Louise M. Aamodt

Picture Book Author

crafting books for curious minds

Old-fashioned typewriter sprouts leaves and seeds as an ant poses atop.
Oval-shaped photo of Louise M. Aamodt smiling outside.

Meet Louise

A young Louise M. Aamodt stands outside with her boxer dog and a garden shovel.

I’m Louise M. Aamodt, rhymes with ‘comet.’ I’m hooked on picture books and always keep a bag or three of them nearby. In waiting rooms, I’m the one adult reading kid lit instead of grown-up magazines. My favorite books evoke curiosity about the natural world and instill hope in readers. The only thing I like as much as reading picture books is writing them, usually while drinking copious amounts of tea.

Three photos show author Louise dressed as a cat holding the book Millions of Cats, reading a book to children inside a tent, and reading Charlotte's Web.

I’ve been teaching for over a quarter of a century, with students ranging from preschool through high school. As an active member of SCBWI, I participate in multiple critique groups. I live in Minnesota with my husband, sons, and assorted critters that nobody else wanted.

A decorative button states "Nature Nerd" and has a moose in the background.

Some things I love:

  1. watching bugs

  2. organic gardening

  3. traveling

  4. learning

  5. country living

  6. Oxford commas

  7. my pollinator field

  8. delicious word choices

  9. old book smell

Author Louise M. Aamodt lies on her stomach on a sidewalk, watching leaf cutter ants.

Leaf cutter ants in Ecuador!

Some things I do NOT love:

dressing up

mosquitos

meat

bright sun

wet socks

tornados

stinging nettle

Three photos of author Louise M. Aamodt: one screaming inside a rocky cave crevice, one balancing an egg on a nail head, and one throwing a pot of water into the wintery air.

Are you curious like me?

What’s it like to sleep in a cave? Can eggs really balance on a nail at the equator? Does boiling water really freeze mid-air?

Three photos of Louise M. Aamodt: one holding a giant centipede at night, one holding a lassoed pair of butterfly chrysalises, and one holding a giant leaf insect.

What’s the best kind of nature walk?

A SLOW one!

You’ll be amazed at what you can find right around you, if only you slow down to look and wonder.