A gorgeous cover — come see! 🐎 📚

Remember my picture book coming next August about the Packhorse Librarians of Eastern Kentucky? You don’t? Here’s a bit to whet your appetite:

A tale of courage, commitment and the transformative power of stories, Books Up the Mountain: A Packhorse Librarian Story is a compelling tribute to the brave women who served the people of the Appalachian mountains during the Great Depression.

Before the birds begin to sing or the sun makes plans to rise, Book Woman mounts her surefooted mule to traverse the rugged Appalachian terrain and deliver books to isolated mountain readers. She carries something for everyone–books and pamphlets, magazines, and scrapbooks. Old and young eagerly await her visit. Blowing blizzards, swelling streams and slippery slopes can’t keep the faithful Book Woman from her route. She knows she carries more than just books–she bears words to bring the world to readers in these mountains.

And to give you a taste of the book itself, here are a few spreads I can share:

I love everything about these illustrations, especially how inviting they feel to me as a reader. A special touch that’s just about perfect is a raven that makes an appearance throughout the story. (I’d like to think it’s Tumble from my forthcoming verse novel, Song of the Raven.)

In February there will be more to share (including preorder opportunities). I hope you’ll love this beautiful book as much as I do!