By: Clara Fenwick

Some stories arrive quietly and wait patiently for the right moment. For Donna Dalton, that moment took more than two decades.

What began as an unexpected encounter near the Eiffel Tower eventually became Two Mice in New York: A Holiday Adventure, a children’s book that blends travel, culture, and celebration through the curious eyes of two French mice. The journey from idea to publication reflects not just creative persistence but a lifelong commitment to teaching and connection.

A Spark That Never Let Go

The idea was born in Paris, during a family trip that had nothing to do with writing. Sitting near the Eiffel Tower, Donna noticed tiny mice darting through the greenery, nibbling at crumbs left behind by tourists. The scene was surprising, playful, and difficult to forget.

In that moment, she told her husband she would someday write a book about the mice at the Eiffel Tower. It was a spontaneous declaration that stayed with her for over twenty-five years.

Life moved on. Donna built a long career in education. Writing remained a quiet idea on the sidelines, waiting.

From Classroom to Page

After forty years as an educator in Virginia, retirement brought an unexpected question. What comes next when teaching has been your identity for decades?

For Donna, the answer was storytelling.

Writing children’s books became a new way to reach young minds. It allowed her to continue doing what she loved most—engaging curiosity, encouraging learning, and opening doors to the wider world.

Her first book, Two Mice at the Eiffel Tower, introduced readers to Azura and Afrodille, two inquisitive French mice with a talent for adventure. The story combined narrative fun with real-world learning about Paris and its landmarks.

That balance between imagination and education would become the foundation of the entire Two Mice series.

Why New York at the Holidays

When Donna chose New York City as the next destination for her mice, the setting came with natural energy. For her, New York is not just a city. It is an experience layered with emotion, movement, and celebration.

The holiday season offered the perfect frame. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve coexist in the city in a way few places manage. Donna wanted young readers to feel that rhythm and understand how different traditions can share the same space.

Through Azura and Afrodille’s journey, children experience the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, the nativity scene near Central Park, the world’s largest menorah, and the iconic New Year’s Eve countdown in Times Square.

The book does not lecture. It invites.

Making the City a Character

New York plays an active role in the story. Landmarks are not just backdrops. They guide the plot and shape the adventure.

Donna chose locations she had personally experienced, including the Rockefeller Tree lighting—a moment she had once watched year after year on television before seeing it live. That sense of wonder translates onto the page.

For children who have visited New York, the book brings recognition and excitement. For those who have not, it offers a first taste of the city’s scale and spirit.

One reader shared that her granddaughter could not wait to visit New York after reading the book, eager to see the places she had already traveled to in her imagination.

Teaching Through Story, Not Instruction

Donna’s background as an educator is woven throughout the book, but never in a heavy-handed way.

Problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and creativity drive the story forward. When Azura and Afrodille face challenges, they do not succeed alone. They rely on teamwork and new friendships.

That is where Frankie the subway rat enters the picture.

Frankie and his rat pack help the mice reach the Empire State Building using ingenuity and cooperation. The solution is not obvious, and that is the point. Children see how different perspectives and shared effort lead to success.

In the end, the mice and their new friends come together to light the Rockefeller Christmas Tree with its missing star, reinforcing the value of connection and trust.

Culture as an Invitation

One of Donna’s core goals is cultural awareness. Each Two Mice book introduces children to geography, traditions, food, and landmarks without overwhelming them.

New York becomes a lesson in coexistence. Different holidays. Different beliefs. One shared city.

Donna wants children to feel curious rather than cautious about the world. To understand that learning about other cultures can be joyful and exciting.

Her website extends that mission, offering activities aligned with classroom skills and learning goals. Teachers and parents can use the stories as starting points for deeper exploration.

A Series With No Borders

Azura and Afrodille did not stop in New York.

Since their debut, the two French mice have traveled to London, Africa, Ireland, Italy, and the Bahamas. Each destination brings new challenges, new friendships, and new lessons.

The series reflects Donna’s belief that stories can be passports. They allow children to explore places they may not yet have access to, and to see themselves as capable explorers of a big, complex world.

Writing With Heart and Patience

Donna’s journey is a reminder that creative ideas do not expire. Sometimes they wait until life makes room for them.

What started as a whimsical thought by the Eiffel Tower grew into a meaningful body of work shaped by decades of teaching, travel, and reflection.

Two Mice in New York: A Holiday Adventure is more than a seasonal children’s book. It is the result of persistence, purpose, and a belief that stories can still teach, comfort, and connect.

For Donna, that is the real adventure.

Discover more about Donna Dalton, her journey as an author, and the Two Mice series at 2-mice.com.