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!

UPDATES, GOOD NEWS, AND PIPPA’S HANUKKAH HUNT GIVEAWAY WINNER!

Posted on October 7, 2026 by viviankirkfield

Hello dear friends. My blog, which was just selected again by FeedSpot as one of the Top 100 Children’s Book Blogs on the web.https://bloggers.feedspot.com/childrens_book_blogs/, began back in 2010 when my very first book launched…the parent/teacher activity guide, SHOW ME HOW: Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking.

Yes, it’s true…even before the thought of writing books for children crossed my mind, I was enthralled with the concept that reading with children…and picture books in particular…could help kids soar. I set out to connect with parents, teachers, librarians…basically all caregivers of young children. I still have copies of this great resource…which I would love to send to anyone (US addresses only) for the cost of the postage…which is about $5. Please reach out in the comments or via email (viviankirkfield@gmail.com) if you are interested in receiving the book that started me on my writing journey. If you are a preschool teacher, daycare provider, parent or grandparent, the book is an excellent resource. If you want multiple copies, I can pack 8 into a flat rate box for $25. And if you are local to me and can swing by and pick them up, I’m happy to give them away for FREE! Books sitting in boxes aren’t doing the job they were created to do.

After that book launched, my son took me skydiving for my 64th birthday and I was empowered to believe that I could not only read and review those picture books…but perhaps I could WRITE them. I’m so grateful to the many mentors who seemed to appear magically…Susanna Leonard Hill with her Perfect Picture Book Friday blog and Making Picture Book Magic class; Julie Hedlund with her 12×12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, Emma Walton Hamilton with her Just Write 4 Kids course, Renee LaTulippe with her Lyrical Language Lab, Tara Lazar with her PiBoIdMo/StoryStorm, Angie Karcher with her RhyPiBoMo…and the legion of critique partners who encouraged me and provided much-needed feedback on manuscripts…Carrie Finison, Tina Cho, Hannah Holt, Alayne Kay Christian, Diane Tulloch, Maria Marshall, Ellen Leventhal, Nancy Churnin, Hanh Bui, Carmen Castillo Gilbert, Beth Gallagher, Beth Anderson, Julie Abery, Pam Courtney, Linda Hofke…well, you get the idea. If I continued listing all the fabulous CPs who helped me become a better writer, this post would never end. Whether I named you or not, please know how grateful I am for your support. And throughout this journey on the path to publication, I’ve met so many of you…more than the writing, I’ve fallen in love with the kid lit community.

Last week, while I was in the Peloponnese, enjoying the incredible beauty of the area and the kindness of the wonderful people, my latest book, PIPPA’S HANUKKAH HUNT, illustrated by the talented Jill Weber and published by the amazing Holiday House team headed by editor Mary Cash, flew into bookstores.

The book continues the adventures of dear Pippa Mouse and her friends…and there is a mystery for our youngest story lovers to solve. In the blog post that went live on launch day, September 29th, I promised a GIVEAWAY of a signed copy of the book…and the winner is…

CARMELA MCCAIN SIMMONS!!
I’ll reach out to you, Carmela, so I can get your address and mail a signed copy to you!

I’m actually still catching my breath from my whirlwind trip to Vienna and Greece…one of my long-time critique buddies, Linda Hofke, traveled over 7 hours by train with her daughter to spend time with me in Vienna…we had a ball!. And because I know that many of you may not be active on social media, I wanted to share some travel photos with you.

Vienna with Peter, Linda Hofke and her daughter, Katarina

As you can see by all the smiles, it was a wonderful trip! And I’ve already booked a trip to Alaska…the one state I’ve never been to…for July 2027…I’m excited. According to WordCat.org, there is already a copy of Pippa’s Hanukkah Hunt at the Anchorage School District Library…and I will be in Anchorage at the back end of my trip.

Other than a couple of book events in November and December, (one is at the Silver Unicorn Bookstore in Acton, MA on December 5th…so if you are anywhere local to the Boston/Southern New Hampshire area, I hope you’ll SAVE THE DATE and stop by).

I’m keeping my calendar free so I can clear my desk of promised critiques…as well as do some writing of my own. Even though the publishing industry is moving at snail speed and all of the manuscripts my agent has out on submission have only received passes, I still have stories to tell…and will continue to hold to my belief that as long as the joy is still there, moving forward is the only way to proceed.

