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!

Cover Reveal: LIGHT, LETTERS, AND LOVE: How Jo van Gogh Saved Vincent’s Paintings for the World

Posted on August 1, 2026 by viviankirkfield

YIPPEE!!! What a wonderful way to start the month of August!!! And I’m so very happy that you all are joining me here for the unveiling of a new picture book cover!!! Author Donna Cangelosi is a dear friend and I am thrilled and honored to help celebrate this fabulous book, illustrated by the talented Elisa Paganelli.

Oh my gosh! I absolutely LOVE this cover! It totally draws me in and makes me want to open the book and start reading!

And how lucky are we? Donna stopped by to share a bit about the book and also the story behind the story.

ME: Welcome, dear Donna! Thank you so much for agreeing to tell us about the book…and how it came to be.

DONNA: Hi Vivian…thanks for having me and helping to celebrate the fabulous cover of my newest book.

Light, Letters, and Love : How Jo van Gogh Saved Vincent’s Paintings for the World

Written by: Donna Cangelosi

Illustrated by: Elisa Paganelli

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

Release date: March 16, 2027

Thank you, Vivian for helping me share the cover of this special book with the world! Here’s a little bit about the book...

Summary:

Vincent van Gogh’s priceless paintings, bursting with swirling colors changed the world of art. Today, he is one of the most beloved artists of all time and his paintings are admired in every corner of the world. But few people know that one woman spent her life championing Vincent’s artwork. Jo van Gogh was Theo’s wife and Vincent’s sister-in-law. She channeled her grief after their deaths into a campaign to ensure that van Gogh’s artwork received the recognition it deserved.

This heartfelt picture book is about loss, hope, persistence, and lifting others. It captures the bond between family members, the healing powers of art, and shows how challenges can be transformed into beauty.

What inspired me to write this book:

I’ve always loved Vincent van Gogh’s art and knew that I wanted to write a picture book about him. But after reading Barb Rosenstock’s beautiful picture book, Vincent Can’t Sleep, I realized it can’t get better than that, so I let go of the idea. Then, in April 2021, I came upon an article in The New York Times Magazine, “The Woman Who Made van Gogh!” Before I even read the entire article, I knew I had to write a story to shine a light on Jo, the way she shined her light on Vincent. I jotted down a sentence, “Without Jo, there would be no van Gogh.” And from that moment, you could say Jo moved in with me.

A challenge I faced on the path to publication:

Soon after Jo moved in, Vincent arrived as well. So, I used a parallel structure to write the story. After many revisions, the original version went on submission and every editor passed. I then had a professional critique, and the editor suggested that I try rewriting the story about Jo, weaving Vincent’s struggles into the plot. Ouch! Cut Vincent? I’ve cut sentences and spreads and all sorts of darlings, but this was a hard one. It was half of my manuscript. I put the story aside for a while and thought about it. But it didn’t take long to realize I had to give it a try. With my renewed clarity, I rewrote the story and Jo’s struggles, passion, determination, and accomplishments came through. This also helped me get to the takeaway for kids—to shine their light on others the way Jo shined hers on Vincent.

ME: Thank you so much, Donna. We always love to hear what inspired the books we fall in love with…and I have a feeling that there will be many who fall in love with this one.
And, dear friends, here is a little bit about the creators of this book.

Donna Cangelosi is a children’s book author and psychologist. She spent her career counseling children in schools, clinics, and her psychology practice and now, she also writes stories to inspire and uplift them. Donna enjoys writing about people who made the world a better place and the wonders of childhood, animals, and nature. She is the author of Mister Rogers’ Gift of Music. When she’s not writing, Donna loves exploring nature and traveling. She has journeyed far and wide to see Vincent van Gogh’s magnificent masterpieces and thanks Jo each time she encounters one. https://www.donnacangelosi.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnacangelosi2
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/donnacangelosi.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donna.cangelosi.5/

Elisa Paganelli is an Italian illustrator and creative designer born in Modena, Italy, and based in Buckinghamshire, UK. With a background in advertising and over 20 years in the creative field, she creates illustrations for picture books, middle- grade fiction, and cover art. Her work includes bestselling and award-winning titles such as the Greenwild series, the Adventures on Trains series, The House with Chicken Legs, and books by Ben Miller, among others. Elisa finds inspiration in nature, quiet moments, books, and long walks with her dog Miranda. Her curiosity for psychology and human experience influences the warmth, empathy, and storytelling behind her work. https://elisapaganelli.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/elisapaganelli_illustration
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elisaupsidedown

AND NOW, BECAUSE I KNOW MANY OF YOU WILL WANT TO GRAB YOUR OWN COPY AND HELP THIS BOOK BECOME A SUCCESS…HERE ARE SOME PRE-ORDER LINKS:

LIGHT, LETTERS, & LOVE Preorder links:
Indie: https://bookshop.org/p/books/light-letters-and-love-how-jo-van-gogh-saved-
vincent-s-paintings-for-the-world-donna-
cangelosi/34dd069b7223319e?ean=9781534113862&bkshp-astro=t

Barnes & Nobles:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/light-letters-and-love-donna-
cangelosi/1150827430?ean=9781534113862

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your precious time with us. I hope you have a wonderful August! As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve stepped back a bit from blogging…but we have a couple of posts coming up this month…and a bunch in September…so please stay tuned.

Perfect Picture Book Friday: NIGHTY NIGHT, DINOS

Posted on June 12, 2026 by viviankirkfield

Hello dear friends…and Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday! I had taken a step back from blogging last month to prepare for and attend the New England SCBWI conference in Stamford, CT…which was AMAZING. And also to enjoy a trip to Scotland and England…which was INCREDIBLE. If you are on social media, hopefully you saw some of the photos…I even got to enjoy a high tea at Jane Austen’s house in Bath…and try on some period costumes. But, when I discovered that a dear friend, Deb Williams, had a debut picture book launching on June 16, I knew I’d want to spread the word and share it with all of you.

