Jenny Turnbull

Jenny Turnbull is a children's book author who tapped into her passion for writing picture books after getting a B.A. in English and a career in product placement for film and television and writing for news. Now, Jenny focuses on writing picture books inspired by her love for animals, outrageous characters, and the occasional secret agent. Jenny is drawn to quirky, bold characters and allows her inner 8-year-old to run the show. Although Jenny writes for kids, she feels picture books have a little magic for humans of all ages.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Jenny is an animal lover and advocate and currently lives in Manhattan Beach, CA.

Claire Nist at Crown has bought world rights to Tate's Wild Rescue by Jenny Turnbull and illustrated by Izzy Burton, a picture book told through letters between an animal-loving girl who offers a variety of wild animals to be her best friend and protect them from the wild, and the animals who are frankly not impressed. Publication is set for summer 2024.

Reviews

Tate’s Wild Rescue

“Tate would love to have a wild animal in the house…but for some reason, they’re not interested in moving in.

Determined to “rescue” the creatures she loves, Tate—a small, brown-skinned child with big, soulful eyes—writes letters to a variety of animals, declaring, “I want to save you from the wild!” Discouragingly, the lion responds to her offer of a safe home, a bath, and free meals with a “Proud Pass,” while the orca turns up its nose at the idea of living in Tate’s kiddie pool (“Sometimes I swim forty miles a day”). The grizzly bear emphasizes that it needs a den far bigger than Tate could provide (“I’ll be 800 pounds in no time”). Though some readers may question whether the trash-picking raccoons depicted in the story are really living in the wild, the author’s point about forcing wildlife into unnatural habitats is well taken, as is her closing suggestion that supporting animal conservation and rescue organizations is a better way to go. As for Tate, readers will be happy to see her connect at last with the stray dog that’s been shadowing her from the beginning and quickly becomes the perfect recipient for the promised home, bath, and meals.

An appealing invitation to consider the nuances in there being “no place like home.” (ways to help animals, websites for animal rescue organizations, author’s note)” —Kirkus Reviews