News & Reviews

The Story of James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Carolrhoda Books (Lerner) pub. 11.4.2025 40 pages Ages 7 -11 A uthor: Sun Yung Shin & Melina Mangal Illustrator: Leslie Barlow C haracter: James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs O verview : " James Boggs was a worker from rural Alabama in the segregated South. Grace Lee Boggs was a philosopher from urban Rhode Island and New York City. Both found their life’s work, and each other, in Detroit. James

The First Woman to Stand on Top of the World A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Union Square Kids (pub. 2.10.2026) 48 pages Ages 5 and up A uthor: Elyssa Gavin Illustrator: HifuMiyo C haracter: Junko Tabei O verview : " Fourteen climbers from the Ladies Climbing Club in Japan begin their climb up Mount Everest. Junko Tabei, a mountain climbing pioneer—the woman who formed the group —faces many hardships as she leads them: frigid temperatures, gusting winds, an avalanche,

How Marie Procai Kept the Ukranian Art of Pysanky Alive A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Calkins Creek (Astra Books) 2.10.2026 48 pages Ages 7 -1o A uthor: Sandra Neil Wallace Illustrator: Evan Turk C haracter: Marie Procai O verview : " As a new immigrant to America living in Minneapolis, Marie Procai felt homesick and alone—she missed her homeland, Ukraine. She took comfort in the ancient Ukrainian art of making pysanky, intricately decorated eggs for Easter, an art

How the Apollo Moon Missions Made Alma Thomas's Art Soar A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Millbrook Press (Lerner Publishing) (pub. 11.4.2025) 32 pages Ages 6-10 A uthor and Illustrator: Nina Crews C haracter: Alma Thomas O verview : " In 1969, people around the world watched as the Apollo 10 astronauts sent the first-ever live color television broadcasts from space. Abstract painter Alma Thomas was among those watching, and afterward, she began a series of bright, bold p

A Walk with Charles Darwin A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Neal Porter Books (Holiday House Publishing) (pub. 1.13.2026) 32 pages Ages 4 - 8 A uthor: Nicholas Day Illustrator: Hadley Hooper C haracter: Wilma Dykeman O verview : " How do you work through a complicated idea, solve a tricky problem, or make a big discovery? Charles Darwin had a lot of ways to do it. He paced in circles and hit rocks with a stick. He studied the bones of his dinner. He even rode around th

Discovering the Stuff of Stars A TRUE TALE WITH A C HERRY O N T OP Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (pub. 1.27.2026) 56 pages Ages 7 -12 A uthor: Laura Alary Illustrator: Yas Imamura C haracter: Cecilia Payne O verview : " Cecilia Payne loved learning to see nature’s wonders, even things other people called impossible. While studying at Cambridge, she dreamed of becoming a great astronomer like the ones she read about in the library. But too many people thought women didn

I'm excited to be invited to be a speaker as part of the Americian Institute of Architects (AIA) sponsored Architecture Week for students! 🎉 Teachers, librarians, homeschoolers, anyone interested in architecture, design and new ideas can sign up now to get a FREE zoom link to join me: https://www.aia.org/community/events/architecture-week-202 ! I'll be giving away signed books too! My two presentations: Tuesday April 14th from 1 - 1:30 PM EST for storytime and Q & A of THE

I was pleased to be interviewed for AIArchitect magazine regarding two of my picture book biographies: THE GLASS PYRAMID: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I.M Pei and MAYA LIN: Artist Architect of Light and Lines.Thank you to architect Lori Apfel Cardeli for such a terrific article, "How authors shape early design literacy" (part of a three part series). Here's a taste: "The emphasis on perseverance is echoed in Jeanne Walker Harvey’s work. In The Glass Pyramid, Ha

Oh la la! 🌟 I'm so honored that the wonderful Legion of Honor Museum shop in San Francisco is featuring our children's picture book, THE GLASS PYRAMID: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I.M. Pei illustrated by Khoa Le, as part of their French themed display tied to the exhibit, "Manet & Morisot". I signed books (always thrilling) and savored reading the "STAFF RECOMMENDS" review: "This is the story of Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, who designed the famous glas

Thank you BOOKISHLY DELIGHTFUL for choosing THE GLASS PYRAMID: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I.M Pei ! Wonderful review: "Before I read this picture book, I had not known the captivating story behind the modern glass pyramid that welcomes visitors to the Louvre museum in Paris. And I am glad that I now know it. This book thoughtfully tells architect I.M. Pei’s story and shares how his creative process worked."