How my daughter’s entrepreneurial spirit and today’s energy landscape inspired a new kind of children’s book Every parent has moments when they see a spark in their child, a glimpse of who they are becoming long before they even realize it themselves. For me, that spark appeared in my daughter when she was very young.
By the time she was three, she was asking questions about what I did at work and how propane helps people. Her curiosity was genuine. She didn’t just want to watch, she wanted to participate. I started by filming short videos of her on Paraco’s Instagram, sharing simple messages about the benefits of propane. What began as a fun project between the two of us quickly became something more.
My daughter started talking about propane to anyone who would listen. She explained how it helps families and supports communities. She became an energy educator in her own way, long before she reached middle school. And one day, with complete confidence and without any prompting, she walked into the room and said, “I’m Propane Girl.”
A Young Entrepreneur with a Big Voice
From that moment on, she jumped into every opportunity she could. She filmed videos. She helped create content. She asked thoughtful questions about customers, trucks, cylinders, safety, and why families and businesses depend on propane.
Her interest wasn’t about what I do. It was about how everything works and how we help people. Her curiosity was rooted in purpose and community, not play. She was building an identity filled with service, resilience, curiosity, and entrepreneurship.
That is when the idea for the book first began to take shape.
Why I Wrote the Series
As a mom, a third-generation leader, and someone deeply involved in today’s energy conversation, I realized something important. Children rarely learn about energy. And when they do, the information is often incomplete or overly simplified.
We are living in a time when energy reliability, affordability, and infrastructure are at the center of major public decisions. Families feel the impact directly, through their bills, their comfort at home, and their ability to choose what works best for them.
I wanted my daughter, and all children, to understand energy in a way that feels empowering and grounded in everyday life. I also wanted a story that reflects the importance of energy choice, one that shows propane as a clean, reliable, and essential energy source that has supported American families for more than a century.
This book was never about creating a character. It was about creating understanding.
Turning Big Issues Into a Story Kids Can Feel
Explaining energy to children can be challenging. It is a complex topic. My goal was to take that complexity and turn it into something meaningful and engaging.
The solution was simple. Tell the story through the eyes of a child who cares. A child who asks questions. A child who believes in helping people. A child who reminds us that energy is not abstract. It is something families rely on every single day.
In The Adventures of Propane Girl: Time-Traveling Through the Decades, Noelle steps into different eras of American life to explore how propane supported communities in the past and why energy choice still matters today. It is not a policy lesson. It is a story of empowerment, curiosity, and connection.
What Comes Next
This first book is only the beginning. Future stories will continue exploring energy resilience, the importance of diverse and balanced energy solutions, community stories, innovation, and the values that define family-owned businesses.
My hope is that children, including my daughter, grow up understanding that the energy world is full of opportunity and purpose. I want them to see themselves as thoughtful, informed, and empowered participants in the future of energy.
The Adventures of Propane Girl: Time-Traveling Through the Decades is now available on Amazon. The book is inspired by one young girl with an entrepreneurial spark and written for every child who wonders how the world around them works.