Seeing a new picture book cover is like going to a museum for an opening! So, when my very dear kidlit friend Karen M. Greenwald’s new book cover was ready to make its debut, I knew I had to be the one to share it! 

The Cabbage Seed’s Colossal Secret tells the story of a child who plants a tiny seed and wonders what secrets it might hold. As it grows, she nurtures the little plant until it isn’t so little anymore―in fact, it’s COLOSSAL. What does one do with a colossal cabbage? The girl dreams that the cabbage feeds a soup kitchen full of neighbors, inspiring her to grow more veggies to share, inspiring kids country-wide to grow veggies for their own communities. And when she wakes up, she is ready let the world in on the cabbage’s colossal secret.

What an adorable cover! Don’t you love how the child sits on the head of cabbage? I can almost feel her swinging her feet back and forth!

The book is inspired by the true story of Katie Stagliano, her forty-pound cabbage, and the nonprofit Katie’s Krops. Backmatter includes ways for readers to start their own sharing garden.

A hallmark of Karen’s stories is her passion for shining a light on unexpected heroes and the surprising communities they form. In her own capacity, she runs two (or more!) annual book drives aimed at getting brand new books (yay, new book smell!) in the hands of students attending underserved schools across the country. I am sure this newest book will inspire any and all who read it!

Karen M. Greenwald is the author of The Mud Angels and A Vote for Susanna, which was a Kansas 2022 Notable Book and represented Kansas at both the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival and in their Great Reads from Great Places initiative. She cofounded the #SunWriteFun writing contest, founded the annual #BookHero book drive, and works with kidlit charities. Her strategic branding efforts have earned nineteen international awards. Most recently, Karen’s educational marketing efforts won the title, “BEST IN CATEGORY” from the 2024 international Summit MEA competition. She shares her office with a very noisy dog.

Alejandra Ruiz is an illustrator of picture books and visual storyteller. She illustrates stories hoping to build empathy in others and to help children find an infinite love for reading. She lives in Bogotá, Colombia with her boyfriend, two cats, and a whole lot of plants. When she’s not working, you can find her reading, cooking, or baking bread.

The book launches February 17^th on National Cabbage Day!
And guess what? It’s available for Pre-Order

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