MATT PHELAN
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The Latest!

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BIG CHANGES
​FOR PLUM!

Releases Date: 1/28/2025

When the Athensville Zoo closes for renovations, it means big changes for Plum and all his animal friends. The fifth and final book in award-winning author Matt Phelan’s series about a young peacock whose adventures are funny, hopeful, and always kindhearted.

​A hilarious and highly illustrated novel perfect for reluctant readers and animal lovers everywhere.








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PLUM TO THE RESCUE!
It’s baby animal season at the Athensville Zoo! Is Plum responsible enough to watch over five exuberant peachicks? From award-winning author-artist Matt Phelan—creator of Knights vs. Dinosaurs--Plum to the Rescue! is the fourth book about a young peacock whose adventures are funny, hopeful, and always kindhearted. A hilarious and highly illustrated novel perfect for reluctant readers and animal lovers everywhere.

A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION
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TROUBLE FINDS PLUM!

​“A peacock’s kindheartedness and cleverness prove immune to cynicism…Expert plot and character development takes this latest in the series up a notch.” - Kirkus

When raccoons invade the Athensville Zoo, it’s up to Plum and his friends
to save their beloved home!


​A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION
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A SNOW DAY FOR PLUM!

“Lively fun with animal friends.”--Kirkus Reviews
The animals of the Athensville Zoo are thrilled to be visiting a local school to star in a presentation—everyone except for a very nervous peacock named Plum. And then an unexpected blizzard strands the animals at the elementary school overnight—yikes! From award-winning author Matt Phelan, creator of Knights vs. Dinosaurs and its two sequels, this companion to Leave It to Plum! is a highly illustrated young middle grade novel perfect for reluctant readers and animal lovers everywhere. 

A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION
GOLDEN KITE NOMINEE: BEST MIDDLE GRADE FICTION
SID FLEISCHMAN AWARD FOR HUMOR FINALIST




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Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2022 List
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2022 List
Washington Post Best Children's Books of 2022 List
Booklist Editors' Choice 2022
Evanston Library 101 Great Books of 2022 List

A Junior Library Guild Selection
An Amazon Editor's Pick

"Without breaking a sweat, Phelan spins an intoxicating yarn featuring secret societies, swordplay and spycraft... The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck isn’t quite a graphic novel, nor is it a straight-up illustrated book; it’s neither fish nor fowl. It is, however, sheep and fowl, and it will be hard for young readers to put down."
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​– New York Times Review of Books
"The whole enterprise is incredibly creative and equally silly, mixing historical figures and locations with offbeat humor and adventure... A little bit of history, a touch of mystery, and heaps of fun."
​– Booklist (STAR)
"A grand, giddy, and, at times, literally soaring tale."
– Kirkus Review (STAR)
"...Phelan offers a delightful historical re-imagining, centering animals as spies... this amusing, fast-paced tale of land, sky, and spies will easily draw in reluctant readers."
– Publishers Weekly (STAR)
The first living creatures ever to ride in a hot-air balloon were a sheep, a rooster, and a duck. But not just any sheep, rooster, or duck. These extraordinary farm animals have been secretly keeping the world safe for years. And now they face their greatest challenge: a plot involving a dastardly villain, sinister secret societies, Benjamin Franklin, the world's first heat ray, and a mild-mannered ten-year-old named Emile. Poor Emile. He has no idea what he's gotten into.

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"True to his mission, Plum does indeed delight in this beginning chapter book, and the straightforward, concise storyline is both accessible and goofy, with a cast of amusingly quirky characters and a surprising amount of emotional weight... this will be an instant hit with kids who like to root for the underdog (cat? bird?)"
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– Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A bighearted peacock with boundless cheer stars in this lively zoo caper... With occasional grayscale art presented alongside amusingly self-important, cinematically rendered characters, Phelan offers winning animalian antics for chapter book beginners."
– Publishers Weekly 
"A buoyant tale for younger middle grade readers, with a mild dose of danger for spice and an extroverted protagonist on a mission to “mingle, guide, delight.”
​– School Library Journal

An Amazon Editor's Pick!

