Children's Lit Newsletter 9/30/26

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.

Joel Ben Izzy will be weaving his magical stories at 11:20 a.m. this Sunday at the Horseshoe Hill Stage. We have been fans of Joe's ever since our first trip to the snow with our girls. 4 hours in the car with a 4 and 7 year old flew by as we listened to the tape (yes, TAPE) of How I Learned to Love Liver: And Other Tales Too Tall to Tell.

Storytelling is a completely different cadence, skill set, and aural experience from reading a book aloud (which is ALSO fun and essential for children to experience). Think about how, as adults, we enjoy The Moth on NPR, or various other podcasts. I truly believe that storytelling like Joel's is fun, magical and necessary, for children and adults.

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!

School Library Journal’s Fall Day of Dialog is packed with author panels, in-depth conversations, and keynote talks that will leave you informed, inspired, and entertained! Register to hear about incredible forthcoming titles for children, tweens, and teens.

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.

Come by The Reading Bug next Saturday, October 3rd at 11am to see author Maxwell Kim's first public reading of his new children's book, The Pumpkin with a Crack in It VS The Love Thief! He'll be signing copies of the book afterward, and there will be snacks and souvenirs for all guests.

Event info:

What: Storytime at The Reading Bug

When: Saturday, October 3rd @ 11am

Where: 785 Laurel St, San Carlos, CA 94070

This book has a permanent place in my Book Talk Crates. Such a stunning book about perception, and how we all see things through our own framing. (without being pedantic). And, of course, since it's Brendan Wenzel, the art is STUNNING.

ACTIVITY KIT:

https://edelweiss-assets.abovethetreeline.com/CH/supplemental/TASAC_activityKit_.pdf?_kx=qSaEKDi2Gd810CmDtnp8WFO6DJiae4nKWuXmv13-ZID4xOxgo5dk8KMp2sIJm7AR.Ux8rtG

EDUCATOR'S GUIDE

https://edelweiss-assets.abovethetreeline.com/CH/supplemental/they_all_saw_a_cat_discussion_guide.pdf?_kx=qSaEKDi2Gd810CmDtnp8WFO6DJiae4nKWuXmv13-ZID4xOxgo5dk8KMp2sIJm7AR.Ux8rtG

Day of Delight is being republished this month by Kalaniot Books. Illustrated by Caldecott Honoree, Brian Pinkney, the book tells of one Sabbath day in the life of a Jewish community in the high mountains of Ethiopia. This book was selected as an Association of Jewish Libraries Holiday Highlight and just this week got a great review in the School Library Journal: "An important and resonant work, offering young readers a window into a specific cultural experience and a universal message about family, faith, and tradition. Ideal for classrooms, libraries, and shared reading. This is as a meaningful contribution to children’s literature and cultural storytelling."

> •

Free Author Visit Opportunities & Resources for the new school year!
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> Hello, friends! I know many of you are teachers & librarians who are just back to school or heading back soon, so I wanted to send along a quick note to help with your planning. I'm absolutely thrilled that THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES has made its way onto 26 state award lists so far, as well as the Hong Kong Battle of the Books list and Singapore's Red Dot Student's Choice Award list. I know many of you are planning to read it with your students this year, so I have some extra author-visit opportunities for that – and for my new novel KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON, which comes out in February!
>
>
> FREE IN-PERSON AUTHOR VISITS – BOOKING NOW (https://forms.gle/RmGZBmB5t4PkxHaM8)
>
> I’ll have a limited number of FREE school visits available this winter as part of a publisher-sponsored book tour. That means I’ll be visiting schools in select cities (maybe yours!) and doing one free large-group presentation at each school, with all travel expenses paid by the publisher. These interactive visits offer a peek behind the scenes at my writing process for both THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES and my new Broadway ghost story, KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON, with an emphasis on crafting poetry (and song lyrics!), research, and revision. The school’s only responsibility is purchasing books for the library and classroom libraries and sending home an order form so interested families can order books to be signed on the day of the visit.
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> Here’s the form to fill out if you’d like to request a free book-tour visit from me this winter! (https://forms.gle/RmGZBmB5t4PkxHaM8)
>
> Note: the publisher is requesting a minimum of 50-100 books purchased, either by your school, PTA, or school families, but feel free to fill out the form even if you can’t swing that – sometimes it works out anyway, and either way, you’ll be able to sign up for my virtual author-in-residence program!
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> KATE’S VIRTUAL AUTHOR IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM FOR 2026-2027
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> Recommended for readers in grades 4 and up, KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON comes out in February 2027. It’s a multi-modal Broadway ghost story, told through traditional narration as well as text messages, song lyrics, historical documents, and musical theater scenes directed by the ghost.
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> Kate’s Virtual Author-in-Residence Program for 2026-2027 is free with your pre-order of one or more copies of KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON from Kate’s local indie or another participating store, the program includes:
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> - An exclusive pdf excerpt with the first 40 pages of KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON delivered to your inbox on October 1st.
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> - Writing Scary Scenes – a 20-minute on-demand writing workshop for grades 4-8 with author Kate Messner
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> - Songwriting is Poetry – a 20-minute on-demand workshop for grades 4-8 with author Kate Messner & Broadway music director and composer Haley Bennett, who wrote music to go along with the song lyrics in KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON.
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> - A Live Virtual Author Visit on February 11th – A 45-minute virtual author visit sharing Kate’s research and writing process for her NYT Bestseller THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES and her new novel KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT ON, including live Q&A with readers. (Each pre-order provides access to the live webinar for one device. A recording will also be available after the live event, with unlimited access through the 2026-2027 school year.)
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> PRE-ORDER KEEP THE GHOST LIGHT TODAY TO SIGN UP FOR KATE'S VIRTUAL AUTHOR-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM (https://www.thebookstoreplus.com/item/R888A8PhO_6HuwFYUjqIDQ/lists/LqlRl-UhZaQw)
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> As soon as you pre-order, you’ll automatically be signed up for the virtual author-in-residence program. You’ll get an email from Kate on October 1st (or on the first of the next month after you order, if it’s later) with the excerpt and links to the on-demand writing workshops as well as your invitation to register for the live Zoom author visit. (Wondering if your local indie is participating? Let them know they can reach out to me if they'd like to be included!)
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>
> ** Reading THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES with your kids soon?
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Here's a link with even more resources, including the amazing teaching guide created by NBCT Melissa Guerrette and four on-demand virtual poetry writing workshops to go along with the novel. (https://katemessner.com/teaching-resources-author-visits-for-the-trouble-with-heroes/)
>

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.