Children's Lit Newsletter 10/09/26

This book is PHENOMENAL!! I reflect back on my time being pregnant and giving birth (which was somehow 29 and 32 years ago - yet I remain 29 in perpetuity). I remember a friend giving me a beautiful white, button all the way up, nightgown in which to "receive" people at the hospital. Yes, somehow we both thought that I would be serene, calm, ABLE TO WEAR WHITE, and not need fast and easy access to the 24 hour restaurant known as my breasts.

This is what we are led to expect from popular culture. A few panting breaths, a blissful sigh and there's that's beautiful baby! Then, exiting the hospital in full makeup, looking fabulous. AND, if that's not how it is, heaven forbid you actually share the reality with people!

OKAY, so on to WAITING FOR MAX: A NICU STORY

According to AI (I'm sorry, I kept trying to find a non-AI answer and everything quoted AI). 10%-15% of babies go to the NICU before going home. The expectation, the SURETY that everyone goes home the next day with their newborn is incredibly painful for the not insignificant number who don't.

WAITING FOR MAX is told through the eyes of Louise, the very excited big sister.

Waiting is hard, especially for a little girl, who just wants to meet and love her little brother. She gets tired of waiting, so she comes up with delightful and innovative ways to get Max home sooner. For example, when she sees the photo of Max with the feeding tube in his nose, she thinks of a better use for that tube, that will bring Max home to her. She illustrates her brilliant idea, so that Max knows what to do.

As we all know (and if you don't, now you do) :-) good books do not start with a message - they start with a story. WAITING FOR MAX is NOT pedantic, it is realistically told through the eyes of an older (but still young) sibling - who just simply wants her baby brother home with her. Told with love, humor, and facts - WAITING FOR MAX belongs on home bookshelves, school bookshelves, and in pediatrician and ob/gyn waiting rooms. A book to start conversations and invite empathy. And, a personal story for Emily, as she shares in her author's note.

The author, Emily Rosen, has offered to personalize and send a copy of
WAITING FOR MAX to a random person she will choose who follows her on Instagram (by October 14). So sign up quickly at: @emilyrosencreative and DM her that you’re part of the newsletter giveaway.

And no, for once that's not my terrible cut and paste 'skills', that's the Litquake Logo on the page.

As I've noted SO VERY MANY times, our daughters were raised on storytelling. It's such an incredible art and we all loved going to storytelling festivals. Menlo Park Library has quite a few events happening over the next month and a half:

Join us for the 11h Annual Menlo Park Storytelling Festival, featuring nine free events between September 27 and November 21.

This year’s celebration of the ancient living art introduces two tellers new to the city library’s “stage.” Kenyan-born Clara Kamunde will be the inaugural performer on September 27, and Hana Baba (a name familiar to many locals for her award-winning journalism for KALW radio) will share folktales from Sudan on October 18.

We’ll get to meet the wife of Mahatma Gandhi on October 3, as Chautauqua scholar Roopa Mohan introduces Kasturba Gandhi in a performance that allows us to ask questions of the peace activist.

A storytelling workshop with drama teacher Enid Davis on Nov. 15 will let attendees explore the art—perhaps even preparing the brave to contribute to the closing Tellabration!™ event on Nov. 21.

Those events, and four more, are all free, thanks to the Friends of the Menlo Park Library. Drop in for one event or join us for the entire series. Visit each event link for details including times, location, and age recommendation.

Performances:

• 10/18: Hana Baba: Folktales from Sudan
• 10/27: New Monthly Event! Storytelling Meetup
• 11/5: John Weaver: Pumpkin Tales
• 11/12: StoryFest Online
• 
  
• 11/16: Jeff Gere: True Supernatural Tales of Hawaii
• 11/21: Tellabration! ™

Workshop:

• 11/15: Storytelling Workshop: The Enchanting World of "Once Upon a Time"

About Storytelling

• Storytelling is telling stories--without using a book.
• It's an ancient art form that predates libraries, and books, and writing.
• It's not necessarily for children!
• Traditional-style storytelling creates unique images in the mind of each listener.
• According to the National Storytelling Network, "storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination. In storytelling, the listener imagines the story.”
• According to the Storytelling Association of California (an organization dedicated to promoting storytelling as a living art form), storytelling is “orally passing on adventures, wisdom, experiences, surprise, history, laughter, beliefs and imagination.”

