Capital city on the coast, the temperatures there are actually cooler than Chicago has been. I depart next Friday, August 10, and land early on the 11th.
I just received my teaching assignment - conversational English to teenagers. It is a new location for CCS volunteers so we won’t suffer by comparison, but no one has any real idea what the classroom is like or who the kids are. They are described as “entry to mid level English speakers” who want to know about foreign culture and life. Sounds like fun, although the thought of teens is a little intimidating. I wonder if they will be all female or all male. After 3 weeks of crafts in Russia via translator last year, I am glad to be talking again!

My teaching partner is from Liverpool, UK, so she can cover the Olympics!

In my other trips, I have asked: “What do you know about Chicago”?
China - Michael Jordan
South Africa - BarakObama
India - I know someone who lives there. How close is Kansas City?
Russia - Gangsta - complete with imitation Tommy gun noises

We’ll see what the Moroccans think!

Take a post-retirement GAP year to volunteer internationally! Follow my adventures on Thursdays.

My Lucky Leaf

What Amazon Says:

With vivid watercolor collage illustrations crafted from crayon rubbings of actual fall leaves, this playful picture book captures the childhood joys of catching and identifying fall leaves. As leaves of all colors, shapes, and sizes tumble down with each WHOOSH of the wind, a child jumps, leaps, and reaches her way through the forest-while learning the names of leaves along the way. Will her persistence pay off?

What KIRKUS says:

"This lyrical ode to leaves is guaranteed to resonate with the burgeoning nature lover in your life... a must-read for young leaf peepers." -Kirkus Reviews

What I say:

Like a cool breeze on a hot day, all the delight and wonder of leaves announcing the season’s change dance off the pages. A simple story any child can understand and enact on the walk home, this book is the perfect fall Storytime book for 2026. Leaf follow-up activities and crafts abound!

BONUS: Don’t lock this book in the preschool room! Engaging notes in the back matter on the way the art was produced and the book assembled - a fascinating subject for older readers and art students.

Order on release date: September 1!

Robin Currie is happy to review traditionally published books, especially if they are good read-alouds. Robin Currie

Though not named BLOG until several years later, the practice of sharing personal writing and opinions online dates back to the early 1990s! Typically, in just 300-500 words, the blogger writes in a very personal first-person voice, focusing on a narrow subject. To the reader, it feels like an interesting chat with a friend.

So before BLOGS we had… ARTICLES!

Printed articles (on paper or the internet) tend to be over 1000 words, written in 3rd person, well researched and factual (often with footnotes and citations), of general interest, and without author opinions. It is for the reader in search of information or links to more specific data.

Reflecting this evolution, I do both!

For example, I wrote both an article and a blog post on launching a book.

Into the Bottomless Pit… - Almost An Author (631 words)

What I did NOT do: Launch Team

Some authors organize launch teams and ask people to apply to be on it, share articles on certain days, and check off items on a tally sheet. Often, there is a free copy of the book or other perks in return for your help.

What I did: reciprocate.

I use the “I get by with a little help from my friends” method, of inviting my critique groups, friends, contacts, and former launch group. This is entirely reciprocal! I have invested time and effort over the years to build not a platform of followers, but a bunch of writing friends by “paying it forward.” It means we celebrate together.

Launch Strategy 3 - Robin Currie (164 words)

So when I thought about a Launch Team, it didn’t seem necessary to look any further than the 50 or so friends, many online, who are other writers. I decided not to formalize it with sign-ups and giveaways, but provide them with information as I had it.

My other tactic about a year ago was to follow and COMMENT on every blog that reviewed or promoted picture books. That way, when I finally approached them about a review or author feature (6 months out), my name was familiar. I also won a lot of books!

How to…

Approach

My goal for articles is to share life/work/writing experiences with others, offering professional expertise and options. My approach to my blog is to share what is happening right now in my own life/work/writing with the thought that someone will relate.

