The Picture Book Buzz - August 2026 Interview with STEAM Team Books Members
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Whether you're here to support the STEAM Team authors, curiosity, or because you love nonfiction books, I hope you read to the end because you'll discover some amazing authors and super spectacular books!
Today I have the pleasure to introduce you to five authors from STEAM Team Books – a group of authors and illustrators who joined together to celebrate and help promote their STEAM books. I hope you enjoy this peek at this delightful book and its fascinating creative.
"STEAM Team Books is a group of authors who have a STEM/STEAM book releasing in 2026. It includes fiction & nonfiction, trade or educational books.” Check out their website for other interviews, activities, and bios.
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing? What is your favorite type of book to write? What drew you to STEAM books? etc.)
Melissa Koch – Stone by Stone: A Rock's Journey Through Time (Holiday House 8/4/2026) – I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing or reading. Writing helps me understand the world around me whether I’m writing my thoughts in a journal, my observations of nature, my classroom observation notes, my research notes from reviewing scientific articles, or interesting ideas, scientific discoveries, or technology innovations that I want to explore more. Reading and writing interweave with each other and my daily activities.
I started focusing on writing books around 2015. Before that I lived in Silicon Valley for 27 years where I led the education vision, development, and research strategy for education innovations for learners of all at ages at a variety of organizations, including SRI International’s Center for Technology in Learning, Anita Borg Institute, Pearson, The Learning Company, PBS, The Edison Project, RealCommunities, Girls Incorporated, and O'Reilly & Associates. I wrote a lot of content, grants, and product designs throughout my career, including developing the Songline Guides book series at O’Reilly & Associates (NetLearning: How Teachers Use the Internet was the first book in that series) and leading the National Science Foundation-funded Build IT and InnovaTE^3 curricula design, development and implementation.
My career in STEM drew me to STEAM books. I enjoy writing nonfiction children’s books that focus on making STEAM and social justice personal and valuable to kids.
[Author of 4 books, including Teachers, Schools, and Society: A Brief Introduction to Education, 6th edition (2021), Forest Talk: How Trees Communicate (2019), and 3D Printing: The Revolution in Personalized Manufacturing (2017). ]
Lina Chopra Haldar – Dear Math, We’re Not Friends (Beaming Books 8/11/2026) – I live in Berkeley, California, and I’m a mom, educator, and author. I’ve spent more than 20 years working in STEM education as a classroom teacher, researcher, evaluator, and curriculum developer. I also earned my PhD in mathematics education from UC Berkeley.
I had always dreamed of writing a children’s book, so I finally started writing just before the pandemic—excellent timing, right? I squeeze it in whenever I can. When I’m deeply immersed in a manuscript, it feels a little like a love affair. I can’t stop thinking about it, and I work on it every spare second I have.
I’ve always been drawn to picture books, and given my background, STEAM picture books were a natural fit. That said, I recently wrote a non-STEAM fiction picture book and absolutely loved the experience. I’m hoping to write more of those.
[Debut Author]
Vicky Fang - Lots and Lots of Ocelots: A Skip Counting Book (Workman Kids 8/11/2026) – Hello! I’m an author and sometimes illustrator that started writing in 2017. My first book published in 2020 (Layla and the Bots, Scholastic.) Lots and Lots of Ocelots: A Skip Counting Book is my 21st book, illustrated by Angel Chang and published with Workman Kids. I love writing books that inspire creative problem solvers, both in STEAM and other topics. I often write fun or funny books and enjoy playing with format and interactivity.
[Author/Illustrator of One Mad Cat and the Missing Book (2026), the Ava Lin series - One of a Kind & Super-Duper Happy (2025) and Super-Duper Happy! (2024), AlphaBot (2023), the Friendbots series Blink and Block Build a Fort (2024), Blink and Block Make a Wish & Blink and Block Bug Each Other (2021), and the Author of Spaghetti Code: A Story About Problem-Solving, Pasta, and the Power of Big Ideas with co-author Karlie Kloss, illustrated by Remi Jose (20206), The Boo Crew and the Pumpkin Patch Rescue: An Interactive Fall Story (20205) & The Boo Crew Needs YOU! (2023), illustrated by Saoirse Lou, An Acorn Book (Best Buddies) series - Rain is Wet! (2024), A Pie for Us and Save the Duck), illustrated by Luisa Leal (2023), Layla and the Bots series Making Waves (2022), Cupcake Fix (2021), Built for Speed & Happy Paws (2020), illustrated by Christine Nishiyama, I Can Code board book series If/Then & And/Or, illustrated by Jade Orlando(2020), and Invent-a-Pet, illustrated by Tidawan Thaipinnarong (2020).
