Member News

Glenda Armand’s and Kim Freeman’s book “Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better,” illustrated by Keith Mallett, won the 2025 Texas Bluebonnet Award. The award is voted on by students in grades 3 to 6 across the state. They will receive their award at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference in Dallas. 

Rosanne Tolin’s historical novel “Freedom’s Game,” illustrated by Vali Mintzi, was named a Children’s Book Council 2025 Notable Social Studies Trade Book. 

You may purchase Rosanne's new book here: Barns & Noble

Helen Frost's book The Mighty Pollinators (Step Gently, Look Closely) with photographs by Rick Lieder, was named a Blueberry Honor Book by Evanston (IL) Public Library. The awards recognize children’s books about nature and climate action.

You may purchase Helen's new book here: Barns & Noble.

Pat J. Wheeler’s book “Winnie Acts Up” won first place in the arts and entertainment picture book category for the 2024 Firebird International Awards. The book is illustrated by Marlon at GetYourBookIllustrations.

To purchase the book, please visit: bookshop.org

The Predictable Persimmon, written by Mary Jo Huff and illustrated by Wendy Carrick is now available!

Discover the Magic of Winter with Bradley and Friends! Join Bradley, a curious young bear, on a heartwarming forest adventure as the first frost signals the onset of the changing season. With the help of his woodland friends—Raccoon, Squirrel, and Badger—Bradley uncovers the age-old legend of the persimmon and its power to predict the winter. Told in gentle rhymes and filled with cozy charm, The Predictable Persimmon celebrates friendship, seasonal change, and the wonder of nature through the eyes of curious creatures.

To purchase Mary's book, please visit: Amazon.com

Penny Pangolin and the Baboon Bully, written by Wayne D. Kramer and illustrated by Jade Zivanovic is published on May 1st, 2025.

“Penny Pangolin and the Baboon Bully” explores important themes of friendship, forgiveness, anger management, and seeing situations from another perspective. It’s a relatable story for kids dealing with school dynamics and social conflicts, offering them tools to handle bullying with empathy and grace. With vibrant illustrations and a touching narrative, this story will inspire young readers to look beyond surface differences and embrace compassion. Bonus content at the end includes tips for kids on how to respond to bullying and discussion points for parents and teachers to spark meaningful conversations.

Along with this, the BIG NEWS is that the hardcovers will feature audiobooks narrated by David McCormack, the voice of Bandit Heeler (Bluey's dad) in the hit kid's show BLUEY.

To purchase the book, please visit: www.pennypangolin.com

Teresa Robeson's book, Disgustology: The Science of Gross, illustrated by Anna-Maria Jung is released on July 15th, 2025.

Perfect for middle schoolers who love everything gross from the nasty things inside (and out) of our bodies to icky animals, revolting plants, gruesome bacteria, and more. Written by award-winning author Teresa Robeson, this book is packed full of fun facts and silly science, along with truly eye-popping illustrations and photographs that make intestines, boogers, ringworms, fecal coliforms, and brain eating amoeba even more vivid and visceral. Readers will be gagging and giggling at the same time. It's truly the most disgusting book ever!

To purchase the book, please visit: Barnes & Noble

Baby, Let's Go to the Orchestra!, written by Janna Matthies, and illustrated by Monique Felix is planned to be release August 12, 2025.

In this charming introduction to the orchestra, a child in the role of conductor brings together a playroom's worth of musicians to demonstrate the sounds and characteristics of nine common instruments. Even if young readers and listeners have yet to experience such instruments in real life, they will undoubtedly follow author and music teacher Janna Matthies's invitation to bwap, wheetle, and CRASH along with the cuddly and familiar figures of stuffed animals as they all make their way to an imagined stage where everyone has a role.

To purchase the book, please visit: Amazon.com

Teresa Robeson had two books released in March. The first “Clear and Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story,” illustrated by William Low, came out on March 4 and received a starred review from School Library Journal. “Who Smashed Hollywood Barriers with Gung Fu? Bruce Lee,” illustrated by Eisner nominee Ryan Inzana, was published on March 18 and was featured in Kung Fu Magazine. As well, it has been picked by Scholastic for inclusion in their book club flyers and book fairs. 

To purchase Clear and Bright, please visit: bookshop.org

To purchase Who Smashed Hollywood Barriers with Gung Fu?, please visit: bookshop.org

Shelley Hanmo's illustrator debut “All By Myself (But Sometimes I Need a Little Help!)” was published by Soaring Kite Books, an Imprint of Lerner Publishing Group, on March 4. The book is written by Elizabeth Everett about a young child boasting of all the new things they can do such as stacking blocks, connecting two puzzle pieces, and putting on their shoes. When it comes time to build a castle, complete a full puzzle, or tie their laces, they may have to ask for help. And that's okay! 

You may purchase Shelley's new book here: Barns & Noble

Linda Mansfield’s debut book for children “Emma and the Reindeer,” written under the name Emma Gallagher, will be available in April.

To purchase the book, please visit: bookshop.org

Tanya Konerman's debut picture book “Mud to the Rescue! How Animals Use Mud to Thrive and Survive,” illustrated by Melanie Cataldo, will be published on May 20 from Web of Life Children's Books. The book's launch will be held at 10 a.m., May 24 at Morgenstern's Bookstore in Bloomington. 

