ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Your age might have been a factor in how you processed last year’s historic hurricane season. With another season now upon us, a Bay area author saw value in looking at the anxiety through the eyes of children.

Sheila Cowley says the best imagination comes from what you’ve heard.

That’s why she has been writing children’s audiobooks since the pandemic — and uploading them to her YouTube channel.

“Everything I’ve done in the last few years is for children because, you know, we need stories,” she said.

Her most recent audiobook was published a few weeks ago. It is called "Day of Disaster and Doom" and is based on last year’s storms.

“Those hurricanes last year were horrible, and you can’t tell kids that nothing’s going to happen. But you can say, ‘Whatever happens, we live in a community, and you’re not alone,’” she said.

Cowley wrote this 18-minute story about a family who evacuated to an emergency shelter.

It focuses on a brother and sister sticking together and using items from their “Save the Day” kit to help their family feel safe.

“In her kit, she had a pack of cards because, you know, they couldn’t have their show, so she’s, like, keeping him occupied. She brought — what else did she bring? A tea bag to help their mom relax,” she said.

Cowley says half the book is based on a true story, and the other half comes from her memories as a kid wanting to save the day.

“Kids want to save the day. The girl in this story is ready for, like, big dramatic space attacks. But what she ends up doing is saving her little brother’s day by making him feel safe,” she said.

She says the book’s characters provide a model for how to deal with emotions — like how the family handles loss.

“They come home and their house is damaged. You know, they go through these things, but they find a way to make each other feel better. It’s the small things, you know,” she said.

Those small things add up to a bigger story — one Cowley believes will resonate with Bay area residents.

Cowley says there is also a Spanish version to help reach more families in the Tampa Bay area. There will be an American Sign Language version too — hopefully available by the end of June.