Sita Singh – Indigo Hands (Anne Schwartz Books/ Random House 8/25/2026) – I grew up in India and now live in South Florida. My experiences as an immigrant, a parent, and an architect have all shaped the way I see stories and the world around me. I’ve been writing for children for about twelve years now, and I’m drawn to stories that celebrate heritage, identity, and belonging. I often find those stories in the things woven into everyday life—family, food, art, traditions, and the experiences that connect us to one another.
I write mostly on my kitchen island, with easy access to coffee, and a view of a lake that I’m fortunate enough to have in my backyard. I’m not someone who writes every day. In fact, a lot of my writing happens in my head before I ever sit down on my computer. But once I’m in the writing zone, I can stay there for hours and often have to remind myself to step away from the screen.
As for STEAM stories, I don’t really consider myself a STEAM author and I didn’t set out to write a STEAM book when I began Indigo Hands. I was simply fascinated by indigo dye, and as I researched it, I discovered how beautifully science, art, history, sustainability, and cultural knowledge intersected. The STEAM elements emerged organically as I followed the story, and my curiosity.
[Author of Let’s Celebrate Diwali, illustrated by Nina Ghataora (2025), Mango Memories, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali (2024), and Birds of a Feather, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman (2021).]
Michelle Schaub – Pumpkin Smash (Norton Young Readers 8/26/2026) – I write for toddlers through upper elementary students. I’ve been writing for over twenty-five years, and my first published works were nonfiction articles for children’s magazines like Highlights and Appleseeds. I have a passion for poetry and nature, and my books reflect that combo. I love using wordplay and the sounds and rhythms of language to delight, inspire, and empower kids, especially when it comes to caring for the Earth and its residents. I was drawn to Steam Team Books because I love the community of like-minded authors and illustrators all banning together to celebrate STEAM books.
[Author of A Pathway for Pollinators, illustrated by Blanca Gómez (2026), Meadows of the Sea: The Wonders of Seagrass, illustrated by Khoa Le (2026), Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees, illustrated by Anne Lambelet (2024), A Pathway for Pollinators, illustrated by Blanca Gómez (2024), Kindness is a Kite String: The Uplifting Power of Empathy, illustrated by Claire LaForte (2021), Dream Big, Little Scientists: A Bedtime Book, illustrated by Alice Potter (2020), Finding Treasure: A Collection of Collections, illustrated by Carmen Saldana (2019), and Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day At The Farmers' Market, illustrated by Amy Huntington (2017).]
What has been the most interesting or odd experience (you’re willing to share) of your children’s literature career so far?
Melissa Koch – I’m amazed at how much of publishing is chemistry; it’s a bit like finding a friend. For example, at one of my first children’s nonfiction conferences, I was lamenting over a negative experience I had with an editor who had just reviewed my manuscript. A well-published nonfiction author (who later became a critique partner) knew my work and said, “You need to go talk to Domenica Di Piazza (then an editor at Lerner Publishing). She’s looking for exactly what you are writing.” I found Domenica on the conference program and introduced myself to her after her presentation. We had an immediate connection. We published two books together and continue to talk and meet up even though she retired several years ago.
Lina Chopra Haldar – One of the most interesting things has been seeing just how differently editors can respond to the same manuscript.
When Dear Math, We’re Not Friends was on submission, one editor who passed said she loved the voice, story arc, and message but couldn’t see how the art could further augment the text or add additional layers. Another editor said she loved the manuscript (you never really know, of course!), but worried that it would rely far too much on the illustrations.
So, thank you, Teresa Martínez, for somehow doing it all! Teresa truly is amazing.
