Sketches are in!

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I received the sketches, for cover and all, for my next book of poems. GILES LAROCHE, who previously illustrated two other Charlesbridge books with me — NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON’T and A PLACE TO START A FAMILY — has done another magnificent job.

I need to review and respond to a few questions from our editor, KAREN BOSS, by next Tuesday. Then it all goes back to Giles so he can start on the finished artwork. I’m delighted to reach this stage!

WILD BRUNCH, new book of poetry in the works

Hi everyone,

Publishers Weekly just announced my new book deal with Charlesbridge.

“KAREN BOSS at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to Wild Brunch: How Animals Eat What They Eat by David L. Harrison (l.) (Now You See Them, Now You Don’t), illustrated by Giles Laroche (A Place to Start a Family). This collection of poems and cut-paper illustrations investigates how animals find food and what they eat. Publication is slated for fall 2024; The author represented himself, and Studio Goodwin Sturges represented the illustrator.“

The new book will work with the first two titles — NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON’T and A PLACE TO START A FAMILY — to complete a trilogy. I’m delighted.

NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON’T received a Kirkus starred review, was chosen by Society of Midland Authors as Best Children’s Nonfiction Book published in 2016, selected by NCTE as a Notable Book of Children’s Poetry, and nominated for the first Red Poppy Award in Texas.

A PLACE TO START A FAMILY was selected by NSTA as an Outstanding Science Trade Book, chosen for Pennsylvania’s Young Reader’s Choice Awards Master List, was on the Bank Street Best Books of the Year List, and was named to the ILA Teachers’ Choice List.

Twice in the same community? Wow!

Hi everyone,

I’m in debt to my wonderful illustrator of A PLACE TO START A FAMILY, Giles Laroche, for the latest piece of excitement in my writing world. Giles is being featured (via ZOOM) as this year’s visiting author/artist to Simonds Elementary School in Warner, New Hampshire — the same community where AFTER DARK is currently featured on one of the Pillsbury Free Library’s story walks. What a lovely coincidence!

Giles keeps a studio in the area, which was also home base for Tomie dePaola and is for Matt Forrest Esenwine.

In this case a copy of A PLACE TO START A FAMILY is being given to each kindergarten and 1st grade student at Simonds. How neat is that? Needless to say, I’m having a fine time this week!

New recognition for A PLACE TO START A FAMILY

Hi everyone,

The annual ILA Teachers’ Choices Reading List is out for 2019 and I’m happy to say that A PLACE TO START A FAMILY is one of ten titles in the K-2 category chosen by teachers nationwide.

Way to illustrate, Giles Laroche! Way to edit, Karen Boss! Thanks, Charlesbridge!

Outstanding Science Trade Book List for A PLACE TO START A FAMILY

Hi everyone,

A PLACE TO START A FAMILY (Charlesbridge, 2018) — about structures animals create in which to start their families — has been chosen for the 2019 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books list. This is my second partnership with Giles Laroche, who also illustrated 2017’s NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON’T, also Charlesbridge. Both were edited by Karen Boss who told me that this year five Charlesbridge titles made it on the list.

I’m delighted to see A PLACE TO START A FAMILY recognized by science teachers. PIRATES was honored by VOYA, NOW YOU SEE THEM was voted best children’s nonfiction book of 2017 by Society of Midland Authors, and now A PLACE TO START is being honored. All three books are science-based poetry so I’m especially happy about that.