Walking on a Trail by Allison Bartlette

Take a hike through the Michigan woods on a trail filled with local wonder!

Perfect for Families and Educators, New Book Inspires Children to Become Dedicated Stewards of the World Around Them

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN—A roadway encounter with a deer on a wintry drive to work in Northern Michigan doesn’t always end well. For Allison Bartlette, it was serendipitous, leading to the publication of her debut title, Walking on a Trail, (Mission Point Press, January 13, 2026). Many ideas come to her when driving and catching the sunrise, including the nature-themed poetry Bartlette had previously written, but it was that specific commute that kick-started her road to publication.

Walking on a Trail

Walking on a Trail uses poetic repetition and illustrative clues to inspire young readers to appreciate the beauty of nature and understand the importance of preserving it. The book’s characters walk through Michigan woods, led by native animals including a bobwhite quail, white-tailed deer, and a monarch butterfly, teaching children that their small actions can make a big difference in protecting the world around them.

An Intentional Story

A speech-language pathologist, Bartlette was intentional in developing her book to benefit young readers. “Repetition and rhyme are so helpful for children in a variety of ways. First, by repeating the text, children can participate in the verbal routine more easily as it doesn’t require reading. Walking on a Trail uses repetition and rhyme to sound like a song while reading; singing is engaging for children and encourages social interaction which in turn promotes language development,” Bartlette said.

Much like that deer on a winter morning, a chance discovery on a coffee shop’s Instagram page was instrumental in the book’s development. Following The Dream Bean Machine, Bartlette was intrigued by artwork that illustrator/designer Chloe Walimaa created for the business and reached out to her. Of their collaboration. Bartlette shared, “I wanted the images to look like vintage children’s book illustrations. I sought inspiration from Peter Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh, Little Bear, and Frog and Toad, as well as her artwork to influence her work in Walking on a Trail. This is her first time illustrating a book and she perfectly captured my vision.”

Looking ahead, Bartlette is collaborating with Jill Bacigalupi, founder and owner of Speech & Smile, a play-based speech and language therapy practice in Petoskey, Michigan. They’re developing sensory kits featuring small figurines of animals and objects from the book to further engage young readers. In addition, Bartlette is considering a follow-up book that focuses on the abundant animals found in or near the Great Lakes.

Author, Allison Bartlette

The Author

Allison Bartlette is an author and speech-language pathologist who lives in Michigan with her husband and two sons. Reading children’s stories to her clients and her boys—and the repetition and rhyme often found in them—inspired her to write her debut book, Walking on a Trail. When not writing poetry for future stories, she enjoys hiking, gardening, reading, and drinking coffee.

Illustrator, Chloe Walimaa

The Illustrator

Chloe Walimaa is a Michigan-based, self-taught illustrator and designer. She draws much of her inspiration from Lake Superior’s rocky, wooded, freshwater coast, as well as from the many landscapes she has encountered in her travels. When she’s not in her studio, she can be found exploring the outdoors or spending time with her animals.

The Book

Walking on a Trail

Written by Allison Bartlette, illustrations by Chloe Walimaa

28 pages, 8.5 x 8.5, Color

Juvenile Fiction/Animals/General, Poetry, Science & Nature/Environment

ISBN: 978-1-965278-81-9, $23.95 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-965278-82-6, $16.95 (Softcover)

Publication Date: January 13, 2026

Nightlight Stories, an imprint of Mission Point Press

Copies are available for preorder at Bookshop.org, Amazon, and other online retailers. On its January 13, 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 authorallisonbartlette@gmail.com..