LOVE, MAMA is fiction, but the illustrations in the book are based on my research into the animals and built environment on real Antarctic islands. I even had the chance to talk with scientists who work in the Southern Ocean about the animals they saw in their work - and what kind of souvenirs are available in Antarctic research station gift shops. 

Cool facts: 
Chinstrap penguins actually collect rocks.  They will even give them to each other as gifts. (And also fight over them, like human siblings.) 

Kipling and his Mama live on an imaginary island in a real part of the world.  Chinstrap penguins make their homes on the rocky islands in the Weddell Sea - between the southern tip of Argentina and Antarctica. ​ All of the animals in LOVE, MAMA live or migrate in this part of the southern ocean.

This is the southern-most post office in South America - located in Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina. It is staffed by human postal workers, but it looks like birds and seals could easily take over. 

Interested in learning more? 
Download this free educational guide created by Deb Gonzales!  It's full of STEAM-infused activities and printables for K-2 students. All are aligned with common core standards. 

The grand prize gift package includes:

• LOVE, MAMA bookmarks and stickers,
• ​A pack of 10 LOVE, MAMA greeting cards, 
• One of Kipling's favorite books about rocks,
• A hand-knit, child-sized replica of Kipling's scarf made by Cyn Brunelle,
• And wishing rocks from Kipling's collection.

​(Grand prize shipping is limited to continental US) 

Preordering from Books on the Square:
If you preorder LOVE, MAMA directly from Books on the Square, I will sign and personalize it for you.
Call: 401-331-9097 or 1-888-669-9660 (toll free), or,
Order online: BOTS on IndieBound, Check the "pick up in store" box, and write "For LOVE, MAMA launch party January 6th" in the comments box at checkout.
Alternatively, you can preorder from BOTS and have it shipped to your home, and I will sign it on January 2 before it gets mailed to you.  Write in comments box: "Requesting a signed copy" and include the details of the person to whom you would like it addressed.  

It's never to early to plan out your social calendar for that all-important party weekend of January 6th!  Please join me at Books on the Square for a special story hour and book launch PARTY at 11am.  There will be snacks. And books. And crafts.  And what more could you ask for to brighten those post-holiday blahs?

LOVE, MAMA LAUNCH PARTY
Where: Books on the Square, 471 Angell Street, Providence, RI 02906 (Parking in rear or on street)
When: Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 11am. 

Ensure you get a signed copy of LOVE, MAMA by pre-ordering from Books on the Square!
Call: 401-331-9097 or 1-888-669-9660 (toll free), or,
Order online: BOTS on IndieBound, Check the "pick up in store" box, and write "For LOVE, MAMA launch party January 6th" in the comments box at checkout. 
​

Do you want to do something great for your school or library while also helping those affected by hurricane Harvey? Bidding is now open for KidLitCares. Organized by Kate Messner, this fundraiser brings together an amazing amount of talent to offer almost 200 amazing items from book critiques to classroom visits to original art. 

Want to have me visit your classroom or library?  Then bid on my auction item, and receive an awesome package in Winter 2018.  I can teach a mini writing workshop for your K-2 students, talk about the process of writing, or simply read my book aloud for story time. 

I'm offering - as one auction item:

• One Skype classroom/library visit 
• 5 signed copies of LOVE, MAMA
• A signed archival art print of the LOVE, MAMA cover art

Bidding starts at $50.00.

Winning bidders will donate directly to the red cross, and provide a receipt of their tax-deductible donation.

Click on the cover image below to go to the auction page:

And don't take my word for it!  The list of authors, illustrators, editors, and agents who have items available for bidding is amazing.  www.katemessner.com/kidlit-cares-our-hurricane-harvey-relief-effort/Bid on them all! 

Check out the 2018 picture book debut authors & illustrators at our new Epic Eighteen website!

Keep track of what we are up to, and see the latest book cover reveals by checking out our twitter hashtag #epic18.  It's gonna be epic...

I'm celebrating my favorite flightless birds by sharing the cover for my upcoming picture book LOVE, MAMA!

