I am the author and/or illustrator of scores of trade and educational novelty books, early readers, picture books, nonfiction, middle grade fiction, and classroom supplemental materials for K-12. In addition to writing and illustrating for the children’s book market, I have published articles in National Geographic’s Extreme Explorer, Harrowsmith, KNOW, Ruralite and Bats magazines.
I was an active member and volunteer for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Oregon region, serving as their Regional Advisor from 1994-2012. I retired and left volunteer service in order to catch up on my life and career.
You can purchase all of my Rourke titles directly through their website. Most of my other books are available through Amazon; and a few from Powells Books in Portland, Oregon. Please contact me about out-of-print or autographed titles as well as original artwork.
HARDCOVER, TRADE PAPERBACK, and E-BOOKS
Recent and Upcoming Book Titles:
The Skeleton Key Mystery: The Boxcar Children Mysteries, Book 156
Boxcar Children Mysteries – September 2020 Albert Whitman – Author
DISCOVERIES AROUND THE WORLD: Great Minds and Finds in Australia
Rourke Publishing – August 2020
DISCOVERIES AROUND THE WORLD: Great Minds and Finds in Antarctica
Rourke Publishing – August 2020
DISCOVERIES AROUND THE WORLD: Great Minds and Finds in South America
Rourke Publishing – August 2020
Sir Pants-a-Lot and Squire Mousekins: The Girl With the Golden Hair
Sterling Publishing – June 2020
INVENTION OF ROBOTICS (It Changed the World)
Rourke Publishing – January 2020
INVENTION OF ELECTRICITY (It Changed the World)
Rourke Publishing – January 2020
BUG!
Sterling Publishing – Spring 2019
CARLSBAD CAVERNS (Natural Laboratories: Scientists in National Parks)
Rourke Publishing – April 2019
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (Natural Laboratories: Scientists in National Parks)
Rourke Publishing – April 2019
BUILDING A WOOD-FRAMED PANELIZED YURT
YurtYaks Publishing – October 2018
BIO-MIMIC BUILDING AND DESIGN (Nature-Inspired Innovations)
Rourke Publishing – September 2018
BIO-INSPIRED TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION (Nature-Inspired Innovations)
Rourke Publishing – September 2018
ANIMAL-INSPIRED ROBOTS (Nature-Inspired Innovations)
Rourke Publishing – September 2018
NATURE-INSPIRED CONTRAPTIONS (Nature-Inspired Innovations)
Rourke Publishing – September 2018
BIOMIMICRY IN MEDICINE (Nature-Inspired Innovations)
Rourke Publishing – September 2018
NATURE’S ENERGY (Nature-Inspired Innovations)
Rourke Publishing – September 2018
DISASTER PROOF! (Define Design)
Rourke Publishing – August 2017
FROM HERE TO THERE (Define Design)
Rourke Publishing – August 2017
THINK LIKE AN ENGINEER (Science Alliance)
Rourke Publishing – August 2017
GREAT DANES (Dog Applause)
Rourke Publishing – March 2017
FRENCH BULLDOGS (Dog Applause)
Rourke Publishing – March 2017
WHY DO ANIMALS HIDE?
Rourke Publishing – August 2016 – Author
WHY DO ANIMALS SOUND LIKE THAT?
Rourke Publishing – August 2016 – Author
ROBOTICS IN THE REAL WORLD
Abdo – January 2016 – Author
POOP IS POWER!
Rourke Publishing – August 2016 – Author
OUR PLACE IN SPACE
Rourke Publishing – August 2016 – Author
WHAT WAS HURRICANE KATRINA?
Grosset & Dunlap – August 2015 – Author
LEARNING ABOUT AFRICA
Lerner Classroom – August 2015 – Author
THE SCIENCE OF A SINKHOLE
Cherry Lake Publishing – August 2015 – Author
THE SCIENCE OF A TSUNAMI
Cherry Lake Publishing – August 2015 – Author
ENTOMOLOGISTS (Scientists in the Field)
Rourke Publishing – August 2015 – Author
MARINE BIOLOGISTS (Scientists in the Field)
Rourke Publishing – August 2015 – Author
VOLCANOLOGISTS (Scientists in the Field)
Rourke Publishing – August 2015 – Author
WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT MISSOURI?
