Events
Here you can find everything from podcasts to magazine articles to in-person visits. Simply click on the links for public events to register or get more information.
Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon is named the winner of a Crystal Kite Award!
Come join me & Anney Matlock at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum’s Virtual Story Time! Mon, April 27 at 11am EST. We’ll be talking about Hans Christian Andersen, the stamps he inspired, and, of course, I’ll be reading The True Ugly Duckling! Free registration is HERE!
Come give a listen at the Uniquely Human Podcast. Barry Prizant, Dave Finch, and I talk about Hans Christian Andersen, his neurodivergent journey, and The True Ugly Duckling. You can listen HERE.
Please come to The True Ugly Duckling Book Launch! It’s April 2nd at 6pm at Books of Wonder in New York City. Everyone is welcome. Bring friends! If you can’t make it, but would like a signed copy, you can order one online HERE. Just remember, if you would like a signed copy, you must order before March 31st. See you at the launch!
Come give a listen at the Growing Readers Podcast. Bianca Schultze and I talk about fairytales, biographies, Hans Christian Andersen, and the inspiration behind The True Ugly Duckling. You can listen HERE.
Join me at the Texas Library Association’s Annual Conference in Houston Texas on March 30, 2026 at 10 am for the panel Teaching Through Tales, and for a signing of The True Ugly Duckling at 11 am in the exhibition hall.
The True Ugly Duckling, How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan will be released by Levine Querido on March 3, 2024.
On October 22, 2025, Making Light Bloom and I will be visiting Northridge School in Newton, Kansas for a day of creative inspiration.
On October 16, 2025, at 6pm, I’ll be visiting The Royalton Hartland Community Library in Middleport, NY. I’ll be reading Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon and then we’ll all do a Pigeon Quiz together. If you want to try your hand at parsing out which details in the book are fact and fiction, the Resources Page has a downloadable version of the quiz.
On October 15, 2025, at 6pm, I’ll be visiting The Author’s Note in Medina, NY. I’ll be reading Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon and then we’ll all do a Pigeon Quiz together. If you want to try your hand at parsing out which details in the book are fact and fiction, the Resources Page has a downloadable version of the quiz.
On October 14, 2025 at noon, Making Light Bloom and I will be visiting the Southeast Steuben County Library. I’ll read, and then we’ll all do a craft together.
On October 14, I will be joining Debbie Fishbeck, School and Educator Programs Supervisor, for an Evening for Educators at the Corning Museum of Glass. Making Light Bloom will be featured, as will Clara Driscoll’s prize-winning dragonfly lamp.
On Sunday, October 12, 2025, I’ll be reading Making Light Bloom: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps at the New York Historical, the home of 100 magnificent Tiffany Lamps. Stop by at 11:30m for the reading, a craft, and the opportunity to buy a signed copy of the book.
On Friday, October 10, 2025, I’ll be recording The True Ugly Duckling, How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan The first step for it to become an audiobook.
On Wednesday October 8, at Politics and Prose in Washington, DC, I’ll be reading Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon and talking about the unique way in which I wrote it. I first researched pigeons for over a year and then placed Seven and his fictional flock in a world that resembles that of real pigeons. We’ll wrap things up with a Pigeon Quiz. If you want to try your hand at parsing out which details in the book are fact and fiction, the Resources Page has a downloadable activity page.
On Wednesday October 8, Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon and I will be visiting Peabody Elementary School in Washington, DC.
On Wednesday October 8, Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon and I will be visiting Horace Mann School in Washington, DC.
On October 7, Making Light Bloom and I will be visiting the National Cathedral School in Washington, DC for a day of creative inspiration.
Making Light Bloom and I will be at the New Hampshire Book Festival! I’ll be appearing on the panel, Out From the Shadows: Women and Girls Taking Chances on October 4 in Concord, NH. Why not join me and 50+ authors for an amazing literary weekend!?!
Mr. Schu revealed the cover for The True Ugly Duckling on August 4, 2025. As part of the cover reveal, John and Sandra chatted about Calvin Nicholl’s illustrations, Copenhagen, and how Hans Christian Andersen–like Calvin–was a paper artist . You can find the cover reveal and interview HERE.
Bear’s Big Idea is named the winner of a Crystal Kite Award!
Making Light Bloom: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps is released by Peachtree Publishers on June 24, 2025!
May 17 was high school graduation in my hometown of Newton, Kansas. When I graduated, I would have never guessed that I would be named a Distinguished Alumna. My heartfelt thanks to Liz Koehn, who nominated me, and the USD 373 Education Endowment Committee, who included me in this group of outstanding individuals. I’m deeply honored.
