SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Bear Feels Sad
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://karmawilson.com/
CITY: Huson
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 397
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born October 8, 1970, in Whidbey Island, WA; married; husband’s name Scott; children: Michael, David, Chrissy.
EDUCATION:Attended community college.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author of books for children. Presenter at schools.
AVOCATIONS:Photography, reading, baking, hiking and camping, mixed martial arts.
AWARDS:Children’s Resource Gold Award and Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children designation, both 2002, Wyoming Buckaroo Book Award nomination, 2002-03, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award, American Library Association Notable Book designation, Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended designation, and Children’s Book of the Year finalist, International Reading Association, all 2003, and numerous state award nominations, all for Bear Snores On; Texas 2×2 Book Award nomination, 2003, and Missouri Building Block nomination, 2004, both for A Frog in the Bog; Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Award, 2008, for Bear Feels Sick; Notable Poetry List inclusion, National Council of Teachers of English, 2015, for Outside the Box.
RELIGION: Agnostic.WRITINGS
Contributor to periodicals.
SIDELIGHTS
Karma Wilson is the author of dozens of picture books that feature her signature rhyming texts and animal protagonists. Her stories—often humorous and lighthearted—are intended primarily to entertain and captivate young readers and listeners. [open new]Raised in rural northern Idaho by a single mother, Wilson was content to live without cable TV and before the advent of personal computers. She adored reading, with favorite authors including C.S. Lewis, L.M. Montgomery, and Laura Ingalls Wilder, creators of the “Chronicles of Narnia,” “Anne of Green Gables,” and “Little House” books respectively. Beyond reveling in fictional worlds, Wilson played outside, such as riding her bike up and down dirt roads (sometimes, rather dangerously, while reading). Later in life, she became a mother, and family reading time inspired her to try writing a children’s book of her own.[suspend new] She is perhaps best known for her stories about Bear, a gentle bruin, and his loyal pals, who are introduced to readers in her debut book, Bear Snores On.
In Bear Snores On, the first of many “Bear Books” to come,Wilson chronicles the misadventures of a woodland brown bear. Bear is fast asleep in his cozy den, safely protected from the cold winter, when other forest animals take refuge with him. First Mouse arrives and builds a warm fire. Then Hare appears, bringing popcorn and tea, while Badger shares nuts with the growing gathering. Soon, Bear’s cave is crowded with forest animals, and a party ensues. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews acknowledged Bear Snores On for its “lyrical text,” while Booklist reviewer Ellen Mandel cited the “snappy rhythm … [that] beckon[s] youngsters into the story.”
Bear and friends return in stories about being scared, showing gratitude, reaching a childhood milestone, and engaging with colors and numbers, all featuring illustrations by Jane Chapman. Bear Feels Scared finds Wilson’s loveable brown bear lost in the woods during a stormy day until caring and concerned friends lead the way to his snug cave. In Bear Says Thanks the affable ursine manages to repay the kindness of his pals, who stop by his home with a variety of tasty treats, and Bear’s Loose Tooth addresses a familiar childhood experience. Bear Sees Colors and Bear Counts introduce young readers to basic concepts while offering entertaining stories about Bear and his forest companions.
In the view of a Publishers Weekly contributor, “Wilson and Chapman … tap into the psychology of preschoolers, exploring a common childhood emotion” in Bear Feels Scared. Discussing Bear Says Thanks, Cass Mabbott noted in School Library Journal that the book’s “rhymes are pleasing to the ear and move the story along,” while a Kirkus Reviews critic wrote of Bear’s Loose Tooth that Wilson “keeps young readers engaged with rhyming text that keeps the gentle action flowing.” Commenting on Bear Sees Colors, School Library Journal critic Marianne Saccardi suggested that the chance for young readers “to sharpen their rhyming and observation skills as well as learn their colors make this interactive journey a must.”
Wilson and Chapman have also combined talents on Where Is Home, Little Pip?, Don’t Be Afraid, Little Pip, and What’s in the Egg, Little Pip?, a trio of picture books about a lovable penguin. In the first, Pip becomes lost after wandering away from her parents and must seek help from a variety of creatures. Don’t Be Afraid, Little Pip centers on the tiny penguin’s first attempt to swim, and What’s in the Egg, Little Pip? concerns her reaction to the arrival of a new addition to her family. “Children will be reassured that their fear of trying something new is universal,” School Library Journal reviewer Blair Christolon stated of Don’t Be Afraid, Little Pip.
