Perrysburg resident Jesse Dattilo had never thought of writing or illustrating a book until two years ago when she and her friend, Meade Coplan, began talking about it.

“We thought, ‘Anyone could write a kids book, right?’” said Ms. Dattilo.

The idea sprang from a pastel painting she had created of a barn in Perrysburg.

“It was a normal barn but was done in purple just for fun. Meade immediately thou…