Tales From Elaine
A Shady Situation at the Tucson Festival of Books
We were assigned a new booth location at the Tucson Festival of Books this year. For the past two years, we enjoyed a corner booth
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Adventure!
Survival of the Sharpest: A Sonoran Desert Welcome Basket
A dear friend is trading the snowy East Coast for the sun-drenched landscapes of Tucson, and I couldn’t be happier for her. Back home, she
Tales From Elaine
Marching Into Festival Season
Can you believe March 2026 is already here? For an author, March is more than just the start of spring; it’s festival season! This is
Tales From Elaine
The Super Bowl Bird that Isn’t a Seahawk
I don’t follow the National Football League much these days. Between writing science-based picture books and my work with reptiles, there is simply too much
Tales From Elaine
A Lotl Fun with Axolotls!
I try to have a new book ready in time for the annual Tucson Festival of Books (TFoB) every year. This year, I am releasing
Adventure!
Riding the Fire: What the Year of the Horse Means for Us
There’s been a lot of talk among horse lovers about 2026 being the Year of the Horse. However, it isn’t just any horse year—it is
Science Education
Celebrating Our Bushy-Tailed Neighbors: National Squirrel Appreciation Day
Growing up in the Midwest and Northeast, I always enjoyed the antics of the squirrels. These fluffy fellows are part of the “tree squirrel” group,
Iguanas
Watch Out for Falling Iguanas!
Many people from the northern US and Canada head south to Florida in the winter, hoping to escape the biting cold. However, Florida can have
Book Stories
A Look Back at a Remarkable 2025
2025 was an amazing year in my life. Even though I write primarily to share my love of science with children—and the adults who help
Birds
Popcorn for Paco: Appeasing the Amazon Parrot
When I stay with my cousin Rick in Peoria, I also share the house with an Amazon yellow-naped parrot named Paco. He’s still a wild
Adventure!
Bison-tennial Celebration in Illinois
Peoria County (IL) is celebrating its bicentennial from 1825 to 2025. As part of the festivities, decorated bison sculptures can be found around town. You
Tales From Elaine
A Sonoran Desert Thanksgiving Feast
November is the month known for Thanksgiving. While turkey is the ‘traditional’ food, along with stuffing and cranberry sauce, it’s widely believed turkey was not
Lizards
The Mysterious Rio Grande Siren
I’m currently working on a book titled A Lotl About Axolotls, an amphibian who never fully matures into an adult salamander with lungs. They keep
Tales From Elaine
The Great Goose Dismount: A Museum Adventure
When I visit my hometown of Peoria, Illinois (not the fake Peoria in Arizona), my friend Ruth and I often go to the Peoria Riverfront
My Horses and Me
A Coat of Many Colors: Learning Horse Hues and Heritage
I came to the horse world late in life, and I’ll admit I’m in the category of “can’t teach an old dog new tricks” when