In addition to Chapman, Wilson’s stories have come to life through the interpretation of a range of talented illustrators. In Moose Tracks!, which a Publishers Weekly critic described as a “rhyming, jaunty story [that] brims with eccentric characters,” cartoonist Jack E. Davis adds “enough comedy … to provide interest for more than one reading,” and Shelle Rosenfeld wrote in Booklist that the “witty, colorful art” pairs with Wilson’s “bouncing … refrain” to enhance both the mystery and the anticipation” in the tale.
Watercolor artist Marcellus Hall creates images bringing to life her entertaining farmyard rhyme in The Cow Loves Cookies, which a Kirkus Reviews critic applauded as a “self-assured, simple and successful picture book.” Another turn for author and artist comes in Wilson’s story in Duddle Puck, the Puddle Duck , in which a confused waterfowl hopes to find its voice by imitating its fellow creatures on the farm. “This rhyming story offers a fun, gentle lesson in identity and acceptance,” Lynn Van Auken commented in School Library Journal.
Illustrated by Joan Rankin, A Frog in the Bog incorporates Wilson’s trademark rhymes and features a hungry frog that counts as it eats: one tick, two fleas, three flies, and so on. As the frog of the title grows bulkier as a result of its large lunch, a nearby alligator takes notice of the greedy amphibian and contemplates a meal of its own. According to a Publishers Weekly critic, the text here successfully melds “early learning concepts, humor and wordplay” into “a jaunty read-aloud.”
A soothing bedtime tale featuring artwork by Simon Mendez, Mama, Why? focuses on the relationship between an inquisitive baby polar bear and its patient mother. “Wilson’s conversational style beautifully captures a homespun imagination and the feel of a mother’s end-of-day murmurs,” observed another Publishers Weekly reviewer of this picture book.
Artist Dan Andreasen contributes detailed paintings to Mortimer’s First Garden, Wilson’s gentle story about a young mouse who decides to grow a sunflower garden. Featuring artwork by Anna Currey, Who Goes There? also focuses on a rodent protagonist, in this case Lewis Mouse, who grows concerned by the strange noises he continually hears outside his winter nesting grounds. “Wilson makes good use of sound effects and repetition to build suspense and depicts Lewis as no scaredy-mouse, as he bravely faces his fears,” a contributor stated in appraising Who Goes There? for Kirkus Reviews.
Featuring artwork by Jim McMullen, Wilson’s companion stories Hogwash! and Horseplay! treat young readers to the humorous antics of some mischievous barnyard animals. In the former, a farmer’s pigs refuse their owner’s efforts to bathe them, while the latter concerns another farmer’s attempts to discover the reason behind his horses’ lack of energy. The “rollicking rhyming verse” in Hogwash! drew praise from one Kirkus Reviews writer, and another described Horseplay! as “a solid and gleeful dose of ridiculousness.”
In addition to her animal-centric tales, Wilson has also written a number of poetry books. What’s the Weather Inside? Poems contains over one hundred poems that address dental hygiene, martial arts, Santa Claus, and the musings of a dog, among other subjects. A contributor in Publishers Weekly applauded the “wide-ranging … humorous, often edgy poetry” here, calling it “Silversteinian in its format and sensibility.” In Outside the Box she explores familiar topics in unusual ways. The blend of “wry observation and kooky supposition” encountered here earned plaudits from Booklist reviewer Paula Willey, who also praised the accompanying artwork by Diane Goode.
