By Kim Childress

📖 New Release Picture Book Spotlight

Otherwise Known as Judy the Great, Written and illustrated by Selina Alko

As a library kid, Judy Blume stood right alongside Beverly Cleary for me. This clever, witty ode celebrates the life and legacy of Judy Blume through playful poetry and vibrant collage-style illustrations.

This clever, witty ode celebrates the life and legacy of Judy Blume through playful poetry and vibrant collage-style illustrations. Bright paint strokes layered over collaged newsprint perfectly capture Judy’s spirit and literary influence, and leave just enough print showing through to invite interaction.

Highly recommended as a picture book for older readers, teachers, writers, book nerds, and lifelong Judy fans alike.

Beloved and trailblazing author Judy Blume comes to life in this poetic picture book about her childhood.

Judy Blume is known for fearlessly discussing topics that were once considered taboo. As a young girl, Judy was not encouraged to share her feelings, so instead she invented stories as a way to understand the world around her. Growing up Jewish, during and in the aftermath of WWII, dramatically shaped Judy’s childhood. Her younger years were full of fear. Judy processed her conflicted emotions by making up stories where she could control the conflict as she worked through challenging life scenarios. These stories became the subjects of the books she later published for children, tweens, teens, and adults including Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, Freckle Juice, and the Fudge series. This inspiring collection of poems celebrates the childhood years of Judy Blume, one of the most beloved American writers of all time. Christy Ottaviano Books/Little, Brown BYR | Ages 6–10, 9780316570633, $18.99

Available at Ink-a-Dink Bookstore and Ink-a-Dink Bookshop.

✨ Ink-a-Dink Updates

📚 Healing well from my “Gamekeeper’s Thumb” surgery on January 22—still limited in what I can do, but I will always be sharing good books.

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Kim Childress

Founder, Childress Ink ~ Ink-a-Dink

Author ~ Editor ~ Reviewer ~ Speaker

With over thirty years of experience in publishing, Kim Childress is an award-winning editor, author, speaker, and reviewer. She has built a distinguished career while also raising a personal focus group—her four children—through diapers, doctors, broken bones, college, and plagues. Learn more about Kim and follow her adventures at ChildressInk.com and Ink-a-Dink.com. You can purchase her workshops at penconeditors.com, including: Editing Middle-grade and YA Fiction and Nonfiction, Creating Books of Excellence for Young Readers, How a Book is Made from Start to Finish, and Trends and Opportunities in Fiction and Nonfiction Picture Books.

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