Preparation

I always run my articles through Grammarly, get permission to use book covers and quotes, and tag everyone mentioned. Articles are due on the 24th of each month. I spell check my blog and tag books or folks. I blog on different subjects every weekday.

Share

I regularly post links to articles and blogs on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and in writers’ groups. My article for Almost an Author cannot be reused for 2 months after publication. My blog is out there for me or anyone to share or respond.

And ALWAYS…

Include an engaging picture of adorable grandchildren!

Multi-award-winning author Robin Currie would love you to follow her!

Kids Lit Archives - Almost An Author

Robin Currie | Substack

Why start the year with boring fall leaves - in the Amazon Jungle (in the southern hemisphere), it is the beginning of spring with lush tropical plants and unusual flowers. Focus on unique animals and how they adapt and need their particular environment.

A few recent titles to support this theme:

A Rainforest Story: The Animals of the Amazon by Jane Burnard (Author), Kendra Binney (Illustrator) Kingfisher/Macmillian, 2026.

Bedtime Rainforest by Elisabeth Norton (Author), Angela Edmonds (Illustrator). Wonderhouse Books, 2027.

Exploring Rainforests (Exploring Biomes) by Mari Bolte (Author). Capstone, 2027.

Things to Do, Places to Be: Unusual Jobs in Unlikely Places by Robin Jacobs (Author), Katja Spitzer (Illustrator). Cicada Books, 2027.

Another topic a creative author could embrace for the preschool group!

Robin Currie writes books to read and read again!

I grew up on the other side of the ocean from all the celebrations in the then USSR. According to our TV it was not a good thing USSR was first in space.Seeing a picture of the cosmonauts with Nikita Kruschev, arms raised in triumph – over outer space? over the US? – brought back lots of memories of pounding shoes and bomb shelters and hiding under ourdeks as if that would stop atomic fallout.

I marveled, too, at how I totally missed a woman going up in space!. So I checked out distracting events in June of ’63. Governor George Wallace stood in the door of a school to stop integration. Pope John 23 died. A female cosmonaut did not register. Which was really too bad. She has an amazing story of being no one very famous or well trained but ready to work hard.

As much as I was rattled by the post-Soviet era from a distance, the people in Russia right now are living it in two generations. The older remember what they describe as the dictatorship era. Their biggest complaint (to us) is that they could not travel. The younger staff I worked with was in diapers when the USSR broke up. They have not known Communism except as another party in the elections. How will that change the attitude and priorities of Russia in the next 20 years? Fascinating.

PS: 20 years have passed and much of hope I had for Russia has failed. But individuals are traveling more and still in touch with us in the west. One day this will change.

Robin spent the first decade after retirement volunteering internationally teaching English. Follow on Thursdays.

Consider the Night Sky

What Amazon says…

Explore the wonder of God’s love and celestial creations in this lyrical astronomy primer from Jennifer Grant and Julianna Swaney.

Consider the sun, moon, stars, planets, and constellations―God calls each one by name. Guess what? God knows your name and sees how brightly you shine, too!

Inspired by Isaiah 40:26, Psalm 147:4-5, and Matthew 6:26-34, the third book in the Consider series invites children to learn about outer space and the wonder of God’s love. Gentle text from author Jennifer Grant and endearing art from #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Julianna Swaney will encourage readers to stop and look up to the skies with awe. Set on a snowy evening, Consider the Night Sky is a cozy, inspiring read aloud for bedtime devotions and chilly winter days.

What I think…

How seamlessly the fascinating facts about our solar system, moon phases, and constellations are woven into this beautiful read-aloud picture book. Each 2-page spread depicts the elements of the sky in a way that clearly shows how small people are and what awe there is in God's creation. Sweeping, endless, everlasting sky, wrapped around God's humans, each star and child shining and beloved.

A beautiful addition for Christian preschools and Church school libraries.

Robin Currie knows some amazing writers!

