Book Birthday: BACKYARD STEW

Posted on September 1, 2026 by viviankirkfield

Hurray! Thank you for stopping by. It’s an exciting day because we are celebrating an early Book Birthday for a fabulous new picture book, BACKYARD STEW, written by the talented Heather C. Morris and brilliantly illustrated by Deborah Schreiber and lovingly published by Gnome Road Press.

It’s always so much fun to celebrate new books…and it’s especially fun when we get to chat with the author…and Heather was kind enough to stop by to visit. I actually met Heather in person last November in Denver at NCTE – and, when I heard she had a book coming out, I knew I’d want to share it with you all and have her tell you all about it.

ME: Welcome, Heather! Thank you for coming to Picture Books Help Kids Soar. Can you tell us a little bit about BACKYARD STEW and how it came to be?

HEATHER:
Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog, Vivian. It’s a joy to be here to tell folks about the book and how it came to be.
Short summary of the story

From the author of the award-winning book TRUNK GOES THUNK! A WOODLAND TALE OF OPPOSITES comes another exploration of the wonder and fun that can be found just outside your back door.

This fun, interactive picture book adventure encourages kids to explore the natural world and exercise their imaginations as they mix up their very own Backyard Stew. As they tap the tops of wild strawberries, wiggle wild onions out of the ground, and rub every dandelion, young readers will delight in making this tried and true “recipe” over and over again. Especially when they discover the secret ingredient!

And here is what inspired me to write this story:

The story behind Backyard Stew just goes to show that inspiration can strike anywhere…and that sometimes you need to be a little bit bored.

One day, I was walking my dog…trying not to be bored. And I passed a gorgeous ginkgo tree. It was Fall, so the leaves were a perfect gold. It made me think, “Hmmm…ginkgo. I think you can make tea out of ginkgo leaves. I wonder what else I could eat around here!” Then I remember – in my neighborhood alone – wild strawberries, honeysuckle vines, wild onions, and more. I thought, “what if some kids got together and made a ‘stew’ that included many of these things?” You know, like making mud pies. BUT THEY DIDN’T EAT IT!!! Then I added interactive elements like tapping, turning the book upside-down, shaking the pages, and more, and the story really sparkled.

ME: That’s wonderful, Heather! And I truly love the interactive elements in the book!

And here’s a little bit about the author:

Heather C. Morris is the author of multiple books for kids, including the picture books, Trunk Goes Thunk! A Woodland Tale of Opposites and Backyard Stew, a ghost story in the Haunted States of America Anthology, and the upcoming picture book, Dribble, Shoot, Swish (2027). She lives in a house with a large backyard, which is perfect for stirring up pots of boredom-busting stew. Visit her online at heathercmorris.com.

As well as a little bit about the illustrator:

Deborah Schreiber is an illustrator from Munich, Germany. She can always be found dreaming of new adventures in life and on paper. Her travels brought her to many different countries and finally to the seaside town of Falmouth, England, which she now calls home.

Inspired by nature, wildlife, and personal experiences, Deborah creates atmospheric and playful illustrations that seek to spark wonder and curiosity amongst children and adults alike. While primarily working with traditional media such as watercolor, gouache and colored pencils, she also embraces digital tools to maintain a flexible creative process.

Outside of illustration, Deborah enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring the outdoors and sharing a meal together.

This is such a fabulous book…I am sure many of you would like to snag your own copy. Here are a few preferred pre-order or order links

Backyard Stew will be released on September 15, 2026! But you can pre-order a copy through any local independent bookstore, on Bookshop.org, or wherever books are sold.

However, if you’d like a SIGNED copy, you can pre-order through her local indie bookstore, Snail on the Wall, in Huntsville, AL. They ship anywhere within the continental U.S.

https://snailonthewall.com/backyardstew

Perfect Picture Book Friday: DOLL TROUBLE Plus Giveaway

Posted on August 14, 2026 by viviankirkfield

Hello dear friends! Happy Perfect Picture book Friday! I’m thrilled to share a BRAND-NEW picture book with you. And we are so fortunate because…author Kim Larson stopped by to share the story behind the story…her inspiration for this book AND she and the publisher are offering a GIVEAWAY…later in the post I’ll explain how to enter the giveaway AND how to receive an extra ticket in the giveaway hat!

