World Whale Day

World whale day was actually yesterday, the third Sunday of February. But in my opinion, any day is a good day to celebrate whales. Whales are marvelous, mysterious, powerful, and highly intelligent creatures. They are mammals, like humans: they are … Continue reading →

Antifreeze, Leaf Costumes, and Other Fabulous Fish Adaptations

With this blog I’ve reached the end of my cover reveal party. Antifreeze, Leaf Costumes, and Other Fabulous Fish Adaptations (Nomad Press, August 2020; illustrated by Katie Mazeika) is the last of the five picture books about animal adaptations coming … Continue reading →

Water-Walking, Sidewinding, and Other Remarkable Reptile Adaptations

Cover reveal 4 of 5: Water-Walking, Sidewinding, and Other Remarkable Reptile Adaptations (Nomad Press, August 2020; illustrated by Katie Mazeika). I’ll be honest…I’m not much of a reptile fan. Or at least, I wasn’t. But, in researching these prehistoric creatures, I’ve … Continue reading →

Sunscreen, Frogsicles, and Other Amazing Amphibian Adaptations

The third of the five books in the adaptations picture book series is about amphibians – Sunscreen, Frogsicles, and Other Amazing Amphibian Adaptations (Nomad Press, August 2020; illustrated by Katie Mazeika). Amphibians are the evolutionary link between fish and land-dwelling … Continue reading →

Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations

Today’s adaptations book cover reveal is for the bird book – Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations (Nomad Press, August 2020). I love birds, but researching this book made me appreciate them even more. I have always … Continue reading →

Stink Fights, Earwax, and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations

Last year I was given the incredible honor of writing a series of five nonfiction picture books for Nomad Press about animal adaptations (they will be published in August 2020). I knew right away that I wanted to go beyond … Continue reading →

Exploring

On a Colorado-clear-blue-sky day, on one of those magical mornings blanketed in new snow, I go exploring, high in the mountains. At first the forest seems quiet when there’s snow – it’s still. Almost like everything has stopped to sleep … Continue reading →

It’s a Magical World

We’ve already had a lot of snow this season – it started just before Halloween and seems to keep coming. After every new snowfall I find myself staring at a framed copy of Bill Watterson’s last Calvin and Hobbes comic, … Continue reading →

Reindeer

Given the season, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about reindeer. Or is it caribou? The answer is, it’s both! Reindeer and caribou are, in fact, the same animal. What we call them depends on location. In Europe … Continue reading →

Animal Conservationists

Happy book birthday! Animal Conservationists makes its way into the world this month, celebrating the ongoing work of scientists to save species at risk in the face of climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, and invasive species. The work of these … Continue reading →