Shannon Gibney and the University of Minnesota Press are pleased to share the cover of her forthcoming picture book, Where Is My Sister?, beautifully illustrated by Huy Voun Lee. The story follows a young girl whose mom has had a stillbirth, who is trying to understand where her sister has gone.

Where Is My Sister? will be available for pre-order in about a month. Publication is scheduled for May 2026. Book launch events will be announced soon.

Revolutions Are Made of Love: The Story of James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs is a creative dual biography in poems—a meaningful story about love and partnership by members Sun Yung Shin and Mélina Mangal received a starred review in School Library Journal!  You can preorder it here.

Payal Doshi has a new chapter book series starring a group of friends who protect animals with magical gemstones! You can pre-order it here!

Rosemond Owens met with Dr. Reatha Clark King to share a copy of the book she wrote about this trailblazer across science, education, and business. Pick up your copy and find out more about her legacy of perserverance and purpose!

On October 7, Karen Latchana Kenney’s book Fascinating Fungi releases. Kirkus gave it a starred review and it received two more from School Library Journal and Booklist.

Rosemond Owens’s newly released Adinkra Symbol Coloring Book for Kids introduces young readers to the beautiful and meaningful world of Adinkra symbols, traditional Akan symbols that carry lessons about character, community, and faith.

Vanessa Lee Christensen’s two new releases are available for pre-order now at Gloo Books. She also has three new travel board books for babies launching on Kickstarter! 

Sign up for Sun Yung Shin’s amazing newsletter here!

The We are The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast champions children’s books and inspiring creatives. It also demystifies the publishing world. Their audience includes authors, illustrators, librarians, educators, and publishing professionals.They’ve interviewd Kid Lit titans, and some of our members may be featured in future segments. Are you a published author? The podcast has an  open call for participants for the 2026 season. Find out more here.

Good nature writing invites humans into a deeper relationship with history, futures, land, water, air, and fellow living beings. Sun Yung Shin will lead students through an exploration of several short, lively works by contemporary writers. Participants will also read poems, essays, and possibly fiction that asks them to think and feel ecologically, offering them opportunities to attend to their need to heal collective and individual ruptures. They will write from prompts and spend time sharing their voices. A final share will include feedback that will be both encouraging and constructive toward participants’ writing goals. Sign up here!

Join Timi Bliss at the Midtown Farmers Market for a meet-and-greet and the chance to get your hands on a free copy of one of her beautiful signed books!

Collective members are partnering with More than a Single Story and Hennepin County Library to offer workshops and a virtual panel. Join us!

The collective will have a table with author meet-and-greets and activities at the YWCA Minneapolis Midtown Strong. This is a free community event with music, vendors, and interactive wellness activities. Find out more here!

Our own Mélina Mangal, will join Debra J. Stone in conversation as they celebrate the launch of Stone’s new book, The House on Rondo. Join them at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 11th at Black Garnet Books. Find out more!

Emiko Rainbow will be selling her fabulous unique inclusive art prints, stickers, notepads, and picture books at the Marsh Minnetonka, MN Fall Pop Up on October 11th!

Celebrate the power of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics through books, authors, and interactive experiences. Come enjoy a day filled with inspiration, learning, and discovery.  Spark curiosity and celebrate the future of STEM! You can visit with Karen Latchana Kenney, Cristina Oxtra, and Mélina Mangal, along with several other MN children's authors. Also, there's free admission to the Bakken Museum that day! Follow this link to find out more.

WHERE: The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis
WHEN: Oct.12, 2025 10 a.m to 4 p.m.

Help celebrate the launch of a new Young Adult book by Karen Latchana Kenney on the ever-popular topic of Fungi - Fascinating Fungi! Featuring cameos from mycologists and psychologists that Karen interviewed. There might even be some cool mushrooms to check out!

WHEN: Oct 18, 2025, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

WHERE: The Thinking Spot, 3311 County Rd 101 #4, Wayzata, MN 55391, USA

RSVP here.

Nicholas DeShaw will be doing a reading and author visit for Bloomington Schools on October 25th for their Native Author Reads series at the Penn Lake Library at 10 AM. 

A fun event with an amazing org featuring collective members including Emiko Rainbow and Cristina Oxtra. Check it out!

Payal Doshi was the keynote speaker at the Minnesota Council of Teachers of English conference!

Shannon Gibney and daughter Mawe Corvah had a wonderful time up at Tofte Lake in August, for their family artist residency!

Collective members Sarah Warren, Vanessa Lee Christiansen, and Nasra Noor were at the Make a Wish Foundation’s Walk for Wishes event this year to share books, an activity, and a story time. The event celebrates the 6,500 wishes that have been granted with activities, character meet-and-greets, games, and a community walk.

Shannon Gibney connected with readers, community members, and fellow KidLit writers, at the September 6 picture book parade at the Midtown Farmer’s Market, organized by collective chair Sarah Warren.

Art Coulson, Meenal Patel, and Cristina Oxtra were at the Minnesota Children's Book Festival at the Anderson Center in Red Wing on Sept.13th.