When I signed the contract for Just Enough Room for Christmas, there was the usual offer of publisher support and promotions. I dutifully filled out the questionnaire. The publisher has been great at sending review copies to journals and magazines, to anyone who prefers a hard copy to a PDF.

I hired a publicist. I filled out her questionnaire and took all the advice on Instagram posts and building the following. She has been hugely helpful in organizing, arranging impactful reviews, and linking me to podcasts I would not even hope to attract.

But I learned from earlier launches that if I really want my book sold, it is my job.

What I did not do: launch team

Some authors organize launch teams and ask people to apply to be on it, share articles on certain days, and check off items on a tally sheet. Often, there is a free copy of the book or other perks in return for your help.

What I did: reciprocate

I use the “I get by with a little help from my friends” method, of inviting my critique groups, friends, contacts, and former launch group. This is entirely reciprocal! I have invested time and effort over the year to build up not a platform of followers, but a bunch of writing friends by “paying it forward.” It means we celebrate together.

What I did not do: national campaign

I chose not to spend money on a national advertising campaign. I also passed on the paid offer to put my book on a Times Square billboard. After all, when you’re in New York, paying attention to billboards can be risky with all the traffic!

What I did: stayed local

Every church where I have ministered received a press release ready for the bulletin.

Every area library was sent an email to the head of the children’s department by name, asking them to consider my book for their collection, with links to their usual library distributors.

Every area preschool director was offered an invitation by name to schedule a story time with me this fall, which will include a free copy of the book.

What I did not do: BLAST book tour

An agency will often focus on a tour of blogs each day for 1 or 2 weeks. All I see online is the same book – sometimes the same article. And then it is gone.

What I did: spread the word

Because I wrote a Christmas book, I contacted all my blogger buddies and requested a slot sometime between Sept 2 (book birthday!) and the second week in Dec, when only grandparents running through airports are still shopping. With that range of dates, 18 out of said yes!

What is making me crazy: I could do more!

Scheduled a storytelling at Barnes and Noble

Developed a book launch funnel

Joined BookTok or Bookstagram

Taken out ads on Facebook or Amazon

Created a pre-launch email list

Presented webinars with live Q&A on U stream

Participate in an AMA Subreddit on Reddit.com

(Ok, those last two are so cutting edge I don’t know what they are!)

There is no end to the launch ideas – just an end to my time and energy.

Robin Currie spent her library career in the children’s department, where she could baa, moo, and honk without getting shushed. Her writing engages children not only in noisemaking but jumping, waving, and face making. So do her sermons.

Despite her incessant need to wiggle, Robin earned a Master’s Degree in Library Science and worked in public libraries before answering the call to seminary. She holds a Master’s of Divinity and Doctorate of Preaching, and remains active in area churches.

She and her husband have 4 mature children and a crop of grown-up grandchildren who keep them from becoming Old Foggies. Because there is no fun noise for that.

Robin has traditionally published more than 45 picture books. She writes stories to read and read again!

The “history” of the Tooth Fairy: the first written American record of the ‘Tooth Fairy’ is a 1908 “Chicago Tribune” article in which the author, Lillian Brown, offered advice for parents on how to get their children to pull wobbly milk teeth. Tell kids that the Tooth Fairy would leave five cents under their pillow for every tooth they lost. In 1927, an eight-page script for a children’s play titled “The Tooth Fairy” was written by Esther Watkins Arnold. The play became widely popular, and the Tooth Fairy has become a global phenomenon.

Celebrate this rite of passage with a photo shoot of toothless grins, sample brushes and toothpaste from a local dentist, or make up stories of strange places a tooth might fall out.

And of course, share these books:

Click, Clack . . . Tooth Fairy! by Doreen Cronin (Author), Betsy Lewin (Illustrator). Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2026.

An Untold Story of the Tooth Fairy by Diane Alber (Author). Source Books, 2026.

