Perfect Picture Book Friday: I WILL NOT EAT LATKES

Posted on October 16, 2026 by viviankirkfield

Hello dear friends! Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday. Today’s featured book is a perfect choice for the coming holiday of Hanukkah. I’ve know author Martha Seif Simpson for a long time…and I had the pleasure of meeting her at the New England SCBWI Spring Conference in May. She’s agreed to share the story behind the story…it’s always fun to learn what inspired a writer to write a particular story.

I WILL NOT EAT LATKES

Written by Martha Seif Simpson

Illustrated by Lisa Hunt

Published by Apples and Honey Press (October 20, 2026)

Ages: 4-6

Themes: Hanukkah, friendship, picky eaters

Synopsis: From Amazon:
A funny, foodie friendship tale for Hanukkah about patience, courage, and trying new things.

Potchky will not eat smelly onions or brown potatoes, especially when his friend Nosh mixes them with matza meal, eggs and salt, thank you very much. But Nosh doesn’t let Potchky’s complaints get in the way of cooking for Hanukkah. Rather, Nosh gently guides Potchky to give new foods a try. This sweet, simple tale celebrates Hanukkah with age-appropriate messages of trying new foods and having patience with our friends.

Written with an early reader in mind, the story is told with easy-to-read words and without contractions. The book’s backmatter includes the story of Hanukkah, a science experiment to do at home, and, of course, a latke recipe. Perfect for fans of Elephant and Piggie, Green Eggs and Ham, and other simple books of humor, friendship, and growing.

“Lively . . . both funny and familiar.” —Publisher’s Weekly

“An engaging holiday tale that folds in a lesson on trying new things.” —Kirkus Reviews

WHY I LOVE THIS BOOK:
1. I love books that are filled with humor!
2. I love books that encourage kids to try new things!
3. I love books filled with art that engages kids!

ME: And now, as promised, Martha is ready to share a little bit about how and why she wrote this book. Welcome, Martha!

MARTHA: Thank you for inviting me back for another Perfect Picture Book Friday. We both have new Hanukkah books this year, and I’m looking forward to interviewing you on my Substack in November!

Making latkes on Hanukkah was always a big production in our family. I had an old cast-iron meat grinder that we used to ground up the potatoes and onions to the perfect consistency. Everyone joined in to turn the big handle, including any guests who happened to be visiting us. One time, someone said the uncooked mixture looked like “rusty potato mush” and that became a family joke.

A few years ago, I thought it would be fun to turn the idea of rusty potato mush into a story about a picky eater, sort of like a Jewish version of Green Eggs and Ham. I knew from the start that the two characters would have to be animals because I didn’t want any adults in the story and I couldn’t have little children using knives and cooking with hot oil. But I didn’t know what type of animals they were, so I wrote the book with no idea as to what Nosh and Potchky looked like!

During the editing process, my editor and I tossed around several ideas. After a while, it became obvious to me that Nosh was a koala. But we couldn’t agree on an animal for Potchky. Eventually, we decided to let the illustrator figure it out. Lisa came up with a few sketches and the ring-tailed lemur, with its long, expressive tail, was the winner. I would have never thought of that, so I’m glad Lisa did.

I had originally written the story as an easy reader, with narration and dialog. One of the first changes my editor suggested was to reformat it into a cartoon or graphic novel-style book. At first, it was unusual to re-write it with detailed illustration instructions, because writers are always told not to do that. But once I figured out what to do, it was a lot of fun.

There was another challenge. Both my editor and I assumed that the title of the book would be Rusty Potato Mush, but the marketing experts thought I Will NOT Eat Latkes! was more to the point. It certainly sounds like something a fussy eater would say, so hopefully kids (and their parents) can relate to it.

ME: Thank you so much, Martha! I loved hearing about the path to publication…so much revision goes on, even after a manuscript is acquired. And it’s so interesting to hear about the title change…as writers, we spend so much time stressing over a title…but very often, editors and/or sales and marketing teams have other ideas.

Here’s a little bit about the author and illustrator and links to connect with them:

Martha Seif Simpson is a retired children’s librarian who now volunteers at her synagogue library. She is a past chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee and is currently serving on the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Committee.

