The Weekly 411 (12/19/25)

Dec. 19, 2025 vol. 51

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 Laurie Smollett Kutscera.

Middle Grade Giveaway

We are pleased to host a giveaway of the middle grade book, Rules to a Legacy by Brittany Saulnier (2025). Enter to win a copy via the widget below.

cover design by Moran Reader

About the Book: Flora Steward knows everything about her ancestors through the family’s greenhouses, each filled with curated magical Cultivars and the animals they attract. She has a legacy to protect. The weight of this responsibility grows after Papa disappeared before sunrise in search of new Cultivar seeds, or so Mamma said, and her little sister is too sad to leave her bedroom. Then when her sister runs off with a potentially dangerous seed, Flora is left alone to stop her from planting a Cultivar they know nothing about and prevent a nosey neighbor from exposing their magic. As she searches the farm’s many greenhouses, whimsical places she has known her whole life, she uncovers secrets her family has hidden and is forced to question what it really means to have a legacy.

About the Author: Brittany is a writer and former educator on a quest to inspire every child to find their own connection to nature. This mission first took root from a love of animals and a Wildlife Conservation degree from North Carolina State University. It grew stronger as she worked as an environmental educator and completed her master’s degree at Virginia Tech. Now as a storyteller for children, she is inspired by nature’s secrecy and often blends environmental science with whimsy. She is the co-creator of Read to Write Kidlit, a podcast that takes a close look at how authors craft their novels. When not writing, Brittany can be found horseback riding, hiking, or baking. She lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, two rescue shepherd dogs and an adorably evil cat. www.brittanysaulnier.com