Girlatee

Poem by A. M. Juster, Illustrations by Grant Silverstein

55-page paperback / 6.5" x 6.5" / ISBN 9781589881990
Publication Date: 3/18/25 (available for preorder)

Offshore there was a family—
a manatee, a mummatee,
and Grace, their little girlatee.

Girlatee is the story of a young manatee who becomes separated from her parents by a reckless man on a speedboat. She beaches on hot sand, and at first the people on the beach take selfies instead of helping her. When a kind beachgoer calls for assistance, two officers of the Game and Wildlife Department come and help the girlatee back into the ocean, where she is reunited with her parents. With beautiful rhymes and enchanting illustrations, Girlatee reminds us of the importance of family bonds and caring for others in distress.

For ages 2-6. Full page black and white illustrations throughout.

A. M. Juster is an award-winning poet, translator, and critic who has published twelve books of original and translated poetry. His most recent collection is Wonder & Wrath (Paul Dry Books, 2020). Girlatee is his first book for children. Juster lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts.

Grant Silverstein specializes in etchings of a narrative character and in studies of figures, landscapes, and animals. He has illustrated four previous Paul Dry Books titles: Naughty Boy, The Battle Between the Frogs and the Mice, Davey McGravy, and The Verb 'To Bird.' Silverstein lives in rural Pennsylvania.