Sprouty & the Broken Stick: A Story About Making Space for Every Feeling

When Sprouty's favorite stick suddenly breaks, he's hit with a big wave of feelings he wasn't expecting. Frustration, sadness, disappointment... they all show up at once. With a little help from his Oakling family, Sprouty learns that feelings don't have to be fixed or pushed away-they can be noticed, named, and gently welcomed.

Sprouty & The Broken Stick is a story about making space for every feeling, introducing the first Inner Skill in The Oaklings in Action series:

"I accept my feelings as they are."

Through simple storytelling and relatable moments, this book helps children and caregivers explore what it means to make space for big emotions with kindness and curiosity.

A heartwarming story for families who want to grow together-one feeling at a time.

Brooke Susanne Barrett is a writer, educator, and Board Certified Behavior Analyst who helps families grow in connection, curiosity, and psychological flexibility. As a mom of two walking the path of motherhood herself, Brooke is continually growing alongside her children. She created The Oaklings in Action to support families in their social-emotional learning and loves using stories to make learning relatable, meaningful, and accessible in everyday life. She hopes this series will give families the tools and strategies to grow together. Working with her sister and illustrator, Michelle Marion Moon, her lifelong best friend and greatest support, has made this series especially special. Brooke writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her husband and children and draws daily inspiration from their adventures together.

Michelle Marion Moon is an artist and illustrator whose work blends warmth, whimsy, and emotional storytelling. She is a lifelong artists and has spent years creating art across many mediums, always rooted in a deep love of drawing and visual narrative. Michelle believes in art as a tool for connection, emotional exploration, and wonder, and she infuses each Oakling character with the gentleness and magic she hopes young readers will carry with them. Michelle and her sister, Brooke, have lived side by side their entire lives, growing together as artists, aunts, mother, and makers. Bringing The Oaklings to life with her sister has been one of Michelle's most meaningful creative experiences, a collaboration filled with heart, curiosity, and the shared hope of helping children understand their inner worlds.