Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends! I’m so glad you are here because I’m featuring a VERY SPECIAL BOOK written by a VERY SPECIAL AUTHOR…my dear friend, NCTE panel-mate Pamela Courtney! I remember seeing many of Pam’s early manuscripts…and I loved ALL of them. And so I am especially thrilled to welcome her debut book which launches in only a few days on May 20th and is brilliantly illustrated by Toni D. Chambers. And please stick around through the entire blog post because author Pam is giving away a SIGNED copy of this beautiful new book to One Lucky Winner who leaves a comment and SHARES this post on social media!
I feel so lucky that I meet so many amazing kidlit authors and illustrators. Sometimes I meet them at conferences. Sometimes our paths cross during an online class. And other times, mutual friends bring us together.
That’s how I connected with Jenny Andrus. She’s in the #Kidlit Foxes author promo group with a couple of other folks I know – and when she reached out and I heard the story behind her debut picture book, ELSA’S CHESSBOARD that releases from Neal Porter/Holiday House on April 29, I just knew I had to help spread the word…and the COVER!
Illustrator Julie Downing has created a cover that truly engages and informs! Look at the background. We can tell right away that this is a book about a time in the past. And look at where the focus is…right on this young girl…and look how the artist has made her active. She’s not just sitting at a chessboard…we can see she is involved in an on-going game! I can’t wait to open the book and turn the pages and read the story…and I’m sure that’s how young children will feel, too.
Here’s a little bit about the book: Elsa’s Chessboard Jenny Andrus (author) Julie Downing (illustrator) Neal Porter Books/Holiday House Launch date: April 29, 2025 ISBN: 9780823454082
ME: I asked Jenny what inspired her to write the story.
JENNY: My grandmother (we called her Oma) lived with us when I was growing up, and we were very close. I could talk to her about almost anything–except chess. Even though Oma was passionate about the game, I resisted her every effort to teach me how to play. There was always something else that I would rather do. Eventually, she gave up trying. How I wish I could go back in time and take her up on that offer. Since that’s not a possibility, I went with the next best option: I wrote a book celebrating her life and the game she loved.
Oma Elsa & granddaughter, author Jenny
Here’s a short summary of the story
Growing up in 1900s Vienna, Elsa loves watching her brothers play chess. “No girls!” they tell her when she first asks to learn; but she wears them down, and soon she’s such a pro that they give her a special chess set of her own. Elsa carries her chessboard with her everywhere, always ready for a game. She even gets to know her future husband over games in the park. But when World War II grips Europe, the young Jewish family flees to America, where they find themselves surrounded by unfamiliar languages. Luckily, Elsa knows one language that can always bring people together: chess!
And here’s a little bit about Jenny:
Jenny Andrus is an author, children’s book reviewer, and librarian. She has written stories for newspapers and magazines, and co-authored a book for new parents, Bay Area Baby. For 14 years, she was a K-8 school librarian, where her favorite part of the job was sharing picture books with kids.
And here’s a little bit about the illustrator:
Julie Downing is the author and illustrator of Hello, Moon; Hello, Sun; and Night in the City. She has illustrated over forty-five picture books, including Cubs in the Tub: The True Story of the Bronx Zoo’s First Woman Zookeeper by Candace Fleming. She has won many awards and citations, including a Parents’ Choice Award, the New York Public Library’s Best Books, APAAL Best Illustrated Book, and the Irma Black Silver Medal.
To find out more about the creators of this beautiful book: Social media links / website Instagram: Jenny: @jennyandruswrites Julie Downing:@juliedowning
Thank you, everyone, for spending your precious time with us. I’ll be away for the next 2 weeks – and will return JUST IN TIME for #50PreciousWords which takes place right here on the blog on March 2 and March 3. Our wonderful judges are all ready to read your fabulous stories…have you written yours yet? As always, the prizes are amazing! Check out the Heads Up post for guidelines and prize list: https://viviankirkfield.com/2025/02/01/heads-up-the-50preciouswords-2024-international-writing-contest-is-coming-soon-2/
I love welcoming back creators who have been here before – and today’s featured cover is from a very prolific author, the lovely Ana Siqueira who stopped by to chat with us about the book!
ME: Welcome, Ana! We are so happy you stopped by on your COVER REVEAL day! And thank you for offering a fabulous giveaway!!! One lucky winner is going to receive their choice of a PB CRITIQUE or a 30-minute Ask-Me-Anything Chat. That is so generous of you!!! Could you tell us a little bit about the book and the inspiration behind it?
