This spring, Ivy Blue’s Greatest Pumpkin Playhouse was honored with three distinguished awards. The Literary Titan Book Award praised the book for its charm, creativity, and ability to inspire young readers. Literary Global also awarded the book a 5-Star Gold Seal, highlighting its powerful message that life’s greatest treasures often come in unexpected ways.

In addition, Ivy Blue’s Greatest Pumpkin Playhouse was named a winner of the Firebird Book Award, an honor that also helped provide colorful pillowcases and children’s books to homeless shelters. Each award celebrates the joy, hope, and imagination the story brings, affirming its mission to entertain while inspiring kindness, resilience, and the magic of dreaming big.

This past spring, I had the pleasure of visiting local schools to share Ivy Blue’s Greatest Pumpkin Playhouse. Students loved the interactive sing-along of the pumpkin life cycle, spotting butterflies in the illustrations, and learning what it takes to turn an idea into a book.

Teachers shared that the visits supported literacy and science goals while inspiring students to write their own stories. Many left eager to dream big—some even hoping to become authors themselves!

Whether through thoughtful questions, animated participation, or heartfelt enthusiasm, the students reminded me again and again why I love doing author visits: the chance to connect the magic of books with the boundless imagination of children.

The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County destroyed more than just buildings—they took away the heart of many communities, leaving children without their libraries and learning spaces. In the spirit of hope and healing, over 200 authors, including myself, joined a book donation campaign led by @kristirbradbury to help rebuild what was lost. Nearly 2,500 books have already been donated, bringing the magic of stories back into the hands of children who have lost so much. This incredible effort is a reminder that even in the darkest times, kindness and generosity can light the way. If you’d like to be part of this beautiful movement, you can donate a book by visiting http://bhusd.org/books.