Did you know the ideas for most of the nonfiction library books you check out don't come from the author? Typically, they are conceived by the publishing house and its editors, who then, contract authors to write the books. Most of my nonfiction books were assigned this way. But, I am pleased to say, my new nonfiction series for children called Backyard Safari was different. I am fortunate to write for Marshall Cavendish, a publisher who encourages ideas from its authors, and this series was something I had wanted to do for a long time - a very long time!

When I was eight years old, we moved to a house in the suburbs with a big yard. In the summer, I would pack up my magnifying glass, camera, plastic binoculars and head outside in search of wildlife. I was on strict orders from my mother to stay in the yard so there wasn't much 'wild' in the wildlife I encountered. Still, the array of birds, squirrels, ladybugs, dragonflies, and spiders I discovered fascinated me. I even took photos of the critters I found (and named a few along the way). I wrote Backyard Safari for kids like me, who love to follow a caterpillar inching along a leaf or turn over a rock and see what's beneath it. Each book in the series gives some basic information about a particular backyard animal, then leads readers on a safe, fun backyard trek. There's a small field guide in each book, and more resources for further identification. 
Backyard Safari titles being released this month are:Birds Caterpillars & ButterfliesFrogs & ToadsSquirrelsSpidersFive more titles will be released in the fall of 2012 (so if you love slugs & worms, ants, beetles, grasshoppers, or dragonflies, hold on). 
Young explorers, your mission is to head on out there into the wilds of your yard and see what you see! And if you find something unique, learn something new, or just have a great time on your safari, write and tell me about it. I love a good adventure! Who doesn't?