SCBWI Ohio: North

Register now for the 2025 Ohio North Regional Conference, WHERE STORIES TAKE FLIGHT, on Oct. 3rd & 4th. We can't wait to see everyone!!

Ohio North's own Co-RA Merrill Rainey won the Summer 2025 Portfolio Showcase held during the SCBWI Summer Conference! Congratulations Merrill on this exciting award!

SCBWI Ohio North serves the following counties in Northern Ohio

If you live in northern Ohio and want to explore your passion for writing or illustrating children's books, please join our SCBWI Ohio North creative community! As a member, you'll gain access to helpful resources, opportunities to connect with other professionals in the industry, and valuable insights into the art of creating and publishing children's books. Our chapter started in 1990 and continues to serve our members thanks to the dedication of our regional volunteers.

SCBWI Ohio North strives to help authors and illustrators reach their creative goals through monthly meetups, professional workshops, and critiques while building a sense of community. The Ohio North regional team works to help its members create stories that will reach the hearts and minds of children everywhere so they can laugh, dream, and feel seen on the page.

SCBWI Ohio North would like to offer our sincere gratitude to the wonderful, dedicated volunteers who came before us and helped shape this region into the incredible community it is today.

Customers have arrived at the Christmas tree farm, and Kate's whole family comes together to help―even Daisy the dog! Popping corn, setting up sleds, and bailing trees keep the family busy while they maintain a watchful eye on one truly special tree. Throughout the years, Papa has trimmed the trees, Mom has mowed the paths, and one extra special tree was planted for Kate. She and her tree are both seven years old and―finally!― the tree has grown tall enough to be brought inside and decorated for Christmas. Little brother Henry loves the tree so much that the family decides to graft a piece of it so they can grow Henry his very own Christmas tree too. With its vibrant illustrations, lyrical writing, and fun facts about a tree farm, OUR CHRISTMAS TREE FARM promises to become a new holiday tradition to enjoy for years to come. This holiday picture book features information on how trees are grown and cared for on a farm. Extensive backmatter includes facts about Christmas trees and tree farms, how to graft a new tree from a twig, and the eco-friendly way to recycle a Christmas tree.

Andrew fears venturing outdoors, leaving his new swing set abandoned. When a new friend needs his help, Andrew embarks on a heartwarming journey of courage and self-discovery, forever altering his view of the world beyond his doorstep. My Friend Seymour is the first book in a series inspired by the real-life experiences of my son Andrew who is autistic and lives with sensory processing disorder.

Twelve-year-old Skye Schuster’s world has turned upside down. Ever since she was four, when her father died while serving in the Army, it’s been just Skye and her mom. Skye even wears her dad's military dog tags on a chain around her neck just to keep his memory close. Then last year her mom married a quiet, distant guy who Skye calls Dim Tim. He doesn’t seem to be interested in having a stepdaughter. And that’s okay with Skye; she doesn’t want a stepfather, either. But now, a car accident has left her mom in a coma. Which means she and Dim Tim are going to have to figure out how to do all the stuff her mom did. To actually talk to each other. Worst of all, one question is tearing Skye up inside: What if her mom never wakes up? Told in free verse, with colorful words and sketches, Color Me Skye follows the emotionally charged journey of Dim Tim and Skye as they navigate their new normal. Along the way, Skye discovers a best friend who is fun, feisty, fabulous, and the perfect antidote to Skye’s troubles.

Mazie wears an eyepatch and a head scarf, and on her first day at a new school she’s prepared for her classmates to wonder why. And they do, but no one talks to her about it. Instead, wild rumors fly around the classroom that she’s a pirate or a dragon burned off her hair! Mazie doesn’t mind explaining her disability, but can she find the courage to tell the other kids to just ask her?

Otis, an energetic pup, has a best friend named Grace. They spend every day together. One day Grace went away. He’s not sure why, but Otis misses all of the fun things that they do, like playing hide-n-seek to simply just hanging out. It’s a “dog’s tale” of unconditional love, friendship and the enduring nature of an everlasting bond.

Pop out a world of wonder! Watch as young minds come alive as they pop out pieces, then fold and glue together buildings, vehicles, and friendly faces. Making a bustling town encourages hours of imaginative play--perfect for little architects and builders who love the tactile joy of building blocks and Lego-like toys.

It’s your time to shine! An uplifting text exploring the ups and downs of anticipation that will help buoy readers out of anxiety and into embracing a growth mindset.