Meet Coco Travels to Alabama — Book 1 of 50
When Mommy Shonda flies to Alabama, Coco Brown has one question: what is Alabama like? So she does what curious kids do best — she grabs her library card, heads off with Daddy to find a book, and gets ready to discover something brand new.
That night, the pages of her library book lead Coco somewhere magical. In her dreams, she soars across the Yellowhammer State, visits places she has never seen, and meets real-life heroes whose stories will make her heart beat a little faster and her dreams grow a little bigger.
Coco Travels to Alabama is a joyful celebration of curiosity, libraries, family, and the boundless places a young imagination can fly.
Tags: Ages 3–8, 50-state series, Perfect read-aloud, Back-to-school pick.
As Seen on WHNT News 19 — Watch the Interview
Mission Statement
To inspire curiosity and a sense of wonder about the people, places, and remarkable things that make every corner of America — and the wider world — worth discovering, one story at a time.
Free Resources for Little Explorers
Bring Coco's world into your home or classroom with our curated activity kits and educational guides.
Designed for grades K–3, this free Teacher's Guide helps educators use Coco Travels to Alabama as a springboard for learning across multiple subject areas — from English Language Arts and social studies to geography, science, music, and social-emotional learning. Includes discussion questions, vocabulary, Alabama map activities, a story sequence activity, cross-curricular extensions, and Common Core standards alignment. Everything you need to bring Coco's Alabama adventure into your classroom — ready to use, no prep required.
Designed for families with children ages 3–8, this free Parent's Guide helps you get the most out of every page of Coco Travels to Alabama — before, during, and after reading together. Includes conversation starters, at-home activities, Alabama facts, real hero backgrounds, and family discussion prompts. No teaching experience required — just a curious child, a cozy reading spot, and a little time together. Perfect for bedtime, car rides, and lazy weekend afternoons.
A 50-State Journey for Every Little Dreamer
Coco Travels is more than a book series — it is a passport to curiosity. From the rocket launch pads in Huntsville to the flower-filled gardens in Theodore, from the dolphins of Orange Beach to the stories of the heroes who shaped America, each book invites children to see the world through the eyes of Coco Brown — a little girl with a library card, a green suitcase, and a heart full of wonder.
Every state has a story. Every landmark has a history. Every hero has a hometown. The Coco Travels series takes children on an alphabetical adventure through all 50 states, celebrating the real people and remarkable places that make America extraordinary — one dream, one library visit, one bedtime story at a time.
Join Coco as she explores the heart, history, and heroes of every state. Because the greatest adventures always begin with a question — and a good book.
Schools, Libraries & Virtual Visits
Coco Travels is more than a book series — it is a mission to build the next generation of American explorers. Research shows that fewer than 25% of American students are proficient in geography, and geography has been dropped from national testing entirely. Coco is a small, joyful answer to a very big problem: one state, one story, one curious child at a time.
Tia Hargrove loves connecting with educators and librarians who are bringing the 50-state adventure into classrooms and library programs — sparking geographic curiosity, building map literacy, and introducing children to the real people and remarkable places that make every American state extraordinary. Virtual author visits, library story times, and school-wide reading events are available based on scheduling, so reach out early and we will find a time that works.
Because a child who knows where Rosa Parks was born, where Jesse Owens ran, and where Nat King Cole first sang — is a child who understands that the world is vast, full of remarkable people, and absolutely worth discovering.
The Heart Behind Coco's Adventures
Tia Hargrove writes books that invite children to wonder about the world — and then go look it up. Through the eyes of Coco Brown, a curious young girl with a library card, a sticker book, and a great big imagination, Tia hopes to remind readers everywhere that learning is an adventure that begins the moment you ask a question. Coco Travels to Alabama is the first book in a planned 50-state alphabetical series. Each title celebrates the same simple, powerful idea: that books are passports, libraries are launchpads, and a child who learns to wonder is a child who will go far. When she isn't writing, Tia loves discovering new places, championing young readers, and asking the very same question Coco asks at the end of every adventure: Where will we travel next?