illustration – WRITERS' RUMPUS

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

INTERVIEW WITH #KIDLIT #RHYMING #PICTUREBOOK AUTHOR CHRISTINA SHAWN AND ILLUSTRATOR SHAHRZAD MAYDANI ABOUT PICTURE BOOK AND THEN CAME YOU

July 22, 2025 DrZatHome

By Danna Zeiger Christina has been a long-time beloved critique partner and friend. We have journeyed through the wild path of publishing together, and I

Where Are the Women? Interview With Author-Illustrator Janice Hechter…And a Giveaway!

July 1, 2025 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

“An inspiring true story of female empowerment.” -KIRKUS REVIEWS

New 2025 Picture Books!

May 27, 2025 Marcia Strykowski

There have been so many wonderful new books lately! This post will focus mostly on picture books from three successful publishers who generously shared new

Climbing Onward with Junko Tabei…and Leveled Nonfiction!

May 6, 2025 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

I’m a nerdy but lovable nonfiction writer. More lovable than nerdy, ok? As such, I’m constantly on the lookout for a mind-blowing, heart-hugging real-life story,

A Warbler’s Journey: A Picture Book by Noted Naturalist Scott Weidensaul

April 15, 2025 Joyce Audy Zarins

“No one who reads this can remain unmoved by this tiny bird’s tenacity; this is sure to create avid new bird-watchers.” – Kirkus Imagine a

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

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

2025 Caldecott Contender: The Yellow Bus by Loren Long

January 14, 2025 Keri Demers

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

Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall Are Back At It…With STELLA & MARIGOLD!

January 7, 2025 Hilary Elizabeth Margitich

One of the great highlights of my summer, besides attending a fantastic writing retreat in the green mountains of Vermont, was receiving an advanced reader copy of Stella & Marigold from Chronicle Books (thank you from the bottom of my book-loving heart, Chronicle). It’s the first book in a brand-new early reader series for children 6-9 years old, by the magical author-illustrator duo Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall.