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@csneal.bsky.social

A peek inside We Leap Together. Available on-line, in book stores and directly from my shop: bookshop.org/lists/pictur...

"Readers should leap at the chance to acquire this winning tale."—Kirkus, starred review

July 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM

Reposted by Christopher Silas Neal

Jody Jensen Shaffer

@jodywrites4kids.bsky.social

Thanks to Lindsay Moretti for creating these #STEAM units for grades 3-5 on the interdependence of ecosystems! substack.com/@lindsaymore...
#STEM #STEAM #Nonfiction #Science #Teachers #Librarians @randomhousekids.bsky.social @csneal.bsky.social

Lindsay Moretti on Substack

Focusing on concepts from Jody Jensen Shaffer and @Christopher Silas Neal’s award-winning CREEP, LEAP, CRUNCH! A FOOD CHAIN STORY, this STEAM unit explores interdependence within ecosystems through: ...

substack.com

July 5, 2025 at 1:38 PM

Reposted by Christopher Silas Neal

Kate Messner

@katemessner.com

⭐ The first review for OVER AND UNDER THE CORAL REEF is in - and it's a star from Kirkus with special praise for @csneal.bsky.social's amazing illustrations!

Look for this one in August from @chroniclebooks.bsky.social - or better yet, preorder today!
bookshop.org/p/books/over...

Book cover OVER AND UNDER THE CORAL REEF with a brown-skinned father and son snorkeling in bright tuquoise water, with a red and yellow coral reef below, teeming with colorful fish and a small green sea turtle. Graphic is set against a darker blue background with a yellow star and bright light blue text that reads "Another triumph for two masters of picture-book nonfiction" - Kirkus starred review

June 27, 2025 at 2:19 PM

Reposted by Christopher Silas Neal

Jody Jensen Shaffer

@jodywrites4kids.bsky.social

Thanks @christinevanzandt.bsky.social for featuring Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story on #TeachersTuesdays! Free discussion/activity guide/song on website!
facebook.com/christine.va...
instagram.com/christinevan...
linkedin.com/in/christine...
@csneal.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social

June 17, 2025 at 7:13 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

Another lettering experiment. Which color is best?

May 16, 2025 at 3:54 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

A new one for my spouse who is a dancer.

May 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

A cover from awhile back for Little Brown. I love where we ended up but also enjoyed the energy in some of these comps. AD Lucy Kim

May 8, 2025 at 5:39 PM

Reposted by Christopher Silas Neal

Jody Jensen Shaffer

@jodywrites4kids.bsky.social

"Just when you think you have come to terms with the harsh realities of the forest food chain ecosystem, there is a delightful twist that brings the book a clever sense of playfulness." Thanks so much, Mary Duffy #justreadjournal!
@csneal.bsky.social @penguinschoollib.bsky.social

The engaging text and illustrations in this nonfiction picture book make it stand out as different than others in this category. The illustrations are full of bright colors, textures and movement. These illustrations, along with the rhythm and rhyme of the text, help the reader feel as if they are observing mother nature first-hand. Just when you think you have come to terms with the harsh realities of the forest food chain ecosystem, there is a delightful twist that brings the book a clever sense of playfulness. At the back of the book, you will find a helpful glossary where terms are defined in a way that will appeal to elementary aged readers. This book will grab readers’ attention and will be a treat to read aloud!
...
Creep Leap Crunch: A Food Chain Story with Words by Jody Jensen Shaffer and Art by Christopher Silas Neal @csilasneal
...
#jodyjensenshaffer #csilasneal #christophersilasneal #creepleapcrunch #stempicturebooks #kidlit #picturebook #schoollibrary #nonfictionpicturebook #cybilsawards #cybils2024

May 7, 2025 at 9:52 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

The importance of distractions

This month I'm distracted, but in a good way, so I stepped away from my regularly scheduled work to create a hand lettering experiment.

csneal.substack.com

April 30, 2025 at 8:09 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

I needed a break from drawing characters and animals and stuff so I made these two lettering experiments inspired by the musician Thundercat. My rules for myself: hand-lettered and no representational drawings.

I'm selling them as prints.
lnkd.in/ebewwYzA

Which band / musician should I do next?

April 29, 2025 at 6:33 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

One I did awhile back about declining brain function for the New York Times.

April 28, 2025 at 6:43 PM

Reposted by Christopher Silas Neal

Jody Jensen Shaffer

@jodywrites4kids.bsky.social

Hey, look! A storywalk with Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story at Mary Roberts Rinehart Nature Park in Pennsylvania! April 18-May 11. Thanks #LeetsdaleBorough #SewickleyPublicLibrary! @csneal.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social

April 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

I've always liked these unused book jacket ideas, circa 2016.

April 18, 2025 at 4:55 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

Amazing! Congrats Jody!

Jody Jensen Shaffer @jodywrites4kids.bsky.social · Apr 18

I am thrilled! THANK YOU Emporia State University for considering Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story beautifully illus @csneal.bsky.social for the 2026 Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award! What an honor! shorturl.at/GYfHD shorturl.at/94sd8 @randomhousekids.bsky.social #Nonfiction #KidLit

April 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

A new book jacket for Ballantine Books, out this April.

April 16, 2025 at 6:02 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

Help spread the word, please consider leaving a review of We Leap Together on Amazon. Reviews help my book get noticed on the algorithm and my book could use all the help it can get! Thanks to everyone for your support!

a.co/d/eqz41Re

April 15, 2025 at 3:56 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

Nice!

Jody Jensen Shaffer @jodywrites4kids.bsky.social · Apr 12

Signing a few gorgeous things today! @csneal.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social #KidLit #PictureBooks #NF #STEAM #STEM #Animals #FoodChain #WritingCommunity #Librarians #Teachers

April 13, 2025 at 1:30 AM

Reposted by Christopher Silas Neal

Jody Jensen Shaffer

@jodywrites4kids.bsky.social

"There’s nothing more exciting (and a little scary) than the food chain, making Creep, Leap, Crunch! a thrilling (and educational) addition to any kids’ bookshelf...Neal’s illustrations...are captivating and interactive. Don’t creep; leap to get this book young readers will enjoy." shorturl.at/2dslY

Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story by Jody Jensen Shaffer, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House.

April 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

Happy Book Birthday, We Leap Together!

bookshop.org/p/books/we-l...

@spanishbroom.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social

April 1, 2025 at 2:54 PM

Christopher Silas Neal

@csneal.bsky.social

Hi Folks, Here's a list of book signings and story times happening this April including an Earth day Celebration at the Natural History Museum!

Links to all of my events can be found at:
www.csneal.com/about

March 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM

Reposted by Christopher Silas Neal

Kate Messner

@katemessner.com

Guess what?! @csneal.bsky.social who illustrates our popular OVER AND UNDER nature books has a new book coming out on April 1st - he's both author and illustrator, and it looks amazing. Congrats, Chris!! bookshop.org/p/books/we-l...