FAQ
Q: Why are rhyming books good for young children?
Rhyme isn’t just fun — it’s one of the strongest early-literacy tools there is. Rhyming builds phonemic awareness: kids learn to hear the small sounds inside words, which is a foundation skill for reading. Rhyme also makes text predictable, so children can guess the next word, “read” along before they can read, and ask for the same book fifty times (that repetition is learning, even when it tests your patience). It’s why I write every book in rhyme, built for reading out loud.
Q: What are some fun bedtime books about animals?
The sweet spot for bedtime is a book that’s funny enough to enjoy but calm enough to wind down with — five minutes or so, a satisfying ending, and animals doing what animals do. Frog and Fly was written for exactly that slot: one cheerful frog, one unlucky fly, bouncy rhymes, and a gentle laugh at the end. Pair any animal book with a “what do you think happens next in the real pond?” chat and bedtime reading becomes nature time too.
Q: How do picture books encourage curiosity about nature?
A good picture book is a field trip a kid can hold. When a story shows real animal behavior — a frog waiting patiently, a fly landing where it shouldn’t — children start noticing the same dramas in their own backyard. That’s the whole idea behind the Natural Order series: every story is grounded in how nature actually fits together, so the book ends but the curiosity doesn’t. The pond out back suddenly has characters in it.
Q: What books teach children about wildlife and food chains?
Food chains sound like a science-class topic, but to a young child they’re just a story with stakes: who eats, who gets eaten, and why that’s okay. Books that treat this honestly — with warmth and humor rather than either gore or sugar-coating — give kids an early, healthy grasp of how ecosystems work. Frog and Fly is a first introduction to exactly that: sometimes the frog gets the fly, and that’s not sad, it’s nature. Kids usually find it pretty funny.
Q: What are the best nature books for preschoolers?
The best nature books for preschoolers do two things at once: they hold a wiggly kid’s attention, and they show nature as it really is. Look for bold illustrations, read-aloud rhythm, real animal behavior (not just talking animals in clothes), and a story short enough to finish before bedtime negotiations begin. That combination is exactly what I aim for in my Natural Order series — starting with Frog and Fly, a funny rhyming story about a frog, a fly, and how ponds actually work, for ages 3–8.
Q: What age is Frog and Fly for?
Frog and Fly: A Natural Order Story is written for ages 3–8. Younger kids enjoy the rhythm, the pictures, and the frog; older kids catch the humor and the real-nature ideas underneath. It’s about a five-minute read-aloud — right for bedtime, circle time, or one-more-story time.
Q: Is Frog and Fly appropriate for sensitive kids? (Does the fly really get eaten?)
Honest answer: yes, the frog gets the fly — that’s the “natural order” in the title. But it’s handled with gentle humor, not drama or gore; the tone stays light and the illustrations stay friendly. In my experience kids handle nature’s honesty far better than we expect, especially when it comes with a giggle. If your child is very sensitive, it’s a lovely opening to talk about how every animal in the pond has a part to play.
Q: Who illustrated Frog and Fly?
Frog and Fly is illustrated by Bella Maher, whose warm, bold, kid-friendly art brings the pond — and one very expressive frog — to life.
Q: When does Frog and Fly come out, and how can I get it?
Frog and Fly is coming soon in print. The best way to know the moment it launches is to join my mailing list here— you’ll also get a free printable Activity Pack (coloring pages, a count-and-find game, and bookmarks) while you wait. Details on the Books page.