Tag Archive for Abigail Burch

Michael Cera, “Juno,” Two Ballerinas & an Aspirational Moose

Publishing comes with a lot of heartbreak and disappointment — rejection is the core experience for even “successful” authors — but I still cling to the pleasures of making things. Of being inspired, of creating new books or poems or art. The worst day is pub day, when hopes and dreams are dashed against the rocks of indifference.

Anyway, this little book about an aspirational moose won’t be out until August, 2025.  I sent a photo of Michael Cera from “Juno” to my editor, describing how I saw Moose. And in this rare case, both my editor and illustrator listened and cared and worked to honor my silly vision.

The actor Michael Cera and my moose. It’s a small thing but it delights me.

 

NOTE: This is not the official or “final” cover. But I imagine it’s close. 

This is the second story from my “. . . And a Moose!” Series for very young readers. Available in paperback, cheap.

“Two Birds and a Moose” Named JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

Good news! I’m pleased to see that my new book, Two Birds and a Moose, illustrated by Abigail Burch, has been named a Junior Library Guild Selection.
Those folks at JLG have been amazingly generous toward my books, as this is the 5th time I’ve been so honored, including: Bystander, The Courage Test, Blood Mountain, and Upstander.
Honestly, I’m impossible to live with these days.
Thanks so much, JLG!
Two Birds comes out in 6 days. It’s a simple little story — so don’t get your hopes too high. Although, come to think of it, maybe the message of this story is quite the opposite.
Hope away!

Coming Soon: TWO BIRDS . . . AND A MOOSE!

I love an aspirational moose, don’t you?

A dreamer, a seeker, a striver who will not give up.

He’s the star of Two Birds . . . and a Moose, coming August 27th from Simon & Schuster. 

It’s a Level 1 “Ready to Read” book, just right for emerging readers.

You can pre-order it now via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your favorite local bookstore. 

And, yes, there will be more books featuring Moose to come. 

Illustrated by Abigail Burch, written by me, James Preller.

Thank you for your support.

GOOD NEWS: Coming in August, My First “Easy-to-Read” in 30 Years!

Coming in August, this aspirational moose!

 

This sweet little book, wonderfully illustrated by Abigail Burch, is my first easy-to-read since WAKE ME IN SPRING and HICCUPS FOR ELEPHANT (both sold over 1 million copies and both are out of print). Published those two 30 years ago. It was time.

I like this moose. 

COMING SOON: Two Birds and a Moose!

SNEAK PEEK: It’s nice to have something coming out for the youngest readers that promotes violence. Ha-ha. I mean, a Looney Tunes-inspired brand of violence. And not much of that, actually. But, yes, here comes a new book.
Thirty years ago I wrote two very successful easy-to-read titles, Wake Me In Spring and Hiccups for Elephant. I still meet people who remember those books fondly. Both sold about 1.5 million copies. Long out of print. Try as I might, I couldn’t get a third one published and eventually gave up, moved in a different direction.
So, yeah, it’s time.
I’m very much looking forward to the arrival this fall of Two Birds and a Moose (Simon & Schuster). It’s part of S & S’s “Ready-to-Read” line, level 1. 
Rough sketch by the talented Abigail Burch.
By the way, I also have a new middle-grade novel coming out at around the same time, Shaken (Macmillan, Fall, 2024). It centers around a 7th-grade girl, Kristy Barrett, who is a soccer player with Division 1 dreams. Early in the book, Kristy suffers a severe concussion with lasting effects. Forced to give up the game she loves, Kristy experiences stress, anxiety, self-doubt, panic attacks  — and eventually goes on to spend time in the care of a therapist. Two therapists, actually. And a couple of new friends. The book is about how Kristy navigates this challenging time in her life. More on that, another day. 
Thanks for stopping by.