• Publication Season/Year: Summer 2009
• Publisher: Tilbury House Publishers
• Release Date: June 30, 2009
• ISBN: 978-0-88448-313-7
  

ALWAYS MY BROTHER is a fiction picture book about sibling death told from the perspective of a younger sister, Becky. More than anything else, she and her brother loved to play soccer together. When he dies, she quits soccer. Eventually, with the insistence of their dog, Toby, Becky recaptures her joy of soccer while honoring her loss. This story which portrays honest emotions and realistic hope is sprinkled with humor.

ALWAYS MY BROTHER was inspired by the relationship between my two children, before the loss of our son in 2005.

Jane Yolen (OWL MOON): “In a better word, no child would need a book about the death of her brother. But here is a tender, even joyful book about such a tragic event. And the last line had me sobbing.”

The Author: Jean Reagan
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

I have been a member of SCBWI for five years and have won numerous writing awards:

• *Seventh Place, Writer’s Digest’s annual competition, children’s fiction. (2007)
• Honorable Mention, Writer’s Digest’s annual competition, children’s fiction. (2005, 2006, and 2007)
• Grand Prize, Smartwriters.com’s WIN Shorts contest. (2005)
• First Place, League of Utah Writer’s contest, picture book category. (2006)
• First Place, Southwest Writer’s contest, picture book category. (2007)

In the summers, my husband and I are wilderness volunteer rangers in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Our cabin has no running water or electricity and is situated on a lake miles away from a road. I generate story ideas while hiking the trails or canoeing the lake.

About the Author

I have been a member of SCBWI for five years and have won numerous writing awards: *Seventh Place, Writer’s Digest’s annual competition, children’s fiction. (2007) * Honorable Mention, Writer’s Digest’s annual competition, children’s fiction. (2005, 2006, and 2007) * Grand Prize, Smartwriters.com’s WIN Shorts contest. (2005) * First Place, League of Utah Writer’s contest, picture book category. (2006) * First Place, Southwest Writer’s contest, picture book category. (2007)  Read more about how to book or contact Jean Reagan.