blue manatee press

11/26/2025

Happy Reading and Eating from blue manatee press!

11/12/2025

November is Prematurity Awareness Month! - a time to be mindful of challenges faced by babies born early and opportunities for family resilience, bonding and hope. No matter what age or situation, reading is a wonderful way to express love, connect and nurture baby bookworms!

Written by neonatologist Dr. Viral Jain and pediatrician Dr. John Hutton, illustrated by Leah Busch Rockel.

Available from All About Books, IPGBook, Amazon and nurturing indie bookstores.

11/06/2025

What an amazing 2 days at the Reach Out and Read and Nurture Connection Summit in Washington DC! Amazing turnout of dedicated humans from all over the US and beyond, conversations old and new friends, inspiring strategy/story sessions and bookish battery recharge - thanks to all in attendance and to for hosting and for sponsoring!

11/03/2025

Have you ever marveled at the magic of learning to read? Billie the Brain is here to show you how she’s “wired” to do this, from infancy to school-age - and what you can do to help!

Simple, rhyming text, lovable illustrations, accurate brain diagrams, reading milestones and facts, written by an expert in reading and brain development.

Available NOW from , libraries, Amazon, and brainy bookstores everywhere (and if not yet - ask!).

10/27/2025

Happy National Pumpkin Day! 🎃

10/23/2025

Two books, one goal - Safe Sleep for Babies! October is SIDS Awareness Month.

In the snuggly story below, there is so much to be grateful for and proud of!

In 2013, we were honored to partner with Charlie's Kids Foundation in the creation of Sleep Baby Safe and Snug, written by Dr. John Hutton, a pediatrician and colleague of CKF co-founder Dr. Sam Hanke, illustrated by Cincinnati-based artist Leah Busch Rockel, and donated to CKF to support their vital, impactful work. This rhythmic, evidence-based book has since been distributed to over 5-million families across the US, including statewide campaigns.

Dr. Hutton is also a health literacy researcher, and has published clinical trials based in home and clinic settings showing this book-based approach to be superior to usual safe sleep guidance, especially with socioeconomically disadvantage families. Peruse the studies here:

Home visiting: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876285917301742

Prenatal visits: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41372-021-01211-6

Based on findings from this research and feedback from physicians, home visitors, safe sleep and other infant health advocates and families, last year we decided to publish a new, updated book, Bedtime Baby, Safe and Sound. This book reunites Dr. Hutton and Leah Busch, and incorporates these insights while reinforcing current American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC safe sleep guidelines, including: greater emphasis on not smoking, balanced messaging regarding breastfeeding and pacifier use, icon-based tips on the back cover, a brighter color palette, and greater diversity of crib types, race and ethnicity, the latter reflecting communities at outsized risk for SIDS.

To expand our partnerships, modes of distribution and access to families, we are proud to partner Bedtime Baby with First Candle, which provides education, advocacy and support for families across the US, particularly urban areas. We are grateful to thank early adopters of the book including Reach Out and Read, the Indiana Department of Health, Parkland Health Dallas, Iowa SIDS Foundation and The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida, all working to help babies sleep safely!

Both books are available in English and Spanish at safe-sleepy bookstores, Amazon, libraries, children's book distributors and IPG: Independent Publishers Group. Bedtime Baby is also available in English, Spanish and bilingual from All About Books, our nonprofit literacy distribution partner. Sleep Baby is also available from Charlies Kids and the Cribs for Kids® National Infant Safe Sleep Initiative.

Bulk discounts are available for clinics, agencies and nonprofits. Contact us for more information!

Read more about the new book here: https://www.bluemanateepress.com/bedtime-baby-safe-sound

Safe Infant Sleep Foundation
Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky (PCAK) Prevent Child Abuse Florida
Reach Out and Read Ohio Reach Out and Read Texas
Prevent Child Abuse America Safe Sleep and Baby Care Cincinnati Children's

10/21/2025

Such a privilege to be part of this fantastic early literacy event with BookSpring at the Austin Public Library, meeting kind & dedicated people working to support school readiness and families in Texas!

10/18/2025

If you’re feeling a little spacey, that may be because October is Space Month! A surefire restorative is a good night’s sleep. So join the planets as they get ready for bed in this award-winning picture book illustrated by Doug Cenko. If you’re feeling STEMmy, there are NASA-approved facts and diagrams at the end!  For younger budding astronauts, there’s a companion concept book, too - sweet dreams!  Available from stellar bookstores, libraries, Amazon and more! LINK: https://www.bluemanateepress.com/sleepy-solar-system

10/15/2025

October is ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) Awareness Month - a time to raise awareness, learn and advocate. ADHD is common and increasing, with estimated prevalence of >10% of US children, 7% of US adults and 8% of humans worldwide, including successful actors, musicians, athletes, businesspeople, doctors, scientists and more! ADH-Me! is an evidence-based picture book written by a pediatrician, intended to help children and families better understand differences in how their brains and bodies work, approaches to treatment and self-care, and most of all - to love and celebrate who they are!

Available from exemplary bookstores, book distributors, Amazon and more! Bulk discounts are available for clinics and non-profit groups.

09/30/2025

Shared reading, healthy babies - September is Baby Safety Month! We are grateful for and honored by partnerships inspiring our Love Baby Healthy book series, written by a pediatrician and proven effective compared to usual guidance in published research. Safe sleep, managing crying and calming, promoting breastfeeding, nutrition and interactive shared reading, and embracing developmental milestones. Happy reading and growing!

Available in English and Spanish at Amazon, libraries and enlightened bookstores nationwide!

09/25/2025

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! In addition to singing and storytelling, what better way to celebrate than by reading together? Our bilingual “Seasons” book series by Spanish teacher Susana Madinabeitia Manso features colorful photographs of children at play, from baseball, to pumpkins, to sledding, to flowers. ¡Feliz lectura!

09/25/2025