Hello friends!

Apollo Astronaut, British Beefeater, and Pittsburgh Steeler nutcrackers

Darth Vader, Prop Plane Pilot, and Cub Scout nutcrackers

True confessions: I have so. many. nutcrackers! I've whittled down my collection, but it's so hard to pick a favorite. Here's your chance to weigh in. Shoot me an email with your favorite nutcracker from my collection by Dec. 19. I'll post the winner on Facebook and IG (@kirstenwlarson). Here are your choices:

Apollo Astronaut
British Beefeater
Pittsburgh Steeler
Darth Vader
Prop Plane Pilot
Cub Scout

2024 Year in Review.

Every year, I participate in Julie Hedlund's 12 Days of Christmas for Writers. It's a process that encourages us to reflect on our surprises and successes, reframe our challenges and disappointments, and create a blueprint for the new year. If you haven't done 12 Days before, I highly encourage you to sign up. It begins Dec. 26. (sign up here)

This year, I started 12 Days early because I'm off to Greece with my family for the holidays. I wanted to share a few highlights from my surprises/successes, because I am just so grateful for all the good things that happened this year. And I know not every year is like this, so I want to celebrate it as much as I can.

Seeing This Is How You Know, illustrated by Cornelia Li (Little Brown) off to the presses. The book pubs 9/16/25. Cover reveal coming soon!
Signing the contract on a new nonfiction picture book. ... More soon!
Reviewing the Barbara McClintock's sketches for Light of Resistance, my MG graphic novel with Roaring Brook
Finishing a draft of my adult, rom-com mystery
Scooping up the Orbis Pictus Honor for The Fire of Stars with illustrator Katherine Roy at NCTE in Boston (see pics below); plus the book is coming to Scholastic Book Fairs soon. YAY!
Seeing Wood, Wire, Wings go into its third printing
Rolling out my new class, "Crafting Your Nonfiction Picture Book" (more details below on the New Year's Cohort)
Getting Reimagining Your Nonfiction Picture Book onto Hoopla and into libraries
Launching the "Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations" podcast and connecting with so many amazing creators.

It has truly been an amazing year and I'm so grateful to be on this journey with all of you. Wishing you and yours a happy and restful holiday season.

Kirsten

Inside this newsletter:

Celebrating at NCTE in Boston
Join the New Year's cohort for Crafting Your Nonfiction PB; save 30%
Join me for the Write.Submit.Support. 6-month mentorship
Transcript link for Episode 4 of Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations with Stephanie Gibeault
January 2025 "New in Nonfiction" List (148 titles)

Celebrating at NCTE in Boston

Kirsten and Katherine Roy celebrate their Orbis Pictus honor

The Fire of Stars was named a National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Orbis Pictus Honor Book for 2024. Illustrator Katherine Roy and I (left) attended the Children's Book Award luncheon to receive our award from Committee and Chair Julia López-Robertson of the University of South Carolina (pictured center). It was also a lovely opportunity to catch up with writer friends, including many creators from my Soaring '20s marketing group, who I've know for years, but only online!

30% off Crafting Your Nonfiction PB Class

Write Your Children's Nonfiction Book in 30 Days (+ Live Q&As!) Transform your idea into a polished children's nonfiction book in just 30 days! Sign up for the New Year's Cohort and get two live Zooms plus a private Facebook group for support. The course includes:

• 20 daily lessons

• Comprehensive workbook

• Videos modeling the research and writing process

• 2 BONUS live Q&A sessions (1/15 and 2/13, also recorded)

• Private community support (Facebook)

Special New Year's offer - 30% off until Jan 10! Learn more here. And if you have any questions, please let me know!

Write. Submit. Support Mentorship starts in March

Write. Submit. Support six month session with Kirsten Larson starts 3/23

Are you ready to take your work to the next level? Join me for Write. Submit. Support through The Writing Barn. Learn more about this six-month mentorship program and apply at The Writing Barn. Learn more.

New podcast episode, plus transcript

Nonfiction Kidlit Conversations Ep. 4 Nonfiction Book Proposals with Stephanie Gibeault

Don't miss episode 4 of Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations (on Youtube as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.). Buffy Silverman (Starlight Symphony) provides tips and encouragement for writing in rhyme. Don't have time to listen? Get the transcript here.

New in Nonfiction

Roundup of January New Releases

Here's the latest roundup of the latest juvenile nonfiction books from U.S. publishers. You'll find the full list of 148 books in Edelweiss by clicking the link below.

See the list