Lerner Classroom – August 2015 – Author
MYSTERY OF THE MISSING DINOSAUR BONES
Boxcar Children Mysteries – Spring 2015 Albert Whitman – Author
THE SCIENCE OF A PANDEMIC
21st Century Skills Library – August 2014 – Author
HOW IT WORKS – TV Remote, Binoculars, Computer Mouse
Rourke Publishing – August 2014 – Author
MYSTERY OF THE WILD WEST BANDIT
Boxcar Children Mysteries – Spring 2014 Albert Whitman – Author
MYSTERY OF THE FALLEN TREASURE
Boxcar Children Mysteries – Fall 2013 Albert Whitman – Author
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Rourke Publishing – Fall 2013 – Author
YOUR FAMILY TREE
Rourke Publishing – Fall 2013 – Author
LIGHT IN THE REAL WORLD
Core Library – January 2013 – Author
LITTLE BIRDIE BOOKS:
Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox; Run…It’s a Bee!;
Robin Hood and the Three Merry Hikers; Rumpelstiltskin
August 2012 Rourke Publishing – Author & Illustrator
AMAZING ANIMAL SKILLS!
LEAPS AND CREEPS – How Animals Move to Survive – Animal Behavior Society’s Outstanding Children’s Book Award Finalist – 2012
SPITS AND SQUIRTS – How Animals Squirt to Survive
SNIFFS AND STINKS – How Animals Use Odor to Survive
SCREAMS AND SONGS – How Animals Communicate to Survive
MOVERS AND MAKERS – How Animals Build and Use Tools to Survive
Fall 2011 Cavendish Square – Author & Developer
LITTLE BIRDIE BOOKS: (the first six I illustrated):
The Three Billy Goats; The King’s New Clothes; Lizzie Little;
Goldie Duck and the Three Beavers; The Three Little Recyclers;
Old McDoggle Had a Farm; Jill and the Beanstalk; Cinderella Zelda
August 2011 Rourke Publishing – Author & Illustrator
WATER GOES ROUND: The Water Cycle & HIDE AND SEEK MOON: The Moon Phases
Spring 2011 Picture Window Books – Author & Illustration Consultant
BUILDING A SMALL CABLE SUSPENSION BRIDGE – with the Cable Locking System
Spring 2011 Madenmark Publishing Co. – Co-Author and Designer
OUR AMAZING STATES: Six nonfiction early readers
Summer 2010 Rosen/Powerkids – Author
PICK A PERFECT PUMPKIN: Learning about Pumpkin Harvests
Summer 2010 Picture Window Books – Author & Illustration Consultant
APPLES, APPLES, EVERYWHERE! Learning about Apple Harvests
Summer 2010 Picture Window Books – Author & Illustration Consultant
FURLOCK AND MUTTSON MYSTERIES: Six early readers – fiction
January 2010 Abdo Short Tales – Author & Illustrator
ANIMAL DIFFERENCES – Butterflies and Moths IRA Teachers Choice Award 2010
Summer 2009 Picture Window Books – Author
Previous Publications:
JEWELRY MAKING FOR FUN!
Summer 2007 Capstone Books
TAI CHI FOR FUN!
Summer 2007 Capstone Books
UP ALL NIGHT COUNTING – A POP-UP BOOK
Spring 2006 Little Simon
CREEPY CRAWLY COLORS – A POP-UP BOOK
Spring 2006 Little Simon
EROSION: CHANGING EARTH’S SURFACE
August 2006 Picture Window Books
COMPOSTING: NATURE’S RECYCLERS
August 2006 Picture Window Books
ON HER WAY — STORIES AND POEMS ABOUT GROWING UP GIRL edited by Sandy Asher
“The Story Quilt” Author
January 2004 E.P. Dutton (middle grade)
IT TAKES THREE by Linda Hayward, illustrated by RMK
Spring 2003 Millbrook Press
HOW IS A MOOSE LIKE A GOOSE?
