Last week, I packed my bags and headed to Wheaton, Illinois, for the Write to Publish Conference at Wheaton College, organized by the fabulous Becky "Blue" Antkowiak.

Like most writers attending a conference, I expected to come home with pages of notes, a few new connections, and enough ideas to keep me busy for months.

​I wasn't disappointed.
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What I didn't expect was for the conference to become part professional development, part family history tour, and part reminder of why I love being part of the writing community.

I remember years ago, when my youngest daughter disappeared after telling her she couldn't have any snacks before dinner. She was only two, and I knew she had to be in the house somewhere. Finally, I found her ... in the bathtub, curtain closed, finishing up what had been a full box of fruit roll-ups.

You know those moments when a child makes one tiny mistake and instead of asking for help, they somehow turn it into a full-scale cover-up operation?

Well. Welcome to Arlo and the Great Big Cover-Up by Betsy Childs Howard.

This picture book gets kids.

Help your little ones discover what’s actually happening under those waves—the gliding, glowing, slightly mind-blowing world most of us never see. In God’s Little Oceanographer, kids don’t just dip a toe in—they dive straight into a swirling mix of color, mystery, and real-deal ocean science, all wrapped in reminders of God’s care.

Tina Cho has this way of making the vastness of the ocean feel both epic and personal. Whether you’ve got a preschooler counting down to a beach trip or a classroom knee-deep in an ocean unit, this book delivers layers of learning without ever losing its sense of wonder.

Bringing an author into your school doesn’t require a miracle budget, a heroic PTO leader, or a complicated fundraising campaign. It requires clarity, creativity, and a plan.

If you’ve ever wondered, “How would we even pay for this?” — this guide walks you through manageable, realistic funding options schools use every year.

Let’s take it one step at a time.

What does it really mean to win?

That question feels simple on the surface, but it’s one we spend a lifetime answering—especially in a world that loves trophies, first place, and shiny rewards. The Best Trophy begins with the excitement of a children’s trail race, but quickly becomes something deeper: a gentle, faith-filled exploration of friendship, courage, and choosing others first.
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This is the kind of picture book that invites families to slow down, read closely, and talk together about what truly matters.

Happy Easter, Risen King! by Laura Sassi is the kind of board book that instantly brightens the room, bursting with sunshine through its vivid illustrations and lively, rhyming text. From the very first spread, it pulls children (and the grown-ups reading along) straight into the wonder of Easter. This is a story that doesn’t tiptoe around the Resurrection—it shares the joy of the Resurrection in a way kids can truly feel.

What’s the Story? Let’s Follow the Colors
This playful, rhyming board book follows the Easter morning story from the quiet stillness of dawn all the way to a joyful, can’t-help-but-smile celebration. Along the journey, children are invited to spot colors tucked naturally into every scene—yellow sun, green grass, gray stone, white angel, blue sky, pink blossoms, and more.