Books

Published:

• Flamingo Bingo Illustrated by Aaron Spurgeon
  
  Remember Toucan (from Toucan With Two Cans)? Well, he shows up for a game of Flamingo Bingo that goes terribly wrong when the balls spill and the flamingos slip... This is the second book in my Ready To Read series with Aaron Spurgeon's silly bird illustrations. I hope the new readers have as much fun learning to read with these books as I did writing them. I have tons of ideas about the ridiculous things birds can mess up so I hope to keep going--look for CHICKEN KARAOKE next!
• Whose Nest is Best? Illustrated by Garath Lucas
  
  A book about birds. A chunky lift-the-flap book. What could be better than either of these two things? These two things together! Each nest is accompanied by a short description of the bird who has laid eggs there. The child reader gets to guess who. And, also, whose nest is best. Of course, each nest is perfect for the baby bird growing inside. Perfect for the youngest bird lovers.
  On a side note, when my fab editor Jeff Salane sent me art samples, I realized I was already a fan of Gareth Lucas--though I didn't know he illustrated books! I had several of his fabrics in my sewing room and had been using them to make masks for months before I knew he would be illustrating this book. The art surpasses my wildest dreams. I am now doubly a fan.
• Adrift Illustrated by Anastasia Savorova
  
  Early in the pandemic, when I was feeling scared and alone, my friend Nina said to me, "we are all in our own boats in this same storm." I went to bed thinking about that and woke thinking of it. That, to me, is always a signal that I need to write the story. I didn't yet know if it was a book or just a story I needed to write to comfort myself. But, it turns out it was a book. I owe everything to Hannah Moushabek who found Anastasia Savorova to illustrate. Her lush rolling sea of colors really make Little Mouse's journey real. When I sent the manuscript to my friend Patty Mac, she said to me--this isn't about the pandemic, it's about childhood. I think it's a book that all children will recognize themselves in. How together can mean many things and that feeling safe is possible, even in a storm.
• People Shapes Illustrated by Teresa Bellon
  
  This novelty book (with cut out shapes) celebrates all shapes of people--but with a twist. Each family member is an actual shape. Mama is a star, uncle is a triangle, the child is a moon. Perfect for tiny hands and all young book lovers. Teresa Bellon's art for this book is so amazing, that I am hoping this becomes a series. Her colors are delicious and she hid all sorts of shape references on each page that will be fun for finding on each read. Editor Jeff Salane is a genius when it comes to creating these novelty books. I'm over the moon for this book!
• Toucan with Two Cans Illustrated by Aaron Spurgeon
  
  This is my first Ready To Read and I couldn't be more excited to write more more more! Toucan picks up some paint cans to juggle and, soon things get completely out of control--ending in a colorful (if messy) surprise. I was lucky enough to pitch this text, filled with word play, to brilliant editor Siobhan Ciminera who, immediately, saw the fun in it. We share a sense of silliness that translated onto the pages of this early reader romp. Hopefully, Toucan will make an appearance in more Ready To Reads soon... because, honestly, writing this was the most fun I've ever had as an author. I hope that is evident when new readers pick up this book.
• I Am the Storm with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell
  
  We got a call from uber amazing editor Cecily Keiser at her new imprint Rise Books (Penguin Workshop) asking if we could write something about extreme weather. As we always do, we said YES! And, we set out to create an empowering book for kids in unpredictable times. Now, in the middle of a global pandemic, it seems to have become accidentally topical since everything is unpredictable, unprecedented, and scary. The book, exquisitely illustrated by husband/wife team The Brave Union (which is actually Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell) follows four children as they experience a tornado, a blizzard, a forest fire, and a hurricane. They find the joy in preparedness and resilience. Honest reassurance leaves readers with the message: nature is powerful, but you are powerful, too.
  
