed a moment and carried the weight of it all day. As a mom and educator, I’ve seen how small things—like a forgotten hug—can feel really big in little hearts. This story offers a soft space to explore those feelings with compassion, reminding us that it’s never too late to say, “I’m sorry,” and try again.
What do you do with a feeling you didn’t expect?
Ages: 4–8
Themes: Guilt, emotional growth, making mistakes, repair, self-compassion
Summary:
When a child accidentally breaks a beautiful leaf from a tree, a heavy feeling follows them home. They try to hide it in books, boxes, and busy thoughts—but the feeling won’t go away. Through quiet reflection and gentle discovery, The Leaf I Didn’t Mean to Break helps children understand the uncomfortable feeling of guilt and the healing power of honesty, apology, and trying again.
Why I Wrote It:
I wrote this story for the children who are learning that it’s okay to make mistakes—and that feelings like guilt aren’t bad, they’re just signs that we care. This book offers a safe, non-shaming way to explore remorse, while modeling what it looks like to own our actions with grace and grow through them.
Some words leave us smiling. Others leave a mark we can't always see.
Ages: 4–8
Themes: Bullying, empathy, the power of words, emotional safety, kindness
Summary:
When a classmate says something unkind, it lands in the heart like a heavy stone. The hurtful words echo louder than laughter, and the day feels dimmer than before. In The Words That Hurt, readers follow one child’s journey through the sting of bullying—and the quiet courage it takes to speak up, ask for help, and choose kindness in return. This story helps children recognize the impact of their words and empowers them to protect their hearts and the hearts of others.
Why I Wrote It:
I wrote this book because words matter. As an educator and a mom, I’ve seen how deeply children can be affected by things said to them—and how healing it can be when they are given the tools to respond with courage and compassion. This book invites honest conversations about hurt, boundaries, and the kind of words that help us all grow.
About the Author
Desirea Robinson
Writer. Educator. Big-feeler. Snack negotiator.
Desirea Robinson writes stories for the kids who feel everything and the grown-ups trying to help them name it. With a Master’s in Education and years spent in the classroom, she’s seen firsthand how children often carry weather patterns in their chests—and how powerful a single story can be in helping them understand their own sky.
Her picture books blend symbolic storytelling, poetic language, and interactive emotional literacy tools that don’t talk down to kids or tune out the grown-ups. Through her series, The HeartFull Library, Desirea helps children explore sadness, guilt, grief, and self-acceptance with softness, honesty, and the kind of wonder that doesn’t ask for perfection—only presence.
She swapped California sunsets for Florida sunshine, packing up her life (and a whole lot of crayons) to chase new adventures with her husband and their three little ones. These days, you’ll find her somewhere between a nature trail and a juice spill—juggling feelings, snacks, and someone’s very important art project. When she’s not writing heart-heavy picture books or reading them aloud in full theatrical mode, she’s running, lifting, laughing, and sipping coffee like it’s a sacrament. Her days are loud, lovely, and beautifully full—and that’s exactly how she writes her stories: with motion, meaning, and a whole lot of heart.
My Books
Book List & Forthcoming Titles
Children’s Picture Books, 4-8 years old (The HeartFull Library):
• The Umbrella That Followed Me Home – Coming June, 2025
• The Hug I Forgot to Give – Coming July 2025
• The Leaf I Didn’t Mean to Break – Coming August 2025
• The Words That Hurt – Coming September 2025
• The Polar Bear Grief Series (8-book collection) – Completed and coming 2026 (Titles include: When Polar Bears Cry, When Polar Bears Are Mad, When Polar Bears Deny, When Polar Bears Bargain, When Polar Bears Accept, When Polar Bears Go to Heaven, and more)
Middle Grade Fantasy – The Veyruhn Scrolls Trilogy:
• The Hollow Between Hills – Book One (Complete, on submission)
• The Flame Beneath Stone – Book Two (Complete)
• The Echo That Split the Sky – Book Three (Complete)
Young Adult Faith-Based Fantasy:
• The Pathmaker’s Mark – In development
Book Purchase
Bring home a story that softens big feelings and sparks big imaginations. Discover picture books that help children feel seen, safe, and understood—one heartfelt page at a time. Grab your copy on Amazon!
Amazon link coming soon!
Here you’ll find stories for every stage of feeling and growing.
Resources
Educator Support for The Umbrella That Followed Me Home
*Email me below for activity worksheets and the umbrella feelings cards to go with!
Turn the story into a resource.
The Umbrella That Followed Me Home isn’t just a book—it’s a doorway into emotional understanding. With guided questions, feelings-based activities, and printable tools, this story becomes a complete emotional literacy resource for parents, counselors, and educators. Help children name what they feel, explore their inner weather, and find safety in self-expression—all through the pages of one heartfelt book.
Teachers
Teacher Guide - The Umbrella That Followed Me Home
Teacher Guide Summary:
This printable guide helps educators use The Umbrella That Followed Me Home to support social-emotional learning in the classroom. With discussion prompts, group activities, and creative extension ideas, it equips teachers to explore big feelings through storytelling, art, and reflection—making emotional literacy both engaging and accessible for young learners.
Counselors
Counselor Guide - The Umbrella That Followed Me Home
Counselor Guide Summary:
Designed for therapists and mental health professionals, this guide uses The Umbrella That Followed Me Home as a gentle entry point for emotional expression. Includes therapeutic prompts, metaphor-based tools, and creative activities to help children identify, process, and share their feelings in a safe, supported way.
Parent Guide - The Umbrella That Followed Me Home
Parent Guide Summary:
This gentle, practical guide helps parents use The Umbrella That Followed Me Home to talk about emotions with their children. With reflection questions, creative activities, and simple tools like weather check-ins, it empowers families to build emotional safety and connection—one feeling at a time.
Parents