My most recent books are:

• Woolly Mammoths, On My Own Science, for 2nd and 3rd graders tells the exciting story of these large creatures that roamed the earth for millions of years and the scientists who study them.

• Annie Oakley, History Maker Bio, for 3rd through 5th graders about the famous sharpshooter and western performer.

• Cesar Chavez, On My Own Biography, for 2nd and 3rd graders about the revered pacifist and union leader of the United Farm Workers, available in English and Spanish.  A Teaching Guide may be accessed from the Cesar Chavez book page.

• Words West, Voices of Young Pioneers explores the covered wagon migration between 1840 and 1870 and is told from the viewpoints of actual young travelers. This book won the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America, was a Finalist for both the 2004 PEN Center USA Literary Award and the Women Writing the West Willa Award. It received terrific reviews in the NEW YORK TIMES, KIRKUS and many other publications.

Forthcoming books include:

• SURVIVAL IN THE SNOW is a true adventure story of a teenager who spent the winter alone in the Sierra Nevadas, two years before many of the Donner Party perished at the same mountain location. It will be published by Millbrook Press and illustrated by Craig Orback who did the wonderful art for my biography of Benjamin Banneker.  Here's one of the illustrations used with permission from Millbrook Press:

• CAMPING WITH THE PRESIDENT will be illustrated by Karen Dugan and is about the 1903 Yosemite camping trip with President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir.  From Calkins Creek Press, 2009.

• To be illustrated by Patricia Wynne, UP, UP, AND AWAY is the poetic story of the life of a colorful garden spider who "balloons" her way to a new home after breaking out of the egg sac with hundreds of her brothers and sisters.  With Charlesbridge Publishing, 2010.  Here's a sketch from the preliminary illustrations of that book (used with permission from Charlesbridge Publishing):

RECENT OR UPCOMING APPEARANCES / BOOK SIGNINGS

I have visited dozens of schools throughout California and the West.  

Among the commitments so far in 2008 are:

• March 8 - Children's writing class in Borrego Springs, California for the Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association

•  March 17 - Valley View Elementary school visit in El Sobrante

• April 21 and a May date to be determined - Audubon School in Foster City

• April 26 and 27 - one of six author/presenters at the Arizona Kidney Foundation's Children's Art & Literature Luncheon  fundraiser in Phoenix, Arizona.  AKF Kids Go Green & Save Planet Earth!

• May 17 and 18 - presenter for the Contra Costa County Reading Festival with 55 other authors.

• September - History Club presentation at Clayton Books

In the Spring of 2008, I am helping to judge four writing contests.  These include the Willa Award (Juvenile Category) for Women Writing the West, Junior Women of Orinda's middle school contest, Friends of Orinda Library's high school contest, and the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club's contest for Contra Costa County middle schools.

To arrange a visit to your school, click the SCHOOL VISIT link in the menu on the left of this page or email me at plumepal@aol.com.