Belong

Mary Rand Hess is a poet, playwright, screenwriter, composer, mixed-media artist, and New York Times bestselling author of notable and award-winning books. Some of her picture books include The One and Only Wolfgang: From Pet Rescue to One Big Happy Family; Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures; and Belong, a book near and dear to her heart. Whether she’s creating for the page, stage, or screen, Mary has many stories and poems to dream up and share.Niña Mata is a children's bookmaker and New York Times bestselling illustrator. Her books include She’s Got This; I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots; I Promise and I Am More Than (both by LeBron James); and the Ty’s Travels series, including the Geisel Honor Book Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom! New is her authorial picture book debut. Visit her at ninamata.com.

(I Promise) "This picture book delivers an uplifting message to children, emphasizing accountability and persistence. . . . The illustrations infuse the book with heart, reflecting a contemporary neighborhood that effectively represents the racial makeup of many U.S. cities." — Publishers Weekly(I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots) "Mata’s illustrations are full of texture and joy. Much-needed encouragement to love the skin we’re in.” — Kirkus Reviews(I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots) "Digital illustrations from Mata add warmth and lightheartedness to this self-loving tale." — Publishers Weekly(The One and Only Wolfgang) "A memorable and entertaining celebration of adoption." — Kirkus Reviews(Animal Ark) "In this striking collaborative book . . . the words cut deep: 'Remember, we are part of forever.'" — New York Times(Animal Ark) "Ideal for sharing one-on-one or with a small group, this impassioned and timely call to reevaluate our relationship with nature is a must-have for poetry collections." — School Library Journal (starred review)