Learn about whales, glass artist Dale Chihuly or a massive underground machine in three new, distinctly Northwest-flavored new kids’ books out now or soon.
Plus, a Seattle-based author is coming out with a new middle-grade fantasy series.
We’ll start with the whales.
A fun whale tale
“Have You Ever Heard a Whale Exhale?” is described as a “fanciful coastal adventure for kids of all ages.” It is a lighthearted and informative journey through the wonders of the sea, sky and stars.
Author Caroline Woodward, a former lighthouse keeper and bookseller, now lives and writes full-time in New Denver, B.C. Illustrator Claire Victoria Watson is a longtime West Coast resident based in Victoria, B.C. The book is due out Sept. 17.
The story of Big Bertha
Back on land, kids will be fascinated to learn the story of Bertha, the massive tunnel boring machine that successfully constructed the longest and widest road tunnel in the contiguous United States. (It’s in Seattle, it’s 2 miles long and it carries Highway 99 traffic under the city, replacing the former Alaskan Way Viaduct.)
“Big Bertha: How a Massive Tunnel Boring Machine Dug a Highway under Seattle” is due out Sept. 17 from local publisher Sasquatch Books. It’s written by Amanda Abler of Seattle and illustrated by Katy Wu of Portland.
The book is particularly aimed at kids ages 7 to 10 and fascinated with big machines and how they work. In addition, there were times when things didn’t work and Bertha’s crew solved problems that arose.
Learn about Dale Chihuly
Also upcoming from Sasquatch: “A Flash of Color and Light,” the first picture-book biography of glassmaker Dale Chihuly. With stunning watercolor illustrations, it explains the history of the art and also tells how Chihuly overcame challenges to become a glass artist of international acclaim.
Author Sharon Mentyka of Seattle is a children’s writer and teacher who also has written biographies of Bill Gates and Sue Bird. Illustrations are by Shelly Couvillion.
Aimed for readers and young art lovers ages 5 to 9, it comes out Oct. 15.
New from Piper CJ
Meanwhile, Piper CJ, the popular Seattle-based author and TikTok personality, is launching a new peculiar fantasy series.
“The Graveyard Gift,” the first book of CJ’s new “Fern’s School for Wayward Fae” series comes out Oct. 8. Aimed at ages 8 to 12, it is the author’s first middle-grade book.
With 1.1 million TikTok followers, Piper CJ is popular with fans of all things fantasy, fairies and faes, including her previous series, “The Night and Its Moon.”
Her new series features a girl with the unfortunate ability to foresee people’s deaths. She finds herself sucked into a place between worlds and, when sinister forces cause one of her classmates to disappear, it’s up to her and her new part fae friends to use their curious gifts to find their missing friend.
It is described as being a good fit for fans of “Wednesday,” “Lemony Snicket” and “Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children.”
Plus, mark your calendar: The author will be featured at a book launch event at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Northgate Barnes & Noble.
More books coverage in Seattle’s Child and in our monthly Book Corner newsletter.
