Hello dear friends! Get ready for one of my favorite blog posts!
It’s a COVER REVEAL!!!!
For me, a cover reveal is just like unveiling a masterpiece at a museum where we get to see into the heart of the creator. With a cover reveal, we are getting a peek at the genius of TWO creators…the artist who brings their vision to the words of the writer!
The title of this upcoming book is: A TOGETHER PLACE, written by Dara Henry and illustrated by Sam Kallis…and we are so lucky because Dara stopped by to share a bit about the story behind the story and Sam stopped by to share a bit about her illustration process. But first…drumroll please!!!
Here is the gorgeous cover for A TOGETHER PLACE.
ME: Welcome, Dara! Thanks so much for stopping by. Can you tell us a little bit about the book and how it came to be?
DARA: When I set out to write A Together Place, I knew from the beginning that I wanted Synagogue to have a voice in the story. It seemed fitting that she spend her first year experiencing “life” while celebrating holidays and other important moments with her community. In the book, Synagogue discovers that she is many beautiful things to different people. I felt it was important for her to realize this in an experiential way and create opportunities for Synagogue to interact with her environment with fresh-eyed delight. I hope that families and young readers will connect to Synagogue’s curiosity, openness, and wonder.
I am grateful to everyone who has had a role in creating this book. A special thank you to Sourcebooks Kids for believing in this idea and to the very talented illustrator, Sam Kallis. Her creative and colorful vision exceeded my expectations and turned this story into something even more beautiful than I ever could have imagined.
ME: That’s fabulous! Thank you so much, Dara. We are all so very excited for this book…I’ll share the preferred pre-order links for all our blog followers. But first, let’s welcome Sam…we’re so glad you are here! Can you share a bit about your process and what inspired you as you set about creating the illustrations for this book?
SAM: When I first read the manuscript for A Together Place, I immediately felt the warmth of Jewish community radiating from its pages. I wanted to create a visual language that echoed the feeling of belonging in the text, and honored a sense of history, ritual, and memory that is woven into everyday Jewish life.
My visual approach was inspired by the pattern work of traditional Jewish papercut artists, the dreamlike imagery and texture of Marc Chagall, and the legacy of my own great-grandfather, Mischa Kallis, who designed the stained glass windows for the first structure built as a synagogue in the San Fernando Valley. Their work influenced me to create illustrations that feel both connected to tradition and alive with color and movement.
Although the artwork was created digitally (in Procreate on an iPad), I wanted it to retain the warmth and human-touch of traditional media. I intentionally used the digital tools as simply as possible, focusing on hand-drawn lines, layered textures, and organic mark-making to evoke the feeling of pastels and watercolors on paper. It was important to me that the reader feel the intimacy and warmth of drawing by hand.
Creating this colorful world was a joy. I loved filling each page with color, symbolism, and small moments of connection that celebrate the richness and diversity of Jewish life. My hope is that readers find within the artwork a world that is both deeply rooted and warmly welcoming – a true “together place.”
ME: Thank you so much, Sam. I’m always in awe of how illustrators are able to create the world of the story that another person has written about. It takes dedication, understanding, and a whole lot of talent!
Dear friends, to find out more about Dara:
Dara Henry is a children’s book author living in Southern California with her husband, three children, and two cats. She has a master’s degree in elementary education and worked as an elementary school teacher for many years. While she no longer has a classroom of her own, Dara still finds joy in connecting with children and families—only now, she’s sharing her stories while visiting classrooms all over the country. Dara’s debut picture book, Hanukkah Pajamakkahs (Sourcebooks Kids), was published in 2024. Her second book, Mazel Tov, Baby! (Sourcebooks Kids), came out in September 2025. A Together Place, illustrated by Sam Kallis, will be in stores on February 2, 2027.
And to find out more about Sam:
Sam Kallis is a mom, illustrator, award-winning gardener, and the Creative Director of Visual Development for Disney Television Animation. Since graduating with honors from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena CA, her work has appeared in television, films, books, and galleries throughout the world. Sam lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and four ridiculous cats.
A TOGETHER PLACE can be preordered at the following places:
Barnes and Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-together-place-dara-henry/1150217793
Target:
https://www.target.com/p/a-together-place-by-dara-henry-hardcover/-/A-1011723173#lnk=sametab
Amazon:
https://a.co/d/010MaTGv
To connect with Dara and Sam and Sourcebooks on Instagram:
@Sourcebookskids
@samkallis
@dara_henry_writes
Thank you, dear friends, for spending your precious time with us. I hope you are having a safe and satisfying summer.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 