About viviankirkfield

Writer for children - Reader forever - Mom of 3, educator, author of FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN: AN ANIMAL COUNTING BOOK (PomegranateKids, PIPPA'S PASSOVER PLATE (Holiday House), SWEET DREAMS, SARAH (Creston Books); MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD: THE INSPIRING FRIENDSHIP OF ELLA FITZGERALD AND MARILYN MONROE (Little Bee Books); FROM HERE TO THERE: INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED THE WAY THE WORLD MOVES (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Jan 19, 2021); PEDAL, BALANCE, STEER: Annie Londonderry, First Woman to Bike Around the World (Calkins Creek/Astra, Feb 20, 2024) picture book junkie, lover of travel, hiking, fly-fishing, cooking, and playing Monopoly with my grandson.

Cover Reveal: TIC-ERRIFIC ME!

Posted on November 17, 2025 by viviankirkfield

I always feel so blessed to be part of this incredible kid-lit community. Whether I meet folks in person at a conference or book event, connect via an online class, or read their wonderful submission to #50PreciousWords, it’s a joy! And today’s cover reveal is for a book written by long-time blog follower and #50PreciousWords participant, Alicia Meyers…it’s called TIC-ERRIFIC ME! and I know it’s going to be TERRIFIC!

What an affirming and positive cover this is!!! I love the joy and energy! Kids will want to pick it up…and the story will act as mirrors and windows, helping many children feel seen and heard, while helping other become accepting and empathetic.

Alicia was kind enough to stop by to chat about the book and the story behind the story, so let’s welcome her to Picture Books Help Kids Soar!

ME: Hello, Alicia. It’s so lovely to have you visit. Can you share a little bit about the book and it’s path to publication?

ALICIA: Thank you again for partnering with me to reveal this special book to the world!

I am honored to get to do this with you, as you have been such a support in the Kidlit community to me for so many years.

Short Summary/Synopsis:

Tics are what my body does, they’re part of who I am. In TIC-ERRIFIC ME, we meet a young neurodiverse child diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome: A condition of the nervous system that causes movement and sound tics in the body. She is a unique child with many talents–and any tics that decide to join her. She takes us through how her body responds when she has sounds or movements she needs to let out and talks about techniques that work for her. This story is a simple ode to being truly tic-errific! After all, our tics only add to how great we already are.

TIC-ERRIFIC ME also includes a backmatter board game that encourages readers to try different Ready, Set, Reset strategies that can calm their brain and body.

Why I wrote this book:

Like the girl in this story, I have Tourette syndrome. Some days, my tics fly under the radar. Other days, they are harder to control. Growing up, I felt embarrassed, and worried that the noises and movements my body made bothered people. I tried to hide my tics and hold them in—which only made them worse. But as I got older, I realized how my tics made me, me. There is no one exactly like me. I wrote this story to share my experience living with Tourette syndrome, as well as to empower readers to learn to embrace their tics, and show the world how truly tic-errific they are.

Humorous incident OR challenging moment to share about path to publication

In March 2023, I was a showcase finalist in Mindy Alyse Weiss’ PB Party contest with a fictional, rhythmic story called Tic, Tic, Stop, about a girl’s day-in-the-life with TS. Free Spirit requested the full manuscript, but when I later connected with them–they instead told me about an opportunity to write for their upcoming “Disability Books for Kids” series, where each author lives with the condition. Though Tic, Tic, Stop had to hit the shelf for a bit, this felt like the opportunity of a lifetime–a chance to share my story of TS with the world. I couldn’t say no!

Short Bio for me AND the illustrator:

Alicia Meyers is a second-grade teacher in Washington, DC, and was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at a young age. As a neurodiverse author and teacher, she hopes to encourage those with TS to embrace their tics as part of who they uniquely are. When she’s not teaching or writing, she can be found singing loudly, curled up with a book, eating pasta, planning her next trip, or reminding others how totally tic-errific they are.
Cait Brennan is an easily excited illustrator from the coastal town of Charleston, South Carolina. Cait credits much of her inspiration to growing up around great Southern storytellers who valued nature, food, family, and humor. At an early age, she discovered that drawing was a great way to make people smile—or, even better, laugh. As a total ham, that was very appealing. Her motivations haven’t changed much, and she loves celebrating joyful moments, big and small, in her work. When she’s not on a deadline, you can find her making big messes in the kitchen, trying to get a laugh, or planning her next trip.

