The original art and lettering for AVI's Loyalty back in 2022. We ended up making a few nips and tucks and the publisher added a different, cool type treatment but I always have a soft spot for hand lettering.
Christopher Silas Neal
@csneal.bsky.social
Author and Illustrator of picture books. https://direct.me/csneal
UNDER ONE ROOF by @mirandapaul.bsky.social & Baptiste Paul, illus by @csneal.bsky.social sheds light on ways families prepare for bed. Interview and resources, plus new collections for Poetry Month & Earth Day on Children's Book Corner. #Kidlit #EduSky #Libsky www.judybradbury.com/social-emoti...
Under One Roof - Judy Bradbury
This comforting rhyming picture book sheds light on the many ways families prepare for bed, and what we have in common as we do.
judybradbury.com
Revisiting this illustration from 2013 for John Chu’s short story (Tor Books). @johnchu.bsky.social @torbooks.bsky.social In the near future water falls from the sky whenever someone lies. This makes life difficult for Matt as he maneuvers how best to "come out" to his traditional Chinese parents.
Honored that We Leap Together is included in the ALSC 2026 list of notable children’s books. Thank you to the librarians who support this book and believe a child’s life will be enriched having read it! @randomhousekids.bsky.social @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social @wearealsc.bsky.social
Realizing that receiving a book award or getting on a list means there’s one librarian who believes in your book, thinks a child’s life will be enriched having read it, and champions your book in committees. So to the librarians who believe in my books, THANK YOU 🙏 #librarian
Thank You @bklynlibrary.bsky.social for including We Leap Together in your 2026 Mock Caldecott List 💙 discover.bklynlibrary.org?booklist=753... @randomhousekids.bsky.social @aaknopf.bsky.social
Happy Holidays everyone! For those of you still shopping for the little ones in your life, my book shop is open. Every purchase from my shop at bookshop.org financially supports independent bookstores. bookshop.org/lists/pictur...
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
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
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: ...
substack.com
⭐ 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 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
"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!
Jody Jensen Shaffer@jodywrites4kids.bsky.social · last yr.I am thrilled! THANK YOU Emporia State University for considering Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story beautifully illus @csneal.bsky.social for the 2026 Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award! What an honor! shorturl.at/GYfHD shorturl.at/94sd8 @randomhousekids.bsky.social #Nonfiction #KidLit
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
"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