In April, Hedrick self published her own children\u2019s book, \u201cSide By Side \u2013 Stronger We Stand,\u201d<\/a> about a group of woodland animals dealing with the emotional fallout of a fire in their coastal town.<\/p>\n The idea came to Hedrick earlier this year while volunteering at a clothing drive for families impacted by the Palisades Fire at All Saints By-the-Sea Parish School<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI just felt like I needed to do more, and the idea just came to me,\u201d Hedrick said. \u201cI\u2019ve always loved writing, and I love kids.\u201d<\/p>\n The devastation of the Palisades Fire hit close to home for Hedrick, not just because of her own experience but because her great-aunt and cousins lost their home in the blaze.\u00a0<\/p>\n The story\u2019s hero is a German shepherd named Tucker, based on Hedrick\u2019s real life furry friend of the same name who passed away earlier this summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cSide By Side \u2013 Stronger We Stand\u201d sees Tucker teaching his animal friends \u2013 an owl, a raccoon, and a bunny \u2013 about how to cope with the fear and anxiety they had after the fire.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\tHedrick and her new dog Poppy. Hedrick\u2019s book follows a German shepherd named Tucker, based on Hedrick\u2019s real life furry friend of the same name who passed away earlier this summer. Credit: Rebecca Caraway \/ Noozhawk photo<\/p>\n Hedrick added the coping mechanisms she learned into the book, such as taking deep breaths, writing about your feelings, getting outside, dancing, and leaning on friends.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since publishing the children\u2019s book, Hedrick has read the story at Godmothers Bookstore <\/a>in Summerland, All Saints By-the-Sea Parish School<\/a>, Montecito Union School<\/a>, and throughout the Hope Elementary School District<\/a> in Santa Barbara.<\/p>\n The readings have even given her a chance to connect with families that relocated to the Santa Barbara area after losing their homes in the Los Angeles County fires.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEvery reading I\u2019ve done I\u2019ve watched kids just open up and practice the strategies and ask to take the book home to share with their family,\u201d Hedrick said. \u201cI can tell that I\u2019m actually making a difference; it\u2019s felt pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n In May she read the book to a pre-kindergarten class at All Saints By-the-Sea Parish School that at the time had five children who lost their homes in the Palisades Fire.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt was kind of sweet to have her read to that class because those children were experiencing something similar to what she experienced,\u201d said School Director Jennifer Tucker. <\/p>\n Tucker was Hedrick\u2019s preschool teacher, so her returning to the school to read the book was a bit of a full-circle moment for everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s sweet to have former students come visit us anyways, but then to come back at such a young age and read to her former school and her former class, it\u2019s a sweet experience,\u201d Tucker said.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/091025-Hannah-Hedrick-2-RC.jpg\")
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