NIghty Night Dinos, Hello Debut PB! Craft Chat with Deborah Holt Williams & Book Review by Kathy Halsey

 

Congratulations to Deborah Holt Williams and illustrator Anna Doherty on their debut picture Nighty Night Dinos scheduled to release June 16, 2026! Deb and I have been longtime friends and have supported each other on what can be a loooong journey over the years. It’s so dino-rrific to witness her debut book! Big congrats and dinosaur roars! 

Nighty NIght Dinos Book Review

By Kathy Halsey

I’ll put on my educator-librarian-book reviewer hat to discuss this appealing book. How does one take an evergreen topic like a bedtime story and make it stand out? Deb took the path of adding another perennial topic, dinosaurs, to the mix along with rhyme to make a lyrical read aloud that also shares the importance of sleep. 

I can picture parents gently rocking their children to sleep as they read this or taking an active kiddo, not ready for sleep, and imitating the dinosaur’s motions of romping, splashing, swimming, and flying. Once the cadence of the book slows, the little dinos yawn, find their stuffies, curl up in their favorite blanket, and rest their crests on the best pillows, hopefully as a nudge to their young readers! Shh! 

I was surprised to learn about dinosaurs I’d never heard of before. Curious kids will be interested in discovering these less traditional dinosaur classifications, too. 

Illustrator Anna Doherty has created a soft, unique palette that amplifies dreams and sleep. I’ve never seen such cute, cuddly dinosaurs. The end papers feature a striking sky of dinosaur clouds that lend whimsy to this picture book, too.   

This is a winning combination for kids and parents that will last through many a storytime and be a welcome addition to public libraries, too.

Craft Chat with Deborah Holt Williams

 Kathy: It's a pleasure to be in conversation with you today, Deb. My copy of NIGHTY NIGHT, DINOS arrived earlier than I thought, and it's such a fun, charming book featuring one of children's literature's favorite animals, DINOSAURS!This is such a delightful story. What is the origin of this book? Did you envision it as a board book or a poem, or did you always see it as a picture book?

Deb: First let me say it’s an honor to be featured on your blog, Kathy! We’ve been in the submitting trenches together a long time. NIGHTY NIGHT, DINOS started off as an entry in a bedtime story poetry contest in January of 2020. It was not a winner, but I really liked it, so I made it a bit longer and envisioned it as a board book. I sent it to Familius publishing in February of 2021 and heard back the very next day! (How rare is that?) The company’s owner, with the wonderful name of Christopher Robbins, liked it but they had a few other dinosaur books in the pipeline already. We kept in touch but a couple years went by. Then in October of 2023, Christopher wrote and asked if I would add four more stanzas so they could turn it into a 32-page picture book! Absolutely! I sent them off, and then in November of 2023 I was in the hospital after a procedure, couldn’t sleep, turned on my laptop and there was the contract! Just what the doctor ordered!  I first saw the artwork for DINOS in September of 2024, while we were in Greece for a wedding, and I loved it! Anna Doherty is so talented, and a lovely person, too.

Kathy: Yes, we've been writer friends for years. It's delightful to host you on the GROG! Congrats!

I understand there will be two more books in this series, Nighty Night Bears and Nighty Night Puppies, both due out in 2028. Did you have these others waiting in the wings, or how did you approach this as a series for Familius? 

Deb: In April of 2025, an e-mail arrived from Familius. Tariffs were everywhere, and I was afraid to open the e-mail. Paper comes from Canada, books are printed in China, and I was sure that this email was to tell me that they could not produce my book after all. (I’d had two close calls in the past from other publishers on other manuscripts.) But, I opened it and… it asked if I would consider doing a series! I got cracking, and shortly after that, contracts were signed for NIGHTY NIGHT, PUPPIES and NIGHTY NIGHT BEARS, both due out in 2028. In January of 2026 the book jacket for DINOS was sent for my approval, and the School Library Journal review came out and was very positive. That was followed by a good Kirkus review in March, and my ten author copies arrived on May 1st. The book comes out on June 16 this year, 6 years after it’s first iteration.

Kathy: So, there's still time to pre-order this book! Excellent news. I’m curious about how you decided which dinosaurs would make their sleepy time appearance. Some of them feel very similar while others I've never heard of. Did you have to do any research on these dinosaurs?

