In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the publication of the New York Times bestselling picture book 14 Cows for America, Peachtree’s President and Publisher Margaret Quinlin reflects on the creation and development of the book. 

Q: What was your reaction the first time you saw the work that would become 14 Cows for America?

A: Often a first look at a manuscript requires seeing beyond what is before you, imagining what a work can become. That was not so with 14 Cows for America. Our first look saw a near perfect work. Our challenge was to bring the story to life with the right illustrator.

And that was easier said than done. How best to approach this challenge? The work was nonfiction, so a realistic treatment seemed right, but given the poetry of the words and the grand nature of the gift at the heart of the story, we needed art with beauty and strong aesthetic.

Q: How did you discover artist Thomas Gonzalez?

A: Carmen and I spent many hours discussing illustrator possibilities. During these deliberations but quite apart from them, Carmen’s family and Tom Gonzalez’s family met at a gathering of Cuban refugees in Atlanta and shared information about their children. Because Tom and Carmen were both artists, their parents thought they should meet. So they did! Carmen gave Tom a few of the manuscripts she was working on to provide insight into the publishing process. Tom already had a long career in commercial art, including as art director at Coca Cola. Carmen told me about Tom, how talented she thought he was, and that he was interested in illustrating.

Out of the blue, I got an email from Tom containing developed sketches in color for 14 Cows for America! He had selected this manuscript from the ones Carmen had given him, and he was so inspired by it that he sat down and began to sketch. Resistance was futile for me: despite having been intent on other directions in the choice of illustrator, Tom’s art slipped into my brain and lodged itself there. It became the visual depiction of the story for me. One of the most powerful images showed fourteen herders’ staffs against a blue sky. He had imagined this as a cover illustration, and we worked with that image for a time, but later decided that the cover needed an image more iconic of Africa. In the end we selected the landscape scene with an acacia tree for the cover. We used the illustration of the staffs on the back endpapers. The opening of the book, including the front endpapers, is dominated by a red-orange palette, and the conclusion of the book moves to a sky-blue palette. For us, this was symbolic of the story which began with the fiery chaos of hate and ended with acceptance and love represented by the cool color of sky blue. This design decision is one of my favorite artistic elements in the book.

We decided to offer Tom the opportunity to illustrate the book. This meant making a commitment to work very closely with him as he developed the artwork to ensure that it adhered to the traditions of a children’s picture book because this would be his first effort. Tom threw himself into the process and was willing to go back again and again to make everything right. I admire him for this so very much.

Q: How did Kimeli Naiyomah become involved with the book?

A: Carmen and I began to think carefully about the story and the figure at the heart of it: Kimeli Naiyomah, the young Maasai warrior who had been studying at Stanford and was in NYC on 9/11 visiting with the Kenyan ambassador at the UN. He was a person living in the world; this was his story. We decided that we could not move forward without locating him and securing his agreement on our use of the story in a children’s picture book. This was a scary decision. We both loved the story and the manuscript, and we now had an illustrator who could help us bring it to life. What if Kimeli did not want us to proceed?

We had no choice. Contacting Kimeli was the right thing to do.

We located Kimeli through the Stanford alumni office, and Carmen sent an email to him. We waited. Soon an email came in return: he was very interested and had been developing notes himself for a memoir. Carmen called Kimeli and they talked for hours. We later met with him and found him to be such a remarkable young man, a great storyteller in his own right, and wise beyond his years. Carmen offered to bring him into the project as a collaborator. While she had written the manuscript and would retain full authorial control, Kimeli would vet the text and the artwork for us, and he would write an afterword for the book.

Kimeli was a wonderful addition to the group, and we had many productive sessions with him and Tom and Loraine Joyner, Peachtree’s art director at the time. Slowly we saw the book take shape.

Q: How did you feel when you finally published 14 Cows for America?

A: In part, I was nervous. I loved the book, and when you love a project you are working on that much, you hope your instincts are not tricking you. Each of us involved with the development of the book regarded it as sacred—as sacred as the gift made by the Maasai. We shared a commitment to keeping the story alive and making it accessible to children. In the end, my worries were not necessary. The response was overwhelming. Ellen Myrick was the first person outside of Peachtree to see the early proofs, and I knew by her reaction that we had accomplished what we set out to do.

