Pamela Dean

4 booksChildren's Picture BooksSocial & EmotionalBedtime

Pamela Dean is a keen observer of life’s everyday absurdities and a champion for finding the funny. Pamela lives in a cozy home filled with books she fully intends to read and a collection of reading glasses she can never quite find when she needs them. When she isn't writing, she enjoys debating with her smart-home devices, and spending time with her family.

Books

Grandmas Gone

A quiet night when a little girl learns Grandma is gone

Children's Picture Books

Late at night, young Arriel wakes to the quiet ring of the hallway telephone. Peeking from her bedroom door, she hears her father speaking softly. Grandma has passed away. The house feels heavy, and Arriel does not know what to do with the sadness that sits in her chest. Her parents invite her close. They sit together and share stories from Grandma's garden: tomatoes that stained their fingers, the watering can that was always too full, the way Grandma hummed while she pulled weeds. Hands hold hands. The night still feels long, but it no longer feels empty. Grandmas Gone is a gentle picture book about loss, listening, and the comfort of remembering. It meets children at bedtime with honesty and warmth, without rushing grief away. Families can read it when a loved one has died, or when a child first wonders why grown-ups cry. For little ones who need a story that stays close, and for the adults who sit with them until they sleep.

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I want cake

A tiny hero, a giant cake, and the biggest test of patience ever

Child Books

Justin has a big problem, and it is covered in chocolate and coconut. Four-year-old Justin is on a mission. The target? A towering, gooey German Chocolate Cake sitting right in the middle of the kitchen table. It is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen, and he wants a piece right now. But there is an obstacle in his way: Uncle Frank. Tasked with guarding the dessert until after dinner, Uncle Frank is tall, playful, and very good at saying 'not yet.' From stealthy maneuvers in his loudest squeaky sneakers to elaborate diversions involving a fleet of toy trucks, Justin tries every trick in the toddler handbook to bypass the cake’s protector. As the intoxicating scent of cocoa fills the house, Justin must face the ultimate preschooler challenge—waiting. In this hilarious and heartwarming tale, a hungry little schemer discovers that while the kitchen has many rules, the greatest rewards come to those who can survive their green peas. Will Justin get his sweet victory? Join him on a delicious journey of family, discipline, and the irresistible power of dessert.

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I don't play with other children

A first-day kindergarten story about quiet courage and a runaway hamster

Child Books

Zalia Animanshaun is five. She has spent her whole life in a quiet, grown-up world, homeschooled through the pandemic. Now she is walking into Ms. Simone's kindergarten, wearing her favorite lavender cardigan and clutching a comfort stone. The room is loud. Children wiggle. Pippa Moon makes dinosaur noises and wears mismatched socks. Zalia tells her teacher, quite clearly, that she does not play with other children. Ms. Simone gives her space to watch. Pippa keeps trying, a little too loudly. Then, in a small moment with a purple crayon, something shifts. Friendship, Zalia learns, can be quiet. It can respect a need for room. Until Sir Squeaks-a-Lot, the class hamster, slips out of his cage on the way to lunch. Nobody sees him go. Nobody except Zalia, the girl who always watches. She has to choose: stay in her safe corner, or step out to save a tiny friend. A tender picture book about first days, big feelings, and the bravery of looking up.

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Growing Older needs to come with a book!

A witty, illustrated guide to navigating the unexpected twists and turns of aging

Illustrated Nonfiction

They say age is just a number, but they forgot to mention the mysterious new noises your knees make or why you walked into the kitchen. Pamela Dean finally provides the manual we all wished we had received on our fiftieth birthday. "Growing Older needs to come with a book!" is a charming, illustrated exploration of the joys, jolts, and occasional jolley-ness of the golden years. From the sudden allure of birdwatching to the baffling complexity of modern television remotes, Dean captures the universal experiences of aging with humor and heart. This isn't a medical textbook or a somber reflection; it’s a celebration of the silver lining in every silver hair. Through relatable anecdotes and whimsical observations, you will find comfort in knowing that you aren't alone in your search for misplaced glasses or your newfound appreciation for a good orthopedic shoe. Whether you are entering retirement or just starting to notice those first fine lines, this book offers the camaraderie and laughter needed to navigate the second half of life with grace and a healthy dose of wit. Prepare to laugh, nod in agreement, and finally feel like you have the instructions for the road ahead.

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