Heather Lynn Harris’s children’s picture book manuscript, which has the working title “Junkyard Jewel,” has been accepted for publication by By Chance Books, an independent publisher based in Fort Collins, Colorado. The manuscript was reviewed and selected by an acquiring editor for publication in the picture book category for children ages 4–7 and is scheduled for release in 2027.

“Junkyard Jewel” introduces young readers to a world where not all heroes shine. Some creak. Some clatter. Some carry hope where no one expects it to live. Set within the desolate landscape of a junkyard, the story centers on the idea that even the discarded objects deemed broken or without value can become something meaningful and beautiful through curiosity, care and connection. The narrative invites children to reconsider worth, resilience and belonging in a broken world.

This publication contributes to Harris’s sustained creative scholarship focused on how meaning is constructed and communicated to the youngest of audiences. The project emphasizes the role of visual storytelling, shape language and semiotics in children’s media, exploring how form, materiality and symbolism function as early systems of meaning-making. The acceptance of “Junkyard Jewel” reflects continued professional engagement with creative research practices that thoughtfully bridge theory and practice in visual and narrative communication for children.