Local author brings family farm to life in a heartwarming children's book

Lakeshore author Lorraine Rodriguez turned family memories into the children's book Minnie and her Farm Friends, which draws on her family's farm life and is the first in a planned series.

Lorraine Rodriguez of Lakeshore has published her debut children's book, Minnie and her Farm Friends, which brings family memories to a story about farm life. The book follows Rodriguez's mother as a young girl in Ruscom and populates the pages with animal characters based on immediate family members. Rodriguez wrote the manuscript quickly but spent about a year completing the publishing process and worked with a publisher and professional assistance on illustrations. She describes the book as a tribute to her mother and says seeing grandchildren read it has been deeply fulfilling. Key facts: - The book is titled Minnie and her Farm Friends and celebrates learning, loyalty and friendship on a family farm. - Many characters are based on Rodriguez's relatives, including Charlie the Bull (her father), Eddie the Pig (her grandfather) and Virginia the Goose (her grandmother). - The story includes a mischievous goose drawn from a real family pet that chased Rodriguez's mother as a child. - Rodriguez wrote the manuscript in two days, and the overall process to publication took about a year with professional illustration support. - The article notes the book is the first in a planned series and is available on Amazon, in local stores and libraries, or directly from the author. Summary: The book brings personal family history into a children's picture story and serves as a tribute to Rodriguez's mother, emphasizing simple joys of farm life. More books are planned and Rodriguez intends to engage the community with local readings.