I Can Make a Movie!

From self-taught, award-winning director Morgan Stevenson Cooper comes a heartfelt picture book about a girl on a mission to make her first movie—and lift her grandpa's spirits along the way.

Norah Rose loves movies—action, comedy, drama—you name it! She dreams of becoming a director, but Hollywood feels a long way from home. When her grandpa falls ill, Norah decides to make a movie just for him, because no one loves a good story more than Grandpa. Equipped with her mom’s phone, a head full of ideas, and the wide-open backdrop of Kansas City, Norah sets out to write, cast, shoot, and edit her very first film. There’s a lot of work ahead, but Norah’s sure of one thing: her movie is going to shine.

With a spirited how-to approach and lively artwork by Geneva Bowers, Morgan Stevenson Cooper shows young readers how creativity, heart, and a little hustle can turn any dream into a reality.

Morgan Stevenson Cooper is a Los Angeles–based writer and director from Kansas City, MO. He is a two-time Tribeca Film Festival award winner and creator of Peacock’s award-winning drama series Bel-Air, based on his reimagining of ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as a modern-day drama. Cooper is committed to combining art with purpose to inspire the next generation of young filmmakers to tell their stories. I Can Make A Movie is his debut picture book.

Geneva Bowers is a Hugo Award–winning illustrator. Her work focuses on atmosphere and magic realism, giving a sense of calm and nostalgia. It is inspired by growing up in Appalachia, caught between glorious nature and geeky interests. She aims to make people smile while showing a piece of how beautiful life can be.