The Book of Sprout

A Magical Adventure of Growth and Discovery

Karen Norheim

In a magical faraway wood, a young boy must begin his quest to fill the pages of his life’s story.

Sprout lived happily with his loving parents at their farm in the forest. He grows as comfortably as a flower in a well-tended bed and loves nothing more than a new story. When his parents gift him a beautifully handcrafted leather-bound book, Sprout is eager to absorb yet another new tale. That is, until he opens the book and finds it blank with only one word inscribed on the title page: his name.

Equipped with a few necessities, the support of his family, and an adventurous spirit, Sprout must pull up his roots and begin the journey of a lifetime to fill the pages of his book. Along the way, he meets friends, foes, damsels, and danger, each encounter marking a more thrilling chapter in his tale than the last. Will these new experiences help him grow as strong as the tallest trees and as rich in knowledge as the surrounding soil? Will he succeed in filling the pages of his own story?

The Book of Sprout shows what it means to do just that. A modern folktale that’s bloomed over generations, Sprout’s fantastical journey reminds us to take risks, lead with an open mind, and spread our roots farther than we dreamed they could reach.

Karen Norheim is CEO of American Crane & Equipment corporation. She has contributed to the manufacturing industry through leadership roles with organizations like Crane Manufacturers Association of America and Women in Manufacturing. Karen is also the host of the Always Lifting podcast, where she discusses a multitude of topics in the realms of leadership, personal, and professional growth. The Book of Sprout is her first published title.

Richard P. Gleason created the original Sprout before his niece Karen Norheim helped it evolve into what it is today. Before his untimely death in 2009, Richard was an avid adventurer, writer, and pursuer of knowledge. He published the first version of Sprout in 1987 and passed the tale down to the generations that followed him.