12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

Agent Karly Dizon of Fuse Literary joins Julie Hedlund and Kelli Panique to chat about her love for picture books and kidlit, and why she comes back year after year to critique pitches and first pages from 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge members.

• How Karly became an agent after starting as an author
• Her passion for representing writers
• How Karly developed her skills for editing and critiquing children's stories
• How she developed her picture book evaluation skills
• Why picture books are "sneaky difficult" to write
• Tips for expanding your writing toolbox
• The importance of being a lifelong learner
• How reading helps you write
• What makes a stand-out picture book
• How Karly connects with editors and keeps up with the publishing industry
• The most important question to ask when you have The Call with an agent
• What Karly must know before signing a new client
• What it means when a certain topic is on an agent's manuscript wish list
• What she's looking for in submissions
• Why an agent may have topics or genres on their "do-not-submit" submission list
• What is Karly seeing and loving in the kidlit market
• What editors are buying vs. what readers are buying
• Why Karly likes to work with 12 x 12 and our members

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Fuse Literary Website
• 25% off Karly's webinar: What Agents Want You to Know About Submissions Today

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here.

Thank you for listening!

Uber-librarian Betsy Bird and Julie Hedlund talk about the challenges of being a funny female—even in today's market.

Here's what you'll discover in this episode:

• Why it's difficult for women to get past the gatekeepers with funny and/or subversive picture books
• What you're no longer seeing in the book deals at this time
• Challenges for marginalized creators
• Advice for taking risks
• The difficulty with the appeal of humor
• What's expected of women writing humor
• Are things getting better for women?
• How the literacy crisis is impacting what's being published
• If Betsy's manuscripts have been rejected and why
• Is it okay to have jokes for adults in kids' books?
• What we can do to get more funny books by women in the marketplace
• Advantages of working with a small publisher
• Current trends in humorous books
• Ways to discover what kinds of books kids want
• What book does Betsy wish she had written

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature by Betsy Bird, Julie Danielson, & Peter D. Sieruta
• Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin & Daniel Salmieri
• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt & Oliver Jeffers
• Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beatty & David Roberts
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
• Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor
• Fireworks by Matthew Burgess & Catia Chen
• Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan
• Because of a Shoe by Julie Fogliano & Marla Frazee
• Claydate by Dev Petty & Lauren Eldrich
• The Cow in the Dark at Night by Jess Hannigan
• Do You Like My Pants? By Carrie Shryock
• The Spider in the Well by Jess Hannigan
• The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan
• Don't Trust Fish by Neal Sharpson & Dan Santat
• Donutrina in the Nutcracker Suite by Helen Yoon
• Mistaco by Eliza Kinkz
• Ratface Does Not Want to Be Your Friend by Eliza Kinkz
• Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers & Rebecca Lee Kunz
• While We're Here by Anne Wynter & Micha Archer
• Shark-Nate-O by Becky Cattie & Tara Luebbe & Daniel Duncan
• Pop! Goes The Nursery Rhyme by Betsy Bird & Andrea Tsurumi
• Pop! Goes The Fairy Tale by Betsy Bird & Andrea Tsurumi (Available 6/2027)
• Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin
• Touch The Sky by Stephanie Lucianovic & Chris Park
• Accident by Andrea Tsurumi
• Terrible, Terrible Birds! By Betsy Bird & Matthew Cordell (Available 2/2027)
• Mini Golf Fun! By Tasha Hilderman & Katy Quarles
• Don't Wash Winston by Ashley Belote

Funny Female and Nonbinary Authors Mentioned

• Margaret Wise Brown
• Dev Petty
• Anne Wynter
• Helen Yoon
• Eliza Kinkz
• Lian Cho
• X. Fang
• Andrea Tsurumi
• Janet Stevens

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 31 Days, 31 Lists
• Fuse #8 Blog on School Library Journal
• Fuse 8 'n Kate Podcast
• Betsy's Substack
• Betsy's Instagram
• Betsy's TikTok
• Betsy's Bluesky
• Betsy's Website
• Get 25% off Betsy's webinar Writing Humor in Unfunny Times

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here.

Thank you for listening!

Not only does Jess Townes write incredible picture books, but she's also a Critique Ninja in the 12 x 12 membership AND she's a buyer at an independent bookstore! Jess joins Julie and Kelli in this podcast episode to chat about tips for revising your manuscript and what she thinks picture book creators need to know about the bookselling side of the children's publishing industry.

