Sibling Creators Publish Second Children’s Book

French International community members Samuel and Alexis Lipke are continuing their creative journey with the release of their second children’s book, building on the success of their debut project created during the pandemic.

Samuel, a former French International student and current junior in high school, writes the stories, while Alexis, a current French International eighth grader, handles all the illustrations and artwork. Their newest book, Mrs. Know-It-All’s Awesome Adventures of Alphabetical Rhymes, features longer rhyming poems, each centered around a different letter of the alphabet. Book one, Mrs. Know-It-All's Awesome Adventures of Alphabetical Alliteration, also included a poem for each letter of the alphabet, but with a short, more alliterative style. 

A few months after they published the first book, Samuel and his mom started brainstorming ideas for his second book. He wanted this book to be a fun experience for his readers. Once the manuscript was complete, Alexis took over, designing each page using mixed media. She painted scene backgrounds and then handcrafted the details of each scene, using materials like polymer clay to add depth and texture.

Both Samuel and Alexis see this second publication as a reflection of their growth.

“I wanted to write more and show that I’ve developed as a writer,” Samuel shared. “I think that’s reflected in the second book.”

“I wanted to do something different than just drawing,” Alexis added. “This gave me the chance to show more of my skills through mixed media.”

They also had the benefit of not being first-time publishers. They both had a better understanding of the process and the time it takes to write, illustrate, and publish a book. 

“It’s really cool, but people don’t always realize how much work goes into publishing a book,” Alexis explained. “It’s a long process.”

Now, they are excited to share their work with the community. On May 30, Samuel and Alexis will host a meet-and-greet event at Barnes & Noble in Bridgeport, where they will read selections from the book and talk about their creative process.

The pair is already looking ahead to their next project. Samuel already has a draft of book number three in the works, inspired by his participation on Lincoln High School’s constitution team. Samuel was part of the team’s 2025 We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution national championship. 

“It’s very important for students to learn [about the constitution] and to take this seriously,” Samuel explained. “You want to understand how your government works.”

Book number three will be a constitutional poem book, with each letter representing a different theme from the US Constitution or aspect of civics. Alexis is exploring new ways to bring these ideas to life visually, potentially including some photography and other media.

With two books published and more on the horizon, Samuel and Alexis are an awesome example of how creativity, collaboration, and dedication can lead to meaningful accomplishments.