A Texas Bluebonnet Award Finalist!

A Junior Library Guild Selection!

A Cybils Award Nominee!



​With short chapters and energetic black-and-white illustrations, award-winning author Matt Phelan’s Leave It to Plum! is a highly illustrated young middle grade novel full of warmth and humor. The first hilarious story in a duology about a young peacock with a big heart, a small mammal with a big ego, and the busy zoo they both live in as a must-have for fans of the Princess in Black and Mercy Watson series.

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Acclaimed author-artist Matt Phelan's rhythmic, repetitive text and his warm, expressive watercolor paintings are both humorous and rewarding. Brimming with laughter and love from this large bear family, Sweater Weather is an irresistible choice to curl up with during storytime, no matter what the weather is.
"Wrangling seven small bears into sweaters is no easy feat, and the gloriously chaotic effort goes on for several pages, punctuated by brief, lively speech bubbles (the book’s only text, and all it needs)... This tribute to the realities of parenting small children (and bears) revels in the humor and joy that can be found when the best-laid plans go awry."
– Horn Book (STAR)
An Amazon Editor's Pick!

Picture Books

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 "Phelan creates instantly likeable characters and a story that centers parenting seasoned enough to realize that setbacks are inevitable—and that makes space to enjoy the day, and beauty of nature, anyway."
– Publishers Weekly (STAR)
"It’s every memorable family trip in a nutshell, filled with moments of tedium, thrills, and, best of all, togetherness."
– Publishers Weekly (STAR)
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TURTLE WALK 
by Matt Phelan
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins


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"This warm, nearly wordless story is a nice choice for young listeners and early readers, who will bask in the light of this sparkling celebration of togetherness, goodwill, and the great outdoors... A seemingly effortless story replete with gentle humor and examples of resilience, helpfulness, and flexibility."
– Kirkus Review
PIGNIC
by Matt Phelan
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins
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"How much fun can be packed into a rainy day? Lots, if you’re like this energetic daughter-daddy duo... Keep this for any day, not just a rainy one."
– Kirkus Review

Chapter Books

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"If there's such a thing as catnip for kids, Phelan's produced it with this illustrated novel... Absurdly entertaining.""
– Booklist (STAR)

"Glorious mashing and bashing."
– Kirkus Review (STAR)

"Suspenseful and silly."
– School Library Journal (STAR)
KNIGHTS VS. DINOSAURS
by Matt Phelan
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins
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"Young heroes both male and female rout many excellent
​monsters—what's not to like?"

– Kirkus Review
KNIGHTS VS. MONSTERS
by Matt Phelan
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins
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With art on nearly every page, including an epic fight scene
depicted in several graphic-novel–style spreads, this engaging
story is ideal for reluctant readers, aspiring knights, and
action-adventure fans. Camelot may never be the same
​after these heroes come to the rescue!
KNIGHTS VS. THE END (OF EVERYTHING)
by Matt Phelan
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins

Graphic Novels

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"Phelan turns every panel of this masterpiece into a...
window into another era, capturing and unmistakable sense of time and place."

– Booklist (STAR)

"A complex but accessible and fascinating book."
– School Library Journal (STAR)

"Simply stunning."
– Horn Book (STAR)

Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

  • An American Library Association Great Graphic Novel for Teens
  • An American Library Association Notable Children's Book
  • A Horn Book Fanfare Selection
  • A Booklist Editors' Choice and Top of the List Title
  • A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of the Year
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"With uncommon perception and a flair for visual drama, Phelan tracks three intrepid souls’ solo journeys around the world... Three true tales of adventure as grand and admirable in the telling as they were in the doing."
​– Kirkus Review (STAR)

Nominated for two Will Eisner Comics Industry awards

Winner of the Carolyn Field Award from the Pennsylvania Library Association 

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"A wonderfully evocative story."
– Wall Street Journal