Q: How have the literary, library, and education communities received the book over the ten years it’s been in print?

A: Over these past ten years, we have encountered many dedicated educators and librarians who have been so supportive of the book. Lucy Calkins stands out as one of the strongest early proponents of it.  Her quote is permanently etched in the brain: “I can’t remember a book that was more powerful, ever.” We remain deeply grateful to her for her wonderful support of the work and the author.

Educators did successfully incorporate the book into their classroom materials and encouraged children to think about compassionate acts inspired by the gift of the Maasai.

From Anaheim, California, to Austin, Texas, to New York, New York, the response was the same. People who encountered the book were moved—often to tears—by the story, loving its message of peace and compassion and concern for humanity. Not surprisingly, New Yorkers had the most emotional responses. They had lived through the tragedy of 9/11. This book shifted the perspective: 9/11 was about hate and destruction and a disregard for life; but that is only a part of our humanity. There is also goodness, kindness, and compassion. This is the juxtaposition at the heart of the story, which is ultimately very reassuring for us all.

We would like to say thank you to all of the incredible fathers and father figures out there who have made a difference in so many lives. If you’re looking for some Father’s Day books to celebrate, we’ve got a list of some great titles featuring fathers, dads, and daddies.

Flying by Kevin Luthardt

Papa, why can’t I fly? a boy asks his father. His father’s simple answer leads to another question, and then another, until the father playfully demonstrates to his son all the things the child can do. In the end the boy discovers that with a little imagination and some help from his dad he can fly—even without wings!

Dad, Jackie, and Me by Myron Uhlberg

It is the summer of 1947 and Jackie Robinson has just become the new first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers—and the first black player in major league baseball. A young boy shares his love of the game with his deaf father by listening to the games on the radio and then using sign language to tell his father about the games. Finally, his father has a big surprise for him: they are going to Ebbets Field to watch Jackie play!

That’s Not How You Play Soccer, Daddy by Sherry Shahan

After a tough practice, Mikey’s dad and dog Socks take him to lunch at the park, but super-competitive Mikey only wants to practice for the big game. Daddy offers to help, but to Mikey’s dismay Daddy doesn’t put in much of an athletic effort. He keeps bending the rules and telling his impatient son to “just have fun.” After an irresistible ticklefest, however, Mikey finally comes around to Daddy’s way of thinking—and joins him and Socks in the worst, best soccer game ever!

Are the Dinosaurs Dead, Dad? by Julie Middleton

Dad takes Dave to the museum. As they walk through the dinosaur exhibit, Dave tries to get his father’s attention. Why is this one grinning and why is that one interested in Dave’s lunch? But Dad is too busy telling Dave all there is to know about these amazing creatures to notice that they’ve sprung to life! Dave gets the feeling that Dad has one hugely important fact very, very wrong…

Going Down Home with Daddy
by Kelly Starling Lyons

Daddy says there’s nothing like going down home, but Lil Alan worries about attending the anniversary celebration without anything to share with his family. He finally turns to Daddy for help when he can think of nothing to present at celebration time. Lil Alan examines all the things at Granny’s house that hold a special place in his heart and realizes how he sees Daddy and his family in everything. Maybe Alan will find inspiration for his tribute in all his favorite memories…

Adventures with My Daddies
by Gareth Peter

Set off on a series of incredible adventures with an endearing, diverse family as the bedtime stories they read burst into colorful life. Together, the daddies and their little one battle dragons, dodge deadly dinosaurs, zoom to the moon, and explore the world in a hot air balloon, before winding down to sleep in a wonderfully cozy ending.

Pennies in a Jar by Dori Chaconas

A young boy promises to be brave when his father goes off to fight in World War II. But it isn’t always easy, especially now that he and his mother are alone and the air is punctuated by sirens. Then one day a stranger with a small pony named Freedom offers the boy an opportunity to create the perfect birthday present for his father. But that means digging down deep inside to find a new and special kind of courage…

Hey! Daddy! by Mary Batten

In the vast animal kingdom, mommies are often solely responsible for the birth and upbringing of their young. But daddies can, and do, help in a variety of surprising ways. Among the featured fathers are the blue jay, the marmoset and the beaver, who share parenting responsibilities with the mother, as well as several animal daddies (such as the seahorse, the penguin, and Darwin’s frog) that perform more extraordinary roles. Finally, the human father is singled out for devoting the most time of all to raising his young until they can survive on their own.

