Celebrate Every Little Good Thing
January 2025 Edition of the Super Readers Club
Happy Day, Super Readers! Let’s step lightly together into the New Year as both endings and beginnings abound. There’s a sparkle in the air and I’m as intimidated as I am excited by all that the new year is bringing. Can you feel the buzz in the air? Let’s celebrate every little good thing together!
And today’s issue is full of good things: a special NEW Kitty & Cat comic, the scoop on the first NEW Chloe Zoe book of 2025, a NEW picture book announcement AND a NEW mini interview with this month’s Super Story Time guest, Shirley Ng-Benitez!
The Funnies
Kitty & Cat are kicking off the New Year with an extra special comic today. For the last couple years, Kitty & Cat has also appeared in the fabulous Substack
run by kidlit super stars, Jen de Oliviera and Mika Song. They started Sunday Haha during the pandemic and then just kept going…until now. This coming Sunday will be the last new issue (#238!) of Sunday Haha. And I’m saying good-bye in style:
But all ending are really just new beginnings, right? So why not begin following some of the awesome Sunday Haha super stars?! Check out some of my favs here:
Fresh, Fab Reviews for Chloe Zoe
As you may already know, three new Chloe Zoe picture books are releasing this year, taking the series from six books to nine! The first of the three new titles is It’s St. Patrick’s Day, Chloe Zoe! And I’m immensely grateful to share that it has received a positive review from the School Library Journal.
As an indie author, this is kinda of a big deal! Because I’m not just the author, I’m also the illustrator, the book designer, the production manager, the sales & marketing rep and the publicist. All of which to say, this is a HUGE win and one of those “good things” to celebrate! So toss a handful of confetti into the air with me and toast with something bubbly! Hooray for Chloe Zoe!
“Colored pencil linework and mixed media in bright hues, punctuated by plenty of leprechaun green, invite young readers in while celebrating the legend of the leprechaun…readers familiar with Chloe Zoe’s world will be glad to see the familiar shapes and colors of their favorite elephant as she embarks on another adventure.” —School Library Journal
“Smith once again entertains with whimsical characters experiencing life to the fullest. Young readers not already familiar with St. Patrick’s Day will find plenty to learn about here, and the narrative is just part of the fun; Smith’s brilliantly hued illustrations are bursting with lively, amusing details that add richness to the story… Kids will love Chloe Zoe’s wish—for “a new class pet” as the old one, a hamster named Marshmallow, has gone missing—almost as much as they relish the surprise ending, where that wish comes true in a delightfully unexpected way. Along the way, Chloe Zoe learns how to manage pins-and-needles excitement, nervous anticipation, and a little sprinkle of disappointment as well—all valuable emotional lessons for young readers, especially Smith’s careful attention to how those feelings can play out in our bodies at times. This is a magical holiday treat.” —Publishers Weekly BookLife
Make Yourself a Lucky Leprechaun & Pre-Order from your Fav Bookseller:
Super Star Team-Up
I also have exciting book news to share: my first indie picture book team-up! I’m so honored to have been hired by children’s performer and award-winning recording artist, Laura Doherty, to adapt her hit song, Muddy Puddles, to a children’s book! And it’s set to release in spring 2025! It’s SO hilarious and fun and I can’t wait to share more…but for now, please enjoy these in-progress sketches and character designs. Then toss some more confetti in the air and whack a pig-shaped piñata, because this is one of those “good things” we’re definitely celebrating! ;D
Super Story Time LIVE
A new year means a new line-up of fabulous story time guest readers! And I’m thrilled to pieces to have Shirley Ng-Benitez—kidlit author, AWEtober organizer and all-around kindest human—as our January guest reader! Shirley and I will be easing you into the new year with quiet stories of mindfulness and change: Hello, New House and Mindful Day! Join us this WED 1/8 at a special earlier time 12:30 PST / 3:30 EST over on Instagram LIVE!
Interview Mini with Shirley Ng-Benitez
Q: What is your most favorite page or spread from your sweet picture book Mindful Day?
SHIRLEY: My favorite spread is the title page as I hope that it sets the tone of the book and encourages the reader to take in the details of the illustrations. I wanted to show the active family of three somehow, but in a quiet setting, and I felt that their snoozing kitten was a nice starting point as the family starts their day.
Q: Do you have any mindfulness practices that are part of your everyday routine?
SHIRLEY: After walking my 10k steps each morning, I do a very light home gym routine that ends with a series of Aikido stretches. I recently have added taking time to take in the sky and clouds as I wait for one of our outdoor kitties to finish eating (her big sis always tries to steal her food), so I play “guard”. While I do so, I breathe and take in the smells and sounds of the day, and it always makes me so grateful to be in the present.
Q: Do you have any special creative goals, dreams or resolutions for the new year?
SHIRLEY: A creative goal of mine next year is to fully dive into, experiment, and create (then finally complete) the artwork for my author-illustrator debut picture book, titled DOWN, THROUGH, UP, releasing in ’27 by Quill Tree Books. I’m so nervous (but very excited) about this!
• Visit and all her sweet books HERE!
See You Later, Alligator
As ever, thanks so much for being here, Super Readers! I hope to see you at Super Story Time this week, and if you can’t make it—remember you can always catch up on story times over on the Super Jane YouTube channel. And if you’re looking for some chill time with the littles, maybe print out the SRC Winter Activity Kit or the new Chloe Zoe January Coloring Page, make a hot chocolate and watch the snow fall like confetti, celebrating every. little. good. thing.
Love this! And thank you so much for including Little Green Monsters, Jane!