The Tooth Fairy and the Crocodile by Julia Donaldson (Author), Lydia Monks (Illustrator). Macmillan, 2026.

How to Train a Tooth Fairy by Sue Fliess (Author), Simona Sanfilippo (Illustrator0. Sky Pony, 2024.

Ollie’s Loose Tooth by Derek Shun (Author), Benson Shum (Illustrator). Simon Spotlight, 2027.

Now if we just had a Flossing Pixie…

Planning programs or units? Follow on Fridays or subscribe for free!

The kids are living in the group home because of dysfunctional families. They are normal kids who have princess ball caps and cute jeans and are immaculately clean.

The place they live is open and sunny, but they have been removed from their family because the adults could not function as parents. They could be in regular school with their friends, and you would never know which ones they were. They are so close to having normal lives, and it is only the grown ups who stand in their way.

So part of me thinks "What good is a paper windsock?" But for 2 hours an adult helped them make something pretty that fluttered, said words they do not hear at home like "good job", someone smiled to see them and made them smile.

I can't help when they cry at night, but for a couple of hours, the attention and praise of a grown up were gift enough.

Interested in traveling post-retirement? Follow on Thursdays! Robin

Flying Feminist

Amazon says…

At a time when women were expected to conform, Lilian Bland didn’t fit in – she wore trousers, enjoyed fishing and worked as a sports journalist. Inspired by the flight of the wild birds she loved to photograph, in 1910 she defied convention and became the first woman to design, build and fly her own airplane, earning her an accolade: The Flying Feminist! Perfect for budding feminists and adventurers, this narrative non-fiction picture book will inspire children to pursue their passions and achieve great things. Soar on!

What I think…..

Putting an opinion of this book in static words is impossible - this book soars with the energy of its subject. A fine read aloud, the story of unconventional Lilian Bland (who was anything but bland!) will inspire kids everywhere to chase their dreams without fear of others’ opinions.

Lengthy backmatter, a letter from the author and a list of other early female flyers round out the factual subject. But read this book for the energy and hopefulness of a determined woman!

Want to have your book featured? Contact Robin Currie

1 Write 5 book reviews a month. Amazon and Goodreads are natural sites, but cut and paste into Barnes & Noble, Target, Books a Million, Costco, Christianbooks.com, and Walmart.

2 Request 1 book a month at the local library. Include title and author but also publisher and ISBN to make it more likely your suggestion will result in a purchase.

3 Once a month list your top 5-10 choices on any topic: dinosaur books, best SEL of 2024, books about colors or numbers.

4 When you see articles and interviews about books you have reviewed, share them widely with a link to your review. Especially if someone wins an award! Tag the author.

5 Follow authors wherever they are: Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky.

6 Once a month choose a day to honor (Ultimate Guide to 2024 Wacky, Fun and Weird Holidays - Calendar) and 5 books supporting the theme. If you have Canva, it is easy to make posts and preschedule them. But just making a list for your blog, podcast or website is fine. Be sure to tag each author.

7 Write a positive e mail or text to an author. Ask for nothing in return.

The world of 2026 could do with a little kindness – let it begin with us!

Free to follow or subscribe. RobinCurrie

Mysterious and fascinating - nocturnal guardians and hunters. Celebrate owls!

False facts:

• Owls can turn their heads 360 degrees — False. They can rotate up to 270 degrees

• Owls have three toes — False. Owls have four toes on each foot, with the front toes reversed

  Owls are messengers of witches — False. Owls are not supernatural messengers

• Owls are bad luck or omens of death — False. This is a cultural myth, not a biological fact

And some books:

Owl vs Gecko: The Stare-Off! by Gareth Hopkins (Author), Alex Latimer (Illustrator) . Happy Yak, 2027.

What Do You Hear, Little Owl? by Nicola Edwards (Author), Thomas Elliott (Illustrator), Josh Ace (Arranger). Tiger Tales, 2026

Happy Owl-oween!: A Halloween Story Board Book by Laura Gehl (Author), Lydia Nichols (Illustrator). Abrams, 2026.

