Children’s Book Week is a national week-long event that celebrates books for young readers. 2026 is the 107th anniversary of this beloved program, and this year’s event slogan is Books: Get Curious. This slogan celebrates all the ways that the stories we read, share, and tell encourage and quench the curiosity inherent in every child. Go to your public library and independent book store during the week and celebrate with us! See the free resources at EveryChildaReader.net.

SCBWI News Feed on your SCBWI Member Home

BookStop Add your published book with ISBN to the SCBWI BookStop. Design a custom book promotional page, where you can showcase the unique aspects of your book and attract more readers. ($25)

You can purchase and create a page for your book. Log in to the website, click the Member Home button, then click the BookStop banner to start creating your page.

SCBWI BookStop is open to the public to purchase books starting Tuesday, October 13 through Monday, November 30.

This webinar includes a submission opportunity with Janet Bruins of Picnic Heist Publishing for registered guests as well as the opportunity to have a (add on cost) manuscript critiqued by Janet.

After you register, this event will appear in your Member Home > My Events

January 6, April 7, August 4, and November 3, 2027

A series of four Zoom meetings with Book Coaches Valerie Heller and Kate Penndorf: This is a 4-part online series "Your Writerly Questions Answered". Expert advice that only on-the-spot coaching can provide! Member price $40 for the full 4-part series.

After you register, this event will appear in your Member Home > My Events

After you register, this event will appear in your Member Home > My Events

Wonder. Childlike WONDER! Lydia is the perfect person to kick off the "Momentum" theme for 2027. Join us on January 13, 2027.

Lydia's titles include:

• UP, UP HIGH: The Secret Poetry of Earth’s Atmosphere (Capstone, 2025),
• DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), and
• DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was a Crystal Kite winner for the Canada and North America division, Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, a Cybils Award nominee, and winner of the Dogwood Readers Award.

Lydia is very involved in the kidlit community. She volunteers as a judge on Rate your Story, co-hosts the annual Fall Writing Frenzy competition, and is an active member of SCBWI, CANSCAIP, 12 x 12, and The Authors Guild.

In addition to her work with children, Lydia is a freelance journalist for magazines and websites, and primarily focuses on such topics as education, parenting, and wellness. She also does conceptual work for creative companies such as Moment Factory, where her latest project was to collaborate on a family show for Royal Caribbean International. For more information, please visit: http://www.lydialukidis.com/

Congratulations, Leah Gilbert,

winner of the 2026 SCBWI Don Freeman Grant!

TITLE (your title in all caps)

Author 

Illustrator:

Format: (choose PB, CB, GN, MG, YA) 

Publisher:

Release date

Include a purchase link 

ISBN

Brief description:

Cover image: (attach your cover image in png or jpg with in your email)

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___ I would like to participate in the Wisconsin KIDLIT Book Buzz and BEYOND on Zoom. What month in 2027 works for you?

___ I would like to donate a book for the book give-away at the Book Buzz.

___ I will donate a book for the SCBWI Wisconsin booth display.

SCBWI's Generative AI policy GenAI continues to evolve and change, not only as technology, but also in how it has quickly become an everyday part of our lives. Today’s traditional publishing standard is not to encourage or include any GenAI created text, translated text, or illustrations in books, and we abide by that. Protecting the creativity, insights, and empathy that human creators bring to book creation for young readers is essential. SCBWI is dedicated to supporting our members as they create the books young readers will cherish for years to come. READ MORE. Questions? See the FAQ page.

SCBWI Wisconsin will not approve any members' new- or previously-published books for the SCBWI Wisconsin Kidlit Book Buzz and BEYOND and/or other SCBWI Wisconsin honors, awards, and/or celebrations that have been created using (AI) Artificial Intelligence-generated text and/or artwork.

Published and Listed = PAL Add your book to your profile and the member bookstore under Member Home > Share Your Work>ADD A BOOK

PAL: "The author/illustrator shall not have paid any money to the publisher for consideration of their work; nor for the publication, marketing, editing and/or distribution of their work; nor any other payment in order to produce their work in any format. This eliminates all forms of vanity publishing, subsidy publishing, and hybrid publishing, including agreements in which publication costs are taken from the creator’s royalties. Publishers that offer traditional and self-publishing options within the same imprint may not qualify for PAL." Read more about PAL status HERE

After you register, this event will appear in your Member Home > My Events

Join certified fitness instructor Ryann Marlar to understand how screen time does a number on our necks and backs. Ryann has been a barre3 instructor for 10 years, helping people move with more intention, while building strength and confidence. Outside the studio, she spends countless hours at a computer and scrolling her phone so she knows firsthand how easy it is to feel like a shrimp–and how hard it can be to carve out time to stretch and reset.

Did you know SCBWI-WI has a Listserv group?

Please consider joining the SCBWI-WI Listserv, an email group where you can ask fellow authors and illustrators questions about craft or querying. The Listserv also allows members to share information around bookfairs, new releases, and other pertinent publishing news. 

If you are not on the Listserv, please contact John Krause, and he will get you added.

Link for DRAW THIS!

Congratulations to our SCBWI-WISCONSIN

November Member of the Month

Mary Vander Plas