More About Nell Cross Beckerman (She/Her)
Languages: English
Nell Cross Beckerman writes lyrical nature-themed picture books that celebrate fun, adventure, and connection. A former documentary/reality TV news producer, she strives to bring a sense of cinematic sensory immersion to her texts. She grew up in southern California with a librarian mother and scientist father, and lives in Los Angeles with her family. She enjoys traveling around the country to visit schools with exciting and engaging author visits.
Titles include CAVES (starred reviews, Best Books lists, many state library reading lists, Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee, NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Nonfiction Title) and VOLCANOES (Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee) both published by Scholastic and illustrated by Kalen Chock. WHEN THE SKY GLOWS, illustrated by David Litchfield and published by Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and received many awards and honors. FROM PARK TO PLAYA: THE TRAILS THAT CONNECT US and DOWN UNDER THE PIER are both published by Cameron Kids/Abrams and celebrate the nature around us in parks, paths, and at the beach at low tide. Coming in 2025 is FORESTS.
Nell is a Critique Ninja at the 12x12 Picture Book Challenge, an instructor at Storyteller Academy, a member of Steam Team Books promo group, a member of SCBWI, the Author’s Guild, and is on the board of the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California. She also teaches writing classes independently on her website.
You can find Nell online at:
Video: Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Convos Interview
Nell’s strengths are…
Expository nonfiction (What is that? More info here.)
Brainstorming different ways to structure a story that doesn’t have a traditional narrative arc.
Finding ways to add emotional depth to your story.
Crafting powerful page-turns.
Being a cheerleader/pep-talker/providing resources to combat creative self-doubt/challenges/emotional setbacks.
Sharing mentor texts of poetic/lyrical/nature books.
Helping you find ways to make your story unique to you and stand out.
Pushing you to keep revising for the most impactful and poetic language possible.
Encouraging you to step into the business/promotional/networking side of being an author, no matter where you are on your writing journey.
Encouraging deep connection to nature, moon phases, etc. when writing about nature, and sharing possibilities about connecting your productivity to phases of the moon (in other words, if you like a little woo woo, crystals, etc, I’m down! But not a requirement lol.)
Making all of this fun (while relentlessly challenging you to improve)!
What Nell is looking for…
Nell is looking for a mentee who can bring a new viewpoint to the field of science/nature writing, and would especially be interested highlighting the connection to nature in urban environments. Nell is open to working with new voices who are just starting to explore the world of picture books, to more experienced writers who are looking for their big break.
A Note from Nell:
“Are you drawn to writing stories about your culture? Have you ever thought about adding a layer of science/nonfiction to them? For example, did you gather ginkgo nuts with your grandparent? Let’s tell that story AND learn about ginkgo trees at the same time. Looking for untraditional nonfiction stories, in other words. Lots of layers. Consider it!”
Nell’s Picture Books
VOLCANOES, written by Nell Cross Beckerman and illustrated by Kalen Chock
CAVES, written by Nell Cross Beckerman and illustrated by Kalen Chock
WHEN THE SKY GLOWS, written by Nell Cross Beckerman and illustrated by David Litchfield
DOWN UNDER THE PIER, written by Nell Cross Beckerman and illustrated by Rachell Sumpter
FROM PARK TO PLAYA, written by Nell Cross Beckerman and illustrated by Sophie Diao
If Nell created a Visual Wish List, it would be made up of…
*Unless otherwise stated, the below serves as a wish list only. Each mentor is excited about the opportunity to find a manuscript they can’t stop thinking about. Please apply if you think you’d be a good fit.
My Daddy is a Cowboy by Stephanie Seals, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza
The River is My Ocean by Rio Cortez illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin
A Walk Through the Redwoods by Bridgitte Rodguez illustrated by Natalia Bruno
Being Home by Traci Sorell illustrated by Michaela Goade
Dive, Dive into the Night Sea by Thea Lu
Dusk Explorers by Lindsay Leslie illustrated by Ellen Rooney
Feel the Fog by April Pulley Sayer
Angela’s Glacier by Jordan Scott illustrated by Diana Sudyka
Dear Treefrog by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Diana Sudyka
Into the Inferno (documentary)
One Strange Rock (documentary series)
My Octopus Teacher (Netflix documentary)
Nell is a good fit for…
Science/Nature nonfiction
Informational fiction with a nature theme
Authors who write about locations (neighborhoods, specific kid-friendly places that you have a connection to like markets, parks, playgrounds, stoops, backyards, trails, lakes, ponds—think creatively! I’d love to read more about the walk from where you live to the corner store and all the wonders and marvels that make that experience unique.)
Nell is not a good fit for…
Character-driven stories
Biographies
Fictional stories that have no tie-in with nature or a location
*BIPOC, disabled, LGBTQ+ preferred but open to all applicants.
Who can apply to Nell? Unagented and Agented authors.
Click below to register for our Mentee Announcement (on Zoom) on May 15, 2025 at 8:00pm Eastern Time!