Author Archives: Deborah Hodge

Burrowing Owls

My newest book, The Burrowing Owls of the Prairie Grasslands, is about to be released. Very exciting! It is the second book in our “Wild by Nature” series — an ecology series for young readers that features environmentally sensitive creatures and habitats, and offers hope for their recovery.

It was a joy to write this book and to visit a Burrowing Owl recovery centre in the BC’s Okanagan Valley. Karen Reczuch and I were able to be up close and personal with the owls, and her beautiful art reflects these wonderful little owls.

Fun fact: These are the only owls in the world to live underground!

New Release

My newest book is out in the world! Hooray! It is the third board book in the West Coast Wild series and is titled Seashore Hide and Seek.

Lots of fun for toddlers and young children to discover the amazing creatures that live along the rugged shoreline of the Pacific west coast!

They are resilient creatures who adapt themselves to the harsh conditions of the changing tides twice every day.

See them revealed as the tide goes out, then watch them hide as the waves wash over them again.

Festive times

The festive season is drawing near and I am looking forward to gathering with friends and family to enjoy some holiday spirit. At this time of year, the days are short and the nights are long and dark. It’s good to find ways to come together and share some light.

The partiers in these illustrations are created by Lisa Cinar, the wonderful illustrator of our book, Bear’s Winter Party, a story about finding friends on a cold winter night.

As the season gets underway, I wish you happy times, warm gatherings and many lovely books to read.

Changing Seasons

I love living in a place where we experience four distinct seasons of the year. Most recently, we have been in the throes of fall (or autumn, as many call it). I live in a neighbourhood full of beautiful old (and giant!) trees. It is wonderful to take an autumn walk every day and see the gorgeous changing colours of the foliage.

With one season moving to the next, it reminds me that, even though I live in a city, nature is still very present in my life. And, if you read my books, you will see that nature is of utmost importance to me.

Happy fall!

West Coast Wild Seashore Hide and Seek

Illustrated by Karen Reczuch, published by Groundwood Books, Spring 2026

What seashore treasures can you find at low tide?

Sea stars creep, anemones wave, sea urchins nestle and sand dollars burrow! Meet the bright and beautiful seashore creatures of the Pacific west coast. See them at low tide — before the ocean returns and they are hidden again. Toddlers and babies will be captivated by these colorful shoreline animals living in rhythm with the tides.

Children of every age are fascinated by the creatures that live on land and sea. In this new board book, young readers and their adults can learn about the amazing intertidal animals that make their home along the spectacular Pacific west coast.

This book is a companion to the earlier board books West Coast Wild Baby Animals and West Coast Wild ABC.

The Burrowing Owls of the Prairie Grasslands

Illustrated by Karen Reczuch, published by Groundwood Books, Spring 2026

It’s spring in Grasslands National Park and burrowing owls are returning from a winter away to lay their eggs in this rare and protected habitat.

Lush illustrations celebrate the magnificent wild prairie of Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan and feature the remarkable burrowing owls — the only owls in the world to live underground! Meet the owls as they prepare a burrow and lay their eggs. See tiny fuzzy owlets hatch and grow before flying to Mexico and Texas for the winter.

Sadly, these little owls who were once common in the grasslands of western and mid-western North America are now endangered. As the wild prairies were farmed and developed, far fewer places were left for the owls to nest and raise their young.

Today, biologists, Indigenous groups, landowners and conservationists are working hard to restore the vital grasslands and help this precarious species recover.

Wild by Nature series
A series for young readers that explores the unique links between ecologically sensitive species and habitats, and encourages the preservation of the world’s wild places.

“An excellent choice for elementary classrooms, young naturalists, homeschooling families, and any child fascinated by animals, ecosystems, or environmental stewardship, filled with sensory language, and captivating images.” School Library Journal, Starred Review

 

 

Back to School

West Coast WildSeptember is here and the children and teachers are back to school. The memories of summer vacations and wandering the shoreline of our wild beaches are quickly slipping away.

As a former teacher, I always enjoyed the September start. The classroom was full of anticipation, excitement about being reunited with friends and the thrill of a whole new year of learning.

It’s been years since I was a teacher, but I will never forget how wonderful it was to spend time in the company of my students. They always inspired me, and I continue to think of them every time I write a book.

If you are back in the classroom this September, I wish you a happy and productive year — and many good books to read!