Gail Kuhnlein - Children's Book Author
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About the books

Into the Thicket

The story follows the journey of young Patrick and the rabbit. The book encompasses an appreciation for wildlife, compassion, overcoming fears, loving and letting go, and how even small acts of kindness make a difference in a great, big world. Illustrations by renowned Ann Arbor artist John Megahan.  

How Happy is a Lark?

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
  • Schuler Books, Ann Arbor, Coreander’s Children’s Bookshoppe, Grosse Pointe Park,  Vault of Midnight, Ann Arbor
  • Brewed Awakenings, Saline
  • 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

Purchase the book online

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Meet the artists

John Megahan

John Megahan’s love of art and nature has always directed his career. Growing up, he spent his time outside exploring, and often drawing, what he saw. In college, he studied biology and art. Fortunately, he found the profession of science illustration that combined his passions. After college, he worked as a freelance illustrator for several years, developing a large clientele that included governmental and advertising agencies, universities, publishers and more.

In the mid-90s, John became the senior scientific illustrator at the University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology, where he is currently working. Over the years he’s done some teaching of art and biology topics, which he greatly enjoys.

Other children’s picture books John has illustrated include W is for Waves, An Ocean Alphabet, Thumping on Trees and The Red Fox and Johnny Valentine’s Blue-Speckled Hound. He looks forward to painting more wildlife and nature scenes, illustrating more books, and passing on what he’s learned to a younger generation.

Jenny Kalejs

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

Awards

Readers’ Choice Book Award Finalist 

5 star review — judged by a book club, school reading group or nursery

Royal Dragonfly Book Award

2nd Place: New Author (fiction)

Honorable Mentions:  Best Cover Design, Best Illustrations, Picture Book (ages 5 and under)

KID TESTED * STORY MONSTERS APPROVED
Winner
: Picture Books Fiction, First-Time Author & Illustrations

Literary & reader reviews

Watercolor of a cat in a rocket ship flying to the moon, Earth below

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

“An enchanting story!” 

Phil Myers, Professor Emeritus, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Curator Emeritus (Mammals), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan; Senior Advisor, Animal Diversity Web

“Emotionally packed story with wonderful and helpful details about cottontails … beautifully written, educational … gives hope … a child’s emotions and abilities can work wonders and save lives.”

Karen OConnor, Help4 Wildlife Director, Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, DNR, Michigan

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

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

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

Contact

Ann Arbor, MI
Email gbkauthor@gmail.com

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