About

Longer Bio

I spent my childhood exploring the fields and forests near my home in western Pennsylvania. I climbed trees, waded in ice-cold streams, and roamed the woods, usually in a pair of old sneakers. I also helped care for my family’s sprawling homestead and large gardens. Those early experiences gave me a deep love of nature and a lot of curiosity about how it works.

I earned a BS in biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts and a PhD in cellular & molecular biology, with a focus on plants, from the University of Wisconsin. I then worked as a plant biology postdoctoral fellow at Penn State University. Along the way, I took coursework to follow my side interest: understanding how children learn science.

Instead of becoming a professor or research scientist, I focused my career on sharing my curiosity about science and nature with young readers. I became a children’s science writer.

To date, I have written more than ninety books for kids, along with dozens of articles, some for children and some for everyone. My books have received many honors, including a Riverby Award for Excellence in Nature Writing, a Green Earth Book Honor, a Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, a National Council of Teachers of English Notable designation, starred reviews, and spots on many state book lists.

I’m a member of the National Association of Science Writers, SCBWI, and The Poet’s Garage, a collective of professional children’s poets. I’m represented by Sarah Stephens at Red Fox Literary.

I live in State College, Pennsylvania, with my husband — jazz composer and arranger Rick Hirsch — where we raised our three wonderful daughters. Anna is a writer and yoga teacher living in Philadelphia; Eva teaches elementary students in Washington, DC; and Ellie studies psychology and Italian at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

When I’m not writing, you might find me working in my garden, wrangling pets, or wandering the woods in a pair of old sneakers. I also love to visit schools, where I share stories of discovery and teach the craft of writing.