At long last, I can share my good book news. My next picture book, Snow Day with Daddy, will be published by Christy Ottaviano Books (Little, Brown) in early 2028. This is a personal story, inspired by my father’s winter work as a snowplow driver. There were a few times that I joined him on his snowplow route as a kid, a bumpy and magical experience that always stayed with me. I tried to write this story many times over the years to no avail. Then, with a gentle nudge from my wonderful agent Sean McCarthy, I put all my energy into the story in the summer of 2024. One of my sticking points was choosing the right animals to represent us in the story. Years ago, I made this illustration featuring rhinos. I liked the art, but it wasn’t the right fit.

At some point, I realized my childhood dog Moose, a Bernese Mountain Dog, was the perfect match for this winter story. Mother Nature is also showing her support by making this winter full to the brim with snowstorms!

To celebrate the announcement, this month’s animal drawing sheet is the dog breed from the new book. Berners are one of the best family dogs, if you have the space and tolerance for dog hair everywhere!

Did you celebrate World Read Aloud Day with an author visit? This was my 9th year joining classrooms across the country to read and share our love for books. I met with 7 classrooms from New Jersey to California. I loved reading KING to the kids and answering their excellent questions. A big thank you to the teachers and librarians that work hard to coordinate this for their students!!!

I've always wanted to do Hourly Comics Day - but until this year, it fell on my son's birthday. It's messy and imperfect, but I'm so glad I didn't overthink it, and I just committed. Next year, I hope I can break the drawing into multiple sessions and maybe not do it on the same day I sign/draw in 70 books! Look across social media by #hourlycomics to see the amazing work or many artists. My favorite is always Lucy Knisley’s work, an absolute legend!

(Re)Watching: For All Mankind on AppleTV. I don’t think I would’ve started watching this alternate reality space race show if illustrator friend Tracy Bishop hadn’t recommended it. Since my husband hadn’t watched it with me the first time, I am rewatching before Season 5 starts this spring. Everyone is SO YOUNG with a rewatch of a show that ages everyone a decade each season. Also, there are some really tragic storylines that are hit harder when you know what’s coming down the line (no spoilers).

Reading: Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen. I picked this up as a used paperback because of the vibrant cover and the pullquote ‘for fans of Derry Girls’ - yes, please! We are travelling as a family to Northern Ireland this spring, so it seems like the perfect prep and a nice comedic break from my last read (Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll - an excellent read, but it follows the witness of a serial killer in the 60’s)

Listening to: Beirut. Their first album, Gulag Orkestar, is twenty years old this year. I had somehow forgotten all about them all these years since. It’s still a powerful listen, and I have a lot of ‘new’ albums to enjoy.