Vicky Fang – Oh, this is a hard one to answer! One of the most interesting (and rewarding) experiences for me is when I can feel myself level up and get better at either writing or illustrating. Sometimes, when I’m working on a new project, I’ll just feel that I’m able to solve problems better than I was able to in the past. I can think about more pieces at once (language, pacing, character, humor, etc.) and come up with better solutions. It feels great.
Sita Singh – School visits and my interactions with children are by far the most interesting and special part of my children’s literature career so far. One experience that has stayed with me happened during a virtual visit with a school in New York. After storytime, we opened the floor for questions, and one child asked if I had been at their neighborhood Target the other day. He was absolutely certain he had seen me!
I kept telling him that it couldn’t have been me, but he was having none of it. He insisted he had seen me there. It was such a sweet and funny interaction, and it’s one of those little moments I’ll always remember. There’s something so wonderful about the way children make connections, and the confidence with which they share them.
Michelle Schaub – One of the most interesting (and messy) experiences I’ve had as a children’s author was actually smashing some jack ‘o lanterns while I was writing Pumpkin Smash. It turns out that pumpkins, even old ones, are pretty durable! First, I tried hitting the pumpkin with a baseball bat and discovered I didn’t have very good aim. Then I tried dropping the pumpkin off my balcony into my backyard, which caused it to crack into two big pieces. Finally, I put on an old pair of rainboots and stomped all over it. That finally did the trick, and I had small bits of pumpkin to add to my compost bin!
Now that we know a little more about all of you, what sparked your interest and caused you to write or illustrate this book?
Melissa Koch – Stone by Stone: A Rock's Journey Through Time (8/4/2026) – I dedicated Stone by Stone to my grandmother who had a rock garden full of geodes on our family farm located in the Keokuk Region, a world-famous hotspot for geodes. Our rock searching in my childhood helped me notice rocks wherever I travel as an adult. When I lived abroad during college, I started noticing stone structures and talking to stonemasons about local rocks and the art of building with stone. In 2017, we moved to the Driftless Region, an area of the Midwest near the Mississippi River that the glaciers did not flatten. It’s known for its limestone bluffs, rivers, waterfall, and stonemason artistry.
Lina Chopra Haldar – Dear Math, We’re Not Friends (8/11/2026) – When my now 15-year-old son, Nikhil (whom I named the main character after, at his request) was in fifth grade, one of his assignments at the beginning of the year was to write a letter to math.
The students expressed their feelings about math in their letters and then reread them at the end of the year. I loved the assignment and appreciated how an activity like that can help children reflect on their experiences, develop a growth mindset, and work through math anxiety, which affects 20–30% of elementary school students.
That assignment became the spark for Dear Math, We’re Not Friends.
Vicky Fang - Lots and Lots of Ocelots: A Skip Counting Book (8/11/2026) – This one started with the title! My kid said something about “lots of ocelots” and we both decided it needed to be a book. It was a couple of years later that I thought about creating a skip counting book. I was excited about the idea because I’ve always loved math (I was a math/theatre double major in college) and I had watched my kids learn how to skip count in school. I folded in animal facts and got to work on more rhyming animal phrases. Lots and Lots of Ocelots came to life!
Sita Singh – Indigo Hands (8/25/2026) – When I was researching my debut picture book, Birds of a Feather, I came across a discussion questioning the presence of indigo in the rainbow, since it isn’t a distinctly visible color. That little question piqued my curiosity.
I already knew quite a bit about indigo. I grew up in India, where the dye is very common and present in many textiles. I was also familiar with my sister-in-law’s passion for indigo. All of those connections led me to dive much deeper into researching it, and the more I learned, the more I realized that indigo was much more than just a dye. So, the book really began with a question about a color in the rainbow and grew into a story about curiosity, discovery, and the many ways science, history, art, and culture intersect.
Michelle Schaub – Pumpkin Smash (8/26/2026) – I first learned about the concept of Pumpkin Smashes, which are community-organized recycling events where participants smash their post-Halloween pumpkins and gourds to prepare them for composting, from a newsletter I receive from a local environmental organization. Through research, I discovered that Pumpkin Smashes happen in towns all over the United States. Some Pumpkin Smashes let participants launch pumpkins from catapults, some involve rolling pumpkins down big hills, others hold contests to see how far pumpkins can be shot-putted. The goal of these shenanigans is to squash those squash to pulpy bits to be composted instead of tossed into landfills. All this messy mayhem with an environmental purpose was begging to be made into a picture book!