We hope you’ve caught the poetry bug as well, because we not only have some great poetry, but we also want to share a story about a great poet. So whether you want to read poetry or read about poetry this month, we’ve got you covered. Enjoy!

Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton

Spi-Ku
A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs
Leslie Bulion, award-winning educator favorite and master of science poetry, delivers a humorous exploration of the silk-spinning, bungee-jumping, hunting, trapping, trick-filled world of spiders! Meet spiders that spit silk, roll like wheels, scuba dive, hide under trap doors, strum tunes, and so much more.

Amphibian Acrobats
Step right up and learn all about the lively participants in the Amphibian Acrobat show—from the agile Wallace’s flying frog to the bouncing Venezuelan pebble toad to the tricky salamander called the yellow-eyed ensatina.

At the Sea Floor Café

Random Body Parts

Bring on the Birds; Stripes of All Types; Spectacular Spots; and Fabulous Fishes

Grow: A Novel in Verse

We asked author Lori Mortensen about her research and writing process for Away with Words and the inspiring life of Isabella Bird.

Q: What inspired you to write Away with Words? When did you first learn about Isabella Bird?

A: I discovered Isabella when I began searching online for women’s firsts—first woman doctor, first woman astronaut, etc. However, when I discovered Isabella Bird was the first female member of the Royal Geographic Society, I instantly wanted to know more. The more I learned about her, the more I wanted to tell her exciting story.

Q: Out of all the fascinating women in history why did you choose to tell Isabella Bird’s story?

A: I’m drawn to Isabella’s story because according to English society in the 1800s, her life was supposed to unfold much differently. Not only was she born with chronic health issues, but society also expected her to stay home and manage a household. Yet, in spite of the odds against her, she forged a daring new path that took her around the world.

Q: What is your research process like?

A: Research is an exploratory process—much like Isabella’s travels. I begin online and see where it takes me. Inevitably, I find a wealth of information in all sorts of places—museums, historic sites, databases of old newspapers and magazine articles, archived texts, and other books about the subject that I can reserve through my local library or buy.

Q: What about Bird’s life intrigues you the most? Was there anything shocking you learned about Bird while researching her life?

A: What intrigues me the most is her fearlessness in the face of all sorts of obstacles—injuries that included six broken ribs, a fractured ankle, and willing herself across raging rivers, frozen, windswept deserts, and up a lava-spewing volcano.

What’s shocking is how she survived it all with good humor, never once packing it in because something was too hard. Her last adventure was a 500-mile journey on a spirited black stallion across Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. She was 70 years old.

Q: At the beginning of the story we learn that Isabella suffered from mysterious illnesses, which was remedied with fresh air. What information did you find about these illnesses in your research?

A: I wish there was more information about Isabella Bird’s condition. The first Isabella Bird biographer, Anna M. Stoddart (who wrote The Life of Isabella Bird), who knew her and published her book two years after Isabella’s death, wrote, “Her tiny body was fragile, her white face, and on her lips was the constant cry, ‘I am very tired.’” Other biographers describe frequent illnesses, pain, and tiredness. When Isabella was 18 years old, she had a “fibroid tumor” near her spine removed and she suffered from back pain throughout her life. When she returned to England in an attempt to live the proper Victorian life, her depression made her ailments worse.

Q: Is there anything from your research you wish you would have included in Bird’s daring story but didn’t?

A: There were two scenes in earlier versions that I would have liked to include because Isabella’s descriptions were so exciting, but in the end, other scenes worked out better. I wrote:

Longing to see the New World as well, she sailed down to Main and discovered that even misfortune was still adventure and a raging storm at sea did not quell her thirst for discovering what lay beyond. “Wave after wave now struck the ship,” she wrote. “The wind sounded lilke heavy artillery, and the waves, as they struck the ship, like cannonballs. I heard the men outside say ‘She’s going down, she’s water-logged, she can’t hold together!’” Thrown against a beam, Isabella noted she was knocked “insensible for three hours.”

Riding a train through a blazing forest fire in Maine was equally exciting. “On, on we rushed,” she wrote. “We were enveloped in clouds of stifling smoke—crack, crash went the trees…the flames hissed like tongues of fire, and then, leaping like serpents, would rush up to the top of the largest tree.”

