Denise Fleming


Denise K. Fleming is an American creator of children's picture books. She was born in Toledo, Ohio. She graduated in illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Her first book, In the Tall, Tall Grass, was published by Henry Holt and Company in 1991. According to one library summary, "Rhymed text presents a toddler's view of creatures found in the grass from lunchtime till nightfall, such as bees, ants, and moles." It was critically well received and its sequel, In the Small, Small Pond, was a runner-up for the 1994 Caldecott Medal.
Twenty years later, In the Small, Small Pond was runner-up for the inaugural, 2013 Phoenix Picture Book Award. The Phoenix Awards recognize the best children's books published twenty years earlier that did not win major contemporary awards.
Her other books include The Cow Who Clucked, The First Day of Winter, Underground, and 5 Little Ducks.
WWW denisefleming.com

Awards and honors

underGROUND is a Junior Library Guild book.
YearTitleAward/HonorResultRef.
1994In the Small, Small PondCaldecott MedalRunner-up
1998Time to SleepCharlotte Zolotow AwardCommended
1999Mama Cat Has Three KittensCharlotte Zolotow AwardCommended
2003Alphabet Under ConstructionALSC Notable Children's BooksSelection
2004BusterCharlotte Zolotow AwardCommended
2013In the Small, Small PondPhoenix Picture Book AwardRunner-up
2013underGROUNDCharlotte Zolotow AwardCommended

Publications

In the Tall, Tall Grass Count! Lunch In the Small, Small Pond Barnyard Banter Where Once There Was a Wood Time to Sleep Mama Cat Has Three Kittens The Everything Book Pumpkin Eye Alphabet Under Construction Buster The First Day of Winter The Cow Who Clucked Beetle Bop Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy SHOUT! Shout it out! underGROUND Go, Shapes, Go! Maggie and Michael Get Dressed 5 Little Ducks