  

  "This comforting title is part of a new line of picture books explicitly aimed at helping children feel capable and supported, and it does so perfectly. The repetitive storytelling shows that some things can be predictable amid the unpredictable... Child-centered, reassuring, and welcome."--Kirkus starred review

  "Yolen and Stemple’s soothing text, combined with brief and plain spoken appended paragraphs on the four storms, is firmly focused on the optimistic, but that makes it just the ticket for parents seeking to approach this topic with sensitivity..."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

  
  
  
• Eek You Reek! with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Eugenia Nobati
  
  These poems stink! They are rancid, odiferous, malodorous, and just plain foul. That's because they are all poems about animals that smell bad. There are the usual subjects, like the skunk, but also rarities like the hoatzin (which is a stink bird, in case you didn't know), the stinkpot turtle, a bunch of bugs, and the grand stanky musk ox. But, that's not all, there are 5 full pages of fact-filled (but humorous) backmatter which includes a word list of list of smelly words.
  
  

  "Rancid rhymes and syncopated stank and plenty of eeeew just for you."--Kirkus (starred review)

  "Readers will be simultaneously laughing while they hold their noses through this fun read. The animals may stink, but the poetry certainly does not."--Booklist

  
  
  
• A Kite for Moon with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Matt Phelan
  
  Moon sat all alone in the sky feeling sorry for herself. A small boy on the beach below notices and sends up a kite with a message promising to visit. He works hard through school into adulthood to make good on that promise. Matt Phelan's amazing art perfectly illustrates this story that releases just in time for the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. Dedicated to Neil Armstrong, A Kite For Moon follows the little boy's journey of fulfilling both his dream of becoming an astronaut and the promise he made. In the end, a new child watches and dreams of her own journey...
  
  Download the teacher's guide.
  
  
• Counting Birds Illustrated by Clover Robin
  
  Frank Chapman loved birds. What he did not like was the killing of them for sport. What if, he proposed in his magazine, we quit shooting them and start counting them, instead, with our eyes and ears. And, the first Audubon Christmas Bird Count began. More than 100 years later, we birders take the counting of bird for this census very seriously! I have been involved in the CBC for much of my life, first as my dad’s sidekick, but now, I’ve taken over his spot counting owls. On our best night, my team, called the OMG (the Owl Moon Gang) called down 67 owls.
  
  Bird Day Activities:
       Download Bird Activity Day 1.
       Download Bird Activity Day 2.
       Download Bird Activity Day 3 and the Owl Ornament.
       Download Bird Activity Day 4.
       Download Bird Activity Day 5.
  
  
  Download the teacher's guide.
  
  
• Fly With Me with Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, and Jason Stemple.
  
  This book is filled with everything about birds, including true stories, folklore, nonfiction, poetry, science, and things you can do to help as close as your backyard and as far as foreign lands, This book promises to be the go-to book for kids interested in the world of birds around them—their songs, migrations, endangerment, and how to help. Just in time for the Year of the Bird.

  “A treasure for browsers and bird lovers everywhere."”—Kirkus Starred Review

  
  
  
• Monster Academy Illustrated by John McKinley
  
  There’s a new kid in Monster Academy and Tornado Jo is no ordinary kid is this wacky class of oddball monsters. Their teacher Miss Mummy has an ancient curse that leaves her talking only in rhyme. “It could be worse,” she says. “I could scream when I converse!”
  
  This book took more than 7 years and a lot of patience to finally become a book. But now readers can help Vic find his missing tooth! Because, he needs it for the tooth troll!
  
  Download the teacher's guide.
  
  
• Witch Haunts Illustrated by Kim Jones
  
  This nonfiction book about witches haunting places around the world is published by Bearport. The research and writing of this was fun because of the creepy nature of the subjects. Did you know that the ghosts of witches can be found all over the world? I found them (in my research) in Ireland, the United States, India, and Jamaica. Scary!
  
