The Weekly 411 (2/13/26)

© Cindy Chang

 Feb. 13, 2026 vol 7.

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 Cindy Chang.

Picture Book Giveaway

We are pleased to host a giveaway of the debut picture book, You Are the Land, written and illustrated by Steph Littlebird (Nancy Paulsen Books) out on Feb. 24. Enter to win a copy via the widget below.

About the Book: From the day she’s born, a child feels the love and power that come with being part of something bigger. She’s a new spring leaf, alive and growing, as strong as the ancient cedars and as radiant as the glittering night sky. She is one with the amazing forces of nature that surround and nurture her, and that she nurtures in return.

 Through inspiring words and sweeping illustrations, renowned artist Steph Littlebird’s stunning debut celebrates our connection to the land and shows how we perfectly mirror its beauty and resilience.

 

About the Author: Steph Littlebird is an Indigenous artist, writer, curator, and enrolled member of Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes. She is the illustrator of My Powerful Hair (by Carole Lindstrom), which was named an American Library Association Notable Book, one of NPR’s best books of 2023, and one of Kirkus Reviews’ Most Empowering Books of that year. You Are the Land is her debut picture book as author and illustrator. She is currently writing a series about Indigenous Resilience for Oregon ArtsWatch magazine. She lives in Las Vegas.

You Are the Land giveaway

Young Adult Giveaway

We are pleased to host a giveaway of the young adult novel, Carnival Fantástico, by Angela Montoya (Joy Revolution). Enter to win a copy via the widget below. 

cover design Trisha Previte

 

About the Book: Welcome to the Carnival Fantástico, a spectacle of magic and mischief, and the perfect haven for a runaway. Using her tricks and razor-sharp wit, Esmeralda becomes the carnival's resident fortune-teller, aiming for the lead role in the Big Top Show. Success would mean freedom from her former employer, the commander of the King’s army. Ignacio has defected from the army and is on the hunt for evidence of his father’s corruption. But the last thing he expects to find on his father’s trail of lies is the only girl he's ever loved, spinning false fortunes at a traveling carnival. Perhaps fortune has thrown them together for a reason. They strike a deal: she’ll help him expose his father if he helps her secure the main act. But old feelings don’t die easily, and the commander's secret isn't the only thing they need to confront.

 

About the Author: Angela Montoya has been obsessed with the magic of storytelling since she was a little girl. She hasn’t seen a day without a book in her hand, a show tune in her mind, or a movie quote on her lips. She is the author of Sinner's Isle and A Cruel Thirst. When she isn’t lost in the world of words, Angela can be found hiding away on her small farm in Northern California, where she’s busy bossing around her partner and their two children, as well as a host of animals.

Residence: Lincoln, CA Author Site: angelamontoyawrites.com  

Carnival Fantástico giveaway

  

Picture Book Giveaway

We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, Mardi Claw, by Nina Snyder, illustrated by Paola A. Crisante (Pendragon Press). Enter to win a copy via the widget below.

About the Book: Blue Crab feels left out when Clown Crab doesn't invite her to his Mardi Claw party, so she decides to host her own party. But the coral reef isn't big enough for two parties... or is it?  "A bright, beautiful work that serves as a gentle introduction to diversity and schoolyard dynamics." -- Kirkus Reviews

About the Author: Nina Snyder is also the author of ABCS OF BALLS. She lives in the Denver metro area.

About the Illustrator: Paola A. Crisante is an illustrator based in Chile. Mardi Claw is her debut picture book.

Mardi Claw giveaway

 

For Writers

How to Pass the Time in Fiction (Erin Entrada Kelly)

The Mirror Moment in Fiction: A Midpoint Method for Plotters and Pantsers

Contests & Awards

Feb. 13 The 11th Annual Valentiny Contest w/Susannah Hill

• What: write a Valentine story appropriate for children with a maximum of 214 words in which someone feels superstitious
• Prizes: manuscript critiques from editors, authors, signed books, and more

Marketing & Creating a Platform

25 Things I Wish Every Writer Knew About Marketing

Writing Courses

Online (On-demand course) Picture Book Prescription with Marzieh Abbas. As writers, we often have doubts about the 'readiness' of our manuscripts. In this webinar, Marzieh will discuss how to approach revisions in a fresh way. She will walk you through each aspect of your story (plot, structure, character, pacing, page turns, tension, and arc) and inspire you with relevant and recent mentor texts to kickstart revision. You will walk away with a checklist and a prescription (strategies to tick items off your revision checklist) to nurture your manuscript to health so you enter querying with confidence. 

Online (On-demand course) Picture Book Structure. In this webinar we’ll learn the difference between comp titles and mentor texts and how we can use them as we craft our stories. Marzieh will share how she uses picture books as references and how she keeps a detailed log of mentor texts so she can use them as she works through revisions. She will then walk you through the different picture book structures, using recent examples. Lastly, Marzieh will inspire you to apply the knowledge to your own revisions.

Feb. 26 6:30 p.m. CST   First Page Critiques with Senior Editor Kat Brzozowski   We all know how important the first page of a submission is. But what do editors actually look for when they dive into a picture book submission? What makes them keep reading and say, "I need to have this on my list?", and what elements give them pause? Macmillan Children's Publishing Group Senior Editor Kat Brzozowski will take you behind the scenes, reviewing first pages live - for the first time - so you can get a sense of what makes a picture book submission feel like a must have. You will learn: What instantly catches an editor’s attention (and what turns them off); How to make your first page irresistible — from language to pacing to emotional tone; Common first-page pitfalls and how to fix them; and The subtle storytelling elements that make editors say “yes” 

 

Social Media

Home Page Checklist for Children's Book Authors in 2026