On May 12, 2025, Aimee Sicuro and I will be celebrating ABC Day at the Explore Lower Charter School in Brooklyn, New York. Aimee will be inspiring young and old to make their own individual pigeons, while I will be reading Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon and quizzing students about what is fact and what is fiction in the story.
Join Aimee Sicuro and me at Lofty Pigeon Books in Brooklyn, New York on May 10, 2025 at 10:30 am to celebrate the release of Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon! We’ll read the story. We’ll make pigeons. We’ll eat cookies. It will be a fantastic time!
On May 9, Aimée Sicuro and I signed Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon at the New York City icon, Books of Wonder. While they’re still in stock, why not stop by and get a dual-signed copy of your very own?
On May 6, 2025, I will be visiting the second and third graders of the Neighborhood School in New York City. We’ll be reading Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon and talking about the unique way in which I wrote it. I first researched pigeons for over a year and then placed Seven and his fictional flock in a world that resembles that of real pigeons. We’ll wrap things up with a Pigeon Quiz. If you want to try your hand at parsing out which details in the book are fact and fiction, the Resources Page has a downloadable activity page.
Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon is released by Candlewick Press on May 6, 2025!
On May 5, 2025, Aimee Sicuro and I will be spending the entire day at the Isaac Asimov School for Science and Literature in Brooklyn, New York. We’ll be reading Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon and talking about how it became a book from first inspiration to final drawing.
Come celebrate School Library Month with us on April 23rd! Mae Respicio, Saadia Faruqi, Vicky Fang, Varsha Bajaj and I will discuss our latest works, our creative processes, and how lucky we are that school libraries support all forms of literacy. It’s open to all school librarians & students, and if you can’t make the online event it’s recorded! You can register HERE.
Beginning April 9, 2025, Bookstr will be featuring me across their social media accounts. On May 6, the publication day of Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon, be sure to look for the One-on-One interview with me HERE.
Bear’s Big Idea was nominated for Pennsylvania’s Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award on March 10, 2025. It and other nominees will be read to students in preschools across the state of Pennsylvania during the 2025-2026 school year. Then, students will vote for their favorite in March, 2026. Hooray!
Mr. Schu revealed the cover for Making Light Bloom on November 20, 2024. As part of the cover reveal, John and I chatted about Julie Paschkis’s illustrations, Tiffany Lamps, the importance of primary research, and how we discovered that Clara Driscoll was the hidden genius behind the Tiffany Lamps. You can find the cover reveal and interview HERE.
Five months ago my husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Yesterday, October 15, 2024, he left us. For those of you who know my Bear and Fish books, he was the Fish to my worrier Bear. Always positive. Always sure. Always there for me. Good journeying, my love. Remember, it’s not a goodbye, it’s a see you later.
Bear’s Big Idea is out September 10!
Bear’s Big Idea gets an absolutely fabulous mention in the Literary Hub!
KidLit TV premiered the book trailer for Bear’s Big Idea on August 5, 2024! You can watch it anytime HERE!
Another lovely review for Bear’s Big Idea came out August 1, 2024. This time from School Library Journal!
Come join in the NACHO’S NACHOS fun on July 12 at 3:30 pm at Inklings Children’s Books in Waitsfield, Vermont! There’ll be reading. There’ll be cooking. There’ll be me zooming in!
Betsy Bird and A Fuse #8 Production revealed Aimée Sicuro’s gorgeous cover for Seven on July 9, 2024! As part of the cover reveal, Betsy and I chatted about my inspiration for the story, pigeons (of course), and the challenges and joys of being different. I think you’ll love this one. You can find it HERE.
Story Monsters Ink Magazine featured me and my books in its June 2024 issue. The article especially focused on Big Bear and Little Fish and Bear’s Big Idea. You can read the full online article (after a free registration) HERE.
The first review for Bear’s Big Idea is out. And it’s a beauty! “A winning tale of friendship and creativity unleashed.” Thank you Kirkus Reviews!
My article Affirming Autism, along with its accompanying reading list, 12 Ideal Picture Books for Children with Autism, came out in School Library Journal on March 22, 2024.
The Stuff Between the Stars becomes an audio book! It was released on March 20, 2024 by Recorded Books and is narrated by the talented Zura Johnson.
It was an absolute honor being on the Golden Kite Awards Committee for Picture Book Text. Congratulations to the finalists: Hello, Mister Blue by Daria Peoples, Spanish is the Language of My Family by Michael Genhart, and The Walk by Winsome Bingham. And special congratulations to the Honor, Salat in Secret by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, and the the Winner, Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter. The recording of the Gala, where we presented the awards, will be coming to YouTube soon, and I’ll be sure to post the link here. So, stay tuned!
