Together We Build -- Susan Vaught, Hardcover

A community of animals and humans work together to rebuild their farm after a storm causes damage in this companion picture book to Together We Grow by award-winning author Susan Vaught and acclaimed illustrator Kelly Murphy.

Flee and gather,
holding tight
helping friends
survive the night.

After a flood sweeps through, a family and their animals emerge from their shelters to find their farm and woods in disarray. As they start to tidy up and make repairs, tensions run high. Can the animals and humans work together to rebuild their homes?

Author: Susan Vaught
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Published: 01/20/2026
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Size: 10.00h x 10.00w x 0.11d
ISBN: 9781665902830
Audience: Ages 4-8

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 10/15/2025

About the Author
Susan Vaught is the two-time Edgar Award­-winning author of Footer Davis Probably Is Crazy and Me and Sam-Sam Handle the Apocalypse. Things Too Huge to Fix by Saying Sorry received three starred reviews, and Super Max and the Mystery of Thornwood's Revenge was called "an excellent addition to middle grade shelves" by School Library Journal. Her debut picture book, Together We Grow, received four starred reviews and was called a "picture book worth owning and cherishing" by Kirkus Reviews. She works as a neuropsychologist at a state psychiatric facility and lives on a farm with her wife and son in rural western Kentucky. Learn more at SusanVaught.com.

Kelly Murphy is a New York Times bestselling author-illustrator and recipient of the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award. She teaches illustration at her alma mater, the Rhode Island School of Design. Kelly currently lives in her native New England, surrounded by the flora and fauna featured in Together We Grow. She is also the illustrator of Together We Build. Find out more at KelMurphy.com.