“Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved.”

—Jane Goodall

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NOW FOR THE LATEST NEWS…

September 15, 2026 – KEYSTONE PLANTS AND FUNGI (Nomad Press)

Pub day is almost here! KEYSTONE PLANTS AND FUNGI: Discover the Organisms Vital to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity publishes on September 15, 2026. Every species has a role to play in an ecosystem, but some roles are more significant than others. This book explores keystone plants and fungi that can make the difference between a thriving ecosystem and a collapsing one. Oak trees, baobab trees, Brazil nut trees, mangroves, saguaro cacti, and certain flowers, grasses, and fungi are all considered keystone species that other species depend upon and that often form the foundation of ecosystems. This book will be the first of its kind on the market!

July 2026 – Skipping Stone Honor Award

CONSERVATION SUCCES is getting noticed – it earned a Skipping Stones Honor Award! The book reveals many conservation success stories from around the world, spearheaded by nations, collaborations, scientists, towns, and individuals. My hope is that it helps bring attention to both positive news and how indiviudals can make a difference – including kids.

May 15, 2026 – THE OCEAN: Explore a Watery World (Nomad Press)

Pub day for THE OCEAN: Explore a Watery World! Readers will learn about the vital roles the ocean plays on Earth, its history, and many surprising facts about this watery world. Explore the polar oceans, intertidal zones, the shallow ocean, and the open ocean, and discover the incredible biodiversity adapted to living there. Find out how people use and rely on the ocean and how conservationists and scientists around the world are working to protect it.

Read my guest post on Patricia Newman’s LitLinks blog for a lesson plan to create a classroom ocean museum.

April 2026 – Green Earth Book Award Short List

So happy to see CONSERVATION SUCCES on the Green Earth Book Award recommended reading list! This book was one of my favorites to write – it filled me with hope. Despite what we read and hear on the news, I discovered countless successful science-based conservation efforts going on all over the world, led by people dedicated to making a difference!

March 2026 – Blueberry Educator Resources List

CONSERVATION SUCCES is also on the 2025 Blueberry Educator Resources List!!! It was evaluated by early childhood development and curricular specialists on the Blueberry Committee and recommended as a book to support teachers and curriculum.

November 3, 2025 – THE FORT featured on SPOTLIGHTS on Picture Books!

I was honored to learn that my picture book, THE FORT (Page Street Kids, 2020), was featured on a SPOTLIGHTS on Picture Book‘s post highlighting finding common ground. The post also details Relationship Skills outlined in the CASEL SEL Framework. It was always my hope that THE FORT could serve as an example of compromise and collaboration! Thank you for spotlighting my book!

November 2025 – NCTE is in Denver

I’ll be at the Rocky Mountain SCBWI table all day Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22 (booth 1026). Book signing for CONSERVATION SUCCESS on Friday, from 12:00-1:00 pm.

SEPTEMBER 2025 – WACKY CONTRAPTIONS: Gadgets That Whiz, Whoosh, Whirl, and Twist (Nomad Press)

The second contraptions book publishes this month! The first, CRAZY CONTRAPTIONS (Nomad Press, 2019) focused on building Rube Goldberg contraptions using the six simple machines. This second one, WACKY CONTRAPTIONS, revisits the simple machines, but also focuses on other physics concepts using tension, magnets, water, gears, electricity, and chemical reactions to build the chain-reaction contraptions. Throughout the book, young engineers ages 9-12 use the engineering design process to brainstorm, design, and build wacky, chain-reaction contraptions that perform simple tasks in overly complicated and humorous ways. A classroom guide is available here.

JUNE 2025 – Skipping Stones Honor Award

I was delighted to learn that my book, KEYSTONE SPECIES: Meet the Animals Key to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity earned a Skipping Stones Honor Award in the nature appreciation category! Winners were chosen because the book encourage a deeper aware-ness of nature, ecology, and diversity.

MAY 2025 – Conservation Success: Protecting Wild Spaces and Species (Nomad Press)

In CONSERVATION SUCCES, young scientists ages 9-12 discover different conservation efforts around the world. Learn about the individuals, scientists, organizations, and countries involved in protecting species, habitats, and our planet! From returning lynx to the Colorado high country and recovering the population of California condors to turning poachers into wildlife protectors and transforming dumps and golf courses into thriving habitats, these conservation success stories offer hope and inspiration along with scientific explanations on why these efforts work.

This title offers an impressive breadth of information covering various types of conservation. So many success stories paired with an optimistic yet ­matter-­of-fact tone should inspire readers to action. ~School Library Journal

MAY 2025 – LitLinks Guest Blog Post – Conservation Success

Visit Patricia Newman’s LitLinks for my guest post, “How to Use Conservation to Invigorate Student Writing.” The post includes background information on conservation and a scaffolded lesson plan on researching and writing conservation stories, adaptable for most grade levels.