Martha’s other picture books are What NOT to Give Your Mom on Mother’s Day, The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin: A Toyshop Tale of Hanukkah, Esther’s Gragger: A Toyshop Tale of Purim, and A Ring for a King: A Tale of King Solomon. She lives in Connecticut when she’s not travelling the world with her husband. To learn more about Martha and her books, check her website and subscribe to her Substack, The Simpsonian Muse.

Website: https://www.martha-seif-simpson.com
Substack: https://marthakidlitauthor@substack.com
Facebook: Martha Kidlit Author
@marthakidlitauthor.bsky.social
Instagram:@ martha_kidlit_author
Goodreads: Martha Seif Simpson

Lisa Hunt is a freelance illustrator and has been working in children’s publishing for over 15 years. Before then, she worked as an in-house illustrator for several companies. Lisa has a passion for creating lovable, quirky characters with humorous stories to tell, and has worked with publishers both in the U.K. and internationally. She is best known for illustrating the countryside holiday books written by Phyllis Alsdurf and Dogs Don’t Dance written by Gemma Atkinson.

She lives near London with her other half, ginger cat and shih tzu pup.
Website: www.lisa-hunt.co.uk
instagram: @lease_doodles

And here are Purchase Links so you can get your own copy of this wonderful book in time for Hanukkah!

Bookshop.org:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Last but not least, Martha has a request for our blog readers:
“I’d love readers to contact me and say they read this interview! And I really appreciate it when readers post nice reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble.“

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

Happy Book Birthday: MAMA’S HOME (AND BABY, TOO!)

Posted on October 13, 2026 by viviankirkfield

Welcome back, dear friends! It’s Tuesday…and Tuesday is often the launch day for brand-new books…and so I hope you are ready for Cake and Candles and a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday to You for Dawn Babb Prochovnic’s 20th book and debut board book: MAMA’S HOME (AND BABY, TOO!), illustrated by Adele Dafflon and published by Familius.

I absolutely love the art…so kid-friendly! And the simple rhyming text is guaranteed to put smiles on our youngest story lovers’ faces. Author Dawn and I have been kid lit friends for many years…and so, when I heard she had another new book…and her first BOARD BOOK, I knew I’d want to help her celebate!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MAMA’S HOME (AND BABY, TOO!) HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

And guess what? Dawn was kind enough to stop by to share a bit about the story…and the story behind the story.

ME: WELCOME, DAWN! We’re so glad to have you here at Picture Books Help Kids Soar! Can you share What Inspired You to Write This Story, and What Were Some Notable Moments on the Path to Publication?

DAWN: Thank you so much for celebrating this book birthday along with me, Vivian! Mama’s Home (and Baby Too!) is a 95-word story that took over 20 years to become a book. I never gave up on this story; it’s a bit surreal that it’s finally coming to be.

It began as a poem that I jotted down on a scrap of paper as I watched my preschool-aged son blissfully engage in imaginative play at our local children’s museum. For context, that same son graduated from college a couple of years ago.

I loved the idea of a slice-of-life story about child-centered activities that collectively make for a joyful, play-filled childhood. The first working title I penciled in was, Childhood Bliss.

Over time, it became clear that the story would need a stronger hook in order to become a book.

I loved the essence of the story enough to keep working on it, and I experimented with many different approaches, including structuring it as a novelty book that incorporated American Sign Language. Although these approaches generated interest, they did not generate book offers.

I continued to revise the story with different themes in mind. For a couple of years, it was entitled Grandma’s House is Happiness, and associated revisions incorporated elements of connection with an active and engaged grandparent. Eventually, the focus shifted to the excitement and delight in sharing simple, joyful activities with a parent who returns home after being away for an extended period of time. With that angle, the working title became, Mama’s Home!, and I revised the story to incorporate the preparations for and anticipation of Mama’s return . . . from somewhere.

When I submitted Mama’s Home! to Familius, co-founder and CEO Christopher Robbins and team (rightfully!) wondered if I might be open to a more specific reason for Mama being away— the arrival of a new sibling. This brought additional revisions that incorporated the anticipation and preparations for Mama’s return, featuring activities that could be engaged in with a recuperating Mama and new baby.

To bring authenticity to the sibling component, I mined my memories of my younger sister’s arrival, and I looked for opportunities to emphasize and lean into the enduring and evolving nature of the relationship between Mama and an older child.

