Watch the video below, to learn how a love of drawing and writing has inspired Daniel since he was old enough to pick up a crayon, and how inspiration is the key to lifelong learning!

Daniel Kirk is the author and illustrator of over forty books for children, including his best-selling series of “Library Mouse” books, his non-fiction picture book “Rhino in the House” and his latest picture book, “Newton and Curie, Science Squirrels”.

“Library Mouse” is a Booklist Editor’s Choice book, an Education.com Essential gift, a Parenting Magazine Best Mom-Tested Book of the Year, a Kansas Reading Association Award Nominee, a Booksense pick, inner of the NAPPA Gold Award, the 2011 Young Hoosiers award. and a Choose to Read Ohio choice for 2013-2014. Booklist gave “Library Mouse” a starred review and said: “Put a mouse in a library and you have a sure seller; make the mouse a writer and you have a sure-fire hit…It’s a show stopper. Ready-made to introduce a class to writing activity…this book is fun, fun, fun.”

“Library Mouse: A Museum Adventure”, received the 2012 Parents Choice Award, and about “Library Mouse: Home Sweet Home”, Kirkus says: “Not only is the story amusing, but the information will be useful in classrooms. The familiar characters make this architectural adventure feel downright homey.”

“Rhino in the House” tells the true story of Anna Merz, who founded the first rhino sanctuary in Kenya, and whose work with a rhino orphan, Samia, taught the world many things about rhino behavior and communication.

Kirkus says: “A solid introduction to wildlife conservation...Samia saves the story, offering great appeal for young readers and moving the lively narrative along with her antics."

Booklist says: ”Kirk’s full-color, playful illustrations render the amiable rhino with cute features, and the savannah scenes are rich with lively detail...A playful glimpse into the life of a conservationist."

School Library Journal says: ”This straightforward description of a wild animal’s rescue stands out for the specificity of its setting, made clear to young readers with maps of the world and of Africa with all its countries... A pleasant addition to storytimes about animal rescue and rehabilitation.”

“Newton and Curie, Science Squirrels” tells the tale of a young squirrel and his sister, who learn to make simple machines and build a playground that’s just their size. They discover that science is for everyone—even squirrels!

Kirkus says: “A positive and fun-filled challenge to recognize and apply the underlying principles of science in everyday life.”

Booklist says: “Budding scientists will be delighted by the squirrel’s-eye view of the physical world.”

Publisher’s Weekly says: “The story frames plainspoken, relatable explanations of core physics concepts and the scientific method.”

"This wonderfully illustrated, charming true story is another great book for introducing environmental issues and some of the joys and challenges they engender." (School Library Connection)

Why are Picture Books Important?

I’m the kind of person who is always happiest when immersed in a story. It might be a story I’m writing, or it might be another author’s book I’m reading; it might be a movie, a TV show or a song…as long as there’s a story involved, you’ve got my attention! But there is something about the illustrations, and turning the pages of books, that creates a special kind of magic for me.

As a kid I owned dozens and dozens of Little Golden Books, which I treasured for their artwork and that bright, shiny golden spine. That little strip of gold was there to remind me that books are valuable and precious, that books are treasure. Every night my dad would read to me, and with a background in radio broadcasting, he had a golden voice that was perfect for storytelling. I was also an amateur magician when I was a kid. I realize today that as an author, I am also a magician—weaving a spell, making something appear from nothing, doing my best to create surprise, awe and wonder.

Picture books give the reader a chance to be a part of the story, controlling the pace by deciding when to turn the page, when to linger over a special word or sentence, when to leap ahead or jump back in the story, and when a book is really good, to turn back to page one and start reading all over again. In real life, we can’t do these things. That’s why books are magic! They let us control reality, push at its edges, take leaps in time and distance, and experience thrills and danger in a safe, controllable way.And there are always more worlds to discover, more people to meet, more lessons to learn, in a book.