Come celebrate the 2024 Golden Kite Awards on February 23, 2024. Instituted in 1973, the Golden Kite Awards are the only children’s literary award judged by a jury of peers. The ceremony will be online at 4pm Pacific Time, and you can register HERE.
On Febrary 7th, 2024, I’ll be joining authors, illustrators, and students around this beautiful globe of ours for World Read Aloud Day.
On January 18, 2024, Mr. Schu celebrated the Cover Reveal of Bear’s Big Idea on his blog, Watch. Connect. Read. In addition to sharing the cover for the first time, Mr. Schu asked me to finish the following sentences: Bear’s Big Idea tells a story…, Il Sung Na’s illustrations…, Picture books…, Story is…, and John Schu, you should have asked me… Come celebrate the Cover Reveal with us HERE!
From November 20 to November 24, 2023, I will be the Writer in Residence at The Ecole Nouvelle in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 at 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., I’ll be a table host during the NCTE Children’s Book Awards Luncheon and sharing copies of Big Bear and Little Fish. The luncheon is in room Short North B on the Upper Level. Come join my table!
Come get a signed copy of Big Bear and Little Fish! Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at 4:00 – 4:30 p.m., I’ll be signing at the Lerner Booth, #307 in the Exhibit Hall.
Come see me at the NCTE Annual Convention! Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at 2:00 – 3:15 p.m., I’ll be speaking to roundtables about Big Bear and Little Fish at Teaching with 2023 Charlotte Huck & Orbis Pictus Award Books in Room C-171/172.
November 6, 2023 is National Nachos Day and I am delighted that I’ll be sharing The Making of Nacho’s Nachos with students across Arizona as part of their year-long preparation for the Grand Canyon Reader Award.
On September 5, 2023 I’ll be talking with Lesley and Vanesha on the All in the Library Podcast. We’ll be talking mostly about Breaking Through the Clouds, but there’s other fun too, so please join us. You can listen anytime HERE.
On May 2, 2023 I’ll be visiting the International School of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland. I’ll be talking about how I became a writer and also reading Big Bear and Little Fish, Nacho’s Nachos, and The Stuff Between the Stars. It’s going to be a fabulous day!
Big Bear and Little Fish will be featured on a KidLit TV StoryMakers episode on April 24, 2023. You may view it at anytime on the KidLit TV channel HERE.
On March 6, 2023 I will be joining Lori Ann Stephens and Southern Methodist University students to discuss ethical implications of children’s literature.
After doing two online readings for the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, I’m thrilled to be reading and signing The Stuff Between the Stars in person. Come join me on March 4, 2023 at 11 am at the Washington, DC location, 6th Street and Independence Avenue, SW.
I’m delighted that I’ll be talking about the making of Nacho’s Nachos at the Neighborhood School in New York City on February 28, 2023. A special thanks for the invitation from Cheryl Wolf, who curated “Cookbooks: Read it and Eat It” of which Nacho’s Nachos is a part.
On February 23, 2023, I’ll be recording a StoryMakers episode for Big Bear and Little Fish at KidLit TV in New York City.
World Read Aloud Day is February 1, 2023. I’m looking forward to reading Big Bear and Little Fish to students around the world. Teachers, please sign up HERE. I look forward to hearing from you!
Breaking Through the Clouds is named an ALA Rise Honoree.
I’m looking forward to zooming into Skyline Elementary in Solana Beach, California and reading Big Bear and Little Fish on December 8, 2022.
I’m looking forward to reading Big Bear and Little Fish with Years 1 and 2 at St. George’s International School in Clarens, Switzerland on December 7, 2022.
Big Bear and Little Fish is named a Charlotte Huck Award Recommended Book at the National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention on November 19, 2022.
Join me and a bunch of other great children’s books authors at the Maplewood NJ Book Festival on Sunday, October 2, 2022. I look forward to seeing you there!
I’m looking forward to reading Big Bear and Little Fish with the Harvey County Parents as Teachers program at the Newton Public Library in Newton, Kansas on September 30, 2022 at 5pm.
Please join me on September 28, 2022 at 10am at Faith & Life Bookstore in Newton, Kansas. I’ll be reading Big Bear and Little Fish, answering questions from the audience, and signing books.
Please join me on September 24, 2022 at 10am at Watermark Books in Wichita, Kansas. I’ll be reading Big Bear and Little Fish, answering questions from the audience, and signing books.
If you would like to order Big Bear and Little Fish before the event, click HERE.
I’m looking forward to visiting Northridge Elementary School in Newton, Kansas on September 22, 2022 to read Big Bear and Little Fish and talk about friendship.
