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 (now shipping)

"The poet A. M. Juster has a bit of fun with the name of an aquatic animal children tend to adore in Girlatee, a small, snug picture book illustrated by Grant Silverstein . . . in a wobbly lined drawing style reminiscent of Jerry Pinkney . . . Happily, this is a sweetly traditional story—child gets lost, child gets help, child finds her parents again—with an ending that’ll come as a relief to readers."
—Wall Street Journal

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.

PRAISE FOR GIRLATEE:

"Girlatee is a story that will resonate with any child—or wise adult—who is reminded of the value of looking after one another and the importance of family ties. What makes Girlatee exceptional though is Juster’s remarkably beautiful poetry whose perfect rhymes and alliterations lure the ear and settle in the heart."
—Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Juster smuggles a very timely message into this breezy, lavishly illustrated book.”
—Plough Quarterly

Also available as an e-book:
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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.