Children's Lit Newsletter 2/18/26

STARTING UP BOOK CLUBS AGAIN WITH AN 8 WEEK SESSION.

How many clubs will depend on sign ups, of course. The 5th/6th grade club will be reading MAYBE HE JUST LIKES YOU by Barbara Dee with a virtual author visit at the end (I've had Barbara 'visit' before and she's AWESOME). The second book will be decided during the term, with the students.

The 3rd/4th grade group will read one of Elly Swartz's fabulous books (still deciding which one) and we are lucky enough to get an author visit with her as well. WOO HOO!

PLEASE DO SHARE THIS INFORMATION. Book Clubs have a minimum of 6 students, maximum of 12.

Feel free to reach out directly at sharonlevin at mindspring dot com Thanks!

From the Reach and Teach Newsletter (I'm noting that, so it doesn't sound like I'm saying nice things about me) :-)

Our wonderful colleague Sharon Levin will be leading an in-person book club right here in our shop starting in April. We’ve learned over the years that a LOT of adults enjoy reading Young Adult fiction so this book club will introduce some of Sharon’s favorite books. Our first order of business is figuring out which day of the week and time will work best for YOU. So, if you are interested, please click here to select from the two choices we’ve put together (so far).

By the way, the photo above is from a recent California Independent Bookstores Association (CALIBA) conference where Sharon and I got to hang out with incredible people like Kelly Yang, author of the Front Deskseries.

Yes, she actually did work the front desk at her parent’s business. And, like our own Derrick Kikuchi, she graduated college while still in her teens (yeah, I’m bragging).

Jon Agee's latest book, GEORGE & LENNY ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER, is about two best friends who are..... always together. Where else would best friends want to be, but together? But, one day, Lenny starts wondering about that, and decides he'd like to try something different.

Their relationship is loving, delightful, and completely relatable.

Following is an interview with Jon Agee about his wonderful new (2025) book:

Jon, GEORGE AND LENNY is about two friends who spend all their time together, until Lenny decides it would be interesting to find out if ‘alone’ is just as much fun as ’together’. George is quite resistant, but Lenny holds firm.

Spoiler alert: they discover that being “alone” together is actually the best.

It is amazing and lovely to see how quickly you can convey emotion with just a few lines. Lenny being just a little hunched over when he walks away from George. The absolute joy in their friendship that is on the cover of the book. Simple but complex all at the same time. Some of your books, such as NOTHING, have a lot more detail in the drawing. Do you decide on the style before you start, or is it just organic?

Organic, mostly. Every story suggests its own approach, a particular way of conveying the narrative. That said, my pictures all share clearly-defined imagery: bold lines and shapes; carefully-designed, uncomplicated compositions; distinct characters. Along the way, I'm discovering old and new artists––cartoonists, illustrators, poster designers, and picture book creators––whose unique approach might make its way into my work.

Would you mind expanding on that? Who is catching your eye? What do you find unique about some of their approaches?

From Andre Helle (1920's) to Andre Francois (1960's) to the new wave of innovative picture book artists: Christian Robinson, Jon Klassen, Valerio Vidali (see his Telephone Tales), Klaas Verplanke (New Yorker covers), Guilherme Karsten, or Beatrice Allemagna, a self-taught Italian picture book artist, whose "Things That Go Away" (from 2023) was in equal measure beautiful, heartfelt, funny, wistful, and ingenious.

Now, I’m going to ask that really annoying question: what inspired this book and the direction it took? Oftentimes, a book that starts this way will have the characters choosing both alone and together time. Your ending has them preferring together.
Maybe that preference for alone in literature comes from the supposed American ‘ideal’ of individualism and this your pushback? DANG, getting deep fast here. :-)

Haha. At the end of the story, I see the two characters agreeing on the importance of being alone, only George's concept of being alone––sitting in such close proximity to his friend, on the roof of the tree house–– is more "imaginative" than Lenny's.