I’m looking forward to zooming into Newport News, Virginia on September 8, 2022, to read Big Bear and Little Fish to the first graders there.
I’ll be visiting the International School of Lausanne in Mont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland on September 6, 2022 for a double celebration of the release of Big Bear and Little Fish and National Friendship Month! ISL students, get ready for all the good feelings and bear and fish cookies!
The Stuff Between the Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered Most of the Universe is named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Book.
KidLit TV premiers the trailer for Big Bear and Little Fish on August 30, 2022. You can view it HERE.
Join me at The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for its Online Story Hour on August 13, 2022 at 10 am eastern time. I will read Breaking Through the Clouds and chat with the Smithsonian’s Ann Caspari about clouds and meteorologist Joanne Simpson.
Join me at Books of Wonder for an online hour of picture book biographies on June 18, 2022 at 1:00 pm eastern time.
Featuring household names like 1936 Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens in Carol Boston Weatherford’s Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive and Khalil Gibran, the world’s third-best-selling poet of all time, in Cory McCarthy’s Hope is An Arrow, as well as new heroes to discover like Rob Kearney, the first openly gay professional strongman, in Eric Rosswood’s Strong, Fatima al-Fihri, the Muslim woman who founded the world’s first oldest university, in M.O. Yuksel’s One Wish, and Joanne Simpson, the pioneering scientist who became the first female doctorate meteorologist, in my Breaking Through the Clouds. You can sign up HERE.
Join me on May 22, 2022 at 5:00 pm Central Europe Time for Nonfiction Picture Books: Lessons I’ve Learned. I’ll share the important lessons I’ve learned writing nonfiction picture books and provide helpful tips, including choosing your topic, researching beyond the internet, keeping the illustrator in mind, and finding your theme. The webinar is hosted by the French Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and you can register HERE.
The Stuff Between the Stars was awarded a Crystal Kite Award, which recognizes excellence in the field of children’s literature.
Join me at Cloud-a-Day Live, the weekly broadcast of the Cloud Appreciation Society, on April 11, 2022 at 6pm UK time. We’ll be talking about Joanne Simpson and Breaking Through the Clouds. You can find the full broadcast HERE. Our discussion begins at 12:53 minutes.
I’ll be joining Lyn Miller-Lachmann at PS 110, the Monitor School, in Brooklyn, New York on April 5, 2022 to talk about Breaking Through the Clouds and inspiration for writing.
I’ll be virtually visiting Black Traditional Magnet Elementary School in Wichita, Kansas on March 24, 2022 to celebrate Women’s History Month, clouds, and the woman who discovered the importance of clouds, Joanne Simpson. I’ll also be reading Breaking Through the Clouds.
On March 14, 2022, KCRA in Sacramento, California featured Breaking Through the Clouds and an interview with me for Women’s History Month. You can find the broadcast feature HERE.
I’ll be visiting the International School of Lausanne in Mont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland on March 10, 2022 to celebrate the release of Breaking Through the Clouds, share cloud cookies, and talk about clouds.
March 8, 2022 is International Women’s Day AND the release of Breaking Through the Clouds: The Sometimes Turbulent Life of Joanne Simpson. To celebrate, please stop by La Vaudaire in Chexbres, Switzerland for cloud cookies, cloud activities and of course a reading by the author.
Because of a snow day in Saginaw, Michigan I get to have a second round of World Read Aloud Day. I’m looking forward to reading to Ms. Jairazbhoy’s third grade class on February 9, 2022.
World Read Aloud Day is February 2, 2022. I’m looking forward to reading The Stuff Between the Stars with third graders in Richmond, Texas and Wonder Lake, Illinois, and fourth graders in Sudbury, Massachusetts and Warrenton, Virginia. What a day it will be! Contact me HERE about reading to your school or library.
I’ll be virtually visiting Slate Creek Elementary School in Newton, Kansas on October 20, 2021–The International Day of the Nacho–to talk about Nacho’s Nachos.
I’ll be virtually visiting Antonia Pantoja Bilingual Charter School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 27, 2021 to talk about The Stuff Between the Stars.
I’ll be virtually visiting the National Cathedral School in Washington, DC on May 6, 2021. I’ll be talking about researching nonfiction, The Stuff Between the Stars and Nacho’s Nachos.
Join me at Second Star to the Right in Denver, Colorado on May 3, 2021. I’ll be virtually reading The Stuff Between the Stars, and we’ll be having all sorts of interstellar fun!
I’ll be visiting ELA Basel, the Swiss British School of Basel, Switzerland on April 23, 2021 to talk about Nacho’s Nachos.
