Rachael Bindas, a senior English writing major and a gender, sexuality and women’s studies minor, is pursuing certificates in children’s literature and sustainability. But before she decided on her children’s literature certificate, she wrote a book first.

Rachael Bindas was reading children’s books to her 4-year-old sister, Bria, in the summer of 2017. The books focused on important topics for children to learn — like nature and love — but featured...