Preorder new books from Colleen Paeff, Rajani LaRocca, and Valerie Bolling

Feb 25, 2025

Preorder new books

Preorder two new books from Soaring 20s creators:

FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Abhi Alwar: From Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca and critically acclaimed illustrator Abhi Alwar, an authentic celebration of friendship and finding your place in this back-to-school picture book and follow up to Summer Is for Cousins. Preorder here.
FIREFLY SONG by Colleen Paeff, illustrated by Ji-Hyuk Kim: The Leaf Detective meets fireflies in this inspirational nonfiction picture book from Sibert Honoree Colleen Paeff about how one woman proved to scientists that the fireflies she had watched as a young girl put on dazzling and impossibly synchronous nighttime performances. Preorder here.
GOAL SETTING IN THE WRITING CLASSROOM by Valerie Bolling: Goal setting is an integral part of life. But when and how do we teach this important skill to students? And how can we do so in ways that are engaging, rewarding, and nestled into our other priorities in the writing classroom?
In Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom: Building Student Agency, Independence, and Success, Valerie Bolling guides teachers, step by step, through helping students set goals, monitor progress, revise (and sometimes even abandon!) goals, and celebrate their achievements along the way. Preorder here.

Note: All events are in person unless otherwise indicated.

March 7-8: Join Colleen Paeff at Charlotte Huck Festival at the University of Redlands. Her sessions include March 7 at 10:15 (with author Dan Paley) “Infrastructure Extravaganza: Books About Systems & Services that Make the World Work” and March 8 at 11:20 (with author Gretchen Woelfle) “Picture Book Biographies: More Than Meets the Eye.” Learn more here.

March 22 at 11 a.m.: Join Carrie Finison for “Pigs Dig a Road Story Time & Book Signing” at Mama Book Center, Lexington, MA.
March 27, 2025: Carrie Finison will be at the Massachusetts Reading Association Conference. Her sessions include “Laughter and SEL Lessons in Picture Books” – presentation with Andrew Hacket, 12:15-1:15pm and “Authors & Appetizers”, 5-6:30pm, Boston Marriott Newton Hotel, Newton, MA

March 22 10 a.m. to 5 p.m: Join Valerie Bolling at the Lexington Book Festival, Lexington, NC. Get the full line up here.

April 2-3: Join Vicky Fang at the Texas Library Association where she will be on the panel, “Growing Readers with Beginning Chapter Books.”

March 10 at 7 p.m.: Join Angela Burke Kunkel for “Intro to Writing Picture Books” at Champlain Valley Union High School; $35. Learn more here.

March 3: Join Jen Malia, reatured speaker, at the Virginia State Literacy Association (VSLA) Conference, Roanoke, Virginia. Author panel from 1:15-2:15, author signing 2:15-2:35, and presentation, “Neurodiversity and Children’s Literature” 4:10-5:10. Get the full agenda here.

February 25-April 8 (6 meetings) at 7-8:30 p.m. Eastern : “Reimagine Your Writing Book Study” with Kirsten W. Larson. Reimagine what your nonfiction picture book could be. Each week we'll focus on one section of the book, sharing our learnings and answering your questions about the craft of writing nonfiction picture books in an intimate group of no more than 20 members. Learn more and register.
March 3 - April 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. Eastern: “Picture Book Writer’s Workshop” with Valerie Bolling via Maine Writers Workshop. Learn more and sign up here.
March 7-21: Apply for a PB Rising Stars Mentorship with Rajani LaRocca. Learn more here.