KAREN M. GREENWALD'S OFFICIAL AUTHOR SITE IS: WWW.KARENGREENWALD.COM.
ATTN: THIS SITE IS FOR CONTESTS, RAFFLES, AND BOOK DRIVES. THE MOBILE SITE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. PLEASE VIEW WEBSITE ON A COMPUTER. THE #BOOKHERO AND #SUNWRITEFUN CONTESTS ARE ONLY VIEWABLE ON A COMPUTER. THANKS!
Karen M. Greenwald
Contests/Book Drives
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GIVING IT YOUR ALL
Have you checked out our extraordinary
PRIZES?!
Grateful to these donors for giving so generously!
Remember, you MUST earn
7 SUMMER FUN POINTS
to be eligible for a GRAND PRIZE!
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GNOME ROAD PUBLISHING
30-MINUTE AMA ZOOM
Publisher, Editor - Sandra Foreman Sutter is the owner ("top gnome") at GRP. She is the author of two traditionally published picture books, a former attorney and addictions counselor. She's also a mom, crazy cat lady, and fan of kind people. Find out more about GRP at gnomeroadpublishing.com
CAPYFUN FOUNDER/PUBLISHER/ EDITOR/AUTHOR HELEN WU
30-MINUTE AMA
Helen H. Wu is the founder of CapyFun, the world’s first comprehensive capybara IP spanning from books, animations, apparel, toys, stationery and lifestyle products. Helen draws inspiration from the native South American capybara, whose calm, Zen-like demeanor reflects the tranquility of Eastern Buddhist philosophy, and she brings its unique charm and rich diversity to life.
Helen is also a multi-talented children’s book author, illustrator, translator, and publisher. Her works include Tofu Takes Time, Long Goes to Dragon School, Ping’s Perfect Pot, and her author-illustrated titles, A Cup of Happy: Capybara Bubble Tea and coloring books, Capybara Zen, Capybara Bubble Tea, Cozy Capy Cuddles Coloring, Capy Holidays, among many others. Helen is passionate about sharing stories that celebrate cultural connections and empower children to better understand the world. Learn more about Helen at helenhwu.com and capyfun.com
SUSANNA LEONARD HILL
MAKING PICTURE BOOK MAGIC COURSE
Susanna has penned over 25 books, including the New York Times Bestseller, Moon’s First Friends: One Giant Leap For Friendship (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky 2019). Her most recent books include Grandma’s Girl (Sourcebooks Wonderland (2020), Mars’ First Friends: Come On Over Rovers! (Sourcebooks Wonderland, 2020) & Dear Grandma (2021). She’s also the founder of Making Picture Book Magic, and the creator of several popular kidlit contests such as: Halloweensie & Valentiny.
2026 PICTURE BOOK SUMMIT
TICKET
Picture Book Summit is the original online writing conference specifically designed for picture book creators. This year’s world-class event, Big, Bold & Brave: Supercharge Your Picture Books features speakers Vashti Harrison, Susan Verde & Jason Chin! Plus, the full-day event includes in-depth workshops and agent and editor panels. It’s seven hours of picture book fun and insight coming October 4, 2023.
12x12
2027 SILVER MEMBERSHIP (1 YEAR)
The 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge is a calendar-year challenge to write 12 picture book drafts in 12 months, but it’s so much more than that too! 12 x 12 is a community of writers offering motivation, support, and accountability at all milestones of the picture book writing journey. Join us in an exclusive forum, private Facebook group, and monthly webinars focused on the craft of writing and publishing picture books. It’s the friendliest writing community on Earth!
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
CANDACE FLEMING
CRITIQUE
Candace Fleming is the author of more than fifty books for children and young adults, including the 2021 Sibert Medal-winning Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera, as well as the 2021 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award-winning The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh. A recipient of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, she is also the two-time winner of both the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award, and the Sibert Honor. Her most recent titles are The Enigma Girls and Narwhal, Unicorn of the Arctic.
Candace has also received the following awards and recognition:
-Margaret A. Edwards Award (for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults-2026)
-Children’s Literature Legacy Award (honors an author or an illustrator whose work has made a lasting contribution to literature for children-2026)
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NANCY CHURNIN
Nancy is an award-winning author of more than 20 children's books, including The William Hoy Story, on the Texas 2X2 list, Manjhi Moves a Mountain, a South Asia Book Award winner and Dear Mr. Dickens, a Sydney Taylor Honor and winner of the National Jewish Book Award. Her latest book, A Teddy Bear for Emily -- and President Roosevelt, Too is the true story of the immigrant family that created the first "Teddy's Bear" to thank the kind President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. A former theater critic for The Dallas Morning News, Nancy lives in North Texas. She provides free teacher guides, resources and activities on her website nancychurnin.com.
