Falling in Love with Fall
November 2024 Edition of the Super Readers Club
Hiya Super Readers! As ever, I’m grateful you’re here, taking time out of your busy day for a quick bit of lighthearted fun with me, Kitty & Cat, Chloe Zoe and friends! Today I’ve got a new Kitty & Cat comic for ya, fun fall activities to do with the littles, a new kidlit mini interview with super star author-illustrator Renée Kurilla, the scoop on fall book events + adorable new Super Jane holiday cards. Enjoy!
The Funnies
When you’re out and about walking, like Kitty, what do you find yourself collecting? Rocks? Flowers? Leaves? FUN FACT: I have a tiered tray on my dining room table filled with my finds—including lots of shells, hawk feathers, a teeny tiny turtle shell and a leopard crab shell!
Fall Fun
The last month of fall means Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving means lots of fall fun with Chloe Zoe and the Super Readers Club!
• READ It’s Thanksgiving, Chloe Zoe at home or at the library!
• MAKE a Turkey Feather Lacing Card with me in the craft video below!
• ENJOY the Thankful Leaves free printable activity from the SRC Fall Activity Kit (page 4)! Download it HERE!
• TUNE IN to this month’s Super Story Time LIVE for a fall-themed episode—get the full scoop below! (Hint, hint! ;)
Super Story Time LIVE
I’m thrilled to pieces to have the queen of the seasons, author-illustrator Renée Kurilla, joining me for this month’s seasonal Super Story Time LIVE! Naturally, I’ll be reading It’s Thanksgiving, Chloe Zoe, and Renée will be reading her picture book, It’s Fall! Tune in live on Instagram on WED 11/13 at 10am PST / 1pm EST or catch the recording afterwards on the Super Jane YouTube channel. Hooray!
Interview Mini with Renée Kurilla
Q: What are your fall favorites—activity? holiday? outfit? food? drink?
RENÉE: I always get so excited when sweater weather comes around, though it never feels like those in-between temperatures last long enough. I love pumpkin picking with friends, apple cider donuts, and hay rides. The best. My daughter's birthday is the day before Halloween, so we get really into it—we decorate the whole house.
Q: The next book in your seasons picture book series, It's Winter, just released this month! Give us the scoop!
RENÉE: Yes! I'm so excited because winter is my SECOND favorite season. I just love the holidays and the excitement of the first snowfall. It was easy to write about and it was fun to create this sort of fantasy world that is just absolutely covered in snow. (Fantasy because it never snows enough in real life.) I always try to include some major holidays that take place in each season which is weird because winter has Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years and...Valentine's Day. St. Patrick's Day even happens in the winter, but I didn't go that far. Somehow I made it work. (I hope?)
I also just finished illustrations for It's Spring! It has been a cathartic experience to really hone in on what makes each season feel so special. I hope the heart I put into it translates to readers.
Q: What are you reading/watching/listening to these days?
RENÉE: I recently got sucked into Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. It's such a large, intimidating looking book, but such a fast and entertaining read. There's another book in the series, Iron Flame, that I need to power through before book 3 comes out in 2025.
I can't do anything without having music on in the background, it grounds me. In the fall I listen to a lot of jazz...one of my favorites is the Jazz BGM playlist on Spotify. It's just...nice. And Gracie Abrams. I love Gracie Abrams.
• Visit Renée and all her beautiful books here!
Cape Fear Book Festival
Psst! I know what everyone on your holiday shopping lists wants: AUTHOR-SIGNED BOOKS! ;D Come shop direct from 30+ local authors of all genres—including me!—at the Cape Fear Book Festival at the main branch of the New Hanover County Public Library in Wilmington, NC on FRI 11/22 from 5-8pm. I’ll be selling and signing copies of Teddy’s Bear Takes a Tumble! Come say hi!
PS If you’re out of town or can’t make it, but still want a signed copy of Teddy’s Bear Take a Tumble to gift this holiday season, drop me a note at jane@superjane.com and I’ll send you a free signed sticker!
New Illustrated Holiday Cards + Party Invitation
Also, if it’s not too early to go there..I’m DELIGHTED to unveil my new illustrated holiday photo card designs for Mpix! Each includes the option to customize text and add family photos on the reverse—how awesome is that?! Shop em’ here:
• It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Card
See You Later, Alligator
Ah, November is a whirlwind, caught as we are midway through the fall/winter holiday gauntlet. I hope you find a quiet moment to soak up the goodness of the season, whether it’s the beautiful outdoors, a favorite treat or movie. Or even a fun SRC activity with your kiddos! After all, it all goes by so quickly and before we know it, winter will be here and everything will be pine-scened and peppermint-flavored…so until next time—wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving holiday! Cheers!
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