Welcome!

Hello! I’m Christina. I write books for kids ranging in age from 2 to 12. Below is the cover of my newest book, Swallows Swirl, illustrated by Jess Mason. It’s the story of one child’s year overlaid with the annual cycle of barn swallows, who nest and raise young in the child’s garden before migrating south for the winter. During their absence, she wonders about them while quietly undergoing her own growing and changing until finally she welcomes them back when spring returns. It’s a joyful celebration of seasons and life cycles and the wonders of nature.

Most of my books are about animals, plants, natural history, and science, though if you hop up to the menu bar and check out my books, you’ll find that other topics sometimes nose their way in, too. I hope you enjoy the pictures and other features on my website.

Name That Bird!

Feathers are flying now that the American Ornithological Society has decided to rename all bird species in the Americas that are named after people. The main reason for this decision is to eradicate names of people with racist or colonial associations. It paves the way for the creation of new names that focus on the… Continue reading Name That Bird!

2 Big Dogs + 1 Tiny Mouse

A) I cannot believe it has been a year since I last added anything to this blog. B) I cannot believe that, like the last entry, it involves rescuing a small creature from our two lumbering dogs. This time, I found both dogs standing stockstill on the deck, one pointing east and one pointing west,… Continue reading 2 Big Dogs + 1 Tiny Mouse

We Rescued a Bunny!

What do you like to do after school or work ends for the day? If it’s nice out, I usually like to go for a walk with my dogs. Today, however, I decided to wander around the garden and see what was blooming and what little creatures might be stirring in the flowers and under… Continue reading We Rescued a Bunny!

Barn Swallows and Valentines

It’s Valentine’s Day, and along with flowers and chocolates, birds of various species flutter charmingly across many Valentine cards. Birds have long been associated with love. During the Middle Ages, people in parts of Europe believed that birds began their courtship and breeding season on February 14. Geoffrey Chaucer immortalized this sentiment in “The Parliament… Continue reading Barn Swallows and Valentines

Books

I’ve written more than 200 books. Many of them are about animals, habitats, and natural history. And I’m thrilled to share the news of my latest book, Swallows Swirl, illustrated by Jess Mason, which was published on March 15, 2024. From Kirkus Reviews: “Vivid language enlivens this quiet appreciation of avian life. In spring, the… Continue reading Books

Photos and Drawings

I like to draw and take photos. The slideshow on this page features a selection of some of my favorites.