Deep Dive into Discoverability for Illustrators. Join Scholastic Inc. Art Directors Brian LaRossa and Doan Buu and Random House Children's Books (Crown & Little Golden Books) Art Director Véronique Lefèvre Sweet as they share how illustrators can gain more visibility for their artwork. Got a book under your belt and not sure what comes next? Or are you still trying to find the best way to promote your illustrations in a saturated market? This webinar will explore everything from navigating new online hubs and traditional offline promos, to getting insight on what art directors look for when scouting both fresh and published talent. Expect a practical conversation on how to cut through the digital noise, refine your strategy, and make your work stand out where it actually counts. Live virtual presentation with Q&A. The session will be recorded and available to registered attendees. Option to purchase written portfolio critiques while supplies last. Register now for a deep dive into discoverability for illustrators!

FIRSTLY: This newsletter will ALWAYS be Cost and Obligation Free. I don't (Yes, I remain 29 years old AND I've been doing this for decades - now hush!) :-) to make the Children's Literature Community feel more connected and closer.

PLEASE feel free to have friends, family, colleagues sign up for it! I love growing the newsletter and its reach (around 2100 'listees' at the moment)>

Book Talks mean that I come to your school, your parenting group, your place of work with a curated talk for the audience.

For Schools, I choose a wide range of titles, diverse, good representations, age appropriate, and most importantly, GOOD STORYTELLING! I also am known to come with many opinions - How To Raise a Reader (What to do and not do), How to Choose Great Books, etc. I also know that school budgets can be tight, so schools may combine to have me come do a night time presentation. Also, we can do it as a fundraiser with all purchases from Reach and Teach providing a percentage back to the school (The plus of doing it with Reach and Teach is that they have FABULOUS educational toys and games as well).

For Parenting Groups, see above - I bring a well thought out list (plus crates) of books based on the ages of the children of the parents.

For Companies: Well, I'm a Bonus and a Resource that companies can offer to their employees. Parents/Caregivers/Family Members are often overwhelmed by the huge amount of books that are available and don't know where to start (or maybe where 'to middle'). Depending on our agreement, I can also serve as a resource for parents for some time after the presentation. FOR COMPANIES WHO WANT TO GIVE BACK: I can give a talk to their employees and also a talk to a local, low-income school that the companies can sponsor.

Honestly, I love to present anywhere: I'm putting together a talk for a Jewish Retirement Home about Jewish Representation in Children's Books and Jewish Picture Book Biographies (with the subtitle: Yes, We're More than Chanukah and the Holocaust)

I LOVE TO GIVE BOOKTALKS AND ATTENDEES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INCREDIBLY POSITIVE IN THEIR RESPONSES.

Okay, end of Shameless Self Promotion. We now return to our regularly scheduled program.

I believe, and please correct me if I'm wrong, Lee & Low was the FIRST U.S. publishing company to focus on Diverse Voices and BIPOC Authors and Illustrators. They are still going strong and have AMAZING books on their list. Many thanks to them for allowing me to share their webinar.

Wendelin and all her books are much adored in our house!! Elise's (the eldest) Bat Mitzvah Project was gathering funds for Wendelin's Exercise the Right to Read Campaign. She is ALWAYS a fabulous and funny presenter and I can't wait to read her new book!

A free virtual symposium celebrating the launch of STEAMWORKS, a book series featuring children of all backgrounds and abilities using scientific, mathematical, and creative thinking to solve everyday problems. Hear from STEAMWORKS creators as well as expert educators who will explore how STEAM is all around us (often without us even noticing!) and share inspiring ways to ignite STEAM excitement beginning in early childhood. An enriching event that will feature live panels, videos, raffles, resources, and more.

Link for more info and registration: https://www.slj.com/event/steam-is-everywhere-empowering-children-to-think-solve-and-innovate

Penguin Young Readers invites you to our...

Spring 2027

Librarian and Educator Preview

Zoom Virtual Event

Join the Penguin School & Library team to hear about our top children’s and young adult picks for the season.

DATE: Thursday, October 15

TIME: 3:00 - 4:15 pm ET (12:00 - 1:15 pm PT)

Featuring poetry breaks with acclaimed writer, scholar, and educator Eve L. Ewing from her latest book, The Best Poem and Other Poems, Too.

Every live attendee is automatically entered to win a FREE galley!

Tune in to hear the Penguin Young Readers School & Library Team take you through the titles you can’t miss from September-December 2026.

To download a handout featuring the above titles, see below:

Handout with Covers and Presentation:

https://penguinschoollibrary.com/Fall26PreviewHandout

Title Excel Grid:

https://penguinschoollibrary.com/Fall26PreviewTitleGrid

Missed the last preview?

To watch the Summer 2026 Preview (May-August 2026 Titles), click here.

To watch the Spring 2026 Preview (January-April 2026 Titles), click here.

To watch the Fall 2025 Preview (September-December 2025 Titles), click here.

My in-box is a terrifying place, I am finally down to about 10,000+ unopened e-mails - that doesn't include the open ones that still need time and attention. I need it to be as easy as possible to find your newsletter submissions in there. Thanks for understanding.