Perfect Picture Book Friday: A FOREST BEGINS ANEW Plus Giveaway

Posted on May 8, 2026 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I was thrilled when author Louise Aamodt reached out to tell me about the upcoming launch of her debut picture book (in just a few days on May 12). She reminded me that I had done a manuscript critique for her many years ago…and now she has several other books in the pipeline…not that I had anything to do with that…that is all Louise’s talented writing! But I love to hear stories of dedication that leads to success…and I know that all of you do, too. And happily, Louise stopped by to share the story behind the story…PLUS…there is a GIVEAWAY. Make sure you scroll to the end of the post and leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway…and PLEASE, share the post on your social media to help get the word out about this absolutely beautiful book!

A FOREST BEGINS ANEW

Written by Louise M. Aamodt

Illustrated by Elly McKay

Published by Astra Books for Young Readers (May 12, 2026)

Ages: 4-8

Themes: Ecology, Forest Rebirth, Hope

Synopsis: Told through lyrical rhyme and stunning 3D cut-paper illustrations, this is the captivating story of a forest’s renewal as it goes from ashes to new growth in the aftermath of a sweeping forest fire.

Set against the backdrop of a devastating forest fire, A Forest Begins Anew unfolds the life cycle of a particularly resilient ecosystem. As smoke jumpers leap from planes and pinecones eventually unseal from the heat of the fire, the story poetically weaves the effects of a forest fire into a vibrant tapestry that reveals a delicate balance between destruction and renewal.

Back matter containing fascinating facts and further reading portrays forest fires not just as destructive forces but as catalysts for growth and rebirth. With its lyrical rhyming text and breathtaking illustrations, A Forest Begins Anew honors nature’s ability to survive against the odds.

WHY I LOVE THIS BOOK
1. I love books that help young readers develop a love of and an appreciation for the wonders of nature.
2. I love books that engage readers with lyrical text…this one is in rhyme…and it is SO GOOD!
3. I love books where the art is such a large part of the story…with illustrations that keep readers turning the pages…and with art that embraces unique media choices.

ME: And now we are so lucky, because Louise is here to chat with us! Welcome to Picture Books Help Kids Soar, Louise…and this book, filled with optimism and hope, is sure to help many kids soar. Please share a little bit about the book and why you wrote it.

LOUISE:
My curious brain never quiets down, so when I came across a few sentences stating that fires can lead to beetles, then woodpeckers, then bluebirds, I needed to know more about that cause-effect relationship. The deeper I dove, the more I felt compelled to share this information with young people, including ‘good’ versus ‘bad’ fires, the balance of nature, and an overall message of cooperation, renewal, and– ultimately– hope.

A humorous incident on the path to publication:

The week my editor was ready for the first round of edits, I was volunteering at Boy Scout summer camp. After making sure the kids didn’t have any bear-attracting snacks in their tents for the night, I’d hike through the dark up to the main camp headquarters to pick up wifi for a surface-level initial fact-check and to download any editor’s comments. Then I’d hike back and padlock my laptop inside the troop’s trailer. The next day, I’d get the boys situated practicing their first aid or fire starting skills, and then I’d draft new stanzas in my ratty notebook. As zany as the process was, it was also the perfect setting to work on a forest story.

The book has been so well-received…here’s a glowing review from Kirkus:

“A devastating wildfire transforms into a story of ecological resilience and hope in this lyrical meditation on nature’s capacity for renewal… A beautiful testament to nature’s—and our own—ability to flourish after devastation.”

Read the full review here.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Louise M. Aamodt (rhymes with ‘comet’) has taught English Learners in public schools for over 25 years. As both a writer and a teacher, she loves igniting curiosity and making complicated concepts accessible. She can be found in the kids’ section of the library, or out watching bugs somewhere. Learn more about her debut picture book, A FOREST BEGINS ANEW, at https://www.LouiseAamodt.com.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:
Elly MacKay is an acclaimed paper artist and award-winning children’s bookmaker. She is the author and illustrator of a number of picture books. Before pursuing a career in picture books, she taught in schools and was an educator in galleries. Elly lives in the winter kingdom of Owen Sound, Ontario, where she and her family often search for snow dragons in the gardens and fields nearby.

Social media links
Website
Author’s Facebook
Goodreads
Bluesky
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ME: Thank you so much, Louise. We love hearing how beautiful books get their start!
And now, dear friends, make sure you leave a comment and share on social media to help this beautiful book become a success…and as you help the book, you’ll be qualifying for a chance to win a copy of A FOREST BEGINS ANEW.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Please come back on Sunday for a SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY blog post that will share the many amazing #50PreciousWordsforKids submissions from all over the country and a few from other countries!

