Good News!

BOOK RELEASE: Peter’s short story, “To the Top,” appears in the middle grade anthology, Rubber Ring (September 2023, Buzgaga Books), illustrated by Alessia Gilli. Jonah conquers his fear and makes it to the top of Big Mike, a towering pine, only to realize he must come down. Available on Amazon Books.

AWARD: Nora’s picture book, TOO EARLY, illustrated by Elly MacKay, received four starred reviews and a NY Times review. It was also named an ALA Notable Book, a Bank Street College and CBC Best Book of the Year, an Amazon Editor’s Pick, and a Margaret Wise Brown Honor Book award.

MAGAZINE FEATURE: Melissa has two articles in the latest issue of MUSE SCIENCE MAGAZINE FOR KIDS—a feature titled "Down Syndrome Makes a Brain Beautifully Different" and a profile of Abigail "the Advocate" Adams, the first woman with Down syndrome to complete a sanctioned sprint triathlon.

BOOK DEAL: Melissa’s NF middle grade novel, DOWN SYNDROME OUT LOUD: 20+ TRUE STORIES TO CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT DISABILITY, will be published by Sourcebooks in 2025, and illustrated by Maria Perera. Melissa grew up with a brother who has Down syndrome. The book features profiles of Ironman triathlete Chris Nikic, fashion designer Isabella Springmuhl Tejada, “Born This Way” actor John Tucker, and “Peanut Butter Falcon Star” Zack Gottsagen, among others.

AWARD: Melissa’s middle grade novel, DAISY WOODWORM CHANGES THE WORLD, won two silver medals—one from the Independent Publisher Book Awards and another from the 2023 Moonbeam Book Awards.

FINALIST: Julie’s YA novel, VASILISA, has been named a finalist in the YA fiction category of the 2023 Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest.

COVER REVEAL: Ana did a cover reveal for their picture book, THE THREE LITTLE GUINEA PIGS AND THE ANDEAN FOX, releasing August 2024 from Page Street Publishing. Set in Andean South America, this fresh, lighthearted twist on a classic tale invites readers to challenge assumptions, embrace community, and trust in teamwork.

ART SHOW FEATURE: David’s two picture books he illustrated (THE RIVER THAT WOLVES MOVED, NANA THE GREAT GOES CAMPING) were accepted into the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show, which opened November 9th in NYC.

AWARDS: David’s picture book, THE RIVER THAT WOLVES MOVED, written by Mary Kay Carson, received a gold medal from the Will Rogers Medallion Award. Also, his other picture book, THE FLYING MAN, written by Mike Downs, was long listed for the 2024 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books.

BOOK RELEASE: Brenda recently self-published their middle grade biography, SHE FORGOT HER MANNERS AND GOT THE VOTE, about local heroine Abigail Scott Duniway, an Oregon Trail pioneer and suffragist who was instrumental in getting Oregon women the vote in 1912.

BOOK DEAL: Bonni‘s debut picture book, DOÑA GRACIA SAVED WORLDS, illustrated by Alida Massari, will be published by Kar-Ben on December 5, 2024. Bonni’s book is the first picture book introducing Gracia, a 16th-century secret Jew who defied kings, organized others’ escape to safety, and helped rebuild Judaism. A timeless tale of identity, community, and courage.

BOOK RELEASE: Brian’s middle grade novel, THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE WAY, illustrated by Tom Burchell, releases January 8, 2024, from Brandylane Publishers. This novel is a contemporary retelling of the American Revolution with kid characters who represent members of the founding era, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and others.

BOOK RELEASE: Gabi’s picture book, TODAY, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, releases on January 30, 2024, from S&S/Paula Wiseman Books. This picture book reminds us to look for the wonder in every day.

BOOK LAUNCH: J.W. launched and sold 110 copies of her book, EBBY THE MAGNIFICENT: TAILS OF AN ELUSIVE BABY BUNNY, on July 7, 2023, in Vancouver, WA. Since then, they have sold over 600 copies. There is a paperback version available now.

BOOK RELEASE: Cate published their debut chapter book, MORGAN THE MOTORHOME MOUSE AND THE ANDERSONS: STONEHENGE UNDERGROUND, on August 26, 2023. Morgan, a talented magical mouse, joins the Anderson family, and together they fly in their supersonic motorhome to Stonehenge. Along the way they have adventures with magical beings, learn ancient history, explore feelings and truths, and choose friendship and love over fear.