Of course, with 10 books about her daring explorations, I could only include a fraction of her adventures in a picture book.

Q: As an author of both fiction and nonfiction, what is the biggest difference in your writing process between the two?

A: For nonfiction, there’s the research. I turn over a multitude of stones to understand the subject. As I go along, I find an intriguing thread that shines a fascinating light on a person or subject that I’m excited to share.

I especially enjoy writing biographies because I love to find out how someone conquered a challenge, pursued their dreams, and made a difference in spite of the odds against them.

Fiction is a different sort of challenge. Fiction comes more from within. I come up with a character, a first line, a voice, then little by little, I find my way in the story. I don’t always know where I’m going, but it’s always exciting to find out where the story takes me.

Q: Throughout the story, you use an extended metaphor of Isabella being like “a wild vine stuck in a too-small pot.” What made you think of that comparison?

A: One day, after writing many versions of her story, that metaphor just sprang to mind. It was a turning point in the manuscript because it became the threat that helped the story together and described her life in a unique but understandable way.

Q: There are many important themes in the book, including travel and freedom. Why do you think travel is often associated with freedom? 

A: When you’re traveling, you’re not confined to a particular place or set of rules. For Isabella, that was everything. She was free to roam and live her life as she pleased beyond society’s limited expectations.

Q: Have you ever felt the need to travel like Bird? If you could visit any place, what would it be?

A: Interestingly, I’m not a big traveler. Although we drove our family back and forth across America in a pop-up trailer for two months one summer, I’m usually quite content with the comforts of home—family, friends, and everything where it’s supposed to be. However, I would love to go to England one day.

Q: If  you were able to speak with Isabella today, what would you want to say to her or ask her?

 A: I would take her hand and welcome her to the 21^st century. Imagine what she would say!

Q: Away with Words is the first-ever picture book biography of Isabella Bird. Why do you think there aren’t more books about her?

A: The stories of many significant women and their accomplishments have been overlooked, There are many more to uncover. I’m delighted to share Isabella’s story.

Q: Why is it important to tell stories like Bird’s?

A: Everyone has obstacles in his or her life. It is important to know that boundaries can be broken, and lives can be enlarged and changed in spite of the daunting roadblocks that may stand in our way. In Isabella’s case, she not only broke through the boundaries of English society, she conquered mountains, crossed deserts, and wrote books that opened new worlds to her readers and what showed what a woman can do.

Q: Isabella was born in 1831 and her adventures took place more than one hundred and fifty years ago. How do you feel her story is relevant today?

A: Times change, but people remain the same. We will always need stories that inspire and motivate us to reach higher and farther than we imagined we could.

Q: Do you think there are any women today that are modern-day Isabella Birds? 

A: The world is full of them. Any time a woman takes it upon herself to reimagine her life and steps into that future, she’s following in the steps of Isabella Bird.

Q: What do you want readers to take away from this book?

A: I’d like readers to look at Isabella and imagine all the daring possibilities for their own lives.

Get your copy of  Away with Words: The Daring Story of Isabella Bird at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble! 

Away with Words

Isabella Bird was like a wild vine stuck in a too-small pot. She needed more room. She had to get out. She had to explore. Exploring was easier said than done in Victorian England. But Isabella persisted, and with each journey, she breathed in new ways to see and describe everything around her. Question by question, word by word, Isabella bloomed. First, out in the English countryside. Then, off to America and Canada. And eventually, around the world, to Africa, Asia, Australia, and more.

Always more―more places, more questions, more words―and all those experiences became books, in which she described the land she traveled, the people she met, and the dangers she experienced, to a fascinated audience who could only dream of such travels and adventures.

This dashing picture book biography about the first female member of the Royal Geographical Society takes readers around the world with a daring nineteenth-century female explorer and bestselling author. Kristy Caldwell’s detailed, graphic novel-like illustrations illuminate Bird’s travels around the world, with words and phrases from Bird’s own writing sprinkled throughout the story. Lori Mortensen’s back matter, author’s note, and bibliography will satisfy the curiosity of readers who want to learn more.

