WHO’S IN MY FAMILY? ALL ABOUT OUR FAMILIES
WHO’S IN MY FAMILY? has just been published. It is the second book in illustrator Nadine Bernard Westcott’s and my four book nonfiction picture book series for young children. This book features Nellie and Gus — siblings who were also featured in WHO HAS WHAT? — on another exciting family outing. This time Gus and Nellie are off to the zoo, where they see all kinds of families, including animal families. The text includes straightforward information about families and of course, Gus and Nellie’s conversations with each other. And I just bet that yet again, young children will love pouring through the art that Nadine has created, listening to what Gus and Nellie have to say about families, and finding out so many interesting things about all kinds of families, including their own families.

SHADOW
This recent picture book is the story of a young child, who discovers his shadow. At first he is a tad afraid, but soon begins to have fun with his shadow because it does everything he does—until the sun fades and his shadow begins to go away. “Will it ever come back?” is the big worry that makes this child feel so sad and gives emotion and suspense to this simple tale. When I saw the very first drawing that Patrick Benson made for this book, I was thrilled beyond belief because I knew that his art for this book would strike a responsive chord in young children.