Christopher Silas Neal

Thrilled to share THUNDER AND MERCY! Female spies, a 1970s Philadelphia setting, and a surprise Revolutionary mystery, all woven through middle-grade friendship and belonging. Published by Astra/Calkins Creek with gorgeous cover art by @csneal.bsky.social. Coming July 2026. Pre-orders are open!

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

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: ...

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

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

⭐ 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...

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

Another lettering experiment. Which color is best?

A new one for my spouse who is a dancer.

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

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

"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

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?

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

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

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

Amazing! Congrats Jody!

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

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

Nice!

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.

"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

Happy Book Birthday, We Leap Together!

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

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

Wow! Amazing!

Yay!

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

We Leap Together Check out We Leap Together - <b>An awe-inspiring nonfiction picture book, perfect for animal lovers, that reveals how a mama whale and a mama person care for their young in remarkably similar ways, fr...

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...

Thank You Kate!!!

Making We Leap Together My latest book titled We Leap Together comes out April 1st. It's a story about connection, parental bonds, NYC, and humpback whales. This month I discuss my process behind making this book.

In my latest Newsletter I discuss my process behind We Leap Together: csneal.substack.com/p/making-we-...

Teachers! Jody has put together a fantastic activity packet for our book.

Just received samples of We Leap Together, out April 1st, 2025 on @randomhousekids.bsky.social

Pre-order: bookshop.org/a/10043/9780...

More kind words about We Leap Together!

Pre-Order from the links below:

My bookshop
bookshop.org/a/10043/9780...

My publisher Random House
www.rhcbooks.com/books/747755...

Books are Magic
www.booksaremagic.net/item/p5lAnqx...

Alliteration, repetition, nature, science, beauty! @jodywrites4kids and Christopher Silas Neal have created a book that delights AND teaches. Why not build fluency with an enjoyable read that harkens There Was an Old Lady? So. Much. Fun! #picturebookperfection Tammy and CJ via Twitter

Thank you, Tammy & CJ!!

"Alliteration, repetition, nature, science, beauty! Jody and Christopher Silas Neal have created a book that delights AND teaches. Why not build fluency with an enjoyable read that harkens There Was an Old Lady? So. Much. Fun!
#picturebookperfection" @csneal.bsky.social