  
• You Nest Here With Me This rhyming going to bed book took 11 years to get published. And, we love it so much, it was worth the wait. Melissa Sweet's magical illustrations are filled with hidden animals and the collage elements for which she is famous. This book, with the theme of 'home' at its core, is perfect for a sleepy child and a budding ornithologist. On the last pages is additional facts about each of the birds mentioned in the book. Did I mention that I am in love with this book?

  "Do we need another good night book? The answer is unequivocally yes...This delights the eye, mind and heart."—Booklist, starred review

  "...a gentle rhyming bedtime story that spotlights 14 birds' nesting habits and habitats. A well-crafted and informative window onto the world of winged creatures."—Publishers Weekly

  "As she puts her daughter to bed, a mother shares a soothing rhyme about birds that nest in places far and near...A worthwhile purchase for collections that need new selections for bedtime sharing."—School Library Journal

  "With an easy cadence and a comforting anchor, Yolen and Stemple drift from cowbird to killdeer, bedding down winged creatures while always returning to the safety of mom and home...The text and the images work well together, balancing the mood of quiet comfort with avian description...As a whole, the book ably carries readers past many flying friends and lands with ease in a safe nest."—Kirkus Reviews

• National Geographic's Book of Animal Storieswith Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, and Jason Stemple.
  
  The first collaboration with my whole family! This book is true stories about animals written by my brothers, Adam and Jason Stemple, our mom Jane Yolen, and me. We all chose our favorite stories to tell. And, National Geographic let us have not only a bibliography, but also a time line, a map, and additional back matter.

  "This engaging large-format volume offers 19 surprising, amusing, and endearing stories of real animals doing unusual things...Well suited to reading alone or reading aloud to younger children, this handsome book is a treasury of highly enjoyable animal stories."—Starred Review from Booklist

  "Moments of humor, warmth, and surprise run throughout this collection."—Publishers Weekly

  "Readers will appreciate this dynamically written collection of inspiring true animal stories. These quick, satisfying reads are accompanied by factual sidebars...Readers will enjoy this compendium and may even be motivated to seek out additional information on their favorites."—School Library Journal

• How Do Dinosaurs Eat Cookies? with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Mark Teague
  
  A scratch and sniff book in the best selling How Do Dinosaurs... series. Fossilized Lemon Tracks and Cinnama-Saurus!
• Bad Girls with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Rebecca Guay
  
  In this sassy, irreverent encyclopedia of bad girls throughout history (Lizzie Bordon, Solome, Mata Hari, Bloody Mary, and many more) the facts are combined with good humor and a couple narrators who try to weigh the relative guilt or innocence of the feisty, fierce, and felonious females in the context of history and changing societal mores. The cherry on this sundae of badness? Illustrations by Rebecca Guay!
  
  "Entertaining and eye-opening."—Kirkus
• Jewish Fairy Tale Feasts with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Sima Elizabeth Shefrin
  
  In this follow up to Fairy Tale Feasts, traditional Jewish tales are pared with Jewish recipes (traditional like latkes and kugel and not so traditional like mini cheesecake bites) from my kitchen for families to cook together.
• Pretty Princess Pig with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Sam Williams
  
  Pretty Princess Pig is getting ready for a big party with all her friends! Princess Pig will have young readers laughing as she spruces up the dining room with a mess of paint and plaster, bakes a cake with gobs of batter and cream, and even digs up flowers with her nose all while (naturally) wearing her flowered party dress. This prissy pig with a heart of gold is sure to keep readers giggling as each page reveals a new mess that she is blithely unaware of.

  "Fancy Nancy in her attitude, Charles Schulz's Pigpen in her execution, this mother-daughter team's heroine has a charm all her own."—Publishers Weekly

• Meet The Monsters with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Patricia Ludlow
  
  A guide book to the many monsters you might run into with instructions on how to get rid of them. Silver bullets for werewolves, stake or garlic for vampires, erasing the golem’s name, etc.

