Children’s Books

Like many author-illustrators, I’ve been drawing and writing since I was a kid. I’m now weaving my creative talents with my educational expertise to develop fiction- and nonfiction works for children. Here, you can check out my work and link to my evolving portfolio for the illustrated projects.

To hone my craft as a creator, I’m an active member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and 12x12, an online community of picture book creators. I’m also a contributor to the community; I wrote a blog on social justice for SCBWI-MI and provided a webinar on aligning children’s books to curricular standards.

Non-Fiction

With a 30-year career focused on curriculum, consulting and teacher education, I’ve created a wealth of content for kids, focusing on the social- and environmental issues that will shape their futures. I want kids to understand the challenges facing the world while inspiring them to become agents of change. This body of work is the basis of my nonfiction work. Examples: 

green economy, great communities

Aimed at grades 5-8, this book is a kid-friendly guide to making the economy a force for social justice and sustainability. Portfolio samples

A TASTE OF CHANGE: FACES MAGAZINE (OCTOBER 2019)

My article, “A Taste of Change,” introduces youth to Fair Trade as a way to eliminate child labor in the global cocoa industry.

ADVISOR, WGBH/PBS KIDS

I served as Advisor for Plum Landing and LOOP SCOOPS, multimedia children’s environmental programs produced by PBS Kids/WGBH Boston. LOOP SCOOPS offers a series of videos on the science and economics of design, while Plum Landing combines animation, live action videos, and community-based activities to get kids exploring nature in their local communities. For both programs, I worked alongside animators and researchers to provide input on scripts, environmental content, and evaluation tools.

CURRICULUM FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

With a 30-year career focused on curriculum, consulting and university teacher preparation, I’ve created a wealth of nonfiction content about environmental and social topics. The primary vehicle for this work was Creative Change Educational Solutions, a nonprofit consulting firm I founded in 1999 and ran until 2020. Through partnerships with universities, nonprofit organizations, I developed a broad portfolio of content, my work has reached thousands of teachers in multiple countries. Sample projects: 

  • An anti-discrimination curriculum and professional development program for the United Nations Global Teaching and Learning Project. Curriculum addresses racial, gender, class, ethnic, and religious discrimination. (2003)

  • A series of science and social studies lessons on the economic- and environmental aspects of Fair Trade for Fair Trade Campaigns. (2016)

  • A series of geography and science lessons on the cultural and scientific dimensions of climate change developed for The Changing Earth at the University of Minnesota. (2016)

  • A complete course on brownfields redevelopment (the remediation of contaminated properties) in collaboration with the Purdue University College of Engineering. (2009)

  • A suite of lessons on the science and economics of ecological design in partnership with Eastern Michigan University. (2007)

Fiction

I’m also cooking up fiction as well. In progress: 

  • THE SHAPE OF CHANGE is a YA fantasy novel with environmental justice themes. The work was runner-up in the 2019 SCBWI-Michigan mentorship contest.

  • BALLOONS GONE BAD: With twisted verse and illustrations up to the task, this picture book is about a band of rebel balloons who must rethink their ways when their grand plans to steal the sky from the birds go horribly wrong. It’s sassy humor redeemed by a sweet ending. Portfolio