Children’s Literature

Picture Books

I have read thousands of non-fiction picture books in and out of classrooms. Many are magical. Many are… ok. And many make science seem downright dull, even though science is life. I want picture books to be fun and engaging in ways that build scientific curiousity and content knowledge but also inspire children to relate to everyday-nature around them, no matter where they live. As a teacher for almost 15 years, I also think about how these texts can be utilized in primary classrooms. My manuscripts complement grade-appropriate Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and can be read as companion texts to life science units and lessons, whether it’s about trees, boogers, or birds. I also want to help kids write creatively about science. Life science and literacy belong together like monarchs and milkweed. Let’s teach more science through story-telling.


Other projects

In graduate school, I wrote a historical-fiction middle-grade novel from the perspective of 200+ year-old tree. The manuscript explores several topics in science, ecology, ant-racism, and urban development. I continue to work on this novel until it’s right. Other picture book projects include manuscripts about socioemotional development and skills for young kids. I am also professionally exploring how to connect green schoolyards with STEAM lessons and curricula (more to come).


Honors/Notes

  • Taft-Nicholson Artist-in-Residence in Summer 2022 for children's fiction

  • Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) member

  • Creative writing teacher for children and adults