Blanchet House is excited to share the release of Toby’s Farm Adventure, the newest children’s book in the Toby series and a follow-up to Toby Finds a Home. Like the first book, this story was created to give families and schools gentle, engaging tools to explore difficult topics with care.
In Toby’s Farm Adventure, readers follow a once-homeless city cat from Portland as he travels to Blanchet Farm in Yamhill County for the first time. Set on a real working farm just outside the city, the story introduces children to animals and connection in a place designed for healing and recovery.
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Many of the animals Toby meets are inspired by real residents of Blanchet Farm, including Miko the dog, who shares his home with Toby. Young readers also learn how food scraps from the Blanchet House café are repurposed to help feed the farm animals, offering a tangible example of care, sustainability, and community in action.
The story reflects daily life at Blanchet Farm, where men in addiction recovery find stability and hope through meaningful work, responsibility, and connection to the land. Through Toby’s eyes, children are introduced to ideas of recovery, compassion, and second chances in ways that feel accessible and age-appropriate.
Toby’s Farm Adventure helps connect Blanchet House’s downtown café to the healing work happening just outside Portland, offering a fuller picture of how care continues beyond a meal.
The book is illustrated by Portland artist Eva Wrzesinski and co-authored by Marie Showers, a retired public elementary school teacher, and her daughter Julie Showers, Communications Director at Blanchet House. All proceeds from book sales support Blanchet House & Farm’s programs.
