The picture book, How Happy Is a Lark? introduces children to a fun and poetic aspect of language. Turning similes into questions, timeless ponderings (or are they really questions we’ve never dared to consider before now?!) like “how wise is an owl?” and “how sly is a fox?” are finally revealed in funny and delightful ways.

The book features joyful stories and artwork that will make your children laugh out loud. “How silly is a goose? A goose dresses in a clown costume and has a one goose parade down Gooseberry Lane …” Buy the book to enhance your child’s imagination and inspire more joy in their reading and writing.

Available in the author’s local area at:  

• Adventure, Ink, Milan; Brewed Awakenings, Saline; Coreander’s Children’s Bookshoppe, Grosse Pointe Park; Booksweet, Schuler Books and Vault of Midnight, Ann Arbor
• At these Michigan libraries: Ann Arbor District Library, Milan Public Library, Plymouth District Library, Troy Public Library, Ypsilanti District Library & Book Mobile
• & Internationally available at Scribbles and Quills, Trinidad, West Indies

Gail Kuhnlein is “as happy as a lark” to publish her first children’s picture book. She’s been writing stories since she was young. She’s just as excited about her upcoming picture book, Into the Thicket, summarized below.

Gail majored in journalism and public relations at Michigan State University. She worked in the field for over 30 years, most recently at the University of Michigan’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. People she met at UM were instrumental in publishing her first picture book, a long-awaited dream come true.

She lives with her husband, Tim, just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan. They adore their two adult sons, Davey and Trevor.

COMING SOON — IN JULY: Gail’s NEXT BOOK, Into the Thicket, is based on a real-life adventure when her young son found an injured baby rabbit. 

The story follows the journey of Patrick and the rabbit. The book encourages an appreciation for wildlife. Into the Thicket incorporates themes of compassion, overcoming fears, loving — and letting go. Readers will see how even small acts of kindness make a difference in a great, big world.

Illustrations by renowned Ann Arbor artist John Megahan.  

PRESALES will be announced here and are anticipated JULY 2025!

Read an Outta’ this World blog post interview with John >>

• October 2024 | Ann Arbor Observer profiles Gail in the Saline City Guide - My Neighborhood: Home Is Where the Heart Is
• August 2024 | Author Shutta Crum features Gail and her book in Wordsmith’s Playground
• April 2024 | Gail featured in SCBWI-MI’s The Mitten blog in its introductory What I Wish I’d Known series & their Hugs & Hurrahs column
• April 2024 | KID TESTED.  Story Monsters approved Lark is a Story Monsters Approved Winner in the categories: Picture Books Fiction, First-Time Author & Illustrations
• February 2024 | Lark earns a five-star review from Readers’ Choice Book Awards — advances to contest
• Dec 2023 | How Happy Is a Lark? places in  the Story Monsters Royal Dragonfly Book Awards | 2nd place New Author Fiction | Honorable Mentions Best Cover Design & Illustrations and Picture Book 5 & Under 
• Oct. 6, 2023, | Ann Arbor Family Press | How Happy Is a Lark? A journey of language, creativity, and collaboration 
• Aug. 29, 2023, | The Saline Post | Local author publishes children’s book

Gail and Jenny are available for media interviews. If interested, please contact us at the emails below or using the contact tab above.

• More events to come once new book launches (est July/Aug 2025)!
• Detroit Bookfest, 10am - 4pm, Sunday, July 20 Eastern Market 
• Author event/Kids’ Summer Reading Program at Booksweet, Ann Arbor, 2 pm, Friday, August 22 Gail will read from Into the Thicket, take questions, sell and sign books

PAST 2025 EVENTS

• Milan in Full Bloom & Book Hop, Saturday, May 10, 11am - 2pm, author table & book signing, Adventure, Ink, Milan
• Literacy Night, St. Fabian Catholic School, January 14, 2025 blog 

Jenny Kalejs is an artist, acolyte of the written word, admirer of nature, enthusiast for rec sports, professional playlist maker, devotee of all dogs, lifelong Michigander, compulsively creative daughter, sister and friend.

Bringing stories to life: Jenny has the remarkable ability to breathe life into the words of authors. Her illustrations are more than just visuals — they are windows into magical worlds, inviting readers to embark on unforgettable journeys with the turn of each page. 

For commission inquiries, email Jenny or send a message on Instagram @jennycardsandco

Read a blog post about Jenny

LITERARY REVIEWS

READERS’ CHOICE BOOK AWARD FINALIST

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
… an imaginative and interactive collection of similes, brought to life through funny stories and vivid illustrations …
a simple, effective, and memorable way to introduce similes to younger children. The book demonstrates the fun and playful aspect of language and will help develop children’s vocabulary …
the book will spark curiosity and creativity, and will encourage a love of reading and language among young readers. 

STORY MONSTERS INK 

Super cute book and fun read for entire family! Beautifully illustrated with wonderful colors. The fun sayings passed down for generations made me smile! 
Cynthia Kern O’Brien

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

A fun read from start to finish, of special note is the inclusion of … ‘Ideas for Parents, Teachers, Caregivers’.  … will prove a welcome and enduringly popular pick for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections. 

READER REVIEWS

“How Happy Is a Lark is a fabulously funny book I share with my grandkids. Your Blog, outta this world, is enticing. Looking forward to Into the Thicket.” Bluesky user lynjekowsky

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

How joyful is this story!  The “happiness” comes through on every page. Each page is a pleasant story in itself. I would love to see the sequel!  Ira

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

More fun than …  We’ve all heard the expressions: “happy as a lark,” “sly as a fox,” “proud as a peacock,” “stubborn as a mule.” But whoever stops to consider just how happy, sly, proud, or stubborn these creatures—and countless others who’ve been enshrined in their own sayings—really are?

Lucky for young readers, author Gail Kuhnlein and illustrator Jenny Kalejs have not only considered the questions, but also applied their imagination and talents to answering them. The result is this delightful picture book for children ages 3-6.

Bonus features: a last-page list of fun facts about the characters in the book and a challenge for kids to think up their own simile, turn it into a question, and illustrate it. Sounds like more fun than … well, you know.  N. Pokerwinski

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Easy reading, bright and colorful  Awesome book, wonderful writing. I believe it’s a book for all ages. My 8-year-old granddaughter loved it.  Happy Customer, Amazon

PLEASE LEAVE A SHORT REVIEW on Amazon, Bookshop.org or your favorite platform if you’ve read the book. More reviews can be read on Amazon.

Illustrations on this page: Jenny Kalejs