Additionally, I mined memories about my own mom being away from home for extended periods when I was a child. In her case it was due to health issues, but no matter the reason, it was always such a delight when she returned home.

One of the things I especially love about the final book is the way in which Adèle Dafflon’s illustrations beautifully capture the element of family. Papa and older siblings are together. Waiting. Pitching in. Contributing. Staying close. And once Mama and baby come home, the familial love and joy simply expands and grows.

Eventually, after input from industry sales reps and the publisher’s marketing team, the current title, Mama’s Home (and Baby Too!), came to be.

Despite all the twists and turns this story took along the path to publication and throughout many (many!) revisions, the essence of the story—childhood bliss—remains true. It’s the story idea that took hold of me from the start and insisted on being written. It’s the part of the story that I connected with so deeply when I watched my own child engage in imaginative play and scribbled down a rough poem. It’s the part of the story that kept me motivated to keep working on it until it was just right. A story about a joyful, play-filled, childhood—and now, a unique take on the arrival of a new sibling, and a loving family making room for one more.

ME: Thank you so much for all of this, dear Dawn! My takeaway is…NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR STORY…and also, be willing to revise and to listen to editor advice. I’m so glad you practiced patience and perseverance, my friend.

And now, here’s some info about the author and illustrator…and ways you can connect with them and BUY and REVIEW this important book!

Dawn Babb Prochovnic is the author of over 20 children’s books including Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, Lucy’s Blooms, and her latest title, Mama’s Home (and Baby Too!). She has devoted her life’s work to initiatives that support literacy and the literary arts, including early literacy enrichment programs, school author visits, writing workshops, and her educational blog. Dawn is the recipient of the Walt Morey Award and the esteemed “Pleasure Reading Award” (her most memorable fifth-grade achievement). She lives in Portland, Oregon with her family and fan-favorites, Pickle the Cat and Sophie the Paddleboarding Pup.

Adèle Dafflon was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, in 1985. She graduated in illustration at École Supérieure des Arts Saint-Luc de Liège in 2012 and began drawing birth announcement cards. Soon, she was contacted for individual and collective projects. Sharing a studio with four artists since 2018, she draws nature, animals, and insects in a colorful style with a dash of genuine humor.

Author and Illustrator’s Websites:

Dawn: www.dawnprochovnic.com
Adèle: https://www.adeledafflon.com/

Author’s Social Media Links:
Substack: @dawnprochovnic.substack.com
Bluesky: @DawnProhovnic.bsky.social
Facebook: @DawnProchovnicAuthor
Instagram: @DawnProchovnic
LinkedIn: @DawnProchovnic
Pinterest: @DawnProchovnic
YouTube: @dprochovnic

Buy Links:
Familius
Bookshop
B&N
Amazon

Just saying, dear friends…if you have any friends or family who are expecting a baby and have a young child already at home, THIS is the perfect gift.
Thank you for spending your precious time with us…I hope you all have a beautiful week!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: WINTER SOLSTICE HILL

Posted on October 9, 2026 by viviankirkfield

Hello dear friends! Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday! Today’s featured picture book is launching on October 20th…and so we are all getting a wonderful sneak peek…PLUS, because the author, Cathy Stefanec Ogren, a long-time kid-lit friend of mine, is such a fab person, we are also getting a mini-interview with her as she shares the story behind the story!

WINTER SOLSTICE HILL

Written by Cathy Stefanec Ogren

Illustrated by Rebecca Evans

Published by Charlesbridge (October 20, 2026)

Ages: 4-8

Themes: Winter Solstice, intergenerational activities, SEL

Synopsis: From Amazon:

A warm, wintry tale that helps kids navigate disappointment, reminding readers that even when plans shift, the magic of tradition can still shine through.

Bundled in snow clothes, Ella waits to join Gramps on her first winter solstice adventure. They go up Winter Solstice Hill, where they will pick a holiday tree and Ella will get to partake on the family tradition for the first time: making a wish on the winter solstice star. But when clouds hide the solstice star, Ella worries she will miss out on this important family tradition. Then a snow storm forces Ella and Gramps to cut their trip short.