The Mixed-Up Owl by Marzena Sowa (Author), JOANNA LORHO (Illustrator). Hippo Park/Astra, 2026

Looking for a topic for a picture book? There are very few recent ones on owls in nature - not nonfiction but stories with owl facts.

Follow on Fridays when we locate topics that NEED new picture books written! You could be the author.

On the playground, in the classroom, on the street, the Americans are the only ones making noise. This was intensified by a trip to the store today.

We checked out behind two man who were having an obviously furious discussion with the clerk, but the voices were never raised. The next man ahead of us could not get his credit card to work. They had to call over a manager, and everyone was very angry about everything, but still no raised voices.

Then I remembered on the playground yesterday, I was shooting basketball and cheering, but the kid never made a sound. He gave a “thumbs up.” He smiled. He can talk, but this did not motivate him to. In general, on the streets, there is traffic noise but little honking – less than a high school parking lot at dismissal. And people make no loud conversation unless they are drunk.

Plus, the town is clean, clean as in NO paper, plastic wrappers, cigarette ends, nothing in the gutters, alleys, streets. Even in the middle of the City Celebration, the streets were spotless. Same with the people.

Except for a few beggar types (very few here) everyone is freshly washed. The children at all the centers – shelter for kids from dysfunctional families, school for kids the orphanages can’t handle, and the ones at the psych hospital are freshly washed and in spotless clothing every day.

Ah, and on time. We were warned that in Russia, 2pm means 2pm. Not later. (In sharp contrast to India, where 2pm meant 2:45 or 2:55 but certainly no earlier than 2:30), and it is true. There is no deviation from the assigned time for events. Yesterday, the driver asked if we could leave for our schools at 9:25 instead of 9:30. The sign in the dining room reads: “Dinner 6-6:30. All dishes to be cleared and table completely clean no later than 6:30.”

Life in Yaroslav, Russia, in July 2011.

Thursdays are for reflections on post-retirement international volunteering. Subscribe for free!

SECRETS TO WRITING SUCCESS: FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH ROBIN CURRIE

The wonderful part of writing for kids is how we support each other! Thanks to Chelsea for being one of the best cheerleaders!

Robin Currie writes stories to read and read again.

Best Friends with Grandma

What Amazon says:

Best Friends with Grandma is a heartwarming picture book that celebrates the quiet, everyday moments between grandmothers and grandchildren—the small gestures that leave a lasting imprint. More than just a giggly story, it’s a tribute to the unspoken, unwavering love passed down through generations.

Each page features a culturally diverse child and grandmother pair, showcasing the beautiful ways love and faith show up around the world—from shared chairs and off-key songs to secret snacks and soft-spoken wisdom.

Anchored by thoughtfully selected Bible verses, this lyrical book gently reveals how ordinary interactions can reflect God’s love and truth. Whether it’s humming a hymn while baking or reading stories side-by-side, Best Friends with Grandma reminds readers that faith is not only spoken—it’s lived.

What I think:

Oh my - the best times of my life have been with grandkids! They have grown past cookie baking now, but they are delightful young adults. I went into reading this book with a heart full of memories and a big smile.

And the book lived up to all my memories and hopes! Each page has very simple text, given in child-friendly words and engaging pictures. The Bible verses support the action. This book should be in every preschool class library and Sunday school resource center.

Excellent gift for any new Grandma, Nana, Oma, or Abuela!

New book you’d like to feature here? Email Robin

On July 1, New York and most of publishing hang out a sign: See you in September! And many of them mean it.

Manuscripts or e-mails sent in the 6 weeks from 4th of July to Labor Day may be at the bottom of the pile when work finally resumes. This is a frustration for writers who are ready to submit, but there are things to do while we wait.

