WRITERS' RUMPUS

Writing Side by Side: Adriana Mather and James Bird on Books, Family, and Finding the Magic

July 7, 2026 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

Writing is often described as a solitary pursuit. Most of us spend our days alone with our thoughts, our characters, and a blinking cursor. Yet

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Celebrating America’s Birthday with a talented author/illustrator team!

July 3, 2026 Marcia Strykowski

We’re just in time to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with Roxanne Troup and Jennifer Doehring. They have a beautiful new picture book, Happy Birthday America,

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#kidlit Interview with the Awesome and Talented Caroline Perry

June 30, 2026 Carol Gordon Ekster

Carol Gordon Ekster: Welcome, Caroline! I’m so excited to highlight you here at Writers’ Rumpus. Can you tell us about your journey into becoming a

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

June 16, 2026 Laura Fineberg Cooper

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.

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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

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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,

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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

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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

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Interview and Inspiration with Tenacious #Kidlit Author Pam Vaughan

December 16, 2025 Monica Acker

Pam Vaughan is one of the most supportive creators in the kidlit community. She cheers everyone on with her positivity. It came as no shock

Interview with author/illustrator, Joy Nelkin Wieder

December 9, 2025 Carol Gordon Ekster

Carol Gordon Ekster: Our guest today is Joy Nelkin Wieder, a talented long time New England creative. It is my pleasure in this holiday season

Recent Reads Roundup

December 2, 2025 Marcia Strykowski

There have been so many great books released this past year, I had to squeeze in one more multi-book post highlighting some of my favorites.

WRITING CHAPTER BOOKS WITH HUMOR

November 25, 2025 Alumni & Guests

I’m hoping to build on Vicky Fang’s blog post, focusing specifically on humor: How do you create a humorous chapter book series that engages young readers and keeps them turning page after page after page?

New in Picture Books: Hello, Tobi! by Andrea Cáceres

November 18, 2025 Keri Demers

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

Interview with Kimberly Tso, Debut Author of TIC-TAC-TOE CHICKEN…and a GIVEAWAY!

November 11, 2025 Laura Fineberg Cooper

Kimberly, it’s my pleasure to welcome you to Writers’ Rumpus! Congratulations on your debut picture book, Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken, published August 19, 2025 by Third State