David Harrison has written a new picture book titled, AFTER DARK: Poems about Nocturnal Animals, Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis and published by WordSong. David has agreed to share a copy with one lucky winner. All you have to do to get in the running is to leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know the other things you do to share the good news, so I can put in the right amount of tickets in my basket for you.
Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. Thanks for helping David & Stephanie!
If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you everyday, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. Thanks!
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
This collection of twenty-two poems explores the fascinating lives of North American nocturnal animals.
When the sun goes down, many animals come out. Crickets chirp their crickety song hoping to attract a mate. Cougars bury their leftovers for later, leaving few clues for others to follow. Armadillos emerge from their dens to dig for worms, leaving holes in the lawns they disturb. This collection of poetry from acclaimed children’s author and poet David L. Harrison explores the lives of animals who are awake after dark. Stephanie Laberis’s beautifully atmospheric illustrations will draw in readers, and extensive back matter offers more information about each animal.
BOOK JOURNEY:
Shedding Light on After Dark
After Dark is a collection of poems, with accompanying back notes, featuring creatures that stir about their business after the sun goes down. It’s my 97th book and set for publication on February 25. It is beautifully illustrated by Stephanie (Steph) Laberis.
I formally presented the proposal to Mary Colgan, who was at that time my editor at Boyds Mills Press, on May 9, 2015. She chose it as her favorite from among half a dozen ideas we’d recently discussed in a phone call.
But After Dark started long before 2015. After Dark has always been with me. It was with me when I was six years old, camping in a tent with my parents beside White Horse Lake in Arizona, listening to bears not so far away banging on metal trash cans in futile efforts to get a free meal. With me in third grade, camping in the back yard beside a sheet draped over the clothesline and illuminated from within so I could capture night moths that came to the light. With me as I walked in the dark up a streambed looking for frogs but catching a water moccasin instead. Later, much later, I wrote Goose Lake, a book about the lake behind the house where we’ve lived for thirty years. It included this passage.
Morning News
Dusk has just enough time to pull a blanket over the day crew before full dark summons the night shift. Toothy yawns and yearning bellies greet another evening of chance. At one time or another I’ve met all the players: foxes sniffing for hidden ducklings; skunk families strolling my yard, raccoons that should be arrested for repeatedly breaking into my attic; light-blinded opossums who lose lopsided duels with cars. Deer . . . coyotes . . . stray cats . . . they’ve all appeared on the hooded stage between my back door and the lake. Their visits are rarely marked. Only snow gives them a slate on which to write their dramas. Even then they tell you no more than they must.
So in some ways After Dark is the book I was supposed to write all along. Maybe the first 96 books were warm-ups for this one. When Mary Colgan left Boyds Mills Press, Brittany Ryan took over. When Kane bought Boyds Mills Press, Rebecca Davis became my editor. And now, dear readers, it’s in your hands. I hope you like my cast of moonlight characters.
DAVID’S BIO:
David L. Harrison’s 95 books for children and teachers have received dozens of honors, including Society of Midland Authors award for best children’s nonfiction book, 2016; Missouri Pioneer in Education Award; and Missouri Library Association’s Literacy Award. His work has been widely translated and anthologized more than 185 times.
His poems have been set to music and sandblasted into a library sidewalk. He has been featured at hundreds of conferences, workshops, literature festivals, schools, and colleges. David holds two science degrees and two honorary doctorates of letters. He’s Drury University’s poet laureate. David Harrison Elementary School is named for him.
STEPHANIE LABERIS BIO:
Steph has loved drawing for as long as she can remember, and was raised on a healthy diet of cartoons, video games and getting muddy in the New England woods. She also loves crafting, particularly needle felting, and loves to bring her drawn characters to life with real, tangible materials. She attended RISD and has a BFA in Illustration, and currently enjoys working in many artistic fields; illustration, character design for animation and toy design.
She works out of her home studio in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also enjoys tending to her small army of pet rats (who are also her official muses), sampling the best coffees and chocolates of the Bay Area and obsessing over what her next side project will be. When she grows up, she wants to be a real artist. Or be a unicorn! Current clients include Random House Golden Books, Henry Holt/Macmillan, Holiday House and Simon & Schuster. Website: https://stephlaberis.carbonmade.com
Thank you David for sharing your book and journey with us. The text and the illustrations make every page sing. What a great way to teach children about nocturnal animals. Good luck!