BOOK AWARD: Allison’s picture book, LEARNING ABOUT MY FRIEND'S ADOPTION, illustrated by Darlee Urbiztondo was named a #1 Amazon New Release and #1 Amazon Best Seller. When a curious young boy learns that his friend has been adopted, he embarks on a quest to uncover the meaning of adoption. A heartwarming tale of friendship and understanding.

AWARD: Leslie’s picture book, A STONE IS A STORY, illustrated by Marc Martin, won an Outstanding Science Trade Book award for students grades K-12 from The National Science Teaching Association.

AWARD: Kathleen’s illustrated middle grade novel, KATELYN’S CROW, written by Mary Beth Laufer, received a Kirkus starred review and a bronze medal in the Moonbeam's Best First Novel category.

JOURNAL FEATURE: Brian’s poem, “Scanning for Love,” is featured in the online journal EMBER: A JOURNAL OF LUMINOUS THINGS, and has another poem, “Recognition,” featured in the magazine SCIENCE WRITE NOW.

AWARD: Zoey’s picture book, PIG AND HORSE AND THE SOMETHING SCARY, received a 2022 Oregon Spirit Book Award for picture books by the Oregon Council of Teachers of English.

AWARD: Carrie’s picture book, COUNTING TO BANANAS, illustrated by Estrela Lourenço, was named a 2022 Oregon Spirit Book Award Honor Book for picture books by the Oregon Council of Teachers of English.

AWARD: Trudy’s picture book, BRAVE EVERY DAY, illustrated by Patrice Barton, was named a 2022 Oregon Spirit Award Honor Book for picture books by the Oregon Council of Teachers of English.

BOOK RELEASE: Leslie’s debut picture book, A STONE IS A STORY, illustrated by Marc Martin, releases with Simon & Schuster/McElderry on October 3, 2023. Follow a stone’s journey through time as it faces ice, water, wind, and scorching heat in this beautiful nonfiction picture book that is SEEDS MOVE! meets A STONE SAT STILL.

BOOK RELEASE: Cassi’s picture book, VOLCANO GIRL, was released on September 11, 2023, with all proceeds going toward Lahaina fire relief efforts. Halle loves all things volcano. When she fears there might be an eruption, no one listens—to her or the signs. Can she convince others to believe her in time? Volcano Girl is an exciting story about volcanoes, perseverance and even includes a smidge of magic.

FINALIST: David’s YA novel, THE MAP OF ORBIS TERRARUM, is a finalist in the Arizona Authors Association’s 2023 Literary Contest. The awards ceremony will be held in Phoenix, Arizona on November 4th.

BOOK RELEASE: Jone’s poem, “Visiting,” is featured in WHAT IS HOPE?, a poetry anthology published by Pomelo Books on August 18, 2023. Share hope with children with these 40 ekphrastic poems that explore the many places where hope pops up in our lives. This book is a Children's Book Council "Hot Off the Press" Selection for August 2023.

BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: A.A. announced their rhyming picture book, GRIZELDA GREEN HATES HALLOWEEN, on September 14, 2023, which is set to release in summer 2025 from Flamingo Books.

STARRED REVIEW: Deborah received a Publisher’s Weekly starred review for her middle grade novel, THE PLOT TO KILL A QUEEN, releasing October 17, 2023, from Scholastic. Publisher’s Weekly called Deborah’s middle grade historical fiction novel set in Elizabethan England "a bustling theatrical romp worthy of a standing ovation."

BOOK RELEASE: Dane’s new picture book, LAOLAO'S DUMPLINGS, illustrated by ShinYeon Moon, releases on December 5, 2023. Full of humor, heart, and wholly original illustrations, this story is a timeless celebration of family, food, and the different ways we share love.

BOOK LAUNCH: Dane’s book launch and signing event for their new picture book, LAOLAO'S DUMPLINGS, is on December 3, 2023, at Green Bean Books in Portland.

AWARD: Dane won the 2023 Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award for Children’s Literature for her debut picture book, FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS, FOREVER, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield, on April 3, 2023.

BOOK RELEASE: Anne’s new picture book, I'M GONNA PAINT: RALPH FASANELLA, ARTIST OF THE PEOPLE, illustrated by Victor Tentler-Krylov, releases on November 7, 2023.

