Oct. 3, 2025 vol. 41
The Weekly 411 gathers all the links added to Kidlit411 each week. To receive this post by email, sign up for our email updates. Are you on Facebook? Join our Kidlit411 group for conversations and camaraderie. We can also be found on Bluesky. This week's illustration is by Stacey Byer.
Contest Announcement
Illustrators: don't forget to enter our Kidlit411 banner design contest (with cash prizes and the chance to have your banner featured for one month in 2026 plus an Illustrator Spoltight). Deadline is October 15.
Picture Book Giveaway
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, Meatballs for Grandpa, by Jeanette Fazarri Jones, illustrated by Jacqueline Sinquett (Two Lions). Enter to win a copy via the widget below or through this link.
About the Book: For Felicia, the days spent making meatballs for Grandpa are some of the best ever! Grandpa no longer remembers much, but he loves to help cook. Grandma and Felicia know just what to do so that they’ll get the perfect sizzle, tang, and magic in their mouths. But Felicia also knows that cooking together makes more than a meal―sometimes it even helps Grandpa remember. Together they get their hands dirty and make the savory meal of spaghetti and meatballs in the family’s Italian tradition. And then, they mangia!
About the Author: Jeanette Fazarri Jones grew up on the Jersey shore, learning how to cook and craft alongside her family. These days, she lives in Kentucky, works as a teacher, and writes whenever she has a spare moment. Jeanette’s picture book inspiration comes from the amazing children in her life, past and present. When she isn’t teaching or writing, you can find her baking, gardening, sewing, or playing board games with her husband and kids. Look out for her next two books, Ava's Chalk and Duck, Duck, Groove in late 2025 & summer 2026.
About the Illustrator: Jaclyn Sinquett grew up playing in her dad's garden, feeding worms to box turtles, and tossing french fries to seagulls at the Jersey shore. She now spends her time avoiding sunburn at the beach with her daughter, catching up on a certain great baking show, and illustrating books for children. She lives in Brick, NJ. Jaclyn received her BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts in 2008. She is an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and is proud to be represented by Christy Tugeau Ewers at the CAT Agency.
Meatballs for Grandpa giveaway
Picture Book Giveaway
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, Every Body Move!, by Jenna Elyse Johnson, illustrated by Ananya Rao-Middleton, sung by Audra Mariel (Barefoot Books) out Sept. 30. Enter to win a copy via the widget below or through this link.
About the Book: What helps your mobility? How do you groove? Full of possibility! Every body move! Every Body Move! is an energetic aļ¬rmation for children who use mobility tools and a joyful
celebration of an accessible world – set to an original groovy tune!
About the Author: Jenna Elyse Johnson is a children’s author, teacher, and bookseller. Having grown up with cerebral palsy, and now living with other chronic illnesses, Jenna has a passion for writing stories that highlight disability joy. She lives in Northern California, USA, with her service dog, Hamilton.
About the Illustrator: When Ananya Rao-Middleton was a child, she could name almost every dinosaur and spent hours drawing creatures she loved. These days, she’s an illustrator and disability activist living with multiple sclerosis. She lives between sunny Lisbon, Portugal, and bustling London, UK, where she divides her time between creating art and splashing around in the sea.
Oct. 8 - Nov. 7, 2025 YA Opening Pages Workshop with agent Linda Camacho. In this intimate workshop, you'll receive a written critique of your opening pages (3750 words) from agent Linda Camacho at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency, plus get the opportunity to speak to Linda individually in the live group call that follows critiques. You'll also exchange peer critiques within your group of up to 7 writers. Why take a peer workshop? You'll benefit from critiquing each person's work and then reading the professional's critique for each story. Many writers tell us that listening and learning from the professional's notes to others is just as beneficial to their learning as the feedback on their own work. Great for writers in the query trenches or those looking for market and editorial feedback on their premise and opening chapters.
Oct. 28, 4 p.m. CST/ 5 p.m. EST Plot, Page-Turns and Pith: All About Picture Book Pacing With Sylvie Frank, Senior Executive Editor at Flamingo Books (PRH) Hosted by Author Rosie J. Pova What does pacing really mean in picture books? What makes a story feel “snappy”? And how do plot and page-turns work together to keep young readers fully engaged? Join for: - A deep dive into a mentor text to uncover what makes a picture book well-paced
- Hands-on guidance using your own work-in-progress — learn how to create a dummy and analyze your text for pacing, page-turns, and emotional impact.
- Clarity on how character, plot, and design all come together to create that magical page-turning rhythm.
Bonus: All registrants get a two-month Above the Slushpile submission opportunity following the workshop!
Meatballs for Grandpa sounds emotional and one that grandchildren may recognize as something they are facing in their own lives with a grandparent. Every Body Move will be a fun interactive read.
ReplyDeleteLove the vibrant colors & important topics displayed.
ReplyDeletea book about disability and about meatballs. cool
ReplyDelete