APRIL 2025 – GREEN EARTH BOOK AWARD – 2025 SHORT LIST

I am honored and thrilled to announce that KEYSTONE SPECIES (Nomad Press, 2024) is on the short list for the 2025 Green Earth Book Award!

FEBRUARY 7, 2025 – Nonfiction Ninja’s Guest Blog Post

Take part in the Nonfiction Ninja’s Nonfiction Fest! While you’re at it, check out my guest post about structural engineering for your nonfiction. The post explores the many different text structures in expository literature that make nonfiction engaging and accessible to you

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

I will be at CCIRA conference in Denver! At 9:30 I will be at the SCBWI table; at 12:30 I will be part of the Picture Book Speed Dating Session (a great way to meet our region’s authors and illustrators, and to learn more about their books and school visits); at at 2:00 you can attend my presentation, The Power of the Picture Book. Come by to say hello!

OCTOBER 18, 2024

I was amazed and honored to discover that YOUR SUSTAINABLE WORLD: A Kid’s Guide to Everyday Choices That Help the Planet! is on Live Science‘s List of Best Science Books for Kids and Young Adults!!! The review reads, in part: Packed with helpful tips and advice, Your Sustainable World is sure to inspire children to make more environmentally friendly choices.” That is the goal!!!

OCTOBER 2, 2024

I am honored to be featured in a School Library Journal article, “A Natural Sense of Wonder: Laura Perdew Talks Books.” It is based on a conversation I had with my long-time editor and friend, Andi Diehn at Nomad, about the journey of the KEYSTONE SPECIES book, my goals as an author, and conservation. Check it out!

OCTOBER 2024 – Beth Anderson’s Especially for Educators blog – Your Sustainable World

On Beth Anderson’s blog, I share lessons to incorporate sustainability in the classroom in my guest post, “What Can I Do? Using Books to Inspire Action.” Show kids that there are many ways kids can help protect the planet in their everyday lives.

OCTOBER 2024 – LitLinks Guest Blog Post – Keystone Species

Visit Patricia Newman’s LitLinks for lesson plan ideas to connect language arts and STEM in my guest post, “How Keystone Species Can Unlock Students’ Writing Skills.” The post includes background information on keystone species and several lesson plans.

OCTOBER 2024: Keystone Species: Meet the Animals Key to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity

In KEYSTONE SPECIES, readers ages 9 to 12 are introduced to several different types of keystone species from around the world as they discover the crucial roles these animals play in their ecosystems. Meet the predators, herbivores, ecosystem engineers, mutualists, and foundational species that all play a keystone role in regulating an ecosystem. Investigate how these ecosystems function, learn about threats to wolves, sharks, beavers, alligators, flying foxes, bees, wildebeests, bison, and coral, and dive into what happens when these species disappear. Throughout the book, find stories about science-based conservation practices that inspire kids to do their part in protecting their own environments.

SEPTEMBER 2024 – LitLinks Guest Blog Post – Your Sustainable World

Educators, check out my guest blog post on Patricia Newman’s LitLinks about discussions and activities around sustainability for the classroom: “Show Kids How to Make Choices for a Sustainable World”

SEPTEMBER 28-29, 2024 – RMC SCBWI Letters & Lines Conference

The annual RMC Letters & Lines conference is coming soon! I’m offering two breakout sessions. Structural Engineering…for Your Nonfiction on Saturday will cover many of the various, innovative text structures for nonfiction and what might work best for your manuscript or idea. And on Sunday, join me for DIY Master Class to learn tricks and tips to design your own class tailored to your needs, interests, time, and finances. There are many other breakout sessions and keynotes throughout the weekend. Register now for a weekend full of information, making connections, and all things writing and illustrating related!

AUGUST 2024: YOUR SUSTAINABLE WORLD: A Kid’s Guide to Everyday Choices That Help the Planet!

It’s your world, so make it a sustainable one! Learn how small, everyday choices can lead to big, positive changes for the planet–from how you use energy to what you wear, eat, and buy. Packed full of tips and relevant actions for kids to take, this is an empowering guide for any young reader looking to help the environment and make a difference. Get ready to go green and create a sustainable lifestyle, one choice at a time!

Want to know more? Read this review from Joni McNeal at Travel at Travel Nitch; their mission statement reads, “We transform young explorers into culturally conscious leaders who will drive meaningful change in our global community.”

FEBRUARY 8-9, 2024: CCIRA Conference on Literacy, Westin Hotel, Westminster, CO

I’ll be there in person! On Thursday you can find me at the RMC-SCBWI table in the exhibitor’s hall from 2:00-4:00. Then Friday morning at 7:30 I am presenting with fellow RMC members Chris Liu-Perkins and Julie Danneberg,  “Real Research. Real Thinking. Real Learning.” We will share strategies for research that we’ve learned through experience that are easily translatable to a classroom, making research more relatable (and hopefully more interesting) to kids.