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
this book not only looks beautiful, but so informative –
LikeLiked by 3 people
By: beth on February 11, 2020
at 4:29 am
Thank you, Beth. It was one of my favorite projects.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:11 am
I can see why –
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By: beth on February 15, 2020
at 11:44 am
Thanks for sharing several poems and illustrations with us. It is a truly beautiful book! Kids will be delighted to learn about all of these night creatures! (I used your links to tweet and share on fb too).
LikeLiked by 2 people
By: authoryvonafast on February 11, 2020
at 7:06 am
Yvona, I’m glad you like what you see here. I’m grateful to Kathy for going first on the tour to introduce the new book.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:12 am
Dear Kathy, I appreciate your support today. Thank you for kicking off my first ever blog tour. There are 13 more stops after this one so for anyone interested in following along and maybe having other chances to win a book, go to my blog at http://davidlharrison.wordpress.com to see the complete schedule. Thanks everyone!
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By: davidlharrison on February 11, 2020
at 7:32 am
I can hardly wait to share this book with elementary students! I’m a substitute teacher, and the kids know I always have a great book of poems to share with them. David has quite a following in Northern Colorado!
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By: Susan Hutchens on February 11, 2020
at 8:03 am
Good morning, Su. I hope you don’t get stuck in the driveway again anytime soon! Thank you so much for sharing my poems with your kids. I love it when you do.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:13 am
[…] about prolific! And to celebrate, there’s a very cool AFTER DARK BLOG TOUR, beginning today at Kathy Temean’s Writing and Illustrating. David introduces the book, and you have a chance to win a free copy. […]
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By: nine cool things on a tuesday | Jama's Alphabet Soup on February 11, 2020
at 8:06 am
Looks like a great book. Nice kick-off for the blog tour!
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By: Steven.Clark.Cunningham on February 11, 2020
at 8:06 am
Hello, Steven. Thank you. I hope you’ll see a copy one of these days. I’m glad you came by Kathy’s post to read about the new offering.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:14 am
Lovely book! I am sure teachers will enjoy reading these poems aloud with their elementary students. Great post!
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By: janicescully on February 11, 2020
at 8:47 am
Thank you, Janice. I’m eager to be on your post when you host. Again, thank you very much.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:15 am
What a great book for for reading before lights out!
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By: Lynne Marie on February 11, 2020
at 8:53 am
Thank you, Lynne. I hope it works even after lights out. My wife used to sit in the closet to read at night after she was supposed to be in bed. (:>
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:16 am
What a great book! I’m always asleep at night, but as a young girl, I remember looking out the windows when the moon was full, hoping to catch glimpses of wildlife. (in Arizona…). Best wishes! I will tweet this post as well.
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By: Angie on February 11, 2020
at 9:39 am
Thank you very much, Angie. Where did you live in Arizona? I lived in Ajo from ages 5 to 8 1/2.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:17 am
We lived in Huachuca City, then out to Presidential Estates/towards Tombstone, then up in the White Mountains in the middle of nowhere (Vernon). 9 years total, from first-ninth grade. 🙂 I do appreciate the desert, and miss it sometimes, but for the extreme heat!
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By: Angie on February 15, 2020
at 7:14 pm
My parents and I used to camp at White Horse Lake. Wonderful memories! I was in Tombstone two years ago coming back from researching for a book in Organ Pipe National Monument.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 7:20 pm
I would love to have a copy of this book! I had recently thought of writing a story, While You Were Sleeping, with a very similar concept. As a poet too, I would love to read David’s work!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By: Colleen Owen Murphy on February 11, 2020
at 10:06 am
Colleen, I hope you go ahead and write yours. There’s always room for another book!
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:18 am
Looks good, I’d love to win a copy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By: Susan Williams Beckhorn on February 11, 2020
at 11:34 am
I hope you win, Susan!
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:19 am
I’m a fan of David’s poetry–thanks for giving us a glimpse of the book. (And I subscribe to your blog.)
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By: Buffy Silverman on February 11, 2020
at 12:06 pm
Hi, Buffy! It’s always good to hear from you. We go back a bit!