Away With Words is the perfect book to start off Women’s History Month! Not only does it highlight a woman who struggled under the circumstances of her time, when women were expected to wear dresses and corsets, stay at home instead of go to school, and sacrifice their own needs for those of their families, but it also celebrates a strong, brave, and independent woman who broke free from societal expectations to experience adventures and feats that even women and men today would find inspiring. Read an excerpt here. And for ideas of how to use this book in the classroom and beyond, check out the teacher’s guide with included curriculum connections.

“Mortensen distills a very full life into a condensed but readable narrative for primary-grade children.… Children who hope to forge their own paths can take heart from this picture-book biography.” ―Booklist

“Mortensen writes in a precise, poetic manner… This volume captures the spirit of a woman who embraced new experiences and played by her own rules…” ―Publishers Weekly

“Caldwell’s illustrations are clean and beautiful.” ―Kirkus Reviews

Follow along with our blog tour, where bloggers will be featuring reviews, interviews, book lists, and even a giveaway!
Good Reads with Ronna
Let’s Talk Picture Books
Pragmatic Mom
Geo Librarian
Kid Lit Frenzy

Get your copy of Away with Words: The Daring Story of Isabella Bird on Amazon or at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

Carter Reads the Newspaper
Written by Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrated by Don Tate

Carter G. Woodson was born to two formerly enslaved people ten years after the end of the Civil War. Though his father could not read, he believed in being an informed citizen. So Carter read the newspaper to him every day. When he was still a teenager, Carter went to work in the coal mines. There he met a man named Oliver Jones, and Oliver did something important: he asked Carter not only to read to him and the other miners, but also research and find more information on the subjects that interested them. “My interest in penetrating the past of my people was deepened,” Carter wrote. His journey would take him many more years, traveling around the world and transforming the way people thought about history.

“Young readers will be caught up in his story…. Quotes are seamlessly woven into the narrative, and a time line, list of sources, and bibliography add research appeal. Of special note are the illustrations, which include more than 40 portraits of black leaders… Their images and one-line biographies will pique further interest, making this a valuable resource for school and public libraries.” ―Booklist

“Hopkinson skillfully shapes Carter’s childhood, family history and formative experiences into a cohesive story.…the inclusion of notable figures from black history reinforces the theme (a key is in the backmatter). An important and inspiring tale well told.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Conversational… Delicately textured mixed-media illustrations…offer spare, stylized images…” ―Publishers Weekly

“Thorough back matter… A charmingly illustrated picture book biography for elementary schoolers.” ―School Library Journal

“Exemplary… This inspiring picture book combines a rich but focused text with clear, expressive mixed-media illustrations. It sheds light on an important, inspiring, but little-known subject, and the supplemental back matter gives weight to the exceedingly important takeaways that history must include all people, and that anyone can change history.” ―Shelf Awareness

Facts about Dr. Carter G. Woodson:

• Carter G. Woodson was born December 19, 1875 in New Canton, Virginia.
• He worked as a coal miner for three years before he finished high school.
• At the age of 37, Carter earned a PhD in history from Harvard University, the second African American to do so.
• Carter was the first and only Black American whose parents had been slaves to receive a doctorate in history.
• In 1915 Carter founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, an organization still thriving today.
• In 1926 Carter founded Negro History Week (which became Black History Month), to be observed in February, in honor of the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

It’s surprising that someone so integral to our celebration of Black history does not have more books written about his life. Carter never wrote much about his own personal history. But we know that he listened and learned from those around him, and then shared what he learned with others.

Because of Carter’s great and lasting contribution to Black history, throughout the month of February in celebration of Black History Month, we will spotlight the lives and legacies of Black men and women who have contributed to our history, and share resources to help young readers learn about the significance of Carter G. Woodson’s life and his contribution to society. Follow along on our Twitter page as we highlight some important and lesser-known figures in Black history throughout February to continue Carter Woodson’s goal of celebrating a history “void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”

Here are more resources to help celebrate Black History Month:

Download your own Carter G. Woodson poster.

Check out the teacher’s guide for Carter Reads the Newspaper.

Print out your own copies of the endpapers of Carter Reads the Newspaper,
which features portraits of Black leaders throughout history.

Read our Q&A with author Deborah Hopkinson and illustrator Don Tate.

Check out our round-up of books to read during Black History Month and beyond.

Carter Reads the Newspaper is available at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs is a book about anti-superlatives. Instead of focusing on the world’s biggest, fastest, strongest animals, my goal was to shine a light on creatures that are small or slow or shy or clumsy, but still manage to survive—and thrive.

