The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Mary Boone

Mary Boone has DNA tested salmon, hung out with a boy band, and baked dozens of cricket cookies – all in the interest of research for her books and magazine articles.

Prior to becoming an author, Mary was a newspaper reporter. She lives in Tacoma, Washington, where she loves being outdoors and hanging out with her very energetic Airedale Terrier, Ruthie Bader. 

Mary’s the author of 70-plus nonfiction books for young readers, including 10 Ways to Use Less Plastic (Simple Steps to Help the Planet) (2024), Bugs for Breakfast: How Eating Insects Could Help Save the World (Chicago Review Press, 2021), Day and Night in the Savanna (2022), Day and Night on the Tundra (2022), I Can Care for Nature (2019), Let's Look at Colombia (Let's Look at Countries) (2019), and Mae Jemison: A 4D Book (STEM Scientists and Inventors) (2018).

Her newest picture book, School of Fish, releases September 5.

Welcome Mary, thank you so much for stopping by to talk about your picture book and your writing.

Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing? What is your favorite type of book to write?)

As a kid, I rode a school bus for an hour to and from school. That was plenty of time for me to conduct interviews with fellow riders; I’d go home and write articles about them. Thanks to carbon paper (yes, I’m that old!) I was able to make a handful of copies of my newsletter, which I distributed each month. So, in short, I’ve been a word nerd for a very long time. My roots are in nonfiction, and I’ve never strayed far. I love learning about things and sharing them with readers who might not otherwise ever experience them.

That sounds like a fun way to spend your time on the bus. What do you like to do outside by yourself or with your family?

I love being outdoors, especially hiking in the Pacific Northwest. I grew up on a farm in the Midwest, so I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, but there’s something about being surrounded by so much green and fresh air. It’s kind of intoxicating.

I totally agree with you. And it's not just "green," but so many different shades of green all year long. So, what was your inspiration or spark of interest for School of Fish?

I was doing a school visit about one of my previous books when the librarian started telling me about her school’s participation in the Salmon in the Classroom program. I was fascinated -- especially the way in which her school did such a great job using the program across subject areas. I went home that day and started making phone calls. Before I knew it, I was wearing waders and volunteering to help monitor salmon populations in local rivers. The more I learned, the more excited I got.

Ha! I've done numerous years of salmon monitoring citizen science projects for my PNW city, but it was always land based. As your first informational fiction picture book, how did writing School of Fish differ from your previous books? Did you still need to do research for the book?

I did tons of research for this book – partially because I really enjoyed the hands-on aspects of getting to check fish traps and attend school release parties. The folks who work in salmon conservation and education are so gracious and they were always pointing me toward another great source. That generosity plus their straight-out passion for the environment was really inspiring.

Sounds like an amazing experience. What was the toughest aspect of writing School of Fish? And what was the most fun or fascinating part?

School of Fish is my first informational fiction book. I tried to write it as a straight nonfiction book but nothing I tried was working. Each draft I wrote got drier and drier – and I knew this program was anything but boring. Finally, I decided to add a fictional narrator (based on a very real student) to guide readers through the story. I’m really happy with how it turned out.

I think you did a great job! Is there something you’d like to share from your research which did not make it into the book or back matter?

DNA testing salmon was one of the coolest things I’ve helped with as a volunteer at the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group. The information collected through these tests helps researchers examine the differences between hatchery and wild salmon, which is kind of mind-blowing. Isn’t science amazing?

It definitely is. When you first saw Milena Godoy’s illustrations did anything surprise or amaze you? Which is your favorite spread?

Text © Mary Boone, 2024. Image © Milena Godoy, 2024.

Milena is very talented, and I feel fortunate to have been paired with her on this book. I think she did a lovely job adding a sense of whimsy and fun to a book that needed to be scientifically accurate. That couldn’t have been easy. I can’t pick a favorite spread, but I will say I actually squealed when I saw the cover art. It’s perfect.

I love the teacher, class, and classroom Milena created! Is there anything you want your readers to know about or gain from School of Fish?

This is a book very specifically about a program through which classrooms hatch salmon eggs and release the fry into the wild. But it’s also a book about habitat and conservation, about teamwork and understanding the effect we all have on the environment. I hope families read it and are inspired to learn more about the creatures around them. I hope it sparks curiosity.

It will certainly spark curiosity. I hope it sparks readers to look into ways they can help the environment of scientist with citizen efforts. Are there any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?

I have two picture book biographies on the way, both about barrier-breaking women: Pedal Pusher (Henry Holt, 2025) and Flying Feminist (Andersen Press, 2026). I’m also hard at work wrapping up research and writing for a nonfiction middle-grade book called Unfathomable (Bright Matter, 2026). It’s a collection of true but “unbelievable” stories related to our oceans and seas -- everything from octopus wrestling to life-saving dolphins. It’s fun and heartwarming, and it includes more than a few gasp-worthy tidbits!

These all sound amazing! I'm excited to keep any eye out for them. Congrats! What is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?

I’ve never met a park of any sort that I didn’t love. I’m pretty fond of hiking in Olympic National Park, which is nearby enough that I’m able to do that a lot. Last fall, my husband and I drove from Phoenix to Salt Lake City, visiting national parks and monuments along the way. I loved the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon. We didn’t make it to Arches National Park on that trip, so that’s at the top of my can’t-wait-to-visit list.

Olympic National Park is so amazing - containing ocean beaches, mountain peaks, and rainforests. Thank you, Mary for stopping by and sharing your time and thoughts with us. It was wonderful to chat with you. 

Be sure to vcome back Friday for the Perfect Picture Book #PPBF post on School of Fish.

To find out more about Mary Boone, or contact her:

Website: https://www.boonewrites.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boonewrites/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marybooneauthor

X(Twitter): https://x.com/boonewrites