The Weekly 411 (1/30/26)
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| © Eric Castleman |
Jan. 30, 2026 vol. 5
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 Eric Castleman.
Middle Grade Giveaway
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the middle grade novel, Stealing the Score, by Sylvia Liu (Scholastic) out on Feb. 3. Enter to win a copy via the widget below.
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| © art by Lauren Dimaya, design y Stephanie Yang |
About the Book: The World Cup is coming to town! Soccer superfans Ethan, Sasha, and Mateo are thrilled that the biggest sporting event in the world is coming to their backyard. When a contest offering a once-in-a-lifetime chance to attend the World Cup is announced, they are all ready to do whatever it takes to win. To do so, they must complete a scavenger hunt throughout Miami to find a replica pair of the lucky cleats worn by their favorite player, El Botín (or The Boot).
Best friends Ethan, a competitive soccer player, and Sasha, an online footy gamer, are wary of privileged soccer influencer Mateo at first. But they can’t seem to stop crossing paths with him, and reluctantly join forces. What starts as a strictly strategic alliance to solve the scavenger hunt clues takes a turn when El Botín’s real cleats go missing. The fate of the whole tournament could be in jeopardy―unless the new friends can uncover the truth!
About the Author: Sylvia Liu grew up with books and daydreams in Caracas, Venezuela. Once an environmental attorney protecting the oceans, she now spins stories about nature, strong girls, and the intricacies of family and friendship. Her middle grade books include Stealing the Score, Near and Deer, Hana Hsuand the Ghost Crab Nation, and Manatee’s Best Friend. Her picture book, A Morning with Grandpa, won the Lee & Low New Voices Award. Visit her at enjoyingplanetearth.com.
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, Home Away From Home by Nazneen Akbari, illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh (Barefoot Books) out on Feb. 3. Enter to win a copy via the widget below.
About the Book: This summer, Nuha and Mama are traveling to Oman to visit her Jadda. Mama is excited to return home, but Oman doesn’t feel like home to Nuha. The air is warm and sticky, people wear different clothes, and a language she barely understands swirls around her. At least she has her dearest doll, Mary, to keep her company. When Nuha accidentally leaves Mary behind, the thought of staying in Oman all summer feels impossible—until Jadda ushers her into the wonderful sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the souk (market) to search for a new doll. Little by little, Nuha begins to realize that Oman is special in its own way and even finds glimpses of home.
About the Author: Nazneen grew up in Oman and has lived all over the world thanks to school, work, and a healthy dose of wanderlust. She’s no stranger to the question, “Where are you from?” a puzzle she answers with her parents’ Indian roots and her deep love for the Omani culture she grew up in. Though she has lived in many countries, Oman remains close to her heart and a place she will always call home. By day, she works for the U.S. Department of State. By night, she dreams up picture books and enjoys life in Pennsylvania with her husband and three kids.
About the Illustrator: Rashin Kheiriyeh was born in Khorramshahr, Iran. She received an MFA in graphic design from Alzahra University in Tehran and studied painting at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She has published over one hundred books and has created illustrations for The New York Times. Rashin received the 2021 Sheila Barry Best Canadian Picture Book of the Year Award, was a 2017 Maurice Sendak Fellow, and won the New Horizons Award at the Bologna Book Fair. She lives in Washington, DC.
Submissions open in February. Kids & YA Graphic Novel Showcase and Industry Panel. This high-profile showcase features a curated online gallery of winning submissions, handpicked by our jury! Submissions open in February, and winners will be revealed at a live event in April 25, 2026. We reveal our winners at a live Showcase Event with our judges. You’ll also have the opportunity to book a one-on-one pitch session with a juror—an agent or editor who’s already reviewed your work—on the day of the Showcase reveal. After the main event, we promote the Pitchfest Gallery to hundreds of agents, editors, and art directors across the industry!
Writing Courses / Chapter Books
Feb. 28, 2026, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. PST, SCBWI California: San Francisco/South PAL Event with Editor Katie Carella. Join Scholastic Editor Katie Carella for a close look at the Branches early chapter book line. Katie will share how to craft page-turning series for newly independent readers. Participants will explore key features of successful early chapter books, take part in brief writing exercises, and learn how to create high/low stories that meet the needs of today’s evolving marketplace. Live virtual presentation with Q&A. The session will be recorded and available to registered attendees. (Virtual).
Peak Team Critiques (Bri Lawyer and Nicole Garnett)
Marketing & Creating a Platform
Attention isn't the Goal. Depth of Connection Is
List of Book Fairs and Book Festivals by State
In Defense of Being Totally and Completely Silly
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