Woman painting at a table with art supplies

Monica Sherwood is an author & illustrator based in Brooklyn.

My life has always revolved around telling stories and making things. From teaching special ed to illustrating children's books, I've discovered that creativity shows up in unexpected ways. These days, I spend my time crafting stories for young readers, bringing characters to life through art, and helping fellow teachers reimagine their own stories beyond the classroom.

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Illustration of a child laying on their stomach outdoors on grass, looking at an abstract painting. The child has brown hair and is wearing a red shirt, with bushes and flowers in the background.
Illustration of a person partially seen standing next to a cute dog sitting on the floor, with colorful tennis balls in a container and various ribbons hanging on the wall.
Illustration of a girl with long brown hair holding tall grass, standing on a pink floating device in a large bowl of water, with stylized flowers in the background.
Illustration of a girl in a red dress walking with a white dog against a starry background.

get my debut novel

With shades of When You Reach Me, The Thing About Jellyfish, and Bridge to Terabithia, and a big, timely climate hook at its core, here is a heartfelt middle grade debut about the inevitability of change that will resonate profoundly during these extraordinary times.

With a deft combination of heartfelt prose and a touch of magic, Monica Sherwood's affecting debut novel is a relatable story of families grappling with—and emerging from—a different kind of quarantine.

The Ice House Best Middle Grade Books in the snow

  • "A gentle and thoughtful story about the magic that can be found in resilience, art, and most of all, friendship."

    Jasmine Warga,

    Newbery Award Winning Author

  • “A beautifully written novel about a world of mostly physical isolation and virtual connection that seems all too familiar [and that] readers will strongly relate to.”

    Dusty Bowling,

    Author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

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