I AM SO HAPPY TODAY!

I get to REVEAL THE COVER of my third debut picture book of 2019!

FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN: AN ANIMAL COUNTING BOOK

I’m absolutely head over heels in love with the incredible woodcuts that illustrator Mirka Hokkanen created.

Just take a peek inside at the first spread:

Published by Pomegranate Kids, the book launches on March 15, 2019, but you can preorder it on Amazon or from Indiebound or if you want a signed copy, you can order it from my local indie, Toadstool Bookshop. I also plan to have bookplates that I will sign and send to people who buy a book from their own local bookstore or from Amazon.

The story has a very special place in my heart because it was inspired by the fly fishing trips I took with my husband when we lived in Colorado. The pristine mountain river habitats we frequented were home to many endangered species: kit fox, yellow mud turtle, peregrine falcon, and of course, river otter. 

Note to parents and teachers: the back matter is fabulous! We’ve created a glossary that includes details about each of these animals…and the kids will LOVE the fun facts. Do you know which is the fastest animal on the planet? The peregrine falcon who tops 242 miles per hour as it dives to the ground to pick up prey. And as parents, we sometimes complain because our babies need frequent feedings. How about the yellow-billed cuckoos who feed their young THIRTY-ONE times a day!

A huge thank you to my critique buddies who saw this lyrical piece years ago when it was titled: Visitors to Deep Pool, an idea that was born during Tara Lazar’s Storystorm Challenge . I’m also extremely grateful to my agent, Essie White, who fell in love with this manuscript and had a vision to pair it with the woodcuts of one of her illustrators, Mirka Hokkanen – pure genius! And of course, I so appreciate the PomegranateKids team who are bringing this story to life in such a beautiful book which I know children will enjoy as they count the animals, listen to the music of the lyrical language. and discover how conservation efforts can reap great rewards.

I hope you all have a wonderful week. Thank you for letting me share my good news with you…and I hope you will spread the word about FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN!