Books
Pizza My Heart
Available August 22, 2022
Publisher Random House Graphic
The Norma and Belly early reader graphic novel series continues! If the squirrels want to try this new pizza they will first have to go on the hairiest pizza delivery of their young lives.
Mako and Tiger Two Not-So-Friendly Sharks
Available April 5, 2022
Publisher Penguin Random House
Written by Scott Rothman. Illustrated by Mika Song
A hilarious picture book about two hungry sharks that become unlikely friends.
Ages 3-7 years old.
Apple of My Pie (Book 2 in the Norma and Belly series)
Available June 8, 2021
Publisher Random House Graphic
The follow up to the early-reader graphic novel, Donut Feed the Squirrels. When Gramps gets whisked away to an apple farm, the squirrels band together to rescue him.
★ Kirkus Reviews
"Fans of these sweet squirrels will devour this highly a-peel-ing volume." —Kirkus Reviews
Donut Feed the Squirrels
Available September 29, 2020
Publisher Random House Graphic
Order from your local independent bookstore
Gryphon Honor Book 2021 Eisner Award Nominated (Early Reader Category)
A Junior Library Guild Selection
★ Booklist Review
★ Shelf Awareness
Indie Next Pick
Nerdy Book Club Pick
Cybils 2021 Awards Finalist
Early Chapter Graphic Novel (Ages 5-8)
When a donut truck comes to the park, Norma and Belly, two feisty squirrels go on an epic donut heist to try the tasty treats!
"... Onomatopoeia brings the squirrels’ antics to life: Thunk, boing, splat, crash, screech, woosh, spritz, ding, and shhhhh accompany the silly animal slapstick... tale of friendship, teamwork, and unintended consequences... Young readers will enjoy using context clues to predict how characters’ will behave. VERDICT Independent readers will devour this sweet and scrumptious heist story."–Thomas Maluck, Richland Lib., SC
★ Booklist Review
"…divided into five short chapters that young readers can read with confidence, and the sweet ending unquestionably satisfies.” —Julia Smith
"Norma and Belly are never snarky; instead, they present a consistent mix of enterprise, wit, and cheer. Even the doughnut man emerges as a character who’s open to change."- Publisher's Weekly
Gryphon Honor Book 2021 Eisner Award Nominated (Early Reader Category)
A Junior Library Guild Selection
★ Booklist Review
★ Shelf Awareness
Indie Next Pick
Nerdy Book Club Pick
Cybils 2021 Awards Finalist
Early Chapter Graphic Novel (Ages 5-8)
When a donut truck comes to the park, Norma and Belly, two feisty squirrels go on an epic donut heist to try the tasty treats!
"... Onomatopoeia brings the squirrels’ antics to life: Thunk, boing, splat, crash, screech, woosh, spritz, ding, and shhhhh accompany the silly animal slapstick... tale of friendship, teamwork, and unintended consequences... Young readers will enjoy using context clues to predict how characters’ will behave. VERDICT Independent readers will devour this sweet and scrumptious heist story."–Thomas Maluck, Richland Lib., SC
★ Booklist Review
"…divided into five short chapters that young readers can read with confidence, and the sweet ending unquestionably satisfies.” —Julia Smith
"Norma and Belly are never snarky; instead, they present a consistent mix of enterprise, wit, and cheer. Even the doughnut man emerges as a character who’s open to change."- Publisher's Weekly
Love, Sophia on the Moon
Available March 30, 2019
Publisher Little, Brown
By Anica Mrose Rissi, Illustrated by Mika Song
Order from your Local Bookstore
When Sophia decides to go to the moon where there are no time outs how will her mother find a way to bring her back.
“Readers will love it to the moon and back.” - Kirkus
Order from your Local Bookstore
When Sophia decides to go to the moon where there are no time outs how will her mother find a way to bring her back.
“Readers will love it to the moon and back.” - Kirkus
A Friend for Henry
Available February 26, 2019
Publisher Chronicle Books
By Jenn Bailey, Illustrated by Mika Song
Order from your Local Bookstore
ALA Schneider Family Honor Book (2020)
Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book (2020)
Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year (2020)
KAC Children's Book of the Year (2019)
Henry is looking for a friend at school that he can connect with.
"Whether on the spectrum or not, friends don’t have to share everything, just enough, and this book sweetly provides. (Picture book. 3-8)"- Kirkus
Order from your Local Bookstore
ALA Schneider Family Honor Book (2020)
Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book (2020)
Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year (2020)
KAC Children's Book of the Year (2019)
Henry is looking for a friend at school that he can connect with.
"Whether on the spectrum or not, friends don’t have to share everything, just enough, and this book sweetly provides. (Picture book. 3-8)"- Kirkus
Ho'onani Hula Warrior
Available October 4, 2019
Publisher Tundra
By Heather Gale, Illustrated by Mika Song
Order from your Local Bookstore
An empowering celebration of identity, acceptance and Hawaiian culture based on the true story of a young girl in Hawaiʻi who dreams of leading the boys-only hula troupe at her school.
Ho'onani feels in-between. She doesn't see herself as wahine (girl) OR kane (boy). She's happy to be in the middle. But not everyone sees it that way.
When Ho'onani finds out that there will be a school performance of a traditional kane hula chant, she wants to be part of it. But can a girl really lead the all-male troupe? Ho'onani has to try . . .
