The Team

 

Sherry Bushue, publisher, entrepreneur, and author heads both publishing houses. Her earlier career as a medical social worker and life-long care provider for children who have special needs, combine with her passion for planting seeds of knowledge by creating diverse, entertaining books, and products. Sherry’s focus incorporates visual, auditory, and often multiple language formats to inspire and nourish kids worldwide. She sees fig trees and learning as quite similar in their potential; each originates from a tiny seed then swiftly grows, spreading into all environments, cultures, and strata. She’s fascinated with frogs and loves Fig Newtons. Published by Star Bright Books and Levine Querido (2024)

 

Jenn Bailey, award-winning author, editor, and instructor for over 12 years. She has her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and her B.S. in Film/Screenwriting from Boston University. Her debut picture book, A Friend for Henry, won the ALA National Schneider Family Honor Book award (2020), is a 2021 Virginia Reads selection, and a Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year (2020). She is contracted for several more manuscripts with the next in the Henry series receiving a Kirkus Star. Published by Chronicle and Levine Querido (2024)

 

Tessa Elwood, award-winning author and graphic designer, works with small businesses, state organizations, and New York Times bestsellers. She writes YA and is particularly fascinated by messy lives and complicated loyalties. Her first duology was an Indie Next pick and listed in Bookriot’s 100 Must-Read Inclusive YA SFF Books. Tessa is an honors graduate with a B.A. in Communications Arts from Park University, where she and Jenn later taught the NWI (Nonfiction Writers Intensive), developed by The Little Fig’s team. Tessa is obsessed with stories, coffee, and running shoes. Published by Running Press Kids

 

Beth Bacon, author and graphic designer, was born in New England and has lived in in five different states and three different countries! Santa stays busy keeping track of her whereabouts. Her books include I Hate Reading, The Book No One Wants To Read, The Panda Cub Swap, and AlphaBuddies: G Is First. Beth has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, an MA in Communication Arts from New York University, and a BA in Literature from Harvard University. Published by Harper Collins, Histria Kids, Blair, Penguin Dial, and The Little Fig's The Family Santa Almost Forgot (2023)

 

Judy Hyde, editor, author, artist, and moderator, received her BFA in Advertising and Editorial Art from the University of Kansas. Her books were published by Children’s Press/Scholastic, and she moderates a decades-long weekly critique group for Heartland Writers for Kids & Teens. For recent community projects, Judy planted a Monarch Waystation in a city park, constructed a Little Free Library, co-chaired a multi-city Environmental Fair, and is exploring the wonders of digital illustration. Judy loves to read, garden, birdwatch, and she adores the Rocky Mountains. She lives in Kansas with her fun-loving husband and three rambunctious cats. Published by Children’s Press/Scholastic

Gregg Yowell is a member of the Caldwell & Moll, LC team and has served both The Little Fig and The Big Fig companies since their inception in 2014. His experience spans from startup entrepreneur to management roles of increasing responsibility in Fortune 500 companies. He participated in the turnaround of Apple, Inc. following the return of Steve Jobs to the company. Gregg advises clients on many aspects of business, with an emphasis on practical solutions for growth initiatives and risk mitigation. Gregg is most helpful with regards to all intellectual property’s aspects of the companies.

     The Little Fig expands again to bring in The Big Fig, an imprint offering fiction for young adults.

We continue to believe learning provides hope. We craft activity and curriculum guides that provide templates to ignite curiosity, enhance cognitive skills and knowledge, offer social/emotional activities, provide hands-on discovery and entertain. We are grateful to these and so many others who come to us, together offering books and products to both kids and adults throughout our nation:

  •  A joint effort giving Comfort Kits to children in Minneapolis who are refugees from Somalia and Spanish speaking countries. 
  •  Joined with the Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky for Vampire Camp 2023.
  •  Approved titles for statewide inclusion by the California Department of Education
  •  Collaborated with Minnesota’s Association of Children’s Mental Health to provide social emotional and bilingual books, enhanced curriculum guides, art supplies, and comfort toys for refugee children from Somalia and Spanish speaking countries. Fire and Ashes, A Boy and an African Proverb is the debut in this series. Professional counselors use the wisdom of African elders, woven throughout these picture book stories.
  •  Teamed with the University of Tennessee--October 2022 and Summer Camp 2023, Bugs on the Job posted throughout their Nature Book Trail for the children's portion in their 280 acre arboretum.
  • Collaborated with Walter Gilbert and the Sarasota School District to bring The Greatest Thing: A Story About Buck O’Neil and the Enhanced Curriculum Guide into their 4th grade curriculum.
  •   Licensed with The Negro Baseball Museum, Chicago Cubs, NLBM, Major League Baseball, First Base Enterprises, and Buck's heirs. The Little Fig published the debut in a series of children’s biographies, The Greatest Thing: A Story About Buck O’Neil. A portion of all sales is given to charities Buck founded for children.
  •  Partnered with Park University, our team developed and instructed a Nonfiction Writers Intensive (NWI) that led to publication of several picture book biographies that show diversity in an authentic sharing of what is possible.
  •  Founded Kuzidi, a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit charity. We proudly produce books and products to provide much-needed programs, activities, and services to improve the lives of children who suffer trauma. Our focus is to give the children who are underserved, refugees, victims due to COVID pandemics, homeless, or have been abused hope for their future.   
  •  Co-sponsored The Bilingual Bash with the Natural History Museum at Prairiefire, to bring bilingual books to life through interactive movement, rhythm, and songs in both English and Spanish.
  •  Developed The Little Fig’s Mandarin picture books for the Chinese Immersion Program in the Blue Valley School District, an ongoing program for full submersion classrooms.

2014-2024 © the little fig / sherry@thelittlefig.com / tel: 913.226.6099 / fax: 913.239.9350   P.O. Box 26073, Overland Park, KS 66225 / Privacy Policy