After spending seven years traveling across America by RV with his wife, Cathy, and their dogs, author Jeff Evans learned that some of the best adventures begin with a little uncertainty.
Now those years on the road have inspired a new children’s picture-book series, Evans said in a recent press release.
“Bella & Mandy’s RV Adventures: Off We Go!” will be released Oct. 6 by Twin Tails Press. Written for children ages 3-8, the rhyming picture book introduces young readers to two best friends who couldn’t be more different — and a brand-new life on the road.
Bella is curious, confident and ready to explore. Mandy prefers to stop, think and make sure everything feels safe.
When their family packs up and moves into an RV, Bella can’t wait to see what comes next. Mandy has questions.
With her best friend beside her, Mandy takes one brave step and then another, as the two pups begin their first RV journey. Along the way, young readers discover that being brave doesn’t mean being fearless — it can simply mean trying something new even when you’re scared.
“Adventure isn’t about being fearless,” Evans said. “It’s about being curious enough — and brave enough — to take the next step.”
From Real-Life RV Travelers To Children’s Book Adventures
During seven years on the road, Evans and his wife explored the country with their dogs — experiences that would eventually help inspire “Bella & Mandy’s RV Adventures.” The series’ two main characters are based on the real Bella and Mandy, Evans’ Cavapoo and Maltipoo.
That real-world experience provides the framework for a series designed to take young readers across America through the eyes of two little dogs with distinctly different approaches to adventure.
Bella wants to know what’s around the next corner, Evans said. Mandy is more comfortable with what feels familiar and safe. Together, they encounter new places, experiences and challenges, with each story pairing a destination-based adventure with an age-appropriate theme such as coping with change, trying something new, solving problems or finding the confidence to take the next step.
“I wanted the books to be fun adventures first,” Evans said. “But travel also gives children — and Bella and Mandy — opportunities to encounter things they haven’t seen before. Those moments naturally become stories about curiosity, confidence and learning that something unfamiliar doesn’t have to be something frightening.”
The series carries the tagline “Adventure Begins with Curiosity.”
A Story About Change & Being Brave
At its heart, “Off We Go!” is a story about a feeling familiar to many young children: uncertainty when something in their world changes.
Mandy’s hesitation about leaving home provides an opportunity for parents, grandparents and caregivers to talk with children about worries, courage and approaching new experiences one step at a time, Evans said.
The story also introduces the larger world of “Bella & Mandy’s RV Adventures,” a destination-based series that will follow the pups and their family as they travel by RV, discover fascinating places, and find new adventures along the way.
Designed as a read-aloud for families, the series combines travel and discovery with themes of friendship, family, resilience and curiosity about the world.