DECEMBER 9, 2023: Webinar, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm (Mountain Time)

Join me virtually for my presentation, A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO BREAKING INTO & WRITING FOR THE EDUCATION MARKET. Learn about the opportunities the education market has for freelance authors. This presentation provides a step-by-step guide to breaking into this market including how to approach educational publishers and generate a writing sample (even if you are pre-published!). I will also discuss how to choose assignments, research topics, write to assigned specs and reading levels, revise according to editorial feedback, and keep records. In addition, there will be time for Q&A at the end of the presentation. You can register here.

AUGUST 2023: SKIPPING STONES HONOR AWARD

Tour the Tundra, part of my Biome Explorers picture book series, is one of Skipping Stones’ award winners. In the nature category, these books are chosen because they promote a deeper understanding of nature and ecology. I’m honored to be on this list!

SEPTEMBER 9-10, 2023 – RMC SCBWI Letters and Lines Conference

I’ll be at the annual RMC-SCBWI Letters and Lines conference in September. Come join us for a fun-filled, information filled weekend with fellow authors and illustrators!

FALL 2022 – Guest Blog Posts

If you want ideas for how to use the BIOME EXPLORERS series in the classroom, check out these guest blog posts:

• Beth Anderson’s Especially for Educators: “Using Picture Books to Create a Classroom Museum”
• Patricia Newman’s LitLinks: “3 Easy Ways to Explore Earth’s Biomes“

AUGUST 2022: Picture Book Science Series – BIOME EXPLORERS (Nomad Press)

MARCH 2021: Picture Book Science Series – SPACE (Nomad Press)

“This visually appealing set in the Picture Book Science series (4 new titles) offers solid introductions to four members of our solar system. Age appropriate, easily digestible explanations describe the origins of each entity, how it evolved to its current state, how it affects human life, and what its future may hold. The text also addresses concerns, such as air, water, and light pollution, and concludes with a nicely designed activity.”  Read the full review here. — Booklist

“The universe brags about one of its best and favorite parts. Depicted as human with lightly toned skin and billows of black hair a-glimmer with stars, Universe squires two wisecracking ETs past the planets (“a pretty neat system, if I do say so myself”), then recaps the history of this one from “hot, bubbly, gassy mess” through the development of life to the appearances of satellites and pizza. In simple language she explains the roles oceans, the water cycle, and our planet’s placement in the “Goldilocks” zone played in the appearance of us…” — Kirkus Reviews

“With an upbeat tone and comic-book feel, The Earth: One-of-a-Kind Planet introduces young readers to Earth’s origins and development…a wonderful introduction to our amazing planet.” Read the full review here. — Katie Caprino, educator, writer, parent

This is a fun read, which incorporates lots of humor while bringing across the basic information surrounding the sun. The author takes a unique twist by bringing small aliens into a conversation with the sun…and all of that with bright and bold illustrations.” Read the full review here.  — Tonja Drecker, Bookworm for Kids blog

AUGUST 2020: Picture Book Science Series  – ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS! (Nomad Press)

“Through layered, mischievous illustrations and detailed back matter, the Picture Book Science series plies young readers with a ton of useful facts about how all sorts of animals have evolved to survive in their environments…classroom-friendly and fun, too.” — Booklist

Read more reviews here.

APRIL 2020: THE FORT

The Fort (Page Street Kids) has launched into the world! It celebrates the power of imagination and compromise, and the magic of a fort.

“Rich text and lush illustrations transport the reader into the children’s imaginations. The standard theme of cooperation and using one’s imagination feels fresh thanks to a diverse cast and reversal of gender stereotypes. With its eye-catching art, important message, and just the right amount of pirate talk, this is a strong addition to picture-book collections.”  — Booklist

“The illustrations bring the children’s imaginations to life on the page, turning the fort into lush scenes depending on the beholder, leaving it simple and ragged only when the two argue. The values of imagination and collaboration are conveyed without a heavy hand.” — Kirkus Reviews

MARCH 2020: CELEBRATE BIODIVERSITY

I am proud to announce that Biodiversity: Explore the Diversity of Life on Earth (Nomad Press, 2019) is one of the Booklist editors’ Top 10 Books on the Environment & Sustainability for Youth 2020! It also earned a starred review from Booklist (April 2019) and is a Junior Library Guild selection (May 2019). I am so honored, and I hope this will help kids learn about the amazing biodiversity on our planet and what we can all do to preserve it! Click on the cover for more information about biodiversity.

NOVEMBER 2019: GOOD NEWS FOR CONTRAPTIONS

I’m proud to announce that School Library Journal gave Crazy Contraptions: Build Rube Goldberg Machines That Swoop, Spin, Stack, and Swivel a very positive review! If you subscribe, click here. If not, here’s the VERDICT: A delight for all budding engineers in elementary grades who, as Perdew puts it, “like to think of complex ways to accomplish simple tasks.”

Also read SLJ’s article, “Make It! Draw It! Build It! 11 Books To Inspire Intergenerational Family Activities,” that includes contraptions!