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Backyard Stew
AVAILABLE NOW!
An Instant USA Today Bestseller!
From the author of TRUNK GOES THUNK! A WOODLAND TALE OF OPPOSITES comes another exploration of the wonder and fun that can be found just outside your back door.
It can happen anywhere…before you know it, you are BORED! But being bored is the BEST place to start in this fun, interactive adventure that encourages kids to explore the natural world and find ingredients for their very own Backyard Stew. As they tap the tops of wild strawberries, wiggle wild onions out of the ground, and rub every dandelion, young readers will delight in making this tried and true “recipe” over and over again. Especially when they discover the secret ingredient!
The vibrant, watercolor illustrations capture rich, natural details and the interactive concept will delight fans of Press Here and Tap the Magic Tree. Perfect for elementary classrooms, early-grade science teachers, interactive story times, and fun read-alouds at home.
Praise for Backyard Stew
“…a blithe example of imaginative play that’s certain to stir up readers’ own originality.” – Publishers Weekly
“A great inspiration for treating the school vacation blues or starting a unit about exploring nature. A good addition to any collection.” – School Library Journal
“A friendly, fun read-aloud for small, silly children and caregivers seeking to inspire a creative spark.” – Kirkus Reviews
Order Now:
For signed, personalized copies, place an order through my local bookstore, Snail on the Wall, for shipment anywhere in the continental U.S.
See More:
Order Now!
For signed, personalized copies, pre-order through my local bookstore, Snail on the Wall, for shipment anywhere in the continental U.S.
Trunk Goes Thunk
Whoosh! Crash! Thunk! Follow along as the LOUD sounds of a falling tree signal the transformation of a QUIET area of the forest into a flourishing center of activity.
This lyrical nonfiction story uses word opposites such as small and large, dark and light, high and low, and fast and slow to introduce young readers to the natural recycling of fallen timber into log bridges. From bears, porcupines and raccoons to eagles, mice and deer, a host of forest animals repurpose a fallen tree, connecting two sides of a stream together throughout the seasons.
A carefully-chosen color palette of soothing natural colors and a charming collection of characters bring the playful prose to life in what is certain to become a storytime or bedtime favorite and a go-to book for early elementary science and language arts teachers.
Praise for Trunk Goes Thunk
- Winner of the SCBWI Crystal Kite Honor Award – Southeast Division
- A 2025 Baker’s Dozen Award Winner
- A 2025 Keystone to Reading Preschool List Nominee
- California Reading Association Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award – Committee Pick
“A cozy, lushly illustrated introduction to opposites and wildlife.” – Kirkus Reviews
“This offering is a step (or three!) up from typical opposite books and a welcome foray into the natural world.” – Booklist
“A lively look at opposites that is a useful teaching tool and an examination of the many animals in a busy forest. A recommended purchase.” – School Library Journal
Order Now!
For signed, personalized copies, pre-order through my local bookstore, Snail on the Wall, for shipment anywhere in the continental U.S.
The Haunted States of America
I am thrilled that my short, ghost story – White Thing – is the Alabama story in this spine-tingling anthology.
HAUNTED STATES OF AMERICA is a collection of fifty-two short stories, one for each of the fifty states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Nationally known or relatively unheard of, based in fact or based entirely on local legends, these stories capture the spooky side of the U.S. All story authors were chosen from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) membership.
Published by Godwin Books/Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing.
Praise for The Haunted States of America
“An entertaining, fright-filled geographical tour.” – Kirkus Reviews
Pre-Order TODAY!
For signed, personalized copies, place an order through my local bookstore, Snail on the Wall, for shipment anywhere in the continental U.S.
Dribble Shoot Swish: A Basketball Story
Coming March 2, 2027 from Gnome Road Publishing!
From the author of the national bestseller, Backyard Stew, comes an energetic story about the sport of basketball, from the sights and sounds on the court, to the community that can be found in gyms all around the world.
CJ loves basketball. He loves the rhythm of the game, the bump on the ball as he dribbles, the squeak of his sneakers on the court, and most of all, the swish of the ball as it slides through the net. And today is the day of the big game CJ and his teammates have been practicing. They warm up and wait for the buzzer to blare. Then BAAA – the game begins Together with the coaches and fans, CJ and his teammates dribble and shoot and swish to win.
Full of immersive language and energetic rhyme, Dribble, Shoot, Swish, captures the community that comes together to make basketball the lively game that it is.
Releasing just in time for March Madness!
Pre-Order TODAY!
For signed, personalized copies, place an order through my local bookstore, Snail on the Wall, for shipment anywhere in the continental U.S.
