"Cheers for friends at teatime, from country or from town. We welcome all and everyone, pinkies up or down!"
A group of friends come together for a fun and quirky celebration. The community of party-goers learns what true cooperation means when the event gets a little out of hand.
How does a mother soothe her child’s emotions and feelings? In sincere sentiments from parents to children, this dedication celebrates unconditional family love.
"...a sweet and gentle poem from a mother to her child. It feels like a warm hug and may be a perfect addition for bedtime or quiet time reading."
It's the night of Halloween. Spooks, spiders and skeletons abound, the full moon glows - so who's cheering, "Ho, ho, ho!"? Apparently, Old Saint Nick has come to town. Find out how a sticky situation is averted with humor and fun to celebrate a new winner at this year's Halloween parade.
"Raven Howell combines two popular holidays in Santa’s Slip Up. With rhymes and short phrases, the author provides fun and enjoyment for children. Your kids will love this book and thank you for buying it for them."
Wearing his favorite hat, Mattison Mouse is happy to venture outside on a beautiful day. Soon the little mouse hears mysterious footsteps behind him. What started out as a cheerful stroll turns uncertain as he begins to count animals who appear to be shadowing him. In a rush to run away, Mattison trips and loses his hat. Only then does he overcome his anxieties, surprised by the special party his animal friends have planned for him.
Children can help count the fun party favors as everyone joyfully celebrates Mattison's best birthday ever.
"Howell's delightful story of Mattison mouse will appeal to youngsters—as well as the particular idea that sometimes, keeping calm and paying attention can help overcome silly anxieties. A charmer."
Children learn about the seasons and weather through the diversity of a year, joyfully encountering birds and butterflies, adventuring at beaches, jumping in colorful leaf piles, and dashing through the chilly winter snow.
"Innovative rhymes and the clear flow of one period into the next make the concept of seasonal change easy for young readers to grasp. With action-packed illustrations and a repeating refrain, this nature tale is sure to become a favorite read-aloud in preschool classrooms.”
Children will relate to first day of school jitters as animal students prepare and set off for Mr. Mole's colorful classroom. Anxiety builds as everyone settles into school to meet one another and tackle their first lesson -learning colors. The day is spent sharing and blending paints while forging happy friendships.
Gently tapping into themes of fitting in, self-esteem and anxiety, the story helps conquer the insecurities felt when children begin something new and unknown.
"An informative charmer for a rollicking good time…vivid, brilliant hues embolden Carina Povarchik’s lushly wrought illustrations, painting a pleasant picture of children getting ready for their first day of school. A stunner. ”
Discover the magic in simple moments when a child peers in the mirror to unintentionally come upon his smile, where kittens nap in boots, fairy hugs feel good, mice delight in reading books, and January snowflakes taste yummy.
Twenty whimsical poems enticing both the young and seasoned reader to explore the enchantment of the wonderful world of poetry.
"Poems of nature and togetherness fill the pages of this picture book with rhythm, rhyme, and warm emotions. A lovely mix of kindhearted poems sure to appeal to young readers.”
Loss is a powerful experience for any child, especially when that loss involves a member of their family. In Finding Joy, author Raven Howell helps children navigate the painful—and often confusing—feelings that arise from the death of a loved one.
"Parents and caregivers will find this book a natural way to introduce the topic of loss and the recovery of joy after a painful event. Highly recommended!”
Patience and kindness are important when you want to make new friends, but it’s hard not to consider what it would be like to have a gangly giraffe or chilled-out polar bear as a pal.
A friendship mission prompts two boys to regard would-be companions of many shapes and sizes, and their imaginative adventures hatch brand new unexpected buddies.
"This book touches on healthy values that will benefit young children and the story itself does such a great job of portraying this in a fun and entertaining way.”
"Be you big, be you small, be you short, be you tall..."
Words to inspire living, learning, and blooming in our own remarkable ways, Be You Big motivates children to embrace themselves just as they are, celebrating self-acceptance and beauty in uniqueness.
A lyrical encouragement to blossom like a flower, stand as rugged as a mountain, or float about calm as the sea to incite a joyous heart.
"In her picture book intended for the 5-8 age group, Raven Howell encourages children to accept who they are without apologies. It can be used as learning material for teachers as well as for parents. Highly recommended.”
When a family moves to The Enchanted Village, mischief ensues as they navigate to their new home, the Gingerbread House. Meeting familiar characters from fairytales, stories, and nursery rhymes along the way, they find the meaning of making "new friends" takes on a fun and adventurous twist. The gentle theme of diversity and friendship is the background for this vibrant community where dwarves, bears, Cheshire cats, fairies, big bad wolves, and princesses have their own unique way of welcoming a new family to their midst.
"This was, quite honestly, a perfect book, and I would recommend it to all young readers who enjoy fantastical books full of different creatures and stories.”
In this lyrical story, a child discovers that drips, spills, and splatters from her art palette create their own "accidental" and powerful images. Imagination ignites as she joyously embraces various paint smears and smudges, and a world of wonder and imagination emerges where there are no mistakes. Eek! My Ink! encourages kindness, and self-love.
"Splotches of spilled ink turn into inventive pictures in this rhyming celebration of art and creativity. An excellent read-aloud sure to inspire kids to create beauty from their own spills.”
