Independent children’s author

Every great story starts somewhere.

I’m Eric J. Valdes, a dad, a storyteller and an independent creator. I make picture books, characters and coloring adventures for families who love to imagine, and I’m building it one story at a time.

New: Rodney the Rockin’ Rhino, coming October 2026.

Spread from Rodney the Rockin’ Rhino: under a full moon, Miss Mel the mockingbird swoops past a giraffe, an elephant, a monkey and a crocodile to tell the jungle what she heard
New picture book

Meet Rodney, the Rockin’ Rhino.

Rodney is a rhino with not-so-rhino ways. He loves to sing and dance, but he’s afraid the jungle will laugh. When Miss Mel hears his secret song, Rodney discovers that sharing what makes you special can bring everyone together.

  • Ages 3–8
  • 32 full-color pages
  • Coming October 2026
Mochi, Bubs and Puddle, the Mibblies, snuggled together on a cozy night
Sister brand · by Ollie BloomMibblies

Cozy squishies. Big imaginations.

Mochi, Bubs and Puddle are three dumpling squishies who find adventures in ordinary days. Their first coloring book has 45 cozy scenes for kids, teens and grown-ups.

Free printable coloring pages are waiting on mibblies.co.

The bookshelf

Books for curious, creative kids

A note from Eric

Like a lot of parents, I’ve spent countless hours watching my kids turn ordinary moments into extraordinary adventures. Those moments got me making stories and characters of my own.

Every book begins with an idea. Turning it into something a family can hold, read, color and love takes time, creativity and resources.

I’m doing this independently: no big publishing house, just imagination and determination. If you’d like to help, even $1 makes a difference. And if you’d rather pick up a book, that means every bit as much.

— Eric

Read my story
Support the next story

Help fund the next adventure

Pick an amount. You’ll finish on a secure Stripe checkout page, with Apple Pay, Google Pay or card.

Contributions open very soon. Checkout is being connected. Until then, picking up a book is the best way to help, and it means just as much.

Secure checkout by Stripe One-time, no subscription Or buy a book instead

Contributions are voluntary, support independent creative and publishing work, and are not tax-deductible charitable donations. They are not book preorders and don’t guarantee any specific future publication. Contribution terms.

What’s next

The story so far, and what’s coming.

Out now

Mibblies: Cozy Adventures

45 coloring adventures with Mochi, Bubs and Puddle, plus free printable pages on mibblies.co.

October 2026

Rodney the Rockin’ Rhino

A 32-page picture book about a rhino who’s scared to sing, and the friends who help him find his voice.

In the works

More stories & Mibblies

New coloring adventures, animated Mibblies shorts, and the next picture book. Your support decides how fast they arrive.

Support Books