Visit her on Facebook at Nancy Churnin Children's Books, on Twitter @nchurnin and Instagram @nchurnin
JOLENEE GUITIERREZ
Jolene Gutiérrez lives with her family near Denver, where she is an award-winning neurodivergent teacher librarian who has been working with neurodivergent learners since 1995. Her books have been printed in nine countries and eight languages and include the recipient of five starred reviews, Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp (co-authored with Minoru Tonai); Mamiachi and Me: My Mami’s Mariachi Band; winner of the 2025 Crystal Kite Award for the Southwest Region, The Ofrenda That We Built; and Too Much! An Overwhelming Day.
JYOTI GOPAL
Growing up, Jyoti lived in Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, China and India. She finally settled in New York where she raised two daughters with her husband (who also grew up all over the world). As a child, she adored and devoured books but did not enjoy writing. At all. As a grown up, she is a forever kindergarten teacher and mom. She still adores and devours books. But now, she likes to write! She has two books releasing this summer, Over in the Mangroves and The Power of Your Name.
Find out more about her and her books at jyotirajangopal.com.
DOW PHUMIRUK
Dow is an author and/or illustrator of several children's books, including three Colorado Book Award finalists. She illustrated Counting on Katherine by Helaine Becker, which won a Cook Prize. She is one of the illustrators of Yes We Will by New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang. She illustrated A Life of Service written by two-time Newbery Honor Award winner Christina Soontornvat. Her book with renowned and beloved author Jane Yolen, Ruby Maps Her World releases in October 2025. Dow is donating a signed copy of Orpheline.
You can see wonderful samples of her artwork here.
KAREN M. GREENWALD
Karen M. Greenwald is an award-winning children’s author. Food Network celebrity, Chef Maneet Chauhan said about Karen's 2026 release, The Cabbage Seed’s Colossal Secret, “…Our young girls need to read this…” Greenwald is also the author of Italian media favorite, The Mud Angels and A Vote for Susanna. The latter, a Kansas 2022 Notable Book, represented Kansas at both the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival and in the LOC's Great Reads from Great Places initiative. Karen cofounded the #SunWriteFun writing contest, created what is now called #BOOKHERO, and has won nineteen international brand strategy awards. Most recently, her educational marketing efforts earned the prestigious title, “BEST IN CATEGORY” from the 2024 global Summit Marketing Effectiveness Award competition. She shares her office with a noisy dog.
You can learn more about Karen's books and literacy-centric charitable efforts here:
www.karengreenwald.com or on her IG: @karenmgreenwald or BSKY: @kmgreenwald.bsky.social
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JILANNE HOFFMANN - QUERY CRITIQUE
Jilanne Hoffmann’s picture book, The Ocean’s Heart: The Tiny Creatures Essential to Life, is a Skipping Stones Honor Book, and received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus, where it was deemed a “shimmering tale of interdependence and survival.” Her award-winning picture book, A River of Dust: The Life-Giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon, was a Junior Library Guild Gold selection, and named an ALA Notable, Bank Street Best, and Garden State Children’s Book Award List title. HeartLand, her middle grade historical/contemporary novel in verse/prose received a starred review from School Library Journal and glowing reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Shelf Awareness where it was called “multi-faceted and beguiling.” Jilanne is also the author of a chapter book, The Gold Rush: Shifting Sands and Dreams of Gold and two board books. She lives in San Francisco with her family.
LISA ROGERS
SARAH ARONSON
Sasah has began writing on a dare. She is the author of many books for kids, including Just Like Rube Goldberg, illustrated by Robert Neubecker, and the forthcoming, Sidelined: Marty Glickman's Race for Justice, illustrated by Il Sung Na. Find her classes at Boyds Mills. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Jane Addams Peace Association. www.saraharonson.com
MARY BOONE
Over the years, Mary Boone has written everything from books and magazine articles to park placards and eulogies. (Truly, never a dull moment!) She has written 70+ nonfiction books for young readers, the most recent of which are Unfathomable: 20 (Wild but True) Stories of the Sea (Penguin Random House), Flying Feminist (Andersen Press), Pedal Pusher (Henry Holt/Macmillan), School of Fish (Albert Whitman & Co.), and Bugs for Breakfast (Chicago Review Press). Mary lives in Tacoma, WA, where she shares her office with Airedale terrier named Ruth Bader.