Question for the publishing nerds (yes, including me) George and Lenny was published under the Rocky Pond imprint, whose mission is: to publish books for two through teen, both fiction and nonfiction, with a primary focus on mental health and social-emotional learning. With the motto: Life is a rocky pond. Don’t let the rough spots keep you from swimming.

When you started this book, was it specifically for this imprint, or did it find its way there because of the subject matter?

Hah. This is the first time I've heard the motto. I like it. And yes, it does apply to George and Lenny, and so many stories for children.

Okay, now that we’re going deeper, let’s go darker. Um, George and Lenny (Lennie) are the friends from OF MICE AND MEN. Lenny has a rather unpleasant encounter with a rabbit. Your Lenny IS a rabbit. Is there a whole other world/meaning/hat tip in this 32 page book? Or, am I just a very warped human being? (both can be true).

I have to admit that I haven't read the book. I just liked the names.

And, to loop around to the happy again, this book is dedicated to your lovely wife, Audrey. Were you thinking of you two when you had George and Lenny end up together, not apart?

You're right, I didn't have to think too hard on the dedication. Also, I couldn't imagine George and Lenny separating. The attraction of the story for me is how they stay friends even when they have a difference of opinion.

For our readers, would you please let us know one or two of your favorite books of yours, and why?

Milo's Hat Trick (2001) comes to mind, for the prose, the characters, the illustrations, the ending. It was my second picture book with Michael diCapua, the editor for Sendak, Steig, Feiffer, Babbitt, Zemach, Jerrell, to name a few. His level of care for the art form was, at times, even greater than mine. Working with him gave me a greater appreciation for what I was doing. So Milo, for me, was a big step up.

Life on Mars (2017). It evolved from a series of doodles of a young astronaut reporting back to NASA about his moment-by-moment experience on a distant planet. He was looking for life, and he was very confident he'd find it. Two things occurred, almost serendipitously, that helped transform the simple narrative: 1) the word "life" can mean more than one thing, and 2) the introduction of a box of chocolate cupcakes.

Jon, thank you so very much for your time and for your always incredible books.

GEORGE & LENNY ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER is a fabulous book for little ones, and not so little ones. Please support your independent bookstore either in person or through Bookshop.org

https://bookshop.org/p/books/george-lenny-are-always-together-jon-agee/8e700d85b310cb5a

DANG!! These all look AMAZING!! ARMAVENI looks absolutely STUNNING!!

More information on all the Mrs. Dalloway's Events here: https://mrsdalloways.com/

I had a great time at the Carolina Ixta and Randy Ribay event last Monday!! Looking forward to learning all about Jennifer Nielsen's new book soon!!! (Jennifer got my 'burned out on reading' high school freshwoman back into reading when Jennifer read from THE FALSE PRINCE at NCTE in 2011 - I'll always be thankful for that!!)

What a fabulous opportunity!!!

Write books for young readers in a two-year, low-residency program. Study any form and genre, from picture books to young adult novels, nonfiction, graphic novels, and poetry. Work one-on-one with award-winning authors.

People who want to write for young readers aren't like everybody else. You understand how important kids' books are. And you've dreamed of writing them — maybe even since you were a child yourself. We see you. We've been where you are. And we want to help you make your dream come true.

More information here:

https://www.usfca.edu/arts-sciences/programs/graduate/writing-young-readers-mfa

Read like a writer, develop critical and creative writing skills, engage in post-graduate level workshops, and prepare for an MFA in Writing for Young Readers program.

MFA in Writing for Young Readers Boot Camp, Certificate

ENROLL NOW

This 10-week, MFA in Writing for Young Readers Boot Camp course is designed for pre-published and published degree-holding writers eager to prepare for and explore graduate level studies in writing for young readers. Develop application materials and gain the essential skills needed to succeed in an MFA in Writing for Young Readers program.

More info here:

https://www.usfca.edu/arts-sciences/programs/professional-certificates/creative-writing-pedagogy/mfa-writing-young-writers-bootcamp

Through looking at Scholastic’s Branches early chapter book line, Editor Katie Carella will reveal how to craft quality, page-turning series for newly independent readers! Early chapter book readers are just starting to read longer page-count, more text-heavy books. So they need certain supports in place to invite them into this format. We’ll explore key features of Branches books and do brief writing exercises together. Also, while this category generally targets children ages 5–8, it is especially important to create high/low books for today’s marketplace—now that more older children than ever before are significantly behind in their reading journeys.