I’ll be visiting St. George’s School in Clarens, Switzerland on April 21, 2021 to talk about The Stuff Between the Stars.
I’ll be visiting the International School of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland on April 19 & 20, 2021 to talk about Nacho’s Nachos, researching, and writing food invention stories.
Nacho’s Nachos was awarded a Christopher Award! The award recognizes works affirming the highest values of the human spirit.
Please join me on March 31 in Wichita, Kansas for a Virtual Author Visit in celebration of Women’s History Month. I’ll be joining Watermark Books and the Wichita Schools to talk about the incredible astronomer Vera Rubin and read The Stuff Between the Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered Most of the Universe.
If you would like to order The Stuff Between the Stars before the event, click HERE.
Join Aimee Sicuro and me at The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum for its Online Story Hour. I read The Stuff Between the Stars, we talk about Vera Rubin, and Aimee demonstrates how to paint the most beautiful galaxy. You can watch HERE.
Join me for a Virtual Story Time at Old Firehouse Books on March 20, 2021 at 9:30 am MDT. I’ll be reading The Stuff Between the Stars, talking about constellations, and showing how to make a Constellation in a Cup! Looking forward to seeing you there!
Vermont College of Fine Arts is having a Book Birthday Party for The Stuff Between the Stars and five other fantastic books by VCFA alumni on March 17, 2021 at 8 pm EDT. Why not stop by and join in the fun? You can register HERE.
In Celebration of Women’s History Month, Publishers Weekly will be featuring Laurie Wallmark and me. We talk about science, curiosity, and the importance of picture books about women in STEM. Look for our ‘In Conversation’ in Children’s Bookshelf on March 16.
I’ll be virtually visiting MayDell Jenks Elementary School and Bear Creek Elementary School, along with Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Texas on March 4, 2021. I’ll be talking about writing nonfiction, The Stuff Between the Stars and Nacho’s Nachos.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Golden Kite Awards recognize excellence in children’s literature in seven categories. Nacho’s Nachos was named one of five finalists in the category of Nonfiction Text for Younger Readers. Join the Golden Kite Gala on February 19, 2021 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm PST to celebrate all of the finalists and pay special tribute to the winners of all seven categories.
Join me at the WEMTA Author’s Fair on February 7, 2021. I’ll bet talking about The Stuff Between the Stars and Nacho’s Nachos at 4:30 pm Central Time.
Join me at the WEMTA where I’ll be reading Nacho’s Nachos on February 5, 2021 at 7:10 pm Central Time.
It’s a KidLit TV Premier for The Stuff Between the Stars. You can view the book trailer HERE.
Vermont College of Fine Arts is having a Book Birthday Party for Nacho’s Nachos and five other fantastic books by VCFA alumni on November 18, 2020. Why not stop by and join in the fun? You can register HERE.
Join me for a virtual visit at Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins, Colorado on November 6, 2020 at 10:30 am MDT. It’s National Nachos Day and I’ll be reading Nacho’s Nachos!
Second Star to the Right in Denver, Colorado will be celebrating National Nachos Day by making nachos. I’ll be stopping by virtually to join in the fun and read from Nacho’s Nachos. The date and time are: November 6, 2020 at 1:00 pm MDT.
Join me at the Boulder Book Store for a Virtual Author Visit. You can find our Q&A about Nacho’s Nachos HERE.
I’ll be visiting St. George’s School in Clarens, Switzerland on October 27, 2020 to talk about Nacho’s Nachos, researching, and writing about favorite foods.
Food Non-Fiction, a podcast that tells the incredible stories behind food, is featuring Nacho’s Nachos. Click HERE to listen or look for Food Non-Fiction on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or RSS feed.
Lee & Low Books hosted an online Tea Time Talk on September 17 with Katheryn Russell-Brown, the author of She Was the First!: The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm, Sandra Nickel, the author of Nacho’s Nachos: The Story Behind the World’s Favorite Snack, and Monica Brown, the author of Sharuko: El arqueólogo peruano Julio C. Tello/ Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello. We talked picture book biographies from start to finish with our editor, Louise May. You can still watch anytime by clicking HERE.
Lone Star Literary Life has organized a blog tour for Nacho’s Nachos from August 20 to August 29, 2020. Be sure to stop by for a chance to win a free copy and recipe card.
Keep an eye out for The Book Club Cookbook’s Kid’s Reads Newsletter featuring Nacho’s Nachos on August 11, 2020.
TeachingBooks is featuring Sandra Nickel and Nacho’s Nachos on its Virtual Book Tour. Stop by HERE on July 28, 2020, or anytime afterwards.