Fall 2002 Millbrook Press
WHY A DOG? BY A. CAT
Spring 2000 Cartwheel Books, a division of Scholastic
THE COMPLETE BACKYARD NATURE ACTIVITY BOOK
Spring 1998 Learning Triangle Press, a division of McGraw Hill
CHICAGO AND THE CAT: THE COUNTY FAIR
ipicturebooks.com (ebook) 2002
CHICAGO AND THE CAT: THE FAMILY REUNION
Fall 1996 Cobblehill Books (early reader)
ipicturebooks.com (ebook) 2002
CHICAGO AND THE CAT: THE HALLOWEEN PARTY
Fall 1994 Cobblehill Books (early reader)
ipicturebooks.com (ebook) 2002
CHICAGO AND THE CAT: THE CAMPING TRIP
Spring 1994 Cobblehill Books (early reader) 1994 Junior Library Guild Selection
ipicturebooks.com (ebook) 2002
CHICAGO AND THE CAT, A Little Chapter Book
Spring 1993 Cobblehill Books (early reader) 1993 Junior Library Guild Selection
ipicturebooks.com (ebook) 2002
MUSIC IN THE NIGHT, Summer 1993 Cobblehill Books
(picture book) by Etta Wilson, illustrated by RMK
I SEE SOMETHING YOU DON’T SEE, A RIDDLE-ME PICTURE BOOK
Spring 1992 Cobblehill Books
IN A CABIN IN A WOOD, 1991 Cobblehill Books (picture book)
by Darcie McNally, illustrated by Robin Michal Koontz
1992 International Reading Association Children’s Choice
PUSSYCAT ATE THE DUMPLINGS, 1987 Dodd, Mead and Co.
(picture book) also Michael O’Mara Books, 1989
THIS OLD MAN, 1988 The Putnam Group (picture book)
also published by Houghton, Mifflin text division, 1992
1988 Junior Library Guild Selection and NCTE Notable Trade Book for Language Arts
DINOSAUR DREAM, 1988 The Putnam Group (picture book)
VICTORIA FLIES HIGH, 1990 Cobblehill Books
by Becky Ayres, illus. by Robin Michal Koontz (picture book)
ACTIVITY BOOKS, ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY RMK
WHALES
2004 Sopris West (Marilyn Sprick)
ALPHABET EXPRESS
1995 School Zone Publishing Co. (Interactive CD)
I KNOW IT!
1995 School Zone Publishing Co. (a series of 12 math workbooks for K-6)
I KNOW IT!
1995 School Zone Publishing Co. (a series of 12 Math and 12 English and Phonics
workbooks for K-6)
IS IT ALIVE?
1994 Creative Teaching Press (easy reader)
WHO’S HIDING?
1994 Creative Teaching Press (easy reader)
I DON’T LIKE PEAS
1992 School Zone Publishing Co. (easy reader)
WHOOPS!
1992 Scott-Foresman Publishing (easy reader)
THINK BIG BOOKS
1987-1988 School Zone Publishing Co. (a series of 24 workbooks for K-3)
LIFT OFF BOOKS
1990 School Zone Publishing Co. (a series of 24 workbooks for K-2)
Can i use your text “Drones to the rescue” with reference of course for my e-learning?
Of course! “Drones to the Rescue,” on the Kid’s Discover site, is intended to be a teacher’s resource. Here’s the link: https://www.kidsdiscover.com/teacherresources/drones-uavs-rescue/
Hi! I am a literacy coach, wondering if your book Erosion can be found in Spanish?
Thanks for your comment! Alas, it doesn’t appear that Picture Window Books has issued this book in Spanish! I’m sorry. Many of my Rourke Publishing early readers are translated into Spanish, if you have need of fiction books for younger ones.