Marquis Stakes had no idea a Facebook post showing off her artwork would someday lead to having her name on a children's book as an illustrator. Kelly Grettler, a Cibolo-based author, saw the post and knew Stakes, an art teacher at Sippel Elementary School, would have to work on her next project.
"What she saw on Facebook was one of my dogs made out of magazine clippings,” said Stakes, who is in her fifth-year at Sippel and was selected as the campus Teacher of the Year in 2025. “I used thousands of magazines for it, with charcoal in the background.”
“I reached out to her and asked if she had ever thought about illustrating a book,” said Grettler. Stakes was astounded at the offer. “Are you kidding,” she responded to Grettler. “That’s the dream.”
Grettler read her picture book, Fireflies and Muddy Boots on April 15, 2026. It is a story about a nighttime walk on a farm, inviting readers to notice the quiet magic that happens after the sun sets. Every page featured the work of Stakes, who brought the story to life with her illustrations made from paper-cut collages and charcoal textures.
Stakes has students who already have the book, but refused to lay eyes on it until she could share the moment with Grettler, who presented it to Stakes in a baby blanket. “It’s still surreal,” Stakes said. “It was pretty emotional. It involved a lot of time and love.”
Stakes plans on selling the prints of her work, and hopes her work can open up entrepreneurial opportunities someday. “It’s surreal,” she said wistfully. “It’s just getting started.”
