Dec. 16, 2024

Ferris State alum encourages growing minds toward adventure, empathy in debut children’s book inspired by post-graduation move to New York

After moving to New York City post-graduation for a career in apparel design, Ferris State University alumna Maddie May Taracks has channeled her adventures in the Big Apple into a side project writing and illustrating the new children's book "Milo’s Manhattan Adventure" that's all about embracing the unfamiliar.

Taracks, a 2017 graduate of the Fashion Studies program at Ferris State’s Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, wanted the book to be a window into her own experience navigating the sprawling NYC landscape as a newcomer.

“A lot of what led me to create this book was my own experience moving somewhere new and scary,” Taracks said.

The story follows Milo, a Brooklyn pup who dreams of adventure but is too afraid of the big city to follow his heart. That is, until one night he meets a group of city-wise rats who bring him along on a wild night that turns into the experience of his life. From the lights of Broadway to the hustle and bustle of the subway system and everything in between, Milo’s new friends show him that New York has much more to be awed by than in fear of.

The book’s lessons on overcoming fear speak to the rats themselves, too. Taracks also hopes it can inspire young readers to adopt a more tolerant view of creatures that are widely regarded as unwelcome pests. After all, she says, New York City is their home as well.

“I believe if we lay the groundwork now for children to grow up understanding that all life and animals have value and spirit, that they can grow into adults that can implement change to help these animals,” Taracks said. “Will the need to eradicate rats from our cities go away? Probably not, but hopefully we can live in a world someday where we seek out new and innovative ways to humanely tackle these issues.”

As for what influenced the sublimely illustrated cityscapes that fill the book’s pages—and its main character—with wonder, Taracks points to her own enchantment with New York and its many layers.

“I was inspired to create this story visually by the contrasts that exist within NYC,” she said. “It’s this rigidity of an urban jungle blended with the playful dance that exists in all the lights and colors that blend over top of it.”

Just like her book’s hero, Taracks found a new lease on life in stepping outside of her comfort zone. After landing her first job in the city with Tommy John, she discovered a latent love for the creative challenge of working in the intimate and lounge apparel space, where she remains today designing for brands Natori and Skarlett Blue.

“It’s an interesting balance between keeping things ultra comfortable and functional, and the aesthetic design elements,” Taracks said. “There are also just a lot of technical components and materials that all go into designing intimate apparel to consider for every style and size.”

Taracks isn’t sure if more children’s books are in her future, but for now she’s reveling in the opportunity to apply her creative skills in a different way.

“Milo’s Manhattan Adventure” is available now on all major online bookselling platforms.