Cover Reveal: There Was An Old Gator Who Swallowed A Moth

11/14/2018

42 Comments

I'm very excited to be revealing the cover of my upcoming debut picture book, There Was An Old Gator Who Swallowed A Moth, launching February 15, 2019, but first a little bit about the book and my journey. First let me say, since I come to children's literature via poetry, I am very happy that my first solo book is in rhyme, and cumulative rhyme to boot.

Gator lives in a Southern bayou, where he encounters many animals of the lagoon and can't help but…well…swallow them. These include a crab, ray, eel, pelican, panther, manatee and shark. But it really all starts with the moth:

There was an old gator who swallowed a moth
I don't know why he swallowed the moth.
It made him cough...

I'm thrilled with the illustrator, the very talented David Opie, who did my words proud and captured Gator in all his gluttonous glory.

I also love the look on Gator's face when he realizes he may have gone a tad too far. I know I've sometimes felt this way after a particularly indulgent Thanksgiving dinner.

A big shout out of thanks also to my editor and publicists at Pelican Publishing. You all did and continue to do an amazing job! I'll be forever grateful to you for bringing my first picture book to life.

Thank you all for letting me share my good news with you and I hope you will spread the word about There Was An Old Gator Who Swallowed A Moth. I think kids will really enjoy the pictures and words as they build to the climax, as well as the many animals depicted in this book.

Now for the cover reveal (drum roll):

Available for pre-order at:
Amazon l Barnes & Noble l IndieBound

42 Comments

Linda Mitchell link

11/16/2018 02:13:11 am

Wow! Many, many congratulations! What a wonderful cover reveal. I'm delighted to see your book come to life. What an adorable story that we just know kids and their old gator readers will love. Enjoy every moment of your book's birthday.

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 09:34:59 am

Thanks much Linda! I hope young gators an old gator's alike will enjoy it!

Linda Baie link

11/16/2018 05:20:59 am

I'm sure that your first and wonderful book will be loved, B.J. It looks fabulous, love "It made him cough..."! Congratulations to you and to David Opie for the art!

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 09:36:43 am

Thanks so much Linda! Yes, I hope it will be loved! So far, I'm getting great reactions from kids! And yes, David Opie is amazing!

Janet F.

11/16/2018 06:23:29 am

Adorable. Fabulous and exciting! I bet it will find a wide audience!!!!Congratulations, B.J.

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 09:37:28 am

Hi Janet! Yes it is fabulous and exciting! I know I'm excited! Thanks so much!

Jane Heitman Healy link

11/16/2018 06:28:15 am

Congratulations! This is going to be a very fun read!

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 09:38:16 am

Thank you Jane! You know, as often as I have read it, it still makes me laugh! I think that's a good sign. Thanks again

JoAnn Early Macken link

11/16/2018 06:30:06 am

Oh, what fun! Congratulations!

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 09:39:16 am

Thank you JoAnn! I'm hoping kids will really enjoy it and their adults too!

Renee LaTulippe link

11/16/2018 06:30:23 am

HUZZAH and hooray!!!! Very excited for you, BJ, and can't wait to see your first book. WHOOOOOO!!!!!!

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 09:40:10 am

ah, Shucks, Renée! Thank you my friend!

Sherry Howard link

11/16/2018 06:37:11 am

This is adorable! Kids are going to LOVE this book!

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 09:41:28 am

Thank you Sherry! I'm glad you think kids are going to love it! I think so too! I mean, gators!

Tabatha link

11/16/2018 07:37:03 am

What is that moth doing on his nose? No wonder Gator took a chomp ;-)
I can really relate to that "What have I done?" face!

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 09:43:14 am

Thanks Tabitha! Little moth did not have his thinking cap on! And yes, gator rues his eating spree!

jama link

11/16/2018 08:15:02 am

Hooray and Congratulations! Nothing more exciting than a debut picture book!

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 09:44:28 am

Thank you Jama! Yes it is very exciting! Gator looks forward to a visit!

Buffy Silverman link

11/16/2018 08:31:42 am

Oh those gator eyes--so expressive! Congratulations on your new baby, BJ!!

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 09:45:13 am

Thank you Buffy! David Opie did a wonderful job on this character – made him larger-than-life!

Shelley Kinder link

11/16/2018 09:19:51 am

This looks really adorable! Congratulations!

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 09:45:52 am

Thanks so much Shelley! I'm glad you think so!