Title: Doll Trouble

Written by: Kim A. Larson

Illustrated by: Nataša Vertelj

Publisher: Clavis Publishing

ISBN#: 979-8890631220

Suitable For Ages: 3-8

SYNOPSIS:
A heartwarming story about loss, courage, and empathy.
Emma takes her beloved doll Mia everywhere she goes. They play, laugh, and cry together, but one day something happens that makes Mia look less than perfect. The children in the neighborhood tease Emma about her broken doll, so she hides Mia and plays with her new, beautiful doll instead. But no matter how hard she tries, Emma can’t forget Mia. When she meets Sophia, who doesn’t have a doll, Emma suddenly knows what to do.

WHY I LOVE THIS BOOK:
1. I love heartwarming stories that inspire children to be kind and compassionate.
2. I love books that are filled with glorious illustrations that help kids engage with the story.
3. I love stories that empower young readers and listeners to hold strong, even when they have to stand alone.

ME: And now it’s time to welcome author Kim A. Larson! Hello, Kim! Thank you for stopping by. We always love to hear the story behind the story. Can you share what inspired you to write this book?

KIM: Thanks so much for helping me celebrate the beautiful book, Vivian. I’d be happy to share.
As the oldest of five siblings, my toys rarely “lived” to see old age. Between a house full of kids and a particularly destructive brother, I spent a lot of my childhood figuring out how to keep loving my dolls after they ended up with missing limbs or shaved heads. Those early lessons in empathy—loving something even when it isn’t “perfect”—became the heart of this story.

But the spark for Doll Trouble really ignited when I watched the kids next door playing while their dad mowed the lawn. It brought back the memory of my cousin, who lost several toes in a lawnmower accident as a child. I wanted to weave those two worlds together: a story that celebrates the resilience of a well-loved toy, while gently alerting children to the very real dangers of lawnmowers. It’s my way of helping kids stay brave, empathetic, and most importantly, safe.

ME: THANK YOU SO MUCH, KIM! I love the intention you brought to writing this story.

RELATED ACTIVITIES:
DIY DOLL-MAKING TUTORIAL

Here’s a little bit about author Larson:
Kim A. Larson writes humorous and lyrical picture books and more. She is the author of Doll Trouble (Clavis Publishing, 2026) and Goat’s Boat Won’t Float (The Little Press, 2024). She was honored to receive the SCBWI Ann Whitford Paul Award, two Minnesota State Arts Board grants, and three Lake Region Arts Council grants. Kim lives in Minnesota, and when she’s not writing, you may find her gardening or playing Sequence with her husband. Visit Kim’s website to learn more about her and her work, or connect with her on social media via linktr.ee.

To order a copy of DOLL TROUBLE, you can go here.

To be entered in the giveaway of a copy of DOLL TROUBLE, please leave a comment and share this post on your social media platforms. This giveaway is open to US and Canadian addresses only.
To qualify for the Bonus Giveaway
Subscribe to Kim’s newsletter by August for another chance to win (US & Canada only). You’ll also receive a PDF copy of her first published book of short stories and poems: Love, Laughter, and a few Happily Ever Afters.

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

Happy Book Birthday: DIVING DEEP ON ROSH HASHANAH

Posted on August 4, 2026 by viviankirkfield

Hello dear friends! I’m so glad you’ve stopped by today…and I know you will be, too…because we are celebrating the book birthday of a wonderful new book written by the talented Rachelle Burk and brilliantly illustrated by Craig Orback.

It’s always a joy when authors return to Picture Books Help Kids Soar…and I’m thrilled to welcome Rachelle who has agreed to share the story behind the story.

ME: Hello my friend! So nice to see you here again. I’m hoping you can share a bit about the book and how it came to be.

RACHELLE: It’s lovely to be here, Vivian. Thank you for helping to celebrate my newest book. And it certainly does have a wonderful backstory.

