Thanks for stopping by. Below are my new books with others on the way. Be sure to check out my illustration portfolio, too. I love to share my work with wide variety of audiences and can be hired for school visits, teaching artist workshops, or custom mural projects.
MY new picture books:
Wonder of the Woods
Exciting news! Signed copies are available through The Writer’s Block independent bookstore in Las Vegas, NV. Use the link below to pre-order a copy before September 15th.
Pre-Order Now!
Launching September 17, 2024
A young girl explores the wooded area near her home and encounters a variety of animals that are curious about their new visitor. Tails twitch, bodies ripple, and leaves drift. They watch each other from a safe distance. Could the Wonder of the Woods be YOU?
Wonders abound as you explore nature in this lyrical picture book about curiosity and harmony, by author-illustrator Bonnie Kelso.
Published by The Little Press and One Little Earth.
Available Now!
Sea Smiles
When an otherwise harmless apple becomes the instrument for losing a tooth, a young girl is ready to retire her smile. That is… until she discovers teeth can give us all a lot to smile about.
This humorous, informative story is sure to be a hit with any kid who has lost a tooth, is about to, or just loves learning cool and fascinating facts about animals with weird teeth in the sea! Take a look inside the mouth of a Wolffish, penguin, sea krait and more. Then count up those teeth, and prepare to be surprised. One of these smiley sea animals has over 750,000 “teeth” – and it won’t be the one you’re expecting!
Published by Gnome Road Publishing. February 20, 2024.
QUAIL TRAIL
Pre-Order Now!
Launching November 5, 2024
Roxie is an independent-thinking quail chick who just has to find out what’s over that hill! Topknot is her bossy troop leader who pecks the fun out of adventures with all her silly rules. When Roxie takes her own path, gets lost along the quail trail and can’t remember the special call that will reunite her with her brood, she learns the hard way that a little listening can go a long way. Quail Trail is a funny, informational fiction picture book that will engage even the most reluctant reader. Parents and teachers will appreciate the gentle messaging regarding the importance of listening, self-awareness, and making good choices.
Published by Muddy Boots.
Available Now!
In A Cave
Written by Heather Ferranti Kinser
Illustrations by Bonnie Kelso
Work up an appetite for cave popcorn as you journey into a subterranean world filled with dazzling cave formations and cave-dwelling creatures!
Join two young explorers and their trusted guide as they head off on a wonder-filled underground adventure. Slip through crevices, creep through passageways, and stop to admire the beauty of a fascinating ecosystem. From stalactites and stalagmites, to dripstone, shelfstone, and pearls – there is something to discover at every turn. Troglobites, glow worms, spiders, and bats make your acquaintance before your return to the light and familiarity of places above.
With a lyrical, rhyming text, and illustrations that illuminate and bring warmth to an otherwise dark and damp environment, IN A CAVE is sure to please science and nature lovers of all ages.
Published by Gnome Road Publishing. October 3, 2023.
NuDi Gill: Poison Powerhouse of the Sea
Meet Gill, a flashy nudibranch (noo-de-brank) living a fierce and fascinating life in the ocean without a shell and completely… NAKED!
When a curious young snorkeler stumbles upon Gill, she learns there is more than meets the eye when it comes to her sassy new friend. This soft-bodied mollusk is anything but vulnerable, turning a diet of dangerous ocean creatures into a poisonous sting of its own.
Found in unique shapes and colors in every ocean throughout the world, Gill and his diverse family of nudibranchs serve as a reminder that being small doesn’t mean you can’t have it all!
Published by Gnome Road Publishing. April 4, 2023.
LEARN MORE…
Nudi Gill Pin-Ups!
The Coloring Book
Nifty Nudibranchs and Other Sassy Sea Slugs
This coloring book is the perfect companion to the picture book NUDI GILL: Poison Powerhouse of the Sea, written and illustrated by Bonnie Kelso and published by Gnome Road Publishing. Gill, the star or NUDI GILL, shares information about all his friends in this delightfully humorous coloring book. A fun activity book for all ages.
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COMING SOON!
Nudi Gill: The Card Game!
Check out my Crowdfundr! I’m raising money to print an educational card game all about marine mollusks to donate to schools and and other places where kids will have access to them. Each number card features a nudibranch, sea snail, bivalve, or cephalopod, as well as fascinating information about the animal and a comic. Contribute or reserve you copy today.
Author Visits
I love to visit schools, libraries and museums!
My picture book, Nudi Gill, is an informational fiction picture book for children ages 5 – 8 that explores themes of ocean recreation, wildlife and environmental stewardship.
The first fiction picture book dedicated to nudibranchs, Nudi Gill is fun, informative and entertaining. As an author illustrator and teaching artist, my programs engage children with creative projects. This is a hands-on presentation that sparks the imagination while introducing children to a fascinating marine species.
Bonnie Kelso 