Member News is a monthly feature on the EasternPennPoints blog. We want to celebrate our Eastern PA SCBWI members’ good news and help spread the word far and wide. Send us your children’s book–related news—book deals, releases, awards, author or illustrator events (signings, launch parties, appearances), etc. If you’d like your news to be included in next month’s column, please email Laura Parnum at epa-ra2@scbwi.org before June 20, or fill out our “Good News Survey.”
Here’s some exciting news from our members this month:
Book Release
The latest book in the Truth About series, Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs, by author Annette Whipple was released on May 15. Where do frogs live? What sounds do frogs make? How do frogs eat? These and other questions are answered by the author, along with some extra information provided by the frogs themselves.
Book Release
Author Adam Lehrhaupt released his latest picture book, There Was a Hole (Sleeping Bear Press) on April 15. Lily has a hole. It eats her joy, makes her angry, and—no matter what Daddy does to try to help—it just keeps growing. So Lily retreats. But a friend lets her in on a secret (he has a hole too!) and shows her the best way to repair holes: spend time on friends, family, the things you love, yourself, and kindness. Those patches don’t make the hole go away, but they help. A lyrical and age-appropriate story for learning to cope with grief and loss.
Upcoming Publication
Author Hillary Daecher‘s next book The Nightmare Bug (Schiffer Kids) will be released in August. Discover how one small child decides to take control of their nightmares and tackle the Nightmare Bug once and for all. With the help and comfort of the child’s mother, along with friends Blankie, Bear, and Rhino, the child drifts off to sleep feeling empowered and ready to show the Nightmare Bug there is nothing to be afraid of in the night. Skipping through dreams of oceans, giants, and the moon, the child, along with the stuffed friends, searches for the Nightmare Bug. When they finally encounter the Nightmare Bug and show the bug the power of what love can do, will the Nightmare Bug disappear forever? The Nightmare Bug is available for preorder.
Film Agent Signing
Author Diana Rodriguez Wallach recently announced that her upcoming YA novel, Hatchet Girls, which comes out in Fall 2023 via Delacorte, is now repped by film agents Carolina Beltran and Nicole Weinroth at William Morris Endeavor.
Book Announcements
Author Jessica Whipple recently announced that her upcoming picture book Enough (Tillbury House, Spring 2023) will be illustrated by Nicole Wong. She has also signed a deal for another picture book, I Think I Think a Lot, which will publish with Free Spirit Publishing and is special to Jessica because of her OCD, to which the main character can relate.
SCBWI Recommended Reading List—May 2022
Each month, SCBWI features books written and illustrated by members from across the globe and every month highlights a new theme that will foster discussions, activities, and enjoyment! This month’s reading list focused on mental health awareness and included books that raise the awareness of trauma and the impact it can have on the physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing of young people. Books by Eastern PA members included In Honor of Broken Things by Paul Acampora, There Was a Hole by Adam Lehrhaupt, The Boy from the Basement by Susan Shaw, and Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer Hubbard.
If you have good news to share, please send it to epa-ra2@scbwi.org to be included in next month’s Member News column or fill out our “Good News Survey.”
EasternPennPoints 
Hooray! Great news all around.