Help Place Books Into the Hands of Young Readers

Every child deserves access to stories that inspire imagination, confidence, courage, and belonging.

Through the Sponsor a Little Reader program, Community Literacy Partners help place copies of Nora Escapes the Bakery into the hands of children and families receiving care, support, and educational services throughout Baltimore.

Whether you’re an individual, family, business, church, or community organization, your sponsorship helps create new opportunities for children to discover the joy of reading.

Download the Partnership Guide

Become a Community Literacy Partner

Why It Matters

Literacy Changes Lives

Despite recent gains, Maryland state test data shows that only 31.2% of Baltimore City elementary students meet reading proficiency standards. This highlights an ongoing need for community support and literacy investment.

Research also shows that many lower-income neighborhoods have limited access to books in the home. By helping place stories directly into children’s hands, Community Literacy Partners help expand access to literature while supporting confidence, self-expression, and a lifelong love of reading.

Why Nora?

Why This Book?

Nora Escapes the Bakery follows a curious butterscotch cookie who leaves the safety of her bakery in search of adventure, courage, friendship, and belonging.

Throughout her journey, Nora discovers an important truth:

Even with a few less crumbs, you’re still a cookie.

The story encourages children to embrace who they are while developing confidence, resilience, and emotional awareness through storytelling.

Written by Baltimore author Devans Eli and illustrated by Jamaican artist Brandon D. Gunning, the book celebrates imagination, growth, and the importance of feeling seen.

How Sponsorship Works

How Can You Make an Impact?

100% of sponsorship funds are used to place books into the hands of children and families through literacy and community outreach efforts.

Friend

$65
Sponsors 5 young readers

***

Advocate

$130
Sponsors 10 young readers

***

Champion

$260
Sponsors 20 young readers

***

Patron

$650
Sponsors 50 young readers

***

Every sponsored book includes a personalized donation bookplate recognizing the Community Literacy Partner who made the gift possible. Sponsors may also choose to remain anonymous.

How We Celebrate Our Partners

Recognition

Community Literacy Partners receive recognition through:

• Crumb Trail Publishing website

• Donation announcements

• Sponsor display boards and table signage

• Social media gratitude posts

Event Visibility

Sponsors may be recognized during literacy and community engagement events, including:

• Ivy Bookshop

• African Griot Festival at St. Francis Neighborhood Center

• Good Shepherd UMC

• Future school partnerships

• Future library partnerships

Volunteer Partnership

Champion and Patron Partners may request one local Maryland volunteer activity or literacy engagement event led by author Devans Eli.

Examples include:

• Storytime appearances

• Literacy activities

• Family engagement events

• Community service projects

What Young Readers Receive

Every Book Makes a Difference

Each sponsored reader receives:

A Story of Courage

A beautifully illustrated copy of Nora Escapes the Bakery that encourages children to step outside their comfort zones and discover their own worth.

Representation That Matters

A story created by a local Baltimore Black author that helps children see themselves reflected in literature.

Tools for Growth

Discussion prompts and literacy activities designed to encourage confidence, critical thinking, creativity, and self-expression beyond the final page.

Community Impact

Building a Crumb Trail Together

This program helps children feel encouraged with the elements of courage, resilience, and the power of friendship within the book. This program also creates opportunities for imagination with the activities inside the book. Ultimately, “Sponsor a Little Reader” ensures that every child knows their story matters. One book to one reader makes all the difference.

Call to Action

Become a Community Literacy Partner Today

Together, we can help place books into the hands of Baltimore children and families who need them most.

Become a Sponsor

Questions?

Contact:

Devans Eli

Author, Nora Escapes the Bakery

Founder, Crumb Trail Publishing

📧 authordevanseli [at] gmail.com

This summer, children, families, classrooms, libraries, and reading groups are invited to join Nora’s Summer Adventure by creating their very own cookie character inspired by Nora Escapes the Bakery.

Will your cookie be brave?

Funny?

Mysterious?

Covered in sprinkles?

Powered by marshmallows?

The adventure is yours to imagine!

Throughout the summer, selected Cookie Creators will be featured right here on Crumb Trail Publishing and celebrated for their creativity. ✨

Design Your Own Cookie 🍪

To enter, have your child or student:

• Draw or decorate a cookie inspired by the story 🎨

• Give their cookie a name 🏷️

• Describe its flavor, personality, or special powers ✨

That’s it!

Selected cookie creations will be displayed below throughout the summer for everyone to enjoy.

