by Kelly Pellico

Kelly Pellico: Jenny, welcome to Kite Tales and congratulations on the one-year anniversary of your debut picture book, Tate’s Wild Rescue!

Jenny Turnbull: Thank you, Kelly. It’s exciting to be here celebrating Tate‘s first book birthday!

KP: What was the initial spark for this story?

JT: Tate’s story is rooted in my lifelong love of animals and feeling wild animals are happiest free in the wild where they can thrive, while companion animals deserve the love and comforts of home. Commitment to our furry family members, and animal welfare, has always been so important to me. 

KP: Tate’s Wild Rescue is an excellent example of a book with humor and heart. Had you always envisioned the juxtaposition between Tate’s sincerity and the blunt hilarity of the animals’ replies?

JT: Thank you so much! Yes, I always felt Tate would have so much heart and the best intentions with her offers, yet the animals would respond with the blunt “Thanks, but no thanks” and explain why they’re happy just where they are! I also knew when Tate received the letter of her own from Panda (a stray dog), his voice would be different with a longing for love, and a friend.

KP: What is your favorite among the wild animal responses, and why?

JT: This is a tough one, but I love the raccoon’s response! I think it’s the play on words about her garbage being awful along with incorporating Friday pizza night, which has been a special tradition in our house for years. I also love everything about the Lion’s letter and spread. Sorry, you said one but I knew I couldn’t pick a favorite.

KP: Was the letter format present in the very first draft or did that structure come as you played with and revised the story?

JT: The letter format was there from the beginning, when it was just an idea and far before the story made [it to] paper. I’ve always loved picture books in epistolary format and was excited to write one of my own. 

KP: What is your favorite epistolary picture book?

JT: There are quite a few but I think my top two would be Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings (I’m so flattered Tate has been compared to this sweet story in reviews) and The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. I have other faves, but these letter-format stories always come to mind.

KP: You’re an animal lover and rescue volunteer. Did you always know Tate’s Wild Rescue would be your debut?

JT: I was writing Tate and another story (about a little girl defending her misunderstood dog) simultaneously and although I love both, I did feel Tate was more polished and might sell quicker and be my debut. I feel like it was meant to be my debut, as there’s a lot of me in Tate. It’s kind of perfect. I’m still hoping the other [story] hits shelves one day.

KP: The book delivers a beautiful message without being didactic. How did you work to strike that balance?

JT: I’m so happy to hear this! I’ve always appreciated picture books with a little mystery that requires the reader to figure out what the underlying message is. It’s more fun to decide what a book is truly about for yourself, so I keep that in mind with everything I write.

KP: What did illustrator Izzy Burton add to the story that most excited you?

JT: As soon as my editor told me Izzy was the unanimous favorite of the Crown team, I went to her website. There’s a photo of a bear looking at his/her reflection in water and I was sold. I fell in love with her style with animals instantly. I’m thrilled with the way she told the story through her art, and her version is surprisingly in line with what I’d always imagined. One of the first spreads of the story is Tate looking out the window to rain, wondering if the wild animals are cold, lonely, or scared . . . the image is almost exactly what I imagined when I wrote it.

KP: What has been the biggest surprise about promoting your book?

JT: Self-promotion can be awkward, but it doesn’t outweigh the longing for readers to discover your book. Also, I’ve always felt how supportive the kidlit and my local community are, but it was still a touching surprise to see just how much people have supported me to help spread the word about my debut. 

KP: I’d love to learn a bit more about your writing journey. What drew you to the picture book format?

JT: I’d had story ideas for years, and always enjoyed creative writing. Short stories and poems. Our dog, Enzo, was the one that gave me solid ideas I was excited to get serious about. Around that time, I was browsing the picture book section at Barnes & Noble and found myself laughing and then quickly on the verge of tears. I was moved. I felt inspired. I wanted to tell my stories and be a part of the picture book world. I guess it was that picture book magic that pulled me in!

KP: You waited a number of years before querying to make sure you felt your stories were ready. How did you hone your craft, and what is the one chord you strike that lets you know a manuscript is ready?

JT: I did wait a rather long time. I listened to children’s books podcasts constantly. Read a ton of picture books, especially those that felt aligned with my style of writing. I soaked in advice, suggestions, dos and dont’s from editors, agents, and published authors. I connected with the kidlit community and made genuine friendships. I invested in paid writing critiques with authors I admire. I had solid critique partners as well as support from the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge community. I signed up for any webinar I could, as well as the Picture Book Submission System. Attending the Los Angeles SCBWI conference really lit a fire. I’m a firm believer that investing in yourself helps make goals a reality.

As far as knowing when a manuscript is ready—after all the revising and critiques—my gut is always the driving force. You just know.

I waited until I had three polished manuscripts before I queried agents and thankfully, stars aligned, and I got my yes rather quickly in query trench timelines (four months). It was a wonderful experience, and we sold Tate, but not so fast . . . [my agent] left the business, and I found myself back in the query trenches. Not fun, but very common! I’m grateful to have found another wonderful partner in my current agent, Stacey Glick with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. Nothing could be more true—this business is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.

KP: Patience and persistence are key within the publishing industry. With Tate now in the wild, describe for me a moment that made you think, “This made it all worthwhile!”

JT: There have been a few pinch-me moments! Seeing the Penguin Random House box at my door and holding my [book] in my hands for the first time would be top of the list, tied with hearing from readers about how much they love Tate. Knowing kids are connecting to the story and message is everything. Getting the news that Tate’s Wild Rescue was added to The Jane Goodall Library was also a dream come true. Dr. Jane has been my idol [for] as long as I can remember.

KP: What’s next for you?

JT: I hope more books on shelves! I have two manuscripts out on submission. But, while I wait for that YES to land, I’m continuing to write and think about more wild ideas. Wish me luck, and thank you so much for this interview, Kelly!

Jenny Turnbull is a children’s author inspired by her love of animals, nature, and picture books. She loves writing stories that spark wonder, bring joy, and inspire readers to see things in new ways. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, she now lives in Manhattan Beach, CA. Jenny’s debut picture book, Tate’s Wild Rescue, released in June 2024 with Crown Books for Young Readers and has been added to The Jane Goodall Institute Library; it has also been nominated for the 2026 Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award. 

Connect with Jenny: @JennyTwrites on Twitter/X, @jennyturnbull_writes on IG, Jenny Turnbull Malizio on Facebook, and www.jennyturnbull.com

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Kelly Pellico is a brand marketer and aspiring children’s book author living in Southern California. She loves writing for children—embracing a world where anything is possible, and everything is exciting. She is represented by Natascha Morris of The Tobias Literary Agency.

Photos courtesy of Jenny Turnbull and Kelly Pellico