Author & Illustrator Profile
Susan L. Roth
17 Books
Susan L. Roth is a highly acclaimed author and illustrator of more than fifty children's books, widely recognized for her distinctive and vibrant mixed-media collage style. Her extensive body of work includes beautiful picture books and award-winning nonfiction, such as Do Re Mi and the New York Times bestseller Listen to the Wind. Through her incredibly unique paper artistry and thoughtful storytelling, she brings fascinating global history and heartfelt narratives to life. Her visually stunning books inspire curiosity and an appreciation for diverse cultures.
Pictures by
Susan L. Roth
The menorah is ready to be lit, and a lovable family of mice is preparing for a joyous holiday party. It is time to celebrate the beautiful eight days of Hanukkah with friends, family, and plenty of festive cheer. Join the tiny mice as they honor the festival of lights by joyfully dancing the hora together and spinning their favorite wooden dreidels. The celebration gets even better when everyone sits down to enjoy a delicious feast of crispy, warm latkes. This colorful and musical story captures the bright spirit of the holiday season through stunning cut paper collages. The book even includes the musical score at the very end so that you can sing the classic, cheerful Hanukkah song right along with the mice. It is a wonderful way to experience the traditions and happiness of this luminous winter festival.
6-8 Years
24 Pages
A long time ago, the entire world was wrapped in total darkness. The animals could not see where they were going or what they were doing, and they knew something had to change. They decided to send three brave animals, one by one, on a daring mission to snatch a tiny piece of the brilliant sun and carry it back to their dark home. Based on an ancient Cherokee myth, this powerful Native American folktale reveals exactly how the animals worked together to finally bring light into their world. Told with soft, rhythmic words and illustrated in bold, dramatic colors of black and bright yellow, this timeless legend pulls you right into the heart of the action. You will be captivated by the courage of the animal messengers as they face the impossible task of capturing the sun.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
What does an award winning book creator have in common with a small black bird from the forests of Australia? It turns out they are truly birds of a feather. While artist Susan L Roth carefully snips and layers colorful paper to build brilliant collages, the remarkable bowerbird gathers natural treasures to build intricate, eye catching structures called bowers. Both the artist and the bird pull their brilliant ideas from the world around them, relying on found objects to make something completely new. Neither creates the exact same masterpiece twice, and both use bright colors to attract an audience. This visually delightful journey compares the art that humans create in a studio with the incredible art found right in nature. You will be amazed as you explore the dazzling artwork and discover how creativity connects us all to the animal kingdom.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
34 Pages
Two little mice are back to celebrate the changing seasons and the special feelings they share throughout the year. Their love is warmer than a thick snowsuit in the freezing month of January, sweeter than heart shaped treats in February, and gentler than a newborn lamb in the breezy days of March. As the weather shifts from snowy winters to bright summer days, these two friends discover something unique to appreciate in every single month. This warm and cozy journey is beautifully illustrated with vibrant cut paper collages that capture the magic of the changing calendar. You will love following the tiny mice on their cheerful adventure as they learn about the months of the year, showing that no matter what the season brings, caring for someone special is a feeling that lasts all year round.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
How do two tiny mice measure a feeling as enormous as love? They look to the biggest animals they can find. Two little mice take a quiet walk together and discover that their love is bigger than one bear, taller than two giraffes, and larger than three giant blue whales. As they journey through the wild and count all the way from one to ten, these sweet mice learn that what they share is greater than anything they can possibly imagine. This cozy and reassuring counting story introduces numbers through bright, cheerful collage illustrations that bring the massive animals to life. You will enjoy a heartwarming adventure that proves love comes in all sizes, offering a lovely surprise on every page as the animals get bigger and the numbers grow higher.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
A terrible, fire breathing dragon has invaded the peaceful French village of Tarascon, and it is causing absolute chaos. The ferocious beast gobbles up the local farm animals and completely terrifies the mayor, leaving the villagers desperate for a hero. Just when all hope seems lost, a mysterious young stranger named Martha arrives in town. She is known for being both strong and brave, but the giant monster is unlike anything the village has ever seen. Can one young girl possibly be mighty enough to tame a wild, hungry dragon? Based on an ancient and thrilling legend, this lively folktale brings Saint Marthas heroic deeds to life through incredibly bright and colorful collage art. You will be on the edge of your seat as you follow Martha on a daring adventure to protect the village and show the fierce dragon who is truly boss.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
A busy little gerbil named Cinnamon decides that today is the perfect day for a massive adventure. One bright morning, Cinnamon chews his way out of his cage and steps into the giant, exciting world of the house outside. Setting off to explore, this brave pet descends a towering mountain, wanders through a bustling city, bravely faces a fierce wolf, and even catches a thrilling ride on a train. Through bright and colorful collages, you get to see the entire house entirely from a tiny gerbils point of view. A soft rug transforms into a vast meadow, and the family cat becomes a hungry tiger prowling the jungle. You will have a wonderful time trying to spot the everyday household objects that make up Cinnamons giant sized journey before he safely returns to his cozy home.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Once upon a time in the Dreamtime, the biggest frog in all of Australia woke up with a terrible thirst. He was so incredibly thirsty that he gulped down all the water from the oceans, lakes, rivers, puddles, and even the clouds in the sky. With the earth completely parched, all the other animals are left without a single drop to drink. A wise old wombat comes up with a clever plan. They just need to make the giant frog laugh so hard that the water spills right back out of his mouth. The kookaburra tells his funniest jokes, the kangaroo performs wild acrobatics, and the koala waddles as ridiculously as possible. Will any of their silly tricks work? Dive into this hilarious retelling of a classic Australian folktale to find out if the animals can bring the water back to their home.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