Here's what you'll discover in this episode:

• Tips Jess gives 12 x 12 members for writing and revising their manuscripts
• What she looks for when giving critiques
• How to use real-life interactions can inspire your picture book
• What it's like to have publishers pitch YOU the books on their list
• The different ways kids attach to books
• How she works with her fellow bookseller to choose what they sell in the bookstore
• What came first: the author or the bookseller
• How being a bookseller inspires what she writes
• When booksellers start making purchase decisions for winter holiday sales
• What happens if your book comes out after the big purchases are made
• What does it mean when your book is remaindered
• How important holiday books are to booksellers
• The advantage of speaking directly to customers
• What is a shelf-talker and how it helps sell books
• The importance of author/bookseller relationships
• When to call a bookstore if you're going to be in the area
• How to approach a bookstore when you'd like them to carry your book
• What to do if you want to have an event at a store
• How this bookstore decides which self-published books to carry
• If bookstore events sell books
• What sells more than author events
• How pre-order campaigns impact independent bookstores
• Why you should coordinate with a local bookstore when doing author visits at schools and other locations
• What to take into consideration if you're trying to schedule bookstore events
• If there is an audience for picture books that aren't attached to popular characters or intellectual property

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Groundhog Gets It Wrong by Jess Townes and Nicole Miles
• Spellbound by Jess Townes and Jennifer Harney
• Sometimes I Cry by Jess Townes and Daniel Miyares
• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
• Three Little Witches and the Spooky Old House by Peggy Archer and Gaia Bordicchia
• Not So Ordinary Ornaments by Paige Hulsey (coming soon, illustrator to be announced)
• Butt or Face by Kari Lavelle
• Millie Fleur's Pumpkin Problem by Christy Mandin
• Does a Bulldozer Have a Butt? by Derek Wilder
• Julie Andrews: A Little Golden Book by Christy Webster and Sue Cornelison
• Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews by Julie Hedlund and Ilaria Urbinati
• After the Fall by Dan Santat
• Shy by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Eva Byrne

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Jess works at Main St. Books in Charleston, Missouri

• The Adult Book Fair Kelli mentioned is put on Magic City Books in Tulsa

• Emma Walton Hamilton's podcast episode on turning a real-life event into a picture book

• Find out more about Jess Townes and her books on her website

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here.

Thank you for listening!

Earlier this year, agent and author Miranda Paul gave a webinar called Trade Secrets: Ways to Make Your Picture Book Idea More Commercial. In this podcast episode, we dive into a few topics not covered in the webinar. (You can now get this outstanding webinar for 25% off! Click here.)

Here's what you'll discover in this episode:

• What information you should pay attention to in those Publishers Weekly announcements
• What to consider when you notice a trend
• Why you should follow agents on social media
• A current gap in the market
• Why a universal theme is so important
• How your book can still be commercial—even if it's not high concept
• Topics that kids need in picture books
• What makes a book commercial
• What is Miranda looking for in submissions (when she opens for submissions again)

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Blobfish Throws a Party by Miranda Paul and Maggie Caton
• I Am Not Happy by Caroline L. Perry and Sydney Hanson
• So You Want to Be a Fossil by Anna Monders and Ryan Middaugh (coming in 2027)
• Make Your Mark: The Empowering True Story of the First Known Black Female Tattoo Artist by Jacci Gresham, Sherry Fellores, and David Wilkerson
• Not Like Every Other Day by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic and Gabrielle Grimard
• Zombie and Brain are Friends by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic and Laan Cham
• One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul and Elizabeth Zunon
• Kaleidoscope of Hope: How Butterfly Life Cycles Reflect Our World by Miranda Paul and Hari and Deepti

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Miranda Paul's Trade Secrets: Ways to Make Your Picture Book Idea More Commercial for 25% off!

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here.

Thank you for listening!

The children's writing community lost one of our greats this year when our beloved Jane Yolen passed away.

She is not only the author of over 450 books for kids, she is a teacher, mentor, and inspiration to hundreds (thousands?) of writers. She was constantly giving back to this community and we are all better for it.

In this episode, Julie shares her personal connection to Jane and different things she learned from Jane over the years.

Here's what you'll discover in this episode:

• How Julie was introduced to Jane Yolen through her books
• How Julie met Jane (and her daughter Heidi E.Y. Stemple) in person
• A taste of Jane's poetry and her poetry practice
• What it was like to attend Jane's Boot Camp and stay in her house
• What it was like to have her manuscripts critiqued by Jane
• Julie's trip to Scotland to stay in Jane's house
• Who Jane defined as a writer
• How Jane inspired Julie at a low point in her career
• Jane-isms
• The origin story of HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOODNIGHT?
• Some of Julie's favorite Jane Yolen books—including those written for adults
• Excerpts from interviews with Jane

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Here's a Little Poem by Jane Yolen, Andrew Fusek Peters, and Polly Dunbar

• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr

• How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

• The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

• Come to the Fairies' Ball by Jane Yolen and Gary Lippincott

• Over, Bear! Under, Where? by Julie Hedlund and Michael Slack

• The Stranded Whale by Jane Yolen and Melanie Cataldo

• Elefantastic by Jane Yolen and Brett Helquist

• I Am the Storm by Jane Yolen, Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Kristen Howdeshell, and Kevin Howdeshell

• Sister Fox's Field Guide to the Writing Life by Jane Yolen

• Take Joy by Jane Yolen

• Janie Writes a Play by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and Madelyn Goodnight

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Link to Jane's Memorial Service

• Watch the video version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/BUDmeqawLOU

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here.

