Betsy Franco
Children's Book Author

A Curious Collection of Cats

Click here for my illustrator Michael Wertz and his partner Andy singing a song Andy composed to "Rascal's Tongue."

Thirty-two poems cover every aspect of all things cat. -Booklife

These concrete poems that look like what they're saying, can only be shown in pictures, as shown above in Michael Wertz' beautiful illustration.

text copyright 2009 Betsy Franco
illustration copyright 2009 Michael Wertz

Selected Books

1.YA novel

Metamorphosis, Junior Year
Forthcoming: illustrated by Tom Franco, audio version by James and Dave Franco

2. poetry

A Curious Collection of Cats
"An amazing collection...cover(s) all things cat."

--Booklife

4. teen-written anthology

Falling Hard, 100 love poems by teenagers
"The vertigo-inducing realm of romantic love is captured in this unforgettable collection..."

3. Picture book

Bees, Snails, & Peacock Tails
"Franco's spirited poems...Jenkins' masterful collage work."

--Booklist, starred review

6. picture book

Birdsongs
"Celebrate the free concert that birds perform..."

--Publisher's Weekly, starred review

7. picture book

Mathematickles!
"Word lovers might stand a better chance of becoming math lovers..."
-Horn Book, starred review

8. children's poetry

Counting Our Way to the 100th Day
"the bouncy, humorous poems include an amazing variety of math concepts ...delivered with a light touch"
--Kirkus Review

5. teen-written poetry anthologies

You Hear Me? poems and writing by teenage boys; Things I Have to Tell You, poems and writing by teenage girls
"...honest, raw and sometimes tender selections..."
-School Library Journal