Based on a true story, Ho'onani: Hula Warrior is a celebration of Hawaiian culture and an empowering story of a girl who learns to lead and learns to accept who she really is--and in doing so, gains the respect of all those around her.
Ho'onani's story first appeared in the documentary A Place in the Middle by filmmakers Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson.
★ "Boldly outlined watercolor and ink artwork by Song (A Friend for Henry) conveys visual information with strength that suggests Ho‘onani’s own.(Picture book. 4-8)"- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Order from your Local Bookstore
An empowering celebration of identity, acceptance and Hawaiian culture based on the true story of a young girl in Hawaiʻi who dreams of leading the boys-only hula troupe at her school.
Ho'onani feels in-between. She doesn't see herself as wahine (girl) OR kane (boy). She's happy to be in the middle. But not everyone sees it that way.
When Ho'onani finds out that there will be a school performance of a traditional kane hula chant, she wants to be part of it. But can a girl really lead the all-male troupe? Ho'onani has to try . . .
Based on a true story, Ho'onani: Hula Warrior is a celebration of Hawaiian culture and an empowering story of a girl who learns to lead and learns to accept who she really is--and in doing so, gains the respect of all those around her.
Ho'onani's story first appeared in the documentary A Place in the Middle by filmmakers Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson.
★ "Boldly outlined watercolor and ink artwork by Song (A Friend for Henry) conveys visual information with strength that suggests Ho‘onani’s own.(Picture book. 4-8)"- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Picnic with Oliver
Available July 3, 2018
Publisher HarperCollins
Order from your local independent bookstore
In the follow-up to Tea with Oliver , Philbert and Oliver decide to go for a picnic. They remember to bring many things but when a storm comes it's their friendship and resourcefullness that save the day.
Six Great Kids' Picture Books for Summer by Jocelyn McClurg- USA TODAY
"The sweetness of Philbert and Oliver’s interspecies friendship, their shared giddiness, and that inevitable, impending thunderclap all swirl inside readers, making their hearts swell and their chests tighten as they wait for the first raindrop to fall... Fans of Tea with Oliver (2017) will delight in watching this cat-and-mouse friendship grow, and newcomers will happily enter their amiable world of reciprocity. (Picture book. 4-8)"- Kirkus
An appealing addition for fans of the previous installment or picnic lovers everywhere, suitable for storytime or one-on-one sharing.- SLJ (Yelena Voysey, formerly at Pickering Educational Library, Boston University)
In the follow-up to Tea with Oliver , Philbert and Oliver decide to go for a picnic. They remember to bring many things but when a storm comes it's their friendship and resourcefullness that save the day.
Six Great Kids' Picture Books for Summer by Jocelyn McClurg- USA TODAY
"The sweetness of Philbert and Oliver’s interspecies friendship, their shared giddiness, and that inevitable, impending thunderclap all swirl inside readers, making their hearts swell and their chests tighten as they wait for the first raindrop to fall... Fans of Tea with Oliver (2017) will delight in watching this cat-and-mouse friendship grow, and newcomers will happily enter their amiable world of reciprocity. (Picture book. 4-8)"- Kirkus
An appealing addition for fans of the previous installment or picnic lovers everywhere, suitable for storytime or one-on-one sharing.- SLJ (Yelena Voysey, formerly at Pickering Educational Library, Boston University)
Tea with Oliver
Available August 8, 2017
Publisher HarperCollins
Oliver the cat doesn’t have to go far to find a friend he just has to notice the one right under his nose.
★ “Charming and as sweet as a tea cake. “ —Kirkus
A New School Year: Poem Stories in Six Voices
Available June 27, 2017
Publisher Charlesbridge
indiebound
amazon
By Sally Derby, Illustrated by Mika Song
6 kids each with different ages and backgrounds deal with their first day of school. Told as alternating prose poems.
“Honest and diverse, touching and good, this book’s a keeper.” — School Library Journal
★"Diverse in so many ways, this could be a springboard to readers’ own poems about school." (Picture book/poetry 4-10) — Kirkus (starred Review)
Winner of the 2018 Ohioana Award for Juvenile Literature
amazon
By Sally Derby, Illustrated by Mika Song
6 kids each with different ages and backgrounds deal with their first day of school. Told as alternating prose poems.
“Honest and diverse, touching and good, this book’s a keeper.” — School Library Journal
★"Diverse in so many ways, this could be a springboard to readers’ own poems about school." (Picture book/poetry 4-10) — Kirkus (starred Review)
Winner of the 2018 Ohioana Award for Juvenile Literature
Cancer Hates Kisses
Available September 12, 2017
Publisher Dial Books
Amazon
By Jessica Reid Sliwerski, Illustrated by Mika Song
Children support and love their mother as she undergoes treatment for cancer.
"The book provides just the right amount of information about what to expect and balances that with an outline of how the family can offer support and love—because what cancer hates most is love. Closing with notes from a cancer specialist and the author, a cancer survivor, this book with its positive message is a must-have for all collections serving families." (Picture book. 5-8) — Kirkus Book Review
By Jessica Reid Sliwerski, Illustrated by Mika Song
Children support and love their mother as she undergoes treatment for cancer.
"The book provides just the right amount of information about what to expect and balances that with an outline of how the family can offer support and love—because what cancer hates most is love. Closing with notes from a cancer specialist and the author, a cancer survivor, this book with its positive message is a must-have for all collections serving families." (Picture book. 5-8) — Kirkus Book Review