Carrie Finison

11/16/2018 09:59:32 am

It looks absolutely wonderful, BJ! You must be thrilled! I'm so happy for you. :-)

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 11:30:55 am

Thanks so much Carrie! It's been a long time coming

Jill Proctor

11/16/2018 10:14:29 am

Yay, B.J.! Can't wait to get my hands on a copy. The artwork is absolutely wonderful, to match your wonderful story! Congrats!

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 11:31:39 am

Thank you Jill! I agree, the artwork is stunning! Thanks again

Barb Heersink

11/16/2018 10:41:22 am

Bev, this is so awesome. I'm happy for you and you are one of my favorite poets. Where and when will I be able to buy this?

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 11:33:42 am

Thanks much Barb! I'm so glad you like my work! This is available for preorder now and will be officially launched on February 15, 2019. There are links at the bottom of my post for the preorder or you can simply look it up on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or IndieBound. Also, ask for it at your local store!

Jan/Bookseedstudio link

11/16/2018 11:05:22 am

So expressive a gator, you are right, dear B.J.
I wish I had written this as a Florida gal, but since I didn't, I'm glad you not only created the cumulative rhyme but you also brought it home with a spiffy contract. Now, inquiring minds wonder - what might have been the one food item too far, that got the fatty in trouble?
Will be a fun reveal when we hold this charmer in our hands.

And more Joy to your Thanksgiving World next week, too.

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 11:36:30 am

Ha! I like how you call him a "fatty!" Laugh out loud! He truly is a fatty and gets fatter as the book goes on. I will not reveal what puts them over the limit.... Thank you Jan! I'm not a Florida native and when I moved down here 20 years ago, I was amazed to actually see gators in our lakes and ponds. I always found them larger-than-life and just had to write about one special gator!

Antoinette de Alteriis link

11/16/2018 01:30:15 pm

B.J., we are so excited to be a part of this journey with you and LOVE the book! What a great cover reveal!

BJ Lee

11/16/2018 01:51:04 pm

Thank you Antoinette! Pelican has been and continues to be amazing!

Michelle Kogan link

11/16/2018 04:16:59 pm

How exciting BJ many congratulations to you and David (I'm familiar with his art) Looks like your story and his art were wed well–looking forward to viewing more of your debut book!

BJ Lee

11/17/2018 09:22:32 am

Thank you Michelle! I'm glad to hear that you heard of David. Pelican could not have made a better match!

Kay McGriff

11/16/2018 05:34:24 pm

Congratulations! This looks like a fun book to read. I love the expressions on that gator's face--adorable.

BJ Lee

11/17/2018 09:23:20 am

Thank you Kay! I'm glad it looks like fun. I hope kids concur!

Carol Wilcox link

11/16/2018 08:17:21 pm

Congratulations! I have a whole collection of "There was an old woman…" books. Can't wait to add this one!

BJ Lee

11/17/2018 09:24:14 am

Hi Carol! I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has a whole collection of these books! Thank you for stopping by!

Julie Abery link

11/20/2018 07:28:19 am

I LOVE books you can sing! This is a MUST for my collection on sing-able books! Congratulations, it looks so cute!

BJ Lee

11/20/2018 08:10:13 am

Thank you Julie! Check out Burl Ives singing There was an old lady who swallowed a fly on YouTube. I worked out the courts from that song. Enjoy!

Laura Shovan link

11/22/2018 06:15:46 am

BJ -- CONGRATULATIONS! I am so excited for you and to share this book with my niece and nephews (who visit their grands in Florida and have spotted their share of gators). The artwork is wonderful. You must be over the moon.

1/13/2019 01:01:02 pm

Thanks so much Laura! I appreciate that! I am over the moon

Author

B. J. Lee is a children’s author and poet. Her picture book, There Was an Old Gator Who Swallowed a Moth, is launching with Pelican Publishing on February 15, 2019. She has poems in 25 poetry anthologies published by Little, Brown, Wordsong, BloomsburyUK, National Geographic, Otter-Barry Books, Pomelo Books, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has worked with anthologists Lee Bennett Hopkins, J. Patrick Lewis and Kenn Nesbitt. She has written poems for such children’s magazines as Spider, Highlights and The School Magazine. Follow her on Twitter @bjlee_writer.

Poets' Garage website

Includes my poem "Skateboard Girl"

Includes my poem "The Red Crabs of Christmas Island"

Coming in 2018 National Geographic's book of US: 200 Poems of People, Places, and Passions (edited by J. Patrick Lewis.)
Will include my poem, "Groundhognostication"