How Parents & Educators Enter 📸

1. Post your child’s or student’s cookie creation on Instagram.

2. Use: #NoraEscapesTheBakery

3. Tag: @AuthorDevansEli

4. Your Instagram profile must be public.

5. Your DMs must be open so we can contact selected Cookie Creators.

Golden Crumb Prize Packs 🌟

Throughout June, July, and August, selected Cookie Creators will receive special prizes and recognition for participating in Nora’s Summer Adventure.

Each selected Cookie Creator will also receive:

• ✨ Their own featured spotlight page on Crumb Trail Publishing

• 🍪 Recognition as an Official Golden Crumb Cookie Creator

June Golden Crumb Prize Pack 🏖️

Choose ONE:

• Custom Nora Beach Towel 🏖️

OR

• Beach Adventure Game Set 🌊

• Plus bookmarks, stickers, bracelets, and other sweet surprises.

July Golden Crumb Prize Pack 🍕

• Pizza Adventure Night Prize 🍕

• Plus bookmarks, stickers, bracelets, and other sweet surprises.

August Golden Crumb Prize Pack 🧩

• Nora Swag Pack

  • 🎨 Coloring Pages

  • 🧩 Puzzles & Mazes

  • ✨ Bracelets

  • 🔖 Bookmarks

  • 🍪 Stickers

And other sweet surprises.

Cookie Creator Gallery 🍪

Check back throughout the summer to see featured cookie creations from young readers across the adventure!

June Winner: Delaney Polk!

July Submissions

Giveaway submissions close August 23, 2026.

Ready?

Grab your crayons, markers, colored pencils, glitter, paint, or imagination...

and start baking your cookie character today! 🍪✨

Get the Book

eBook (Amazon)

eBook Edition

Hardcover(Amazon)

Hardcover Edition

Author Devans Eli

🍪 My first children's book is available June 1: Nora Escapes the Bakery

New Children’s Book Nora Escapes the Bakery Helps Young Readers Explore Courage, Friendship, and Feeling Seen

A whimsical picture book for ages 5–10 about courage, friendship, and discovering who you are.

BALTIMORE, MD — May 5, 2026 — Author Devans Eli announces the upcoming release of Nora Escapes the Bakery, a children’s picture book for ages 5–10 about a brave butterscotch cookie who leaves the safety of the bakery jar and discovers adventure, friendship, and the courage to believe she still belongs. The book will be available June 1, 2026, in hardcover and eBook formats.

What the Book Is About

In Nora Escapes the Bakery, Nora is tired of waiting to be chosen. Determined to find more beyond the cookie jar, she slips out of Gayle’s Bakery and begins an unexpected journey through the beach, boardwalk and beyond. Along the way, Nora faces danger, meets a new friend named Preston, and learns that adventure can be exciting, scary, and full of lessons she never expected.

Why the Book Matters

With its playful storytelling and social-emotional themes, Nora Escapes the Bakery gives children a fun way to explore courage, impulsiveness, fear, kindness, friendship, and belonging. The book is especially fitting for parents, caregivers, educators, and librarians looking for a meaningful read-aloud that opens conversation about big feelings, brave choices, and the importance of knowing your worth even after difficult experiences.

Perfect For

Children ages 5–10, bedtime reading, classrooms, libraries, SEL discussions, and parents or caregivers looking for a meaningful, fun story.

Includes full-page illustrations, built-in discussion prompts, and a bake-and-draw activity to extend the adventure and bring the story into real life.

Title: Nora Escapes the Bakery

Author: Devans Eli

Publisher: Crumb Trail Publishing

Release date: June 1, 2026

Audience: Children ages 5–10

Formats: Hardcover and eBook

Where available: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Shopify

ISBN (Hardcover): 979-8-9954916-0-6

ISBN (ebook): 979-8-9954916-1-3

Page count: 40

Contact Information

Media Contact: Devans Eli

Email: authordevanseli@gmail.com

Website: crumbtrailpublishing.com

Media Kit: linktr.ee/iamdevanseli

Instagram: @AuthorDevansEli

Bluesky: @DevansEli

Substack: www.devanseli.com

Take the adventure with you.

###

More Than Cookies

The world of Nora Escapes the Bakery is filled with adventure, imagination, mistakes, courage, friendship, and growth.

Because sometimes life gets messy…

…but even with a few less crumbs, you are still a cookie. 🍪

Meet Nora, a Butterscotch cookie with big dreams and one tiny problem... she’s stuck in a jar.

