The Olive Tree Still Grows by Jessica Stefanski

Healing, heritage, and a hint of magic combine in Jessica Stefanski’s debut children’s book, The Olive Tree Still Grows

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN—Michigan author Jessica Stefanski is an expert in navigating change.

An integrative trauma therapist, clinical social worker, and founder of Bay Area Behavioral Health (Petoskey), Stefanski has dedicated her career to healing generational trauma and helping women and their families rediscover their strength in the face of uncertainty.

The Olive Tree Still Grows

“There’s an innate worthiness and light that exists within each of us,” she said. “It’s extremely rewarding to help [people] realize this and transform the wounding that tells us otherwise.” In her debut children’s book, The Olive Tree Still Grows, Stefanski teaches young readers to nurture their true sense of self, and through it, to let their light shine!

Accompanied by the whimsical and bold illustrations of artist Betsy Petersen, the story follows a young girl named Layla who’s learned her parents are planning to separate. As she struggles to process her new reality, Layla turns to her beloved grandmother, whom she joins in search of refuge and comfort beneath the family’s sacred olive tree. Together, Layla and her Teta—and later, a furry new friend named Rosie—embark on a storytelling journey to Teta’s childhood in Lebanon and the lessons of peace, resilience, and strength that she’s ingrained in Layla’s family. 

Inspiration & Heritage

“My grandmother is also of Lebanese descent, and that heritage was a big part of my childhood,” Stefanski noted. “I always felt this incredible love from her. When I was thinking about the book, I wanted to capture that love and her light.”

As Layla soon comes to realize, she’s also a source of love and light, and much like Teta’s olive tree, is rooted in a multi-layered sense of identity and belonging that can’t be taken away.

With sources of inspiration including the families she’s worked with, her daughter, and firsthand experience (with a dash of poet Khalil Gibran, to whom she is distantly related), Stefanski added that she hopes the book might also offer support for kids and their parents as they embark on their own healing journeys—especially through the lens of an increasingly disconnected social and cultural landscape.

“Having a resource for children within the context of divorce is a way to advocate for those most vulnerable,” Stefanski said. “My intention is for children and families everywhere to remember the light within and the unique gifts that will carry them forward—serving as a source of strength and guidance during moments of change and uncertainty.”

Author, Jessica Stefanski

The Author

Jessica Stefanski is a clinical social worker, integrative trauma therapist, and founder of Bay Area Behavioral Health, Petoskey, MI. Through her work as a therapist and writer, she brings a grounded, soulful presence, exploring themes of generational healing, feminine empowerment, liberation, and love. She lives in northern Michigan with her family, drawing inspiration and renewal from the region’s natural landscapes. Jessica is deeply honored and humbled to serve her community and beyond.

Illustrator, Betsy Petersen

The Illustrator

Betsy Petersen illustrated the Goodreads Choice Award winner I Am Quiet, as well as, I Am Bold, Happy Puppy, Angry Tiger, and more. When she is not painting or drawing, she enjoys exploring nature in northern Michigan with her family.

The Book

The Olive Tree Still Grows

Written by Jessica Stefanski, illustrations by Betsy Petersen

34 pages, 8 x 10, Color

Juvenile Fiction/Family & Grandparents/Marriage & Divorce/Coping & Change

ISBN: 978-1-968761-03-5, $24.95 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-968761-04-2, $17.95 (Softcover)

Publication Date: June 2, 2026

Nightlight Stories, an imprint of Mission Point Press

Copies are available for preorder at Bookshop.org, Amazon, and other online retailers. On its June 2, 2026 publication date, it will be available for purchase wherever books are sold. For information or to arrange for signings and events, contact the author at jessica@jessicastefanski.com or visit jessicastefanski.com.

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