Staci Quigley Cox

Aspen Spies is a cumulative tale about a snowshoe hare who is happily unaware of its many predators. Like the aspen trees in the story, young readers will enjoy spying on critters of the boreal forest in this 265-word picture book.

Aspen Spies was written for children ages 4-8, and its lyrical, repetitive language makes it an ideal read aloud. The patterned text invites rich illustrations, especially the backdrop of narrow, white aspen trees with black, almond-shaped scars on their trunks.

This manuscript won second place in the 2024 Alaska Writers Guild annual Children’s Literature writing contest.