HEATHER PREUSSER
Heather Preusser the author of the forthcoming THE CAROUSEL OF HAPPINESS, a picture book biography of Vietnam veteran Scott Harrison and his hand-carved wooden carousel, to be illustrated by Naoko Stoop and published by Rocky Pond Books. Her chapter book series, HEDGEHOG WHODUNIT, illustrated by Gal Weizman, was released by Andrews McMeel in 2024, and her debut picture book, A SYMPHONY OF COWBELLS, illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen, came out with Sleeping Bear Press in 2017. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the Stonecoast program at the University of Southern Maine and a BA in English and art history from Williams College. She is represented by Janine Le at the Janine Le Literary Agency and can be found online at heatherpreusser.com and @heather_preusser.
LYDIA LUKIDIS
Lydia is an award-winning author of 70+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include UP, UP HIGH: The Secret Poetry of Earth's Atmosphere (Capstone, 2025), DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023). She won numerous awards such as the Crystal Kite Award for the Canada and North America division, a Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, and multiple Cybils Award nominations. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program. For more information, please visit www.lydialukidis.com.
JENNIFER BUCHET
Jennifer is an award-winning kidlit author, and presenter, former marketing guru, and super-fun pre-k educator (AKA chaos coordinator!). She's also a regular feature contributor to Cricket Media, including the social studies magazine, FACES. She is an active member of many writing coJmmunities including SCBWI, 12x12, and the Writing Barn''s Courage to Create. She is also the co-founder & creator of #SunWriteFun and a secret reader for Rate Your Story.
Jennifer's debut picture book, Little Medusa’s Hair Do-Lemma (Clear Fork Publishing) launched in 2021 to rave reviews. When she's not writing enchanting tales for kids, she might be found in a classroom sharing her joy of writing, searching for feyfolke in the woods or stirring up magic in the kitchen.
You can follow Jennifer on Twitter (X): @Yangmommy, blueSky: @buchetbooks or drop by her website that's constantly in progress, www.buchetbooks.wixsite.com.
Follow her on GoodReads by clicking HERE.
Lisa Rogers is the award-winning author of picture book biographies Woody’s Words: Woodrow Wilson Rawls and Where the Red Fern Grows (Crystal Kite Honor winner, Oklahoma Book Award finalist); Joan Mitchell Paints a Symphony (Kirkus starred review, Eureka! Silver Award); Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage, (a Golden Kite Honor Award, Julia Ward Howe Notable Book Award, and three starred reviews); 16 Words: William Carlos Williams and "The Red Wheelbarrow," (Julia Ward Howe Award, two starred reviews, and praised as “a fine introduction to a celebrated American poet” by The New York Times); and the bestselling Elvis Presley: A Little Golden Book Biography.
A former news reporter and editor, Lisa was inspired to write for children during her career as an elementary school teacher-librarian. She is an author advisor for The Writing Barn’s Verge program and lives on a pond near Boston. Find her at lisarogerswrites.com.
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ROB SANDERS
Rob Sanders, from Brandon, Florida, is a teacher who writes and a writer who teaches. He is known for his funny and fierce fiction and nonfiction picture books and is recognized as one of the pioneers in the arena of LGBTQIA+ literary nonfiction picture books. He is a former elementary school teacher who has published fiction and nonfiction picture books, a middle grade novel, a book of poetry, and more. Recent releases include: Book Comes Home: A Banned Book’s Journey; André: André Leon Talley—A Fabulously Fashionable Fairytale; A Family of Readers; and Play Proud: Fiercely Fabulous Queer Athletes.
Rob believes in paying it forward. He serves on the SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund Steering Committee and is a frequent speaker, teacher, mentor,
You can find out much more via his socials including, robsanderswrites.com, on Facebook: RobSandersWrites and Instagram: RobSandersWrites
NANCY CHURNIN
Nancy is generously offering a signed copy of one of her books.
For more about Nancy, please see her bio above.
CAROLINE PERRY
Caroline L. Perry is the award-winning author of I Am Not Grumpy!, I Am Not Happy!, A Hug for Punch, Nighty Knight,Messi’s Magic, The Memory Cake, The Corgi and the Queen, and more books for young readers. Caroline also coaches kids in writing and soccer and spends her free time daydreaming about travel adventures. Born in the UK, she now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three children, many crowded bookshelves, and a frequently raided British candy cupboard. Stop by and say “hi” at CarolineLPerry.com.
STEPHANIE OWENS
Stephanie Owen grew up in Illinois, and attended college in Indiana where she met her husband, Spencer. After getting married, she moved to Colorado and taught at the elementary and middle school levels. Now she is a high school English teacher and still lives in Colorado with her husband, daughter, and 2 dogs. The Lonely Lighthouse is her first picture book. Stephanie is also the author of Living in the True Spirit of Christmas: An Advent Devotional. Her next picture book is scheduled to be released in February of 2027. Connect with Stephanie at www.stephanieowenbooks.com
X: @write_Stephanie
Instagram: stephanieowen0509