Wilson again worked with Chapman on the 2016 book, Big Bear, Small Mouse. Chapman illustrates a diverse group of forest animals, including a badger, a rabbit, an owl, a wren and the titular bear and mouse. In Wilson’s writing, the narrator comments on the physical attributes of the animals, such as the sizes of the bear and the mouse. Despite their differences in size, the bear and mouse are friends. The two walk through the forest, greeting other animals who are their friends. These animals are found to have differences, too. The bear and the mouse observe the owl and the wren. The narrator notes that the wren stays low to the ground, but the owl flies high. Meanwhile, the gopher and the mole tunnel under the ground. Bear and mouse bring all their animal friends to Bear’s lair, where they throw a raucous party. According to Amy Shepherd, a contributor to School Library Journal: “In a beautifully vibrant forest, Wilson and Chapman’s animals come to life with love and charm.” James A. Cox, a reviewer in Children’s Bookwatch, called Big Bear, Small Mouse “an impressively successful collaboration” between Wilson and Chapman. “This is more an opposites primer than a full-fledged story, but it’s nonetheless a fine addition,” noted a Publishers Weekly critic.
Renata Liwska is the illustrator of Wilson’s Dormouse Dreams. The book is written in rhyming verses. It finds the dormouse weathering the winter in his cozy home in the woods. Though many animals and humans are outside enjoying the crisp weather, the dormouse is sleeping through the season and is snuggled up with a stuffed rabbit. He is dreaming of spending time with his female friend. The dormouse imagines the two of them playing high-and-seek near the running water. Meanwhile, the dormouse’s friend is en route to his home in the woods. She dons her pearl necklace and her fancy hat and hops onto a biplane’s wing. In the spring, when it is time for the dormouse to wake up from his hibernation, she arrives at the dormouse’s house and pleasantly surprises him. The dormouse, still groggy from his long sleep, wonders if he is dreaming. The book also includes illustrations of animals playing during the winter and people skiing through the woods. A writer in Children’s Bookwatch noted that Dormouse Dreams featured “very simple text and gorgeous illustrations.” According to a contributor to Publishers Weekly: “Wilson’s … evocative language and sonic punctuation make for a fine readaloud.”
Wilson next published the picture book A Dog Named Doug, with pictures by celebrated illustrator Matt Myers, about a dog who really likes to dig. Rhyming text with tongue-twisting alliteration describes how Doug, a golden brown dog, digs more than holes in the backyard. He has a tunnel digging contest with a squirrel, digs long ditches, digs a tunnel to an old gold mine, and finally digs all the way to the White House lawn and into the Oval Office. He continues digging all over the world. When Doug returns home, his family scolds him and puts him outside in the dog house, but he digs a tunnel into the house and gets into bed with his owner. The acrylic and oil paint illustrations show whimsical details and treasures Doug unearths.
In School Library Journal, Mindy Hiatt remarked: “there is much for readers to see, hear, and take delight in, including an ending with an imaginative twist.” In Publishers Weekly, a contributor observed how Wilson provides “a light, playful tone with loose rhymes and lots of alliteration, making this a fun readaloud.”
Wilson continued the “Bear Books” series with Bear Can’t Sleep, a prequel to Bear Snores On, illustrated by Jane Chapman. It’s winter and bears are supposed to go to sleep, but Bear tosses and turns and can’t rest. His friends come to his cave to check on him, but are surprised that he’s wide awake. They try many things to get him sleepy, such as making him some tea, warm milk, singing to him, and telling him bedtime stories. The ending of Bear Can’t Sleep ties into the beginning of Bear Snores On. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews noted how the “rhythmic, rhyming verse” describes the action while warm illustrations in double-page spreads provide “a rustic charm.” The contributor called the book “a smart, stealth bedtime tale.”
Chapman also illustrated Wilson’s Bear Can’t Wait, in which Bear impatiently waits for a party to be held later in the day. As Gopher, Mouse, Mole, and Owl make preparations, like putting up streamers and making a cake, Bear keeps getting more antsy and fidgety and makes a mess of things when his wriggling is so bad that he squashes the cake. He needs to put things right before the party. Chapman’s “cute forest animals are as expressive as ever, and Bear’s postures as he struggles to wait will elicit both giggles and sympathy,” according to a Kirkus Reviews critic.