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:20 am
This book looks like a winner on so many levels. It’s going to be a favorite in my house as well as many more I’m sure. Thanks!
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By: Linda Staszak on February 11, 2020
at 12:08 pm
Linda, that’s so kind of you to say. My fingers are crossed that your prediction comes true.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:20 am
Now this one’s going on my “Start the Baby’s Library” list to give at baby showers. Beautiful!
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By: Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner on February 11, 2020
at 12:30 pm
Donna, thank you very much. I keep trying to hit “like” but for some reason I’m being required to provide email address and name. Let’s hope you see this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By: Harrison on February 11, 2020
at 12:51 pm
Message received…and you are very welcome!
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By: Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner on February 12, 2020
at 4:37 pm
Hi, Donna. What a wonderful idea. Now if we can just talk a few thousand others into following your sterling example!
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:21 am
Congratulations David on another wonder-full and beauty-full book about the secret lives of critters! This one looks very special, indeed. (And thanks, Kathy, for your terrific blog which I happily subscribe to—the perfect place to start off David’s blog tour.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
By: Michelle Heidenrich Barnes on February 11, 2020
at 12:30 pm
Thank you very much, Michelle. I hope things are well and good with you these days.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:22 am
I, too, find this book an excellent one for my 5-year-old great-granddaughter. I’ll try to find it in our local book store.
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By: Pat Nipper on February 11, 2020
at 12:46 pm
Yes! Pat, I’m glad you mention your book store. Thank heavens that some of them manage to hang on in spite of their online competition. We need those bricks and mortar refuges for the book.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:24 am
Many of your books I consider my mentor texts. Thanks! I shared https://twitter.com/ManjuBeth/status/1227293226597539842
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By: Manju B. Howard (@ManjuBeth) on February 11, 2020
at 1:10 pm
Manju, you are very kind. I’m flattered and delighted.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 10:24 am
What a beautiful book both in poetry and illustrations! I loved reading the sample pages and can’t wait to have this book in my hands. Congratulations, David, on your 97th book! You are amazing.
I look forward to reading your blog daily, Kathy. I am sharing this interview on facebook.
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By: Pamela Harrison on February 11, 2020
at 1:20 pm
Thank you, dear “cousin” Pamela. I’m grateful to Kathy for creating my website, my blog spot, and now this feature of my new book. Yay, Kathy!
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:03 am
Kathy is amazing, isn’t she! She does so much to support the writing community. Again, congratulations, “cousin” David! I love your playful personality.
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By: Pamela Harrison on February 15, 2020
at 2:15 pm
Ninety-seven books? That’s amazing! After Dark looks like a beautiful book. (Kathy, I subscribe to this blog.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
By: Janet Frenck Sheets on February 11, 2020
at 1:34 pm
Thank you, Janet. I don’t know where the years have gone but at least I know what I’ve been doing. (:>
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:04 am
This book looks terrific! I met David at a Highlights workshop, and he and his poetry are both lovely. I would love to win his latest book!
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By: Deborah Williams on February 11, 2020
at 1:46 pm
It was a good workshop, Deborah. Thank you for being part of it.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:05 am
This looks like an excellent book for bedtime reading. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I’ve tweeted a link to this post: https://twitter.com/carlrscott/status/1227306892915085312, and pinned an image with a link on Pinterest as well: https://www.pinterest.com.mx/pin/336573772153892453/.
Thanks again, have a great week everyone!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By: carlrscott on February 11, 2020
at 2:03 pm
I do follow your blog daily by email as well: crs(at)codedivasites(dot)com. Thx
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By: carlrscott on February 11, 2020
at 2:09 pm
Thank you, Carl. If you aren’t the lucky winner, I still hope you’ll see and enjoy a copy some other way.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:06 am
Another lovely collection! LOVE David’s books.
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By: darlenebeckjacobson on February 11, 2020
at 2:06 pm
Thank you, Darlene! I like this one, too, but I may be biased.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:07 am
I LOVE David’s books and this one looks spectacular. Thanks for a chance to win a copy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By: rosihollinbeck on February 11, 2020
at 2:07 pm
Hello over there, Rosi. I’m always glad to see your name pop up. Any recent trips to New York? We haven’t planned ours yet for this year.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:08 am
This looks like a gorgeous book (especially intrigued by luna moths)–congrats! I also subscribe to your blog, Kathy.
