New picture book in the works — Bunchy Socks a a book for highly sensitive children
October 20, 2026 — If you receive my occasional enewsletter, you may have already read some of this news. If not, you can subscribe using the Contact page on my website.
The next picture book we’re working on is called Bunchy Socks. The story was inspired by one of my sons who had a heightened sensitivity to the way things, like clothing, feel. The book is one that I think many children and their parents will relate to and I hope will provide some help and understanding. Rather than human characters, they will be animals. Any guesses re. what animal? The answer is below. I’d love to hear what your guesses are (before you saw).
“The band is back together!” Jenny Kalejs, who artfully illustrated How Happy Is a Lark? texted, when we decided to collaborate again. Stay tuned for more news about this picture book release (anticipated fall 2027) and some teaser illustrations. I originally wrote this one some 25 years ago and have been editing it recently.
Here’s a reminder that the paperback and ebook version of Into the Thicket are now available on Amazon. The paperback is widely available at most places books are sold online and many local Ann Arbor area shops. If you don’t see it — please ask them if they can order. This REALLY helps authors. How Happy Is a Lark? is widely available in paperback and ebook (on Amazon). I’m happy to say that Lark recently received its second 5-star nomination for Goodnightreads All-Star Award. The book with the most nominations in a calendar month receives the award. Into the Thicket is a past recipient.
Into the Thicket featured on Lilibet & Phil’s On the Blog
A self-published author and illustrator from the U.K. discovered Into the Thicket and loved it so much, she blogged about it, which took me by complete surprise and knocked my socks off!
On her blog, Sara Newman wrote, “In an age where children’s social and emotional learning (SEL) is rightly receiving enormous attention in educational circles, a book that makes empathy feel as natural as breathing is genuinely invaluable. Patrick’s immediate, instinctive response to the injured rabbit isn’t taught or explained, it’s felt. And children, who are remarkably good at feeling things deeply before the world teaches them to be more guarded about it, will recognise that feeling immediately.”
The writing and her insights are just lovely. Read the full blog post >>
Let’s see about spooky show recommendations. I saw Practical Magic 2 at the theater with a friend. Having loved the first movie, it was a real treat to see a sequel nearly 30 years later. I think it was well done. Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock look fantastic. Tim and I are well into season 3 of Vampire Diaries — a really entertaining watch. We’ve yet to watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, but we definitely will.
We went to Wasem’s Fruit Farm for our annual cider and donuts tailgate — delicious and fall-ish. And, of course, we visited the pumpkin patch to select our pumpkins for carving. This year, rather than the pumpkins being attached to the vine, it looked like they brought pumpkins in and placed them all around the field. Maybe it wasn’t a great crop this year? Or they’d already been purchased. Whatever, the experience was still fun. Sometimes, we have to just play along.
I saw a cute little wildlife craft online. Someone carved a pumpkin with an extra large mouth and placed birdseed inside for little critters. In the circle carved out of the top, they put a small bowl with peanuts. They had a nearby camera and captured many photos of birds and squirrels stopping by for a snack. Very cute! We bought an extra pumpkin for this.
A FaceBook author friend of mine shared a photo of her granddaughter, Alli, with me. She found her in the playroom reading How Happy Is a Lark? What a joy to see! And so kind of her to share. Thanks again, my friend!
I’d love to see photos of your little ones reading my book or you reading to them. Send them through my Contact page and let me know if I have permission to share them in my blog and/or on social media (of course, it’s OK to say no) and if I should keep the name anonymous, or perhaps use a first name only. THANKS! Special thanks for being here with me on this fantastic journey.
[Answer to question above: bears!]