Thank you for listening!

It's a momentous time for the 12 x 12 membership and so we bring you a momentous podcast episode!

During the first week of August 2026, not one but TWO 12 x 12 member books were on the New York Times Bestseller List for Children's Picture Books (August 2, 2026). Considering that any book currently in print from Dr. Seuss. Maurice Sendak, and Margaret Wise Brown to award-winners and everything released this year, it's quite an accomplishment to land on the bestseller list.

Congratulations go to 12 x 12 members Kari Lavelle and Michael Benner!

Published by Sourcebooks Explore, Kari's nonfiction picture book BUTT OR FACE landed at number 7 after being in print for 3 years. Illustrated by the incredible Alison Hawkins and published by Orchard/Scholastic, Michael's picture book MAC & CHEESE: THE ORIGIN STORY debuted at #1 the week it came out!!

Two very exciting journeys starting at two very different places. Today, we hear how these bestsellers came to be!

Here's what you'll discover in this episode:

• How Julie & Kelli found out about TWO members being on the NYT Bestseller List
• Who helped BUTT OR FACE land on the list
• What books you're competing with to get on the list
• The role Michael's publisher played in getting MAC AND CHEESE to the #1 spot
• How funny books attract sales
• How YOU can help an author make it on the bestseller list
• The importance of pre-order sales
• How Barnes & Noble supports pre-orders
• What's a frontlist title vs. a backlist title
• The surprising ways Michael and Kari found out the news
• Why BUTT OR FACE doesn't have an illustrator
• Puns for the win!
• The origin story of MAC AND CHEESE: THE ORIGIN STORY
• The different ways a book can find an audience
• What does it mean to be a publisher's "lead book"
• How Kari and Michael stay true to themselves when writing
• What's involved with having a special edition of your book for Barnes & Noble
• What it was like when Michael saw Alison's illustrations
• A look at the fun event kits created for MAC & CHEESE
• What it's like to work on a book that becomes a series and how to balance your creativity between projects
• The fun of read-alouds
• What books Kari and Michael wish they would have written

Books mentioned in this episode:

• BUTT OR FACE by Kari Lavelle
• MAC & CHEESE: THE ORIGIN STORY by Michael Benner and Alison Hawkins
• WE MOVE THE WORLD by Kari Lavelle and Nabi H. Ali
• ODE TO GRAPEFRUIT: HOW JAMES EARL JONES FOUND HIS VOICE by Kari Lavelle and Bryan Collier
• MILK AND COOKES: THE PERFECT PAIR by Michael Benner and Alison Hawkins
• E-MERGENCY by Tom Lichtenheld and Ezra Fields-Meyer
• WHILE WE'RE HERE BY Anne Wynter and Micha Archer

Links mentioned in this episode:

• See the video for this episode on YouTube
• Picture Book Summit's Home Page

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here.

Thank you for listening!

Kelli Panique has been working behind-the-scenes at events for creatives for almost 15 years now. As a regular part of her job, she contacts and coordinates with speakers for events and has discovered things you can do to make working with you a breeze.

Here's what you'll discover in this episode:

• Why you need an author website—even if you're not published yet
• What to put on your website if you're not published yet
• Why hosting a blog can be useful to you as a writer
• Combining your interviews and reviews with research on the industry
• The benefit of interviewing authors
• Ideas for for posting on social media as a pre-published creator
• What to put on your About Me page
• Where to put your Press Kit on your website
• Should your bio be written in first person or third person?
• Do you need a short bio or a long bio?
• What kind of photos to have in your press kit
• How to name your photos
• The importance of having downloadable book cover images
• What someone needs from you when they book you for an event
• Where to put your social media links
• Where to find a great example of a press kit
• What a "sell sheet" is and why you might need one
• A tool to connect with bookstores and schools
• A few options for making your press kit accessible

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Lisa Stringfellow's Essentials of an Author Website - 25% off for podcast listeners
• Vivian Kirkfield's website
• Susannah Hill's website
• Julie's Press Kit page
• Picture Book Summit's Home Page (Press Kit downloadable in the footer)

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here.

