Little Climber

One category that Falcon has not recently published in is children’s picture books. Climbing, however, has been a core part of the FalconGuides brand and publishing program going back decades. This audience of climbing enthusiasts has collected numerous how-to and where-to guidebooks focused on the best places to climb and how to do it safely and knowledgably. As this audience ages, and as both indoor and outdoor rock climbing remain popular activities in the outdoor recreation space, an illustrated children’s book with an inspiring message may be just the gift many rock-climbing parents would love to give to their children.

Colorado-based climbing partners Danielle Sarli and Amanda Hogan teamed up to createLittle Climber- an illustrated children’s picture book featuring Mack - a little girl who loves climbing. She climbs trees, telephone poles, and basketball hoops, but is always told to get down by concerned adults. That is until one day at gym, when her teacher, Miss Hill, notices her talent for climbing and shows her that rock climbing - with the proper equipment - is a much safer way for her to climb. The culmination is a climbing trip where Mack discovers that rock climbing can be a fun and safe outlet for her passion, and instead of being told to come down, she’s encouraged to reach the top.

This is an inspiring and inclusive story meant to inspire young climbers of all backgrounds. ThroughLittle Climber,Danielle and Amanda hope to empower children, show kids how climbing can be an outlet, and help create a more inclusive climbing community.

Danielle Sarli (Author)is an award-winning children’s musician and a preschool/kindergarten teacher in Colorado. Danielle fell in love with climbing in 2016 after two friends took her to a climbing gym in New York City. She learned how to trad climb at the Gunks and moved to Colorado to immerse herself in the mecca of climbing. From there, Danielle has climbed in some of the best destinations in the country, from Rocky Mountain National Park, to Yosemite, Red Rock, El Potrero Chico, Indian Creek, Eldo, Joshua Tree, and more.

Amanda Hogan (Illustrator)is an artist in Colorado, where she gains endless inspiration from nature and the mountains. She studied illustration at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design and enjoys merging her passion for climbing with art in effort to capture the strength, creativity and beauty involved in the sport. Primarily a sport climber, some of Amanda’s favorite places to climb are Rifle, the Flatirons, and Ten Sleep. You can see more of her work at amandajoyhogan.com.