The educator
Decades of work with children, families, teachers, and school communities shape every classroom conversation and story.
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Author, educator, and chainsaw artist
Aaron Daniel Chavez
The storyteller behind Brin and Melly, shaped by more than twenty five years in education, a love of the Pacific Northwest, and characters first discovered inside a log.
The author’s story
Education, carving, and storytelling
Aaron Daniel Chavez has spent more than twenty five years serving students, families, and communities as a teacher, principal, superintendent, executive director, and international school leader.
After his family purchased forty forested acres near Newport, Washington, Aaron began chainsaw carving as a way to find wellness and balance. The craft became a second career and eventually opened the door to a new kind of storytelling.
While working in Guangzhou, China, Aaron carved a strong but lonely grizzly bear with a small, curious owl near his heart. The characters became Brin and Melly, an unlikely pair whose adventures celebrate friendship, courage, kindness, belonging, and finding your way.
One story, three chapters
The experiences behind the books
The carver
Raw logs become bears, owls, dragons, and sculptures that invite people to notice the story already inside the wood.
The storyteller
A carving created in China became a growing Pacific Northwest picture book series for families and young readers.
The grandfather
Melly is named for Aaron’s granddaughter Melody, while Brin reflects the brave and protective qualities Aaron sees in his sons.
Teachers and schools
Invite Aaron into your classroom
Virtual author visits connect storytelling, art, goal setting, and creative perseverance.