Luna the Cat is the first book in the Tales from the Trowel chapter book series, a fictional story inspired by real archaeology and designed to teach children about the past in a way that is both exciting and meaningful. Aimed at readers in grades 3–6, the book follows an ordinary cat named Luna who finds himself on an extraordinary journey in the year 1559, as part of the Spanish colonization attempt of Pensacola, Florida.

This historical moment is one of great significance. It predates Jamestown by nearly 50 years and St. Augustine by six. Though the settlement was ultimately destroyed by a hurricane just one month after the colonists arrived, archaeologists have since discovered shipwrecks from the original fleet and the site of the land settlement. Remarkably, the inspiration for our story came from the discovery of a cat’s remains on one of the shipwrecks. That real-life discovery sparked our imagination, and Luna the Cat was born.

The book explores themes of bravery, self-discovery, and resilience—both personal and communal. Written using the structure of the Hero’s Journey, Luna’s tale invites young readers to see the past through the eyes of a relatable animal protagonist. It offers not just an adventure story, but a meaningful message about overcoming fear and the importance of learning from history.

We created Luna the Cat because we saw a gap in children’s literature—there are very few chapter books written by historians or archaeologists that truly connect young readers to the richness of the archaeological record. As public educators, we’ve delivered hundreds of programs to schools, libraries, and museums, but we struggled to find books that balanced storytelling with historical accuracy. With Luna, we hope to bridge that gap and inspire the next generation to become curious, thoughtful stewards of the past.

It is currently available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover formats: