Member News

This year, the award winner in the children's category was Janna Mathies, for Here We Come!, a picture book in which "a boy and bear head into the evening with a tune in their hearts and skip in their steps, extending a friendly 'Wanna come?' to each animal or child they meet, forming a musical parade under the moonlight. Other Indiana SCBWI authors who made the shortlists this year in their categories include: Helen Frost (Wait-and see - Children's); Donna Griffin (Super Cities! Indianapolis - Middle Grade); Katherine Higgs-Coulthard (Junkyard Dogs - Young Adult).

Madeleine Dunphy at Web of Life has bought world rights to Mud to the Rescue! by debut author Tanya Konerman, illustrated by Melanie Cataldo.

Leonard Marcus, while at Astra Books for Young Readers, acquired world rights to Clear and Bright: The Ching Ming Festival by APALA Award-winner Teresa Robeson, illustrated by William Low.

Teresa Robeson's book, Disgustology: The Science of Gross, was recently announced for a July 2025, publication date with Odd Dot. Anna-Maria Jung will illustrate the book.

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

Rosanne Tolin's MG historical fiction novel, Freedom's Game, will release from Reycraft on October 8th, 2024.

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

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

Shelley Hanmo's debut picture book All By Myself (But Sometimes I Need A Little Help!), written by Elizabeth Everett, will be published by Soaring Kite Books. Author Elizabeth Everett channeled her experience as a teach to pen this empowering story, and Shelley Hanmo used vibrant and fun cut paper art to bring a child's favorite activities to do (with help!) to life. The book releases in March 2025.

You may pre-order Shelley'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.

Helen Frost's book The Mighty Pollinators (Step Gently, Look Closely) was released on March 26th, 2024 from Candlewick Press.

You may purchase Helen'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

Kim Howard's March 2024 release from Little/Brown BFYR, Do Mommies Ever Sleep?, was included on Katie Couric's list of "26 Books for Every Mom on Your List" Mother's Day gift guide in May 2024.

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

Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s Welcome to the Wonder House (released on July 11th, 2023) won the 2024 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, presented annually to an American poet or anthologist for the most outstanding new book of poetry for children published in the previous calendar year. The book, co-authored by George Heard and illustrated by Deborah Freeman, was published in July by Astra/Wordsong.

You may purchase a copy of the book via the BOOKSHOP.