A. J. Irving

A. J. Irving is an American children's book author. She is the author of Dance Like a Leaf, The Wishing Flower (2023), and The Bi Book (2025).

Irving grew up in Boise, Idaho. She received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and women's and gender studies from the University of Oregon. As of 2026, she lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and two children.

Dance Like a Leaf (2020) Dance Like a Leaf, illustrated by Claudia Navarro, was published by Barefoot Books in 2020. The book focuses on a young girl and her grandmother as the grandmother's health declines and the girl is eventually left sitting on a bed alone. It has been translated into Spanish as Baila como una hoja by María A. Pérez and into French as Danser comme une feuille by Jennifer Couëlle.

Dance Like a Leaf received a starred review from School Library Journal, whose Robbin E. Friedman wrote that the "evocative pairing of story and art creates a tone poem and lesson, a lovely reflection on the seasons of life, and a gentle lead-in to discussion of death and renewal". The Chicago Public Library included Baila como una hoja on their list of the best picture books of 2020.

The Wishing Flower (2023) The Wishing Flower, illustrated by Kip Alizadeh, was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2023. The book focuses on two girls: Birdie and Sunny. Birdie is pale-skinned and has short, curly red hair, while Sunny has beige skin and long, dark hair. Birdie enjoys making wishes on dandelions but does not have friends until Sunny arrives at school, at which point Birdie feels like "two dragonflies played tag in Birdie's tummy" and her "heart fluttered as fast as a hummingbird's wings".

The book was well received by critics, including starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews School Library Journal. Kirkus described the book as "an expertly drawn and composed introduction to self-discovery".

The Bi Book (2025) The Bi Book, illustrated by Cynthia Alonso, was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2025. The book focuses on two girls at the beach and includes words that use the prefix bi, including bicycle, bivalvle, biracial, and bisexual, the latter of which Irving notes can mean "more than two".

The Bi Book was well received by critics, including a starred review from Booklist, who described the book as "a sweet, loving lesson in language and love, on a subject rarely covered." Reviewers spoke to the book's writing, illustrations, and message about inclusion. In regards to the writing, Kirkus Reviews noted that "some of the concepts will be a bit abstract for young readers", though this is supported through a "much-needed glossary". Reviewers praised Alonso's illustrations, "done using dry pastels, wax crayons, and colored pencils",

Publications