Dogs: A History of Our Best Friends

Something Beautiful by Lita Judge

Just Released!

This illustrated history of dogs explores how humans’ partnership with dogs changed our lives and theirs

Of all the animals on the planet, dogs have the widest range of roles in our daily lives. They’re protectors, helpers, lifesavers—but most of all, they’re family.

And they’ve taken a fascinating journey to get to this point. Long ago, early wolves evolved from fierce predators into trusted partners. They became dogs! While we know dogs to be lovable and full of personality, they have also historically improved our lives in many practical ways, like guarding livestock to help humans form the first settlements, cleaning out infectious wounds, and finding food. Covering over 50,000 years of history, from cave-dwelling to the present day, Dogs chronicles fascinating scientific details and the history of how dogs learned to live cooperatively alongside humans.

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Something Beautiful

Something Beautiful by Lita Judge

Now available!

Mouse, Elephant, and Giraffe have so much in common. They like the same games. They eat the same snacks. They don’t need anyone else! Or do they? When the group takes a chance on opening up, they discover that meeting someone new and seeing things from a new perspective can be truly wonderful.

The Making of Something Beautiful

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Creative Process Videos

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The Wisdom of Trees

In recent years, forest ecologists have learned that trees have a secret language all their own, one we can’t see or hear, which allows them to work together in communities.
The Wisdom of Trees by Lita Judge
The poems in this book reveal what trees might say if they did use words. Trees live longer when they help and defend one another. They can do this only if they communicate. Find out more about how this works in THE WISDOM OF TREES!
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Mary’s Monster
My debut young adult novel, Mary’s Monster: Love, Madness and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein was longlisted for the 2019 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal (the UK’s oldest and most prestigious children’s book award), selected as a book of Outstanding Merit on the Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year list, added to the Amelia Bloomer List, and was shortlisted for the 2019 UKLA Book Award by the UK Literacy Association. Pairing free verse with over three hundred pages of black-and-white illustrations, Mary’s Monster is a unique biography of Mary Shelley, the pregnant teenage runaway who became one of the greatest authors of all time.
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When You Need Wings

When You Need Wings takes readers on a wonder-filled exploration of a child’s imagination, thoughtfully weaving in a gentle suggestion of how to explore that bountiful inner world and let it help them shine with courage in the real one.

When You Need Wings
is now available!

The Making of When You Need Wings

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I’m usually sketching while crouched in damp grass, or sitting on an uneven rock, but today, I got to sketch an incredible view of the Cornwall coastline from a castle turret. View from St. Michael’s Mount. @stmichaelsmount

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May 27

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I’m usually sketching while crouched in damp grass, or sitting on an uneven rock, but today, I got to sketch an incredible view of the Cornwall coastline from a castle turret. View from St. Michael’s Mount. @stmichaelsmount

Toot-da-doooo. I`m bound for England today, where I will do a LOT of field sketching, dreaming, and perhaps even a little relaxing. I may or may not be online to share journal sketches. If not, I`ll jump online again when I`m back!

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May 18

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Toot-da-doooo. I'm bound for England today, where I will do a LOT of field sketching, dreaming, and perhaps even a little relaxing. I may or may not be online to share journal sketches. If not, I'll jump online again when I'm back!

Last nights evening sketch, I`m calling it "The Storyteller"

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May 11

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Last nights evening sketch, I'm calling it "The Storyteller"

Celebrating the one year birthday of my book, Something Beautiful, released into the world last May. It`s still one of my favorites because it`s inspired by the rich and beautiful friendships in my life - human and critter both.

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May 9

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Celebrating the one year birthday of my book, Something Beautiful, released into the world last May. It's still one of my favorites because it's inspired by the rich and beautiful friendships in my life - human and critter both.

It is startling to feel spring like here at last. So I thought I`d share a little sketch I did last spring of some characters I hope to find a story for. Even I don`t find one, it was fun to sit amongst the ferns and mushrooms to dream and draw.

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May 6

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It is startling to feel spring like here at last. So I thought I'd share a little sketch I did last spring of some characters I hope to find a story for. Even I don't find one, it was fun to sit amongst the ferns and mushrooms to dream and draw.