ANA: Hello Vivian! It’s lovely to be here. And of course…doesn’t every author love to chat about their book!!! Here’s a little info:
Vera La Valiente is Scared Written by Ana Siqueira Illustrated by Teresa Martinez Launching fromBeaming Books in August 2025
And here’s the inspiriation for it:
Vera La Valiente is Scared was inspired by a match between my son and my sister. My son Joao Felipe was scared of roller coasters. And even though he suffered some peer pressure (and family pressure), he was always brave to say “No, I don’t like roller coasters.” Now, I see he was really brave to do so.
Also, Vera is my big sister. I always saw her as this brave girl and I thought she could face everything, even roaches, without trembling. But of course, just like all of us, she has her fears. I believe a lot of pressure was placed on her to be strong and brave all of the time. So this book shows that it is okay to have fears. And to show your fears is an act of bravery.
ME: Oh, that’s such an important issue to write about, Ana. And I love that this is really a ‘family’ story. I know kids will definitely relate to it! How about challenges or humorous moments on the path to publication…can you share any of those?
ANA: As I’m sure there are with every book, there were challenges.
This story, like many others, took a while to create shape. I tried many different versions, including one where Vera helped another girl who was scared of water rides. But with the help of my critique partners, I was able to shape it in a way that I believe it’s funny and heartfelt, without being didactic.
ME: Can you give us a little summary of the story?
ANA: Sure…I’d be happy to.
VERA LA VALIENTE IS SCARD is a hilarious story about what it really means to be brave.
Meet Vera the Brave–La Valiente! She dives like a dolphin, climbs like a mountain goat, and defends her amigos like un león. But she trembles when she hears her teacher say, “We’re going to Rocking Roller Coasters!” Oh no! Vera tries to convince the teacher her plan is not the best, but Ms. Rodríguez does not change her mind about the field trip. Now if Vera can’t face her fears, everyone will discover she’s not that brave after all! But what if being brave is much more than she expected?
Vera La Valiente Is Scared redefines what it means to be brave. It’s okay to show your feelings and fears! And maybe, with some help, you can even face some of them.
ME: Thank you so much, Ana. And now folks, here’s what you’ve been waiting for…
WOW! I think Teresa Martinez has done a fabulous job, engaging the child reader with a cover that POPS off the page! I love the strong reds! And Vera’s brave yellow shirt!
And here’s an inside spread…look how the main character grabs our attention because she’s dressed colorfully – and the rest of the page is muted.
And here’s some info about Ana: Ana Siqueira is a Spanish-language teacher and an award-winning children’s book author based in Tampa, Florida. Her books include Bella’s Recipe for Success (Beaming Books 2021), If Your Babysitter is a Bruja (S&S 2022), Abuela’s Super Capa/ La Supercapa de Abuela (HarperCollins 2023), Our World Brazil (Barefoot Books 2023), Boitata: the Fire Snake (Capstone 2023), La Mala Suerte is Following Me (Charlesbridge 2024), Vera la Valiente is Scared (Beaming Books 2025), Mami’s Heart (HarperCollins 2026) among others. She also has a chapter book series coming soon. It’s titled Carolina and the Creepy Creature Catchers. Ana co-founded Latinxpitch, a pitch event to promote Latin authors and illustrators.
She lives in Tampa Bay with her husband and loves to play with her Cuban-Brazilian-American grandkids.
And remember in the beginning of the post, I mentioned that Ana is prolific…take a look at some of her books:
To connect with Ana: Social Media @asiqueira.bsky.social
And here’s a little bit about the fabulous illustrator: Teresa Martinez is a Mexican illustrator based in Puerto Vallarta. She’s the illustrator for dozens of picture books including Duck, Duck, Taco Truck, written by Laura Lavoie, Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma, written by Johanna Ho, and The Last Tamale, written by Orlando Mendiola, among many others. You can see her amazing portfolio and learn more about her: https://astound.us/teresa-martinez
I hope you all have a wonderful week! And I hope you are also spreading the word about #50PreciousWords which will happen right here on the blog on March 2 and March 3. Also, World Read-Aloud Day is Wednesday, February 5…if you are an author, are you reading to a class? If you are a teacher, have you connected with an author so that your students will have a free author visit that day? I’ll be reading ONE GIRL’S VOICE with the 4th graders at P.S. 97 in the Bronx. I’ll tell them that they are the FIRST kids to hear the story because the book doesn’t launch until February.
And don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway…Ana is asking that you put a number from 1 to 1000 in your comment…and Ana will choose the winner…if you can read minds, maybe you’ll guess the number Ana is thinking of.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 