Every teacher of young children knows the powerful tool that playfulness can be. The joys of rhyming, alliteration and silly speculation are some of the best teaching tools for literacy, and some of the most fun to engage in! This joyfulness, along with a deep appreciation for nature’s wisdom and wonder, are all present in Lily’s adventures. The illustrations reflect the spirited verse and the sense of wonder that Lily embraces. Dreamy backgrounds create a sense of being completely present and attention is given to details that are often noticed only by the curious gaze of a child out in the world.

— Sarah Monroe, Waldorf Teacher, Corvallis, Oregon.

As a child growing up in a village in Alaska, I and my friends played outdoors in all seasons. In summer, my mother drew pictures in the wet sand of stick figures, houses and hills, trees and animals that lived in the nearby tundra that surrounded the village.Waves were breaking on the beach while my mother quietly told her stories, and my little brothers and sisters and I would bend back and listen as seagulls flew overhead to their feeding grounds.The sounds, sights and smells of Nature were constant.The wind would make the grass that grew beyond the beach move in one continuous flow. Silly Lily's Adventures brought those memories back. Quyanna (Thank you).

— Anecia Breiby, parent, grandma, fisherwoman, berry picker, and retired Cultural Specialist in local schools, Wasilla, Alaska.

Cooper and Gonzalez' touching and pointed portrayal of nature's interrelationships is also endearing and whimsical. This inspired work will grab children's imagination while building bonds with new words and playfully impressing our human call to steward all of earth's living things!

— Dave Nissen, founder, Wanderlust Tours, and proud parent, Bend, Oregon.

Silly Lily’s Rhyming Adventures in Nature should bring unexpected joy and inspiration to the young at heart of all ages. The tone of whacky fantasy is an invitation to creativity. It approaches language from an unrestrained ludic angle, creating a whimsical and playful atmosphere. Readers will find delight in the light-hearted poetic rhymes and illustrations, where a touch of humor is always present as a backdrop for a deep reverence for the natural world of many (often endangered) species that accompany us in this wonderfully perilous journey through the cosmos.

— Marco Elliott, printmaker, painter, former art and graphic design teacher in Cannes France and Venice High School, CA, parent, environmental activist, author of Zapixu, Le Pied du Mur and Secrets de La Carte à Gratter. Eugene, Oregon.

As a teacher of young children for more than thirty years, I feel confident that Silly Lily’s Rhyming Adventures in Nature will become a favorite of children, parents and teachers. Rhyming is an important pre-reading skill for children as they listen to the rhythm of the words and enjoy the repetition of sounds. The book’s whimsical rhymes and colorful illustrations will also be helpful for students of any age who are learning English.

— Jerilyn Nolfi Brown, parent and former primary and bilingual teacher, Chula Vista Elementary School District, California.

This book is a great way to introduce children to the outdoors and to nature. Too many currently seem far too house-bound, glued to various electronic devices. These illustrations and the rhymes that accompany them will spark any kid’s interest and curiosity to learn to love and appreciate the natural world and beauty around them, along with a desire to protect that treasure as they grow.

— John Breiby, retired boat builder, commercial salmon fisherman, and anthropologist, parent, and grandparent, who fished with his family for thirty years on Bristol Bay in Southwest Alaska. Wasilla, Alaska.

The concept of a young, inquisitive child who bikes, busses and walks everywhere drawing silly pictures and writing funny little poems about plants and animals sounds a lot like me growing up. The lovely illustrations and clever rhymes give it humor, learning value and great respect for nature.

— Frank Keim, educator, nature writer, poet, environmental activist, and parent. Keim worked for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia, an anthropologist in Ecuador for four years, and as a secondary school teacher of Yup’ik Eskimos in Alaska’s LowerYukon Delta for 21 years. His most recent book is Journals of an Alaskan Naturalist. He lives north of Fairbanks, Alaska.