Award-winning kids' eBook turns summer travel into a kindness lesson

Mary Jane McKittrick has released the eBook version of Boomer and Halley Scavenger Hunt to keep children engaged during summer travel with an interactive story about teamwork and manners. The book is aimed at ages 6-9 and comes with a printable scavenger hunt bonus for buyers who submit proof of purchase.

Why it matters: - The eBook gives families a screen-friendly way to keep young children occupied on long car rides and flight delays. - The story is built around teamwork, kindness, sportsmanship, manners, and responsibility. - The title is positioned for children ages 6-9, a group that often needs guided, low-friction travel entertainment.

What happened: - Mary Jane McKittrick, founder of the national award-winning Shady Pines Story Town, released the eBook version of Boomer and Halley Scavenger Hunt: Discover Rewards by Working with Others. - The book is now available in eBook format for tablets and e-readers. - McKittrick described the title as a summer travel companion for families looking for a shared reading activity. - The story follows Boomerang, an Australian Shepherd dog, and Halley’s Comet, a silver cat, on a rainy-day scavenger hunt. - The scavenger hunt is staged by a couple who become “parents” to the two adopted animals.

The details: - The book includes integrated prompting questions to help parents talk through the story with children. - Families who buy the book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble through the Shady Pines Story Town website can submit proof of purchase to unlock a digital, printable scavenger hunt kit. - The bonus kit is designed to give children an active challenge after they arrive at their destination. - The title is available on the Shady Pines Story Town website at More information. - McKittrick is a former television news anchor and producer. - McKittrick’s work has received the Mom’s Choice Gold Award for Excellence and the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award.

Between the lines: - The release blends entertainment with character education, which fits a market where parents often want travel content that does more than pass time. - The printable scavenger hunt bonus adds a second activity, extending the book’s usefulness beyond the trip itself. - The branding around Shady Pines Story Town reinforces McKittrick’s broader “kids to be kind” theme across her work.

What's next: - Families can buy the eBook now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Shady Pines Story Town website. - McKittrick is continuing to build stories around cartoon characters and child-friendly lessons through Shady Pines Story Town. - The company’s travel-friendly format suggests more interactive titles could follow if this one connects with parents.

The bottom line: - Boomer and Halley Scavenger Hunt is designed to make summer travel calmer, more interactive, and more values-focused for families with young kids.