I love all the amazing, and different, ways that these books were inspired or started. Is there anything special you want your readers to know about your book?
Text © Melissa Koch, 2026. Image © Victoria Tentler-Krylov, 2026.
Melissa Koch – Stone by Stone: A Rock's Journey Through Time (8/4/2026) – There are multiple stories in Stone by Stone. See if you can find them all.
Text © Lina Chopra Haldar, 2026. Image © Teresa Martinez, 2026.
Lina Chopra Haldar – Dear Math, We’re Not Friends (8/11/2026) – Elvis is or family dog, and he makes an appearance in the book too. Keep an eye out for him in future books.
Text © Vicky Fang, 2026. Image © Angel Chang, 2026.
Vicky Fang - Lots and Lots of Ocelots: A Skip Counting Book (8/11/2026) – The book starts off with suggestions on how to count (by 1s, by 2s, by 5s, by 10s) and progresses to asking the reader how they would count. I love that even in something that feels like it has a “right” answer, there are many ways to solve a problem. I hope kids have fun coming up with ways to count some beautifully illustrated animals (thank you, Angel Chang!) and exploring the activities and number line in the backmatter. Also, a fun fact—because my son came up with the title for this book, I let him pick the dedication. He chose to dedicate this book to the stray cats in Monemvasia, which is a small castle town in Greece.
Text © Sita Singh, 2026. Image © Maithili Joshi, 2026.
Sita Singh – Indigo Hands (8/25/2026) – I’m especially excited that Indigo Hands will be joining a very small group of picture books about indigo and indigo dyeing. Aside from Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond and Daniel Minter’s Blue and Rosa Chang’s My Indigo World, I haven’t come across any picture book on the subject. So, it’s exciting to add another book to that little collection and introduce young readers to the fascinating world of indigo.
Text © Michelle Schaub, 2026. Image © Rilla Alexander, 2026.
Michelle Schaub – Pumpkin Smash (8/26/2026) – As I share in the back matter for Pumpkin Smash, over one billons pounds of pumpkins are grown in the United States each year. Over a million of those end up in landfills post-Halloween. Smashing pumpkins and adding them to compost is not only a fun way to divert waste from landfills, but it enriches your soil so you can grow more pumpkins for next Halloween!
These are such great tidbits and insights into your books and awesome illustrations! Thank you. What was the hardest, or most challenging, part of writing or researching your book? Was there a bit of your research you didn’t get to include?
Melissa Koch – Stone by Stone: A Rock's Journey Through Time (8/4/2026) – The most challenging part of writing Stone by Stone was making the back matter a manageable size! I love back matter and Stone by Stone had tons of it. I really wanted to include a map and timeline of all the stone structure sites around the world described in the book and back matter. There just wasn’t room for it all. A world map and timeline are in the Stone by Stone curriculum materials available at https://www.melissakoch.com/educational-resources.
Lina Chopra Haldar – Dear Math, We’re Not Friends (8/11/2026) – Limiting the scope of the book and deciding which real-world examples would be most relatable and engaging and would lend themselves to beautiful illustrations was certainly challenging. So, yes, there were lots of examples I wound up removing from the story, but there wasn’t really any math education research that I had to leave out.
Vicky Fang - Lots and Lots of Ocelots: A Skip Counting Book (8/11/2026) – Honestly, I was really lucky to have the expert team at Workman Kids fact checking my book. I don’t typically write non-fiction, but I seem to sometimes stumble into it. It was extremely helpful to have Workman’s education team helping me with the animal facts and the backmatter. This is the same team behind Brain Quest, so you know they know what they’re doing!
Sita Singh – Indigo Hands (8/25/2026) – The hardest part was deciding what to leave out. I learned so much about indigo—chemistry, history, geography, traditional practices, and sustainability—and I wanted to put all of it into the book! But if I had included everything, it wouldn’t have been a picture book.
