Tag Archives: STEM

Cover Reveal: THE OCEAN’S HEART: The Tiny Creatures Essential to Life

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Hip hip hooray!!! Time to lift the curtain and REVEAL a beautiful new picture book COVER!

And this one is for a dear friend, author Jilanne Hoffman who has a new book launching March 3, 2026 from Millbrook Press, illustrated by the amazing Khoa Le.

TA-DA!!!

There is so much we don’t know about the oceans…and just look at this cover!!!! It hints at the mysteries that still are yet to be explored.
And we are so lucky because Jilanne stopped by to share a little bit about the book and why she wrote it.
ME: Welcome, Jilanne! Thank you so much for stopping by. Can you tell us a little bit about the book…and the story behind the story?

JILANNE: Thank you for having me, Vivian. It’s great to be here on Picture Books Help Kids Soar. I’d love to tell you a little bit about the bookAnd here’s

Plunge far below the ocean’s surface where billions of restless animals called zooplankton (including jellyfish) dwell in the Twilight Zone. Some are tiny, some enormous, and most are exquisitely beautiful. The setting sun cues their journey to surface waters for a midnight feast on trillions of tiny plants (and each other). It’s a daunting, perilous, nightly migration that transforms the dark ocean into a carnival of lights amidst a feeding frenzy in this eat before being eaten world—a journey that’s vital to all life on Earth.    

And here’s what inspired me to write the story:

When I was writing A River of Dust, I discovered that NASA’s CALIPSO satellite not only measured the North African dust that flies across the Atlantic, it also recorded the massive nightly migration of zooplankton in the ocean. First, I was astounded that a satellite could do this, but then as I learned more about these delicate, beautiful animals, and that they’re in danger, I knew I had to share what I’d learned with kids. The marine biologist from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) who reviewed THE OCEAN’S HEART at every step, Dr. Steven Haddock, was extraordinarily helpful. He’s taken blackwater photos of many of the creatures shown in the book (some that are so new to scientists, they have not yet been named). In fact, Khoa used MBARI photos and videos extensively to inform her illustrations since the action of the story is based in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. And the luminous illustration used on both end papers is based on a satellite view of the bay. I also want to add that Haddock has a coffee table book (co-authored with Sönke Johnsen), called THE RADIANT SEA: Color and Light in the Underwater World, hot off the presses from Abrams. It features such stunning photography of these creatures, I knew I had to own it, and I plan to use it during school visits. 

No path to publication is totally smooth.
The manuscript had been out on submission for some time, and most editors said they liked the story but “didn’t have a vision” for how to turn the manuscript into a picture book, so they had passed. One of my longtime critique partners, Katy Tanis— a terrific illustrator—was getting frustrated with these responses, because, to her, it was obvious. So she put together a “vision board” using a variety of images from other books. It was amazing. When Carol Hinz expressed interest in the book, but said something similar, I asked my agent to send her what Katy had pulled together. Carol liked what she saw, and decided it was doable. So that clinched the deal. 

Jilanne’s bio: Jilanne Hoffmann is an industrial engineer turned author with an MFA in creative writing. Her children’s books focus on the environment, natural wonders, and how we’re all connected on this tiny blue planet. In addition to THE OCEAN’S HEART, Jilanne has a middle grade novel in prose and verse, HEARTLAND, forthcoming from Little Brown in July 2026. Her published books include A River of Dust: The Life-giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon (2023), which received a PW starred review, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, a Crystal Kite, was named an ALA Notable and Bank Street Best for 2024, and received the Louis J. Battan Author Award (K-12) from the American Meteorological Society. She’s also the author of two nonfiction board books for young explorers, Happy Camper (Amazon editor’s pick) and The Honey Bear Hive. Jilanne lives on the California coast with her husband, son, and rescue dog. For more info check out her linktree.

Khoa’s bio: Khoa Le is the author and illustrator of numerous picture books. Alongside Khoa’s love for reading, art, and music, she draws inspiration from her travels, discovering the beauty of the world—particularly through her deep love for the ocean and all things connected to it. Khoa finds peace in her small studio in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, accompanied by her beloved cats, and she also cherishes the tranquility of nature. See more of Khoa’s work on her website.

PREORDER LINK for signed copies, bookmarks and stickers from my local indie,Noe Valley Bookstore. If you would like it personalized, please put instructions in the note during checkout. Those who order through my local indie will receive bookmarks, stickers, and CALIPSO satellite magnets.

Thank you so much, dear Jilanne, for sharing all of this with us. I’m so excited for this beautiful book! It’s coming out right during #50PreciousWords…that’s so exciting.

