Audrey Baird is the editor/publisher of Once Upon A Time, a national support magazine for children's writers and illustrators, now in its 14th year. She is a native of St. Paul, Minnesota. Audrey has written a monthly column for a country newspaper, has published stories in Cricket, Humpty Dumpty, Children's Digest, and Turtle. She lives with her husband, Gordon and their Sheltie, Casey. Audrey has three grown children, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren.

A Cold Snap!
illus. by Patrick O'Brien
Wordsong, Boyds Mills Press, Fall 2002
Ages 6-12, ISBN 978-1-56397-633-9

Up north, fall has arrived, and a cold snap's on the way. You've seen the signs: hearty soup on the stove, frosty views from the windows, stinging winds as you head for home. All of your senses are touched by the change in the season, and it has everybody in the neighborhood talking about what's to come.

Storm Coming!
illus. by Patrick O'Brien
Wordsong, Boyds Mills Press, 2001
Ages 6-12, ISBN 978-1-56397-887-6

The air grows humid, clouds roll in, the wind picks up, the sunlight dims, thunder rumbles in the distance, Grandfathers's toe begins to ache ... all are signs that a storm is on the way. This entertaining collection of poems celebrates the music and artistry of storms and captures the excitement and awe that storms inspire. Imagine a storm concert by the Midsummer Philharmonic, a lightning bolt that hurdles athletically over hills, carousel-horse clouds that "gallop across the heavens to a calliope of rain music," puddles that hold amazing images. Audrey Baird's descriptive words and Patrick O'Brien's stunning watercolor washes capture each moment and draw us into the beauty of nature's stormy side.

Awards
A Best Children's Books of the Year 2002 selection by Bank Street College of Education, who print the yearly guide for teachers, librarians, and parents.