Rewrite Something Old

Pull out 3-5 stories from the “put aside” file. What have you learned recently about style, pacing, and readability that could give this great idea a new twist? Change one piece in a major way. Don’t take it seriously and have fun!

Characters

Change one animal in your story to whatever fauna is popular this year. (I am seeing Scotch Highland cow pictures and memes – “Harry Coo” is how it is pronounced there.)

Adapt any story to replace one character with a magical unicorn

Reverse the sexes of the characters or exchange people for animals

Format

Rewrite in short rhyming or lyrical stanzas or limericks

Try your whole story in dialogue with no descriptors

Experiment with telling the story using only written correspondence. (Or texts!)

Style

Talk directly to the reader

The protagonist advises a set of “how-to” steps

A circular format where the end comes back to the beginning

Genre

Cut the story back to 150 words for a board book

Look at your story as the first chapter. What adventures happen next?

Add nonfiction facts to the story with sidebars or backmatter

POV

Have a minor character describe the action with a limited understanding

Alternate pages of POV of two characters telling the same story

An inanimate object relates events from a stationary perspective

Time and space

Relocate the story to Paris, rural West Virginia, Antarctica

Can your story take place on the ocean floor, Mars, strange new world

How would things change if your story were set in Prehistoric Africa, Civil War, 2255

My grandson’s advice: Any story is better with an exploding helicopter!

Any writing is good practice, and these were stories set aside already. If these manuscripts are never published, you will have grown in some new directions for next fall, when New York opens again!

Robin Currie’s library career was in the children’s department, where she could baa, moo, and honk without getting shushed. She has traditionally published 45 picture books, writing stories to read and read again!

God's Gentle Care

What Amazon says:

Speak words of love and reassurance over your little one with God’s Gentle Care―a heartwarming bedtime blessing book filled with comfort, peace, and calm.

Bestselling author Glenys Nellist offers this lyrical, rhyming story as a delightful way for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to teach the youngest children that God’s care is constant, gentle, and strong, holding them every moment of every day and night. Planted in their hearts at an early age, this wonderful biblical truth will provide comfort and security for children their whole lives.

Filled with adorable barnyard-themed animal illustrations and sweet, childlike blessings, this brightly illustrated picture book is the perfect way to wind down the day and enjoy a loving moment together before young readers drift off to sleep.

What I think:

What a gift for our children when Glenys Nellist came to the US to share her lovely books and gracious words!

This is another in her series of bedtime books where each page invites a snuggle and a hug. All it needs is a stuffy and blanket!

But beyond that, this book truly engages the child. The animals are familiar enough that they can identify them or make their sounds. It is a good opportunity to teach the names of baby animals. What a wonderful way to end the day, with the child feeling success at these accomplishments.

The set is perfect for preschools and daycares right before naptime, and a wonderful shower gift for parents-to-be.

Robin Currie is a Chicago-based author of board and picture books.

So with all the talk pro and con on the CONCEPT of AI, what can it do for a board book author?

ChaptGPT

I have been working/pitching a series of four board books for the last few years on the seasonal changes in nature and the connection to God’s creative care. Amazon had comp titles on changing nature and Creation, but none that connected them. I have a niche!

But how do we convey those unique selling points (!) to publishers? I needed to talk their talk. How would this book play in the open market? I put ChatGPT to work.

Amazon Categories

Specifically, I asked, “What Amazon categories are best for this book: When God Colors…Spring. Red birds, brown mud, green frogs, pink worms. Every season, God reveals new colors in nature. In this multi-engaging board book, objects appear under color flaps on each page. Other Titles: Summer, Autumn, Winter.”

ChatGPT

For a book like “When God Colors...Spring,” you could consider the following Amazon categories:

1. Children’s Religious Books

2. Christian Children’s Books

3. Board Books

4. Nature & the Natural World Children’s Books

5. Early Learning Basic Concepts Books (Colors)

6. Christian Fiction for Children

7. Children’s Concept Books

8. Christian Baby & Toddler Books

9. Interactive Children’s Books

10. Christian Board Books

This is excellent information for finding comp titles. But for people to use Amazon’s categories, I needed keywords for online descriptions, articles, ads, and blurbs.