[resume new]Bear, Raven, and Hare share an outing that resonates with Eastertime in Bear Finds Eggs. After happening upon robin and mallard nests and leaving gifts of berries and seeds, the friends hear Mama Meadowlark lamenting that her eggs have gone missing. Discovering one and thinking to paint it, so it does not get lost again, the friends fill up a basket with over a dozen—and have just as many friends when they all hatch. A Kirkus Reviews writer praised Bear Finds Eggs as a “sweet spring tale” with “predictable rhymes, … rolling rhythm,” and “cheery fun that will leave series fans ‘egg’-static.”
Bear’s friends prove essential in Bear Feels Sad. With all the other animals busy or out and about, Bear laments his loneliness and boredom and is unable to enjoy his unshared carrot snack, quiet blanket fort, or even a field of flowers. Collecting bouquets for his friends, Bear is rewarded when they appear bearing gifts for him as well. A Kirkus Reviews writer called Bear Feels Sad another “sweet tale” which, “expressed in well-constructed verse, makes keen observations about how the warmth of camaraderie can swiftly turn sadness to joy.”
Wilson trumpets the adorability of babies’ countenances in I Love Your Face!, illustrated by AG Ford. The narration, spoken by a caregiver addressing a baby or two, declares abundant love for baby’s button-cute features and expressions spurred by interactions with adults, children, and pets alike. Hailing the “lively, bouncy rhymes” in “jaunty octosyllabic meter,” a Kirkus Reviews writer affirmed that Wilson’s “ebullient text celebrates the narrator’s love for the babies’ many faces throughout the day.”[close new]
Wilson told SATA: “I have always been a voracious reader and strongly drawn to lyrical texts, but as a young mother to small children my interest in children’s literature really intensified. Good books were such a positive part of our family life I wanted to try and create something that could contribute to the lives of children so meaningfully. I struggled for three years studying the craft and facing countless rejections before finally getting my first book, Bear Snores On, published.
“I’m strongly influenced by the rich language and cadence of classic poems and literature by notables such as Eugene Fields, Beatrix Potter, Hans Christian Andersen, etc. I’m also guided by the wacky and whimsical humor of contemporaries like Helen Lester, Bill Grossman, and Jez Alborough. Shel Silverstein is one of my poetic heroes. I am also deeply drawn to the child empowerment found in the works of Maurice Sendak and Margaret Wise Brown.
“When I feel like writing, I write. I may write anywhere on any medium. I’ve written in my children’s note books, on dirty napkins, on my phone notes feature, and on my computer. I’ve written books in bed, on road trips, out camping in the wilderness, or sitting in restaurants. My process is not really a process but more of a muse possession.
“I’m always shocked at how many people completely underestimate the intelligence, resilience and curiosity of children and how much WE could learn from THEM.
“I don’t have a favorite but I’m ridiculously excited about the upcoming book A Dog Named Doug, illustrated by Matt Myers! It’s definitely one of the funniest books my name is on! Kids will ‘dig it’!
“I would like my books to impart rich vocabulary, a thirst for language and a love of story in the minds of children. If the characters in my books can model kindness, empathy and good humor while doing that—all the better.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, January 1, 2002, Ellen Mandel, review of Bear Snores On, p. 868; April 15, 2003, Connie Fletcher, review of Bear Wants More, p. 1479; May 1, 2005, Julie Cummins, review of Sweet Briar Goes to Camp, p. 1594; February 15, 2006, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of Moose Tracks!, p. 106; April 1, 2007, Ilene Cooper, review of How to Bake an American Pie, p. 49; June 1, 2007, Jennifer Mattson, review of Whopper Cake, p. 87; November 15, 2007, Carolyn Phelan, review of Let’s Make a Joyful Noise! A Celebration of Psalm 100, p. 45; November 1, 2008, Daniel Kraus, review of Where Is Home, Little Pip?, p. 50; February 1, 2009, Carolyn Phelan, review of Mortimer’s First Garden, p. 47; April 15, 2010, Hazel Rochman, review of The Cow Loves Cookies, p. 50; February 1, 2011, Ian Chipman, review of What’s in the Egg, Little Pip?, p. 81; June 1, 2011, Diane Foote, review of Hogwash!, p. 94; May 15, 2012, Andrew Medlar, review of Horseplay!, p. 58; July 1, 2012, Carolyn Phelan, review of Bear Says Thanks, p. 68; October 1, 2013, Ilene Cooper, review of Who Goes There?, p. 103; March 15, 2014, Paula Willey, review of Outside the Box, p. 67; September 1, 2014, Carolyn Phelan, review of Bear Sees Colors, p. 118; May 1, 2015, Carolyn Phelan, review of Bear Counts, p. 100.
