Picture Book Author

PLEASE BE OK: A Story about Addiction, illustrated by Anastasiya Kanavaliuk, Albert Whitman & Co., 2024

www.albertwhitman.com/book/please-be-ok/

Kirkus Reviews: “A sensitive rendering of a child’s response to a loved one’s addiction.”

Saturday at the Food Pantry, illustrated by Brizida Magro, Albert Whitman & Co., 2021 https://www.albertwhitman.com/book/saturday-at-the-food-pantry/

• Parents Magazine's October 2021 book club selection
• Included in the Chicago Public Library's Best Picture Books of 2021 
• Included in the Bookstagang Best of 2021 Picture Books  
• Inclusive Books for Children Top Pick

Other Publications and Prizes

• “Love” (poem) in Writing in Community: An Anthology of the Fifth Year, from the members of the London Writers' Salon, 2025.
• “What Is the Meaning?” (poem) in The Stafford Challenge 2024-2025
• “Bloody Hand O'Neill” (essay), honorable mention in 2024 "Write a Dear Reader," published March 6, 2025
• “Dandelions” (poem) in Regeneration: Writings about Hope and Beyond: An International Anthology, edited by Dr. Monica Mastrantonio, 2024
• “Essential” (poem, page 114) in Writing in Community: An Anthology of the Fourth Year, from the members of the London Writers' Salon, 2024
• “How to Create a Great Nation” (poem, page 48) in The 2023 Poetry Marathon Anthology
• “The Joys of Online Writing Groups” (essay, page 21) in Prairie Wind, Spring/Summer 2024 (bulletin of the Illinois chapter of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
•  “Thanksgiving” (poem) in The Poetry Marathon 2023 Online Anthology (page 10).
• “Pondering Purrs” (essay) awarded honorable mention in 2023 Write a Dear Reader Contest, December 4, 2023.
• “Proof of Worth” (poem) in Writing in Community: an anthology of the third year, from the members of the London Writers' Salon, 2023
• “The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, and Me” (essay) in The Spirit of Words: A Global Anthology, edited by Dr. Monica Mastrantonio, 2023
• “Finding the Heart: How Adult Literature Can Help” (essay on mentor texts, p. 34) in Prairie Wind, Fall 2022 (bulletin of the Illinois chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators). ​
• “Justice” (poem) in Writing in Community: an anthology of the second year, from the members of the London Writers' Salon, 2022.
• “Joy on the Wall” (poem) in Food Memories: An International Anthology. 2021
• “Dear Antoinette” (essay) in Letters from Here to Hereafter: An International Anthology, 2021
• “Growing up on food stamps, I had no idea I was despised” (op-ed) in the Chicago Sun-Times, January 2, 2020.
• “Hector the Superhero” (story) in LADYBUG Magazine, January 2019
• “Time Travel: J.C. Penney Photo Studio, 1994” (poem) in the 2018 Lit Issue of the South Side Weekly
• "Immigration and Hope," guest blog post, Solstice Literary Magazine, April 2018.
• "O Say Can You Hear" in Journal of Modern Poetry 21: Dear Mr. President, Chicago Poetry Press, 2018
• "Thanksgiving Still Life" (poem) in the 2017 Holiday Issue of the South Side Weekly
• ​ "Nighthawks," 3rd place winner, "Chicago: The Arts," Poets & Patrons Contest 2017.
• "Reconciliation" (poem) in The Pain that Unites Us All, ​2017
• "Jerrie" (essay) in the 2017 Lit Issue of the South Side Weekly
• "Chicago Spring, 1983" (poem) in the 2017 Lit Issue of the South Side Weekly
• "Valentin's School" (nonfiction), Highlights for Children, forthcoming (contract signed May 2017).
• "Nature and the City Kid" in Journal of Modern Poetry 19: The Poetry Writer's Guide to the Galaxy, Chicago Poetry Press, 2017
• "Friendship" (essay) and "September Thanksgiving" (story) in Womanthology: writings on women worldwide, 2017
• "Are There No Workhouses?" (poem) in the 2016 Lit Issue of the South Side Weekly
• "Selective Nostalgia" in Poetry of Protest: Journal of Modern Poetry 19, Chicago Poetry Press, 2016
• "Bestfriend" (poem) in The Shine Journal (February 2016).
• "The Gift" (essay) in National University's Gnu Journal (January 2016)
• "Red Cups" (poem) in the 2015 Holiday Issue of the South Side Weekly
• "Language of the Unheard" (poem) in the 2015 Lit Issue of the South Side Weekly
• "Age" (essay) in Still Crazy Literary Magazine, July 2015.
• "My Son's Race" (essay) in the 2014 Lit Issue of the South Side Weekly
• "Siblings." Runner-up winner of 2011 "Write a Dear Reader" contest; published at BookTrib.com (September 9, 2011) and at DearReader.com (September 20, 2011)
• "A recipe for Irish heritage" (op-ed) in The Chicago Tribune, Sunday Perspective, December 5, 2010
• Six-word memoir included in It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure, edited by SMITH Magazine, Harper Perennial, 2010
• ​"Remembering Maggie" (essay) in National University's The Gnu, Fall/Winter 2007.​