"Thrilling."
–Kirkus Review (STAR)

"Rich and engaging."
– School Library Journal

Nominated for three Will Eisner Comics Industry awards including Best Writer/Artist and Best Graphic Album

Winner of the Jefferson Cup from the Virginia Library Association
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"Phelan has a cinematographer's gift for telling emotional stories without words."
– The New York Times Book Review

"Spectacular."
– Publishers Weekly (STAR)

"Stunning."
– School Library Journal (STAR)

"Brilliant."
– Kirkus Review (STAR)

A New York Times Bestseller

Winner of the Carolyn Field Award from the Pennsylvania Library Association


Publishers Weekly BEST BOOKS OF 2016

School Library Journal TEN BEST GRAPHIC NOVELS OF 2016

​NYPL 100 BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS 2016

Wall Street Journal's Ten Best Children's Books of 2016



Short Stories

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​"Hoover's One Term"
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This short comic explores President Hoover's historic non-action at the start of the Great Depression.

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​ "Jargo"
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Why does the front half of the new Jargo act never remove his giraffe mask? Some secrets might be best left alone.
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 "Think About What You've Done!"
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Doodling can lead to a lot of trouble.

Illustrated By...

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YOU ARE MY FRIEND
The Story of Mister Rogers and His Neighborhood
​by Aimee Reid
Abrams Books


"A beautifully crafted, heartfelt picture-book biography."   — Booklist

"A simply written, thoughtful tribute worthy of the
incomparable Mister Rogers."  — Kirkus Reviews

"A graceful, quietly moving biography."    
— Publishers Weekly

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A KITE FOR MOON
​by Jane Yolen & Heidi E. Y. Stemple 
ZonderKidz/HarperCollins

​Book of Year Award, 2019 Northern Lights Awards

"Smooth pacing and narrative clarity combine with an evocative presentation to make this a first choice to celebrate the 50th anniversary of America's moon landing." (School Library Journal)


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LITTLE ROBOT ALONE
​by Patricia MacLachlan & Emily MacLachlan Charest
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

"Phelan’s gauzy, sunny watercolor-and-pencil drawings set a cheery, energetic mood, and ingenious Little Robot is instantly winning—surprisingly expressive, sweet but never cloying, and in service to a higher and very relatable purpose." (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, starred review)

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​IF WENDELL HAD A WALRUS by Lori Mortensen 
Henry Holt

A “stupendiferous, cosmically colossal” good time for all.
(KIRKUS REVIEWS)

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WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
By Scott Menchin
Illustrated by Matt Phelan
Macmillan/Neal Porter Books

"A quiet, thoughtfully designed picture book with a strong message." (Kirkus Reviews)
"The brisk, sketchy quality of Phelan’s (Marilyn’s Monster) pencil and pastel artwork mirrors the zippiness of the animals’ exchanges, and the answer to the riddle, revealed only after the sun has set, makes the case that some things are worth waiting all day for." (Publishers Weekly)



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MARILYN'S MONSTER
By Michele Knudsen
Illustrated by Matt Phelan
Candlewick Press

Some of the kids in Marilyn’s class have monsters. Marilyn doesn’t have hers yet, but she can’t just go out and look for one. Your monster has to find you. That’s just the way it works. Marilyn tries to be patient and the kind of girl no monster can resist, but her monster doesn’t come. Could she go out and search for him herself? Even if that’s not the way it works? From favorite picture-book creators Michelle Knudsen and Matt Phelan comes a story about one little girl and the perfect monster she knows is out there . . . and what happens when she decides ​she’s waited long enough.

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Miss Emily
by Burleigh Mutén
Illustrated by Matt Phelan
Candlewick Press

When an invitation to join Miss Emily in the garden appears, Mattie, Ned, Sally, and Mac know they're in for some fun because Miss Emily — Emily Dickinson to the rest of us — always has a surprise in store for her young friends. And today's may be the biggest adventure yet.
Teacher's Guide Available!