Deb: I’ve loved dinosaurs since I was 6 and found my first fossil. I took my youngest son on a dino dig when he was 6, and we read tons of books about dinos, so I didn’t have to do too much research there. But when I saw Anna’s illustrations and all the bats she put in, I had to check and see if there were bats in the dino days. (There were.) When I learned she was planning on painting clouds for the endpapers, I asked if she could make the clouds look like chubby dinosaurs, and she did. She is from Scotland but lives in Switzerland, and I hope I get to meet her someday. Now that the book is done, we chitchat on Instagram.

Kathy: What plans do you have for the NIghty Night Dinos debut? A blog tour? A launch party? What are you most looking forward to as a published author? What project are you working on next?

Deb: Our town hosts Colorado’s oldest festival every summer, Strawberry Days, and our terrific local bookstore, Alpenglow, will have a booth where I’ll be sitting with them to sign books on the 20th of June. So that will be my book launch! I’m scheduled for a few blogs, and to appear at several local libraries (the national summer reading theme this year is dinosaurs!) and I even got an invitation for a bookstore in Denver, on the other side of the Rockies. (I live on the western slope, in Glenwood Springs.) I’ve contacted some dinosaur museums in Colorado and Utah but haven’t heard back. I’m still writing and submitting, and I learned recently that 12 states have an official state dinosaur, so the wheels are turning about a story where they decide to get together and…well, I’m not too clear on the plot yet. But I’ll keep at it!

Kathy: That will be fun, especially visiting museums! Thanks, Deb, for chatting with me today and for inspiring me with your journey. Finally, here's a tip for writers from Deb.

Deb: A tip for aspiring authors:  I find it really helpful to volunteer at my library, wiping down the picture books and keeping them in order, because it helps me to see what’s new and which publishers my stories might fit.

Connect with Deb here! 

Website: https://deborahholtwilliams.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucky.williams.7  

Bluesky: @debwriter.bsky.social

Instagram: @debwriter

It's Time to FLOAT with Larry Daley & His Debut! Craft Chat and Book Review by Kathy Halsey

Craft Chat with Larry Daley

Yesterday FLOAT, a debut picture book by author-editor Larry Daley, dropped into our world. This fun, engaging read includes hidden, buried surprises to entice readers trapped in the winter doldrums along with a subtle message on how to calm oneself when things don’t work out the way we'd like. What to do? You know . . .FLOAT!

Excitable, spunky main character Rosie knows her trip to the aquarium will be perfect. After all, she’s waited exactly twenty-three days, nine hours, eleven minutes, and nineteen seconds to see the baby sea turtle. But when a pesky seagull nabs her lunch, she’s frantic to retrieve it. In pursuit, she tangles with otters, penguins, seahorses, and even piranhas as they munch on her Slappy Sour Loopty Froots, lightly salted Corn Crackles, and even her fudge-covered Cookie Toes! (Such fun language in this book!)

When her madcap chase with the seagull leaves a trail of devastation throughout the aquarium Rosie is frustrated with herself and the mess she made. But the patient aquarium manager teaches Rosie to “float” and take a pause when the water gets rough. 

FLOAT makes for a great read aloud with the humorous, kid-friendly language, and educators and librarians will appreciate the backmatter on what sea creatures really eat at snack time. 

Craft Chat with Larry Daley

Kathy: I’m curious as to how your background in children’s media development and supervision of comic book brands such as Batman and Superman has influenced your debut FLOAT. What’s the connection between comics and picture books for you as a writer and illustrator?

Larry: I think when you’re a young artist starting out in pursuit of work, every opportunity put in front of you is worth exploring, even if it’s not your first choice. I had not read comics growing up, but an introduction during my first year in college presented me with a unique chance to intern at Marvel Comics in New York City, and for the first time, I saw writers and artists working professionally in the field, producing stunning work that truly energized me. 

I knew this was not the artistic work I was good at and even wanted to do, but it made me want to learn everything about how books were made and how the art directors and editors worked with talented artists. It became an incredible education for how and who makes books. It helped me understand how to pitch stories, work with art directors, make corrections on press-checks (the process of checking how the color looks when printed), it even open my eyes to why some artists never get hired while others do.

All this exposure helped me jump into picture books with more confidence because I understood the business. Being a creative professional, more often than not, is about being reliable, courteous, and a team player, rather than the greatest artist that ever lived. Whether it’s making comics, picture books, or any other form of storytelling, I’m grateful to know that making anything takes many hands and every one of them should be appreciated. 

Kathy: More children’s book creators are choosing to self-publish or go with a hybrid model since the children’s market is so tight now. How did you discover Bookling Media? What made that model the right choice for you?