NIGHTY NIGHT, DINOS

Written by Deborah Holt Williams

Illustrated by Anna Doherty

Published by Familius (June 16, 2026)

Ages: 3-5

Themes: Bedtime, Rhyming, Dinosaurs

Why I Love This Book
1. I love lyrical, many-layered books – this one is so relatable for young children – focusing on the importance of sleep – using dinosaurs and rhyming text to entertain.
2. I love illustrations that engage and keep kids turning the pages.
3. I love new bedtime stories…I think we never have enough of them.

And now, dear friends, because we are SO lucky…and because author Williams is SO generous, we get to chat with her…and learn the story behind the story.

ME: Welcome to Picture Books Help Kids Soar, dear Deb. I know that everyone is excited to learn more about you…and how this wonderful picture book came to be.
Is Nighty Night, Dinos your first published book?

DEB: I have five small early readers published for the educational market, but this is my first hard-cover picture book, and I’m delighted with it!

ME: Did you always envision Nighty Night, Dinos as a picture book?

DEB: Actually, it began in 2020 as an entry in a bedtime story contest that did not win. But I really liked it, so I started submitting it as a board book. Familius responded the day after I sent it in 2021, but they had quite a few dino books already. We kept in touch though, and in 2023 the publisher at Familius asked if I would add a few more stanzas so it could become a 32-page picture book. I was thrilled!

ME: When did you first start submitting your writing?

DEB: I started to get serious about writing and submitting when the youngest of my five children went to school full-time. I joined SCBWI in 1998 and started sending stories out.

ME: Do you have an agent?

DEB: I’ve had two agents in the past and we parted amicably. I am currently un-agented, which is fine because I’ve had better luck on my own.

ME: Between when you started submitting in 1998 and your first picture book contract in 2026, did you have any stories that came close to being published?

DEB: Yes. I had a New Mexican version of The Gingerbread Man called Biscochito Man (that’s the state cookie of NM) and it made it to the acquisitions committee at a major publisher. But the final “No” came while I was going through chemo for breast cancer. (That was 14 years ago and the treatment was successful. Yay!) Then 5 years ago I had a contract with a publisher for a lyrical biography of the glass artist Chihuly, with an illustrator who knew and loved Chihuly’s work, and the week it was to go out on sub the agent left the agency and decided she would no longer represent picture books. I had to write to the agency and request the termination of my contract. That was painful! But the agent and I still keep in touch and she’s happy for my success.

ME: With so many years of collecting rejections, how did you stay motivated to keep going?

DEB: At a Highlights workshop in Chautauqua, NY in 2011, author Eileen Spinelli handed everyone a little rubber ball to remind us to bounce back from rejections, and I still have mine in my writing desk. I keep going because it’s been a dream of mine to be an author since I learned how to write in first grade, and I know the only guaranteed way to fail is to quit. Plus I had successes along the way with poems and non-fiction pieces sold to magazines and websites for kids. Entering and doing well in contests helped, too. I find I’m more motivated to succeed now that I have grandchildren, because I want them to see that they should follow their dreams. And I want to make them proud of their Nana!

ME: Tell us about the illustrator of your book.

DEB: Her name is Ana Doherty and she is Scottish but lives in Switzerland. She’s been illustrating books since 2017 and this is her third book with Familius Publishing. She says she enjoyed creating the little touches she added to the pictures, like the tiny bunny slippers under the triceratops’ bed. Familius has been very good about asking for my input on her illustrations. When they told me she was thinking of clouds for the end papers, I asked if the clouds could be shaped like puffy dinosaurs, and that’s what she did.

ME: Do you have other books coming out and are they also written in rhyme?

DEB: Yes, I’m happy to have contracted with Familius for two more in the series, due to be released in 2028: Nighty Night, Puppies and Nighty Night, Bears. Like the dinosaur book, they are also rhymers. It’s often said that rhyme doesn’t sell, because it doesn’t always translate well for foreign markets. But children love it, and I really enjoy the challenge of writing in rhyme.

ME: What advice would you give to aspiring children’s book writers?

DEB: Get involved: join SCBWI and participate with your local chapter, join a critique group, follow other writers like Vivian on social media, read books on writing, take classes, follow sites like Kidlit411, Harold Underdown’s Purple Crayon and Literary Rambles, enter contests, write and submit a wide variety of work from poems to stories to non-fiction pieces, and volunteer at your local library once a week to see what’s new in kids’ books. I go in and wipe down the picture books and check for books in the wrong place, and I often snap a picture of a publisher’s name when I see a book that looks like one I might submit to.

ME: What is one of the best things about writing for children?

DEB: The best thing is reading your words to a child and seeing the enjoyment on that little face. And I love that writers can keep on being writers all their lives. I’m in an online group of women authors over 60 who are all “late bloomers,” finally having time to devote to writing and submitting, and getting published. I feel like I’m hitting my stride at the age of 74, and I plan to keep at it!

ME: Can you tell us about yourself?

DEB: I live in the mountains of Colorado with my husband and three adopted senior pets, a cat and two dogs. I have five children and six grandchildren, and my hobby is making enormous bubbles for events.

Thank you so much, dear Deb! I LOVE that you never gave up…and I am so very happy to help you celebrate your success!

Dear friends…if you’d like to learn more about Deb and her books
Website: deborahholtwilliams.com
Blog: https://deboraholtwilliams.blogspot.com
@debwriter on bluesky and Instagram
Email: williamsdeborahholt@gmail.com
Facebook page: Deborah Holt Williams

To purchase her book, please visit Bookshop.org or her local bookstore Alpenglow in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

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