This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Expound Publicity. All opinions are my own.

Ellie’s Dancing Shoes
​Written by Scott Sollers
Illustrated by Bryan Janky
Ages: 4-8 | 38 Pages
Publisher: Mascot Books (2025) | ISBN: 979-8891383418
Publisher’s Book Summary: There is nothing Ellie wants more than to become a ballerina.
Every day she practices her stretches, leaps, twirls, and jumps. But Ellie doesn’t believe in herself. Her self-doubt gets in the way, and when she stretches, she slips. When she bends, she falls over. When she leaps, she slides. When she twirls or jumps, she gets all twisted and slumped over.
Until one day, her parents gave Ellie her grandmother’s magical dancing shoes. Soon, there are only graceful jumps, beautiful leaps, and dizzying twirls.
When the day of Ellie’s audition to become a ballerina arrives, her magic dancing shoes are lost. Will Ellie find them in time before her audition, or must she perform without them?
A beautifully illustrated story that shows children that their magic can be found within.

Enter for a chance to win a hardcover copy of Ellie’s Dancing Shoes.
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Jeff Verney. All opinions are my own.

Bunnies to the Rescue!
​Written by Jeff Verney
Illustrated by Melissa Bailey
Ages: 4-6 | 36 Pages
Publisher: PHT Publishing (2025) | ISBN: 979-8-218-52892-8
Publisher’s Book Summary: The Nantucket Bunnies think that a toy bunny has been captured by a boy and his family. It seems that the bunny is in constant danger as the family travels across Nantucket. But a surprise awaits the Nantucket bunnies when one of them finally gets to talk to the bunny!

Where did you get the inspiration for Bunnies to the Rescue?
Over the years my family and I have vacationed on Nantucket, and one summer I realized
that no matter where we stayed on the island, there were always bunnies in the yard. And
as I started to pay attention to the bunnies, the light finally went on that there were
bunnies all over the island. I started thinking about all of the books that I had read about
Nantucket, and none of them really mentioned the bunnies! After noodling on this, a few
years ago I thought “I should write a children’s picture book about the bunnies!”

What was your writing process like for this book?
I spent a couple of years thinking about possible story lines; I knew I wanted the book to
have action and excitement while at the same time having a couple of high-level positive
themes. I finally settled on one of the ideas that involved three bunnies trying to save a
stuffed bunny whose family was taking it to different locations on the island. It was and
absolute joy to then write the story while on vacation in Nantucket, while sitting at a picnic
table in the back yard and watching bunnies hop back and forth across the yard!

What is your favorite part about writing books for kids?
My entire life I have tried to sustain that never-ending sense of wonder that children
hopefully experience as they learn about the world at a young age. Writing stories for
children lets me try my best to tap into that sense of wonder, making magic things happen,
and creating a sense of anything is possible. And there is nothing that is better than
reading these stories to children who are enthralled in the moment, mesmerized and
deeply engaged in the story!

What are you working on now?
And that’s the perfect next question to the above answer as inevitably children ask, “Read
me another story!” So, I am working on a draft of the next Nantucket Bunnies book, which
currently is titled Bunnies to the Rescue … Again! It will also take place on Nantucket and
involves many animals and sea creatures, including a whale! When bunnies meet a whale,
anything can happen!

What is your favorite book?
A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh! My love of books and reading definitely grew out of this book
and The House at Pooh Corner, books which my Dad probably read to me hundreds of times
when I sat on his lap and listened to the adventures in the books between my ages of 3 and
6 or so. I just loved hearing the stories over and over again, totally entranced by the
adventures of Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Owl, Roo, Kanga, and Christopher Robin. And I
was quite enchanted by the illustrations by E. H. Shepard. I really think Winnie-the-Pooh
instilled in me traits such as helpfulness, thoughtfulness, common sense, humbleness,
friendship, kind-heartedness, adventure, wonder, innocence, and determination which I
have carried with me my entire life. Gratitude Abounds!
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Enter for a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of Bunnies to the Rescue!, a plush blue bunny, and a $25 Amazon gift card.
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Riverlet Press. All opinions are my own.

Words
​Written by Katherine Davis-Gibbon
Illustrated by Anne Berry
Ages: 4-6 | 36 Pages
Publisher: Riverlet Press (2025) | ISBN: 978-1-737957690
Publisher’s Book Summary: A multicultural group of children discovers a park where everyone’s words come to life, looking and behaving a lot like kids. Some words are kinder and more inviting, while others are pushy or prickly or odd. Not every word makes the best first impression, but as they play and share adventures, the children connect more deeply with language. They learn that words have superpowers and grow to love them for their quirks. They see that words make excellent friends, who magically appear just as they’re needed and perfectly mirror how kids feel. The more these children bond with language, the more they tap into their inner voice— and as they dare to give it expression, they gain more respect for the power of words.

Where did you get the inspiration for Words?
As much as I love the people around me, I think of words as my very best friends. They are my
closest confidants, whom I can tell anything, and my staunchest allies, no matter what. They are
also, as it happens, incredible teachers. If I’m on the wrong track or feeling conflicted, I can
count on words to orient me towards a clearer understanding.