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By: Nancy Furstinger on February 11, 2020
at 2:17 pm
I agree with you about the Luna, Nancy. They are so majestic. On the few occasions when I was lucky enough to see one flying, they always took my breath away.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:09 am
Thank you for this wonderful interview with David. I am a fan of his books, and I can’t wait to read this one!
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By: Linda KulpTrout on February 11, 2020
at 7:08 pm
Linda, thank you for saying that. I love to introduce a new book and am grateful to Kathy and all the other hosts of the tour who are helping with this one.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:10 am
this looks like a wonderful book and I can’t wait to see it on the shelf
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By: fruitcrmble on February 11, 2020
at 8:01 pm
And I can’t wait for it to be on your shelf, too! (:>
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:11 am
Kathy, I have been working on my blog tour post for David’s book and decided to take a break to read your post. It is a great kick off. I am excited to be part of the tour. David’s book is wonderful, inventive, and sure to be a hit with children.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By: cvarsalona on February 11, 2020
at 10:43 pm
Thanks for leaving a comment. It is a gorgeous book and I appreciate all your work.
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By: Kathy Temean on February 13, 2020
at 1:09 pm
My thanks to all for your kind and encouraging comments. I’m proud of the new book and hope you will enjoy it too. With warm wishes, David
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By: davidlharrison on February 11, 2020
at 11:22 pm
Beautiful book & poems! Love that it’s nonfiction!
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By: tinamcho on February 12, 2020
at 5:50 am
Thank you for mentioning the nonfiction aspect of the new collection. I love writing poems informed by nature and science. I also like to add the additional notes in the back.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:13 am
Beautiful book! The poetry is lovely and the art is perfect! Congratulations!
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By: tpierce on February 12, 2020
at 12:16 pm
Thank you for your kind words. I’ve been blessed by partnering with many gifted artists over the years. Stephanie (Steph) Laberis brings these night creatures to light in such a dramatic way that I keep going back to admire each page.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:16 am
Wow, I really love nonfiction poetry and you really infused this topic with FUN!
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By: Lydia Lukidis on February 12, 2020
at 10:15 pm
Thank you, Lydia. I have a long standing respect for the subjects I write about. I’ve written about most of these creatures in other books, too, but every time I learn something new and find a different way to approach them.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:18 am
The poems are beautiful. I like the variety of rhyming and free verse.
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By: Lauri Meyers on February 13, 2020
at 2:12 pm
You’re very kind, Lauri. And I’m glad you find the variety of forms appealing. I try to fit form to character, depending on how I see/feel the animal. It takes longer but I get great satisfaction from the effort.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:20 am
This looks like a fun non-fiction book. Thanks for the spance of topics.
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By: Virginia Rinkel on February 13, 2020
at 7:44 pm
Thank you, Virginia. Agreeing on the list of characters took longer than I’d expected. in the end I think we wound up with a nice range of species, and Steph Laberis did a splendid job of bringing each one to life.
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By: davidlharrison on February 15, 2020
at 11:21 am
Gorgeous poems. Very atmospheric illustrations too. Love it!
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By: kirstenpendreigh on February 13, 2020
at 11:59 pm
Getting here a little late but so happy to read more wonderful poems from this terrific new book I know will be a hit with kids and teachers, parents and other nature lovers. I so enjoy the language in here, too like serene!! And the firefly poem, oh yes. Wonderful!!! Going to post on my fb because everyone needs to know about this one!!! Congratulations to David and Stephanie. Thinking I will see it at Highlights in March….hmmmmmm.
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By: Janet F. on February 17, 2020
at 11:44 am
Thank you, Janet. I don’t expect to be doing any more poetry workshops at The Barn but I have many good memories from those experiences and of course I was tied to Boyds Mills Press and Kent Brown for many years. I appreciate your kind words about AFTER DARK and trust that you’ll fine a copy around The Barn somewhere the next time you’re there.
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By: davidlharrison on February 17, 2020
at 5:50 pm
Thanks for a great kick-off to the blog tour, Kathy!
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By: Jane Heitman Healy on February 24, 2020
at 9:19 am