The Weekly 411 (9/5/25)
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| © Katy Tanis |
Sept. 5, 2025 vol. 36
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 Katy Tanis.
Picture Book Giveaway
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, Some Days I'm the Wind by Rebecca Gardyn Levington, illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova (Barefoot Books) out on Sept. 9. Enter to win a copy via the Rafflecopter below.
About the Book: Some Days I'm the Wind is a lyrical picture book that encourages kids to be true to who they are, even when “who they are” is constantly changing. Like the wind, which on some days is “whirling and wild” and on others “mellow and mild,” we cannot be described, defined, or labelled in any one way. Each day, our moods, feelings and reactions to the world inevitably shift and drift depending on our circumstance, but we are always, on all days, uniquely ourselves.
About the Author: Rebecca Gardyn Levington is a children’s book author, poet, and journalist with a particular penchant for penning both playful and poignant picture books and poems – primarily in rhyme. She is the author of Whatever Comes Tomorrow (translated into nine languages and winner of a Crystal Kite Honor and a Northern Lights Book Award), Afikoman Where'd You Go? and Finding Forgiveness (both PJ Library Selections), Brainstorm!, Little Dreidel Learns to Spin, Write Here Write Now, Some Days I'm the Wind, Dinosaur Surprise, and I Will Always Be … with many more forthcoming. Rebecca blogs monthly for the Picture Book Builders blog and her award-winning poems and articles have appeared in numerous anthologies, newspapers, and magazines. She lives with her family in Summit, NJ, where she enjoys bouncing on a mini-trampoline, playing Mah Jongg, and eating chocolate-peanut butter ice cream (although not usually at the same time!). Find out more at www.RebeccaGardynLevington.com.
About the Illustrator: Dinara Mirtalipova is an award-winning folk artist, illustrator, and surface designer with a profound passion for folklore storytelling and the enchanting world of classic fairytales. Her captivating artwork and unique style are inspired by the vibrant traditions and cultural heritage found in folkloric tales. Working primarily with gouache and pencils on paper, as well as exploring printmaking and block printing, Dinara brings to life narrative-driven art that tells captivating stories. In addition to her creative pursuits, Dinara serves as an Assistant Professor at the Cleveland Institute of Art, nurturing and guiding future illustrators.
Picture Book Giveaway
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, A Christmas Wish for Little Dale Horse: A St. Lucia Celebration, by Sonja Anderson, illustrated by Agnieszka Potocka (Tyndale Kids) out on Sept. 9. Enter to win a copy via the Rafflecopter below.
About the Book: Little Dala Horse knows nothing of Juletide or of love―he’s just been newly carved as a Christmas gift. Eager to learn about the Saint Lucia girl with a crown of glowing candles, the festive star boys, and the cute pepparkakor children, Little Dala Horse jumps into a boy’s pocket and experiences the Saint Lucia pageant for the first time. At first Little Dala is shy and hides, but when a small gingerbread girl is scared to go on stage for her dance, Little Dala finds courage to help her overcome her fear. Children will have fun looking for the tiny Swedish gnomes (tomten) hidden in the illustrations like an I Spy game for young readers and learning some common Swedish words along the way.
About the Author: Sonja Anderson is a Swedish-American elementary school librarian with an EdM from Harvard University. She and her Norwegian-American husband, Jeff, live in Seattle, Washington, where their two daughters grew up participating in their church’s annual Santa Lucia pageant. Dala horses, straw ornaments, pepparkakor cookies, and Swedish candelabras make their holidays festive and bright.
About the Illustrator: Agnieszka Potocka was born in a small city in eastern Poland. She moved to Gdańsk to study architecture, but there, illustration became her true passion. She is a self-taught illustrator who works digitally but also likes sketching in traditional mediums such as colored pencils. She loves creating magical worlds and sharing emotions through her art. Agnieszka pays attention to small details in her illustrations and loves designing new characters. Her dream is to inspire children all over the world with her work.
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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. Great for writers in the query trenches or those looking for market and editorial feedback on their premise and opening chapters.
Sept. 9, 8 pm ET Let’s Edit Your Picture Book (with literary agent Carter Hasegawa) No, really. I’ll edit your picture book right here and now. For real. Attendees will get the chance to have their picture book edited live in the workshop by a seasoned children’s book editor turned literary agent Carter Hasegawa. Everyone will get a chance to see how editors approach and edit a picture book text. And a lucky person – or maybe even a few people, if time allows – will get to have their ms. edited. There’s a special submission opportunity for all registrants: 9/9/25-11/30/25 (Please upload your complete picture book text to the provided Google Drive link (after registration) by September 7.
I've recently read interviews with these authors and can't wait to read these books.
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