Children’s Bookwatch, January, 2017, James A. Cox, review of Big Bear, Small Mouse; May 1, 2017, review of Dormouse Dreams.
Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2001, review of Bear Snores On, p. 161; December 1, 2002, review of Bear Wants More, p. 1776; November 1, 2004, review of Bear Stays up for Christmas, p. 1055; June 15, 2005, review of Sakes Alive! A Cattle Drive, p. 693; October 1, 2005, review of Dinos in the Snow!, p. 1092; June, 2007, review of Whopper Cake; August, 15, 2007, review of Give Thanks to the Lord: Celebrating Psalm 92; September 15, 2007, review of Bear Feels Sick; February 1, 2009, review of What’s the Weather Inside? Poems; February 15, 2009, review of Mortimer’s First Garden; November 1, 2009, review of Baby, I Love You; June 15, 2010, review of The Cow Loves Cookies; March 15, 2011, review of If I Were a Mouse; February 15, 2011, review of Mama, Why?; May 15, 2011, review of Hogwash!; July 15, 2011, review of Bear’s Loose Tooth; April 1, 2012, review of Horseplay!; September 1, 2012, review of Bear Says Thanks; August 15, 2013, review of Who Goes There?; August 15, 2014, review of Bear Sees Colors; March 1, 2015, review of Bear Counts; June 15, 2015, review of Duddle Puck, the Puddle Duck; May 1, 2018, review of A Dog Named Doug; July 15, 2018, review of Bear Can’t Sleep; February 1, 2021, review of Bear Can’t Wait; November 15, 2023, review of I Love Your Face!; January 1, 2024, review of Bear Finds Eggs; February 1, 2025, review of Bear Feels Sad.
Publishers Weekly, October 20, 2003, review of A Frog in the Bog, p. 52; March 29, 2004, review of Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo, p. 61; September 27, 2004, review of Bear Stays up for Christmas, p. 61; October 11, 2004, review of Dinos on the Go!, p. 78; March 27, 2006, review of Moose Tracks!, p. 78; November 13, 2006, review of Sleepyhead, p. 56; December 18, 2006, review of I Will Rejoice!, p. 66; October 1, 2007, review of Princess Me, p. 55; July 21, 2008, review of Bear Feels Scared, p. 158; March 9, 2009, review of What’s the Weather Inside?, p. 48; June 28, 2010, review of The Cow Loves Cookies, p. 126; January 17, 2011, review of Mama, Why?, p. 45; April 18, 2011, review of Hogwash!, p. 50; May 28, 2012, review of Horseplay!, p. 96; August 19, 2013, review of Who Goes There?, p. 67; November 11, 2013, review of Outside the Box, p. 73; October 3, 2016, review of Big Bear, Small Mouse, p. 121; November 28, 2016, review of Dormouse Dreams, p. 65.
