And now for something a little different:

Coming Soon! 

Mel Brooks:
A Little Golden Book Biography

Illustrated by Kelly Kennedy

​Available for pre-order now.
Arriving Jan. 2, 2024

FEATURED BOOKS
PATIENCE, PATCHES!, illustrated by Sheryl Murray, is on the 2023 ALA Rainbow Book List. It's the story of Patches the dog, who considers himself supremely patient ... but his forbearance is tested when a new baby joins his family. Luckily, he finds that patience has its sweet reward. A great book for dog lovers, baby lovers, and parents-to-be. (Dial/Penguin Random House.) See the Kirkus review here. 

Order it online at Bear Pond Books and I'll personalize and sign your copy. Just leave your instructions in the "comments" box at the end of the online order form. 

The multi-talented illustrator, Sheryl Murray, and I recorded a virtual storytime -- with a cool origami puppy craft -- you can access here. Sheryl's origami template is available here. Enjoy!!
Welcome! Feel free to look around! There’s information here about my books, events, and writing. Questions? Fill out the contact form.
​Barefoot Books WATER: A Deep Dive of Discovery has earned numerous honors including a Nautilus Book Awards Gold. Gorgeously illustrated by Mariona Cabassa, this book is super-sized and filled with fun features like flaps and fold-outs. Read this endorsement.

Kirkus Reviews gave WATER a STAR and called it "Oceanic in scope--but clear and refreshing!" Dive in, and immerse yourself in fascinating facts about water. Watch the trailer and read more here.  And check out the Shepherd page, with a great review, here. The Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF) also recommends it. 

Want a SIGNED COPY? Order online at Bear Pond Books. I'll sign and personalize your book. (Just scroll to the end of the online order form to request your personalization.)
THE SUPREME COURT AND US introduces young readers to the history and role of the U.S. Supreme Court, by way of a pair of lively protagonists who take a tour of Washington, D.C.
Illustrated by Neely Daggett and published by Albert Whitman, this picture book is great for ages 6 to 10. 

Calling it a "child-friendly legal primer," Kirkus says this "creative and informative" book "will be a great addition to home and school libraries."

Looking for more great kids' books about the Court? I've posted my  top five recommendations, here.  
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If you order your copy online at Bear Pond Books, I'll personalize and sign your copy. (Just leave your instructions in the "comments" box at the end of the online order form.) Thanks for supporting indie bookstores! 
FREE FOR YOU AND ME: What Our First Amendment Means is full of poems and stories about our First Amendment freedoms, with kid-friendly illustrations by Manu Montoya. It's a lively book for young readers (and I hear from adults that they love it too)! (Albert Whitman, 2020.) 
Indie bookstore Bear Pond Books is a great place to order it online, and if you make a request at the bottom of the order form, I'll sign and personalize your copy. ​

Want to know more about the book? Watch this awesome BOOK REVIEW video by Mrs. Dunlap's fourth grade class. 

Looking for more great kids' books about civic engagement? I've posted my  top five recommendations, here. 

PLUS: A Teacher's Guide, from Curious City.
HEY, HEY, HAY!
A Tale of Bales and the Machines That Make Them
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and recommended by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. 
A rhyming romp in the hayfields, this tale follows a mother-daughter team making hay on their farm --with tractors!

Teacher's Guide available here; watch a video I made for National Ag in the Classroom about how I share HAY with kids: here or here.

Read about what inspired me to write HEY, HEY, HAY, here. 
Order a personalized, signed book online at Bear Pond Books, here.
DIET FOR A CHANGING PLANET: Food for Thought
​(Twenty-first Century Books/Lerner 2018)
Short-listed for the Green Earth Book Awards, this YA nonfiction invites readers to consider how their food choices affect the environment ... and how eating unexpected dishes is a stop toward healing the earth. Crickets, weeds, invasive species -- check it out!
Represented by Erzsi Deàk
Hen & Ink Literary         
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I love the magic and power of words, and I'm convinced that writing for kids is the best job ever. I'm always learning something new . . . about topics from the machines that make hay to eating invasive insects, from solar power to jumbo squids to unsung heroes to the magic of the water cycle. 

I'm a presenter with the the Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF) and love getting into schools and libraries. You can see more about my work with CLiF and see some videos here. 

I am a founding member of GROG, the group blog for writers and readers of children’s literature. I have lived in Oregon, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, New Hampshire, California, and Spain. I'm now settled happily with my family in rural Vermont, where I write at a table overlooking fields and forests, under the supervision of my dog and my cat. Want to know more about my “writing life”? Click HERE.
Thanks for visiting!
Moose graphic: Tanja Bauerle