STARRED REVIEW: Anne’s new picture book, I’M GONNA PAINT: RALPH FASANELLA, ARTIST OF THE PEOPLE, illustrated by Victor Tentler-Krylov, received three starred reviews from Kirkus, Horn Book, and Publisher’s Weekly.

BOOK RELEASE: Waka’s middle grade novel, THE VERY UNFORTUNATE WISH OF MELONY YOSHIMURA (Quill Tree Books), published on July 18, 2023. This novel is a contemporary, spooky re-imagining of the Japanese folktale “The Melon Princess and the Amanjaku” and is set in Oregon.

AWARD: Allison’s picture book, SURROUNDED BY LOVE: AN OPEN ADOPTION STORY, illustrated by Darlee Urbiztondo, won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award in Best New Voice. As an adoptee and an adoptive parent, Julia’s mission is to change the adoption narrative from the "lucky" child to the "loved" child through children's literature.

BOOK RELEASE: Allison will release their picture book, LEARNING ABOUT MY FRIEND'S ADOPTION, illustrated by Darlee Urbiztondo, in October 2023. When a curious young boy finds out that his friend is adopted, he filled with questions. By listening to his friend's story, this becomes a journey towards a better understanding of adoption.

AWARD: Young won an ILA 2023 Children's and Young Adult Book Award for Primary Fiction for their picture book, GIBBERISH, on July 14, 2023.  The ILA's 2023 Children's and Young Adult Book Awards is a literary honor that shines a spotlight on newly published authors of both fiction and nonfiction who show exceptional promise.

BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: Young recently announced their new picture book, MAKERS (Levine Querido, Fall 2024) on July 11, 2023. Makers tells the story of two apprentice boat makers who must work together to fulfill their dream of crossing the sea.

BOOK RELEASE: Young’s picture book, GIBBERISH, will be released in Spanish, entitled BLABLABLÁ, on August 8, 2023.

SIGNED AGENT CONTRACT: Julia signed with their new agent, John Rudolph of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Literary Agency in May 2023. Julia and John are currently working on the final edits for Julia’s picture book, Wood Deer, and preparing for the first round of submissions.

STARRED REVIEW: Deborah received a Kirkus starred review for their picture book, CINDERELLA AND A MOUSE CALLED FRED, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. This picture book releases on August 15, 2023 from Anne Schwartz Books.

SOLD BOOK: Deborah has sold a Little Golden Book Biography on SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS. Their most recent biography on TONY BENNETT, illustrated by Barbara Bongini, released on July 18, 2023, just a few days before the singer's death.

BOOK RELEASE: Leslie’s new informational picture book, I AM WE, illustrated by Alexandra Finkeldey, releases in Fall 2025 with Chronicle Books. I AM WE explores how and why crows roost together by the thousands in winter.

WINNER: Ryann is thrilled to have been named a winner in the KidLitVibes Twitter contest in the “frantic” category for her fun short story about a busy beaver on May 30, 2023.

BOOK RELEASE: Sandy released their new book, KIDS’ BIG QUESTIONS FOR GOD, published by Revell in March 2023. This book explores kids’ common questions they may have about God, heaven, and faith.

BOOK RELEASE: The first book in indie author Julie Mathison’s YA Canary House Mysteries series, The Starlet Letter, releases June 4th, 2023. Available for pre-order. Set in 1931 in New York City, The Starlet Letter features twin female sleuths who strive to crack the missing case of Ziegfeld Follies star, Babs Le Roy.

AWARD: Gabi is honored to have won the 2022 Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award for their picture book, Count On Us! (Illustrated by Sarah Walsh and published by Barefoot Books), in the children’s category on April 4th, 2023.

BOOK RELEASE: Mireya’s new book, Somewhere to Hide, is coming soon! Expected no later than June 15th, 2023. Told from a teacher’s point-of-view, this picture book explores the topic of school lockdown drills and opens conversations between children and their parents/caregivers and teachers.

AWARD: Mireya’s picture book, Come With Me, Papa, which introduces children to the topic of memory loss, won second place at The BookFest Awards in the Children’s Picture Book category. Their book will also be featured on the Nasdaq billboard in New York City.