  “No self-respecting child will be able to resist.”—School Library Journal

• Dear Mother Dear Daughter with Jane Yolen
  
  The poems in this collection are written in the form of notes from a girl to her mother and then from the mother in response. The subjects run the gamut from body image to curfew, boredom to the death of a grandparent.
  
     “Dear Mother,
     I lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling
     trying to think up
     something appealing
      to do…”

  “inventive (and humorous)”—Publishers Weekly

• Fairy Tale Feasts Recipes by Heidi Stemple
  Stories retold by Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Phillipe Beha
  
  What can Cinderella do with her magical carriage after midnight? She could make pumpkin tartlets! This cookbook pairs folk and fairy tales with recipes (Brer Rabbit/Carrot Soup, Little Mermaid/Seaweed Stuffed Shells, The Runaway Pancake/Pancakes). The recipes are kid friendly, but not made for kids only. Marginalia accompanies each section with facts about food and story. A great cookbook for the entire family to share.
  
  Fairy Tale Feasts has also been published in 4 separate volumes as Fairy Tale Breakfasts, Fairy Tale Lunches, Fairy Tale Dinners, and Fairy Tale Desserts.

  “This collection of 20 fairy tales, each accompanied by at least one recipe, is an oversized, glossy concoction.”—School Library Journal

• The Barefoot Book of Ballet Storieswith Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Rebecca Guay
  
  A collection of stories told traditionally on the stage through dance including Swan Lake, Coppelia, The Sleeping Beauty. Each story is accompanied by a full page of history of the ballet. Balletomanes will appreciate that Rebecca Guay’s art, unlike many ballet books, is anatomically correct, even in pointe shoes.

  “The authors have captured the drama, excitement, and magic of these stories, making them enjoyable as read-alouds and enlightening for young theatergoers.”—School Library Journal

• The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories with Jane Yolen
  
  The follow up to The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories. Eight stories from eight different cultures with dance as their central theme. End-notes explain the steps for each of the dances.
  
• Sleep Black Bear, Sleep with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Brooke Dyer.
  
  In this rhyming going-to-bed book, a young child is tucked into a bed filled with stuffed animals while real animals snooze in their trees, dens, borrows, and caves for the long winter’s hibernation.
     “Sleep, black bear, sleep.
     The hills are bare and steep.
     You hibernate through winter’s snow;
     Your heart beats steady, strong, and slow.
     You wait till spring to rise and go.
     Sleep, black bear, sleep.”
  

  “In this musical whisper of a book, various animals settle down for a winter's nap, assured that spring will wake them to reenter the warmer, more active world. Each page features a lullaby with language quirky enough to raise a smile…”—School Library Journal

• Mirror Mirror with Jane Yolen
  
  A collection of folk and fairy tales about mothers and daughters from around the world with commentary between the authors.
  

  “A collection of beautifully retold international folktales that includes a running dialogue between Yolen and her daughter. This thematic exchange makes the book of interest to teenagers exploring their own relationships with their mothers.”—School Library Journal

• Not All Princesses Dress in Pink with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Anne-Sophie Lanquetin
  
  These princesses dig in the dirt, kick soccer balls, and splash in muddy puddles -- all in their sparkly crowns!

  “A joyful and much-needed antidote to the precious pink pestilence that has infested picture books aimed at girls.”
      —Kirkus * Starred Review *

• The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Roger Roth.
  
  In this Unsolved Mystery from History,a young girl investigates the Mary Celeste, a ship that in 1872, was found less than a month after setting sail, the brig was in seaworthy condition and almost completely in order, but with no one aboard.
  
  

  “An intriguing book for history buffs, mystery buffs, and classroom discussion.”—Booklist

• The Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Roger Roth.
  
  Another of history's mysteries. This time, our detective's intrepid daughter investigates the Salem witch trials.
  
  Also available in audio versions by Recorded Books.
  
  

  “An innovative way to involve young people in the study of history.”—Children's Literature

• The Wolf Girls: An Unsolved Mystery from History with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Roger Roth.
  
