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Nora Nickum

Writing for Children

ABOUT ME

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I write fiction and nonfiction picture books and middle grade books, often with  elements of science and exploring the natural world. My stories and articles have also appeared in children’s magazines like Cricket, Muse, and Ladybug.

I live on an island in Washington state, where my family and I love to explore tide pools, search for sea glass, watch whales from shore, and trek through the fern-filled forests.

In addition to writing, I also lead ocean conservation policy work for the Seattle Aquarium. I'm often inspired to feature marine animals in my stories, from whales and octopuses to wolf eels and harbor seals.

I am represented by Lynnette Novak of The Seymour Agency, and I am an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in Western Washington. I have a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

A press kit bio can be found here.

Bio
Books & Stories

BOOKS & STORIES

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SUPERPOD: Saving the Endangered Orcas of the Pacific Northwest

Meet the playful and beloved Southern Resident orcas and the people working to save them from extinction using tactics that vary from medicine and laws to drones and dogs.

Nonfiction for ages 8-12--& up!

4/11/23, Chicago Review Press.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
 

"Inspiring and compelling" - Booklist

Finalist for the SCBWI Charlotte & Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals

A Skipping Stones 2024 Award Winner (Nature and Ecology)

Order Superpod from your local independent bookstore, Bookshop.org, Seattle Aquarium, Barnes & Noble, Amazon

Add SUPERPOD to your Goodreads "want to read" shelf! 

More details, interviews, and reviews available in the press kit

A Teacher's Guide to SUPERPOD
 

Detailed bibliography for SUPERPOD

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This Book is Full of Holes

Illustrated by Robert Meganck

Did you know there are holes that suddenly devour entire gas stations? Big holes in the ocean that are visible from space? Small holes in balls that prevent a backyard home run? Holes are investigated by scientists, used by artists, designed by engineers, and fixed by problem-solvers. Let's dig in!

Nonfiction for ages 6-9.

Published in 2024 by Peachtree.

ISBN 9781682636008

"Hole-y cow! This winning book adds up to a 'whole' lot of fascinating, thought-provoking fun." - Starred Kirkus review

"An easy-to-read concept book that is great for various ages and interest levels, and a welcome addition for all libraries." - School Library Journal

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Order from your local independent bookstore, Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble. Signed copies available from Eagle Harbor Books.

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This Book Bubbles Over:
From the Ocean to Mars and Everywhere in Between

Illustrated by Robert Meganck

This book really pops, full as it is of fascinating bubbles—useful and entertaining, noisy and silencing, lifesaving and dangerous, microscopic and bigger than a sports stadium. Filled with fascinating and unusual examples from diverse STEM fields—including physics, biology, geology, food science, and medicine—this book bubbles over with fun facts about our world.

Nonfiction for ages 6-9.

Coming 3/11/25 from Peachtree.

Available for pre-order now wherever you like to buy books. Signed, personalized copies can be pre-ordered from Eagle Harbor Books.

Twelve Daring Grays 

Illustrated by Elly MacKay

A lyrical true story about twelve especially brave whales taking a secret detour from their already grueling migration to the Arctic.

Coming in spring 2026 from Candlewick!

Wild Medicine

Middle-grade nonfiction about the technology, ingenuity, and innovation required to treat endangered species in the wild. Dive into fascinating stories about inventions to save condors, gorillas, bats, ferrets, corals, and more from deadly disease.
Coming in fall 2026 from Tilbury House! 

Magazines

"Underwater Music"

Cricket magazine

July/Aug 2020
Art by Agnes Loonstra

Text © 2020 by Nora Nickum, art © 2020 by Agnes Loonstra. Reprinted by permission of Cricket Media. All rights reserved. 

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3 articles in Muse magazine, Feb. 2022. Click for PDFs: 

 

Used by permission. © 2022 Cricket Media.

Hugo and the Seal - Nora Nickum and Becc

"Hugo and the Seal"

Cricket magazine

March 2021
Art by Becca Santo

Text © 2021 by Nora Nickum, art © 2021 by Becca Santo. Reprinted by permission of Cricket Media. All rights reserved. 

Ladybug July Aug 2022 cover

"The Penguin and the Heron"

Ladybug magazine

July/Aug 2022
Art by Shannon Bergin

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"Mo of the Mudflat"

Cricket magazine

May/June 2022
Art by Nicole Wong

Text © 2022 by Nora Nickum, art © 2022 by Nicole Wong. Reprinted by permission of Cricket Media. All rights reserved. 

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"Tiny Critters, Massive Migration"

Muse magazine

March 2023

Used by permission. © 2023 Cricket Media

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"Broomball"

Cricket magazine

Jan 2022
Art by Juan Berrio

Text © 2022 by Nora Nickum, art © 2022 by Juan Berrio. All rights reserved. 

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"Playing Tag Underwater"

Muse magazine

July/Aug 2023
Used by permission. © 2023 Cricket Media

Stories
Events

EVENTS

  • Jun 23, 2024, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
    Seattle, Barnes & Noble Northgate, 401 NE Northgate Way #1100, Seattle, WA 98125, USA
    Join us for a special Storytime event on Sunday, June 23rd at 11AM with guest children's authors Nora Nickum and Laurie Ann Thompson!
    Share
  • Jun 22, 2024, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    Bainbridge Island, Kitsap Library, 1270 Madison Ave N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, USA
    Join us as we welcome back local author Nora Nickum to talk about the Southern Resident whales. Learn about these amazing creatures, play a game, and put together a craft to take home afterward!
    Share
News and Events
In The Press
Contact

CONTACT

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