September 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!

I’m at home in the city, dreaming about the beautiful west coast of Vancouver Island and wishing I were walking on this long, wonderful beach. It is my favourite place in the world to explore.

We had a lovely adventure there in June and I am hoping to get back again before too long. Some folks love to jump on an airplane and visit international destinations, but I am very happy to be in my home province enjoying all the beauty and nature of the Pacific Northwest.

Will I get back to the wild west coast this summer? I sure hope so. Until then, I’ll dream about it and keep enjoying the photo of this gorgeous beach with its endless sea and sky.

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Happy Earth Day to you and to all the creatures of our beautiful and fragile world!

These lovely tufted puffins are preparing a burrow on the steep cliffside of Triangle Island. The mother will lay a single egg – and soon a new baby puffin will be born!

See more about these remarkable birds when The Tufted Puffins of Triangle Island, illustrated by Karen Reczuch and written by me, is released by Groundwood Books in August.

Until then, please enjoy the wonderful sights and sounds of nature on this important day for the earth.

January can be a long month, with weather that is cold and dreary, so what’s a writer to do? Read more and write more! Bundled up inside the house and finding inviting words on the page is a lovely pastime. Wishing you a happy January and many good books to read!

And if you need a bit of January inspiration, here’s a quote (in the spirit of the month) from poet and essayist, T. S. Eliot:

“Every moment is a fresh beginning.”
— T.S. Eliot

In a happy circumstance, I was delighted to be invited to include my story, Bear’s Winter Party, to become part of an annual online Advent calendar, created by the UK charity Roundabout Dramatherapy. It is an organization that works to transform the lives of vulnerable people with mental health issues through the use of dramatherapy.

My book was selected for December 23, and yesterday I got to watch the wonderful actor Nicola Martinus-Smith bring the story and characters to life with her lovely reading of it. If there are young children in your circle, they might enjoy watching the video, as well as seeing the festive stories for the other days of December.

Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday! Cheers!

As the year draws to an end, I am feeling grateful for many things: family, friends, a warm home and a stack of books to read and write.

I adore these sweet little Douglas squirrel babies in their cozy nest, staying warm and dry in the ancient tree of the coastal rainforest. What a lovely place to be! This charming illustration is from our book, West Coast Wild Rainforest, full of gorgeous paintings by Karen Reczuch.

Here on the west coast, we will be having a green holiday — no snow on the horizon as yet. Wherever you are, snow or no snow, I wish you a warm, cozy and happy holiday season.

We are approaching the shortest day of the year, when darkness stays late in the morning and comes early in the evening. I love to watch the changing season and ruminate about the time when the days get longer again. There is always hope just around the corner.

For now, in these quiet moments leading up to the shortest day, I think about warmth and light, and wish you health and happiness as we proceed through the winter season.

Is it time for a winter party at your house? Here on the west coast, the snow has turned to rain and our umbrellas are out in full force. A perfect time to gather indoors with friends and family!

If you have children in your midst, they might enjoy the story of Bear’s Winter Party, about a lonely bear who invites the other animals to a winter party at his den, not knowing whether anyone will show up. The creatures of the forest have always been afraid of Bear. But Bear is a wonderful host and would love to make friends.

This gentle story will warm your heart on a cold (or rainy!) winter day. It includes a recipe for Bear’s own Honey Ginger Cookies, and is just right for a winter gathering at your place!

Wishing you a very Happy New Year and all the best for 2023! Cheers!

Happy Earth Day!

It is a day to celebrate nature, the earth and all its creatures. Take a walk in the spring sunshine, listen to the birds and revel in the beauty around you.

I miss being with kids in school on days like today — they are so full of enthusiasm for the natural world and the plants and animals that share our earthly home. But I will mark the day with the kids in spirit and go for a long walk under the big, beautiful trees in my neighbourhood.

This lovely illustration is from West Coast Wild Babies and is painted by my talented collaborative partner, Karen Reczuch. We both love the giant west coast trees!

From my corner of the world (the beautiful west coast of Canada) to yours: Happy New Year!

May your 2021 be happy and healthy, and full of many good books to read!