My picture book, Green Homes, Happy Planet, has had quite a journey. It started out with the title A Place to Call Home. I failed to check for other books by this same name when I titled it.
My editor, agent, and I brainstormed alternative titles. I even used ChatGPT for ideas, but it didn’t come up with a winner. I believe our title was an amalgamation of words that my editor came up with.
But the saga doesn’t end there. The original illustrator, Mary Atwood, came up with wonderful initial sketches. Sadly, she wasn’t able to finish the project, and a new illustrator was found. I’m pleased to announce Ash Green created this wonderful cover!
And also, his last name is actually GREEN!! I think it’s kismet.
Without further ado, here is the cover of Green Homes, Happy Planet by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Art Green. It will be out in the Spring of 2026 through Tilbury House, an imprint of Sleeping Bear Press, which was recently acquired by Penguin Random House.
What do you think of the cover or the fact that the illustrator’s last name is GREEN?
p.s. Related posts:
11 Children’s Books about Sustainable Farms
Thoughtful Ways to Create a Sustainable Backyard Paradise
Kirkus reviews Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
Food for the Future: Sustainable Values in Children’s Books at ALAAC23
How to Encourage Children to Be More Sustainable?
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My books:
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- California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
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Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
- ⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal
- Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026
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The Traveling Taco:
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
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We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
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Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
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Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
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Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Love the cover, Mia!
What an important topic for kids (and all readers!) to consider. The art looks amazing, and I love that the artist’s name is Green — just in time for spring!