Thankfully, there was the backmatter, where I got to include some of the important information that couldn’t fit into the story itself. Of course, there’s still a tremendous amount of research that didn’t make it into Indigo Hands, and I think that’s one of the things I’ve learned about writing informational fiction: the research is always much bigger than the book.
Michelle Schaub – Pumpkin Smash (8/26/2026) – I had a wonderful time doing “hands on” research by participating in pumpkin smashes myself. The hardest part of that research, besides figuring out the most effective way to pulverize my pumpkins, was finding a way to explain the process of decomposition in my back matter. The chemical processes involved in breaking down organic material are quite complex. Finding a way to make intricate scientific information accessible to young readers is the universal challenge of writing nonfiction books for kids, but it’s also what makes them so fun!
You have all perfectly described the fun and work of encapsulating STEAM into books for kids. Are there any upcoming projects that you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
Melissa Koch – From Wolf to Woof to We was just announced this summer:
Della Farrell while at Holiday House bought world rights to From Wolf to Woof to We by Melissa Koch, illustrated by Ryan Middaugh; Alexandra Aceves will edit. This nonfiction picture book explores the shared evolutionary history of and relationships among wolves, dogs, and humans. Publication is set for spring 2028; Laurel Symonds at KT Literary represented the author, and Christie Megill at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
I have several STEAM projects in various stages of writing, editing, and publishing. All “stem” from childhood explorations of our natural world.
Lina Chopra Haldar – I currently have a couple of projects out on submission that I’m very excited about, and I may have some good news to share soon.
Vicky Fang - Yes! I’m getting ready to launch Book 2 in my One Mad Cat graphic reader series, about an easily irritated cat that helps solve puzzles for her friends. This one is called One Mad Cat and the Garden Clues, and I think this may be the first time I’ve loved a Book 2 and much as a Book 1. I’m also working on an unannounced picture book series—more details to come!
Sita Singh – I have a couple of projects I’m working on right now. Some are out on submission, while others are still works in progress. They’re all rooted in the things I’m naturally drawn to—everyday life, family, food, art, traditions, and the experiences that connect us to one another. I’m excited to see where they lead.
Michelle Schaub – I’m currently working on another nonfiction picture book, due to release in the fall of 2027, called Repair Fair. Like Pumpkin Smash, it celebrates ways to “slow the throw-away machine” and keep items out of landfills by fixing them instead of pitching them.
These all sound so interesting. We will have to keep our eyes open for them. Last question, who is your STEAM hero or heroine, living or dead (scientist, naturalist, author, teacher, etc.)? Why?
Melissa Koch – It’s too difficult to choose just one: Beatrix Potter, Jane Goodall, and Margaret Mead.
I admire all three for their love of nature, pursuit of scientific understanding, confidence in themselves to challenge societal norms, and communication skills to share with the world what they discovered.
Lina Chopra Haldar – My STEM heroine is Mary Oates, also known as Ms. Oates. She was my middle school math teacher and inspired the character of Nikhil’s teacher in the book.
I was lucky enough to have her for both seventh and eighth grade, and she was spectacular! I fell in love with math in her classroom, and she was one of the main reasons I decided to become a teacher in my twenties. I wanted to teach math and I wanted to be just like her.
I recently tracked down Mary’s mailing address through other math teachers I’m connected with on social media, and she was one of the first people I mailed an author copy to. I included my contact information in the package and I’m really hoping she reaches out.
Vicky Fang - Oh wow… I guess I’d have to give a shout-out to a string of excellent math teachers I had at my alma mater, BB&N, starting in 6th grade up through high school. They really inspired me to enjoy the puzzle-like quality and beauty of math without ever feeling like math was hard or nerdy. Thank you, BB&N math teachers!
Sita Singh – I don’t really have a STEAM hero or heroine in the traditional sense. I’m more inspired by people who carry knowledge forward—artists, craftspeople, teachers, family members, and community members whose expertise is passed down through generations.
That’s something I really wanted to highlight when I was crafting Indigo Hands. There is so much knowledge in the things people have learned, practiced, and preserved over time.
