At the end of Strawberry Lane sits a cozy little cottage where magic seems to bloom as naturally as the wildflowers that dot the neighborhood. Inside lives Katie Pharr with her identical twin daughters, Olivia and Blair — two little girls with big imaginations, unique personalities, and a bond that inspired Katie to write her very first children’s book.

The book, The Twins on Strawberry Lane, captures the spirit of her girls’ everyday adventures. From twirling in pink tutus to splashing in the creek, from spotting bunnies to chasing sunsets, every page reflects the wonder of childhood and the beauty of sisterhood. “I wanted to highlight their personalities, their imaginations, and how they find joy in what some would consider mundane,” Katie explains.

Although Olivia and Blair are identical twins, Katie is quick to point out how different they are in personality. To help friends and family tell them apart, Olivia almost always wears two ponytails while Blair wears just one — a detail you’ll notice lovingly illustrated in the book. Their differences don’t divide them; instead, they complement each other, enriching the adventures they share and deepening the connection they have as sisters.

Katie smiles as she recalls a recent dress-up phase when the twins wore their rain boots everywhere, rain or shine. “They would stomp around in those boots, paired with tutus, and it just summed up their playful personalities perfectly.” These simple, whimsical details — the kinds only a mother treasures — are woven throughout her storytelling.

The inspiration for The Twins on Strawberry Lane grew from Katie’s own walks and explorations with her daughters. The family moved into Wolf Ranch not long ago, and Katie immediately found the neighborhood’s trees, wildlife, and creek to be a natural playground for Olivia and Blair. The trio often goes on flower hunts, collecting blooms and attaching them to painters’ tape bracelets on their wrists. “We search for bunnies, deer, ladybugs, and June bugs,” Katie says, describing the adventures that eventually became story material.

The city’s poppies also hold a special place in their hearts. Sprouting up around the neighborhood, they serve as reminders of Georgetown’s city flower and often find their way into the girls’ playtime and Katie’s pages.

Katie’s decision to write the book was fueled by her desire to capture her daughters’ innocence and creativity in a way they could revisit later in life. “I hope they look back on this book and see what fun they had as sisters,” she says. Writing the book was as much about preserving memories as it was about sharing them with others.

Her goal now is to bring The Twins on Strawberry Lane to a wider audience. She hopes to see it on the shelves of Lark & Owl, a beloved local bookstore, where more families can be inspired by Olivia and Blair’s adventures.

Katie is quick to share advice with other parents hoping to nurture creativity in their children. “Dive into what interests your kiddos, follow their lead, and let them include you in their imagination,” she says. For her, the best moments come when she allows her girls to guide their own adventures, whether it’s dressing up in costumes, dancing in tutus, or spotting wildlife in the neighborhood.

By following their lead, Katie has not only fostered their imaginations but also strengthened her bond with them — something she hopes other parents will take to heart.

The book is filled with playful nods to Olivia and Blair’s favorite things. Bunnies appear throughout its pages, a tribute to the girls’ love of spotting them during neighborhood walks. Their dancing is highlighted through their tutu-clad twirls, and their rain boots — worn for weeks on end regardless of the weather — make an appearance as well. These small details are what make the story authentic, personal, and relatable to families who know the joy of childhood quirks.

For Katie, The Twins on Strawberry Lane is more than a children’s book. It is a keepsake for her daughters, a celebration of their sisterhood, and a love letter to the neighborhood that inspires so much of their play. She hopes Olivia and Blair will treasure the book as a reminder of their adventures together and of the magic in everyday life.

As the twins continue to grow, Katie envisions more stories and more moments worth capturing. Whether it’s through future books or simply the memories they make along Strawberry Lane, she is committed to documenting and celebrating the joy of their journey.

In the end, The Twins on Strawberry Lane is about more than Olivia and Blair. It’s about the beauty of slowing down, noticing the little things, and letting children remind us how extraordinary the ordinary can be. It’s about family, imagination, and the magic that can be found right outside our own front doors.