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​XANDER'S PANDA PARTY
by Linda Sue Park
​Illustrated by MattPhelan
Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Xander wants to throw a panda party at the zoo but
there's just one problem. He's the only panda. What to do?

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​I'LL BE THERE
by Ann Stott
​Illustrated by MattPhelan
Candlewick Press

The mother and son from Always are back but the boy is a few years older now.
He can do many things on his own now but... it's good to know that your mom
will be around if you need her.

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FLORA'S VERY WINDY DAY
by Jeanne Birdsall
Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

When Flora and her pesky little brother, Crispin, are whisked away by a swirling and swooping wind, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to give her brother away. With tempting offers from a dragonfly, the man in the moon, and even the wind itself, she will find it difficult to choose. But Flora would do anything to get rid of Crispin, wouldn’t she?  

"This gem of a book will resonate with older siblings everywhere." (
School Library Journal)

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Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook
by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter
Roaring Brook

The authors mix inspirational anecdotes with practical guidance on how to find a voice, develop characters and plot,
make revisions, and overcome writer’s block. Fun writing prompts will help young writers jump-start their own projects, and encouragement throughout will keep them at work.



I can't recommend this book enough for young writers.

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Two of a Kind
by Jacqui Robbins
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster


Meet Kayla and Melanie—two of a kind and official first-grade mean girls. This is a new kind of playground bullying. These girls tease, whisper, and get their way all of the time, even when that means turning one friend against another. Anna is too smart to fall for their charms. . . . Well, almost. The allure of the in crowd is strong. But after an early falter, Anna discovers she’s stronger when she stands up for herself and for her friend Julisa. This book is modern, multicultural, and has a message worth sharing— the perfect book to read to a classroom, to a daughter . . . or to a bully!

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LUCKY BREAKS
by Susan Patron
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster


On the eve of her eleventh birthday, Lucky wants to let loose and become intrepid; she's ready for life to change. But Hard Pan (population 43) drones on like it always has: Lincoln all tied up in knotty matters, Miles newly diagnosed as a genius but as needy as ever, Brigitte running her Café and trying to figure out what it means to be American. 

Lucky's intrepidness is put to the test in this satisfying sequel to the Newbery Award-winning
The Higher Power of Lucky.

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ALWAYS
by Ann Stott
Candlewick Press

As he goes through a day, a child asks his mother for reassurance with a series of questions. Does she love him when he's gentle? Does she love him when he's not? Does she love him when he jumps in puddles wearing his new sneakers? Simple, charming, and disarming, Ann Stott's story will resonate with little listeners and adults alike. Matt Phelan's funny, poignant drawings capture the child's behavior, both good and bad, and the mother's unconditional love.

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BIG GEORGE: HOW A SHY BOY BECAME PRESIDENT WASHINGTON
by Anne Rockwell
Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Before he was the face on the dollar bill, George Washington was a shy boy with a hot temper. But George had character and adaptability. He taught himself courage and self-control. At an early age, and without really realizing it, George Washington gathered the qualities he’d need to become one of the greatest leaders America has ever known.


Anne Rockwell’s prose is dignified, Matt Phelan’s illustrations are striking, and the details they reveal about George Washington’s early days are fascinating, sometimes tragic, and always moving.

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WHERE I LIVE
by Eileen Spinelli
Dial/Penguin


Diana loves where she lives. She loves the astronomy charts on her walls and the fact that she can wave to her best friend, Rose, from her very own window. And best of all, a wren has recently made its home right by her front door! When her family is forced to move, Diana wonders if she?ll ever find that same grounded and happy feeling again.This gentle and ultimately redeeming story in poems is about those secure and fulfilling friendships that happen naturally and easily when you live right next door, and the struggles of losing the comfort of a familiar place. Matt Phelan's warm and expressive illustrations perfectly complement Eileen Spinelli's tenderhearted and unique tale that reminds us that sometimes a little uprooting and change is necessary for growth.



