Author Katie Pasek
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katiepasek.bsky.social
Author Katie Pasek
@katiepasek.bsky.social
25 followers 16 following 38 posts
Writer of picture books, easy readers, middle grade and young adult novels, short stories, and legal current awareness articles. #SCBWI #MNSCBWI #kidlit #WestawToday
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katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior decided it was a little too cold to venture outside today, so he’s enjoying our indoor autumn tree instead.
#kidlit #orangutan #fall2025
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting in the middle of our fake tree. It has multi-tonal orange leaves with tiny white LED lights at then end of every branch. The space that the branches encompass is roughly twice Junior’s size. Sadly, that is not enough space for him to build a proper day nest, he said.
November 20, 2025 at 10:38 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior’s adventures in Oregon:
Admiring nature in Silver Falls State Park. Can you find Junior?
#kidlit #orangatan #oregon #silverfalls
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting on a log on the edge of a shallow pool of water facing a tall waterfall that is cascading down between two sides of a rocky mountain. Many of the rocks are covered with moss or other vegetation. Junior was surprised how loud the waterfall was. He where he could find the mute button.
November 15, 2025 at 12:18 AM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior’s adventures in Oregon:
Climbing trees in Silver Falls State Park. Can you find Junior?
#kidlit #orangatan #oregon #silverfalls
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is climbing up a very tall, thin tree. A similar, thicker tree is beside it. Behind Junior is a waterfall cascading into a pool of water. Evergreen and deciduous trees are in the foreground and background of the photo. Junior was quite proud of having climbed such a tall tree. He was unsure, however, of how to get back down.
November 8, 2025 at 3:15 AM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior designed his own Halloween costume this year. Think he’ll fool anyone?
#kidlit #orangutan #halloween2025
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting on a beige carpet in front of a basket of autumn-color flowers and leaves. He is wearing a sign around his neck that covers most of his body. The sign reads “NOT AN ORANGUTAN.” In case you were wondering, yes, he had help spelling “orangutan.”
October 31, 2025 at 10:20 PM
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Junior’s adventures at the Oregon Zoo:
Enjoying a meal with Bob and Jolene
#kidlit #orangutan #oregonzoo
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting with his back to the camera and is facing a large, dark green tub. To his right, Bob is leaning into the tub to reach for lettuce. Across the tub, Jolene is climbing onto the container. Junior offered to share his chocolate chip cookies with the orangutans, but they wanted a healthier snack.
October 21, 2025 at 9:28 PM
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Junior’s adventures at the Oregon Zoo:
Chillin’ with the Humboldt penguins
#kidlit #orangutan #penguins #oregonzoo
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting on a rock formation overlooking a water feature. One penguin is walking away behind him, while four other penguins are walking toward him. The penguins offered to teach Junior how to swim, but he told them that orangutans don’t like water. One of the more precocious younger penguins promptly jumped in the water, splashing Junior.
October 16, 2025 at 9:49 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior’s adventures at the Oregon Zoo:
Catching some zzz’s with the tiger
#kidlit #orangutan #tiger #oregonzoo
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is lying on a platform made of wooden beams that’s partially covered with straw. He lying against a snoozing tiger lying in its side. Some trees and rocks are in the distance. Junior wisely finished his nap and left the enclosure before the tiger awoke and wanted a snack.
October 7, 2025 at 9:55 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior’s adventures at the Oregon Zoo:
Checking out the polar bear’s view
#kidlit #orangutan #polarbear #oregonzoo
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting atop a rock ledge. Behind him and to his left, a standing polar bear looks toward the camera. A variety of deciduous and evergreen trees are behind the animals.
September 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior’s adventures at the Oregon Zoo:
Having a quick nap on the back of the giraffe
#kidlit #orangutan #oregonzoo
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is lying on the back of a giraffe who’s walking toward a rock wall with grass on top. Behind the wall is another, grass-covered wall that topped with some trees. Junior and the giraffe are partly in sunlight and partly in shade. Junior later said that although the incline of the giraffe’s back was just the right angle, his gait was a little too bumpy for Junior to enjoy a deep sleep. He’s hoping for better luck with other animals.
August 27, 2025 at 10:28 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior’s adventures at the Oregon Zoo:
Hanging out with the Rocky Mountain goat
#kidlit #orangutan #oregonzoo
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting on the edge of a rock formation next to a white Rocky Mountain goat, who is lying on its side. Multiple moss-covered rock formations are behind them, one of which looks alike a set of crude steps. The area on which they’re resting is grassy. Junior was proud of himself for having figured out how to climb up next to the goat. He was less certain about how to get back down.
August 19, 2025 at 10:13 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior’s adventures at the Oregon Zoo:
Playing catch with the American Black Bear
#kidlit #orangutan #oregonzoo
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting on a platform made of wooden beams. Across from him is a black bear holding a large red ball with holes in it like a wiffle ball. The ball is strung to a wooden trunk between them with a yellow strap attached to a green bungee cord. Junior learned a valuable lesson that day: anticipating that the ball is coming will allow you to catch it before it hits your face.
August 13, 2025 at 10:06 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior’s adventures at the Oregon Zoo:
Hoping the polar bear will share some ice on a hot day
#kidlit #orangutan #oregonzoo
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting on a cement slab in a fenced enclosure next to a polar bear, who’s bent over several small chunks of ice. There’s a black water basin nearby.
