TWU professor Sheli Petersen wins U.K. book award

Rascally Ravens of Greystone Farm, illustrated by Texas Woman’s University Visual Arts Professor Sheli Petersen, placed as a finalist in the prestigious 2026 The Wishing Shelf Book Awards picture books for 6-8 year old category.

In this international competition, the children's books were read and judged by students in eight U.K. primary and secondary schools, and marked according to editing, theme, style, cover, and illustrations. Out of nearly 400 total submissions in all categories, 30% of the books were selected as finalists.

Reviews from The Wishing Shelf readers:

“A heartwarming and beautifully illustrated adventure about two mischievous ravens, a tiny lost chick, and the unexpected friendship that changes everything. A finalist and highly recommended!” — Wishing Shelf Book Awards

“This book made me laugh because the ravens kept taking things from the farm. Buster the dog was silly and brave. The pictures are really beautiful and I looked at them for a long time.” — Leo, age 7

“I read this with my grandma and we both loved it. My favourite character was Buster because he protected Dink. I want another story about the ravens going on adventures.” — Mason, age 8 – with a little help from grandma

Professor Petersen collaborated with writer Patricia Petersen to create their Rascally Ravens picture book, released in March 2025. This daughter-mother team, who are life-long birders, based the story on their direct observations of ravens in the wild. As a children’s illustrator and service-leader for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Professor Petersen has extensive knowledge and experience in the process of illustrating children’s literature, both in traditional and independent publishing venues. She teaches graphic design and illustration at TWU, where she loves sharing her knowledge and expertise in visual storytelling with her students.

In her commitment to education, Professor Petersen also continues to offer presentations and workshops, based on the Rascally Ravens picture book, which model for participants her process — designing characters and their world from photographic references and life-sketches, storyboarding for planning and sequencing layouts, and applying traditional and digital techniques to finish the illustrations. 

For more information, visit Petersen's website.