From Field Science to Storybooks: A Park City Collaboration Featured in The Park Record
We were delighted to see a recent article in The Park Record highlighting the creative journey behind Rascal’s Year of Adventure and the unique collaboration that helped bring the book to life.
In its article, “Wildlife technician brings visuals to Parkite’s children’s book” (September 16, 2025), The Park Record tells the story of how Park City author Melissa Marsted connected with illustrator Alexandra Lehner — a U.S. Forest Service wildlife technician whose professional life is rooted in hands-on ecological fieldwork.
A Chance Discovery That Sparked a Partnership
As reported by The Park Record, the collaboration began by pure chance. While traveling through Michigan with her son, Marsted came across Lehner’s illustrated art cards in a local coffee shop. The artwork stood out immediately — playful, vivid, and deeply connected to the natural world. After reaching out via Instagram, the two began working together, despite having never met in person.
Illustration Grounded in Real-World Ecology
What makes this partnership especially compelling — and why The Park Record chose to feature it — is Lehner’s dual background. In her day job, she conducts wildlife surveys, studying birds, pollinators, wetlands, and large mammals such as bears and wolves. That scientific grounding directly informs her illustrations.
Rather than stylized or generic nature scenes, Lehner’s artwork reflects real habitats and ecological relationships. As the article notes, this allows young readers to engage with environments that are both imaginative and accurate, subtly reinforcing environmental awareness through storytelling.
Art, Science, and Storytelling
According to The Park Record, Lehner originally worked with traditional media such as acrylic paint pens before transitioning to digital illustration using Procreate. That evolution allowed her to adapt her style to children’s publishing while maintaining the texture and warmth of hand-drawn art.
Marsted and Lehner collaborated closely on each illustration, discussing habitats, animals, and narrative intent — with Lehner often given creative freedom to interpret scenes in ways that would best resonate with children.
Inspiring Curiosity About the Natural World
As highlighted in the article, Lehner sees the project as an opportunity to inspire children and families to look more closely at the world around them. By blending accurate ecological detail with engaging visuals, Rascal’s Year of Adventure encourages curiosity, outdoor exploration, and an appreciation for wildlife — values that align strongly with Park City’s outdoor-focused community.
Featured in The Park Record
We’re grateful to The Park Record for shining a light on this collaboration and the broader idea that meaningful children’s literature can emerge from unexpected intersections — in this case, wildlife science and visual storytelling.
You can read the original article on The Park Record website here:
“Wildlife technician brings visuals to Parkite’s children’s book” (September 16, 2025).
Rascal’s Year of Adventure is scheduled for release on September 20, and we’re excited to share a book that reflects both creative storytelling and a genuine connection to the natural world.