The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Karen Greenwald
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Karen M. Greenwald is an award-winning children’s author. She is active in several children’s literature (“kidlit”) organizations. She has been admitted into The Children's Book Guild.
Karen co-founded #SunWriteFun, a popular nonfiction writing contest that promotes indie bookstores and garners donations of books to under-resourced schools and public libraries.
Professionally, she is a brand strategist. In 2024, she received her nineteenth international award (an international Marketing Effectiveness Award in a decades old competition against firms from dozens of countries)—a Best in Category for Educational Marketing. Karen also received a Silver international MEA in 2024, and a Platinum in 2023. Her other wins include international awards in the following categories: STEM creative, writing, video, rebranding, and self-promotion.
Karen is the author of The Mud Angels: How Students Saved the City of Florence (2024), illustrated by Olga Lee and the KS Notable Book, A Vote for Susanna, The First Woman Mayor, illustrated by Sian James (2021). The latter was chosen to represent KS at the Library of Congress (LOC) Book Festival, and permanently on the LOC’s website for the Great Reads from Great Places Initiative.
Her newest picture book, The Cabbage Seed’s Colossal Secret, releases on February 17th, with a virtual launch celebration scheduled for March 13th with the National Women’s History Museum (Click Here to register).
Welcome back Karen, thank you so much for coming back to talk about your newest book and writing.
Thank you for having me, Maria—you know I’m a fan of your blog!
What has been the most interesting or odd experience (you’re willing to share) of your children’s literature career so far?
To answer your question, there are many, but spoiler alert. This answer may involve an excessive use of the words “library” and “librarian.” Apologies, in advance! One of the most impressive experiences I’ve had deals with a tale of two libraries! I finally found a book that had a piece of information I wanted. However, it was located a few states away. I tried contacting the library that had it multiple times, but to no avail. So, I finally reached out to one in a neighboring county, hoping to find out if the library I needed still existed. Apparently, there had been a power shortage. The librarian in the second county gave me a cell number for her friend who worked in the library I couldn’t access. Ultimately, an awesome librarian dealing with a massive power outage took time to take cell phone pictures of the material and text them to me. Librarians are literacy heroes!
WOW! That librarian is definitely a hero. Thanks for sharing this remarkable story. Having written a couple of nonfiction picture books, do you have particular process for researching and writing? Did it change at all for The Cabbage Seed’s Colossal Secret?
My process remains the same – I think about the material for a few weeks as I read every article and relevant piece I can find. There are a few “leftover” skills I developed in law school that seep into this process. For one, I take notes about my notes literally on my note pages (i.e. “brief in book”). Also, I tab everything. Once my general idea of how I’m going to approach telling the story is set, I start drafting.
Very methodical and I'd bet helpful in ensuring you are ready for the fact-checkers. What was your inspiration or spark of curiosity for The Cabbage Seed’s Colossal Secret?
I am particularly drawn to stories where one or more unexpected heroes galvanize an unpredicted, vast community of young people who unite to help solve a problem. In the case of CABBAGE, a nine-year-old girl turned her idea into an inspiration for adults and children to join in. This spread nationwide and is still going strong almost two decades later. I wanted to know more about how she arrived at the decision to donate her 40-lb cabbage and what about the experience motivated her to start the charity she still runs.
It really is an interesting story and so cool that it is still an ongoing charity! As your third published book, was the writing and journey to the publication of The Cabbage Seed’s Colossal Secret any easier than The Mud Angels or A Vote for Susanna?
“Journey” is the perfect word to describe my experience in writing all three books. Each has its own set of challenges. Interestingly, this is the first time I’ve written a book in second person. I’ve come to realize that during the research process, each story “tells me” who and what it wants to be…and how I should tell it. I’m not sure how to define which challenged me the most—it is a question whose answer could change depending on the day!
I imagine the change in point of view might have made it a bit of a challenge at times. But it is really fun having that whimsy with this story. What was the hardest part of writing The Cabbage Seed’s Colossal Secret? What was the most fun?
I’ll take the second part first! The most fun? The reaction people had when I mentioned a 40-lb cabbage! I think once they see the incredible picture in the book’s back matter (taken by Katie’s mother), they’ll be even more amazed. To hear about it is one thing, but to see its expansiveness is another. The hardest part for me about writing picture books in general is something endemic to them all…the waiting!
The later we can't change, but it does sound fun to surprise people with the enormous size of the cabbage and that one actually grew that large. When you first saw Alejandra Ruiz’s illustrations, was there anything that surprised you? What is your favorite spread in the book?
I immediately fell in love with the color palette. It is so fresh. Alejandra beautifully captured the feel I had wanted for the book and also added her beautiful style and fingerprint. Even though I had a digital copy of the arc, holding the book in my hands for the first time felt awe-inspiring.
Text © Karen Greenwald, 2026. Image © Alejandra Ruiz, 2026.
My favorite spread? Right now, it is the second to last (though this is an unfair question because I love the final results). From the “dream’s” curls and saturation of color to the diversity of community representation and Katie’s Krops reference, this spread is like the “big group number" in a Broadway show. It evinces a sense of hope, possibility, healing, and more.
I love the swirls of the dream woven through this spread and the girl's "vision" of growing, sharing, and caring! It's simultaneously touching and humorous. What's something you want your readers to know about or gain from The Cabbage Seed’s Colossal Secret?
I want children and adults who read with them to have conversations about how the latter can participate in problem-solving, regardless of age. I also want them to discuss what the seed’s secret is and how they can relate it to them.
I think you will accomplish this wish. Last question, who is your STEAM hero or heroine, living or dead (scientist, naturalist, author, teacher, etc.)? Why?
There are many but my favorite(s) would be elementary school teachers who instill in young minds a passion for learning and exploring STEAM topics.
Thank you, Karen, for coming back and sharing your newest stunning picture book. It was wonderful to chat with you!
Be sure to come back on Friday for the Perfect Picture Book #PPBF review of The Cabbage Seed’s Colossal Secret.
To find out more about Karen Greenwald, or contact her:
Website: https://www.karengreenwald.com/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@karenmgreenwald
Karen and the National Women's History Musuem invite you to her free virtual book launch:
Date: Mar 13, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
