2. Terri Sabol’s Bio

Terri Sabol is the author of 17 children’s books that entertain, educate, and inspire young readers. Her work includes The Know It Owl Series, the eight-book Oscar and Emmy Series, and three stand-alone picture books: Green With Envy, Kneading a Winning Idea, and Raccoon Reunion.

After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, Terri taught early elementary school for nearly a decade and led science-based summer camps at the Houston Museum of Natural Science for 15 years. Her experience as an educator continues to shape the humor, educational content, and audience participation in her books and author programs.

In The Know It Owl Series, a wise and witty owl travels the world meeting young animals with some wonderfully mistaken ideas about themselves. Terri researches the animals featured in her books by visiting accredited zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, and other wildlife organizations around the world. Her Oscar and Emmy Series was inspired by the two kittens she adopted after meeting them while volunteering at a local animal shelter. The series helps children learn about pet care, adoption, fostering, veterinary visits, and compassion for animals.

Terri presents interactive programs for students from Pre-K through 12th grade and has made author appearances in the United States, England, France, and Germany. Her visits combine engaging read-alouds, science, humor, educational props, behind-the-scenes material, and age-appropriate discussions about writing and publishing. Terri divides her time between Texas and England and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and 12 × 12.

4. Promotional Information

The Know It Owl Series

The Know It Owl Series combines humorous fiction, fascinating animal facts, and interactive two-character dialogue. In each book, the wise and witty Owl meets a young animal with some wonderfully mistaken ideas about itself. Through their entertaining back-and-forth, Owl helps the animal—and young readers—uncover the truth.

Written for animal lovers ages 5–11, the series is designed for independent reading, family storytime, classroom learning, and lively two-voice read-alouds. Each book introduces animal adaptations, habitats, geography, conservation, and other science concepts while encouraging curiosity, confidence, and an appreciation for what makes every animal unique.

The Know It Owl Series: Collection 1 includes six books:

• The Know It Owl

• The Know It Owl and the Otter

• The Know It Owl and the Kangaroo

• The Know It Owl and the Giraffe

• The Know It Owl and the Axolotl

• The Know It Owl and the Beluga

The series is written by Terri Sabol and illustrated by Paula Piechna. Lesson plans and Lexile ratings are available, and the books form the foundation of Terri’s interactive science and literacy author-visit program for schools and libraries.

Oscar and Emmy Get Rescued

• Oscar and Emmy Get Rescued educates children and adults on the rescue process and promotes pet adoption. It is inspired by the author’s true adoption story of her own two kittens after meeting them while volunteering at the animal shelter.

Oscar and Emmy Weather a Hurricane

• Oscar and Emmy Weather a Hurricane, inspired by author’s encounter with Hurricane Harvey, shows how to plan for and care for your pets during natural disasters and includes a detailed disaster kit list for pets.

Oscar and Emmy Visit Grandma

• Oscar and Emmy Visit Grandma is a must-read for pet parents and pet sitters alike. It focuses on the fun of spoiling animals and gives guidance to those not used to the everyday care of animals.

Oscar and Emmy Visit the Vet

• In Oscar and Emmy Visit the Vet, you will learn about regular checkups for your pets through the eyes of children and what you can do at home in between vet visits to help keep your fur babies healthy. The infographics in the back of the book teach about dental care, nail trimming, vaccinations, and hairball prevention.

Oscar and Emmy’s First Christmas

• What adventures can two newly adopted kittens get into during their first Christmas with their furever family? Follow Oscar and Emmy as they join in exciting Christmas traditions like gift wrapping, tree decorating, Christmas caroling, Christmas Eve dinner, and a visit from Santa. Let this story inspire your own family traditions, both new and old.

Oscar and Emmy Gain a Friend: A Story About Trap-Neuter-Return

• Cats Oscar and Emmy aren’t too sure about the stray cat that’s been visiting outside their front door.  

  After interacting with her through the window, and meeting her kittens, they grow to really like their new-found friend.

  Through their own experience with the stray cat, kids Abby and Charlie grow compassion for animals, other than their own pets, and also learn about the important program, Trap-Neuter-Return.

Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend: A Story About Euthanasia

• Oscar and Emmy’s family has a difficult decision to make when their stray cat they’ve been taking care of has an incurable disease. Readers will learn all the steps involved through the eyes of the children in the book.

Oscar and Emmy Foster Kittens

• Oscar and Emmy’s family decides to foster kittens after volunteering at the shelter during kitten season. Readers will learn the process of fostering and the positive impact they can make by helping animals short-term.

Green With Envy

• In Green With Envy, Blade is jealous of his cousin Augustine’s beautiful green color and location in the yard. Blade tries to make the most of what he has, but finally can’t take it any longer and moves to Augustine’s side of the yard. After soaking it all in, something happens that makes Blade realize his old life wasn’t as bad as he thought.

Kneading a Winning Idea

• It’s time for the annual bake-off, and Ben is determined NOT to come in second place AGAIN!

  To take the first place prize, Ben will need to enhance his buttermilk biscuit recipe—and his inspiration comes from the most unexpected source.

