Nice Catch
August 2025 Edition of the Super Readers Club
Howdy-do Super Readers! Are you catching a case of “I don’t want summer to end?” Or are you more of a “let’s get school started again already” type of gal/fella? I admit I’m more of the later as I’m truly-deeply-forever smitten with fall, but even I can still feel the tug of long, dreamy sunshiny days spreading out behind me…so today the Super Readers Club has some goodies to ease you into the seasonal shifts underfoot. Giggle along with the NEW Kitty & Cat comic, get thoughtful with the Chloe Zoe School Predictions time capsule worksheet, discover author-illustrator Berrie Torgan-Randall in the NEW kidlit interview and discover a fun, new episode of the video podcast, PBJamz, featuring me and children’s musician Laura Doherty!
The Funnies
How’s everyone spending their last days of summer? Kitty and Cat are soaking up some sunshine out on the fishing pier. FUN FACT: When I was a kiddo, I only ever fished when we were on summer vacation in the Carolinas. The craziest thing I ever caught was a stingray. I put my line too far down and—OOPS! Ha ha!
New School Year Predictions
The back-to-school season is upon us, but don’t worry—Chloe Zoe has your back! After mastering preschool, kindergarten and first grade, Chloe Zoe knows that beginning a new school year is always a buzzy jumble of nerves and excitement. Why not turn that energy into a good bit of fun by doing the the School Predictions worksheet below with the kiddos in your life?! When you’re done, seal it in an envelope, and then come May, open it for a time capsule surprise! Cool, right?!
Super Story Time LIVE
Were you hoping I’d read the newest Chloe Zoe school book aloud this month? (Wink, wink!) Well, you’re in for a treat, because not only am I reading It’s the First Day of First Grade, Chloe Zoe!, super star author-illustrator Berrie Torgan-Randall will be joining me to read her adorable new picture book Just Ducky! Pencil us in on your calendar for WED 8/13 at 1pm EST over on Instagram! Hooray!
Mini Interview with Berrie Torgan-Randall
Q: In your new picture book, Just Ducky, the main character’s most favorite animal is ducks! What’s your favorite animal? Why?
BERRIE: I like watching baby birds hatch. I recently saw a video of an adorable flamingo being born and was amazed at the news of the Galapagos tortoise who laid four eggs at The Philadelphia Zoo at 100 years old! My spirit animal is a giraffe because we both have a long neck and knobby knees. I also wonder how baby giraffes survive falling 6 feet at birth.
Q: As a children’s librarian (as well as a children’s book author-illustrator!), what picture books do you love to read aloud?
BERRIE: One of my recent favorites is Grumpy Monkey by Susan and Max Lang (great for helping kids- and adults- suss out their feelings). I also enjoy the Mother Bruce books by Ryan T Higgins for his humorous take on a grumpy bear who has a change of heart when he unexpectedly becomes a mother to a brood of goslings. Another popular book when my kids were little was Pete's a Pizza by William Steig (great for role play when a family member is in a bad mood), Frederick by Leo Leoni (I love how Frederick the mouse contributes to the survival of his family with his gathered stories to tell during the cold winter), and one of my childhood favorite books and the inspiration for Bella & Blue is Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion and Margaret Bloh Graham (I love when Harry's family doesn't recognize him after he rolls in the dirt becoming a black dog with white spots instead of a white dog with black spots.)
Q: Dish with us about who/what/where inspires your stories and artwork!
BERRIE: My inspiration for writing and illustrating stories is to gather and build a legacy of stories for my three children (now adults but they will always remain my babies), the students I taught as a librarian (it's the quirky ones who have given me ideas for great stories), and the kids I meet as an author/illustrator. I bring a pad of paper and markers to book fairs so that the kids can draw a duck or a dog using my guidelines (or not). I recently met six-year-old "T" who drew a very detailed tiger and let me know that he is a tiger expert and knows EVERYTHING about them.
• Visit Berrie, her books & artwork HERE!
Chatting Muddy Puddles on PBJamz
Want an inside peek into about how Laura and I teamed up to create our indie picture book Muddy Puddles? Check out the latest episode of the video podcast, PBJamz, where super star host Tonnye Fletcher thoughtfully interviews us about the book. We’re chatting inspiration, children’s music, bug scavenger hunts and MORE!
See You Later, Alligator
As ever, thanks so much for being here, Super Readers! I’m excited to say that the fall and winter are bringing some cherry treats to look forward to: NEW SRC Activity Kits in September as well as December + sneak peeks at the NEW Chloe Zoe Christmas book, which releases in October ahead of the holidays.
I also hope to see some of you at the SCBWI Ohio North Regional Conference in October, where I’ll be leading breakout sessions on both self-publishing picture books and the business of publishing and also critiquing portfolios.
And for Wilmington, NC locals, the second annual Cape Fear Book Festival at the New Hanover County Library will take place on November 15-16, 2025. I’ll be selling & signing It’s Christmas, Chloe Zoe!, so mark your calendars!
Until next time, wishing you peace, ease and all the creature comforts you need to gently move forward…