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

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Story Power!

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

Book Birthday: MY BACKYARD USED TO BE Plus GIVEAWAY

Posted on September 23, 2025 by viviankirkfield

Lalalala! I’m getting my voice ready to sing a joyous Happy Book Birthday to MY BACKYARD USED TO BE, written by Lynn Baldwin, illustrated by Megan Elizabeth Baratta and published by Tilbury House Press. I’m especially excited about this book because I saw an early draft of this years ago and I told Lynn…this is a book! And now it is! And guess what!! The lovely Lynn is offering a GIVEAWAY…a brand new copy of MY BACKYARD USED TO BE for one lucky WINNER. Just leave a comment on this blog post.

WOW! This is a fabulous story…and kids will connect with it because it’s all about what came before us…whether a kid lives in a city or rural farmland, they can imagine what it was like before they were there…and the book goes WAY back in time…fascinating! And, what’s also fascinating is that author Lynn stopped by to chat with us – and share the story behind the story.
ME: Welcome, Lynn! Thank you for stopping by Picture Books Help Kids Soar. Can you tell us a little about the story and how you came to write it?

LYNN: Thank you so much for inviting me, Vivian. And thank you for helping to celebrate the book birthday of MY BACKYARD USED TO BE.
Here’s a short synopsis of the book:

My backyard is where we play and learn, but it wasn’t always my backyard…

Hit rewind on the view out your backdoor as this story zips back in time, showing readers how people, lifestyles, and land have changed over time. My Backyard Used to Be makes history feel current and accessible to young readers―and encourages them to discover what their own backyard used to be.

About the Story:

I’m so excited to be celebrating the release of my first picture book on your blog, Vivian! It’s especially meaningful because I hired you to do a critique of this story early on and I’m sure some of your suggestions helped improve the story☺

I had several sources of inspiration for this story. A few years back, I read the amazing picture book Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome and loved how she told the story backwards. I tried a few different ideas using that framework, but nothing clicked…until I remembered that a neighbor had mentioned that our neighborhood used to be a farm. One day, I was thinking about that, and about how important it is for kids to be active outdoors. As I kid, I loved playing in my backyard with my sisters and friends, and I also have many happy memories of backyard fun with my son when he was younger. All of these ideas came together to create My Backyard Used to Be.

This story is loosely set in Ann Arbor, MI, where I live but it’s not tied to a particular piece of land. My goal was to write a lyrical book that would be fun to read aloud. As it evolved, I realized the story could help kids think about the joy of playing outside, the history of their own backyard and what we can all do to make sure our backyards can be enjoyed by the next generation.

The interesting thing about this story is how quickly it came together! I connected with editor Sarah Rockett through an SCBWI critique event and actually signed the contract for the book one year to the day of the first draft! Then, the story went from acquisition to publication in less than a year-and-a-half! I know this is highly unusual and likely won’t happen again, especially as most of my other stories have been “in the making” for years. However, it didn’t feel that fast because I’ve been writing and working toward publication ever since my son was a toddler…and he’s now a teenager!

I’m really thrilled with what illustrator Megan Elizabeth Baratta added to the story, and I’m really looking forward to a launch event at my local independent bookstore and school visits.

Author Bio:
Lynn Baldwin is a picture book author who lives in Ann Arbor, MI, with her husband and teenage son. She writes in a purple office under a “Create with Joy” sign or on her deck surrounded by trees. Lynn loves being outdoors – whether exploring the world or in her own backyard. My Backyard Used to Be is her first book. To find out more about Lynn and connect with her: https://www.lynnbaldwinbooks.com/

Illustrator Bio:

Megan Elizabeth Baratta is a children’s book illustrator and winner of the School Library Journal’s inaugural 2022 Endies Award for Best Map. She lives in central New York with her husband, daughter, and son. Her books include Most Days, I Begin with Spring and The Secret Stream.

ME: What a talented team! The book is beautiful, Lynn…and I’m thrilled for you – and for all the kiddos who will enjoy reading it!

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
Review the book
Tell friends about the book (PLEASE share on social media)
Ask local libraries to purchase copies for their collection

And, if you want to purchase from Lynn’s local indie:
Link to Purchase from Schuler Books, my local bookstore: https://www.schulerbooks.com/book/9781668955239Thank you for spending your precious time with us…and don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to WIN a copy of MY BACKYARD USED TO BE…maybe you can share what you see when you look in your ‘backyard’.
I hope you all have a wonderful week. Tomorrow I will be meeting Laura Knoy, the host of ReadLocalNH, a podcast direct from Concord, NH. Laura has invited me to join her to chat about ONE GIRL’S VOICE…I’m excited!