Larry: I had been familiar with the publisher of Booking Media, Becky Gehrisch, creative work as we had met at a SCBWI conference in New York. I was very excited to see her start her publishing imprint and decided to submit a story. What immediately impressed me was her willingness to try something new to counter her own frustrations with the exclusivity of the children’s book market. Unfortunately, entry into kid’s publishing has become quite a mystery for most, so it’s not surprising to see so many aspiring writers and artists turning to self-publishing as their chance to share their stories.

Sadly, both the production quality and the marketing know-how is still not available to most who take that path. Success for people interested in a chance to be on the shelves still need a partner to make that happen and I believe small publishers have a lot going for them, depending on their business model. As for Bookling Media, their business model definitely has them doing some things right. For one, artists under their imprint retain the intellectual properties they create, meaning Bookling Media only licenses the rights to publish, versus owning the material. This is not the case for major imprints. 

Bookling Media also puts out a high quality product. Most self published work will not find an audience because the quality is difficult for most bookstores to carry. Lastly, Bookling Media partners with artists in marketing their book by helping them understand what an artist must do to have their work recognized in an oversaturated marketplace. In the end, an artist must know how to both create and market their product. A small publisher will help an artist understand what they need to do, even if they themselves can’t do it themselves.

Kathy: The main character Rosie is likeable and engaging. Did your own daughters serve as inspiration for her? Did you do character sketches first in her development or imagine and write about her?  

Larry: I would love to say that any one of my daughters inspired me for this character, but from the start, Rosie was always inspired by my grandmother. Standing at 5 feet tall, with fiery red hair, my Nana was a sweetheart who never seemed to be afraid of anything. She had a spark that was bold, brave and vulnerable in one package.She embodied a spirit that I wanted to see in this little girl, particularly in a situation when life threw her an unexpected curve ball. 

There’s no right way to behave when a seagull steals your food, but it was funny to see Rosie process those emotions in a way my grandmother would have loved. That said, I went through many versions of what Rosy would look like and the process took me a few months before I found her in the artwork. It was also interesting drawing her with wet hair as her adventure takes her into some scenarios I had never drawn before. Thankfully, Rosy turned out the way she was meant to be and I think my Nana would have adored her.

Kathy: Informational backmatter and facts about sea creatures make this book stand out from others. How did you arrive at the topic of sea creature snacks and the idea of lunchboxes? It's so kid-centric!

Larry: One of the things I love about Bookling Media is that educational material at the back of the book was part of the agreement. It was their suggestion to find a theme that was relevant to the story but offered factual information that gave teachers and librarians a starting point for conversation. Learning about real snacks for ocean animals seemed a natural pairing with Rosy’s story, but the idea of lunchboxes came from my own memories as a kid. 

For me, the start of school always began with shopping for school clothes and picking out my new metal lunchbox. I could have skipped the clothing part, but the thrill of selecting my lunchbox was the equivalent of having the newest sneakers in school. Why exactly? I’m not sure. They were just great. And to include them in the story as something all the kids owned was a personal gift to myself, which is also why there is a photo of me, at age seven, proudly showing off my King Kong lunchbox. 

Kathy: As a former K-12 school librarian, I was impressed that you have already attended ALA! What tips do you have for authors attending their first library conferences? What were your goals for these events?

Larry: What an interesting question. I had never been to one before I attended the ALA this year in Philadelphia. For those that haven’t been, it’s a large conference event for not only publishers showcasing their new book arrivals, but also new technology manufacturers in publishing and library services that offer an interesting glimpse into how the industry works. Many authors attend only by invitation from their publishers to sign book copies and be the stars for the imprint brands. 

It’s not the first place you would expect to meet and greet talent who work on the books, but it is a great place to better understand the book market. ALA is a space to ask a lot of questions and for the most part, those that attend are willing to give you thoughtful answers. What I appreciated was the great cross section of industry people in-the-know: publishers selling their new titles, reviewers such as the Library Journal or Kirkus Reviews taking note of what’s coming out, and librarians looking to order their next list of books.

If you’re lucky enough to be invited as a published author, your day will be filled with questions about your book. However, if you decide to attend on your own, it’s an opportunity to see what are the newest books in your genre and ask questions about why the marketing team is excited about them. As a creative writer or artist, this is the place to potentially see the next big hit and ask the librarians what kinds of books they’re interested in purchasing and why. Whether or not you decide to follow the book trends is up to you, but knowing what the market is looking for plays a role in how you pitch your ideas.   