I wrote Words to share this message with kids. Not every child will become a writer—many will
focus on other interests and pursue other talents—but the simple act of connecting with
language is beneficial to everyone. Words foster friendship and help us solve problems. They
deepen our capacity for empathy and give us the gift of healthy self-talk. And they are not
something we need to manufacture or force or go out and get; words are already here, alive
inside us. All we need to do is pay attention.

What was the writing process like for this book?
The first draft gushed out of me during the early days of the 2020 pandemic. I was spending all
my time with my 8-year-old and 3-year-old, trying to homeschool one and entertain the other,
so there were a few dark months when I had very little adult companionship. Writing, which I
only did in the wee hours of the morning, was primarily where I went for attunement. It was a
lonely, demanding, stressful time, but it profoundly deepened my love of language.

That first draft captured Words’ arc of thought, but there were gaps to bridge and holes to fill. I
set it down for a year or more; then came back to it at a time when I had more perspective and
access to joy. That helped me play up the humor in the book, which is always important when
writing for children. At that point, the writing was basically done, but I had this rather ambitious
idea about creating a cast of word-characters that would straddle the line between text and
illustration. Developing them took an additional eighteen months.

What is your favorite part about writing books for kids?
Broadening my imagination while simplifying my language is a very fun challenge! I also love
the idea that something I create—a line of text or an image that an illustrator and I dream up
together—might make a child laugh or help them someday through a difficult moment. I hope
that the messages of Words and My Old Friend, Then will be memorable, entertaining, and
useful for children.

What are you working on right now?
Discussing Words with caregivers, teachers, and therapists has raised all sorts of interesting
questions about the unique challenges Generation Alpha faces in finding their voice and
learning to trust it. I’ve been researching the underlying causes of this and reflecting on what
we, as caregivers, can do to help kids cultivate a more positive, nurturing relationship with
language. How are our politics and the way we discuss them filtering down to the youngest
kids? How are children coping post-pandemic? And in this era of texting and tweeting, how do
we model that words are sacred? This is such a rich topic that I have briefly pressed pause on
my next children’s project (a picture book about resilience) to create a series of articles and
resources specifically for caregivers: parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians. If you’re
interested in checking it out, go to my website, www.riverletpress.com, and click the resources
tab. Email me through the contact tab if you’d like to connect. I’d love to hear from other
caregivers or collaborate with librarians on children’s programming.

What is your favorite book?
That is a tricky question for a writer to answer! There are so many books I love and admire.
Annie Dillard is probably my favorite writer, primarily for her creative nonfiction. The essays in
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and Teaching a Stone to Talk are among the finest pieces of writing I’ve
ever read.

When it comes to children’s literature, I would have to go with The Velveteen Rabbit, by
Margery Williams, or Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White. For very young children, I adore Mother Goose; Goodnight, Moon and The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd; and anything and everything by Richard Scarry.

Enter for a chance to win a copy of Words, signed by Katherine Davis-Gibbon. The grand prize winner will also take home a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Don’t miss out on your chance to win!

This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Karen B. Winnick. All opinions are my own.

Why Wolves Matter: A Conservation Success Story
​Written and Illustrated by Karen B. Winnick
Ages: 7-9 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group (2025)
ISBN: 979-8886452846
Publisher’s Book Summary: Where did all the wolves go? The birds, the fish, and the beavers? When the top predator was wiped out, the balance of nature in Yellowstone National Park was disrupted. The circle was broken.
Written in a lyrical style, Why Wolves Matter is an ecological tale that helps children to understand the interconnectedness of all things in the natural world. Once all the wolves were gone, the elk population grew so large that the trees and vegetation on which they fed disappeared, throwing the Park and the remaining wildlife into disarray.
A nonfiction picture book, including a timeline and bibliography, Why Wolves Matter is about the importance of the top predator in nature, how balance was restored in Yellowstone National Park, and how the circle was made whole again—with important historical and scientific relevance for children.
A deeply committed animal person, Karen B. Winnick has created many picture books about animals. She’s a member of an oversight commission for the Los Angeles Zoo, and a member and supporter of many groups working to save animals, including wolves.

Readers who join us on this virtual tour can win a hardcover copy of Why Wolves Matter: A Conservation Success Story. One lucky winner will receive a signed hardcover copy and a $25 gift card to Amazon. Don’t miss out on your chance to win below!
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and P.E. Shadrick. All opinions are my own.

Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs
Written by P.E. Shadrick
Illustrated by Maya Penzlik
Ages: 3-6 | 32 Pages
Publisher: P.E. Shadrick | ISBN: 979-8-9912340-0-9
Publisher’s Book Summary: Do you know what happens at night when you sleep? The ladybugs come out to play! Lisbeth, a lively six-year-old, wakes up one morning to discover a tangled mess in her hair. Her grandmother tells her the story of how a group of playful ladybugs is the cause of all the knots in her hair. Through Grandma’s fanciful story of the ladybugs’ glorious grand gala, Lisbeth learns the lesson of how shared responsibility can be both necessary and fun.
Inspired by the stories of P.E. Shadrick’s own grandmother, this charming story comes to life through the vibrant watercolor illustrations of Montreal artist, Maya Penzlik.