Also on my agenda is to read the dozens of books I’ve received over the past few months from publishers who are hoping their titles will be among the SCBWI Golden Kite finalists. I’m honored to be one of the judges in the Nonfiction for Older Readers and Nonfiction for Younger Readers categories…and when it is all over (Winners are announced in January, I believe), I’ll be donating all of the books to local schools in need. Through the #50PreciousWords Literacy Initiative…and because of the generosity of the kid lit community, we’ve already been able to donate 1200 books!

Speaking of #50PreciousWords…I am excited for the new year. I’ll begin gathering prizes in January…and the Heads-Up-The-Contest-Is-Coming post will go live sometime in early February. If you were a prize last year, I will be reaching out to you again. If you weren’t, but would like to donate a manuscript critique or a 30-minute Ask-Me-Anything virtual chat or some other fabulous prize, you can reach out to me to let me know. Also, if you have/know an agent and/or editor who would like to offer a submission opportunity or a critique or an Ask-Me-Anything virtual chat, please share that info with me. Last year we had 67 awesome prizes (and 677 amazing entries)…and although more prizes mean more time to distribute them, I’m happy to add more to make the event even more exciting for all the participants. Hosting the contest is a joy for me…and I’m thankful to my wonderful judges, many of whom have been part of the event for many years. Maria Marshall, Diane Tulloch, Pamela Courtney, Carmen Castillo Gilbert, Leah Moser, Shirin Shamsi, Amber Lavoie…I’m grateful for them all and hope they will want to return for the 2027 contest.

If you made it to the end of this post, congratulations! It was a long one. The important points to remember:
1. If you’d like a copy of SHOW ME HOW, email me. They are FREE…I only ask for $5 if I have to mail it to you (US addresses only).

2. If you haven’t left a review for PIPPA’S HANUKKAH HUNT, I wish you would: And with Hanukkah just around the corner, perhaps you need to purchase a copy for yourself or for a young story lover you know.
AMAZON
GOODREADS
B&N

3. If you’d like to be a prize for the 2027 #50PreciousWords, please reach out to me. This is such a challenging time for those on the path to publication…I know that the contest is a bright spot of hope and recognition for those who participate.

Thank you for spending your precious time with us. Fall is definitely upon us here in New England…the mornings are crisp and cold…and the trees are sporting headdresses of scarlet and gold. I’m not a fan of the coming winter…but it’s definitely a great time to hunker down with a good book…what book has you turning the pages?

Happy Book Birthday: PIPPA’S HANUKKAH HUNT Plus Giveaway

Posted on September 29, 2026 by viviankirkfield

Welcome, dear friends! It’s always a pleasure to celebrate the launch of a new book with a Happy Book Birthday post. And today, my joy is unmeasurable…since the new book is actually one of mine!

When my editor asked me to write a sequel to the popular PIPPA’S PASSOVER PLATE, I was thrilled. And with talented illustrator Jill Weber on board again, I knew the book would be magical…and I was not disappointed! Every page bursts with color and action!

Join Pippa’s generous friends and neighbors as they come together as a community in this joyful companion to Pippa’s Passover Plate.

Filled with rhymes and repetition, this is a perfect title to share and read aloud as you celebrate your own Hanukkah festivities! Pippa loves everything about her Hanukkah latkes—making them; eating them; and most of all, sharing them! But when her ingredients go missing, Pippa’s dinner guests become Hanukkah helpers as she searches the whimsical winter landscape.

When a surprise twist brings the latke ingredients and new guests to her table, Pippa is thrilled to have gathered the most important ingredient for any holiday meal: a community to enjoy it with.

An end note explains the origins and meaning of the holiday—with special attention to everyone’s favorite traditions like chocolate gelt (chocolate coins wrapped in foil) and the game of dreidel (spinning top).

Just in time for Hanukkah, this joyful story will bring smiles to our youngest story lovers…and by following the illustration clues, kids will be eager to solve the mystery of the missing potatoes.

Please help this story about community, compassion, and kindness become a success.
You can:
Buy the book (the link is from Bookshop.org, but you can purchase it on Amazon or from your local indie bookstore)
Review the book (on Amazon or any other review site)
Tell friends about the book (share on your social media and TAG 2 friends)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection

To enter the giveaway of a signed copy of PIPPA’S HANUKKAH HUNT, please do at least ONE of the above…and in the comments, let me know what you have done. If you do more than one, you’ll receive extra chances in the giveaway hat.

And, if you didn’t get a chance to see the unboxing video on Facebook, here it is.