My Social Media Links:

Website: www.byaliciameyers.com

Instagram: @byaliciameyers

X: @byaliciameyers

BlueSky: @byaliciameyers.bsky.social

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciameyers/

Pre-Order Links:

Releases June 2, 2026 during “National Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month”

Published by Free Spirit

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tic-errific-Me-about-Tourette-syndrome/dp/B0FWHPB9VQ/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tic-errific-me-alicia-meyers/1148648957?ean=9798885547529

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/tic-errific-me-a-book-about-tourette-syndrome-alicia-meyers/1252fe1da5fe31d0?ean=9798885547529&next=t

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242837498-tic-errific-me

TCM: https://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/products/tic-errific-me-a-book-about-tourette-syndrome-151876

This is all fabulous, dear Alicia. Thank you for sharing. I’m hoping we will get to meet in person at NCTE this week!
And thank you, dear blog followers, for spending your precious time with us. If any of you will be at NCTE, I hope you’ll check out my panel: IGNITING BOLD DREAMS: USING PICTURE BOOKS TO HELP READERS CONNECT WITH HISTORY AND FIND THEIR VOICE: Friday, Nov 21 at 11am to 12:15pm in Room 610 of the Convention Center. I’ll also be signing ONE GIRL’S VOICE on Friday, Nov 21 at 1:30-2pm at the Astra Booth #922.

And if you leave a comment and plan to be at NCTE, please include your panel or book signing times and locations if you would like to share them.

Cover Reveal: THE CABBAGE SEED’S COLOSSAL SECRET

Posted on November 10, 2025 by viviankirkfield

Seeing a new picture book cover is like going to a museum for an opening! So, when my very dear kidlit friend Karen M. Greenwald’s new book cover was ready to make its debut, I knew I had to be the one to share it!

The Cabbage Seed’s Colossal Secret tells the story of a child who plants a tiny seed and wonders what secrets it might hold. As it grows, she nurtures the little plant until it isn’t so little anymore―in fact, it’s COLOSSAL. What does one do with a colossal cabbage? The girl dreams that the cabbage feeds a soup kitchen full of neighbors, inspiring her to grow more veggies to share, inspiring kids country-wide to grow veggies for their own communities. And when she wakes up, she is ready let the world in on the cabbage’s colossal secret.

What an adorable cover! Don’t you love how the child sits on the head of cabbage? I can almost feel her swinging her feet back and forth!

The book is inspired by the true story of Katie Stagliano, her forty-pound cabbage, and the nonprofit Katie’s Krops. Backmatter includes ways for readers to start their own sharing garden.

A hallmark of Karen’s stories is her passion for shining a light on unexpected heroes and the surprising communities they form. In her own capacity, she runs two (or more!) annual book drives aimed at getting brand new books (yay, new book smell!) in the hands of students attending underserved schools across the country. I am sure this newest book will inspire any and all who read it!

Karen M. Greenwald is the author of The Mud Angels and A Vote for Susanna, which was a Kansas 2022 Notable Book and represented Kansas at both the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival and in their Great Reads from Great Places initiative. She cofounded the #SunWriteFun writing contest, founded the annual #BookHero book drive, and works with kidlit charities. Her strategic branding efforts have earned nineteen international awards. Most recently, Karen’s educational marketing efforts won the title, “BEST IN CATEGORY” from the 2024 international Summit MEA competition. She shares her office with a very noisy dog.

Alejandra Ruiz is an illustrator of picture books and visual storyteller. She illustrates stories hoping to build empathy in others and to help children find an infinite love for reading. She lives in Bogotá, Colombia with her boyfriend, two cats, and a whole lot of plants. When she’s not working, you can find her reading, cooking, or baking bread.

The book launches February 17^th on National Cabbage Day!
And guess what? It’s available for Pre-Order

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: STORY POWER! Plus Giveaway

Posted on October 24, 2025 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I always love featuring books that entertain and educate. We talk a lot about reading with children – but what about writing with them?! Author Stephanie Wildman and I have been “kid lit network friends” through many of our books. And so, when I discovered that the fourth book in her Flor, Roberto, and Luis series — titled Story Power! – had been coauthored with her grandson, I knew I’d want to share it with you. PLUS, Stephanie stopped by to share the story behind this story and she is pleased to offer a book as a giveaway. So, make sure you leave a comment for a chance to win.

