Honored that We Leap Together is included in the ALSC 2026 list of notable children’s books. Thank you to the librarians who support this book and believe a child’s life will be enriched having read it! @randomhousekids.bsky.social @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social @wearealsc.bsky.social

Surf Sketch

Realizing that receiving a book award or getting on a list means there’s one librarian who believes in your book, thinks a child’s life will be enriched having read it, and champions your book in committees. So to the librarians who believe in my books, THANK YOU 🙏 #librarian

Winter walking in Brooklyn.

Thank You @bklynlibrary.bsky.social for including We Leap Together in your 2026 Mock Caldecott List 💙 discover.bklynlibrary.org?booklist=753... @randomhousekids.bsky.social @aaknopf.bsky.social

Use code DBHLAO and get 10% off all of my prints through 01/09/26. www.inprnt.com/gallery/csne...

Happy Holidays everyone! For those of you still shopping for the little ones in your life, my book shop is open. Every purchase from my shop at bookshop.org financially supports independent bookstores. bookshop.org/lists/pictur...

Thrilled to share THUNDER AND MERCY! Female spies, a 1970s Philadelphia setting, and a surprise Revolutionary mystery, all woven through middle-grade friendship and belonging. Published by Astra/Calkins Creek with gorgeous cover art by @csneal.bsky.social. Coming July 2026. Pre-orders are open!

A peek inside We Leap Together. Available on-line, in book stores and directly from my shop: bookshop.org/lists/pictur... "Readers should leap at the chance to acquire this winning tale."—Kirkus, starred review

Thanks to Lindsay Moretti for creating these #STEAM units for grades 3-5 on the interdependence of ecosystems! substack.com/@lindsaymore... #STEM #STEAM #Nonfiction #Science #Teachers #Librarians @randomhousekids.bsky.social @csneal.bsky.social

⭐ The first review for OVER AND UNDER THE CORAL REEF is in - and it's a star from Kirkus with special praise for @csneal.bsky.social's amazing illustrations! Look for this one in August from @chroniclebooks.bsky.social - or better yet, preorder today! bookshop.org/p/books/over...

Thanks @christinevanzandt.bsky.social for featuring Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story on #TeachersTuesdays! Free discussion/activity guide/song on website! facebook.com/christine.va... instagram.com/christinevan... linkedin.com/in/christine... @csneal.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social

Another lettering experiment. Which color is best?

A new one for my spouse who is a dancer.

A cover from awhile back for Little Brown. I love where we ended up but also enjoyed the energy in some of these comps. AD Lucy Kim

"Just when you think you have come to terms with the harsh realities of the forest food chain ecosystem, there is a delightful twist that brings the book a clever sense of playfulness." Thanks so much, Mary Duffy #justreadjournal! @csneal.bsky.social @penguinschoollib.bsky.social

I needed a break from drawing characters and animals and stuff so I made these two lettering experiments inspired by the musician Thundercat. My rules for myself: hand-lettered and no representational drawings. I'm selling them as prints. lnkd.in/ebewwYzA Which band / musician should I do next?

One I did awhile back about declining brain function for the New York Times.

Hey, look! A storywalk with Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story at Mary Roberts Rinehart Nature Park in Pennsylvania! April 18-May 11. Thanks #LeetsdaleBorough #SewickleyPublicLibrary! @csneal.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social

I've always liked these unused book jacket ideas, circa 2016.

Amazing! Congrats Jody!

A new book jacket for Ballantine Books, out this April.

Help spread the word, please consider leaving a review of We Leap Together on Amazon. Reviews help my book get noticed on the algorithm and my book could use all the help it can get! Thanks to everyone for your support! a.co/d/eqz41Re

Nice!

"There’s nothing more exciting (and a little scary) than the food chain, making Creep, Leap, Crunch! a thrilling (and educational) addition to any kids’ bookshelf...Neal’s illustrations...are captivating and interactive. Don’t creep; leap to get this book young readers will enjoy." shorturl.at/2dslY

Happy Book Birthday, We Leap Together! bookshop.org/p/books/we-l... @spanishbroom.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social

Hi Folks, Here's a list of book signings and story times happening this April including an Earth day Celebration at the Natural History Museum! Links to all of my events can be found at: www.csneal.com/about

Guess what?! @csneal.bsky.social who illustrates our popular OVER AND UNDER nature books has a new book coming out on April 1st - he's both author and illustrator, and it looks amazing. Congrats, Chris!! bookshop.org/p/books/we-l...

In my latest Newsletter I discuss my process behind We Leap Together: csneal.substack.com/p/making-we-...

Teachers! Jody has put together a fantastic activity packet for our book.

Just received samples of We Leap Together, out April 1st, 2025 on @randomhousekids.bsky.social Pre-order: bookshop.org/a/10043/9780...

More kind words about We Leap Together! Pre-Order from the links below: My bookshop bookshop.org/a/10043/9780... My publisher Random House www.rhcbooks.com/books/747755... Books are Magic www.booksaremagic.net/item/p5lAnqx...

Thank you, Tammy & CJ!! "Alliteration, repetition, nature, science, beauty! Jody and Christopher Silas Neal have created a book that delights AND teaches. Why not build fluency with an enjoyable read that harkens There Was an Old Lady? So. Much. Fun! #picturebookperfection" @csneal.bsky.social

Hey folks! I wrote and illustrated a book and people have nice things to say about it so far.

Thank you for the kind words about our book series.

It's #WorldWildlifeDay2025! Go a little wild! ☀️🌿🦗🐀🐍🦅🦊🐻 @csneal.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social shorturl.at/MyWeU

The February edition of my Newsletter is live on substack: csneal.substack.com/p/sketchbook...

Thank you @oklibs.bsky.social for including Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story on the masterlist for the Donna Norvell Book Award! I'm incredibly grateful. @csneal.bsky.social @spanishbroom.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social Congratulations to the other four nominees! rb.gy/ewvruk

Thank you so much for this thoughtful reflection on our book.

Wow, look at these young artists!

Love this art project inspired by Over and Under the Snow.

Rhythmic and rhyming text introduce readers to the food chain within a deciduous forest. Christopher Silas Neal’s masterful illustrations brings you up close to the action. Highly recommend for any home or classroom library! @csneal.bsky.social @aaknopf.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social 4/8

It’s StoryWalk® season & I love that so many communities are featuring OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW this winter! If you live near the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum in South Haven, MI, you can check out their StoryWalk® all this month! @csneal.bsky.social www.libertyhydebailey.org/check-out-ou...

A recent illustration for Liberal Education Magazine that debates the merits of student evaluations at universities.

OVER AND UNDER THE WETLAND (illus. by @csneal.bsky.social & published by @chroniclebooks.bsky.social) is inspired by Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in SW Florida, so it was super fun to stop by this week to deliver a finished copies to the experts there who helped with my research & fact checking!

Hi Friends! I'm starting a monthly newsletter where I'll share updates about my upcoming picture books, pages from my sketchbook, news and events, my latest inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at my art making process-sent directly to your inbox. mailchi.mp/f7266514c148...

I'm SO excited! My library system @mymcpl.bsky.social has named Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story a Staff Pick-Best Picture Book of 2024! So great to be recognized by my community! TY! Congrats to the other great books listed! shorturl.at/3gjXl @csneal.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social

Congrats, Jody!

I've been sitting on some amazing news for a while - the National Science Teaching Association just released its 2025 list of Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12, and BOTH of my new science picture books are on it! Here's the full list - congrats to all! www.nsta.org/outstanding-...