Happy Board Book Saturday, dear friends! Have you noticed there seem to be lots more board books being published? And many of them are nonfiction/STEM related. That’s because studies show how important it is to put books in the hands of our littlest story-lovers…this is the time in their lives that they are learning the MOST – like sponges waiting to soak up information and experiences. So, when Lisa Perron reached out to tell me about her new board book that launched on October 3rd, I knew I had to share it with all of you. And the lovely Lisa is offering a copy of the book to ONE LUCKY WINNER. Please make sure you leave a comment on the blog and share the post widely!

Here’s a little bit about the book from the Amazon sales page:
Perfect for curious little minds, this nonfiction board book teaches young readers all about outer space through question-and-answer text!

Tell me why the sun goes down.
What happens to its light?

The sun stays put! It’s Earth that spins,
creating day and night.

Why don’t we float into space? How many moons are there? A child asks about outer space, and their grownup answers in rhyming, factual text. Little ones will love learning that the earth is constantly spinning, that Saturn isn’t the only planet with rings, and that most planets have their own moons!

I know many of us wonder how folks get book deals for board books…fortunately, Lisa stopped by to chat about that and about the inspiration and the path to publication for this book.

LISA: One of the biggest challenges in writing a STEM board book is making the science accessible to very young kids. I was lucky to work with a brilliant editor, Hannah Lambert (editor of MY LOVE FOR YOU), who helped define the scope and keep the content matched to this age group. She also made sure the child’s questions flow from one to the next, so the spreads feel logical and cohesive. Her skillful editing and Jennifer Falkner’s stunning art brought this board book series to life!

How did you pitch a board book series?

I actually didn’t! I submitted a picture book about a different topic. The editor felt that book was a bit too old for the Little Simon audience, but she really liked the sense of wonder and curiosity, and she mentioned the idea of a board book series, starting with space. My agent encouraged me to write a space board book and pitch some additional topics. We ended up with a two-book deal for TELL ME ABOUT SPACE and TELL ME ABOUT OCEANS.

The initial book about a different topic also found a home, and it will come out in 2025.

Thanks for having me back on your blog, Vivian! I’m so grateful for all you do to support authors and help get books into the hands of young readers.

It was a pleasure featuring this wonderful book, Lisa! And folks, remember that Lisa is offering a copy of TELL ME ABOUT SPACE…please leave a comment for a chance to win!

And also, please do at least one of these things:
Buy the book!
Review the book!
Add the book to your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf!
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection!
Tell friends about the book on your social media!