Illustration of Doodle, Bug & Bear Press’s sketch-loving mascot, drawing at a desk with a smile—illustrating one of our rhyming picture books.

Every Story Connects & Gives Back

Every Bug & Bear book is part of a bigger story.
Some connect in wild ways. Some spark brand-new ideas.
All are powered by imagination—and right now, during the Painting Grace launch, they’re connecting to something even bigger: our Story Shapers’ communities.

Through September 5th, 75% of ALL Painting Grace royalties go straight to the schools selected by our Story Shapers.

So explore the series. Find your family’s next favorite.
And know that every story you buy helps shape the next one—and supports a local cause along the way.

Presenting

Book Five: Faye’s Foil

Faye’s Foil

A bug. A blade. A battle for who you’re meant to be.

Faye is a firefly. A fencer. A rule-follower.
She trains hard, plays safe, and does everything right—until Bea shows up.

Bea glows on her own terms.
Shoots wild.
Dances through expectations like they’re paper.

She doesn’t play to win.
She plays to be free.

And suddenly, Faye is facing a new kind of opponent:
Not Bea…
But the fear of being different.

Does she follow the path she was trained for?
Or spark a new one—even if it means stepping out of the spotlight she was handed?

Faye’s Foil is a story about breaking expectations and what it means to be seen on your own terms.

This isn’t your ordinary “girl power” book.
It’s gut-punching, soul-shaking transformation.
A picture book for every girl who’s tired of playing the part—and ready to own their role.

Behind the Story

This one’s personal.

Our first co-created book.
Shaped by readers. Sparked entirely by Creativity Challenges.
It’s almost poetic that a story about breaking expectations is the one that cracked open the model of shared storytelling.

I would’ve never written a book about a fencing firefly. Ever.
But I’m in love with Faye. And Bea.
And forever grateful to the readers who sparked them into existence.

This book is for anyone who’s ever been Faye.
Trained to follow. Told to please. Expected to play someone else’s game.

Faye’s Foil is what happens when that quiet flicker inside finally says:
“No. Not like this.”

Bea doesn’t ask for permission. She just shines.
And in doing so, she shows Faye—and every reader—
that winning isn’t about applause.

It’s about authenticity.

Winning doesn’t come with a prize.
It comes with a choice.

Because the real victory?
Is the moment you stop performing…

And start becoming.

Story Shapers!

Theme Team

Tula Sulcer

Age 15

Idaho Falls, ID

“This silly little bug is representing Flyville in the Bug-lympics and if he hits the target, Flyville wins a trip around the world.”

Sketch-Off

Shalini Ayre

Age 57

Cambridge, MA

Word Weaver

Michael Rainey

Age 57

Boise, ID

“Masters in the art of fencing,
Fireflies serve their king defensing.
En garde.”

Inside the Book!