Picture Book Launch Giveaway 2023!

September is big month here at Picture Book Summit. We have three new picture books* making their way into the world from four of our speakers this year! To celebrate, we’re giving away books from all of our 2023 presenters in our Book Launch Giveaway! Enter to win the six picture books below!

Picture Book Summit Book Launch Giveaway 2023!

SONG AFTER SONG: THE MUSICAL LIFE OF JULIE ANDREWS written by Julie Hedlund & illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati

Debuting TODAY, September 5th, is this lovely gem. Long before she starred in movies like The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and The Princess Diaries, Julie Andrews was a little girl struggling with her parents’ divorce and the ravages of World War II. To comfort her and fill her time during the London Blitz, her stepfather taught her to sing, and Julie found her voice—one of the most extraordinary singing voices of all time.

Lyrically told by Julie Hedlund and lushly illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati, this is the story of how Julie Andrews became one of the world’s most beloved performers.

Order a signed copy from Julie’s local independent bookstore, Second Star to the Right here.

THE ENCHANTED SYMPHONY written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton & illustrated by Elly MacKay

Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton’s latest collaboration hits bookshelves on September 12th! When a lively village is beset by a mysterious fog, the town turns dull and silent; melancholy neighbors stop visiting each other and even going outside. Until one day, when a boy’s simple melody strikes a chord, reminding everyone of what matters most–even in the darkest of times.

Beautifully and colorfully illustrated by Elly MacKay, The Enchanted Symphony is a powerful, hopeful fairy tale celebrating life’s simple pleasures that bring us together.

Order your signed copy of this book (and many of their other books!) at Julie and Emma’s local independent bookstore Sag Harbor Books here.

Preorder The Enchanted Symphony from the retailer of your choice by 9/11/23 and submit your receipt to get a signed art print and wildflower seed plantable book (while supplies last) from Abrams here.

A WALK IN THE WOODS written by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by  Jerry Pinkney & Brian Pinkney

Already a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, Nikki Grimes’ newest picture book makes a stunning entrance on September 12th, and this book is the culmination of life imitating art in a very special way.

Confused and distraught after the death of his father, a boy opens an envelope he left behind and is surprised to find a map of the woods beyond their house, with one spot marked in bright red. But why? The woods had been something they shared together, why would his father want him to go alone?

Slowly, his mind settles as he sets off through the spaces he once explored with his dad, passing familiar beech and black oak trees, flitting Carolina wrens, and a garter snake they named Sal. When he reaches the spot marked on the map, he finds pages upon pages of drawings of woodland creatures, made by his father when he was his age. What he sees shows him a side of his dad he never knew, and something even deeper for them to share together. His dad knew what he really needed was a walk in the woods.

New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes and the Caldecott Award winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney spent the early days of the pandemic emailing back and forth and talking about collaborating on a book, with Jerry sharing all of the pictures he took of the woods around his house. From this, they conjured a story of a boy’s struggle with grief, and all the things he sees and feels on a walk through the forest.

Jerry sadly passed away in the fall of 2021, but not before he delivered tight pencil sketches of the forests he loved. When his son Brian took on the task of completing the illustrations, he found himself connecting with his father in a whole new way, his experience mirroring that of the boy in the book. The result is a simultaneously touching and deeply authentic story about the ways shared pastimes keep us close to those we’ve lost.

Order a signed copy from Nikki’s local independent bookstore Cellar Door Books here.

THE SUN IS LATE AND SO IS FARMER by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead

The Steads latest picture book was named one Kirkus’ Best Books of the Year for 2022!

Fans of duo will instantly love this quirky barnyard trio’s magical quest to bring the sunrise, in the style of their previous animal books A Sick Day for Amos McGee and Bear Has a Story to Tell.

A mule,
A milk cow,
A miniature horse,
Standing in a barn door,
Waiting for the sun to rise.

As this trio rests in their comfortable barn, a realization slowly dawns on them. . . the sun is late to rise.