Registration info here: https://www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-ca-sfsouth-PAL-event-with-katie-carella

Mark Your Calendar: March 4, 5 and 7, 2026

First held in 2015 as a collaboration between Sierra Writers and Sierra College, the Sierra Writers Conference is now the Sierra WordFest. This much anticipated annual event provides inspiration, thought-provoking discussions, and presentations on timely topics. It also offers access to professional writers and publishers, plus writing activities for Sierra College students and the greater community through lectures, panels, workshops, and networking opportunities.

Including a panel with our own fabulous Karen McCoy.

Kidlit Demystified: Publishing in the Middle Grade Space
Publishing in the Middle Grade space can often look a bit different than in other areas. First, Middle Grade literature has an unusually wide readership range, and includes everything from early chapter books, the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey, and then The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Middle Grade authors also often have to promote their work to parents, teachers, and librarians rather than directly to the readers themselves. As a result, this can make for a different kind of marketing plan than usual and can sometimes include more school and library visits. Come and hear four Middle Grade authors talk about their experiences in Middle Grade publishing, ranging from the “Big 5” publishers to small presses and self-publishing.

Panel Members:

Karen McCoy
Catherine Arguelles
Jenny Lundquist
Lisa Frenkel Riddiough

More info on the fest here:

https://www.sierracollege.edu/library/sierra-college-press/wordfest/

Our own Sue Fliess is waving at us from under piles o' snow!!! (she left the Bay Area, but still has us in her heart). Check out the fabulous giveaway of her SIXTY FIRST BOOK!!!!

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/431255-greta-green-builds-a-submarine

We are excited and proud to announce an extraordinary new recording from Master Storyteller Jim Weiss, “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Here, Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story of suspense, and the battle between good and evil, springs to life with all its stunning plot twists and remarkable characters.

Can the friends of renowned London physician Dr. Henry Jekyll save him from a mysterious, deadly fate? What is the secret Jekyll hides? Who is the sinister Mr. Edward Hyde, and what power does he hold over the universally admired doctor?

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is much more than a classic of suspense. When it appeared, in 1886, its exploration of the inner battles between good and evil impulses in humans seized the attention of millions of astonished readers worldwide, and led to countless essays, articles, sabbath sermons, and public debates.

The power of the story remains today, nearly a century and a half later, and has led to dozens of translations, multiple motion picture versions, and dramatic and musical plays. We still use the term “Jekyll and Hyde” when we discuss good and evil impulses, making this one of the truly essential stories to know.

Now, Jim Weiss has brought it to life in a version that he suggests is appropriate for age 9 and up, and which offers a chance for modern families to learn from and discuss together the meaningful lessons of this classic.

Available on: MP3 Digital Audio

Running Time: 1 Hour, 11 minutes

Suggested Ages: 9 and Up

PURCHASE OPTIONS: "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is available from the Well-Trained Mind (great prices); Amazon; Audible; Spotify; Apple Books App; ITunes; Spotify; Libro; Google Play; Everand, and other venues where Audio is sold.

I try (when I have time/energy/spoons) to visit store websites and pull event information. However, the best way to get your events in is to e-mail me directly with FOR THE NEWSLETTER as the subject line. There are over 2000 subscribers to this newsletter - plus it gets posted on Facebook, Twitter (I said what I said), BlueSky and my local NextDoor. I am happy to spread the word, it's just easier if 'the word' (not the religious one) comes directly to my inbox

I'm only as good as my sources, so please do feel free to share events, good news, etc.! Please e-mail me at sharonlevin at mindspring dot com and put For the Newsletter as your subject line.

I'm always happy to feature giveaways. There is NO paid advertising in this newsletter - I do not require anything to feature a giveaway. I'm just happy to do it.