Mary Boone

Mary Boone has hung out backstage with a boy band, DNA-tested salmon, and baked dozens of cricket cookies – all in the interest of research for her books and magazine articles. She’s written 70+ nonfiction books for young readers. Mary's books include PEDAL PUSHER (Henry Holt & Co., 2025), SCHOOL OF FISH (Albert Whitman & Co., 2024) and BUGS FOR BREAKFAST: How Eating Insects Could Help Save the World (Chicago Review Press, 2021). Other books on the horizon include picture book biography FLYING FEMINIST (Andersen Press, 2026) and a middle-grade collection of stories related to our oceans, UNFATHOMABLE (Bright Matter/Penguin Random House, 2026).

Mary grew up in rural Iowa. Prior to becoming an author, she reported and edited for several daily newspapers. She now lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband, Mitch. Mary loves being outdoors, reading, and hanging out with her very stubborn Airedale Terrier, Ruthie Bader.