Finally! Eddie Vedder was fighting this battle 34 years ago. I want a refund on all of my over priced tickets since 92’ !

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.

Yay!

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

Surf Sketch

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

Winter walking in Brooklyn.

Cover for picture book: We Leap Together by Christopher Silas Neal. A mama whale and her calf leaping out of the water while a boy and his Mom watch from the deck of a boat. New York City skyline in the background.

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

Use code DBHLAO and get 10% off all of my prints through 01/09/26.
www.inprnt.com/gallery/csne...

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

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: ...

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

Book cover OVER AND UNDER THE CORAL REEF with a brown-skinned father and son snorkeling in bright tuquoise water, with a red and yellow coral reef below, teeming with colorful fish and a small green sea turtle. Graphic is set against a darker blue background with a yellow star and bright light blue text that reads "Another triumph for two masters of picture-book nonfiction" - Kirkus starred review

⭐ 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!
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@csneal.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social

Another lettering experiment. Which color is best?

A new one for my spouse who is a dancer.

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

The engaging text and illustrations in this nonfiction picture book make it stand out as different than others in this category. The illustrations are full of bright colors, textures and movement. These illustrations, along with the rhythm and rhyme of the text, help the reader feel as if they are observing mother nature first-hand. 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. At the back of the book, you will find a helpful glossary where terms are defined in a way that will appeal to elementary aged readers. This book will grab readers’ attention and will be a treat to read aloud! ... Creep Leap Crunch: A Food Chain Story with Words by Jody Jensen Shaffer and Art by Christopher Silas Neal @csilasneal ... #jodyjensenshaffer #csilasneal #christophersilasneal #creepleapcrunch #stempicturebooks #kidlit #picturebook #schoollibrary #nonfictionpicturebook #cybilsawards #cybils2024

"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!

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!

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Nice!

Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story by Jody Jensen Shaffer, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House.

"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

Happy Book Birthday, We Leap Together!

bookshop.org/p/books/we-l...

@spanishbroom.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social