WRITERS' RUMPUS

Ooh! Ahhh! Whoaa! Interview and Giveaway with Chana Stiefel and Susan Gal, the AWEsomely Creative Team Behind AWE!

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 #JEWISH #KIDLIT #PICTUREBOOK AUTHOR DOREEN KLEIN ROBINSON, PLUS A DOUBLE CRITIQUE AND BOOK GIVEAWAY

January 27, 2026 DrZatHome

Doreen is my talented, lovely, cheering-with-all-her-soul at every beautiful book that is birthed, Jewish writing partner who I’ve known for years now. Thanks to PJ

Interviews with Elly Berke and Luciana Navarro Powell, the gifted author and illustrator duo of LISTEN, WONDER, ASK … and a giveaway, too!!

January 20, 2026 Laura Fineberg Cooper

It’s my great honor to introduce Listen, Wonder, Ask (Tilbury House Publishers, September 17, 2024) and the gifted author/illustrator team of Elly Berke and Luciana Navarro Powell to our Writers’ Rumpus audience in my first post of 2026.

Meet the Talented Alexandra Thompson, Author & Illustrator!

January 13, 2026 Amy Amberg

Amy Amberg (AA): Hi Alexandra! I’m looking forward to the publication of your newest book, Hazel and Herbert, due out at the end of February!

Growing the Creepy: How Aaron Reynolds’s Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales! Grows With Young Readers

January 6, 2026 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

A look at how Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown grow their beloved Creepy picture books into early chapter books — and why spooky stories work year-round for young readers.

The 2025 Writers’ Rumpus Year in Review

December 30, 2025 Laura Fineberg Cooper

Before we close the book on 2025, I welcome you to peruse my annual Writers’ Rumpus Year in Review. As with my first review post back in 2017, my goal for 2025 is to showcase the breadth and depth of our offerings from our talented contributors with a single post from each.