As I was researching, my goal was to identify animals that could be classified as “underdogs” because they have characteristics or behaviors that humans might consider weaknesses. But, in fact, those perceived flaws are the secret to the animals’ survival success.

Educators like the book because it has a lively, playful voice and can be used in two ways. First of all, it’s perfect for science units about animal adaptations. Young readers really get excited about some of the book’s interesting and surprising examples.

The book’s gentle message of respecting one another and celebrating differences can also help teachers ease into conversations about bullying and other interpersonal conflicts that they may have noticed in their classroom. Even though the message is subtle, kids get it. And they often find themselves relating strongly to one of the animals in the book.

I had both of these uses in mind as I was writing Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers, and I’m delighted that teachers find these aspects of the book valuable. But what has surprised me about the book is students’ fascination with discovering and learning about animals that are completely new to them.

For some reason, it never occurred to me that creatures like the shy okapi, the stinky hoatzin, and the tiny Etruscan pygmy shrew would be unfamiliar to young readers, and they would want to know more, more, more—much more than we could squeeze into the back matter—about these captivating critters.

As soon as we realized our readers’ desire for more information, the folks at Peachtree and I put our heads together and developed an awesome downloadable Meet the Underdogs poster to accompany the book. I’m happy to report that kids love it.

I’ve also been delighted with all the ways teachers are using the book in writer’s workshop. Thanks to social media, elementary educators have let me know that they are using Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers to help students identify the theme or concept of a nonfiction book. They’re also using it as a mentor text to model voice, word choice, strong verbs, varying sentence length, direct address, imbedded questions, alliteration, and internal rhyme.

Wow, teachers are so clever! Sometimes they see things in my writing that I’m not even aware of. There’s always more to learn about the craft of nonfiction writing.

If you’re a teacher who’s using Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers or one of my books in your classroom, please let me know via Twitter, Facebook, or email. I love hearing these stories.

Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 180 science books for children. She has always been fascinated by the natural world and is passionate about sharing its beauty and wonder with readers of all ages. For more resources for Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers, also check out the teacher’s guide and readers’ theater. Find this book at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. How are you using Pipsqueaks, Slopwokes, and Stinkers in your classroom or with your readers? Let us know!

We asked author Jim Helmore about his own experiences and what inspired this gentle and reassuring story of making friends.

Q: What inspired you write The Snow Lion?

A: I was explaining the idea of camouflage to my three-year-old daughter when she suggested that if a polar bear stood against our white kitchen wall, we wouldn’t see it. The initial idea came from this conversation, and unlike other stories I’ve written, it really didn’t change a lot from the very first draft (apart from the polar bear becoming a white lion).

Q: What made you decide to make Caro’s imaginary friend a lion?

A: The original story idea featured a polar bear, but my editor had seen some lion illustrations that she loved by the illustrator Richard Jones. It was her suggestion to change the character to a white lion, which worked perfectly, being that much rarer and strange. The animal had to be large and worldly wise, to contrast with Caro.

Q: The illustrations play a big part in the book, but so do your descriptions of the white walls and their eventual infusion with color. How did you feel when you first saw Richard Jones’s interpretation? 

A: Richard’s illustrations are incredibly beautiful and slightly ethereal, which suit the story perfectly. I did have an idea of what the lion might look like, from the original drawing that our editor suggested, but the rest were completely new to me. When I first saw them, they completely blew me away! I love his use of color and texture; it gives the book an almost dreamlike feel.

Q: How did you get into writing?

A: I’ve always loved writing. As a small child I liked to make up stories and create my own books. I’ve still got some of them, rusty staples and all. My favorite was about Santa defeating a bunch of evil elves. I drew my own illustrations back then, but I don’t think Richard has anything to worry about!

Q: What is your writing process like?

A: It differs with each book. The Snow Lion was comparatively easy to write as the idea arrived almost fully formed. Other stories take many, many re-writes and by the end I’m really not sure about them, but sometimes when I look back, months or even years later, these prove to be the stories I’m most happy with. I don’t have a specific writing routine, I just write when I can, when it’s quiet.

Q: What does home mean to you? 