School Library Journal, February, 2003, Amy Lilien-Harper, review of Bear Wants More, p. 124; December, 2003, Linda L. Walkins, review of A Frog in the Bog, p. 130; May, 2004, Carol Ann Wilson, review of Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo, p. 127; September, 2004, Tana Elias, review of Dinos on the Go!, p. 182; May, 2005, Susan Weitz, review of Mama Always Comes Home, p. 105; June, 2005, Kathleen Simonetta, review of Sweet Briar Goes to Camp, p. 132; September, 2005, Mary Elam, review of Sakes Alive!, p. 188; December, 2005, Lisa Gangemi Kropp, review of Dinos in the Snow!, p. 122; October, 2006, Linda Ludke, review of Sleepyhead, p. 130; May, 2007, Barbara Auerbach, review of How to Bake an American Pie, p. 112; September, 2007, Susan E. Murray, review of Bear Feels Sick, p. 178; January, 2008, Linda M. Kenton, review of Princess Me, p. 100; April, 2008, Lisa Egly Lehmuller, review of Let’s Make a Joyful Noise!, p. 126; September, 2008, Amy Lilien-Harper, review of Bear Feels Scared, and Jane Marino, review of Where Is Home, Little Pip?, both p. 161; March, 2009, Judith Constantinides, review of Mortimer’s First Garden, p. 130; July, 2009, Lauralyn Persson, review of What’s the Weather Inside?, p. 74; October, 2009, Blair Christolon, review of Don’t Be Afraid, Little Pip, p. 108; August, 2010, Sarah Polace, review of The Cow Loves Cookies, p. 88; February, 2011, Martha Simpson, review of What’s in the Egg, Little Pip?, p. 92; March, 2011, Martha Simpson, review of Mama, Why?, p. 139; April, 2011, Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, review of Hogwash!, p. 156; August, 2011, Amy Lilien-Harper, review of Bear’s Loose Tooth, p. 88; May, 2012, Julie Roach, review of Horseplay!, p. 83; August, 2012, Cass Mabbott, review of Bear Says Thanks, p. 88; December, 2013, Ieva Bates, review of Who Goes There?, p. 108; February, 2014, Marie Drucker, review of Outside the Box, p. 122; July, 2014, Marianne Saccardi, review of Bear Sees Colors, p. 79; March, 2015, Catherine Callegari, review of Bear Counts, p. 129; September, 2015, Lynn Van Auken, review of Duddle Puck, the Puddle Duck p. 132; October, 2016, Amy Shepherd, review of Big Bear, Small Mouse, p. 70; June 1, 2017, Mindy Hiatt, review of A Dog Named Doug.
Writer’s Digest, June, 2008, Jackie Disher, author interview.
ONLINE
Karma Wilson website, https://karmawilson.com (August 7, 2025).
Today, Karma is a New York Times best selling children's author and is renowned for her ability to inspire young readers not only with her picture books but teaching them the basics of writing and rhyme. She came from a humble and modest childhood, raised by a single, but determined, mother who believed her only child was destined for something grand. For this reason she named her daughter “Karma” hoping that good karma would shine on her. This is her story.
Karma grew up in the back woods of North Idaho
Karma Wilson grew up an only child of a single mother in the wilds of north Idaho. Way back then (just past the stone age and somewhat before the era of computers) there was no cable TV and if there had been, Karma could not have gotten it. TV reception was limited to 3 channels, of which one came in with some clarity. Karma did the only sensible thing a lonely little girl could do…she read or played outdoors.
Playing outdoors was fun, but reading was Karma’s “first love” and, by the age 11 she was devouring about a novel a day. She was even known to try to read while riding her bike down dirt roads, which she does not recommend as it is hazardous to the general well being of the bike, the rider, and more importantly the book. Her reading preference was fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, etc…) and historical fiction (L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc…). Those preferences have not changed much.
She thought writing would be boring
Karma never considered writing as a profession because her mother was a professional writer which made it seem like boring and mundane work. At the age of 27 she realized that she still loved well written children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels. By that time Karma was a wife and the mother of three young children. Trips to the library with her children were a combination of emotions…when they got a good book there was fun to be had by all, but so many of the books weren’t what her children wanted to listen to.
Then a tax refund changed everything. With the money the family decided to invest in a computer. Karma was forced to learn to type. Combining her desire to make the expensive computer pay for itself, her newfound typing skill, and her love of children’s literature, Karma started writing for children. She wanted to put a few more good books on the library shelves and pay off that computer! Countless rejections and three years later Karma was finally accepted by book agent Steven Malk (who had already rejected her once, which she never lets him forget). Her first book, Bear Snores On, was released in 2002. The computer was paid for!
She's had more than 40 books published
Since then Karma has had more than 40 books accepted for publication. Many of those are on the shelves of libraries and bookstores around the world. Her books have received numerous state and national awards, been translated into dozens of languages, and a few have made an appearance on the New York Times bestseller list. Karma sincerely hopes that her books bring joy to children and families everywhere.
