About the Book

Bank Street Books - 2022 Best Children’s Books of the Year (STEM Selection)

Silver Winner in the PubWest Book Design Awards (Children’s/YA - Illustrated category)

“This illuminating tale simultaneously serves as a primer on the loon and a satisfying, well-paced chronicle of progress.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Ooo aaa woo woo! Papa Loon’s voice calls out long and strong across the water. He warns of danger. He defends his family’s home. He even wards off predators. But Peep! Eep! Squeak! Little Loon’s voice is nothing like his Papa’s. When an eagle attacks, will Little Loon find his voice in time?

A water bird found throughout much of North America, loons are famous for their echoing calls. Little Loon Finds His Voice is the endearing, coming-of-age tale of one little loon finding his voice, and with it, his place in the world. Breathtaking illustrations transport readers to misty lakes and towering pines, and informative loon facts at the end detail the life and habits of these enchanting birds.   

“Share this with readers who have heard loons’ calls in the wild.” —Kirkus Reviews

Awards and Press

Pioneer Press

One of the prettiest books of the season.

Publishers Weekly

Sweetly expressive...This illuminating tale simultaneously serves as a primer on the loon and a satisfying, well-paced chronicle of progress.

Kirkus Reviews

Share this with readers who have heard loons’ calls in the wild.

Mike Pluimer

National Loon Center

Little Loon Finds His Voice is a simply told and invitingly illustrated book that can easily instill a love for loons in the minds of young readers.

Ranae Hanson

climate activist and author of Watershed: Attending to Body and Earth in Distress

Little Loon Finds His Voice will delight children and adult readers alike.

Marion Dane Bauer

author of the Newbery Honor Book On My Honor and The Stuff of Stars.

What a lovely combination of story and facts, lyrical language and compelling illustrations Yvonne Pearson and Regina Shklovsky have created! Every child will rejoice when little loon finds his voice.

Molly Beth Griffin

author of Loon Baby

With lyrical, engaging text and gentle, intimate art, this book tells a story that is both familiar and fresh...Page by page, we are invited to dive into this beautiful creature's world, becoming fluent in loonsong ourselves as we watch Little Loon grow.

Kristin Sondquist - Barton Elementary School

My students were totally fascinated and engaged... It warmed my heart to hear the loon calls echoing down the hallway!

Meet the Author

Yvonne Pearson’s debut picture book, Sadie Braves the Wilderness, was published in May 217. In 218 she won the Loft-McKnight Fellowship in writing for children. Yvonne has been selected for the Loft Center for Literature’s Shabo Award for a picture book and won two Artist Initiative Grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board for children’s literature projects. Yvonne lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband. She loves hiking, reading, quilting, cooking and spending quality time with her grandchildren.

Meet the Illustrator

Regina Shklovsky is an illustrator and graphic designer based in Sonoma County, California. She illustrated the 2018 picture book, Fun in the Mud, which was a 2019 Moonbeam award winner and a 2018 Nautilus award winner. She is passionate about bringing stories to life with pictures and thoughtful design. Her work is rooted in traditional drawing and painting, mixed with vector graphics. She collaborates with local entrepreneurs and authors, as well as independent publishers.