Michelle Schaub – My STEAM heroes are all of the amazing Steam Team authors and illustrators who put their heart and soul into creating books that spark readers’ curiosity and inspire them to take positive action to take care of our planet.
What wonderful answers and a great group of heroes! Thank you for these wonderful responses! NOW, let me take a moment to introduce you to these amazing STEAM books!
Stone by Stone: A Rock's Journey Through Time by Melissa Koch, illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov (Holiday House 8/4/2026) – A gorgeously illustrated poetic look at the formation of rocks shifts with the refrain “Stone/ by stone/ by stone..../ Ready to be" to examples of how humans have used stones to create amazing things, such as walls (Great Wall of China), fortresses (Sacsayhuaman Fortress in Cusco, Peru or the Tower of London), mysterious structures Circles (Stonehenge), and statutes. Detailed back matter offers a stunning graphic of the rock cycle and tantalizing snippets of stone marvels which humans have created. It is a great STEM about the marvel of stones and their deep connection to humans.
Synopsis: Changed by billions of years and shaped by human hands, the stones that make up our homes, roadways, buildings, and bridges are a part of our story. Earth's story.
From ancient cairns to castles, from the Great Wall of China to Maya cities, the stone structures we build tell us who we are, what we value, what we fear, and who we want to be. The story begins deep below the Earth's surface. All those stones start with a rock.
Stone by Stone invites readers to consider how geology, engineering, and human history connect. The book opens with a striking and dramatic description of the rock cycle before delving into the many ways humans have used stones across history to rebuild, reconnect, and reimagine our place on Earth.
Melissa Koch's lyrical language takes readers on a journey through the world's stone structures, highlighting the human side of science. Victoria Tentler-Krylov's art vibrates with energy, capturing the fire of the earth and the spirit of invention that lives inside all of us.
Robust back matter includes more information on the rock cycle, engineering, and stone usage throughout history, as well as a timeline, bibliography, and list of resources.
Dear Math, We’re Not Friends by Lina Chopra Haldar, illustrated by Teresa Martinez (Beaming Books 8/11/2026) – A fun epistolary book chronicling a boy's discovery of what "constitutes" mathematics and the development of his interest and relationship with math. What begins as a grudgingly written note for a class assignment at the beginning of the school year, brilliantly carries the reader through Nikhil's magical and surprised discovery of math's role in his life and the realization that he actually likes math. Fun, brightly colored and active illustrations ingeniously play with the brief notes to create a wonderfully engaging book encouraging kids not to fear math and mistakes, with a list of strategies to encourage kids to like math in the author's note.
Synopsis: For kids who think they hate math, this math picture book uses humor to find the fun in the subject.
Nikhil is an Indian American boy who does not like math! Math gives him a tummy ache, and making mistakes scares him. His teacher encourages him to write letters to math to explore his feelings.
Soon, Nikhil is surprised to learn that not only are drawing, counting, and measuring all a part of math, but math will actually help him when he grows up--whether he pursues his dream of becoming an astronaut or an artist.
Told through his humorous letters to math over a school year, readers observe Nikhil go from feeling uneasy even thinking about math, to embracing how universal and even FUN math is in all its various forms. Dear Math, We're Not Friends makes an excellent gift for math teachers, librarians, and parents who want to help kids find the joy in math and develop a positive relationship with it.
Lots and Lots of Ocelots: A Skip Counting Book by Vicky Fang, illustrated by Angel Chang (Workman Kids 8/11/2026) – Using short rhyming couplets - "Slews and slews of cockatoos?/ Count by 2." - adorable illustrations, and sidebars offering information on the habitat and a few fun facts about the featured animals, this book is a wonderful introduction to skip counting by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s. After modeling the way to skip count, readers are provided a chance to practice their new skill by choosing how to count animals. A color-coded chart and activities round out an engaging and educational way to make counting and discovering nature fun.
Synopsis: This rhyming romp of a picture book introduces kids to the concept of skip counting with piles and piles of crocodiles, crews and crews of kangaroos, and more.
How do you count lots and lots of ocelots? Or piles and piles of crocodiles? By 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s, that’s how! Children ages 5-7 learn the magic of skip counting—a key math skill in elementary curriculum—via silly rhymes and memorable groupings of animals.
