Award-winning nonfiction author of books for young readers

Awards & Reviews

Extreme ScientistsThe Elephant Scientist

(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

2012 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Honor

School Library Journal, starred review

- 2012 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, K-12

- A Junior Library Guild Selection

- New York Journal of Books

- Amelia Bloomer List, 2012

- Best Children's Books of the Year - 2012, Children?s Book Committee, Bank Street College of Education, New York, NY

- The John Burroughs Association Literary Awards, Nature Books for Young Readers Award


Extreme ScientistsWHAT'S SO FUNNY? MAKING SENSE OF HUMOR

(Viking, June 2011)

- A Junior Library Guild Selection

- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

- School Library Journal

- Ingram Library Services

Extreme ScientistsExtreme Scientists

Exploring Nature's Mysteries from Perilous Places
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Booklist, starred review

- A Junior Library Guild Selection

- Chicago Public Library Best of the Best kids books 2009

- Smithsonian Notable Book for Children, 2009

- Audubon Magazine, recommended nature book, Sept/Oct 2010

- National Science Teachers Association recommendation, 2009

- "Special Ways of Thinking and Exploring," Chicago Tribune, May 2009

- "Extreme Science," School Library Journal, August 2009

- Library of Congress, Science Reference Guides, Biographies of Women Scientists: For Girls and Young Women, August 2010

- Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices, 2010

- Maine State Library, "Cream of the Crop List 2010"

- Cited in A Family of Readers: The Book Lover's Guide to Children's and Young Adult Literature, Roger Sutton and Martha Parravano, 2010

The Name GameThe Name Game

A Look Behind the Labels
Illustrated by Ted Stearn
(Viking - 2009)

- A Junior Library Guild Selection

- 2010 Kansas State Reading Circle

- Kirkus, School Library Journal, Children's Literature,favorable reviews

The Name GameER Vets

Life in an Animal Emergency Room
(Houghton Mifflin Company)

School Library Journal, starred review

- A Junior Library Guild Selection

2006 Orbis Pictus Honor Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children presented by the National Council of Teachers of English

- 2005 ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Honor in the Nonfiction Companion Animal category

- 2007 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize Finalists

- Garden State Book Award Nominee 2008

- Children's Literature Association of Utah - Beehive Award Nominee 2007 - 2008

- NPR: Best Science Books of 2006

- Maine Student Book Award Nominee 2006 - 2007

- New York Public Library, Books for the Teen Age 2006

- VOYA ( Voices for Youth Advocates) Nonfiction Honor List 2005

- Washington Post Book World review, December 2005

- Alaska Battle of the Books list, 2009-2010

The Name GameThe Bone Detectives

(Little, Brown and Company)

School Library Journal, starred review

Publishers Weekly, starred review

- An American Library Association (ALA) Best Book

- An International Reading Association (IRA) Teacher's Choice

- A Junior Library Guild Selection

- School Library Journal "Best Books of 1996" list

- An NCSS - CBC Notable Children's Book in the Field of Social Science

- An NSTA - CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children

- A New York Public Library "100 titles for Reading and Sharing"

- Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" list

- Society of School Librarians Best Book in Social Studies, grades 7-12

- Pennsylvania School Librarians Association "Best of the Best Top Ten Books for Young Adults"

- Children's Literature Award list

State Book Award Nominations:
- New Jersey Garden State Children's Book Award
- Maine Book Award
- Vermont's Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award
- Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award
- Utah Book Award
- Alabama Emphasis on Reading Award.

- Cited in Great Books About Things Kids Love by Kathleen Odean
(Ballantine Books, 2001)

The Name GameThe Bug Scientists

(Houghton Mifflin Company)

- A 2003 National Science Teachers Association-Children's Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children

- 2002 Parents Guide to Children's Media Award

- Center for Children's Books: Best Books 2002

- Children's Literature Choice Book 2003

- Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Kids

- PBS Teacher Source: Recommended Books

- Rhode Island Children's Book Award Nominee for 2004

- New York Times, recommended science books

The Name GameIn Your Face

The Facts About Your Features
(Viking, A division of Penguin Young Readers Group)

School Library Journal, starred review

- A Junior Library Guild Selection

- Texas Bluebonnet Award: 2006-2007 Master List

- Washington Post Review, January 2005

The Name GameTwin Tales

The Magic and Mystery of Multiple Birth
(Megan Tingley, Little, Brown and Company)

School Library Journal, starred review

Kirkus, starred review

- A 2002 National Science Teachers Association -
Children's Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children

- New York Times Children's Bookshelf selection

- New Jersey Garden State Teen Book Award nominee for 2004

- Hedgehog Books "Hedgie Pick" - recommended books selected by teachers

- Center for Children's Books - Best Books of 2001

The Name GameHero Dogs

Courageous Canines in Action
(Megan Tingley, Little, Brown and Company)

- Rhode Island Children's Book Award Nominee for 2006

- Children's Literature Association of Utah - Beehive Award Nominee for 2004-2005

- A Junior Library Guild Selection

- Hedgehog Books "Hedgie Pick" for fluent Read-Alone readers

- Kennebec Valley Book Award Nominee - 2004-2005

- Scholastic Storyworks Magazine - September 2003 issue

- Popular Photography Magazine - August 2003

The Name GameThe Wildlife Detectives

(Houghton Mifflin Company)

- A 2001 National Science Teachers Association
Children's Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children

Cited in "Great Books About Things Kid" Love by Kathleen Odean
(Ballantine Books, 2001)

William Allen White Children's Award - nominated for the 2002-2003 master reading list.

Scholastic Storyworks Magazine - Adapted for the Creative Nonfiction section, April/May 2001.

"It's a Guy Thing," Jeff Wilhelm, Voice in the Middle, Number 2, December 2002, pp. 60-63

“This amazing presentation is a must-have for all collections.”


School Library Journal, starred review of THE ELEPHANT SCIENTIST

“Toss this life raft to a reluctant reader facing a nonfiction book report and make yourself a hero.”


The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, review of WHAT'S SO FUNNY?

“Fascinating.”


ALA Booklist, starred review of EXTREME SCIENTISTS