She continues to pursue her dreams
Karma writes humorous, rhyming picture books for the very young and books that share her enthusiasm for life in a fun, understandable way with the youngest readers. Karma is also pursuing her love of outrageously silly but sometimes philosophic poetry for older children (i.e. Shel Silverstein) and has published two books of a simelar genre What’s the Weather Inside and Outside the Box
These days Karma lives on her Montana ranch with her handsome husband Scott, an awesome photographer, and her two cats, Rosie and Chica. Her two boys, Michael and David, help out at the Wilson ranch on weekends and her daughter, Chrissy, with husband, Levi, and the newest member of the family, Chloe, visit them often. Karma's hobbies include reading (of course), photography, baking, and being a grandmother to the brightest, most beautiful grandaughter in the world, Chloe!
"My life did play out as good karma, after all," says Karma, "and may all my young reader's lives be filled with good karma too!"
What is your favorite book that you have written?
FAQ from Karma WilsonThat is like asking which of my children I like best. There really is no set answer. There are things I like about all of my books. I would say that the Bear books are very meaningful to me because Bear and his friend are constantly growing and changing as characters. Bear books are always fun to write. I love Mortimer’s Manger because it was the first book I wrote exploring what I believe in. Another favorite is Sweet Briar Goes to School because Sweet Briar was based upon my own daughter (though my daughter smells quite nice). I like Frog in the Bog because I felt the language and rhyme is some of the most playful I’ve written, and it’s gross, and gross is fun!
How long does it take to write a book?
There is no real answer to this question. I have one book that took an afternoon to write. I had another that took over two years! The amount of time a book takes to write from the moment it enters my head until it is through the final edits varies from book to book. I would say the average is one month.
What do you do besides write?
Oh, a lot of various things. Now that my kids are gone I have lots of time to do school visits and tell stories. I love to bake. A lot of my time is devoted to my grandaughter, Chloe. I surf the net. I hike and camp. I take lots and lots of photographs.
What are your favorite books by other authors?
I love all sorts of fiction, but mostly children and young adult literature. C.S. Lewis is my favorite author…specifically for his Narnia books (My favorite Narnia book is Voyage of the Dawn Treader). I love the picture book, Where the Wild Things Are. A quick list of favorites would include:
Where the Red Fern Grows By Wilson Rawls
The Relatives Came By Cynthia Rylant, Illus. by Stephen Gammell
Ol’ Black Fly By Jim Aylesworth Illus. Stephen Gammell
The Giver By Lois Lowry
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie By Alison Jackson, Illus. by Judy Schacher
Hatchet By Gary Paulsen
Little House Series By Laura Ingalls Wilder
Anne of Green Gables By L.M. Montgomery
Little Women By Louisa May Alcott
Secret Garden By Frances Hodgson Burnett
Little Sister Ate One Hare By Bill Grossman, Illus. by Kevin Hawkes
The Monster at the End of this Book By John Stone, Illus. by Michael Smollin
Where the Sidewalk Ends By Shel Silverstein
How long did it take you to get published?
Bear Snore On CoverI was rejected repeatedly for 3 years when I first started writing. My first book to sell was Bear Snores On. It was accepted first by my agent Steven Malk. He submitted it once and it was rejected. Then he submitted it to Simon and Schuster. They loved it.
Do your kids help you write books?
Yes, they do. They help by listening to them as I write them and telling me if something doesn’t seem right. They give me funny ideas for my books. My husband helps the most though. Many of my books were actually based on his ideas ( Bear Stays Up for Christmas for instance). A lot of my poems in my next poetry book What’s the Weather Inside were based on funny quirks about my kids.
Do you illustrate your own books?
No, I can’t draw anything that you would recognize! I do take photographs, and am working on some books using my photos, but that is the only illustrative talent I possess. Funny enough, I did have some talent for art as a teen, but lost it in adulthood.
Wilson, Karma I LOVE YOUR FACE! Orchard/Scholastic (Children's None) $18.99 11, 7 ISBN: 9781338722741
Lively, bouncy rhymes celebrate all the faces babies make.