  The winning buttermilk biscuit recipe is included!

Raccoon Reunion

• Join Rocky on his heartwarming journey of self-discovery, courage, and connection in his first family reunion adventure—where he'll discover that sometimes the greatest strength is helping others!
  
  This delightful story explores important themes such as:

  • Anxiety and Shyness

  • Stepping outside your comfort zone and trying something new

  • Helping others and sharing your talents

  • Teamwork and making new friends

  • Multi-generational family dynamics

  • Contrasting city and country living

5. Interview Questions and Sample Answers

• What inspired you to become a children’s book author?

  I spent nearly a decade teaching early elementary school and 15 years leading science-based summer camps at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Those experiences showed me how much children learn when information is combined with humor, storytelling, and participation. My goal is to create books that entertain children while giving families and teachers meaningful subjects to explore together.

  What makes The Know It Owl Series different from other animal books?

  The Know It Owl Series combines fiction, humor, and accurate animal science. In each book, a young animal has some wonderfully mistaken ideas about itself, and a wise and witty owl helps uncover the truth. The stories are written as two-character dialogues, making them especially fun to perform aloud. Children can take one role while an adult, teacher, librarian, or another child takes the other.

  How do you research the animals featured in The Know It Owl Series?

  I begin with extensive research using reliable wildlife and conservation sources. Whenever possible, I also visit accredited zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, and other wildlife organizations around the world. Seeing the animals and speaking with knowledgeable professionals helps me understand their movement, behavior, habitats, and personalities. Those experiences often inspire details that make their way into the stories, illustrations, and educational back matter. Paula Piechna, my illustrator for The Know It Owl Series, is also very detailed and diligent in her research before working on each spread.

  Why is Owl the central character of the series?

  Owls are traditionally associated with wisdom, which made Owl the perfect character to correct animal misconceptions. However, I didn’t want him to sound like a teacher delivering a lecture. He is witty, slightly snarky, and sometimes exasperated, but he is also patient and kind. His personality helps turn factual corrections into entertaining conversations.

  What inspired the Oscar and Emmy Series?

  Oscar and Emmy are based on my real rescue cats. I met them as kittens while volunteering at an animal shelter and soon adopted them. Their story inspired Oscar and Emmy Get Rescued, and I soon realized they could help children learn about many aspects of responsible pet ownership. Across eight books, the series explores adoption, veterinary care, disaster preparation, pet sitting, holidays, Trap-Neuter-Return, pet loss, and fostering kittens.

  How does your teaching background influence your books?

  My teaching experience influences everything from the vocabulary and pacing to the humor and educational content. I think about what will hold a child’s attention, what questions a story might inspire, and how teachers or parents can extend the learning afterward. Many of my books include nonfiction back matter, and lesson plans are available for most of them. The Know It Owl books also have Lexile ratings.

  What can students expect during one of your author visits?

  My visits are interactive rather than lecture-style. Depending on the students’ ages and the selected program, they may help perform the dialogue, repeat Owl’s catchphrases, meet a great horned owl puppet, examine an owl skull and other educational props, watch short animal videos, and learn how a book develops from an idea into a published story. For older students, I discuss writing, revising, illustration, publishing, marketing, and creative careers.

  Can your author programs be adapted for different ages?

  Yes. I offer programs for students from Pre-K through 12th grade. Younger students enjoy lively readings, props, movement, repetition, and participation. Elementary students explore animal science, storytelling, and the making of a book. With middle and high school students, I can take a deeper look at the writing and publishing process, creative careers, and recognizing and developing their own talents.

  Why is it important to combine humor with educational content?

  Humor makes children want to keep listening. When they laugh at a character’s misunderstanding or join in with a memorable phrase, they become part of the learning experience. They may not realize how much information they are absorbing, but the facts are more likely to stay with them because they are connected to a funny and engaging story.

  What do you hope children take away from your books?

  I want children to become more curious about animals, more compassionate toward pets and wildlife, and more confident in themselves. Some of my books teach animal facts or responsible pet care, while others explore jealousy, perseverance, anxiety, creativity, and stepping outside your comfort zone. Above all, I want children to enjoy reading and to discover that learning can be fun.

  What are you working on next?

  I am continuing to expand The Know It Owl Series by introducing Owl to more fascinating animals from around the world. Each new book begins with research into an animal’s unusual adaptations, habitat, conservation story, and the misconceptions children—or sometimes adults—may have about it. I am also continuing to develop educational materials and interactive programs that help bring my books to life for families, schools, and libraries.

  Anything else we should know?

  I also founded Inspiring Light Press, an imprint of Burning the Midnight Oil Publishing created to publish inspirational and faith-centered stories by other authors as well as myself. Its first release was Adopted for Good, a children’s book by Dede Kolb. The story has a special personal connection for me because I taught the girl who inspired its main character when she was in second grade.

  The imprint’s second release, Meant for Good, is Dede’s memoir about the experiences and unexpected turns that ultimately led her to adopt her daughter. Together, the two books tell different parts of one remarkable family story.