Acclaimed local children’s author Hannah Barnaby brings her lyrical storytelling to life with The Pine Cone’s Secret, a picture book that celebrates curiosity, nature, and the magic of words. Through rhythmic language and vivid imagery, Barnaby shows how even the smallest stories can plant the seeds of literacy and imagination in young minds.
“Stories like Hannah’s remind us why reading together matters,” says Jennifer Bryerton, publisher of CharlottesvilleFamily and founder of TheBiblioParent.com. “When children meet authors in person, books come alive in a whole new way—and that excitement can spark a lifelong love of reading.”
Meet Author Hannah Barnaby at Crozet Book Fest Jr.
Barnaby, a Charlottesville-based author and former children’s book editor, will appear at Crozet Book Fest Jr., where families can meet her in person and hear her read from her newest title.
When: Saturday, October 25, 2025 @ 9:00 am
Where: Crozet Library, 2020 Library Ave, Crozet, VA
Learn more: charlottesvillefamily.com/crozet-book-fest-jr/
We caught up with Hannah to talk about The Pine Cone’s Secret, the power of nature, and how stories take root in young readers’ hearts.
Q&A with Charlottesville Author Hannah Barnaby
- Your new book, The Pine Cone’s Secret, transforms a simple seed into a story about growth and wonder. How do books like this help spark curiosity and early literacy in children?
Encouraging curiosity in kids is so important, and there’s no better place to start than nature, because it’s easily accessible and free to explore. Once children catch a glimpse of hidden magic in the natural world, they’re more likely to keep searching for more!
The Pine Cone’s Secret and The Pumpkin Seed’s Secret each show a complete life cycle, but I hope they inspired readers of all ages to learn more through further reading.
- You’ve written several beloved picture books. What role do you think rhythm, rhyme, and repetition play in helping young readers fall in love with language?
Children learn through patterns from the very beginning, and rhyming stories or stories with repetition build on that organically. My favorite part about writing rhyming texts is the chance to surprise readers with a rhyme they didn’t expect! I think it sparks an interest in playing with language, which is a vital part of literacy development.
- Our community events aim to build a lifelong love of reading. How do you hope meeting authors and hearing stories like yours in person inspires families to read together at home?
I read voraciously as a kid, and I always wondered about my favorite authors. What were they like? Where did they live? What did they eat for lunch? These days, authors are much more accessible, producing social media posts and videos, going on tours–and kids can see that we’re regular people (which hopefully isn’t too disappointing).
My hope is that seeing me and getting the chance to talk to me and ask me questions will show kids that they could be part of the next generation of writers. Reading as a family but maybe also writing as a family!
Did you know Charlottesville is home to many other kid-lit writers and illustrators? Learn more about the local authors bringing children’s books to life!
- Nature plays such a central role in The Pine Cone’s Secret. How do you see the natural world helping children develop observation skills and vocabulary?
Children are born observers, and they have loads of questions about the world and how it works. Nature is the perfect place to encourage kids to use all of their senses and to ask about what they see, hear, feel, and smell.
I’ll admit I’m far from an expert on most subjects. When my children were little we would bring a notebook and a pen on nature walks so I could write down whatever questions they had (what kind of tree is that? what’s that flower called?) and we could look for answers in field guides or online when we got home.
Bonus: Lots of flowers have really funny names that your kids will love, like teasel and gray beardtongue!
- What advice would you offer to parents or teachers who want to nurture storytelling and creativity in children, even before they can read on their own?
The absolute best thing you can do to inspire children to love reading is to show them that YOU value reading. Making time to read together, even for just a few minutes a day, will plant that seed in them for a lifetime. Listening to audiobooks in the car is a great way to add storytelling into your routine, and makes those early morning drives to school a lot more fun.
Kids are also great at telling stories in pictures–they can draw before they can spell, so encourage them to make their stories that way and assure them that it absolutely counts as writing.
- Many of your books carry messages of transformation and discovery. What do you hope children take away from The Pine Cone’s Secret, both as readers and as growing people?
Writing The Pine Cone’s Secret gave me a chance to explore a much longer life cycle because pine trees develop much more slowly than pumpkins! [The first book in Barnaby’s series, The Pumpkin Seed’s Secret, explores the life cycle of a pumpkin.] This also means that Cedric Abt’s beautiful illustrations depict many years instead of just one, and show how a family can change and grow over time.
I hope the children who read Pine Cone will see their own family traditions reflected in the pages and understand that there’s no rush to grow up. They have so much time to become who they want to be. And that’s a true gift.
Bringing Families and Authors Together at Crozet Book Fest Jr.
Barnaby’s appearance at Crozet Book Fest Jr. is part of a broader effort to make reading an adventure that begins in childhood and lasts a lifetime. Events like this bring stories off the page and into the community, helping families connect with local authors, discover new books, and celebrate the joy of storytelling together.
“Central Virginia families are hungry for meaningful, screen-free ways to connect, and Crozet Book Fest Jr. delivers just that,” adds Bryerton. “By showcasing authors and offering hands-on experiences, this festival builds both literacy and community values that CharlottesvilleFamily cares deeply about.”
Find more details about Crozet Book Fest Jr. and plan your day with us. We hope to see you there for an exciting day celebrating books, families, and the magic of storytelling!
Looking for more family fun around Charlottesville and Albemarle County? We’ve rounded up our favorite music programs, arts & crafts, sensory-friendly activities, and indoor active fun for rainy days.
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AMANDA DANAHER is a busy mom of five who is passionate about bringing encouragement to other parents through writing. She focuses on freelancing for Virginia parent and family magazines where she can utilize her journalism degree and share her parenting experience.