Dogs: A History of Our Best Friends

Something Beautiful by Lita Judge

Available on April 18th!

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.

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

Creative Process Videos

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!

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.

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

One month until my book, DOGS: A History of our Best Friends, comes out! Kirkus said it was "sweeter than a scratch behind the ears." It's available for preorder now, and I will have it on my Etsy site very soon! @abramskids⁠
Such a lovely time of year here when the turkeys are doing their spring struts and the owls are hooting away in our trees.
Bear and I say good morning and we hope your week is off to a good start!
Just a quick warm up sketch to share today. I've had my nose deep in a book project and haven't had as much time to draw characters, but I'm trying to keep it up at least a couple times a week.
This is a painting I did last fall, but we're seeing and enjoying foxes so much this winter, I thought I'd post this today. It's represents one my favorite moments watching a fox.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
Yay! Making art to make more art, that's my life! The ceramic pencil holders I made over the holidays are glazed and ready to hold all the pretty colors on my desk. These are hand built stoneware with black slip and then carved to create the designs.
I finally got a chance to glaze the ceramic pencil holders I made over the holidays. Can't wait to fire these.
I just finished a rough sketch draft to a book and this little stinker is in it. Hoping to send it out into the world soon to see if it gets to be a book!
Happy weekend. It's -30 here in NH counting windchill, but I hope you are all cozy, warm, and have time to relax.
It's World Read Aloud Day - excited to be reading to kids across America and beyond!
Woof. Sharing a daily sketch of a pup I met awhile back.
Sharing a Maine Coon Monday Daily sketch of Miss Willow - trying to capture her pussy willow soft fur. How is this little stinker turning 4 already!
My daily sketch for today - we have a pair of foxes that frequent our and I feel fortunate each time I see them, especially when they are draped in their winter coats. So much beauty and panache.