Happy May #kidlitArtPostcard day! I`m and illustrator and author. Mother`s day is coming up, so I thought it would be fun to share this illustration. I`m always looking for wonderful picture book, chapter book, and book cover projects. Stop by and visit my website at www.litajudge.me Rep`d by @literaticat at @Andreabrownlit

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May 4

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Happy May #kidlitArtPostcard day! I'm and illustrator and author. Mother's day is coming up, so I thought it would be fun to share this illustration. I'm always looking for wonderful picture book, chapter book, and book cover projects. Stop by and visit my website at www.litajudge.me Rep'd by @literaticat at @Andreabrownlit

Did you know dogs evolved from a species of grey wolves between 50,000 and 30,000 years ago. Sharing a spread from my book, DOGS: A history of Our Best Friends.

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May 2

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Did you know dogs evolved from a species of grey wolves between 50,000 and 30,000 years ago. Sharing a spread from my book, DOGS: A history of Our Best Friends.

Squeee, I`m off to spend the weekend with some of my kid lit friends at the NESCBWI conference. (Also sharing one of the pups that is in my latest book, DOGS!

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Apr 29

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Squeee, I'm off to spend the weekend with some of my kid lit friends at the NESCBWI conference. (Also sharing one of the pups that is in my latest book, DOGS!

Did you know dogs have been helping us cover long distances for the past 12,000 years? I grew up in the land of dog sledding so this is one of my favorite things I learned creating, DOGS: A History of Our Best Friends

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Apr 26

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Did you know dogs have been helping us cover long distances for the past 12,000 years? I grew up in the land of dog sledding so this is one of my favorite things I learned creating, DOGS: A History of Our Best Friends

Hi all, I`m getting many lovely messages from people who want signed books. Sorry, I`ve put my Etsy shop on vacation for the time being. But happy to pop down to my wonderful Indie bookstore, The Toadstool Bookshop, Peterborough to personalize and sign. They`ll mail books anywhere. Even Austria! (Just signed books that are going abroad.) I will link to them in my first comment.⁠
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#childrensbooks⁠ #doglove #doglover #lovedogs #ilovedogs #dogsofinsta #nonfiction #nonfictionbooksforkids⁠ ⁠
#animallovers ⁠#sketch #artoftheday #artlife #dailyart #artist_sharing⁠ #workspace #creativeprocess #creativelife⁠ ⁠
#illustration_the_best #illustration #illustrations #illustrationartists⁠ #iloveillustration #illustration_mag #illustration_best #artguide_illustration #childrenillustration #showillustrations #moreillustrations #illustrationnow #newthingstocome

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Apr 24

Open
Hi all, I'm getting many lovely messages from people who want signed books. Sorry, I've put my Etsy shop on vacation for the time being. But happy to pop down to my wonderful Indie bookstore, The Toadstool Bookshop, Peterborough to personalize and sign. They'll mail books anywhere. Even Austria! (Just signed books that are going abroad.) I will link to them in my first comment.⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #childrensbooks⁠ #doglove #doglover #lovedogs #ilovedogs #dogsofinsta #nonfiction #nonfictionbooksforkids⁠ ⁠ #animallovers ⁠#sketch #artoftheday #artlife #dailyart #artist_sharing⁠ #workspace #creativeprocess #creativelife⁠ ⁠ #illustration_the_best #illustration #illustrations #illustrationartists⁠ #iloveillustration #illustration_mag #illustration_best #artguide_illustration #childrenillustration #showillustrations #moreillustrations #illustrationnow #newthingstocome

For Sunday Sculpture, I went back to my Alaskan roots to create a polar bear. I grew up cherishing the incredible carvings of Inuit artists and can see a little of their influence in this piece.

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Apr 23

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For Sunday Sculpture, I went back to my Alaskan roots to create a polar bear. I grew up cherishing the incredible carvings of Inuit artists and can see a little of their influence in this piece.

Local friends, I`ll be speaking and signing copies of my new book at the Toadstool Bookstore - 11:00AM this Saturday! It`s been so long since I could do an in person book signing. Hope to see old and new friends at our wonderful indie bookstore! (art from the title page of DOGS)

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Apr 20

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Local friends, I'll be speaking and signing copies of my new book at the Toadstool Bookstore - 11:00AM this Saturday! It's been so long since I could do an in person book signing. Hope to see old and new friends at our wonderful indie bookstore! (art from the title page of DOGS)

Sharing a little more puppy love. So many of my friends` dogs modeled for my book, DOGS: A History of Our Best Friends. This young fellow was a bundle of energy, but he did stop for a moment for me to take a pic and draw him. Thank you to all who shared their best friends with me in creating this book.

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Apr 17

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Sharing a little more puppy love. So many of my friends' dogs modeled for my book, DOGS: A History of Our Best Friends. This young fellow was a bundle of energy, but he did stop for a moment for me to take a pic and draw him. Thank you to all who shared their best friends with me in creating this book.