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SCBWI loves celebrating our members’ successes and noteworthy news, and there are many! Read on to find out who’s got something to shout about. Digital high-fives welcome in the comments!






Squash, the Cat: Stuck in the Middle, the second book in Sasha Mayer’s Squash, the Cat series, released Feb 2025. It was chosen as “Book of the Month” and an “Editor’s Choice” pick on Amazon.

Sherry Shahan reports: Poetry and short story in Progenitor Lit. Journal; poems in Reverie and Zoetic Press Lit Journals; personal essay in Jane Pratt; three collages in Vagabond Lit.; poem in The Telegram Tribune (National Poetry Month).

On June 10, the next book in Dan McCauley‘s and Jo Loring-Fisher’s Thank You, World picture series found its way into the sunlight. In Thank You, Sun, a young boy revels in the smallest moments outdoors and his mother’s love. The series, published by Free Spirit Publishing, focuses on how spending time in nature, being mindful, and expressing gratitude can transform the way we feel.

Laura Segal Stegman, author of the Summer of L.U.C.K. middle grade trilogy, is July’s guest poster on SCBWI’s official blog (https://scbwi.blogspot.com/). Her Quirky Questions interview series spotlights kidlit authors Liza Wiemer (7/10), Jonathan Roth (7/17), Amar Shah (7/24), and Laura Taylor Namey (7/31). She will also present at SCBWI SoCal’s 9/28 Zoom MeetUp on Writing Effective Author Bios.

Rosalind Barden shares that The Cold Kid Case: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery received a great review from Kirkus: “A resourceful hero under threat, memorable villains, some gritty violence, and fast-moving suspense.” The Kirkus Indie editors selected the review for inclusion in the August 1, 2025 issue of “Kirkus Reviews” magazine.

Spelling It Out is Margaret Finnegan‘s fifth middle grade novel to be chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection. In addition, it was the June selection for Bee’s Bookshelf, the official book club of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Something Wild, a picture book written and illustrated by Molly Ruttan, has found new expression in Dollywood as a lively & uplifting 20-minute musical! Adapted by Brian Hull, it graced the Imagination Playhouse during their 2025 season (which ends September 21). More good news—if you missed it, you’ll be able to catch it in 2026! Something Wild is a proud part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Tim Cummings‘s essay “Writing Through Grief in Children’s Books” was published by Writer’s Digest.

Messi’s Magic by Caroline L. Perry (illustrated by Luciano Lozano) is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection!

PB Rippey‘s middle-grade novel, The Monster at Elizabeth Lake, is longlisted for the 2025 Yeovil Literary Prize.




If you have some Great News to share, use this form to submit for our next quarter’s publication!

For more fantastic content, community, events, and other professional development opportunities, become a member today! Not sure if there is a chapter in your area? Check here.

Images courtesy of corresponding authors.

“Great News” original photo  by Branden Harvey on  Unsplash. Digitally manipulated by Sarah Parker-Lee.