I Am Monster Magnificent - A collection of Student Poetry and Artwork
Complied by Raven Howell and Illustrated by Sarah Gledhill
Published by Story Monster Press, Release Date: October 27, 2021
This vibrant showcase of poetry and artwork by young students celebrates their joyous nature and magnificence. The collection of poems, varying in form, feature fun subjects such as baseball, dragons, classroom Zooming, and friendships. An art gallery of whimsical self-portraits and “magnificent” images rounds out the anthology. Writers and artists are elementary aged children from diverse backgrounds including special education classrooms.
"Budding poets here! These magnificent kids tell us who they are from that place where their inner and outer worlds meet - the seat of the imagination.”
— Brian Gene Olson, Children's Poet and Songwriter
Published by MacLaren-Cochrane Books, September 7, 2021
It's a priority for children to learn about their bodies, and explore how to respect and care for them. Rhyming from head to toe about body parts through sensory discovery achieves an appreciating heart, leaving a child with sunny self-confidence.
"An attractive and playful way to help kids learn about and appreciate their bodies.”
Published by MacLaren-Cochrane Books, March 23, 2021
An lively verse, preschoolers and elementary-aged children alike are inspired to tumble, stretch, dash, skip, stack, skitter, and glide. Parents, teachers, and caregivers are invited to share the zing and spark of kicking a ball, clapping hands, creating secret sofa forts, and finger painting with children. Linger in a sunny afternoon, take a wheelbarrow ride, smile in the delight of chasing colorful autumn leaves, and finally unwind with a gentle sleeping rhyme. This is the third picture book collaboration by the award-winning team of children’s author Raven Howell and artist/illustrator Ann Pilicer.
A Cheer for the Year offers a poetic calendar of holiday treats, the feeling you get when a friend presses a box of decadent chocolates in your hands, and you didn’t even know that’s what you were missing. Author/poet Raven Howell lights sparklers, flips pancakes and dances us merrily through the year while illustrator Meredith Fern’s paper cut-outs create the friendly, imaginative, expressive home for each verse.
"Raven Howell is like a modern day Roald Dahl; she knows how to play with language, how to have fun with language – and it’s wonderful! Punchy, superbly illustrated and packed full of fun.”
In this collection of children's poems, the little things in life that bring smiles are revealed - from playing with sock puppets, to walking barefoot on warm grass in the summer, and dreaming of butterflies during a thunderstorm. Colorful illustrations by international illustrator, Jordan Wray, evoke the warmth and joy felt during childhood. Written with whimsy and fun, this poetry collection reminds child and parent alike that the power of laughter delivers happiness.
"With every poem, an epiphany! With every page turn, another smile! Written in a variety of poetic styles, Raven Howell's irresistible, full-of-cheer poems muse on subjects familiar to young readers. A pleasure to read aloud!”
— Heidi Roemer, Author of Peekity Boo - What Can You Do?
A fairy tale adds a sprinkle of magic to a cauldron of conundrums where not only kingdoms, but kindness end up ruling. Follow an enchanting cast of characters brought to life with a little "fractured" twist on the well-loved original, Jack and the Bean Stalk. Charmingly illustrating the theme of bullying, will Jack make friend, or foe?
"Jack and the Lean Stalk is an empowering alternative fairy tale in which a brave young boy welcomes a giant in need.”
Published by Doodle & Peck Publishing, January 2, 2020
What do you do when you can't go to sleep and the sheep are rowdy? You could count slow, slimy snails. But sometimes, happy dances and mischief-making sheep might be just the ticket!
"A Flock of Fun by Raven Howell, amusingly illustrated by David Barrow, is a real winner as a bedtime book. It's entertaining without being overexciting and defeating the object - soothing the young listener to sleep.”
A child celebrates love and learns what it means to have a puppy in the household through daily adventures, resulting in surprising both his parents and himself with a new request. This is the first one in a picture book series for ages 4 to 10.
"Dog-loving children will find excellent advice for puppy care in a poetic package.”
This companion book to 2017’s Shimmer, Songs of Night, bursts to sunny, bright adventures where vivid colors sprout, eagles are sky painters, days are strawberry-scented, and laughter and bird twitter sets the heart alight!
"A charming celebration of the sun’s warmth and glow, perfect for sharing and reading aloud.”
Colorfully illustrated and with plenty happening to keep a child amused, this might prove very popular at bedtime. A delightfully bright story with a strong community message of how life should be in a multi-cultural community. Warm and comfy with a sweet ending. Highly recommended!
Raven's poems, Rainbow Alphabet and Family Love are included in this anthology of poetry and short stories for children.
Raven Howell joins other talented authors and illustrators as they celebrate a worldwide hug in a new anthology. All proceeds for the book are for victims of Hurricane Harvey.
"Opossums, space creatures, the Sandman, dream catchers, and Halloween trick-or-treaters—this inviting book of poems for ages 6 to 12 celebrates dusk to dawn as a world of possibility where nature and flights of fancy coexist. Howell’s witty and wise visions of night flow along until “The skillet sky / Warms up / To a pale buttery yellow.” This verbal and visual treat portrays the evening as a lively and thought-provoking place of wonder.”
Raven Howell's short poems, packed with warmth and insight, are sure to stir a child's sense of wonder.
— Iza Trapani, author / illustrator of The Itsy Bitsy Spider
This warm and imaginative book of poems would be suitable for children and adults of all ages, and would especially appeal to those with an interest in space, or those with a literary sense of humor. The book would also be ideal for children that love to hear the rhythmic cadences of stories. And last but not least, the book would be wonderful for adults hoping to inspire young readers’ questions, or just instill a love of poetry that will stretch out into the stars.