Story Power!

Written by Stephanie Wildman and Simon Wildman Chung

Illustrated by Estefanía Razo

Published by Lawley Publishing, October, 2025

Ages 3 and up

Themes: How to Write a Story; Hero/Heroine’s journey; healthy eating

Why I Love This Book:
1. I love books that entertain and educate. Readers will see the characters write a story. Then children can write their own stories by following the helpful guide in the backmatter.

2. I love books that can be enjoyed at home as well as used in the classroom! Story Power! provides both a remedy for boredom at home and a tool for classroom instruction.

3. I love books that provide young readers with great illustrations!

And now the promised treat…a visit from author Stephanie.
ME: Welcome, my friend! Thank you for stopping by to chat with us. Can you tell us a little bit about the book…and how it came to be?

STEPHANIE: Thank you, Vivian! I am so honored to have Story Power! as part of your Perfect Picture Book Friday series!

Synopsis: Twins Flor and Roberto and big brother Luis return for another adventure. What does Luis have up his sleeve this time when the twins are bored? Discovering the thrill of storytelling, the twins craft a tale for their beloved Abuelito. Bonus content includes a road map for creating your own story along with craft activities.

Story Power! is my sixth picture book – the fourth in the Flor, Roberto, and Luis series that started with Treasure Hunt. In Treasure Hunt the twins Flor and Roberto are bored and want to watch TV or play video games. Big brother Luis engages them in a treasure hunt to find objects they can recycle and reuse as puppets. The ideas in this book came out of pandemic lockdown activities, during time I spent with two of my grandsons. The next books in the series also came from a sleepover bedtime routine and another grandson’s questions about loss of a beloved pet. I thought I was done with Flor, Roberto, and Luis after three meaningful books.

I was eager to turn my focus to a middle grade novel I have been working on, and I asked grandson Simon if he would listen to me read the beginning. He was seven at the time. I warned him that there were no pictures and that he should stop me if he was bored. I paused every few pages and he said “go on” each time.

At the end of the chapter, I said, “You didn’t stop me.”

“Well,” he said, “Grandma you need more action!”

“Thank you,” I answered, shuffling to put away my papers. “That’s super helpful.” My mind was already traveling to rewrites.

“But,” he continued, “I have an idea for another Flor, Roberto, and Luis book.”

I looked at him – remember he was seven – and asked what was his idea. Well, I can say it was brilliant, because it wasn’t my idea. Simon told me that in this next book Flor and Roberto would be bored again, but this time they would write a book themselves.

My mind started whirling with the possibilities. Simon himself loved writing. Maybe a picture book could help other children see that they, too, could write stories by watching these characters – Flor and Roberto – write their own book.

Related activities: Write with the young ones in your life! Help them develop the writing habit. Dr. Shawna Della Cerra, educational consultant for Lawley Publishing developed Research-informed Strategies and Activities to Cultivate the Writing Habit, available on my websitehere.

My website also includes coloring pages and worksheets for Story Power!

And watch for Story Power! coming in Spanish in April 2026 as ¡El Poder de los Cuentos!, translated by Cecilia Pópulus-Eudave.

Bios:

Stephanie Wildman, author of six children’s books, became a Professor Emerita after serving as the John A. and Elizabeth H. Sutro Chair at Santa Clara Law School. She is a grandmother, mother, spouse, friend, and good listener, who can sit “criss-cross apple sauce” thanks to her yoga practice. Learn more about Stephanie at: stephaniewildman.com

Simon Wildman Chung is an elementary school student who loves writing stories, reading books, swimming, and playing with his brother.

Estefanía Razo has a Bachelor of Graphic Design degree from the University of Guadalajara. She is passionate about illustration, books, and art in general. During her free time she enjoys reading children’s books with her nieces and watching movies accompanied by her cats. Estefanía can be found on Instagram @estefania.razo.r

And now, dear blog friends, let’s do our part to help this book get into the hands of young readers. We can:
Buy the book – anywhere books are sold online or support your favorite indie bookstore!

(I include here the link for bookshop.org, because the book doesn’t show up by searching Stephanie’s name!)
Review the book
Tell friends about the book (PLEASE share this post on social media)
Ask local libraries to purchase copies for their collection