‘California ABC’s’ Virtual Book Launch with Chris Jespersen and Josie Toney

Join children’s author Chris Jespersen and illustrator Josie Toney as they launch the second book in the Finding Milo series about the U.S. states, California ABC’s! They will present a live reading and Q&A about writing and illustrating a picture book series. Every participant will be entered into a book giveaway.

Thursday, February 24 at 4:00 p.m.
RSVP and join the Zoom event: https://go.ung.edu/whi

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Mischievous pup Milo returns in this addition to the Finding Milo series, and this time he’s heading to the west coast–California, here he comes! A lively romp for young travelers and California natives alike.

California valley quail soar across California to find Milo, the playful dog who has a knack for hiding. Is he strutting down the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Or maybe splashing in the Malibu waves?

Explore California’s curiosities and wonders with this story in verse that will help even the most reluctant readers learn their ABC’s. Mixed-media illustrations will spark children’s imaginations as they also learn about California’s geography, state symbols, and history.


Chris Jespersen adopted Milo from the Atlanta Humane Society when Milo was just a puppy. Chris is a professor and dean of the College of Arts & Letters at the University of North Georgia.

A sixth generation Atlantan, Josie Vrooman Toney is a self-taught artist with a surrealistic, whimsical style. Her work is comprised of a variety of mediums including acrylic, pastels, watercolor, marker, color pencil, and graphite.

California ABC’s, the companion to Georgia ABC’s, is the second children’s book written by this author–illustrator team.

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