Moving to a brand new place is never easy, especially when you are a dog leaving your home in Baltimore for the busy, loud streets of New York City. Pepper feels completely overwhelmed and homesick in the giant metropolis. Everything is different, and nothing feels right. That changes when Pepper bumps into a friendly neighborhood dog who knows exactly how to navigate the concrete jungle. This savvy new friend takes Pepper on a grand tour to prove that the biggest city in the world is also the greatest playground a dog could ever want. From exciting new smells to fascinating sights, Pepper discovers that New York is packed with wonderful surprises. You will love following along on this big city adventure to see how a little friendship can make an unfamiliar town feel just like home.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
384 Pages
High above the bustling streets of New York City, a young ironworker apprentice named Kristen is busy helping her team build the tallest skyscrapers in town. Step right onto a real construction site and spend a unique day in the life of a hardworking apprentice who keeps the crew running smoothly. Kristen has the important job of bringing the construction workers their snacks and supplies, and she learns exactly what tools they need and how they use them to build massive towers. As you follow Kristen around the busy hard hat area, you will discover the incredible teamwork required to construct a giant building. The story comes to life with fascinating real world materials, labels, and photographs mixed into stunning collage art. It is an eye popping and educational journey that shows you exactly what it takes to work in the sky.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
In the small village of Hargigo, located in the African country of Eritrea, the people struggled for a long time to find enough food. Families were terribly hungry, and their sheep and goats had nothing to eat. Everything seemed hopeless until a brilliant scientist named Dr Gordon Sato arrived with an idea that would change their lives forever. He realized that planting a special kind of forest right by the sea could save the entire community. By planting mangrove trees, he helped reshape the local ecosystem and provided a steady source of food for both the animals and the people. This fascinating story celebrates how creativity, hard work, and science can completely transform a village. You will be inspired by this true tale of environmental innovation, showing exactly how one dedicated person really can make a massive difference in the world.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
Long ago, songs were only kept in memory, and if a melody was forgotten, it was lost forever. Guido d Arezzo, a young man living in Tuscany, refuses to let beautiful music vanish into the past. He dreams of a way to capture songs on paper and imagines a brilliant system of lines and spaces that can act as a written language for musicians everywhere. Despite the challenges, Guido is determined to make his innovative ideas work. His dedication and creativity completely change the way the world shares and preserves melodies. This inspirational story reveals how one determined person created the system of musical notes that allows songs to last for all of history. You will be captivated by this colorful journey into the past, discovering exactly how the music you love today was saved by a clever young inventor.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
45 Pages
The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea
Stumbling through the remote Himalayan mountains, a lost and exhausted climber named Greg Mortenson desperately needs help after a failed attempt to climb a massive peak. The kind villagers of Korphe rescue him, taking him in and saving his life when he has nowhere else to turn. Deeply moved by their warmth and generosity, Greg makes a powerful promise to return and build a real school for the children of the village. Told directly through the voices of the village children, this incredible true story shows how one persons gratitude can change thousands of lives. You will travel to a distant and beautiful part of the world through gorgeous collage art, witnessing a remarkable tale of humanity, culture, and the life changing magic of keeping a very big promise.
6-8 Years
High above the beautiful treetops of Puerto Rico, a brilliant flock of green parrots soars through the sky. For millions of years, these vibrant birds thrived on their island home, until habitat destruction and rapid development pushed them dangerously close to vanishing forever. By the 1960s, the once abundant Puerto Rican parrots were nearly extinct. Step into the inspiring true story of the dedicated scientists who launched the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program to save these magnificent birds. As you follow the tireless efforts of conservationists working to protect the flock, you will also uncover the fascinating history of Puerto Rico itself, stretching from its earliest human settlers all the way to modern times. With striking collage artwork and engaging facts, this award winning journey shows you exactly how hard work and science can help a nearly lost species fly freely once again.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
48 Pages
For thousands of years, an ocean of green and gold grasses covered North America, providing a perfect home for huge bison and tiny, barking prairie dogs. But as farming and ranching took over the land in the nineteenth century, the vast prairies slowly disappeared, taking many of the native plants and animals with them. Then, in the late 1980s, an amazing discovery was made in northern Mexico. Scientists found a thriving patch of grassland where prairie dogs still barked and played. Realizing how deeply the prairie dogs helped the entire ecosystem survive, the scientists set out on an urgent mission to protect this land and bring the vanished animals back. Through a catchy cumulative song and fascinating facts, you will discover the power of nature and meet the dedicated people fighting to keep the beautiful North American grasslands healthy and alive.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
Deep in the lush forests of Hawaii flutters the spectacular Kamehameha butterfly, a brilliant insect that lives on these islands and absolutely nowhere else on Earth. Named in honor of the great warrior king who united the Hawaiian Islands, it is one of only two butterfly species completely native to the area. Thanks to a group of clever fifth graders, it even became the official state insect. But recently, people began to notice that the majestic butterflies were slowly disappearing. Enter a dedicated team of professional and citizen scientists who refused to let this beautiful creature vanish. You will learn all about the rich history of Hawaii and the inspiring efforts of the Pulelehua Project to restore the butterflys natural habitat. Dive into this captivating nature adventure and discover how everyday citizens are working together to help a royal butterfly survive and thrive.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
48 Pages
The Story of Dr. Greg and Stones into Schools
Step into the shoes of Farzana, a young girl from Pakistan, as she shares a beautiful and true story about the power of using your voice. When a terrible earthquake destroys schools in her country, many children have nowhere to learn. But hope is not lost. Across the world, children in America hear about what happened and decide to help.
Together with Dr. Greg, kids from thousands of miles apart work to rebuild the classrooms, adding new desks and playgrounds. This touching story shows how children from different parts of the world can team up to do amazing things. It proves that no matter how small you are, your voice can make a massive difference and bring a community back to life.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
40 Pages
