Books by Cheryl Lawton Malone

Cheryl is the author of DARIO AND THE WHALE (2016), ELEPHANTS WALK TOGETHER (2017), and FEATHERITA (2024). Her newest picture book, LITTLE KIT’S WISH, will publish in summer, 2026.

She is also the creator of IF YOU GO, a new travel series for picture book readers, bringing nature to life through stunning real-life photography, including IF YOU GO TO AFRICA and BUSY PENGUINS, a rhyming picture book.

Dario and The Whale

When Dario and his mother move to Cape Cod from Brazil, Dario has a hard time making friends since he doesn’t speak English well. But one day Dario meets someone else who has just arrived in New England and he doesn’t speak any English at all…because he’s a right whale! Day after day Dario and the whale meet at the beach. But what will happen when it’s time for the whale to migrate?

Praise for DARIO AND THE WHALE

“A heartwarming paean to long walks along the beach.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Will spark rich conversations.” – School Library Journal

“Powerful yet buoyant.” – Shelf Awareness (starred)

DARIO AND THE WHALE was selected for the 2021 Library of Congress’ Great Reads From Great Places program. It is also a Shelf Awareness Best Children’s Book of 2016, a Cooperative Children’s Book Center Winner for 2017, a Book Best Debut Picture Books of 2016, and a 2018 Mass Book Awards Must Read. DARIO is now in its fourth printing.

Elephants Walk Together

As calves, Asian elephants Precious and Baba roam the wild together, curious and proud. But when they get captured and are split up, their time together seems like a distant memory. Still, separated by many miles and over many years, their friendship remains, and there’s hope they will once again roam wide open spaces together.

Praise for ELEPHANTS WALK TOGETHER

“Heartwarming . . . a sweet and sensitive encouragement of wildlife conservation.” – Kirkus Reviews

“This sweet story of enduring friendship should help create empathy and spark lots of questions.” – Booklist

Featherita

Say hello to Featherita, the littlest chick on the farm. When today starts out EXACTLY the same as yesterday, pint-sized Featherita decides to shake things up. Not only does she egg the farm puppies into line behind her own frazzled chicken mama, but she co-op-ts her fellow chicks into following the big farm dog. Neither mother notices the problem until a storm hits. Undaunted, the little chick tries to make things right Featherita-style proving that size doesn’t matter when it comes to chick-in-uity.

If You Go To Africa

Watch a sunrise with a lion. Sit with a cheetah. Stroll with baboons – just don’t forget to look both ways! Through stunning, real-life photography, this captivating picture book invites young readers to journey alongside hippos, rhinos, impalas, and more. From sunrise to sunset, each page is filled with wonder, curiosity, and a growing love of the natural world.

Busy Penguins

Join a busy African penguin colony without leaving home! Featuring stunning, real-life photography of the penguins in Simon’s Town, South Africa, this rhyming picture book invites young readers to imagine what it’s like to live alongside these busy animals.

Coming Soon…

Little Kit’s Wish

A heartwarming new picture book published by Tiny Tree Books. Stay tuned for more info!

Summer 2026