Featured Work

Free Educator Resources

Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems About Earth’s Colorful Creatures

Access poetry lesson plans, coloring pages, a word search, and more on TeachingBooks.net.

Feature on kidpreneurs for Scout Life

From delivering flyers to creating a better 3D printer, these five businesses were started by kids or teens. I wrote about them for Boys’ Life magazine (now Scout Life), including where they got their idea and how they’re giving back.

Feature on co-authoring for The Writer

The Writer Magazine

Collaboration helps authors find new readers, bust creative blocks, better their craft, and increase accountability. I interviewed over a dozen authors to find out why and how they’ve teamed up on book projects.

Themes of kindness and curiosity run through my writing for kids. My nonfiction articles for kids and teens have appeared in magazines including Cicada, Dramatics, FACES, Highlights for Children, and Scout Life. In addition to the projects listed below, I have several more educational books and an unannounced picture book forthcoming. I’m currently seeking representation for my kidlit projects.

Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems About Earth’s Colorful Creatures

My trade debut, Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems About Earth’s Colorful Creatures, released March 28, 2023 with Gnome Road Publishing. The National Science Teaching Association named it an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12. You can order the book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookPeople, Bookshop.org, Walmart.com, or wherever you buy books. 

Teachers, librarians and homeschool parents can also access the educator resource guide and other teaching materials for Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems About Earth’s Colorful Creatures on TeachingBooks.net.

  • Content & project management lead, PB Spree in ‘23 (a marketing group for picture book creators with 2023 book releases), 2021-2023
  • Writing Barn Fellow and Teaching Assistant, 2021-present
  • Nominee, Austin SCBWI Cynthia Leitich Smith Writing Mentor Award, 2020
  • Instructor, Austin Bat Cave Online Poetry Camp, 2020 & 2021
  • Presenter on Writing for Kids’ & Teen Magazines, Austin SCBWI Chapter, 2019
  • PAL Member, Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, 2017-present

See below for links to my writing for and about kids.

THE STORY OF AMERICA COMPLETE LIBRARY: THROUGH 2022

The Story of America

The Story of America is a collection of history books designed for striving readers in middle school and high school. I authored 11 historical fiction readers for this series.

Saddleback Educational Publishers

Animal Migrations: Dear and Antelope Migration by Susan Johnston Taylor

Deer and Antelope Migration

This book offers young readers an exciting look at deer and antelope migration, focusing on the reasons these animals make their journeys and the places they travel.

North Star Editions – Aug/2023

Dog Who Changed History

The Dog Who Changed History

My historical fiction reader looks at Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone … through the eyes of his dog Trouve!
Also available in Spanish as El perro que cambió la historia

Teacher Created Materials – Sept/2022

10.10 Poetry Anthology: Celebrating 10 in 10 different ways

10.10 Poetry Anthology: Celebrating 10 in 10 different ways

This children’s poetry anthology includes my music-themed poem, “Ten Fingers, One Piano.”

wee words for wee ones – Oct/07/2021

Ride Across Time

My historical fiction graphic novel introduces kids to Revolutionary War heroine Sybil Ludington.

Teacher Created Materials – Oct/2019

Problem-solving motivates tween to invent solutions

Twelve-year-old Lydia Denton invented the Beat the Heat Car Seat to help keep babies safe in cars.

Rising Innovator – Dec/2020

Dream team: Coauthors in kidlit

Collaborations help kidlit authors find new readers, bust creative blocks, and more.

The Writer – May/21/2020

Barks on Broadway

How Bill Berloni of Theatrical Animals trains rescue animals for the stage and screen.

FACES Magazine – Apr/2020

Pet Safety

Tips for avoiding common pet hazards like heat exhaustion, tick bites, and overfeeding.

Boys’ Life – Oct/2019

A Dynamic Duet

Up-and-coming musical theatre lyricist and composer Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk share how they collaborate.

Dramatics Magazine – Mar/2008