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VERY HAIRY BEAR
by Alice Schertle
Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

A year in the life of an endearing, hairy bear who spends his days fishing for salmon in the spring and enjoying the sweet tastes of honey and berries in the summer. But when winter comes, his very chilly, not-so-hairy nose is the only thing that stands in the way of a really great nap.

This cozy companion for naptime or bedtime is also a great way to introduce little ones to the four seasons!


 

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A BOX FULL OF KITTENS
by Sonia Manzano
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster


Ruthie loves Superman. Ruthie wants to be Superman. 
And when Ruthie is asked to go spend the afternoon with her aunt, who is about to have a baby any day day now and may need some help., Ruthie seizes the opportunity. It could be her chance to be a hero, should the baby come while she's visiting! But when Ruthie is out fetching a snack for her aunt, she gets so distracted by a box full of kittens in the bodega that she doesn't hear her aunt calling for her. When she realizes what's happened, she's devastated -- she's missed her one chance to be a hero! Or has she? 

Sonia Manzano, best known as "Maria" on Sesame Street, once again captures the warmth, love, and adventures of her childhood Bronx neighborhood.

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FLORIDIUS BLOOM AND THE PLANET OF GLOOM
by Lorijo Metz
Dial/Penguin


Floridius Bloom has found a source of light on his planet of Gloom and he’s not sharing it with anyone. He’s even built a wall so that no one else can see it! Of course, Floridius is convinced that he needs it for his prize cherriflox to blossom. Not to mention the fact that he’s afraid of the monsters and the wigglyfluffs that lie beyond his wall. But when Floridius meets a curious creature named Zrill who invites him to come out from his self-imposed isolation, Floridius begins to understand that beauty is a thing to be shared . . . and friendship can supply its own kind of light.

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THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY
by Susan Patron
Richard Jackson/Simon & Schuster
Winner of the Newbery Medal

Lucky, age ten, can’t wait another day. The meanness gland in her heart and the crevices full of questions in her brain make running away from Hard Pan, California (population 43), the rock-bottom only choice she has.




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ROSA FARM
by Liz Wu
Knopf/Random House


Gallileon, a young rooster, has to crow to the sun on Sunday morning when his father is sent to compete at the county fair. After a few starts and stops, Gallileon manages to wake up the sun and the rest of the farm, but when the geese decide to play a mean trick on him, the sun disappears at high noon. Where did it go? Can Gallileon's irrepressible little sister Pepina save her brother from the ultimate humiliation?

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THE NEW GIRL... AND ME
by Jacqui Robbins
Richard Jackson/Simon & Schuster

"When the new girl, Shakeeta, introduces herself by telling the class, "I have an iguana," Mia is intrigued. Even so, her shyness holds her back from making overtures; later, though, when a bully bars both Shakeeta and Mia from playing soccer, the pair strike up a conversation about iguanas and the girls become fast friends. Phelan's artwork breathes energy ... populating the multicultural classroom with children who are masterpieces of button noses, play-rumpled grooming, and spot-on body language. Though it's not the point of the book, the girls' interracial friendship (Mia is white; Shakeeta, African American) is a plus." (Booklist, starred review)

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THE SEVEN WONDERS OF SASSAFRAS SPRINGS
by Betty G. Birney
Atheneum/Simon & Schuster


Life in Sassafras Springs has always been predictable, boring even, but one afternoon that changes when Eben McAllister's pa challenges him to find Seven Wonders in Sassafras that rival the real Seven Wonders of the World. The reward? An adventure that Eben's been craving -- a trip to Colorado. 

Even doesn't think he'll have any luck -- he can't think of one single thing that could be considered wondrous in Sassafras -- but he's willing to try. Little does he know that the Wonders he'll discover among his neighbors, friends, relatives, and family will give him the adventure of a lifetime...without ever leaving his home.

Find my books at your local bookstore... or try the links below!

Bookshop
Amazon
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Photography by Erin Ingraffia
  • About
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  • BOOKS
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