Happy Book Birthday to #12x12PB member, @michaelbennerbooks.com! 🎉📚 📚 MAC & CHEESE: THE ORIGIN STORY illustrated by Alison Hawkins and published by Orchard Books (Scholastic) Check it out: buff.ly/w19qc5r #kidlit #12x12PB

We're pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book MAC AND CHEESE: THE ORIGIN STORY by @michaelbennerbooks.com illustrated by Alison Hawkins (Scholastic) out on July 14. To enter, L + RP and confirm your entry in our Friday weekly: kidlit411.com/2026/07/the-... (+ more ways to win)

Surprise! Mac & Cheese: The Origin Story is on shelves today (at least in some bookstores). Visited @bookpeople.com and @barnesandnoble.com to check it out. It’s a dream come true! Even got to sign copies at Barnes & Noble. Wow! In stores everywhere July 14. Or now. Who knows! #picturebooks

I'm so excited to share that Mac & Cheese: The Origin Story was selected for the American Booksellers Association July/August Kids' Indie Next List! This is a huge honor and I'm so appreciative of the nod from indie booksellers across the country! Pre-order now. Available July 14.

In @christinevanzandt.bsky.social and Steven Salerno's picture book (out today!), Hot Dog: The History of America's Favorite Sausage, follow Frank de Weinerdog on an exploration of how hot dogs became cemented into American culture. This book will leave you hungry for more!

Publishers Weekly reviewed my debut picture book, Mac & Cheese: The Origin Story! #picturebooks #humor #kidlit

Hoping this bodes well for my writing!

Just three short months until the cheesiest day of the year - Mac & Cheese: The Origin Story launches on July 7, 2026 to bookstores everywhere! #picturebooks #booklaunch #humor #kidlit

I loved Gilbert and the Ghost by @heatherstigall7.bsky.social. The story's theme of perseverance despite feeling invisible and unanswered, the beautifully spooky illustrations, and the easy readability make this a great bedtime story, especially during the spookier times of the year!

If you're a fan of escape rooms like me, The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsey Currie is a must read. The majority of the book is set in an abandoned escape room house, filled with puzzles, tricks, and a treasure if you make it to the end. I look forward to the next book in the Delta Games series!

Storystorm wrapped up and 30 new ideas in the bank! Now, onto writing a a few of them... #storystorm #picturebooks #kidlit

Help support immigrant communities and those most impacted by ICE in Minnesota through an auction of terrific services from industry leading authors and illustrators. Auction opens Thursday 1/29 at 12:00am EST and ends Friday 1/30 at 11:45pm EST. www.32auctions.com/publishingfo...

Publishing for Minnesota

Silent auction 'Publishing for Minnesota' hosted online at 32auctions.

32auctions.com

Getting into the mood for writing a Christmas-themed picture book by listening to Christmas songs. In January. Kinda weird but kinda awesome, too. 🎅🤶🎄⛄️ #picturebooks #christmas

Meg Eden Kuyatt's middle grade novel, The Girl in the Walls, is a novel-in-verse about a neurodivergent girl who uncovers a not just a ghost but a set of dangerous family secrets in her grandmother's house. Hard to put down, it's a fun, fast, nail biting read, and ghostly read!

My writing goals for 2026: * Complete at least 2 submission-worthy picture book manuscripts. * Complete the first draft of my MG horror novel. * Complete the 12x12 Challenge (write 12 picture book drafts in 12 months). * Take at least 3 writing classes. * Sell one of my picture book manuscripts.

I love @stephaniebearce.bsky.social's MG debut, The Secret of Moonrise Manor. Beautifully written and filled with mystery, paranormal, teen emotions, and science-based reasoning wrapped up in layers upon layers clues, plot twists, and suspense. #middlegradebooks #middlegrade #review #kidlit

Excited to get started with Storystorm 2026 - 30 picture book ideas in the 31 days of January! It's a great way to get into a groove in the new writing year! Sign up here to get started: taralazar.com/2025/12/26/s... #storystorm #storystorm2026 #picturebooks

Announcing the 2nd book in the Delicious Duos series, Milk & Cookies! Join Milk & Cookies in their funny, punny adventure as they form one of the most enduring friendships ever. Illustrated by Alison Hawkins, Milk & Cookies launches Summer 2027 by Scholastic. #kidlit #picturebooks #milkandcookies

Writing prompt for 11/14/25: "Deep in the forest, past the cave beneath the cliff, an old gentleman awaited my arrival..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts

Writing prompt for 11/13/25: "I thought I showed up to an all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead, I walked into the middle of..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts

Writing prompt for 11/11/25: "Today, I wish for..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts

Writing prompt for 11/10/25: "Never, ever ask a nun about..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts

Writing prompt for 11/07/25: "A woman asked me today why my left eye was..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts

Writing prompt for 11/06/25: "The spotlight shined on me, but what I forgot my line..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts

Writing prompt for 11/05/25: "What a dirty trick..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts

Writing prompt for 10/31/25: "When the witching hour arrives on Halloween night, I must..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts

Writing prompt for 10/30/25: "The last thing you should ever say to a ghost is..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts

Writing prompt for 10/29/25: "The lights dimmed and went out, and three pounding knocks rattled the door. I only had time to..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts

Writing prompt for 10/27/25: "I opened my eyes, and there it was, looking at me from the foot of my bed..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts

Writing prompt for 10/23/25: "The creepiest thing about a cemetery is..." Continue this thought for 5-minutes, non-stop, by hand, without editing. Have fun! #writingcommunity #kidlit #dailywritingprompts