About Me
Here I am at age three.
The Collective Book Studio will be publishing my first picture book, THE SEA HIDES A SEAHORSE, on April 9, 2024!
I am a former professional librarian, a freelance writer, frequent visitor to classrooms, well-received book-talker. and a popular workshop leader at the Oregon Writing Festival. I've published 40 feature articles and creative pieces in regional (e.g., Oregon Humanities) and national publications (e.g., American Libraries, School Library Journal). My last name is pronounced BEARman.
When I’m not writing children’s stories, I am writing grant proposals for clients who are doing wonderful things in our world. I live in Portland, Oregon with my special sweetie, F.X.
10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ME
1. I snort like a pig when I laugh too hard.
2. I discovered the Hudson River when I was four years old.
3. I rarely eat all of my green vegetables, and I won’t eat okra because I think it tastes like boogers.
4. I was born the day after Christmas and refuse to open any birthday presents wrapped in Christmas paper.
5. I started writing stories in the third grade and haven’t stopped since.
6. My favorite color is yellow because it reminds me of the sun.
7. I love to travel, speak several languages, and have visited forty (and counting!) countries so far.
8. I have one daughter, Sandy; a son-in-law, Marc; and some grand-kitties.
9. When I was a kid, my favorite author was E.B. White and my favorite book was Stuart Little.
10. I collect finger puppets, and I have about fifty on display in my office. There’s a flamingo, unicorn, seahorse, a pelican, a giraffe, several squirrels, a spider, and even a worm in an apple. Sometimes I play with my finger puppets when I’m trying to work out what a character would say.
Available for a range of classroom visits!
Book Now
I have taught students of all ages to read and write. I especially enjoy talking about books and sharing stories about my travel adventures (e.g., hiking with the gorillas in Uganda’s impenetrable forest). I offer several workshops and presentations for young writers. You can learn more about these below.
I am available for both virtual and in-person visits and writer’s residencies. Feel free to contact me to discuss your classroom’s needs.
Show Me the Money or the Power of Persuasive Writing: This one-hour workshop covers the elements of persuasive writing as students are asked to write a persuasive piece that addresses a problem of their own (e.g., allowance increase, later bedtime, need for a pet, etc.). Grades 4-5.
Got You! Bottled Creatures: Typically a weeklong writer’s residency that results in a finished draft of a story, a modified one-hour long version is available to encourage students to work on one or two scenes from an imaginary story. A pre- or post-writing activity includes drawing the creature caught in one of several pre-traced bottle shapes. Grades 1-5.
Twisting A Tale: This one hour workshop uses traditional folktales and fairy tales to stimulate the imagination as students write a creative piece that twists the well-known story into a completely new tale. Grades 4-5.
The Sea Hides… Your Stories: During this 90-minute workshop, students will feature the great diversity of life and ecosystems supported by the ocean in their draft creative stories. A pre-writing activity and a “deep dive" into research will keep their ideas afloat, and students will be inspired to take action to protect the ocean. Grades 3-5.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
“This is a great book for any young reader and will inspire them to learn more about the wonderful world under the sea.” – Chari Smith, Children’s Book Author, The Piano
“The joy of locating and counting them, the rhythm of repeat sentences fostering memory for little readers, will make this book a go to for story time, over and over again.“ - Friderike Heuer, Ph.D.
“A beautifully illustrated picture book that shows seahorses in their various ecosystems, complete with other flora and creatures around them.” -Rian Debner, MA, MLIS, AHIP
“Filled with wonderful vocabulary, a repeated refrain, and colorful illustrations that make this an excellent read-aloud for preschool up into early elementary.” -Natasha Forrester Campbell, Early Childhood Services Librarian, MLS
“Rolling prose and eye-catching artwork invite kids to take a deep dive into the habits and habitat of the seahorse—an interactive exploration supported by extensive notes and resources.” — Susan Blackaby, author of Where’s My Cow? (Sleeping Bear Press)
“With lyrical language and stunning illustrations, The Sea Hides a Seahorse engages young readers from the opening page with a gentle invitation to find each cleverly camouflaged seahorse and learn more about these fascinating creatures.” -Dawn Babb Prochovnic, Early Literacy Consultant and author of many books for young readers, including the seafaring favorite, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?
“The fascinating seahorses will be loved by preschoolers eager to engage with the natural world, and the back matter provides further facts to interest older readers.” - Claire Horowitz, Author, Writing Workshop Leader
“Enchanting undersea vistas of many varieties of seahorses, as well as crabs, flounders, turtles and other sea life, in vibrant colors make this informative picture book a real winner.” -Jackie Davis, Collection Development Librarian, Timberland Regional Library, WA
“Oh my! True and tender, this is an inspired telling of the symbiosis of sea horse and sea life, gloriously, gorgeously illustrated. What a marvelously successful collaboration.” -Ruth Metz, Librarian, Author. Consultant
“This book is sure to spark a child’s curiosity and foster a love of marine life.” - Rochelle Strauss, an award-winning children’s author, whose books focus on building environmental and ocean literacy. Her best-selling titles include The Global Ocean, One Well: The Story of Water on Earth and Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth.
“This book demonstrates not only the diversity of seahorses but their amazing associations with other plants and animals. My 2 young girls (7 and 9) were captivated by the narrative, science, and art. Very beautiful book!” Heather Bracken-Grissom, PhD, Assistant Director of the Coastlines and Oceans Division, Florida International University-Biscayne Bay Campus
"A delightful read-aloud that is sure to engage budding scientists with opportunities for inquiry and the magic of sea creatures on every page." - Danielle Jones, library youth services manager
The Sea Hides a Seahorse received a STARRED review from School Library Journal. Please read the review below:
★BEHRMAN, Sara T. The Sea Hides a Seahorse. illus. by Melanie Mikecz. 40p. Collective Book Studio. Apr. 2024. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781685556440.
PreS-Gr 3–Lacking teeth, sizable fins, and scales, the seahorse is an aquatic anomaly that defies the rule book of ocean-dwelling fish. The unusual locomotion, courtship rituals, and body shape of the seahorse and its even showier relative, the sea dragon, merit further exploration. In order to stay safe, the seahorse has to blend in, so it relies on its unique camouflaging abilities, such as clinging with a prehensile tail and changing colors to avoid being someone’s snack. As the seahorses of this story keep a low profile from such perils as tuna, crab, and sea turtles, readers learn about seahorse varieties and life cycles. Clued in by the refrain “And the sea hides a seahorse,” children will quickly realize that the illustration’s hidden seahorse is the star of the following page. The collage effect of the digital illustrations is a smart choice to convey the translucency and playful light of underwater scenery, and the back matter gives more thorough explorations of seahorse behavior and preservation. VERDICT With its playful seek-and-find illustrations and fascinating facts, this saltwater standout will have librarians, parents, and mini marine biologists hooked. An excellent work of narrative nonfiction for young readers.–Sarah Simpson
Now available everywhere books are sold!
You’ll want to pre-order your book if attending the MJCC or Garden Home Community Library event: https://www.annieblooms.com/book/9781685556440
Contact Me
I can’t wait to hear from you!