Bless Our Pets

Lee Bennett Hopkins (1938-2019) was an acclaimed children's poet and anthologist. His books include I Remember (Lee & Low), America at War (Simon & Schuster), Manger, and Night Wishes (both Eerdmans). In 2011, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized Lee as the world's most prolific anthologist of poetry for children-with over 100 titles to his name. He also founded the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award and the ILA/Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award to recognize excellent writing for children. Until his death in 2019, Lee lived in Cape Coral, Florida, where he wrote many poems about animals-including Duke, his old cocker spaniel. Visit his website at leebennetthopkins.com.

Lita Judge is the illustrator and often author of many children's books, including Dogs (Abrams), Red Sled (Atheneum), The Wisdom of Trees, and Homes in the Wild (both Roaring Brook). Her books have received numerous starred reviews and have appeared on best-of-year lists from Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and the New York Public Library. Lita lives in New Hampshire, where she used her own pets-as well as friends' pets and family photos-as models for this book's art. Visit her website at litajudge.me or follow her on Instagram @litajudge.