Babies display a variety of expressions as they interact with grown-ups, pets, and other children. A baby with pale skin and blond hair smiles exuberantly, while a child with brown skin and soft, puffy dark-brown hair looks out from behind a curtain. But "even when you pout and frown, / you've got the cutest face in town," reassures the unseen narrator. Love shines through, too, as the babies gaze into their grown-ups' eyes. Ford's illustrations of babies--brought to life with a vivid palette--convey a range of emotions through hyperbolic expressions, punctuated by cartoonish, sidewise mouths that at times seem artificial. The babies' races are cued through skin tone, eye color, and hair color and texture; the Asian-presenting child is primarily distinguished through a shift in artistic style from exaggeratedly round, wide-open eyes for the others to smaller ones, an artistic choice that's reinforced by the fact that the Asian-presenting child is exclusively shown looking downward or sleeping, further making the baby's eyes seem smaller than those of the others. Wilson's ebullient text celebrates the narrator's love for the babies' many faces throughout the day, amid a jaunty octosyllabic meter that skips a beat here and there ("Dream, my dear, of your happy place").
Uneven but may win out readers just the same. (Picture book. 2-5)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Wilson, Karma: I LOVE YOUR FACE!" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2023. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A772515387/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b2e689de. Accessed 18 June 2025.
Wilson, Karma BEAR FINDS EGGS McElderry (Children's None) $18.99 1, 16 ISBN: 9781665936552
In his latest outing, Bear and his pals go in search of eggs.
Bear "lumbers with his friends through the Strawberry Vale." Raven finds a nest; climbing up, "The bear finds eggs!": a refrain that appears throughout. Instead of eating the robin's eggs, however, Bear leaves a gift of dried berries in the nest for the "soon-to-be-chicks." Next, the friends find 10 mallard eggs (as bright blue as the robin's), and Bear leaves sunflower seeds. Then the wail of Mama Meadowlark, whose bright yellow undercarriage strikes a warm golden note, leads them to promise to find her lost eggs. With his friends' assistance, Bear finds one, and they decide to paint them "so they aren't lost again." Another is discovered, painted, and placed in Hare's basket. After hours of persistent searching, Bear suddenly spots the remaining two eggs "in a small patch of clover." Before they can return these eggs, the chicks hatch and rejoin their mother. Back at his lair, Bear, with his troupe, is visited by all 17 chicks and the robin, mallard, and meadowlark moms: "And the bear finds friends!" Though this sweet spring tale centers on finding and painting eggs, it makes no overt references to Easter. The soft green and blue acrylics, predictable rhymes, and rolling rhythm make this series installment another low-key natural read-aloud.
Cheery fun that will leave series fans "egg"-static. (Picture book. 3-6)
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"Wilson, Karma: BEAR FINDS EGGS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A777736966/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=cd376b50. Accessed 18 June 2025.
Wilson, Karma BEAR FEELS SAD McElderry (Children's None) $19.99 5, 6 ISBN: 9781665936576
Friends can brighten one's disposition.
Deep in his lair, Bear's lonely because no one's around to play with him. Mouse, Wren, and Owl are foraging, while Hare's helping his sister dig weeds. Badger's fishing, and Gopher and Mole are digging tunnels. Raven, writing poetry, can't be disturbed. "I'm bored!" sighs Bear. "I don't want to be alone!" "And the bear feels sad"--a refrain the rhyming text repeats frequently. Bear's carrot snack isn't so tasty when there's no one to share it with. Building a blanket fort passes the time, but it isn't nearly as much fun on his own. Even the discovery of a field filled with beautiful flowers is cause for unhappiness--his buddies can't see them. Bear fashions bouquets uniquely suited to each friend. Thinking about his pals gladdens him somewhat, and he heads home. Near his den, Bear hears voices: His friends have returned, bearing gifts for him from their exploits. Raven reads his poem, and Bear distributes his bouquets. Everyone plays and chats. Bear's mood now? "GLAD!" This sweet tale, expressed in well-constructed verse, makes keen observations about how the warmth of camaraderie can swiftly turn sadness to joy. The sunshine-bright acrylic illustrations, featuring endearing animal characters, will lift readers' spirits as the kindness of Bear's companions boosts his own.
A read sure to banish melancholy feelings once and for all.(Picture book. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Wilson, Karma: BEAR FEELS SAD." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A825128454/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=feaf793c. Accessed 18 June 2025.