August 7, 2025 at 10:59 PM
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Junior’s adventures in California: Examining the Tesla Coil at the Griffith Observatory
#kidlit #orangutan #griffithobservatory #california
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting inside a domed glass box with small, metal grating against the glass. Inside is a tesla coil, and Junior is peaking out from behind it. A light-up sign in the front of the box reads “TESLA COIL.” Those words are also displayed above the rectangle portion of the box. After being inside the display, Junior discovered that his hairdo wasn’t quite the same.
August 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
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Junior’s adventures in California: Checking out the telescope at the Griffith Observatory
#kidlit #orangutan #griffithobservatory #california
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is hanging from the end of the white telescope, which is pointed toward the right side of the photo. The dome is closed. There are set of rust-colored metal stairs on the far side of the telescope.
July 22, 2025 at 10:12 PM
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Junior’s adventures at the U.S. Amateur:
Getting a bird’s-eye view of Hazeltine National Golf Club
#kidlit #orangutan #usamateur2024 #hazeltinegolf
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting at the edge of the crane that is suspended above the ground at the edge of a small slope. Behind him is a TV video camera and its operator. Spectators are scattered on the fringes of the down slope.
July 17, 2025 at 9:47 PM
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Junior’s adventures at the U.S. Amateur:
Taking a nap on the 15th green
#kidlit #orangutan #2024usamateur
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is lying on the green beneath a black-and-white stripped flag pole topped with a red flag marking the green. Some spectators are off the far side of the green and large trees are behind them.
July 11, 2025 at 9:12 PM
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Junior’s adventures at the U.S. Amateur:
Saying “hello” to the local wildlife.
#kidlit #orangutan #usamateur2024
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting in long grass by a pond with his back to the camera. A tortoise is sunning itself on a rock at the edge of the pond. The tortoise asked Junior if he’d like to join her in a swim. Junior thanked her but said that orangutans aren’t fond of water.
June 20, 2025 at 9:30 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior’s adventures at the U.S. Amateur:
Guarding the ball while the player and his caddie check the distance to the pin.
#kidlit #orangutan #2024usamateur
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting on the fairway behind a white golf ball. To his left, the player in a green shirt, white baseball cap,and black pants is drinking from a clear plastic water bottle. The player is watching his caddie, who is using a range finder. The caddie is wearing khaki shorts, a black shirt, yellow baseball cap, and a red bib. There are a line of spectators to the left of the player and caddie.
June 12, 2025 at 11:03 PM
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Junior’s adventures at the U.S. Amateur tournament:
Checking out the breeze from atop the flagpole.
#kidlit #orangutan #2024usamateur
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is hanging sideways on a flagpole. Above him, a white flag with red and blue writing is unfurled. The flag reads, “124th U.S. Amateur, Hazeltine.”
May 29, 2025 at 10:55 PM
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Junior’s adventures at the Elmwood Park Zoo: Catching some zzz’s with the ocelot
#kidlit #orangutan #elmwoodparkzoo
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is lying on a tree branch that it wound through the wooden support for a see-through nesting box. The ocelot is lying inside the box. Junior is below the box and is resting his head on his arms. The rest of the tree and some rock features are visible in the photo. Junior wanted the ocelot to come out and play until I mentioned that the cat may think he looks tasty.
May 1, 2025 at 9:39 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
It’s six days after Easter, and Junior is still trying to find the last egg. Can you help him?
#kidlit #orangutan
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is in front of our bookcase. Behind him are a variety of children’s books, including one written by Dr. Seuss and another written by Shel Silverstein. In front of the books is a yellow egg. I’m giving him 24 more hours, and then I’m claiming the egg and whatever’s inside.
April 26, 2025 at 11:16 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior attempts to complete his taxes before the midnight deadline. It would help if he could remember how to add and subtract.
#kidlit #orangutan #taxday2025
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting on the floor next to a pink box with receipts spilling out. In front of him is a 1040 tax form with his name in bold black letters. He’s holding a black pen. To his left is a white notepad with the calculation “$25 + $75 =?” written on it. A yellow pencil and calculator are on the pad. He wasn’t sure how to record a payment of 10 bananas on the form. Help is appreciated.
April 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Junior’s adventures at the Elmwood Park Zoo:
Hoping to grab some dinner from … er, with the Nigerian dwarf goat
#kidlit #orangutan #elmwoodparkzoo
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is sitting behind the goat, who is eating from a bright blue dish. The goat’s wooden hut is nearby. Junior offered to swap his dinner for the goat’s but then realized he didn’t bring his dinner with him.
April 8, 2025 at 10:05 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Although he had no plans to go outside, Junior was still prepared for today’s snowstorm … which never arrived.
#kidlit #orangutan
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is wearing a red plaid flannel scarf and a white knit hat with a dark green band and puffy ball at the top. Although the storm warnings were canceled, he refused to take them off.
March 19, 2025 at 10:27 PM
katiepasek.bsky.social
Two days after Daylight Savings Time began, Junior is still having trouble waking up at what he considers “an hour earlier.”
#kidlit #orangutan #daylightsavingstime2025
Junior, my stuffed orangutan, is lying in bed on his right side facing away from the camera. He’s partially concealed beneath a light blue stripped duvet cover,and his head is resting on a bright yellow stripped pillow.
March 11, 2025 at 10:01 PM