While other treats are chosen and carried off to adventure, Nora waits, wondering if there’s more to life beyond the glass. So one day, she does something no cookie has ever done before...

She escapes.

Outside Gayle’s Bakery, the world is bigger, brighter, and far more unpredictable than Nora imagined. With close calls, surprising twists, and choices she never expected to face, Nora quickly learns that adventure isn’t always easy... but it’s always worth it.

Along the way, she meets Preston, a brave cookie with his own crumbs of trouble, and together they cook up a clever plan that just might change everything.

Nora Escapes the Bakery is a playful and heartfelt children’s story about courage, curiosity, and discovering that even when you feel overlooked, you still matter.

Perfect for ages 5-10, this beautifully illustrated hardcover includes:

• A fun and engaging story filled with humor and heart

• A meaningful lesson about growth and self-discovery

• A built-in discussion section for families and classrooms

• A hands-on drawing and baking activity to continue the adventure at home

Because every adventure leaves a lesson... and sometimes, all it takes is the courage to take the first step.

You’ve just stepped into a small world…
where cookies dream, crumbs tell stories,
and adventure is always just outside the jar.

Get the Book 📦

Nora’s full adventure is almost ready to be shared with the world.

eBook (Amazon)

eBook Edition

Hardcover(Amazon)

Hardcover Edition

Official On Sale Date: June 1st

Help Nora’s story reach more readers 💛

Meet Nora🌟

Nora is a Butterscotch cookie with a big question in her heart:

What if there’s more to life than waiting to be chosen?

So one day… she stops waiting.

She leaps out of the jar.

And everything changes.

About the Story 📖

Nora Escapes the Bakery is a playful, heartfelt adventure about courage, curiosity, and discovering who you are even when the world feels a little scary.

Along the way, Nora runs from a hungry squirrel, climbs what she thinks is a mountain (but isn’t…), flies through the sky holding onto a kite, and learns that even when life gets messy… she is still enough. Because every adventure leaves behind a lesson.

🍪 Join Nora's Summer Adventure

What kind of cookie would YOU be?

This summer, young readers are invited to create their own cookie characters inspired by Nora Escapes the Bakery.

Draw a cookie.

Give it a name.

Imagine its flavor, personality, or special powers.

Selected Cookie Creators will be featured on Crumb Trail Publishing and receive sweet surprises throughout the summer.

Learn more ✨

🎨 Color with Nora

Nora’s journey doesn’t stop on the page.

You can explore her world right here:

🎨 Coloring pages

Friendship Bundle Packs

Play with Nora

Order Your Copy Today📦

Nora’s full adventure is almost ready to be shared with the world.

📅 Released June 1st

If you want to be there when she takes her very first official step…

(Be the first to know when the book is released, plus get fun surprises along the way.)

By the Way 💛

If you’ve ever felt unsure, overlooked, or like you were meant for something more Nora understands. And she’s saving you a spot on the adventure.

✨ Follow the crumbs.

They always lead somewhere beautiful.

Also Available At

• Barnes & Noble

• Walmart

What if there’s more to life than waiting to be chosen?

Nora is a butterscotch cookie who dares to find out.

Order the Book🛒

eBook (Amazon)📱

Be ready to read the moment Nora’s adventure begins.

eBook Edition

Hardcover (Amazon)📦

Order directly and be part of Nora’s very first batch leaving the bakery.

Hardcover Edition

Released June 1 📅

Preorders help Nora’s story reach more readers 💛

Why Readers Love Nora💛

Nora’s journey is filled with:

• Courage in uncertain moments

• Friendship when things feel scary

• Discovery beyond what feels safe

A story that reminds children:

Even when things fall apart, you are still enough.

A Peek Inside the Adventure🍪

Nora leaves the bakery…

She runs from a hungry squirrel.

She climbs a “mountain” that isn’t what it seems.

She flies through the sky holding onto a kite.

And along the way, she learns something she never expected.

Perfect For👧🏾

• Children ages 5–10

• Bedtime reading

• Classrooms and SEL learning

• Parents and caregivers looking for meaningful, fun stories

Don’t Miss Nora’s First Adventure🎯

This is the very beginning of Nora’s journey.

Help bring her story to more readers 💛

Order eBook📱

Order Hardcover 📦

Follow the Crumbs 🍪

Want more than the story?

Explore games, characters, and activities here:

👉 https://crumbtrailpublishing.com/

You’re going beyond the pages and entering Nora’s world!

Also Available At Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and other major distributors.