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Raven Howell

Children's Books and Poetry

RAVEN'S BOOKS

A colorful Beginning
Illustration by Carina Povarchik

A Colorful Beginning

Black Rose Writing, December 22, 2022

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.

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The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes
Illustration by Naz Tarcan

The 20 Little Poems for 20 Little Gnomes

Handersen Publishing, November 1, 2022

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.

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Finding Joy
Illustration by Pamela C. Rice

Finding Joy

Story Monsters Press, September 19, 2022

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.

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Friends come in all sizes
Illustration by Audrey Day

Friends Come In All Sizes

Lawley Publishing, June 21, 2022

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.

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Be You Big
Illustration by Anke Rappen

Be You Big

Published by Spork, May 3, 2022

"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.

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Trolls At Play cover
Illustration by Sarah Gledhill

Trolls at Play

Published by DW Beam Publishing, January 1, 2022

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.

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Eek! cover
Illustration by Anke Rappen

Eek! My Ink!

Published by Acute by Design, December 7, 2021

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.

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I Am Monster Magnificent Cover
Illustration by Sarah Gledhill

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. 

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Rhymes cover
Illustration by Pamela C. Rice

Rhymes That Go From Head to Toe

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.

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Spin a Circle cover
Illustration by Ann Pilicer

Spin a Circle

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.

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A Cheer for the Year
Illustration by Meredith Messenger

A Cheer for the Year

Published by Spork Books, November 17, 2020

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.

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Chuckles and Smiles
Illustration by Jordan Wray

Chuckles and Smiles

Published by Warren Publishing, August 16, 2020

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.

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Jack and the Leanstalk
Illustration by Sarah Gledhill

Jack and the Lean Stalk

Published by Atmosphere Press, May 1, 2020

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?

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A Flock of Fun
Illustration by David Barrow

A Flock of Fun

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!

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So you want a Puppy cover
Illustration by Ann Pillcer

So You Want a Puppy?

Published by Handersen Books, November 26, 2019

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.

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Glimmer, Sing of Sun
Illustration by Carina Povarchik

Glimmer, Sing of Sun!

Published by Spork, June 11, 2019

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!

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Greetings
Illustration by Ann Pillcer

Greetings!

Published by Michelkin Publishing, May 3, 2019

A child romps through the diversity of a year, joyfully meeting and greeting birds, beaches, colorful leaf piles, and snow as cool as peppermint for a full circle of seasons in this lyrical picture book appropriate for kindergarten aged children and older.

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My Community
Illustration © Yeng Yang

My Community

Published by MacLaren-Cochrane

Using gentle rhyme to enliven a child’s day, this picture book weaves us together on a journey leading to our community. We see and meet the host of people with varied names, colors, and kinds, embracing the storyteller, offering hope for children to move into a place where harmony trumps fear.

— Jonathan Kruk, Master Storyteller, author of Barkface and Rootnose

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A Hug for the World cover
Illustration © Carina Povarchik

A Hug For the World

Published by Clear Fork Publishing, March 2018

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.

— Clear Fork Publishing

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Shimmer cover

Shimmer

Published by Spork, October 2017

Raven Howell's poems are whimsical, wise, and infused with a timeless sense of the joy and wonder of childhood. Both playful and profound, these poems are love-letters to Life, and remind us of the simple capacity for happiness that is our birthright.

— Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, Children's Book Writer

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Star Full of SKy cover

A Star Full of Sky

Published by Kelsay Books, August 2017

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

Reading this poetry, a child can relate and connect to our universe. Such wonderful imagery; makes the imagination soar! Light, flowing, and easily read.

— Jennifer Sheehan, Publisher, Bumples Magazine

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