2 Cover Reveals and a Cat on Roller skates

5 things from the studio this week

The drum of get things done is loud in my ears, and the days seem shorter than they ought to be given the suns longer time on stage. Mosquitos have been biting at my ankles, the heat drawing moisture out of every pore on walks with the dog.

Even so, summer is truly great.

I’m happy to share 5 things from the week that was with you. Rooting you on to make something incredible … or just sip on a nice drink with lots of ice.

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1. SOME ART MAKING

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If you want a symbolic illustration of how the studio felt this week, you can’t go wrong with “cat on roller skates.”

A good and productive week for sure, but the boys are now home from school (16 and 13, so there’s a lot more “can I have a snack?” and “what’s for dinner?” and “can I have a ride to X” interruptions). It’s always tough when my two main roles get blurred together.

I’ll see them as one job and make peace with my summer schedule, seeing it all as success eventually. Re-entry is always bumpy.

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2. WORK WISDOM

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Consider that it might not have been your initial style that attracted success, but your personal passion within it. So if your passion changes course, follow it. Your trust in your instincts and excitement are what resonate with others.

—

Rick Rubin

This is a subtle, subtle thing but potentially massive in its importance. First, let’s wrestle with the idea that consumers of our art can be attracted to it because they can see our personal passion within it, rather than just the style or substance. I know this to be true as someone who falls for great art that is imperfect all of the freaking time.

It also decouples our style from our success in a way that is freeing and in step with following the natural “what’s next” progression that I think is healthy for creators. In short, going where your passion lies is really, really good for whatever you're making. Obvious and profound.

I’m going to sit with this for a long while.

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3. THING I LOVED

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One of the things I’ve marveled at over the years is when the text of a picture book is saying one thing and the illustrations another — all while the reader is in on it.¹

A note by

Rachel Michelle Wilson

pointed me to a newsletter (written by a public school K-5 librarian,

Chrissie Wright

) that reminded me of this dynamic and spells it out particularly well:

Here’s my working theory: books that deliver the one-two punch of repeated visual inference, then omission as knockout, make for electric, unforgettable read-alouds.

Could not agree more. Read the whole thing. It’s ace:

My epiphany about picture books that make electric read-alouds

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4. A BOOK TO READ

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There are books that I read and that I understand how they were made. And then there are “captures the feeling of x” books and to me — they are mysterious wonders.

Fireworks illustrated by the ever-amazing

Cátia Chien

and written by Matthew Burgess is such a book. The Kirkus starred review offers a glimpse of how the magic is magic-ed:

Burgess’ succinct, sensory-rich, onomatopoeia-laden text beats with an infectious rhythm, while Chien’s impressionistic mixed-media artwork sets the mood beautifully on each spread, from a hazy scene where people seem to fade into the background amid the heat to the dazzling depictions of fireworks, followed by a cozy montage of Grandma getting the kids ready for bed. Landmarks indicate that the tale is set in New York City; this is an immersive tribute to the unique pleasures of an urban Fourth of July.

A radiant celebration of all things summer.

There’s feeling dripping from the words and the images that call out to a summer feeling that is nostalgic and universal, even for kids who grow up far from the city. This book will win a bunch of awards and sits in the same feeling-space as a past Caldecott favorite of mine, Hot Dog by Doug Salati.

(Now to craft my own.)

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5. EPHEMERA, ETC.

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If you’ve been following along carefully, you’ll remember that I had back to back picture book finals due earlier this year. I’m incredibly proud of the work and stories I got to share in making. Both books come out next year but just per chance, both had their cover reveals this week. Presenting WHIRBY (written by Molly Harris, HarperCollins Feb 17, 2026) and THE BOY WITH BIG, BIG ENERGY (written by Britney Winn Lee, Beaming Books Mar 17, 2026):

Whew! Can’t wait to hold these as actual books!

See you next week!

Best,
Jacob

1. This is where the magic resides, after all:

Where the Magic Resides