Oprah didn’t give me a car, but….

I got even better gifts! (I don’t drive anyway.)

It’s great to be recognized by the American Librarians Association (like Queen of Physics was), or Junior Library Guild, Kirkus, and Horn Book (all three of which have snubbed my books), but it’s even better to have my book recognized by a world-renowned institution like the Smithsonian. My friends who don’t have kids or who aren’t in the publishing industry are much more impressed by the Smithsonian.
You can imagine my complete delight that Clouds In Space was picked by Smithsonian Scholars as one of 11 “best books of 2024”!!! It is the only kids book on the list!

Screenshot of Smithsonian website page

For those who are in the kid lit world, this other recognition for Clouds in Space might be more cool. The book made one of Betsy Bird’s coveted year end lists. I think only one of my other books have been noticed by her, so this was fun to see. Check this this (rather niche) category of “fabulous photography for kids” books. I am so glad I insisted on including photos from NASA, which was part of my original vision when I wrote the first draft of this book in 2014.

Screenshot of Betsy Bird’s list

Making these lists is truly an early Christmas present for me…one that I didn’t know I wanted so much!