Some books arrive right when you need them. The Cabbage Seed’s Colossal Secret is one of those books. Inspired by the true story of a
Tag: Inspiration
Growing the Creepy: How Aaron Reynolds’s Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales! Grows With Young Readers
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.
Writing Across Genres & Empowering Indie Authors: Author-Publisher Donna L. Martin
I met children’s author and indie publisher Donna L. Martin through a #BookHero school library book drive I coordinate every March with fellow kidlit authors
Show and Tell: Back to School Books
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
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
Meet the Talented #kidlit #debut author, Danna Zeiger, plus #giveaway
CAROL GORDON EKSTER: Danna is in my Andover, MA SCBWI critique group. Her debut book comes out this September, and I want to introduce you
Where Are the Women? Interview With Author-Illustrator Janice Hechter…And a Giveaway!
“An inspiring true story of female empowerment.” -KIRKUS REVIEWS
Challenging a Dystopian World: An Enlightening Interview with Gregory Maguire
The sense of hope in Gregory Maguire’s I Feel Like the Morning Star radiates despite the dire circumstances the characters have been thrust into. At
Climbing Onward with Junko Tabei…and Leveled Nonfiction!
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
“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!
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
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
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!
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.
WRITERS' RUMPUS 