Welcome to my new blog, which now includes content from many of the blogs I’ve created over the years. You can now also access content via category from this one page instead of having to search for my individual blogs, which were scattered over various platforms and websites.
Happy launch day to my friend Heidi Stemple, whose debut middle grade novel launches from Wordsong today! The Poetry Of Car Mechanics is a novel-in-verse about 15-year-old Dylan, who seeks solace through birdwatching and poetry in the woods behind his grandfather’s auto shop. When he rescues an injured hawk, he . . .
I was honoured to be an Author Host at Toronto Library Foundation’s Biblio Bash at the Toronto Reference Library last week. This year’s annual black-tie event raised $1,070,1000 in support of the Toronto Public Library! Donations from Biblio Bash will be directed to youth programs and partnerships that support the social . . .
Earlier this year, I asked freelance illustrators about their paid work and how they found it. Please note that this was an informal survey conducted across my social platforms, and not meant to represent all illustrators. Thanks to all those who participated! 209 illustrators participated. I created this polls mainly . . .
Kaz Windness is the Geisel award-winning, genre-crossing illustrator and author of funny and heart-warming books for young readers. Proudly neurodivergent (ASD/ADHD), Kaz specializes in character-driven books celebrating inclusivity, grit, and kindness. Her many books include Swim, Jim!, Worm and Caterpillar are Friends, When You Love a Book, and Bitsy Bat, . . .
(Last updated February 28, 2025) Shortlink to this post: https://debbieohi.link/kidlitlaunches It’s a challenging time to be launching children’s books, not only because of what’s going on in the world but also because the kidlit community is scattered across so many different platforms. I’m mainly on Bluesky these days (see my . . .
Thanks to Tim Budgen for responding to my most recent #KidLitLaunches thread in Bluesky with news that BOUNCING BUNNIES! launches from Simon & Schuster Children’s UK on Feb. 13th, 2025! BOUNCING BUNNIES! is written by Fiz Osborne and illustrated by Tim. Synopsis from the publisher’s page: “Jump, wiggle, sniff and . . .
Note from Debbie: I’m delighted to have my dear friend Heidi Stemple and her mom, Jane Yolen, visit my blog. Today is special not only because it’s launch day for JANIE WRITES A PLAY: JANE YOLEN’S FIRST GREAT STORY, a picture book Heidi wrote and that Madelyn Goodnight illustrated, but . . .
Note: QR code in the image above will be updated every time I post a new “Illustrators Seeking Representation” thread on Bluesky. Next time will be on Sun. Feb. 9th, 2025. It’s a challenging time for freelance illustrators interested in children’s books to find representation, which is why I’ve started . . .
I know, I know — it’s been a while since I’ve updated my website blog! I’ve been rethinking my whole approach to social media as well as my website. Will write more about this later. For now, however, I’ll say that I’ve given up on having a regular author/illustrator newsletter . . .
Above: Claudia Osmond, me, my sister Ruth. Huge thanks to all who came out in the rain to help me celebrate the launch of I Want To Read ALL The Books, my new solo picture book with Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers at Type Junction in Toronto! Grateful . . .