Kathy: You have a few fun secrets buried in FLOAT. Can you share what surprises are hidden and why you were interested in adding them?

Larry: Yes, FLOAT has a few secrets for the readers to find that might not be obvious at first glance. For starters, Rosy is not the only one having an adventure at the aquarium. If you look closely, you will discover a small white octopus, named Bubbles, has escaped her tank and pops up on a number of pages, looking for a way out of the building. I love finding secondary stories in picture books that are simply there to entertain curious eyes who happen to spot something in the details. 

Another secret, that’s a bit harder to find, are the 20 tiny turtles that are hidden in the artwork, one for every page. If you have a magnifying glass and a lot of patience, you might be able to find them all. But the best secret in the book is a hidden riddle, written somewhere in the illustrations, that if found gives readers a chance to win a real treasure. Lucky participants can enter their name on my website at www.larrydaley.com/riddle if they can find and answer the riddle. 

The prize in question is a treasure box with a 1 oz silver coin inside. The coin is adorned with marine animals and truly a treasure for one lucky reader. The drawing for the prize will occur on August 9, 2026 in a live event on my Instagram account @larrydaleyart, so I hope to see a lot of entries for this special event. 

Kathy: Congrats on your book launch yesterday. Describe what you plan for your debut year…a blog tour, school visits, bookstore events? What are you working on next?

Larry: At the moment, my focus is on launching my FLOAT book tour and visiting schools, bookstores and libraries with the message of “just float when life throws you something unexpected.” I believe it’s a good message for kids and parents alike, as it’s tough to remember to take a breath sometimes. My hope is that parents and their children will find FLOAT has a few giggles, a kind, adult role-model looking to help rather than scold, and a reminder that emotions get the best of us all. 

I’m thankful to be partnered with a publisher committed to seeing this story out in front of young audiences and I’m optimistic that some of the surprises buried in the illustrations will have readers turning pages with curiosity and a keen interest in finding my hidden secrets. In terms of what’s next, I’m developing a new picture book adventure, once again filled with chaos mixed with kindness, that I hope to announce shortly. Until then, I hope FLOAT finds its way into libraries, classrooms and sleepy bedtimes everywhere.

Biography

Larry Daley is an author/illustrator and freelance creative director in children's media development. An alumnus of Warner Bros. Entertainment and DC Comics, Larry supervised major comic book brands such as Batman and Superman in film, television, video games, toys, comics, licensed promotions, and children's publishing. His illustrative and written work is known for its quirky humor, playful characters, and exaggerated perspectives. Right now, his focus is on creating funny stories that blend chaos with kindness. Larry lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three lovely daughters.

Find Larry on IG @larrydaley.com. and his website www.larrydaley.com

 

BIG TRUCK PLAYDATE Written by Laurie Carmody

By Suzy Leopold

Welcome to the GROG Blog, Laurie. I’m pleased to chat with you about your debut book. 

Big Truck Playdate

Written by Laurie Carmody

Illustrated by Jennica Lounsbury

Beaming Books, March 7, 2023

Happy Book Birthday!

Let’s begin . . . Your heartwarming book, Big Truck Playdate, shares a story from the perspective of Corey who is diagnosed on the autism spectrum. 

Big Truck Playdate

Rudine Sims Bishop, a professor, is referred to as the “Mother of Multicultural Literature.” She coined the words, “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding-glass Doors.” It is important for children to see themselves reflected in books and for all to understand differences and similarities to equal compassion and empathy for one another. 

Was it necessary to research facts and information about a disorder diagnosed on the autism spectrum? What surprised you the most as you wrote the story?

When I began writing, Corey was very clear in my mind - a truck-loving, passionate child that struggles to connect with his peers. Like so many children, Corey is neurodiverse. My sister-in-law has autism and my mom used to work as a teacher’s aide with neurodiverse students in an upstate New York school district, so I am familiar with some of the many ways autism can be present in the world. Always striving to represent Corey with authenticity and respect, however, I did research and worked closely with my editor at Beaming Books. And I’ll always be learning, especially regarding how to choose appropriate language that is inclusive and celebratory. 

Often writers are told to “Write what you know.” And to add to this thought, the often-asked question, “What was your inspiration for this story idea?” Please tell us more about the inspiration for Big Truck Playdate and how your story came together.

So many different memories and experiences inspired Big Truck Playdate. First, the truck: New neighbors moved in next door and parked a huge semi-truck in the driveway. This inspired me to write a story about a truck as a neighbor. After working with critique partners, the manuscript morphed into a story about a truck coming to school instead.

