Hello, Tobi (Candlewick, 2025), by Author/Illustrator Andrea Cáceres had me at hello. Literally. The cover is a playful invitation, with an illustration of Cáceres’s 15-year-old
Author: Keri Demers
Keri lives in Topsfield, MA with her husband, her two young adult daughters, and their adorable (and incorrigible) cockapoo, Dewey. She’s spent the last twenty-five years in elementary education, both as a classroom teacher and currently as a Reading Specialist and Literacy Coach. A handful of picture book and YA drafts are currently camped out rent-free in her Google Drive—quietly loitering while she coaxes them to life, one stubborn page at a time. Teaching grounds her—writing for young people lets her capture the wonder, mess, and magic of growing up. There are four words she hopes to hear one day—blurted out with a healthy dose of disbelief: “Wait… you wrote this?” That’s the dream—and she’s stubborn enough to chase it.
Show and Tell: Back to School Books
September may be shouting “Back to the books!” but let’s be real— kid-lit writers (hi, that’s us) never actually put them down. The shelves keep
More Than a Page Turner: Julie Soto’s Bold YA Debut is a Must-Study Mentor Text.
Fellow writers, we’ve all looked to successful kidlit authors (you’ll spot some of the best in the photo below!) for advice, inspiration, and tips on
2025 Caldecott Contender: The Yellow Bus by Loren Long
School buses have been an inspiration for lots of picture books over the years. Just peruse any children’s library and you’ll find stories about nervous
Herve Tullet’s Newest Picture Book: “Dot! Scribble! Go!” is a Must-Buy Book for Kids on the Nice List this Holiday Season!
Renowned French multi-disciplinary artist, performer, illustrator and children’s author, Herve Tullet, is a true creative genius. Amongst his many artistic talents, he’s written more than 80 books for children which have been translated into more than 30 languages.
Where to Begin with “Back to School” Picture Books?
Morning alarms are set once again. Backpacks burst with new notebooks and freshly sharpened pencils. School buses buzz around town. “First day of school” photos
A Touching Story of Sibling Conflict and Understanding in a Recently Released Picture Book: Terrible Horses
Don’t let the title fool you. Terrible Horses by Raymond Antrobus, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max (Candlewick, 2024) is a terrific new picture book, described by
Two New Hilarious and Interactive Stories for Kids by Drew Daywalt and Donna Lambo-Weidner
Funny picture books. That’s my jam. As an Elementary Literacy Coach, I read a lot of picture books to kiddos and I recognize an adorable,
Was it a great debut picture book author I interviewed? Yes. Yes, it was!
I love me some wordplay and Laura Bontje’s debut picture book Was It a Cat I Saw? (Amicus, March 2024) does not disappoint. The clever
Just One Pebble: Interview with Picture Book Author Dianna Wilson Sirkovski
Just One Pebble is the inspirational story of how nine-year-old Braeden Mannering started a non-profit organization called Brae’s Brown Bags in an effort to end hunger. Dianna Wilson Sirkovski came across Braedan’s story on (link to website) and says, “The story reached out and wrapped its fingers around my heart.”
Novel Review: Perchance to Dream by Debut Author Tamara Belko
In Perchance to Dream, debut YA author Tamara Belko seamlessly intertwines dual points of view, one in verse and one in prose, to tell a coming-of-age story about loss and second chances.
Writing YA? Stressing Over Structure? Check Out Jessica Brody’s New Book: Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel, The Ultimate Guide to Writing a YA Bestseller
Let’s warm up with a True or False Pop Quiz about Story Structure:
THE LOUD LIBRARIAN: Written by Jenna Beatrice and Illustrated by Erika Lynne Jones
Everyone knows that all CAPS = yelling. So, yes, I AM, in fact, yelling the title of Jenna Beatrice’s debut picture book THE LOUD LIBRARIAN at the top of my lungs. Please don’t shush me because this book (2023, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster) is just too darn cute to keep quiet about!
Q: What do you get when you cross a tennis ball with some prairie dogs? A: An award-winning picture book recipe. (Obviously!)
I don’t know about you, but I see a regular, old, green tennis ball in that dog’s mouth. Author/Illustrator Janet Stevens, on the other hand, saw a mysterious green, fuzzy object from the POV of a prairie dog. And when this mysterious object rolled down a prairie dog tunnel, it caused mayhem amongst prairie dogs far and wide.
WRITERS' RUMPUS 