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

How to Become Your Own Copy Editor

September 16, 2025 Laura Fineberg Cooper

“Impossible!” you cry. “Nonsense!” I reply. Here are ten common issues found in novel manuscripts and tips to help you avoid or correct them.

Show and Tell: Back to School Books

September 9, 2025 Keri Demers

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

Writing About a Living Person: A Conversation with Author Danna Zeiger and Dr. Kathleen Friel

September 2, 2025 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

If you’ve been keeping up with our wildly engaging Writers’ Rumpus blog this summer, then you’ve already become well-acquainted with debut author Danna Zeiger and

Two illustrated sisters are in a serious embrace in front of a fall setting for the cover of Finding Forgiveness on the left. On the right a woman wearing a blue shirt and statement necklace with chin length hair holds her head in her hand while smiling cheekily and looking off to the left.

Interview with #Kidlit Writer Rebecca Gardyn Levington on Finding Forgiveness

August 26, 2025 Monica Acker

Hello readers! The dog days of summer are winding down. It’s in the 60’s in New England as I write this! I love summer sunshine,

A LANGUAGE OF DRAGONS by S.F. Williamson: Class struggles, Codebreaking, and Conspiracies

August 19, 2025 Laura Fineberg Cooper

Yes, I have a weakness for dragon books, especially those that portray dragons as creatures capable of intelligent thought and compassion. I’m definitely the kind of person who would go up to one and try to strike up a conversation, if the chance ever presented itself in the scaly, fire-breathing flesh.