Engaging full color art encourages little fingers to count along, rhyming text encourages little voices to read along, and animal facts on every spread add an additional layer for rereading. Backmatter includes more skip counting activities and math support.
Indigo Hands by Sita Singh, illustrated by Maithili Joshi (Anne Schwartz Books/ Random House 8/25/2026) – Combining information on indigo dyes with a strong, loving story of a grandfather teaching a granddaughter to dye cloth "the color of midnight sky," this is a touching look at the process of creating the indigo dye, and the science, history, magic, and tradition which wrap through the girl's family and community into the making of a very special indigo cloth for a new family member. Back matter offers an author's note, additional information on indigo, and a glossary.
Synopsis: Here is a heartwarming picture book about family, tradition... and indigo!
An Indian girl accompanies her grandfather to his indigo studio, where she learns, step-by-step, how to dye cloth--and her hands!--the color of the midnight sky.
Neela can't wait to go to her Dadu's indigo studio, where he'll teach her to dye white cloth a brilliant indigo blue.
On the way, Dadu and Neela stop at the indigo farm, so she can see how this special dye is made. They watch as women collect indigo leaves and men stomp on them in water-filled tanks. Then, it's off to Dadu's studio where they mix last year's indigo in a big pot with lime and date juice. At last, the indigo dye is ready. Neela dips in her cloth, waits for it to dry, and--magic!--it turns a shade of blue like no other. And now her hands are stained indigo, too, just like Dadu's.
This touching intergenerational story, accompanied by vibrant artwork, celebrates passing down a beloved tradition and showcases the how-tos of a unique and important craft.
Pumpkin Smash by Michelle Schaub, illustrated by Rilla Alexander (Norton Young Readers 8/26/2026) – This vibrant and humorous picture book playfully merges Halloween with composting. Rhyming text follows a young girl, in a mushroom costume, as she joins two friends and a crow as they discover the smelly, slouchy, and goopy messes pumpkins become after the holiday. Simple, almost chalk-like, illustrations introduce young readers to the exciting event of a pumpkin smash, where you choose your tool - bat, sling, tower, or the exciting, messy fun of "muck-proof" boots - and enjoy squashing, smashing, and stomping gourds. Great backmatter offers more information in this ingenious and exciting addition to Halloween books and a great introduction to composting.
Synopsis: This exuberant, kinetic picture book gleefully celebrates smashing and composting your Halloween jack-o-lantern instead of throwing it away.
Tee it up and take a swing . . .
Launch it from a sling . . .
Climb up high and let it drop . . .
Turn it into pumpkin slop!
Instead of dumping rotting jack-o-lanterns in the trash, award-winning picture book author Michelle Schaub invites readers to take them to a pumpkin smash! Stomping and squashing pumpkins into compost helps them to decompose―providing nutrients for the soil, seeds for next year’s harvest, and plenty of post-Halloween fun. With lively, lyrical text and Rilla Alexander’s bright, beguiling illustrations, Pumpkin Smash is an upbeat and playful celebration of Halloween―and a call to action to reduce landfill waste and support local ecosystems.
Thank you all for giving us a little peek into yourself and your new books. Wishing you all enormous success with you upcoming projects.
Melissa Koch – Stone by Stone: A Rock's Journey Through Time (Holiday House 8/4/2026) –
Website: https://www.melissakoch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissakochauthor/
Lina Chopra Haldar – Dear Math, We’re Not Friends (Beaming Books 8/11/2026) –
Website: https://www.linahaldar.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lina.c.haldar/
Vicky Fang - Lots and Lots of Ocelots: A Skip Counting Book (Workman Kids 8/11/2026) –
Website: https://vickyfang.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fangmousbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fangmousbooks/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/fangmous
Sita Singh – Indigo Hands (Anne Schwartz Books/ Random House 8/25/2026) –
Website: https://www.singhsita.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sita.singh.522/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/sitawrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sitawrites/?hl=en
Michelle Schaub – Pumpkin Smash (Norton Young Readers 8/26/2026) –
Website: http://www.michelleschaub.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Schaubwrites
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