AWARD: Jean and Kristi are honored to have won a Writer’s Digest Award for their chapter book, Bodee and the Pirates (Copeland Publishing), on November 17, 2022. This story follows Bodee’s quest to retrieve his stolen golden magic dragon with the help of the pirate, Captain ScalleyWag.

BOOK RELEASE: Deborah’s new historical fiction early reader series, Adventures of Trim, illustrated by Kristy Caldwell, launches on October 3, 2023. The first two books, Trim Sets Sail and Trim Helps Out, have been named Gold Standard Junior Library Guild selections.

STARRED REVIEWS AND KIRKUS LIST: Deborah’s new nonfiction book, Race Against Death: The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II (April 2023, Scholastic), has received three starred reviews and was listed on Kirkus Review’s 20 Best Books to Read in April.

BOOK COVER REVEAL: for Melvina Whitmoore (More or Less a Horror Story), Publishing September 5, 2023. I am a recent PNCA graduate and my debut author/illustrator picture book Melvina Whitmoore is live for pre-orders!

BOOK RELEASE: A Mink’s Tale, published February 11, 2023 -- A Mink’s Tale is a middle grade animal fantasy adventure novel. It’s the story of a mink family that escapes a fur farm and try to make it to the possibly mythical place called Glayshur (Glacier National Park).

AUDIO BOOK RELEASE: Taylor Before And After, released by Blackstone Audio, March 3, 2023. Amazon’s #1 Children’s Book on Peer Pressure, the audio version of my upper-middle-grade novel, TAYLOR BEFORE AND AFTER was released by Blackstone. The story follows eighth-grade Taylor through desperation and redemption.

DEBUT BOOK: My first picture book, The Smell of Spring, launched #1 on Amazon in several categories. Published Dec. 15, 2022. Blog tour March 24-April 6th with Celebrate Lit. April, a blind girl, discovers the smells of spring along with her menagerie of pets. This rhyming book shows children how we experience the world around us through the sense of smell. Activities included at the end.

BOOK SIGNING AND TALK: May 9th, 7pm at Annie Bloom’s Books

AGENTED: I signed with Jennifer Unter (The Unter Agency), for the YA Fantasy manuscript I pitched through Oregon SCBWI’s Pitch Perfect Event. I am so thankful for the opportunity to connect with agents and local authors.

AWARD: Won eighth place in Vivian Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words Competition. Contest results were posted March 20th. I won 8th place out of 756 entries. My piece was titled: Journey of a Blood Cell.

DEBUT BOOK: My debut as a children’s book illustrator in: I am the Thirsty Desert. Written by award-winning science writer Darcy Pattison. When a sudden downpour, a monsoon, falls in the desert, plants and animals explode with growth. Plants sprout, bloom, produce seeds and die within a couple days. Likewise, in a week, animals hatch, grow, mate, lay eggs, and return to hibernation or estivation. Available now through Mim’s House Books

BOOK RELEASE: I illustrated the self-published MG novel, Katelyn’s Crow by Mary Beth Laufer, former SCBWI OR member. Katelyn’s rescue of a baby crow challenges her with new responsibilities towards family, friends, and the wild creature she comes to love.

BOOK RELEASE: Our Wish for You releases September 12, 2023 from Charlesbridge and is available for preorder. This picture book, written by Dano Moreno and illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke, is a love letter to adoptees—as well as birth parents, adoptive parents, and LGBTQ parents.

AWARD: The Walt Morey Young Readers Literary Legacy Award is presented to a person or organization in recognition of significant contributions that have enriched Oregon’s young readers. Past recipients include Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, SMART, and Children’s Book Bank.

AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR DEBUT: My first picture book as author/illustrator, THE PLANT RESCUER, is getting published! I originally shared this manuscript in SCBWI Oregon’s Great Winter Critique in 2022. Publication: Summer 2024

TOP PICK AND SIGNING: Bookshop.org’s ‘Here Wee Read’ named To Find Treasure in the Mountains among their picks for Earth Day Children’s books. Storytime and Signing: May 6th, 11am – 12pm, Paulina Springs Books, Sisters , Oregon.

DEBUT BOOK: My debut book, One More Jar of Jam, illustrated by Gracey Zhang, is now available for pre-order. Release date: August 1st. One More Jar of Jam is a sparkling and deeply felt story of love, loss, renewal– and jam! — offering a gentle reminder of the cyclical nature of the world around us.