Lulu Buck

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Lulu Buck, and I’m a children’s book author, educator, and the founder of Buck’s Books Consulting. I am a first-generation American and my parents came here from Mexico. I’m originally from Colorado, and I’m proud to call Longmont, Colorado, home today.

I’ve spent nearly three decades working in education, with much of my career focused on language, culture, equity, and creating more inclusive learning experiences for children and families. My work as an educator has deeply influenced my work as an author. I believe books have the extraordinary power to help children see themselves, understand others, build empathy, and recognize that their differences are part of what makes them unique.

As an author, I’ve written Sue’s Sky, Magical Golden Whistle, The Boy with the Black Heart, and recently released a second edition of Sue’s Sky, with additional stories in development. My books explore themes such as inclusion, kindness, identity, accountability, forgiveness, and the belief that every child has a story worth telling.

Through Buck’s Books Consulting, I also help authors, educators, and organizations bring meaningful children's literature into classrooms and communities. Whether I’m writing, presenting a workshop, developing curriculum, or supporting another author’s journey, my goal is the same, to use the power of storytelling to create connection and make a positive impact.

For me, being an author isn’t simply about publishing books. My books are about creating stories that leave a little more kindness, understanding, and hope in the world. Each of my books comes with many activities and conversations to reinforce my messages.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

One of the things I love most about living here is the incredible sense of community. People here genuinely show up for one another. There is a spirit of generosity and support that makes this a special place to live, work, and raise a family.

I’m especially proud of the strength of our schools and the educators who make them extraordinary. I truly believe our community is home to some of the best schools not only in Colorado, but in the entire country. What makes them exceptional isn’t simply academic achievement. It is the commitment to seeing the whole child, embracing diversity, supporting families, and creating opportunities for every student to thrive.

I’ve had the privilege of working alongside so many passionate educators, families, community organizations, and students, and that experience has reinforced something I deeply believe: when a community invests in its children, everyone benefits.

There is something incredibly inspiring about being part of a community where people believe in one another and are willing to work together to make things better. That supportive, collaborative spirit is one of the many reasons I’m so grateful to call this area my home.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

Buck’s Books Consulting grew out of my belief that children’s books can be much more than something beautiful to read. My books are tools for learning, connection, belonging, and change. They all come with specific author visits, training, curriculum, and lessons to expand on the story.

As an educator, I spent years helping teachers and schools find meaningful ways to use literature to support language development, cultural understanding, identity, kindness, and inclusion. I also served as a state trainer for the Colorado Department of Education, providing training to 36 school districts across Colorado on cultural responsiveness, equity, and creating more inclusive educational environments. I have a menu of trainings for organizations and schools to choose from. When I became a children's book author myself, I began to see an even greater opportunity to bridge the worlds of publishing, education, and community impact.

Buck’s Books Consulting helps authors, educators, schools, and organizations maximize the impact of children's literature. I support authors with everything from developing educational connections and curriculum resources to creating meaningful author workshops and presentations. I also work with educators and organizations to turn books into engaging learning experiences that connect with real-world issues and the needs of today's students.

Of course, I love doing author visits, assemblies, and student talks for all environments for children. A significant part of my work focuses on belonging. I provide training that helps organizations and educators examine what creates a genuine sense of belonging and what may unintentionally prevent it. This includes critically examining systems, practices, language, and environments that may make people feel unwelcome, excluded, or like they don't belong. My experience training school districts taught me that creating inclusive spaces requires more than good intentions; it requires us to be willing to examine the systems around us and make meaningful changes when necessary.

One of the things that makes my approach unique is that I understand both sides of the table. I know what it is like to be an educator looking for a book that will truly resonate with students, and I know what it is like to be an author trying to make sure a story reaches the people who need it most.

Ultimately, Buck’s Books Consulting helps people move beyond simply publishing or reading a book to understanding its potential impact. My goal is to help great stories find the right audiences while giving educators and organizations the tools to create greater connection, empathy, belonging, and positive change.

What started as an extension of my own work as an author and educator has grown into something I’m incredibly passionate about: helping books do more and helping the people who use them create spaces where everyone feels they belong.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

Build it! They will come! Don't listen to the negative noise getting in the way of your vision.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

It is so hard to pick just one, and I probably can't narrow it down to one. The truth is, some of the most meaningful feedback I’ve received has come in so many different forms.

I have the little “groupies” who get so excited when they see me and tell me how much they love my books. Those moments absolutely melt my heart. Then there are the parents who have told me that a story brought them to tears because it helped them understand something their child was experiencing or gave their child a sense of being seen and understood.

And then there are the educators who have said, “Thank you. Your books have made a huge difference for me and my kids in the classroom.” Those words mean more to me than I can really put into words.

I think what makes these moments unforgettable is that they remind me that the books are doing what I hoped they would do when I wrote them. They are starting conversations, creating connection, helping children feel seen, giving parents new ways to understand their children, and giving educators another tool to build belonging in their classrooms.

So, if I absolutely had to choose one, I honestly couldn’t. The child who feels represented, the parent who feels moved, and the educator who feels empowered are all part of the reason I keep writing.

Those are the reviews I carry with me. They remind me that behind every book is a real person whose life might be touched by a story and that is the greatest reward of being an author and presenter.

What has been one of your biggest struggle building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of my biggest struggles in building Buck’s Books Consulting has been wearing all the hats. I’m not only the founder. I’m also the author, marketer, business manager, content creator, salesperson, scheduler, and everything in between. I’m doing all of that while working a full-time job and being a mom.

The marketing side has probably been the most challenging. I love creating books, developing ideas, working with educators, and connecting with people, but marketing requires an entirely different skill set and a tremendous amount of consistent time and energy. There are days when I wish there were simply more hours in the day!

I’ve dealt with it by learning to give myself grace while also becoming more intentional about how I use my time. I’ve had to recognize that I can’t do everything at once, and that building a business is a marathon rather than a sprint. I’ve learned to celebrate small wins, prioritize the things that have the greatest impact, and continue learning along the way.

Most importantly, I remind myself why I started. Every time a teacher tells me a book made a difference for a student, an organization invites me to share my work, or someone reaches out because a story resonated with them, I’m reminded that the long hours are worth it.

Building a business while balancing a career and family isn’t easy, but it has taught me resilience, patience, creativity, and perseverance. All these qualities have become just as important to my entrepreneurial journey as they are to my work as an author and educator.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to every person who has engaged with my books, whether you’ve read one with a child, brought it into your classroom, used it as a starting point for a meaningful conversation, attended one of my workshops, shared a story with someone else, or simply took the time to believe in the message behind my work.

As an author, I pour my heart into every story, but a book truly comes alive when it reaches people. Knowing that these stories are helping children feel seen, encouraging kindness and empathy, opening conversations about belonging, or inspiring someone to see the world a little differently is the greatest reward I could ask for.

I am also incredibly honored and grateful to the International Impact Awards Committee for recognizing the impact of my work. This recognition means so much to me because it reflects something I care deeply about. I deeply want to use storytelling and education to create connection, inspire positive change, and remind every child that they matter.

To the educators, families, students, librarians, booksellers, colleagues, friends, and supporters who continue to champion my stories, "thank you". Your engagement gives these books a life far beyond the pages.

I am deeply grateful for every person who has joined me on this journey. ❤️

Stories have the power to change hearts, open minds, and create belonging and I am honored to be part of that work.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

They can reach out to me directly through my website at: https://www.lulubuck.org/

Details of my events and work are on my company Facebook page titled: Buck's Books Consulting