A couple of people have asked me why I changed my blog avatar to an illustration of a cute, widdle mouse peeking through the grass.
Oh, I have my reasons.
This illustration (by the incomparable artist Elizabeth Zechel) is a detail from a larger illustration.
And that illustration appears in the soon-to-be-released picture book, Scampers Thinks Like a Scientist!
And, yes! You can preorder it here in either hardcover or paperback.
Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow! 
Amazing!
Zechel is a wonderful artist! I couldn’t have been luckier!
Aww. Beautiful. I was wondering about the mouse, Mike. I figured it was related to your affection for rats. 🙂 Now I know the truth!
My plan is to write a rodent character into everything I get published.
Sounds like a squeaky clean plan. 🙂
Everything ok?
Groovy.
go lookie my page!!!
This is adorable!
I concur. Zechel is a national treasure.
Who knew mice had such beautiful, shinning eyes? Love the illustration.
It’s true! Rodent eyes twinkle! (And I should know; I’ve cared for a fancy rat, a sewer rat posing as a fancy rat, two four-legged gerbils, one three-legged gerbil, assorted field mice, and the world’s most ornery guinea pig.)
Adorbs!
Yes’m.
Oh. I figured you’d found an amazing artist to doodle your face when you’re in the middle of one of your ‘writing thoughts,’ 🙂 Super cute, Mike.
I could only dream of being as cute as Scampers.
🙂
The mouse is adorable! To celebrate your new book (my, but you are busy these days) and how we both love mice, we should do a mouse themed Debatable next month.
Yer on! The best rodent in kid lit!
Wonderful illustration!
Isn’t it? I was very lucky to get paired with Liz Zechel.
I love it! 😀
Me too!
Oh so cute — especially enlarged! I read the two great reviews you’ve already received. Congratulations! It looks like an entertaining read that will encourage kids to do research like Scampers.
It definitely is adorbs.
Looks sooooo adowable!
Too freaking cute!!! Love it! ❤
I just pre-ordered it because I absolutely love the mouse. Excited to read your book. I just came across your blog today via Molly @ Catswrite regarding stats.
Yay! Thanks so much, Erika! I was so blessed to be paired with Liz Zechel; her illustrations are simply perfect.