And, dear blog readers, we all know how we can help books like this one become a success and get into the hands of the young people who need them. We can:

Ask our local library to purchase copies
Tell friends about the book (Please share this on social media)
Review the book on Amazon, B&N or other review sites

BUY THE BOOK:

Preorder Link for Bookshop.org
Preorder Link for Barnes & Noble
Preorder Link for Amazon

Thank you for spending your precious time with us, dear friends. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: LIZARD INVASION

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I always love featuring books that entertain and educate…and when they are written by dear kid lit folks I have met in person, that makes it even more enjoyable! Author Marta Magellan and I met at NCTE in Boston last November…and it was wonderful! And so, when I discovered that one of her books has been updated, I knew I’d want to share it with you. PLUS, Marta stopped by to share the story behind the story.


Written by Marta Magellan

Illustrated by Mauro Magellan

Published by Eifrig (Update printing September 15, 2025

Ages: 5 and up

Themes: Lizards, Animal Habitat, STEM

Why I Love This Book:
1. I love books that entertain and educate – books that spark a child’s interest and get them to want to know more!
2. I love books that can be enjoyed at home as well as used in the classroom!
3. I love books that provide young readers with great illustrations and photos!

And now the promised treat…a visit from author Marta.
Welcome, my friend! Thank you for stopping by to chat with us. Can you tell us a little bit about the book…and how it came to be?

MARTA: Thank you so much, Vivian. I’m so happy to visit Picture Books Help Kids Soar.
Synopsis: 
The little green lizard called the Carolina or green anole is the only native anole in the United States, and it is in trouble. An invasion of lizards from other countries is taking their territory, eating their eggs, even eating them. Green anoles are important to gardens and forests because they are unintentional pollinators. As they search for insects to eat, they spread pollen and help plants grow. Green anoles belong here, but the invading lizards moving into Florida from other areas are more aggressive. Will the little green anole survive? 

How I came to write the book:

For some reason, I love watching lizards. I even had several lizards for pets until I decided wild animals belong in the wild. Back in 2009, I wrote a book titled Those Lively Lizards for Pineapple Press, a Florida regional publishing house. A librarian in the north of Florida found it on her stack and suggested it be used for a summer workshop called Nature Detectives, sponsored by the St. Augustine Garden Club. They invited me to present the book. The St. Augustine Garden Club gave each child a plant, and they were willing to buy the kids who attended a book, too. Those Lively Lizards was about all types of lizards from anoles to Komodo dragons, and my presentation had nothing to do with pollination (which is what they wanted). So my book just wasn’t quite right for them (I had heard that before–the story of my writing life–“it’s not the right fit for us” LOL). 

Five years later, the director of the program wrote to me again. She wanted a book solely on anoles, the small kinds that unintentionally pollinate plants, and she asked me to recommend one. I could not find any still in print. A small independent publisher, Eifrig Publishing (a PAL publisher with SCBWI), had just published my picture book, The Nutty Little Vulture, which my brother, Mauro Magellan had illustrated. I proposed a book about anoles to Penny Eifrig, and she said she would publish it with a caveat “…if Mauro illustrates it.” Anole Invasion was published in 2019. Since then, every book but one that I wrote for Eifrig Publishing has been illustrated by Mauro (interspersed with photographs). Together we have created several books about pollinators, and the garden club always uses them for their Nature Detectives workshops. He also illustrated one we wrote for Pineapple Press, Python Catchers, Saving the Everglades, about the Burmese python invasion.

Why an update?

Five years after using Anole Invasion in the St. Johns County libraries, the director of the Nature Detectives workshops, Cathy Snyder, wrote that she wanted to use it again (they usually bought from 200-250 copies). In those short few years, Florida has been overrun with nonnative reptiles. You might have heard about the Burmese pythons that invaded the Everglades, but all kinds of reptiles now call Florida home. Because Eifrig is a small publisher, she had run out of copies of the original, so she agreed to update the book when Cathy Snyder suggested it. The person listed as Science Editor, Kirsten Hines, is a herpetologist, who is environmentally focused, and she once again vetted the manuscript. We changed the title to Lizard Invasion because now all kinds of lizards are invading the little native lizard’s territory, not just anoles. My brother also redesigned the cover to be bolder and cleaner, and the publisher listed it and got a new ISBN number. Those leaves are design elements; I don’t think Mauro illustrated them. He illustrated the lizards on page 4, 10, 15, 19, 20, 23, and the cover. I am attaching a photo of both of us if you need it.

Other information:

The only one of the Eifrig books Mauro did not illustrate was Amazing, Misunderstood Bats, which sold to schools and even to use as a mentor text in an education class at Columbia University. Although Eifrig Publishing is a very small publisher, it has been delightful writing for Penny Eifrig. I love presenting the pollinator books to children all over Florida, and especially to the Nature Detectives workshops. The kids enjoy getting a new book, signed by the author and a plant to boot. It’s a great program.

