Ellen Leventhal

On Feb. 23, had Debbie Friedman lived, she would have turned 75. I am proud to have a tiny part in preserving her legacy. Debbie was truly an incredible talent,and even more,a role model for those who believed in change, inclusion, and kindness. She will be a blessing. www.karben.com/debbiessong

David McMullin’s ROCK N ROLL BABY plus a GIVEAWAY! EL: Hi everyone! You know I love repeat customers, so I am thrilled to welcome back David McMullin to Writing Outside the Lines! His new picture book, Rock n Roll Baby, is a rollicking good time, a…

#giveaway!! Looking for a fun board book? Look no further! ellenleventhal.com/2026/02/davi...

Celebrate Purim with Nancy Churnin, Varda Livney, and Barbara Kimmel! EL: Today, we have a triple delight on Writing Outside the Lines. I would like to welcome three talented authors and their delightful board books celebrating Purim. For those who don’t know w…

Looking for adorable board books? Look no further! #Pruim #Jewishbooks #Boardbooks @barbarakimmel.bsky.social @VardaLivney @NancyChurnin ellenleventhal.com/2026/01/cele...

Holiday Book Extravaganza: • KAI AND THE GOBLEM by Carol Matas Carol Matas has a new picture book, KAI AND THE GOBLEM, illustrated by Elisa Vavouri  and published by Kar-Ben Publishing on‎ November 4th, 2025. They have agreed to share a copy with one lucky win…

kathytemean.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/h... Another wonderful picture book! @carolmatas.bsky.social @ElisaVavouri #Karbenpublishing

Joy Preble, LOST AND FOUND HANUKKAH and a special GIVEAWAY! I am so excited to welcome my friend, Joy Preble, to the blog today. I first knew Joy as a prolilfic YA writer, then I got to really know her when she was working at my local indie, Brazos Bookstor…

ellenleventhal.com/2025/12/joy-... Don't miss the wonderful new Hanukkah book by Joy Preble!

Book Giveaway: ARLO by Sophia Gholz Sophia Gholz has a new picture book, ARLO, illustrated by MacKenzie Haley, and published by Sleeping Bear Press on August 1st, 2025. SBP has agreed to send a copy to the one lucky winner in the US.…

Another adorable book by @sophiagholz.bsky.social! kathytemean.wordpress.com/2025/11/24/b...

Happy Book Birthday to Cindy Williams Schrauben and HANK’S CHANGE OF HEART, plus a Giveaway! It’s a HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY sort of day! I’m thrilled to introduce Cindy Williams Schrauben and her newest book, Hank’s Change of Heart, beautifully illustrated by Sasha Richards. …

What the world needs now is HEARTS! Read all about it. ellenleventhal.com/2025/11/happ...

Book Giveaway: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU by Rachelle Burk Rachelle Burk has a new picture book, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, illustrated by Abigail Lashbrook and published by Creston Books on September 9th. Rachelle has agreed to share a copy with one lucky win…

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Such a great book by @rachelleburk.bsky.social and Abigail Lashbrook. #Happybirthdaytoyou

Book Giveaway: FAIRY GODBUBBIE’S SHABBAT by Ann Diament Koffsky Ann Diament Koffsky has written and illustrated a new picture book, FAIRY GODBUBBIE’S SHABBAT, and published by Intergalactic Afikoman on September 9, 2025. Ann has agreed to share a copy wit…

kathytemean.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/b...

Darlene Campos, THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, plus a GIVEAWAY! I’m excited to welcome fellow Houstonian and new friend, Darlene Campos, to the blog today. Her newest middle-grade book, The Center of the Earth, tells the story of best friends during a ter…

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Enter to win a copy of this amazing book! #Ecuador #Holocaust #Friendship

Wishing you the best! Laughing is great.

Book Giveaway: SIDEWALK CHALK by Jen Fier Jasinski WE HAVE A BIRTHDAY BOOK! Jen Fier Jasinski has a new picture book, SIDEWALK CHALK, Illustrated by Lea Marie Ravotti and published today, Sep 23, 2025, by Gnome Road Publishing. They have agreed to …

This looks like an amazing book! Great interview! kathytemean.wordpress.com/2025/09/23/b...

Kate Rietema, CHEETAHS RETURN TO INDIA: THE STORY OF AASHA AND PAVAN and a GIVEAWAY! EL: Today, I’m happy to welcome author Kate Rietema to the blog.  One of my favorite aspects of writing this blog is meeting all the wonderful authors I encounter. Welcome to Writing Outside …

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Did you know that cheetahs have returned to India? Did you even know they were gone for a while? Check out this wonderful book by @KateRietema!

Danna Zeiger, REWRITING THE RULES, plus a GIVEAWAY! Another day, another interview with a wonderful author! Rewriting the Rules, written by Danna Zeiger and beautifully illustrated by Josee Bisaillon, is a lovely and important picture book biography…

Don't miss this wonderful book and a chance for a great prize! #kidlit #science #disabilities ellenleventhal.com/2025/08/dann...