Key Words

I asked, “What are the best keywords for the story: When God Colors…”

ChatGPT

1. God’s Palette

2. Nature’s Canvas

3. Colorful Creations

4. Spring Surprises

5. Flapping Colors

6. Discovering Spring

7. Hidden Hues

8. Seasonal Spectacles

9. Vibrant Springtime

10. Exploring Nature’s Tints

I must not have been clear. Those look like titles, not search terms. Most of them missed the connection to God. Would anyone look up “Exploring Nature’s Tints”?

Discoverability

I asked again with the buzzword/discoverability terms: “When God Colors…”

ChatGPT

To enhance discoverability for “When God Colors...Spring,” you could use the following terms:

1. Christian board books

2. Nature-inspired children’s books

3. Interactive learning for toddlers

4. Colorful Christian stories for kids

5. Lift-the-flap board books

6. Seasonal exploration for children

7. Religious concept books for young readers

8. God’s creation in children’s literature

9. Early childhood Christian education

10. Christian-themed interactive picture books

Those don’t seem kid-friendly, but I am not selling to kids, but parents and teachers. I’ll try those in my pitch or cover blurb.

Testing AI Results

I tried a few of those terms and did a Google search to see if it understood me. (Or me and AI)

Christian board books – besides sellers, I found a few blogs I might contact for reviews or inclusions on lists.

Lift-the-flap board books – only sellers.

Religious concept books for young readers -that term collected mostly books for middle school.

God’s creation in children’s literature – all original creation books, 1 reviewer

Christian-themed interactive picture books – this was a winner! Several different blogs and lots of full-color pictures.

Essentially, AI is useful for sweeping data searches, but there must be some human evaluation on a micro level. It did give me some ideas to follow up and feel more ready to send When God Creates…Spring into the world!

Robin Currie was recently awarded a SELAH award for Just Enough Room for Christmas.

Save some room for dessert - ice cream dessert that is, in all its dripping deliciousness. Here are some recent books to start the drooling!

The Ice Cream Crocodile by Mariesa Dulak (Author), Rebecca Cobb (Illustrator). Faber & Faber (UK), 2026.

All the Ice Cream in the Land by Emmy Kastner (Author, Illustrator). Simon and Schuster, 2026.

Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better by Glenda Armand (Author), Kim Freeman (Author), Keith Mallett (Illustrator). Crown Books, 2023.

A Kids Book About Ice Cream by Kim Malek (Author), Tyler Malek (Author). DK, 2026.

If I Drove an Ice Cream Truck by Random House (Author). Random House, 2024.

Robin Currie writes stories to read and read again!

And I preached twice. Figure about 4 hours of study and prep to preach 1 minute.

Not much writing got done! I missed both critique groups - and I really miss them when I can’t be there.

Also, the E key is stuck on my keyboard…

Two pieces of new news: I got a second R&R from a dream editor - another invitation to submit! And Just Enough Room for Christmas is a finalist for the Golden Scroll Award - in the Christmas market, this is a Big Deal. Winners announced August 2.

And now it is July!

Robin Currie spent her library career in the children’s department, where she could baa, moo, and honk without getting shushed. Her writing engages children not only in noisemaking but jumping, waving, and face making. So do her sermons.

Despite her incessant need to wiggle, Robin earned a Master’s Degree in Library Science and worked in public libraries before answering the call to seminary. She holds a Master’s of Divinity and Doctorate of Preaching, and remains active in area churches.

She and her husband have 4 mature children and a crop of grown-up grandchildren who keep them from becoming Old Foggies. Because there is no fun noise for that.

Robin has traditionally published more than 45 picture books. She writes stories to read and read again!