Bios:

Author Marta Magellan and Illustrator Mauro Magellan are a brother and sister team who have collaborated on picture books focused on conservation and wildlife. Almost all their books have won honors from Eureka! Nonfiction Award, Green Earth Book Award, Florida Book Award Bronze, Crystal Kite and more. Marta spent most of her career teaching English Composition, Creative Writing and as advisor to the literary magazine at Miami Dade College. Now she writes full time. Mauro is a songwriter as well as an author, illustrator, and drummer with the band Dan Baird and Homemade Sin. 

Lizard Invasion will be in print on Amazon and Barnes & Noble September 15. It is also available in print in advance on the Eifrig website from June 15.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lizard-Invasion-Floridas-Little-Survival/dp/1632334062/ (until Sept. 14, Kindle only)

Amazon link for the paperback updated version which should be available Septembeer 15.

Eifrig Publishing: https://www.eifrigpublishing.com/products/anole-invasion 

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us. If you love the books that are featured here, I hope you will help them become successful. You can:
Buy the book
Review the book
Tell friends about the book (Please share this post on social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Book Birthday: PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN: How Science Saved a Species

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YES! YES! YES! It’s time to sing Happy Birthday to another beautiful new book! And this book has a VERY SPECIAL back story…this book was an Honorable Mention in the 2022 #50PreciousWords Contest. If you check yesterday’s blog post where we announced the prize winners and Honorable Mentions, who knows how many books-in-the-making you will find!

Author Jessica Stremer is such a fabulous writer…and her books are incredible. And what a wonderful partnership the editor created when they signed on Gordy Wright to do the illustrations!! The cover invites and intrigues…and the reader can’t wait to open the book to see more!

And we are so lucky…Jessica stopped by to chat…and to share her story behind the story of how her #50PreciousWords entry became a REAL BOOK!!!

ME: WELCOME, Jessica. thank you for stopping by.

JESSICA: Thank you so much for having me, Vivian. I’m excited to share how PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN came to be a book.

Pelicans are one of my favorite birds. I tried writing a story about them years ago, but it just wasn’t working, primarily I think because it was missing the “so what” factor.

In early 2022, my family and I took a trip up the coast of California when I began brainstorming ideas for the 50 Precious Words competition. Pelicans once again popped into my head. My books GREAT CARRIER REEF and LIGHTS OUT both have a hopeful environmental theme and I wondered if I could find a way to incorporate that approach into my entry.  Here’s what I came up with:

Soaring

Skimming

Climbing

Spotting

Diving

Splashing

Scooping

Gulping

Toxins leaching

Silently building . . .

Courting

Nesting

Shells thinning

Eggs crushing

Numbers dwindling

Pelicans needing

            HELP

Researchers observing

Laws changing

Toxin banning

Scientists offering

            HOPE

Eggs hatching

Numbers growing . . .

Chicks chirping

Feathers molting

Fledging

Flapping

Lifting

Flying

Species SURVIVING

Pelicans on Parade

That entry received honorable mention and had a lot of my critique partners excited, so I decided to flush it out into a full picture book manuscript, sticking to the sparse language while working in some layered text for additional context.

My editor loved the concept, but wanted the layered text incorporated into the main body of the manuscript. She also had the brilliant suggestion to add a few spreads about animals that are currently at risk to show that there is more work to be done. Each revision was a lot of work and I’m really proud of how this book turned out.

I was also excited when my editor said that Gordy Wright, who also illustrated my debut picture book GREAT CARRIER REEF, signed on to also illustrate this book. His work elevates the story to a whole new level.

I’m grateful to Vivian for continuing the 50 Precious Words competition. Without her PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN wouldn’t exist.

ME: AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU, JESSICA, FOR WRITING SUCH BEAUTIFUL BOOKS!!!

Inside spread from Plight of the Pelicans – text by Jessica Stremer & art by Gordy Wright

Dear friends, here’s a little bit about how you can buy this book and how to find out more about Jessica and Gordy.

Here is the link to the publisher’s website.
Signed copies of the book can be purchased through Books and Company. 

Jessica Stremer is a children’s book writer with a background in biology and ecology. Her passion lies in inspiring curiosity, wonder, and respect for our natural world. Jessica’s debut picture book, Great Carrier Reef, also illustrated by Gordy Wright, was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection and received two starred reviews. She lives in Wisconsin with her family.

Gordy Wright is an illustrator and printmaker who paints by hand in gouache and acrylic. Recent projects include Wild In the Streets by Marilyn Singer, and Strange But True by Kathryn Hulic, as well as Great Carrier Reef, by Jessica Stremer, which received two starred reviews. Gordy graduated with a first class degree in illustration from the University of the West of England, and lives in Bristol.

Thank you so much, dear friends, for spending your precious time with us here. And thank you for the books bought at Toadstool Bookshop in Keene for the #50PreciousWords Literacy Initiative that is supporting the Children’s Literacy Foundation’s work in supplying books to underserved schools in Vermont and New Hampshire. And thank you to all who mailed books to me…those will be delivered to Sunset Heights Elementary School in Nashua, NH this month.