Coeur d'Alene Duo Published Children's Book in 2024
Local author Sally Dodge and illustrator Sage Pederson released a story inspired by their adopted puppies.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Dogs
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In 2024, Coeur d'Alene resident Sally Dodge teamed up with illustrator Sage Pederson to publish the children's book Lewis and Clark: Brothers Together Forever. The story was inspired by Dodge's own adopted puppies and incorporates themes from the historical Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Why it matters
The book brings local creative history into the community, blending early American themes with family-friendly storytelling. For local families, it offers a new way to engage children with literature featuring woodland animal illustrations and regional historical context.
The creative duo finished the project in 2024 after meeting at Art on the Green. The book is currently available for purchase at the Well-Read Moose and through online retailers.
The players
Sally Dodge
A former preschool owner of 20 years and 9-year veteran of Borah Elementary who authored the book.
Sage Pederson
An illustrator currently attending the Alberta University of the Arts who uses digital tools for her work.
The details
The collaboration began after Sally Dodge and Sage Pederson met at Art on the Green. Sage Pederson utilized Adobe Photoshop skills she originally developed while attending public schools in Coeur d'Alene to create the book's woodland animal artwork. During the illustration process, the pair worked together to expand the story, with Pederson reaching a production rate of three pages per day.
Timeline
2020: Sally Dodge and Sage Pederson met at Art on the Green.
2024: Sage Pederson and Sally Dodge completed the book.
The Home Front
This project highlights a growing trend of local collaborative storytelling emerging from community arts initiatives like Art on the Green. It serves as a reminder of how regional events frequently foster partnerships that result in new educational resources for local families.
Families can visit the Well-Read Moose to pick up a copy of the book to add to their home library. If you are interested in historical learning, keep an eye out for Dodge's two upcoming sequels as she expands the series for young readers.
The takeaway
This collaboration demonstrates how personal interests, such as adopting pets or studying history, can be successfully translated into creative household projects. Readers should keep an eye on local author events if they wish to track the progress of the two planned book sequels.
Further reading
Discover more community pet-related stories in our Dogs section.
More information
Find additional details on the book by visiting the Children's book official website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Coeur d'Alene Press.
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