'Snow Angel' author's wish granted with new picture book

Two little girls get stuck in the snow and must call on the Snow Angels for help. That experience inspires them to become "angels" themselves and help others by doing such things as visiting lonely neighbors, making cookies and making quilts.

With drawings by best-selling illustrator Brandon Dorman, this is the story that Angel Randall tells in her debut picture book, "Snow Angels," which will be published by Shadow Mountain in September.

"We are always looking for a story that hasn't been told before," says Deseret Book's Chris Schoebinger, who has worked with Angel Randall on the project. "This is one." It's an inspiring little story, he says.

Equally inspiring is the story behind the book, and as with most stories, that one should begin at the beginning.

When Angel Randall was born, the whole town of Enterprise, Utah, was excited, says her mother, Colleen. After all, the family had just had six boys in a row, so a girl was particularly welcome. There were two other sons and four other daughters, making an even dozen in all. But when she was carrying her 13th child, Colleen attended a Young Woman's meeting, where she heard a story about a girl named Angel. "I knew that if this baby was a girl, that would be her name."

Growing up as the youngest of 13, Angel was surrounded by love.

"Although," she says, "I did get teased by my brothers a lot."

It was hectic; it was crazy at times; but it was also a lot of fun, she says. How many other families can have their own baseball team? And the Randalls did.

As the older children got married and started their own families, Angel ended up with 55 nieces and nephews.

"She has always loved children," says Colleen. That probably influenced Angel's career choice: teaching first grade. "I always wanted to be a teacher. My grandmother, who died when I was 11, was a teacher, and she inspires me. I think she's one of those angels looking down."

In a perfect world, someone who loves children that much would have a bundle of her own. But, for Angel, life would throw her a big, fat curve. In March of 2010, the single, 20-something teacher was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. She was given only a few months to live, but Angel wasn't ready to give up yet.

Plus, there was still a book to write.

There were and are trials.