Tales From Crumbville

Rowan Merris, Author

Tales from Crumbville™

Stories for growing readers — from illustrated adventures to richly layered middle-grade mysteries.

Coming October 3rd!

THE BRAVEST BEETLE

Book 1 of the Tales From Crumbville™ Universe

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MARY DROPPINS

AND THE SPARK-SUGAR HEIST

Book 2 of the Tales From Crumbville™ Universe

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SASSY with a Z

AND THE GOLDENBLOOM SHOWCASE

Book 3 of the Tales From Crumbville™ Universe

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Enter the Crumbville Universe

Welcome!

a lantern-lit storyworld of moonlit mysteries, spark-sugar secrets, honey-glowing hives,
and unforgettable heroes hiding in the smallest corners of town.

From brave beetles and clever cats to dazzling bees and whispering underground tunnels, each Tale from Crumbville™ blends cinematic artwork with adventurous storytelling filled with warmth, humor, mystery, and heart.

Designed for readers ages 7–12, the series grows alongside its audience, beginning with whimsical illustrated adventures and unfolding into deeper middle-grade mysteries and emotionally rich journeys of courage, friendship, curiosity, and belonging. Whether discovered independently beneath the covers with a flashlight or shared aloud with family, Crumbville invites readers into a world where kindness matters, bravery comes in unexpected forms, and even the smallest shine can brighten a whole town.

Meet the Characters

Meet the Characters

From the moment you step into Crumbville, you’ll find yourself surrounded by characters as comforting as fresh-baked pie and as surprising as a spark at just the right moment. There’s Pernicious the Pie Pan Beetle, small in size but big in courage; Sassy, the swift and glitter-trailing bee who never misses a thing; Mayor Buttons, whose spectacles and perfectly polished vest hide a deep love for his town; Miss Maple, the warm-hearted baker whose kindness holds Crumbville together; and Murphy and the Possums, whose banjo tunes keep the streets humming with joy. Together, these characters create a town full of humor, heart, and quiet bravery, where even the smallest voice can ring out loud enough to change everything.

Crumbville Community

The Crumbville Universe

The Crumbville Universe is a richly imagined world where cozy bakery streets and humming lanterns exist alongside hidden histories, forgotten inventions, and quiet acts of bravery. What begins as a charming town filled with music, pastries, and familiar faces slowly reveals deeper layers of mystery, choice, and consequence. Across interconnected stories, Crumbville becomes a place where memory lingers in unexpected ways, where small characters rise to meet big moments, and where even the gentlest sweetness carries weight.

See the Sights
Toffee Tower
The tallest landmark in Crumbville, Toffee Tower watches over the town with its glowing clock faces and bronze bell. An engraving had once wraps around the bell that says: THE BELL PROCLAIMS THE HOURS. It is one of the most famous sayings in Crumbville, a dedication to the steady order of the town. When the tower chimes, every baker, beetle, and bee knows exactly they are right where they belong.
Muffin Square
The warm and bustling heart of Crumbville, Muffin Square is where neighbors gather, lanterns glow, and the great fountain sparkles late into the evening. If you want to know what’s happening in town, start here.
Pudding Bridge
Arched gracefully over the Peppermint River, Pudding Bridge is one of Crumbville’s oldest crossings. At midnight, some say that reflections move across the water even when no one is there.
Cupcake Courthouse
With its peppermint-striped columns and frosting-dome roof, the Cupcake Courthouse is where Crumbville settles its disputes with dignity, kindness, and occasionally baked goods. Rumor has it an entire archive exists within the building, sealed behind a door no one remembers locking.
Miss Maple’s Bakery
The coziest place in all of Crumbville, the smell of cinnamon rolls, sugar biscuits, and warm wobbleberry pie drifts from Miss Maple’s Bakery from dawn until dusk. Locals swear the old oven occasionally glows long after the bakery has closed for the night.
Peppermint Cafe
Tucked beside the riverwalk, the Peppermint Cafe is famous for hot cocoa and quiet conversations. Mary Droppins is often seen sitting outside with a cup of cream, looking innocent enough… though she somehow always notices trouble before anyone else does.
Bakery Row
A charming stretch of ovens, awnings, and pastry shops, Bakery Row is filled with the aroma of caramelized sugar and fresh butterbounce biscuits. Though not every delivery crate arriving after dark contains pastries.
Goldenbloom
Far beyond the town rests Goldenbloom Hive, a dazzling vertical city of honeycomb halls, glowing nectar lanterns, and bees determined to shine brighter than the stars. Visitors quickly learn that in Goldenbloom, being noticed is not always the same thing as belonging.
Molasses Hollow
Hidden behind Crumbville’s cheerful streets lies Molasses Hollow — a shadowy maze of dark alleys, tunnels, and long-forgotten secrets. Some tunnels were sealed decades ago. Others, somehow, refuse to stay sealed.
Shortbread Lane
Quiet, cobbled, and lined with flower boxes, Shortbread Lane is one of Crumbville’s gentlest streets. Mary Droppins lives above the Chocolatier there, where warm windowlight glows softly late into the night… and where certain visitors prefer not to use the front door.