April Graves releases third book in Meet the Hotdogs series

Local author, illustrator, and Rockton Grade School art teacher April Graves has released the third book in her six-part Meet the Hotdogs series, Meet the Hotdog: Pip and the Raft Trip. In this installment, Pip travels to Colorado for a family rafting trip, a setting grounded in the real adventures Graves has taken with her own family.

The book introduces young readers to the idea that every member of a group plays a role in reaching a shared goal. The author shared that the story was inspired by her family’s 14 years of whitewater trips in Colorado, where working together is simply part of the experience.

“Pip learns from the start that she has to be part of Team Hotdog by helping load the van for their summer vacation and helping set up camp. Then she learns that she’s an integral part of paddling to get down the river safely.”

Along the river, Pip and her family run into moments where things don’t go as planned. The author said she hopes the book helps children understand that even when something goes wrong, they are still needed and still part of the team.

“I really want kids to know that you can fail, you can fall, and things won’t always go as planned,” she said. “But you and your team can still get through it together.”

New faces on the river

The book adds a few new characters, including Grammy and Pappy, who pick up younger sibling Kimber for part of the trip, and Rip, the raft guide who teaches the family how to navigate the river safely.

“Rip and Pip really bond,” Graves said. “He’s a very influential adult to Pip, and by the end of their trip, she’s dreaming about becoming a raft guide.”

A growing art style

Graves shared that her illustration process stayed the same for the third book, but she felt more confident after completing the first two. That confidence helped her think more intentionally about how she set up each page.

“I knew how to set things up better,” she said. “I wanted the water almost to be its own character. The colors in the river are so vibrant, and at the end, Pip says goodbye to the river because it was part of her team.”

Students help shape the story

As with the first two books, students played a role in the creative process. This time, their feedback focused on the sibling dynamic between Pip and Kimber.

“I think I demonstrate in this book that Pip and Kimber are definitely the younger two,” Graves said with a laugh. “They still have that silly side to them.”

She is currently running a Pip drawing contest with her art classes, and the back wall of her classroom is filled with student sketches of the character.

A selection of those drawings will appear at the end of this article. Rockton Grade School students were asked to imagine Pip trying something new, and three of the young artists will receive signed copies of the latest release.

Halfway through the rainbow

With three titles now complete, the rainbow-colored spines of the series are beginning to take shape.

“When you line them up, I get to see my first three colors — red, orange, and yellow,” Graves said. “It feels amazing. If I hadn’t started this journey three years ago and was still standing here today, I would be so mad at myself.”

Graves recently presented a session about her publishing journey at the small district conference for regional schools, where her class filled quickly.

What’s next

Without giving too much away, Graves confirmed that Book Four will center on conservation, a theme she teaches through annual art projects.

“Pip is going to be learning a lot,” she hinted.

Events and where to find the book

Meet the Hotdogs: Pip and the Raft Trip was released in October.

Upcoming opportunities to meet the author include:

• Rockton Christmas Parade on December 6, where Pip will make an appearance
• At Talcott Library on December 11

Copies are available at Inkwell Books & Threads, on Amazon, or directly through the author. Readers can follow Graves on social media for updates, upcoming visits, and information about future releases.

This story continues our coverage of the series, following “Meet the Hotdogs” and “Meet the Hotdogs: Introducing Freckles.”

Browse the gallery below to view entries from the Pip drawing contest in April Graves’ art classes at Rockton Grade School.