A land of shimmering skies, deep snow, giant cabbages and unique wildlife inspired a local woman to write a children’s book.

Titled “That Strange Land,” Sudie Thormahlen’s book was published earlier this year.

Thormahlen worked in the Powell school district for more than 20 years, and wrote the book while at Southside Elementary School (see related story).

“She just is amazing with so many kids,” said Michelle Giltner, Southside’s instructional facilitator. “And the kids just love and adore her.”

After writing the book, Thormahlen read it to her sister, who encouraged her to send it to a publishing company.

“She said, ‘I double-dog dare you,’” Thormahlen said. “And so, it was on.”

Dorrance Publishing, a Pennsylvania-based self-publishing company, released the book this spring.

“When I got it, I was so happy,” she said.

One of her first reactions: “They spelled ‘Thormahlen’ right.”

The book describes a land up north that is strange and magical.

“We have really been to some fun places, and this is the most fun place I’ve ever been to,” she said.

In sharing her adventures in the strange land, Thormahlen draws upon her many years of experience working with children.

“The dolphins reminded me of kindergarten children just released for recess, dashing about and jumping, throwing their heads back with a high-pitched giggle sound,” she writes in the book.

She also invites kids to imagine this strange place.

“We’ve all seen beautiful sunsets and sunrises — what if you saw a dancing rainbow in the sky?” she asks young readers.

During a book reading and signing at Southside this spring, Thormahlen read to a full library. 

“It was very evident by the folks that attended that she was loved by her students, their parents, and her colleagues at Southside and across the district,” said Principal Scott Schiller.