Diving Deep on Rosh Hashanah
by Rachelle Burk
illustrated by Craig Orback

I love adventure! A few years ago, I wrote Space Torah: Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman’s Cosmic Mitzvah—a true adventure picture book set in space. Next came Passover on Everest, the story of a mother-daughter climbing team who held a Seder on the world’s highest peak. As a scuba diver, I knew my next book had to dive into a true, Jewish-themed ocean adventure.

That dream is now a reality with my new picture book biography: Diving Deep on Rosh Hashanah: Reverse Tashlich for a Better World.

The book tells the inspiring true story of Rabbi Ed Rosenthal. He created “Reverse Tashlich,” an environmental tradition where people clean beaches and oceans to practice Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). From this initiative, he founded the organization Repair the Sea (Repairthesea.org).

Our first meeting felt like destiny. When I learned about Rabbi Ed, I was already scheduled to fly to Tampa for a school author visit. Coincidentally, that was exactly where he serves as a college campus rabbi!

He invited me to dive with his college club, the “Scubi-Jews.” Unfortunately, the boat engine failed that day, and we never left the dock. Instead of diving, I spent the afternoon conducting interviews right there on the deck. That boat ride may have been cancelled, but the book was born!

The book follows Ed’s journey from his childhood love of the ocean to the global growth of Repair the Sea. It focuses on modernizing a centuries-old ritual:

Traditional Tashlich involves symbolically casting away past wrongs by tossing breadcrumbs into the water. Reverse Tashlich flips the concept. Instead of putting debris into the water, participants remove physical “sins”—like plastic, trash, and marine debris. This new tradition protects marine life and restores local aquatic ecosystems.

What started as a local project has exploded into a global movement. People of all backgrounds now participate. To date, the initiative has mobilized thousands of volunteers across 6 continents, 31 countries, 307 communities!

Rabbi Ed and I are celebrating the book launch with a unique event in Palm Beach, Florida. The celebration will include scuba diving and an underwater “reading” of the book, with the audio dubbed in after the dive!

Stay tuned—the fourth book in my true Jewish adventure series is already in the works, featuring a true Hanukkah story set deep in a cave!

https://rachelleburk.blogspot.com

facebook.com/rachelleburk instagram.com/rachelleburkpurchasing:

https://lernerbooks.com/shop/show/26798

Amazon Sales Page

ME: THIS IS FABULOUS, RACHELLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING ALL OF THIS.

And now, friends, here’s a little bit about the creators of this fabulous new book.

Bios:

Author:

Rachelle is the author of over twenty fiction and nonfiction titles for children ages 0-13. Her books include Don’t Turn the Page!, How to Be an Awesome Toddler: 50 Easy Rhymes to Make Growing Up Exciting & Fun, and Stomp Wiggle Clap & Tap. Biographies are The Story of Simone Biles, The Story of Taylor Swift, The Story of Caitlin Clark, and Happy Birthday to You: The Sisters Who Wrote the Most Famous Song in the World. Rachelle’s science-adventure novel, The Walking Fish, received a Science Teaching Association/National Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Book award.

She has also published acclaimed Jewish children’s picture books such as She’s a Mensch! Jewish Women Who Rocked the World; Space Torah: Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman’s Cosmic Mitzvah; Diving Deep on Rosh Hashanah; Passover on Everest; Mitzvah for George Washington and Matzah Ball Chase. Rachelle loves to visit elementary and preschools around the country with her dynamic author visit programs. Visit her at www.RachelleBurk.com

Illustrator

CRAIG ORBACK has illustrated over 20 children’s books, including Space Torah: Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman’s Cosmic Mitzvah, Passover on Everest, Diving Deep on Rosh Hashanah, The Boxcar Children, and Starring Steven Spielberg: The Making of a Young Filmmaker. Craig lives near Seattle, WA, where he teaches children’s book illustration classes at several local colleges. Visit www.craigorback.com to see more of his work.

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us. Stay tuned for a Perfect Picture Book Friday post later this month as we celebrate a new book from the lovely Kim Larson…DOLL TROUBLE!