Book News!

Hello fellow readers!

If you follow my Instagram, Facebook, or Bluesky page, you may have already seen this, but my debut picture book was annouced in Publishers Weekly! A few of my lovely critique partners saw the announcement before I did and joyfully alerted me to the news. I can't quite describe the awe at seeing my own face in the Children's Bookshelf email. It was surreal. And I am SO thrilled to finally be able to talk about this project! I got the offer for it over a year ago, so it's been a tough secret to keep!

My debut fiction picture book is called EVERY BODY MOVE and will be published by Barefoot Books next fall. As soon as I have an exact date and pre-order link, I will let you all know!

This book started out as an ode to kids with disabilities. In fact, the original title, while I was still drafting, was called "Babe with a Mobility Aid", but both agents and editors felt that the word babe was confusing in the kidlit space. It either felt too baby-ish or inappropriate. (Fair call!) See, as a child who grew up with cerebral palsy, I knew my way around mobility aids. And, let me tell you, I HATED them. And I let EVERYONE know. All of my physical therapists knew me by the sound of my screams. They could hear me coming. I was often angry as a small child and a lot of it had to do with not being able to move my body in the way that I wanted to. I was embarrassed by my body, too. I know I'm not alone in those feelings. But, now, as a disabled adult, and a part of the disability community, my feelings about disability have changed. Don't get me wrong, I still have my tough days, but I am proud of who I am. "Disability" is not a bad word and having a disability or being disabled is nothing to be ashamed of.

So, when writing this book, I wanted to reshape and reframe the way that I viewed mobility aids. And the way that kids see them today. As a society, I think we get mobility aids all wrong. A lot of people see a cane or a wheelchair or any other mobility aid and take pity on the user. But why? Mobility aids are magnificent tools that allow people the freedom of movement. Movement tools. And freedom. What could be better? Plus, they can be designed in all sorts of fun colors and patterns. I once had an arm brace that had kittens all over it! I was pretty proud of it. I thought this book could be a really fun way for disabled kids to see themselves reflected back on the page.

Something that is super fun about this book is that it is actually going to be a sing-along! I wrote the words, Ananya Rao Middleton is illustrating, and the publisher has hired a muscician to put the whole thing to music! It's been a fascinating process. I have to admit, I am a bit nervous for read-alouds, because I do NOT sing in public. By myself. (Cue Jovie from Elf who also does not sing by herself in front of large groups.) Luckily, I think I can just press play and let the song and video play with the book. Maybe. Or, I am going to have to get brave and learn to sing in front of groups really fast. Do you think I can do it? (I guess Jovie does learn to do it by the end of Elf.)

As for other news, my debut nonfiction picture book, DANCING WITH LIGHTNING, with Free Spirit Publishing, is still set to come out sometime in 2026. I have turned in my final text and the search is on for an illustrator! For those who don't know, the publisher gets to decide who illustrates the book. Sometimes the author gets some input, sometimes not. It all just depends!

I have other exciting book things happening, too, that I just can't share yet. But it's good and I can't wait to tell you!

Thanks for reading and I hope you are having a wonderful Holiday Season!

Happy reading and writing!

Jenna