Enter our giveaway for a chance to win one of seven author-signed hardcover editions of Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs! The grand prize winner will also take home a ladybug bracelet and a $50 Amazon gift card!
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Expound Publicity. All opinions are my own.

Sophie and the Swans
Written by Holly Peppe
Illustrated by Aeron Cargill
Ages: 3+ | 36 Pages
Publisher: Lincoln Square Books | ISBN: 978-1947187146
Publisher’s Book Summary: Sophie is a little girl who lives beside a lake and makes friends with a pair of swans who visit her every day. One day, when a bully starts to torment the swans, Sophie rushes to defend them not by attacking the bully but by showing him kindness when he gets into trouble on the lake.

Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Sophie and the Swans. Don’t miss your chance to enter and win!
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Stephen Bowling. All opinions are my own.

Winslow Scarecrow: Scarecrows are Supposed to be Scary
Written by Stephen G. Bowling
Illustrated by Vitali Dudarenka
Ages: 4+ | 34 Pages
Publisher: Valley of Mexico | ISBN: 978-1-950957-32-3
Publisher’s Book Summary: He’s friendly as can be! But when his kindness causes a stir, can this cornfield guardian use his noggin to make everyone happy?
Winslow, the scarecrow, wouldn’t hurt a fly. Full of song and wearing a silly hat, the bespectacled fellow stretches out his arms and welcomes the crows to rest their weary wings. But he’s shocked when the other straw-filled-scarers get upset because they think he’s falling down on the job. Listening to his brightly dressed pals argue over what is proper; he thinks hard to come up with a better way. And hoping to find an agreeable solution, he spies the fallen corn on the ground going to waste, and the kernel of an idea begins to sprout. Can Winslow protect the farmer’s crops and still welcome the rascally rooks?
Winslow Scarecrow is a charming children’s picture book. If you or your child like resolving conflict, seeing problems from all sides, and bringing people together, then you’ll adore Stephen G Bowling’s beautifully illustrated tale. Buy Winslow Scarecrow to be a ray of sunshine today!

Enter for a chance to win one of six prizes! Four people will win a paperback of Winslow Scarecrow: Scarecrows are Supposed to be Scary and two lucky winners will win the grand prize of Winslow Scarecrow, Grandma’s House is Haunted, and Calvin the Christmas Tree!
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and W.W Norton.  All opinions are my own.

Sea Without a Shore
Written by Barb Rosenstock
Illustrated by Katherine Roy
Ages: 4+ | 32 Pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton | ISBN: 9781324016076
Publisher’s Book Summary: A single piece of seaweed buoys a fascinating ecosystem in this nonfiction picture book from award-winning creators Barb Rosenstock and Katherine Roy.
From bryozoans and snails to shrimps, eels, swordfish, and whales, the Sargasso Sea provides a home to countless types of marine life, thanks to the prevalence of microalgae called sargassum. Following a single blade of this extraordinary seaweed as it grows and spreads, readers see what it provides for the sea’s organisms: a base for hydroids and tube worms to filter and feed, shelter for anemones and nudibranchs and their nutritious waste, hunting grounds for crabs and amphipods, and a source of nourishment and protection for the fish, birds, whales, and reptiles that feed on these smaller creatures.
Through a widening scope on this intricate interdependence, Barb Rosenstock celebrates one of our planet’s most diverse and important ecosystems and the unassuming seaweed that sustains it. Gorgeously illustrated with Katherine Roy’s rich, eye-catching artwork, Sea Without a Shore is as fluid and rhythmic as the currents that shape this tidal home.

Enter for a chance to win a hardcover edition of Sea Without a Shore, autographed by both Barb Rosenstock and Katherine Roy.
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Expound Publicity.  All opinions are my own.

Willard DoGooder and the Trail of Friends
Written by Jen Kirkley
Illustrated by M. Brayer
Ages: 0+ | 38 Pages
Publisher: Palmetto Publishing | ISBN: 979-8-82292-014-9
Publisher’s Book Summary: Willard DoGooder has trouble making friends in his new class. Things are just … different. One day, he spots a magical trail and sets out on an adventure, where he meets four new friends along the trail. Through these friendships, Willard remembers his teacher’s advice on how to think through differences and appreciate each other just as we are.

Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Willard DoGooder and the Trail of Friends!
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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review.  All opinions are my own.

A New Friend for Dragon
Written by Bianca Schulze
Illustrated by Samara Hardy
Ages 3+ | 32 Pages
Publisher: Clever Publishing (August 20, 2024)
​ISBN-13: 9798888670934
Publisher’s Book Summary: In this most recent tale in Clever’s beloved Dragon series, a new knight has come to town! Sir Fiero wears smooth, shiny armor and has a sparkling silver sword. Dragon wants to be friends with him and invites him to play. But Sir Fiero doesn’t believe that dragons and knights can be friends—or can they? A sweet tale of friendship and challenging stereotypes.

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a signed copy of A New Friend for Dragon, two Hydro Flask cups (one for a child and one for an adult), and Dragon stickers to decorate them.
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