After consulting barn owl (who always knows what to do), they take Rooster and set off on an epic journey further than they’ve ever gone before; through the acre of tall corn, past the sleeping giant, all the way to the edge of the world.

KINDERGARTEN ROCKS written & illustrated by Katie Davis

Tapping into the concerns of every 5-year-old, Katie’s classic picture book is always a favorite as she reassures young readers off to their first day of school with this upbeat tale about first day of school jitters.

Dexter Dugan is starting kindergarten and his stuffed dog Rufus is terrified for him. Thankfully, third grader and older sister extraordinaire Jessie is there to patiently answer all of Dexter’s–er, Rufus’s–questions. Dex’s first day is filled with exciting new things like a delightful teacher and a lunchroom that looks like a restaurant! But when Dex loses Rufus during recess, will Jessie come to the rescue before the final bell rings? Katie Davis’s crayon-like illustrations and lighthearted tone will reassure any new student’s cornucopia of fears and boost their confidence in this humorous story about facing your fears . . . after all, kindergarten rocks!

TO BOLDLY GO: HOW NICHELLE NICHOLS AND STAR TREK HELPED ADVANCE CIVIL RIGHTS written by Angela Dalton & illustrated by Lauren Semmer

Angela Dalton’s picture book biography launched into bookstores earlier this year and it’s a true star in the galaxy of picture books!

As Lieutenant Uhura on the iconic prime-time television show Star Trek, Nichelle Nichols played the first Black female astronaut anyone had ever seen on screen. A smart, strong, independent Black woman aboard the starship Enterprise was revolutionary in the 1960s when only white men had traveled to outer space in real life and most Black characters on TV were servants.

Nichelle not only inspired a generation to pursue their dreams, but also opened the door for the real-life pioneering astronaut Sally Ride, Dr. Mae Jemison, and more.

This empowering tribute to the trailblazing pop culture icon reminds us of the importance of perseverance and the power of representation in storytelling. You just might be inspired to boldly go where no one like you has ever gone before!

How to Enter

In celebration of our September Book Birthdays, we’re giving away three picture book bundles! Entering the Book Launch Giveaway is easy. Just follow the steps in the Rafflecopter below. You get one entry each day you share our tweet, one entry for visiting our Facebook page, and five entries for signing up for our newsletter! (If you’re already getting our emails or you’re a previous attendee, simply enter your email address in the space provided to get your five entries.) That’s it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter before 11:59pm US EASTERN on September 19, 2023, for your chance to win one of these awesome book bundles.

Learn More

These incredible people don’t just write and illustrate amazing picture books, they give great in-depth presentations too! Don’t miss your chance to see Superstar Speakers Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton along with Nikki Grimes and Philip & Erin Stead, plus workshop presenters Katie Davis, Julie Hedlund, and Angela Dalton LIVE ONLINE at Picture Book Summit 2023 – Picture Books That Sing!

Join us for a full day of LIVE online picture book writing fun on October 7, 2023, including these presentations:

• Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton – Creating in Concert: The High and Low Notes of Writing Partnerships
• Nikki Grimes – The Music of Language
• Philip C. Stead & Erin E. Stead – Picture Book Harmony: The Marriage of Story and Art
• Katie Davis – How to Create a Smart Dummy
• Julie Hedlund & Angela Dalton – 8 Ways to Ruin a Picture Book Biography

Plus, these pre-recorded panel discussions:

• Submissions That Sing: Agent Panel
• From Pitchy to Perfection: Editors Critique Pitches

And don’t forget!

• 7 hours of picture book insight and instruction
• Q&As during each presentation
• Private Facebook group just for attendees
• Exclusive PJ Party
• Dancing … and dancing goats!
• Lowest price ticket to Summit 2024 during VIP registration
• Everything takes place online on October 7, 2023
• Replay access through January 31, 2024

Click this button to see the full program, find out about submission opportunities, and register today!

Fine Print:

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*At no cost to you, Picture Book Summit may receive a commission on any books purchased through our affiliate links in this post. No purchase necessary to enter the giveaway.