Drip! Drop! Splatter! Splash! Rain falls and soil turns into slippy, sloppy, sludgy mud. Around the world, animals of all sizes seek mud to help them survive and thrive in every season and every stage of life. From blocking the sun’s harsh rays and painful parasites, to building homes, soothing upset stomachs, and even having fun, it’s Mud...to the Rescue! Join elephants, alligators, beavers, birds, pigs, and many more creatures as they find helpful—and sometimes unusual— uses for nature’s squishy, squelchy soil... MUD! 

To purchase the book, please visit: bookshop.org

Chris Sickels’ board book “Build!,” published under Red Nose Studio, was named one of Amazon’s Best Books for March in the Baby to Age 2 category. 

To purchase the book, please visit: Barnes & Noble

Janna Matthies’ picture book “Over in the Garden,” illustrated by Tisha Lee, was released in March 2025.

To purchase the book, please visit: Bookshop.org

Shannon Anderson's Do-It-Yourself Dollhouse: Making More With Less releases October 1, 2024, from Cardinal Rule Press. This STEAM picture book, illustrated by Giulia Pintus, "features two girls who live on the same street, but have very different life experiences. The spreads offer a peek into each girl's home and their contrasting interactions with their dollhouses.

You may purchase Shannon's new book here: Cardinal Rule Press

Kristi Valiant's second book in her Bunny Tails series, No Bonny Like You, will be published October 29th, 2024 from Tommy Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins.

You may pre-order Kristi's new book here: Barns & Noble

Janna Matthies' latest book, My Towering Tree, was released on August 27th, 2024 from Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster. Illustrated by Ashley Wolff, this rhyming book is a celebration of nature. She recently held a launch event at Kids Ink Books in Indianapolis on September 14th.

You may purchase Janna's book here: Barns & Noble

Teresa Robeson’s newest picture book, Clouds in Space: Nebulae, Stardust, and Us, was released August 20th, 2024, from MIT Kids Press, and received a star review from School Library Journal!

“Nebula means “cloud” in Latin, but these little-known astronomical phenomena are different from Earth’s clouds. They can be the last breaths of supernovas, spreading the elements of life far and wide, or they can be star nurseries, swirling molecules together to form stars and planets. In this gorgeous nonfiction look into the cosmos, the nebula narrator invites young astronomers to learn more about these immense space clouds, from how they form to what they do. Readers will be entranced by the vibrant illustrations, which incorporate real photographs of nebulae, and the poetic text, which reveals that we are all grown from scattered stardust. Rich back matter provides details about nebulae and how people have studied them, the nebulae pictured (listed as the “cast”), and resources for further learning.”

You may purchase the book here: Bookshop.org

Shannon Anderson’s B is for Belonging was published August 6th, 2024, by Free Spirit Publishing.

“Making a distinction between "belonging" and "fitting in," B Is for Belonging empowers kids to show acceptance for others and themselves and create communities of belonging. With an uplifting and positive tone, this book shares the power and joy of belonging.”

You may purchase the book here: Bookshop.org

Kristi Valiant launches her new book, Hoo's There?: A Silly Book for the Bedtime Scaries, on June 22, 2024, at the Vineyard Bookstore in Evansville, IN. Hoo's There?: A Silly Book for the Bedtime Scaries is a board book written and illustrated by Kristi, and published by Tommy Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins.

You may purchase Kristi's new book here: Barns & Noble

Any Possible Outcome: A Book of Urban Tales 2 by K.C. Taylor was released June 15th, 2024. This book is intended for 13- to 18-year-old readers.

You may purchase K.C.'s new book here: Barns & Noble.

Adrian Dingle’s My Book of the Elements: A Fact-Filled Guide to the Periodic Table was published March 12th, 2024, by DK Children.

“My Book of the Elements is a wonderful introduction to the periodic table. Covering all the elements, from the unreactive to the radioactive, as well as key science topics, such as states of matter, this visual book is something that every young science enthusiast will want to own.”

You may purchase the book here: Bookshop.org

Kristi Valiant’s newest book, Good Night, Cuddle Tight, launched in early December 2023 with a party at The Vineyard bookstore in Evansville.

“I signed books for two hours straight with a steady line the whole time-yay! The bookstore provided cookies, giveaways, and door prizes, and they did a lot of great advertising on social media. I brought a standup cutout for a photo op. I have two books with the same publisher coming out in 2024, including the second in this series.”

You may order the book here: Barnes&Noble

Jason Hendrickson’s debut picture book, BOOK!, released on December 12th, 2023 from POW! Kids Books.

“BOOK! is an absurd, 4th-wall-breaking adventure. Young Readers take part in an interactive, humorous journey of twists and turns to the end of the book with Willard the octopus, his friend Mallard...and a swarm of B's? The Narrator asks the Reader to flip, shake, and talk to BOOK! all while our interjecting animal friends keep the Reader company all the way to...wait will the reader get there? To turn the page is a group endeavor with this humorous pair ready to help You make decisions along the way. Good luck and safe travels on your trip to the final page of BOOK! You can find more information at bookbookwebsite.com.”

You may learn more about the book here: bookbookwebsite