A: Safety, warmth, comfort. Somewhere still. When I visit places full of books, it feels like home because I lived in a house full of books as a child. I also grew up by the sea and this reminds me of home too. Living in London, I miss the sea and compensate by filing our house with as many books as possible!

Q: Were you shy as a child? If so, how did the experience inform your story? 

A: I was quite shy as a child, especially in new situations or with new people and I think my daughter feels the same. So this story is for her and anyone who might find it harder to make new friendships.

Q: Have you ever found friendship in an unexpected place?

A: Friendships can grow up almost anywhere. As a child you are expected to make friends with other children your own age, but perhaps the most unexpected friendships happen between people of different ages. I’ve learnt and laughed a lot with people twice as old as me. And as an adult, I think that children make amazing friends. They are a constant source of joy and surprise, with their boundless energy and inventiveness. I’d love to be able to live “in the moment” as much as they do.

Q: Did you have an imaginary friend?

A: I didn’t have an imaginary friend, but I did enjoy giving all my animal toys personalities of their own. They were a loyal, happy bunch!

Q: How would you encourage children to break out of their shells and explore beyond what feels safe? 

A: Carefully. I don’t believe you should force people to do something they feel uncomfortable with. Perhaps it’s more about making a child feel as confident in themselves as possible, so that they then feel able to explore outside their comfort zones. I hope that by reading The Snow Lion and seeing Caro grow in confidence as she makes new friends, this might help too.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from The Snow Lion?

A: First and foremost, I’d like people to take some hope from this book. We’ve all experienced loneliness and uncertainty at some point in our lives and The Snow Lion is really all about hope and the reassurance that things will get better.

To see illustrator Richard Jones’s sketches of The Snow Lion, go to his website. Find The Snow Lion on Amazon or at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

Words are incredible, and no one knows this more than little Ebenezer. He loves words so much that he collects them in his very own Word Book! In Chelsea H. Rowe’s debut title, Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything, Ebenezer discovers new and interesting words every day. He tries to share his word collection with others, but finds that people don’t seem to be as interested in his words. But when Ebenezer visits one of his favorite places, the library, he meets Fitzgerald, who has a collection of his own. Fitzgerald has all sorts of ideas collected in his head, but needs a word or two to make them sound right. Ebenezer can hardly believe his luck! Now best friends, Ebenezer and Fitzgerald go together like Q and U! And when the two boys combine their words and ideas, the stories they write are simply sensational!

With illustrations by Frank Dormer, Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything is a quirky but classic story about the power of words, friendship, collaboration, storytelling, and finding your own tribe. Readers will enjoy experiencing the development of this unique friendship while building vocabulary and collecting a few new words of their own. The book also includes a helpful list of the words and definitions in the back. Read an excerpt here.

Are you more of an Ebenezer or a Fitzgerald? Maybe you’re both! Test your own vocabulary and storytelling skills with our fun activity sheets!

At Peachtree, we’re (obviously) lovers of words too. So to share our enthusiasm for language, we chose some words from the book that we will be featuring as part of Ebenezer’s Word of the Day on social media! Follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #EbenezersWordoftheDay, and share your favorite words with us!

Look for Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything on Amazon or at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble on October 1st!

14 Cows for America

In June of 2002, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya. An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed upon the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. The gift is as unexpected as it is extraordinary.A mere nine months have passed since the September 11 attacks, and hearts are raw as these legendary Maasai warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world away. Word of the gift will travel newswires around the globe, and for the heartsick American nation, the gift of fourteen cows emerges from the choking dust and darkness as a soft light of hope—and friendship.

This New York Times best seller recounts the true story from Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah of a touching gift bestowed on the United States by a tribe of Maasai Warriors in the wake of the September 11th attacks. With the stunning paintings of Thomas Gonzalez, master storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy hits all the right notes in this elegant story of generosity that crosses boundaries, nations, and cultures. Also available in Spanish.

Check out the teacher’s guide.

Books for Children About September 11
by Carol Bainbridge

Stacey Shubitz covers a wide variety possibilities for 9/11 tributes and remembrances with kids in school, at the library, or at home. She includes many important titles for read-alouds, but if you are looking for additional ideas to commemorate over the weekend, this is a great place to start.

Publisher’s Weekly put out this round-up of relevant titles that have come out in this year, the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11. So if you are looking for something more recent, this list includes a range of age groups but all published within the year.