Will Ella be the only one in her family to not make a wish on the winter solstice star? Or will Gramps

WHY I LOVE THIS BOOK:
1. I love books that are layered…and this one has so many hooks: SEL (coping with disappointment), intergenerational activities/family togetherness, nature, courage.
2. I love books with lyrical text that weaves a magical web around the reader…Cathy’s writing is so beautiful.
3. I love books where the illustrations fill our eyes…and our hearts…the art is joyous and filled with emotion.

ME: And now, as promised, Cathy is here to share a bit about why she wrote WINTER SOLSTICE HILL. Welcome, dear Cathy! Thank you for stopping by.

CATHY: Thank you for having me, Vivian. It’s a joy to be here…and to share the story behind the story.
Wisconsin. Rural living. Dairy farms. Lowing cows. Cornfields. Colorful fall landscapes. Snow-covered rolling hills. Teaching in a four-room rural school. Gatherings with family, friends, and neighbors.

Those are memories of my life in Wisconsin. We have a joke in our family that I’ve never lived in a house more than ten years because of job transfers by my father and my husband. I was born in Wisconsin and lived there two other times after getting married. Both times we lived in rural communities. I loved the crisp weather and bright colors that fall brings along with the promise of the winter season soon to follow. A few years ago, as the days grew darker earlier and the winter solstice approached, I had the urge to write a holiday story, using my Wisconsin memories. I wrote down a list of ideas and included themes of family, traditions, and new experiences. After many drafts and excellent suggestions from my critique partners. WINTER SOLSTICE HILL came to life. An editor saw potential in my manuscript and wanted to hold on to it. I was over the moon. When the editor went on maternity leave, I had to wait many moons before I was offered a contract. The wait was excruciating, but it was worth it. Rebecca Evans’ illustrations are gorgeous.

ME: Thank you so much, Cathy. I think it’s so valuable for all of us on the path to publication to hear that the wait is often long…and that our patience is often tested…but if we don’t give up…our hopes can be realized!

And, dear friends, here’s a little bit about the author and the illustrator…and some links that will help you connect with them AND purchase copies of this gorgeous book!

Cathy’s Bio:
As a child, Cathy Stefanec Ogren spent her time scripting plays for her neighborhood friends and persuading parents to come and watch with the promise of Oscar-winning performances. As a grown-up, she became a teacher and a school librarian before becoming a full-time writer. Cathy is the author of PEW! The Stinky and Legen-Dairy Gift from Colonel Thomas S. Meacham and The Little Red Chair. She now resides with her husband in New Hampshire.

Rebecca Evans’ Bio:
Rebecca Evans started drawing as soon as she could hold a crayon. She has a BA in visual art from Messiah College, with a concentration on drawing and illustration, and works as an artist and designer. She is the author-illustrator of Alone Like Me and If You Ever Meet a Skeleton.

She has also illustrated many picture books, including Baby’s Opposites and All Will Be Well.

Rebecca lives in Maryland with her husband and their four children.

Social Media:
Author Website: https://cathystefanecogren.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathy.ogren
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathyo.likes/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/CathySOgren
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/cathyso.bsky.social

AND THERE IS A SPECIAL OFFER IF YOU PRE-ORDER FROM CATHY’S FAVORITE INDIE BOOKSTORE (it’s my favorite indie bookstore also)

Pre-order WINTER SOLSTICE HILL @ BOOKERY MANCHESTER

Receive an author-signed copy, a bookmark, and a wishing star craft

Well, as Elmer Fudd used to say, “That’s all folks!”
Please remember that we can help beautiful books become a success if we:
Buy a copy
Review the book
Tell friends about the book (Please share this post on your social media…the share buttons below make it easy)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their shelves

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us. Fall is a wonderful time for new books…and we have a full schedule of blog posts coming up…Book Birthdays and Perfect Picture Book Fridays galore. And I’ve even started gathering prizes for #50PreciousWords…an author friend, Heather Stigall, reached out to offer a PB Critique…and she asked if I’d be interested in a prize from her agent…and when I said YES (as if there could be any other answer), she connected me with her agent and voila. we now have another agent prize…a PB Critique from the lovely Amy Nielsen from the Purcell Agency. So, if you are an author or an illustrator and you have an agent or an editor you think might want to hop on board the #50PreciousWords prize train, please reach out and let me know…the more, the merrier!