Mary is the author of thirty picture books, books of nonfiction and poetry, early readers, and chapter books for young people, including Pirate vs. Pirate, The Hungry Ghost of Rue Orleans, and the Jo MacDonald nature series. Her most recent titles include the nonfiction picture book Brother, Sister, Me and You, nonfiction early readers Hedgehogs and Adorable Animals, and nonfiction chapter books Together Forever: True Stories of Amazing Animal Friendships and Hero Dogs: True Stories of Amazing Animal Heroes.
Her awards include Delacorte/Random House’s Marguerite de Angeli Prize for First MG Novel, Parenting Reading Magic Award, Bank Street Best Book, NAPPA Gold Award, SIBA Best Picture Book, Capitol Choice, ALA’s Amelia Bloomer List, and inclusion on numerous state children’s choice lists.
Mary teaches in the MFA program in writing for children and young adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, reviews children’s books for the Washington Post and Washington Parent, and presents frequently at schools and conferences. Mary studied developmental psychology at the College of William and Mary and received a Master’s in English from Georgetown University. She has worked as a costumed waitress for Colonial Williamsburg, director of a creative and memoir writing program for senior adults, and medical writer for a children’s hospital. Mary lives in Washington, DC, where she and her family love to watch the wild visitors to their backyard habitat. As a kid, her favorite Halloween costume was a fierce Pirate.