"I thank author Jayne Moore Waldrop for inviting all of us, children and adults, to step into the creaturely world with affection and eyes open to wonder. There is so much we hold in common with our “wild neighbors.” 

—Virginia Berry Aguilar, Director, Agrarian Culture Center and Bookstore,The Berry Center

"Back to Our Nests provides us an inspirational reminder that our human connection with nature is nourishing and essential. By sharing the simple and honest joy of a summer day outdoors, Jayne Moore Waldrop’s story teaches readers of all ages how to connect, and reconnect, to the world that sustains us. It is a delightful book for finding and discussing the wonders of the natural world."

—Bob Ford, Migratory Bird Biologist (retired), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

"Jayne Moore Waldrop’s Back to Our Nests demonstrates how a childhood experience can become an important mile marker in the way a child sees the world and how these moments in nature impact a child’s future—and ours. The book captures many important lessons about the world we share with other living creatures." —John Pollpeter, Lead Naturalist, Woodlands Nature Station, Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

*49th Appalachian Writers’ Workshop at Hindman Settlement School, Hindman, Kentucky, July 27, 2026, Jayne Moore Waldrop and Deborah Slone lead a session titled “Seeing the Big Picture in Children’s Books: Collaboration Between Author and Illustrator. The session explore the collaborative process behind bringing a picture book to life, with insights on ensuring that story and art reflect a strong sense of place and a child’s wonder of their shared habitable.  

*Additional Author and illustrator appearances currently scheduled appearances

20th Annual Kentucky Women’s Book Festival on October 24, 2026, panel and book signing and the 45th Annual Kentucky Book Festival, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington, KY, Saturday, November 7, 2026. 

*Book launch events in central and western Kentucky are being planned with a focus on selecting event venues that connect through their mission and physical locations with the themes of Back to Our Nest: nature, outdoors, shared habitats, family rituals, science, art, and conservation.

8Storytime, book signings, and other appearances are being planned with a focus on independent bookstores, art and science education venues, nature walks, outdoor parks, museum and other specialty shops that connect with the story, the art, the environment, science and other themes of Back to Our Nests   

*School visits—in person and virtual—are being explored with the goal to connect Back to Our Nests with STEAM classrooms, connecting the themes of the book through storytelling and hands-on student activities 

*Social media campaigns on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube 

*Promotional plans include pre- and post-publication press releases, a media-kit, author interviews, author op-ed pieces, NetGalley listing, book give-away promotions