Giveaway winners, connecting with classrooms, advice on critiques, and much, much more
Congrats to all the Soaring '20s critique winners, including bonus winner, Carmela Simmons. Woo hoo! Huge thanks to every single person who entered our giveaway or helped spread the word! We were blown away by your enthusiasm.
Don't worry if you didn't win—there will be opportunities in the coming year to win books and more. Just be sure to sign up for our newsletter, subscribe to our blog, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop!
Thanks again for your tremendous support.
Our #KidsNeedMentors classrooms
Classroom Connections
Teachers and librarians, we at Soaring '20s are eager to partner with you and your students! Several of our members are mentoring classrooms from coast to coast through the year-long #KidsNeedMentors program.
Missed the #KidsNeedMentors sign up? No problem! Many of us are available for school visits throughout the year. Click on the names of creators below to learn more about our programs. We've listed our home states, but many of us are willing to travel.:
Kelly Carey (MA, elementary and middle school)
Kjersten Hayes (WA, preschool and elementary)
Shelley Johannes (MI, elementary school)
Rajani LaRocca (MA, elementary and middle school)
Kirsten Larson (CA, elementary and middle school)
NoNieqa Ramos (VA, high school)
Christina Soontornvat (TX, elementary and middle school)
Jasmyn Wright (PA, elementary and middle school)
For more ways to partner with your favorite authors and illustrators, check out Kirsten Larson's recent Soaring '20s blog post, "Connecting Authors with Kids in the Classroom."
ICYMI: Soaring '20s Talk Critiques
Gif by Isabella Kung
Last month our blog was chock full of advice about critiques: why you need them, how to handle one, and how to give them. Missed a post? No problem! Check out the links below.
Starting this week, you can sign up to follow the blog via email so you never miss another post. Find the sign-up form on the blog.
Picture book and other news...
Many of the Soaring '20s appeared on Tara Lazar's "Writing for Kids While Raising Them" blog discussing how critiques helped us achieve our publication dreams.
Elisa Boxer's book, THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE, was featured in a roundup of 2020 women's voting rights titles in Publisher's Weekly.
Illustrator Larissa Marantz's illustrations are in the October issue of Highlights Magazine, bringing to life Sara Matson's cute story about a boy who turns out be a better juggler than his older brother.
NoNieqa Ramos is celebrating two picture book deals with Versify: YOUR MAMA, an ode to motherhood illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara (Spring 2021) and BEAUTY WOKE, a modern spin on Sleeping Beauty about a Peurto Rican girl who falls into a deep sleep after experiencing racial bias, illustrated by Paola Escobar (Fall 2021).
Colleen Paeff's debut, THE GREAT STINK has moved from summer 2020 to spring 2021 (McElderry), and it will be worth the wait because Nancy Carpenter is illustrating!
Candy Wellins appeared on The Writing Barn's blog with "Researching & Nesting: Bringing Books and Babies Into the World." It's a must-read for writers of picture book biography.
Chapter Book and Novel News
Vicky Fang revealed the cover for her new early chapter book STEM series, LAYLA AND THE BOTS. Book 1 launches May 5th.
Shelley Johannes revealed the cover for BEATRICE ZINKER UPSIDE DOWN THINKER book 3: SABOTAGE (Disney Hyperion). Now available for preorder, releasing March 10.
Rajani LaRocca scored her second middle-grade book deal! MUCH ADO ABOUT BATTING, coming from Yellow Jacket/Little Bee Books in summer 2021, follows Trish and Ben, math competition rivals who find themselves on the same summer baseball team. They have to put aside their differences and try to help their team but eating interesting savory snacks and solving mysterious math puzzles, but instead end of causing confusion and calamity in their town.
Rajani is also one of the featured authors for the new Story Seeds Podcast to be hosted by children's librarian Betsy Bird this fall. Created by Sandhya Nankani, the podcast joins kids and kidlit creators, who collaborate to harness their creativity and craft stories.
NoNieqa Ramos (THE TRUTH IS, September 2019) appeared on the DIY MFA podcast talking diverse characters and own voices. Have a listen!
Dr. Jen Malia taught two workshops at the 11th Annual Hampton Roads Writers Conference, "Writing Personal Essays for Women's Magazines" and "Finding the Story of Your Memoir."