Leaf Town Forever

Leaf Town Forever is the Rooney sisters first children's book. Leaf Town Forever is illustrated by Betsy Bowen and forthcoming from University of Minnesota Press in October of 2025.

Leaf Town seemed to spring up out of nowhere. One day the clearing was empty, the next it was a bustling boom town complete with a hotel, the Treasure Shop, and bandits. 

The children found treasures everywhere: feathers, acorns, lost rings and even an old gymnastics medal. The town soon grew large enough to attract the attention of the Other Kids.  Would the town survive? Or would it, like other towns, fade into the woods forgotten?

Based on a true story, Leaf Town Forever, is the gentle tale of a town created by children with vivid imaginations, and, of course, leaves. Unfurling over the cycle of seasons, this timeless saga captures the fleeting beauty of creative play, reminding kids and adults alike that some dreams are worth protecting.