Jose Pimienta – illustratör

A lively and humorous depiction of healthy rough-and-tumble play between siblings.When the oldest and youngest siblings decide to rumble, they do so with great imagination and careful consent. Wrecking ball! Steamroller! Bear hug! Sandwich!... The list goes on of inspiringly creative physical play scenarios, with a running narration of text bubbles between kids. When the middle sibling decides to join, the other two inform her of their code word (“Cantaloupe”), which means “Stop everything!” An engaging and encouraging model of healthy rough-and-tumble play, the benefits of which are explained in pointer-rich back matter for parents and caregivers.

"A riveting page-turner.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Home to catfish and crawdads, shrimp and spoonbills, even a gator or two, Lake Peigneur—pronounced “your pain,” only backward—bustles also with human life. Each day, the bean-shaped freshwater lake and its shores hum with folks going about their work: a devoted gardener’s apprentice and his dogs, fishermen, oilmen drilling at Well P-20, and the fifty-one miners employed by the Diamond Crystal Salt Mines. For most, November 20, 1980, began as “just another day on the lake.” But as the lake itself reflects, humans had, over time, left behind a honeycomb of salt highways deep beneath its surface, and water and salt mix all too well. Bracing, suspenseful, and packed with dramatic illustrations and dense end matter, this story of a catastrophic accident—narrated with the homespun voice of a “tall” tale, but true nonetheless—will amaze science and history buffs alike.

"A resonant graphic novel about the price of growing up—or avoiding it." — FOREWORD"McDonald's tale blends elements of realism and fantasy into a distinctly modern take on the supernatural." — NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO"Strongly recommended for fans of dark fantasy and YA graphic novels." — CEMETERY DANCEAndrea and Darra have just started high school in their dead-end Massachusetts hometown with no clear idea of life after graduation. But a chance encounter with a spirit named Carmen promises to make sure their future is bright. However, a strange boy named Liam warns the magic comes at a price. Now the future they want is in reach, but are they willing to sacrifice their friendship?