When Mama goes on a trip, her baby penguin Kipling knows she’ll return home soon—yet he still can’t help but miss her. After all, Pillow Mama won’t read, Picture Mama won’t laugh, and Snow Mama is too cold to cuddle.

LOVE, MAMA is being published by Roaring Brook Press, and will be in bookstores in early 2018.  I can't wait to share it with you.

To preorder, ask your favorite indie bookseller for ISBN 978-1-62672-949-0.
Roaring Brook Press, mackids.com

This is both a list of books that make great Valentine’s Day gifts Valentine’s Day love note to some of my favorite picture books, new and old.  Warm fuzzies everywhere.
This year, I am sharing the love by giving books to my children’s teachers and librarians on Valentine’s Day.

Worm Loves Worm
by J. J. Austrian, Illustrated by Mike Curato

Jane Yolen called it “a word perfect (and picture perfect) picture book, and I couldn’t agree more. Worm Loves Worm is a simple story, with simple text, about simple invertebrates, that boils down all the complexities that adults attach to words like marriage to the simple point that love is love.
In Mike Curato’s own words:
“In Worm Loves Worm, no matter the opinions and criticisms of others, Worm and Worm hold fast to what is most important to them: each other… People will love who they love. This is what makes us human. This book is a celebration of love.”
​
Valentine:  Yes, Worm and Worm, it really is that simple. Love you both.

Be a Friend 
by Salina Yoon
Be A Friend is a sweet story about a little boy named Dennis who only communicates through mime. He feels isolated and alone until a classmate, Joy, reaches out to him and they become friends.  Salina Yoon’s illustrations are charming and the simple text lets the visual storyline of acceptance and love shine through.
​
Valentine:  [Gestures unwrapping a gift of Be A Friend] [Hugs self] [Smiles]

Stella Brings the Family
by Miriam B. Schiffer, illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
​
Stella Brings the Family is set on Mother’s Day, but the message of a child’s love for her family is perfect for Valentine’s.  Stella is a little girl with two dads, who is told to invite her mother to a school Mother’s Day party. Unlike the adults in charge of party planning, Stella realizes that her family is really made up of all of the adults who love and support her every day.

 Valentine: Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you!  Really, ALL of you!

I Love You, Stinky Face
by Lisa Mccourt, illustrated by Cyd Moore

An oldie-but-goodie, I Love You Stinky Face is one of my favorite bedtime read-aloud books. The text and illustrations work together to create a comforting, yet silly, reassurance of love and complete acceptance of the child by the mother. The child main character is dressed in gender-neutral clothing and is never identified with a gendered pronoun.
​
Valentine: I made you this Valentine out of bugs and slime. I love you, my little swamp monster. ​

Roaring Brook will be publishing my debut picture book LOVE, MAMA in Winter 2018!

If you are thinking of self-publishing, then your next step is to find an illustrator.  Along comes my super-handy, step-by-step guide to the rescue!

Check out The Indie Publisher's Guide to Hiring (and Working With) an Illustrator and get the answer to all of your questions about hiring an illustrator and seeing your book through the process to indie publication.

The guide contains step-by-step instructions to finding not just any illustrator, but the right illustrator for your book, along with printable worksheets to help you manage your project and write agreements with your illustrator and book designer. It's 57 pages of research, worksheets, and advice on how to navigate the illustration and book design process when you are self-publishing.​

I recently had the opportunity to design a donor wall for Thundermist Community Health Center in Wakefield, RI. The organization has just opened a gorgeous new building, and the donor wall as designed by the architectural firm was not going to work in practice.  I was asked to create a design that fit the distinctive design of the new building, which made use of multicolored acrylic panels inset into the walls in squares and rectangles, in a sort of randomly-scattered-yet-balanced placement. It also needed to fit into an entry space that had existing door opening hand plates, and make use of existing materials.

Here is the end product. Acrylic Lumicor strips in a randomly-staggered-yet-balanced arrangement, with brushed aluminum hardware and donor name plaques. The Thundermist staff wanted the name tags scattered randomly as well, with plenty of room for new donors.
​
This project was very different from a lot of my recent illustration, and challenged me to brush off my old urban planning design skills and think mathematically. It was a lot of fun to work with this great community organization and help them materialize their vision for this donor wall.