  Another addition to the History's Mysteries series. Were the two orphaned Indian girls abandoned by their parents or raised by wolves?

  “Tasty fodder for emerging detectives”—School Library Journal

• Roanoke, the Lost Colony: An Unsolved Mystery from History with Jane Yolen
  Illustrated by Roger Roth.
  
  This Mystery from History has an entire colony going missing! Investiogate along with the narrator.
  
  Also available in audio versions by Recorded Books.
  
  

  “An attractive, intriguing introduction to the lost colony.”—Booklist

• One If By Land Illustrated by Jeannie Brett
  
  In the Sleeping Bear Press states series, this counting book is all about Massachusetts. The book is filled with facts you may not know about the Bay State like the state fossil is a dinosaur track, basketball was invented here, and candy hearts have been made here since 1866.

  Here's a One if By Land Teacher's Guide!

• Ready For Anything: Training Your Brain for Expert EspionageWritten in conjunction with a series that involves spy toys. This seemingly small book has a surprisingly large number of real spy facts including the best things to keep in your own spy kit, the connection between the boy scouts and spying, and how to hone your spy skills.

Coming:

Poems:

• Robert’s SnowflakesHaiku based on artists’ snowflakes sold at auction to raise money for cancer research. The entire project was for charity. Read more about it at GraceLin.com.
• Here’s a Little Poem; Me, Myself, and I; Baby Bug — "Ice Cream Cone"A poem about my love for ice cream!
  
  Published in all three of the above.
• Lady Bug — "First Flower"A tiny poem about the first green of spring.
• Spider — "The Lady and the Dinosaurs"An article about two Marys (12-year-old Mary Anning and Mary Ann Mantell) who were early discoverers --some say the earliest-- of dinosaur fossils.
• Falling Down the Page — "Under My Bed"A list poem (the book is a collection of list poems) about the party of items under a bed just before cleaning day.
• Nick Jr. — "My Favorite Time of Year"A poem about the winter holidays that young children can read along (with the help of rhymes and pictures).
• Families, Families — “Sisters” A poem about twin girls (written long before I had twin nieces Caroline and Amelia)

Short Stories:

• Been There, Done That — "Martha Stewart Blues"
• A Joyful Christmas — "Dear Santa" A fictional short story based on my real life daughters written in a series of letters to Santa. It is about Christmas and foster care but mostly it's about family.
• Unexpected: 11 Mysterious Stories — "Max, the Hand, and Me" While on vacation, a boy finds the clues to the mystery of some missing jewelry on the beach with his dog Max.
• Mob Magic (For adults) — “Dream Job”A surreal tale of an assassin who is chased into another realm by the cop who is determined to put an end to the killings.
• What Are You Afraid Of — "Bang, Bang, You're Dead" A boy must conquer his fear of public speaking and deal with the death of a loved one. (In which I manage to get the first bit of my actual 11th grade speech published!)
• Be Careful What you Wish For — "Be Careful What You Wish For"with Jane Yolen
  
  All Lizzy wishes for is her family to be happy again. So, why can't her fairy godmother get it right? Or does Lizzy just have to change her definition of happy?
• Crafty Cat Crimes (For adults) — “Cat Nip” An orange cat won’t leave the scene of the crime and helps solve a perplexing murder.
• Great Writers and Kids Write Spooky Stories — “Daffodils” While visiting her grandmother, a girl discovers a ghost and helps solve a mystery.
• Perchance to Dream — "Holy, Holy, Holy"Ashleigh is a Jewish Unitarian, so she doesn't believe in visions... but, one appears to her anyway.
• Love Letters and Other Stories — “Opening Act” A girl learns about creative process when her brother (loosely based on my own brother Adam) uses her poem as song lyrics.
  
  Also published in Scope Magazine.
• American Girl Magazine — “Dollhouse for Dana” A young girl learns to accept a new step father when he memorializes her late dad in miniature.