Agate is a moose, the creation of author Joy Morgan Dey and illustrator Nikki Johnson.

According to the author, Agate sees his friends as fabulous gems: a lion named Emerald, a giraffe named Diamond and a raccoon named Opal.

Agate, the moose, would like to be as strong as his friends.

Agate, the rock found at the bottom of a stream bed, becomes a rare stone, when polished to reveal its secret self.

So it is with friends, according to Morgan Dey.

Agate reminds everyone to “look for the remarkable hidden core in ourselves and others.”

Morgan Dey will visit Austin this weekend for a book-signing party 10 a.m. Saturday at Austin Public Library to promote her new book “Agate: What Good is a Moose.”

Published by Lake Superior Port Cities Inc., “Agate” is her writing debut in the world of children’s books.

She has been a graphic designer on other books, including “Nightlight,” “Old Turtle” and “The Quiltmaker’s Gift.”

“Agate” became an instant bestseller, earning the Midwest Booksellers Association’s Choice Award as the Best Children’s Picture Book of 2008.

It was also named the Independent Publisher Book Award-winning children’s book.

“I grew up in Austin,” Morgan Dey said. “My dad was a meatpacking plant supervisor and artist, and my mom was an elementary teacher and principal.”

She attended Carleton College after graduating from Austin High School and earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology.

Then, she joined the Peace Corps and went to Western Samoa.

After returning to the United States and working many jobs, including picking apples and stock brokerage, she returned to college to earn a bachelor of science degree in technical illustration at Bemidji State University.

She moved to Duluth and worked in advertising design and then as art director for Pfeifer-Hamilton Publishers.

At her Web site bio, Morgan Dey pays homage to her roots, family and other.

“I am beyond grateful to my mom and dad, teachers and especially my husband and three terrific kids for sharing and supporting my passion for books and art,” she said.

Johnson makes her second collaboration with Morgan Dey in “Agate.” The first was “Nightlight,” the story of two bears who discover the Northern Lights in the sky one night.

Morgan Dey has returned to Austin frequently to visit her brother, Tim, and his wife, Shirley Peterson Morgan, an Austin Public Schools teacher.

For more information about the author and her books, go online to www.agatethemoose .com or www.joymorgandey.com.