Dan McCauley

The Books

Dan is the author of the Thank You, World series with Free Spirit Publishing — a collection of lyrical picture books that invite children and families to spend time outdoors, slow down, and notice how the beauty of the natural world can make them feel. Publishers Weekly has noted that the series "captures the beneficial qualities of mindful movement."

Dan is also developing a series of sports picture books with Curiosity Unlocked, set to begin releasing in Fall 2027. The series explores the dreams and special moments that families and communities share through sports.

Dan is currently exploring personal narrative and longer-form memoir work that explores his life and his Bronx and New York City roots.

A Career in Education

Outside of writing, Dan is a learning specialist and educational therapist with more than a decade of experience supporting students across K–12 schools and beyond, with a focus on students with learning differences and other vulnerable populations.

Dan began his teaching career as an English teacher in the Bronx, where he was raised, and later moved to Los Angeles, where he continues to work as a learning specialist, program coordinator, and educational therapist.

Roots

Raised by Little League coaches who bought him cleats, soccer teammates who became family, and a mother who painted his childhood ceilings red, gold, and orange, Dan learned early that love can take many forms. These kinds of love not only became how Dan made sense of the world, but eventually how he would write in it.

Dan wasn't known for being a big reader or strong writer growing up. He often struggled to keep up with his reading homework and school in general. Instead, Dan slowly discovered his need to write and make sense of the world through the back of his eight grade math notebook, where he secretly journaled and wrote poems while waiting for the school bell to ring to play baseball.

Visits and Speaking

Dan continues to teach full time, and he has led readings and workshops at schools, libraries, and bookstores, and has participated in speaking events in different parts of the country.

His visits can be tailored around themes including mindfulness, social-emotional learning, storytelling, sports, resilience, student confidence, and finding joy in teaching. As both an author and educator, Dan brings a warm, dynamic, people-centered approach to every visit. He loves connecting with others, and reveling in that the world is filled with miracles waiting to be noticed.

Reach out via the contact form to explore future opportunities.

Memberships and Credentials:

Dan received his bachelors from New York University and studied the power of storytelling, teaching, and child and adolescent mental health. He has a Masters Degree in the Art of Teaching and a certificate in educational therapy with more than 3,000 hours of practice.

Dan is an active member of the Authors Guild and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

When He's Not Writing

Dan can often be found taking walks around his LA neighborhood or by the ocean with his wife, watching sports, or visiting New York to spend time with friends and family. In what he calls his favorite past-time role, he spent more than ten years coaching sports and introducing New York City kids to the game he loves most: baseball.