A Tree is a Community

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I learned that the first review of my upcoming book with Holiday House, A Tree is a Community, is a starred review from Kirkus. “Writing in animated free verse that calls urgently to be read aloud…An effervescent appreciation of all that trees do and are.” “And best of all, the poem ends, when spring comes round again, new seeds will drop so that ‘very soon / we will have / a fine new tree. / OH YES!’”

KATE COSGROVE illustrated the book, our third title together, and Kirkus loves her work too. “As small creatures crawl or flit through leafy boughs above in Cosgrove’s bustling, populous illustrations, two brown-skinned children below blow bubbles or peaceably share a rope swing in the cool shade.” Kate is the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of A Day With No Words by TIFFANY HAMMOND.

A Tree is a Community will be released on September 17, ten days after Charlesbridge publishes Wild Brunch, illustrated by GILES LAROCHE. Both books are on Amazon and can now be pre-ordered. Come on September!

First copy of Wild Brunch, Poems About How Creatures Eat

Hi everyone,

Yesterday’s mail held a great surprise, the first copy of my new book. GILES LAROCHE has outdone himself again. The book won’t be released until September but holding this advance sample gives me high hopes that it has a good future in store. Orders can be placed now for September shipping.

I’m grateful that my Charelesbridge editor, KAREN BOSS, saw this title as a strong companion to my two previous books with Giles, Now You See Them, Now You Don’t, Poems About Creatures that Hide, and A Place to Start a Family, Poems About Creatures that Build.

I don’t want to wish the year away, but come on September!

Wild Brunch is on Amazon

Hi everyone,

It is my delight to tell you that my new book with GILES LAROCHE — Wild Brunch, Poems About How Creatures Eat — is now posted on Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

It’s published by Charlesbridge and will sell as a companion title to two others, Now You See Them, Now You Don’t and A Place to Start a Family. The world is full of animals, and they need to eat. They don’t all enjoy the same food, though. What may be yummy to a piranha in a South American stream would not impress a leaf-loving koala up a eucalyptus tree in Australia. And a vulture dining on rotten roadkill by a highway in Kansas has a menu all its own. This book introduces some of the world’s most interesting ways that animals eat what they eat.

The new book won’t reach the markets until September, but you can place early orders now.

Wild Brunch coming soon

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I received a set of proofs from Charlesbridge of my upcoming book with them. The book will be a companion to two previous titles, Now You See Them, Now You Don’t, Poems About Creatures That Hide and A Place to Start a Family, Poems About Creatures That Build. The new one is called Wild Brunch, Poems About How Creatures Eat. It has a September publication date but will be posted on Amazon for early orders in March.

GILES LAROCHE has illustrated all three books in his inimitable style. Every picture involves drawing, cutting, painting, gluing, and as many as eight layers. He lives in Massachusetts but does most of his art in a barn he owns in New Hampshire. I can’t show you the proof yet but take it from me, Giles has outdone himself with Wild Brunch and I can’t wait for you to see it next month.

Wild Brunch is coming

Hi everyone,

I’m delighted to report that my upcoming book with Charlesbridge is about to become a reality. The on-sale date is set for September 10, 2024, but you’ll be able to get it on Amazon and other online sources by early March.

Wild Brunch, Poems About How Creatures Eat is illustrated by GILES LAROCHE whose fans (of which there a MANY) will know that he has previously illustrated two other titles with me, Now You See Them, Now You Don’t and A Place to Start a Family.

Now You See Them, Now You Don’t was recognized with

• Starred Kirkus review, 12/1/15
• Chosen by Society of Midland Authors as best children’s nonfiction book published in 2016
• NCTE Notable Poetry Book
• Red Poppy Award nominee, Georgetown, Texas, 2017

A Place to Start a Family was recognized with

• Selected for NSTA’s 2019 list of Outstanding Science Trade Books
• Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice, Awards Program Master List, 2019 – 2020
• Bank Street Best Books of the Year List, 2019
• ILA Teachers’ Choices List, 2019

Do Giles and I have high hopes for Wild Brunch? I guess so!