Second, the main character: Corey is partially inspired by a friend that my brother and I used to play with who was passionate about garage door openers. We had the best time when we combined our interests and just played! Corey is also inspired by my sister-in-law, Ashley, who has autism. She loves teddy bears like Corey loves trucks. Her love is so strong and pure, and it’s something that I admire about her.

  

Tell us about yourself and your writing journey. When did you become interested in writing children’s literature?

In 7th grade, I wrote and illustrated a picture book called ANDY THE ARMADILLO but it wasn’t until I became a mom and started checking out bags of books each week from our local library that I decided to try writing picture books for publication. I am absolutely in love with the picture book form. It is beautiful to see how text and art come together to shape a story. And the fact that it’s for children and adults to share is the icing on the cake.  

Do you write a first manuscript draft with pen or pencil and paper or do you type on a keyboard?

I almost always type on my laptop. Sometimes I’ll cut up sticky notes and arrange them into “spreads” in my notebook. Then I’ll write little thoughts and ideas and see how they fit. But most of my work is digital and I’m a huge fan of using google docs to track critique feedback.

Was your manuscript for Big Truck Playdate a submission

opportunity from a writing conference or webinar or was it

sent through a slush pile (aka sifting through gems)?

I had an Above the Slushpile Pass through the “Children’s Book Insider” magazine.

Complete this sentence. Laurie is an author and kid lit creator

who . . .

. . . is grateful every day for the support of friends, family, and kidlit community members.

Did you have any input on the bright, colorful illustrations by illustrator Jennica Lounsbury?

When I first saw Jennica’s online portfolio I think my entire family came running because I was shrieking so loudly! I was blown away by her ability to show love and connection through her sweet characters. I instantly knew she was the one to bring Corey, his truck, and his class to the page.

Share some recommended picture book titles. Are there recently published books on your To Read stack?

My debut group, the PB Sunrays, released so many great books released in the last year, and there are many more upcoming releases that I’m excited about!

Share a piece of advice or craft of writing tip that is helpful when writing for young readers.

Here are my top 5 tips!

1. READ other picture books. Write out the text. Walk around in them for a while; ask yourself why you love a certain part.

2. LISTEN to creators. Like, all creators. Read diverse books.

3. JOIN a community. SCBWI, Mighty Kid Lit, Critique groups, Facebook groups,

12 X 12, etc. Find your people and lift each other up. Ask all the questions so you'll be able to answer them someday.

4. PLAY with your manuscripts. Don't be afraid to revise! Someone told me to try Big Truck Playdate from the POV of a talking monster truck. I wrote it! And it made me realize I needed to stick with my original path.

5. PERSEVERE. When you want to give up, do one more thing. Then do the next thing. String them along and you'll get there. I promise.

Share your thoughts on the best way to market a picture book. What are some activities and events you are doing (or plan to do) to launch and promote your book?

The best thing I did was join a debut group. I’m part of the PB Sunrays--Picture Book Launch Group and they have helped me learn so much about marketing my own work as well as how to support other published authors. Some of the promotional activities I’m looking forward to include speaking at my children’s preschool, elementary school, and middle school, doing Storytime Sprint and working with my local bookstore Curious Iguana, and to do an event at one of my favorite libraries.

Any words of encouragement you’d like to share with book creators?

Don’t be afraid to get messy. Those times when your manuscript is a jumble? That’s OK. Keep going! Think of it like putting sand in your sandbox. Each revision gets you closer and closer to your sand castle. But it’s impossible to get there without getting sand in your suit! 

Are you prepared for some fun rapid-fire questions?

• Tell us something about yourself that we may not know.

I can eat any level of spicy food without a problem!

• What is your writing super power?

I come up with some strange connections that I try to put into a story format.

• Share a favorite bedtime story from when you were a kid.

The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

•  Do you have a favorite snack and beverage?

Pita chips with hummous and a diet Coke.

•  What item(s) displayed on your desk gives you inspiration?

Lately I’ve been working from my couch. I sit right next to my Grandma’s fern (his name is Dennis Fronds). She died a few years ago and this is a cutting from a fern that was around when my dad was young. It reminds me that our stories grow and connect generations together. 

Thank you, Laurie, for sharing your debut book, Big Truck Playdate, with the followers of the GROG Blog. 

Where can the readers of the GROG Blog find out more about you?

Instagram

Twitter

Read Across America Day
"It was one of the best experiences
to see how the kids would react to
Big Truck Playdate."