Sandhya Acharya, LIVING BRIDGES: THE HIDDEN WORLD OF INDIA’S WOVEN TREES and a GIVEAWAY! I am so excited to chat with Sandhya Acharya about her newest book, LIVING BRIDGES: THE HIDDEN WORLD OF INDIA’S WOVEN TREES, beautifully illustrated by Avani Dwivedi. What a gorgeous b…

Read about the woven trees of India and win a book! ellenleventhal.com/2025/08/sand...

Lindsay Leslie, Geeta Ladi, and GUS “HEARTS” THE BUS! Plus a great GIVEAWAY! Yay! If you follow this blog, you’ll notice there are a lot more posts this summer than usual. I’m thrilled that so many wonderful children’s books are being released. Today, we&#…

A few more days to get in on this giveaway! ellenleventhal.com/2025/08/lind...

Thank you for sharing, Kim!

Book Giveaway: GUTS FOR GLORY by Joanna Lapita Here is Joanna Lapita’s debut nonfiction picture book, GUTS FOR GLORY, that she wrote and illustrated. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers published it on February 27, 2024. They have agreed to …

Check out this fascinating book! kathytemean.wordpress.com/2025/07/30/b...

Heather Stigall Talks about GILBERT AND THE GHOST plus a Giveaway! Welcome, everyone! Another day, another fabulous book to talk about. I’m so happy to welcome Heather Stigall to Writing Outside the Lines today. I fell in love with her picture book, Gilbert …

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So sorry to cut off Heather's beautiful face, but if you click this, you'll see her and learn about her wonderful picture book, GILBERT AND THE GHOST. It's not scary, by the way. Good luck on winning and AMA call with her too! #picturebooks #lonliness #writing

A New Anniversary Edition of ONCE UPON a TWISTED TALE by Gayle Krause and Caroline O’Neal plus a GIVEAWAY! I am so excited to share this special blog post today because it will be double the fun! I’m chatting with Gayle Krause, the author of the very clever Once Upon a Twisted Tale, along with the…

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Please comment on this post to get in the running for this beautiful book! (But first read this "twice as much fun" post!)

Author/Illustrator, Laura Smetana, MY LOVE FOR YOU IS LIKE THE NIGHT SKY, and a Giveaway! I’m excited to welcome author/illustrator Laura Smetana, to the blog today. I am in awe of people who can write gorgeous text and illustrate it just as beautifully. Laura is no exception. Her…

ellenleventhal.com/2025/06/auth...

Don't miss a chance to win this great prize!

Jenna Beatrice talks about ANNABELLE AND THE SPAGHETTI CONFETTI SURPRISE plus a Giveaway! I’m thrilled to welcome Jenna Beatrice to the blog today. Her adorable book, Annabelle and the Spaghetti Confetti Surprise will put a smile on your face, for sure.  Annabelle, party planner e…

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Don't miss entering to win this adorable book!

Songju Daemicke talks about Grace Lee Boggs: Gardens of Hope and a Giveaway Grace could hardly believe it when her teacher gave her a book– to keep! Grace was eight years old and never owned a book. So begins Grace Lee Boggs: Gardens of Hope, written by Songju Daemic…

Another new, wonderful book! Read all about it here and maybe win a copy! @songjudaemicke.bsky.social ellenleventhal.com/2025/05/song...

Chana Stiefel and LET’S FLY: BARRINGTON IRVING’S RECORD-BREAKING FLIGHT AROUND THE WORLD Plus a Giveaway! Another day, another amazing author and friend. I am thrilled to introduce you to Chana Stiefel. She is the author of MANY amazing books, but today we’ll discuss her collaboration with Barrin…

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Just a few more days for this giveaway! Comment on the blog post now to get in the running. @chanastiefel.bsky.social #Kidlit #picturebooks #Aviation

This is fabulous, Lisa! Congrats! Well deserved.

Chana Stiefel and LET’S FLY: BARRINGTON IRVING’S RECORD-BREAKING FLIGHT AROUND THE WORLD Plus a Giveaway! Another day, another amazing author and friend. I am thrilled to introduce you to Chana Stiefel. She is the author of MANY amazing books, but today we’ll discuss her collaboration with Barrin…

Don't miss this opportunity to win this new book by @chanastiefel.bsky.social, Barrington Irving, and Shamar Kinight-Justice ellenleventhal.com/2025/03/chan...

Thank you, Christel Lee at H.O Whitehurst Elementary for inviting me to your school. I wish I could have been there in person, but this was fun. #Schoolvisits #picturebooks #Virtualfun

Congrats!

Only an idiot would think we should eliminate:

- Emergency response in natural disasters
- Education and healthcare for disabled children
- Clean air and water programs
- Gang crime investigations
- Monitoring of nursing home abuse
- Nuclear reactor regulation
- Cancer research

Angela De Groot talks about NOT POP POP plus a GIVEAWAY! I am happy to welcome Angela DeGroot, author of NOT POP POP to the blog today. This book blew me away the first time I read it. At the library, Brian sees a man who looks a lot like his Pop Pop but…

ellenleventhal.com/2025/02/ange...
Such a great book! Read all about it!