WRITERS' RUMPUS

Yes, the title of this post borrows from this gloriously AWEsome picture book (published March 3, 2026 by Scholastic Press), but I totally couldn’t resist! Both a visual treat (thank you, Susan) and an inspiring read (thank you, Chana), what makes AWE! vault into being one of the best picture books I’ve ever read is how the words and pictures meld together to create a memorable, soul stirring, heart lifting experience.

Interview with #Kidlit Coauthor of Unbreakable – Jolene Gutiérrez

June 9, 2026 Monica Acker

Storytelling unites generations, preserves culture, and shares the human experience. It can connect us to the past in the hope of a better future. This

When Narration and Puzzles Intertwine: Creating Storified Puzzle Books

June 5, 2026 Alumni & Guests

Guest Post by Derek Reid I’ve always dealt in the truth and glory of the real universe. When I was five or six years old,

Picture Book Review: In The World of Whales

June 2, 2026 Genevieve Rossi

In The World of Whales, written by Michelle Cusolito and illustrated by Jessica Lanan, was published by Neal Porter books on June 17, 2025. Upon

I Wish I Didn’t Have To Tell You This

May 26, 2026 Marti Johnson

I WISH I DIDN’T HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS was written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin, a Russian-born American author and an artist of many

Bibsy Cross Might Be Too Much for Some, But She’s Everything to Me!

March 4, 2025 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

This past November, something kind of amazing and once-in-a-blue-moon happened. The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) had its annual conference in my home

Interview with Kaz Windness

February 25, 2025 Monica Acker

Hello, readers! I am a new writer to Writer’s Rumpus and will be bringing you interviews, reviews, and more every other month. I am excited

Interview with Rajani LaRocca, celebrated author of SONA and the GOLDEN BEASTS

February 18, 2025 Laura Fineberg Cooper

Rajani pours her heart and incredible talent into each new story for children she writes: it’s no wonder she has garnered so many well-deserved awards!

Interview with talented #kidlit author/illustrator, Kari Percival

February 11, 2025 Carol Gordon Ekster

CAROL GORDON EKSTER: I met Kari when a mutual friend started a critique group. I was instantly impressed by Kari’s writing and illustration talents as

Helping Writers and Readers Cope

February 4, 2025 Joyce Audy Zarins

The themes in picture books are intended to assist children in dealing with the world around them, and authors benefit in the same way. These

Banner showing author Lydia Lukidis and covers of two of her books

Atmospheric Poetry: New STEM picture book Up, Up High joins Deep, Deep Down

January 28, 2025 Marianne Knowles

Lydia Lukidis’s STEM picture books, Up, Up, High and Deep, Deep Down, blend poetic storytelling with scientific information, offering engaging journeys through Earth’s atmosphere and ocean depths for readers of all ages.