Thank you for listening!

Author and independent editor Emma Walton Hamilton shares the story of her latest collaboration with her mother, Julie Andrews. Emma not only chats about the inspiration for SHY, but also how they tweaked the true story of a real-life dog who liked to sing into to a fun, kid-friendly picture book.

Here's what you'll discover in this episode:

• How to take real-life events and turn them into picture books
• The quirks of the real dog behind the inspiration
• The connection to her current dog
• The thread of true story in most of her picture books
• How pushing the envelope can take the story to the next level
• Jane Yolen's advice to not let the truth get in the way of a good story
• Why it's hard to let go of our real-life experiences when writing a story
• Encouraging kids to have the courage to shine
• Starting at the ending and working backward in the story
• Adding kids or child-like characters to make the story kid-friendly
• How two people can be inspired by the same thing and come up with two very different stories
• What's next for Emma

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Picture Book Summit 2026! Emma is presenting at this year's event. Get $100 when you register before 8/27/26.
• The Complete Picture Book Submissions System created by Emma and Julie to help you create a submission package that will land you a book deal. Get the free training here.

Books* mentioned in this episode:

• Shy by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Eva Byrne
• Waiting in the Wings by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and EG Keller
• The Enchanted Symphony by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Elly MacKay
• Music Plants Hope by Tonnye Fletcher and Natalia Bruno
• After the Fall by Dan Santat

Find these books and more in the 12 x 12 Bookshop!

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here.

Thank you for listening!

After their 12 x 12 webinar about establishing successful agent-client relationships, agent Rachel Orr and her clients (and 12 x 12 members) Tasha Hilderman and Suzy Levinson stayed for an after-party podcast episode to talk about the fun things about writing and working together.

Here's what you'll discover in this episode:

• Unexpected inspiration
• Why Suzy's mantra is "Follow the fun!"
• Why it's important to find the writing style that fits you
• Thinking about what books you read that make you want to write
• What Rachel loves about the variety projects she reads as an agent
• When and if you should take trends into account when writing
• Evergreen themes
• The importance of writing what you love
• How Rachel leverages rejections to find out what editors really want
• Formulaic vs. non-formulaic
• One of Rachel's favorite writing exercises
• How Tasha makes her manuscripts less predictable
• How working within parameters can be freeing
• The What If Game
• How Rachel develops submission lists and how much input her clients have in the process

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Picture Book Summit 2026! Get $100 when you register before 8/27/26.
• How to Set Up and Sustain a Successful Agent/Author Relationship Webinar with Rachel Orr, Tasha Hilderman, and Suzy Levinson - Get 25% off!

Books* mentioned in this episode:

• Dinos That Drive by Suzy Levinson and Dustin Harbin
• Lights at Night by Tasha Hilderman and Maggie Zeng
• Mini Golf Fun! by Tasha Hilderman and Kaly Quarles
• Gorilla Vanilla by Tasha Hilderman (coming in 2027!)
• Animals in Pants by Suzy Levinson, Kevin Howdeshell, and Kristen Howdeshell

Find these books and more in the 12 x 12 Bookshop!

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here.

Thank you for listening!

As a past 12 x 12 webinar speaker, Alyssa Reynoso-Morris brought us Getting the Gig! A jam-packed webinar with ideas and tools to use to land more speaking gigs and supplement your author income.

In today's podcast, we talk about how to get the most bang for your buck as you begin visiting schools and book speaking gigs, funny author visit stories, and more!

Here's what you'll discover in this episode:

• Where to focus your efforts if you're just starting author visits
• Which events pay the author more
• Which events sell the most books
• Alyssa's process for reaching out to bookstores, schools, and conferences
• How many inquiries she sends per week and how many turn into bookings
• How many visits she gets from referrals at other events
• Her experience working with a booking agent
• How her experience learning to read late in elementary school influences how she writes for kids today
• How she keeps the read-aloud aspect in mind as she writes
• Funny stories from school visits
• Why authors have to diversify their income streams

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 25% off Alyssa's webinar: Getting the Gig
• Alyssa's resources for writers

Books* mentioned in this episode:

• Bold, Brilliant, and Latine by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and Sol Cotti
• Gloriana, Presente: A First Day of School Story by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and Doris M Rodríguez-Graber
• Plátanos Are Love by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and Mariyah Rahman
• The Bronx Is My Home by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and Kim Holt
• Pieces of Home by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris (debuting April 2027)
• The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
• Kindred by Octavia Butler
• Watercress by Andrea Wang and Jason Chin

Find these books and more in the 12 x 12 Bookshop!

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Have questions for us or ideas for future episodes? Leave us a quick voicemail here.

Thank you for listening!