Coming February 3, 2026! Preorder today!

An amazing alphabetical adventure celebrating the animals of New England, this children’s book is written by Johnette Downing and illustrated by Holly Stone-Barker. From the adorable ant to the zany zebra swallow-tail butterfly, the lucky lobster to the talkative turkey, the jaunty jellyfish to the majestic moose—there are so many curious, courageous, captivating creatures to see!

New England's animals—big and small, from land and sea—are celebrated with fanciful, alliterative text and exquisite cut-paper illustrations. This is a perfect read-along with any little animal lover, who will love learning about the animals and the alphabet.

Johnette divides her time between her hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana and her husband’s hometown of Newburyport, Massachusetts for over fourteen years. In addition to her advocacy and passion for the animals of the south, she also fell in love with the flora and fauna of New England. The award-winning author of thirty-one books and thirteen recordings, Johnette is delighted to share her first New England book with children.

Holly is a world-traveler and has lived in the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She has illustrated six children’s books with her distinctive cut-paper collage art style. Not only does she teach art to children, but she also exhibits her art in galleries. Animals are among her favorite subjects to illustrate, and it certainly shows in this book. She resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with her husband, family, and dog.

Johnette and Holly have been friends for decades, and this is their first collaboration, and their first book with Arcadia Children’s Books.