Author & Illustrator Profile
Trinka Hakes Noble
4 Books
Trinka Hakes Noble is an author and illustrator of children's books known for her humorous and heartwarming storytelling. She is widely recognized for writing the Jimmy's Boa series, which has delighted young readers with its escalating, silly adventures and chaotic class trips. Her broader body of work includes cherished historical fiction and nostalgic seasonal tales like Apple Tree Christmas. She crafts imaginative stories that combine lively text with engaging themes of family, nature, and unexpected fun.
Books in "Four Legends"
Tiny stones ride a long river journey before they ever sparkle on the sands of Cape May.
In this richly illustrated legend, you follow the story behind the quartz pebbles known as Cape May Diamonds. Carried from mountain rock through the Delaware River and polished by water, time, and sand, these bright treasures become part of a tale linking nature, history, and the Lenape people of the region.
Gentle, thoughtful, and rooted in New Jersey’s coastal landscape, The Legend of the Cape May Diamond invites young readers to see an ordinary beach find in a new way. It is a picture book for children who enjoy legends, natural wonders, and stories that connect a place to the people who have loved it.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
Mist hangs over the Pine Barrens, and somewhere in the dark woods, something strange may be watching.
The Legend of the Jersey Devil retells the eerie local lore of a creature said to have haunted New Jersey since 1735. With the head of a horse, wings of a bat, and hooves of a goat, the Jersey Devil has frightened townspeople, troubled livestock, and fueled generations of stories. Is it real, or is it the power of a legend that keeps it alive?
Atmospheric and spooky without becoming too frightening, this picture book is a strong pick for readers who like monsters, regional folklore, and mysteries rooted in place. It brings a famous American legend to life for curious young readers.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
Long ago, the land called Michigane is locked in winter, and the North Wind refuses to share the sky.
Nothing can grow while cold rules every season. Then an old warrior and a young boy set out across the frozen land, carrying little more than warm hearts and an old pair of mittens. Their journey brings them face-to-face with a force of nature that must learn to live with the gentler winds.
The Legend of Michigan is a sweeping picture book legend about courage, kindness, seasons, and the natural world. Young readers who enjoy origin stories and regional folklore will find a dramatic tale that turns weather into character and imagines how a frozen land could become a place full of life.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
48 Pages
Before sailors dared the deep ocean, the sea already belonged to mysterious creatures who watched from below.
In this original legend, mermaids live in the ocean’s depths, shy and gentle, beloved by the waters around them. When people begin sailing farther from shore, storms and shipwrecks bring danger, and the mermaids try to help. But not every life can be saved, and the story imagines sea glass as something precious born from sorrow and compassion.
The Legend of Sea Glass is a lyrical picture book for readers who enjoy mermaids, ocean lore, and beautiful explanations for natural treasures. It blends fantasy and feeling, giving beachcombers a new way to wonder about the colorful glass they find by the waves.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
