A PLACE FOR PLUTO LANDS ON TXLA 2×2 READING LIST

Posted on February 1, 2019 by Stef Wade

I’m excited to share some great news! A PLACE FOR PLUTO was recently announced as part of the Texas Library Association’s (TXLA) 2×2 Reading List. The 2×2 Reading List is a curated list of 20 titles for 2019 that recommends 20 picture book titles for children age 2 through grade 2. This list is designed to encourage reading and is used by parents, teachers, and caregivers in Texas and beyond!

The list of 20 books includes:

A Place for Pluto by Stef Wade, illustrated by Melanie Demmer (Capstone, 2018)

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal (Candlewick, 2018)

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings (Random House, 2018)

Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli (Random House, 2018)

Festival of Colors by Kabir and Surishtha Sehgal, illustrated by Vashti Harrison (Simon & Schuster, 2018)

How Are You? / ¿Cómo estás? by Angela Dominguez (Henry Holt and Co., 2018)

Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor by Patricia Valdez, illustrated by Felicita Sala (Alfred A. Knopf, 2018)

Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Scott Magoon (Orchard Books, 2018)

People Don’t Bite People by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Molly Idle (Simon & Schuster, 2018)

Russell Wrestles the Relatives by Cindy Chambers Johnson, illustrated by Daniel Duncan (Aladdin, 2018)

Shake the Tree! By Chiara Vignocchi, illustrated by Silvia Borando (Candlewick, 2018)

Shapes by Jacques Duquennoy (Chronicle, 2018)

Stegothesaurus by Bridget Heos, illustrated by T.L. McBeth (Henry Holt and Co., 2018)

Teddy’s Favorite Toy by Christian Trimmer, illustrated by Madeline Valentine (Atheneum Books, 2018)

The Itchy Book by LeUyen Pham (Hyperion Books for Children, 2018)

The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier, illustrated by Sonia Sanchez (Scholastic Press, 2018)

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld (Dial Books, 2018)

Truck Full of Ducks by Ross Burach (Scholastic Press, 2018)

What Do They Do With All That Poo? by Jane Kurtz, illustrated by Allison Black (Beach Lane Books, 2018)

What if… by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Mike Curato (Little, Brown and Company, 2018)

To see the full article, please click here.

I’m honored that #plutobelongs on this list with so many distinguished and talented authors. It’s an exciting time for Pluto!

Thanks for all of your support!

Stef Wade to publish next picture book in 2020

Posted on January 8, 2019 by Stef Wade

I can officially say, my newest picture book comes out next year! I’m so excited to bring you LANCE COTTONWOOD IS AFRAID TO FALL, releasing Fall 2020, published by Capstone.

LANCE COTTONWOOD follows Lance the leaf, who’s the best student in his class, but is afraid of his final exam…falling.

Get ready for another pun-ny and fact-filled adventure!

Stay tuned for more information on illustrator and release dates.

A PLACE FOR PLUTO Book Launch Event

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Stef Wade

I’m excited to announce a special launch party for A PLACE FOR PLUTO! Our awesome friends at Jaunt and Berry Yo in Arlington Heights, IL are teaming up to bring you an exciting day for all things Pluto! Bring family and friends and join me for a fun afternoon!

A PLACE FOR PLUTO BOOK LAUNCH PARTY

Monday, July 2

12:30 – 1:30 p.m
at JAUNT
131 W Wing St, Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Purchase your copy of A PLACE FOR PLUTO

1:30 p.m.
at BERRY YO
50 N Vail Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Reading and Q&A session with Stef Wade, followed by book signing, activities, fro yo and fun!

About Pluto

Pluto got the shock of his life when he was kicked out of the famous nine. His planet status was stripped away, leaving him lost and confused. Poor Pluto! On his quest to find a place where he belongs, he talks to comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. He doesn’t fit it anywhere! But when Pluto is about to give up, he runs into a dwarf planet and finally finds his place in the solar system. This feel-good picture book combines a popular science topic with character education themes of self-discovery, acceptance, and friendship. It has bonus material in the back matter to support curriculum.

About Stef

Stef Wade is the author of A PLACE FOR PLUTO. Growing up in Des Plaines, IL, she dreamed of seeing her book on the shelf one day. And now her dream has come true! Stef is an alumnus of St. Paul Lutheran School in Mt. Prospect and Maine West High School in Des Plaines. A PLACE FOR PLUTO is her debut picture book and has been chosen by Barnes & Noble for their national storytime on August 11.

“Make space for this clever blend of science and self-realization.” –Kirkus Reviews

“A delightful and accessible take on the redesignation of the Kuiper Belt’s most controversial orbiter.” – Foreward Reviews

Barnes & Noble Storytime

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Stef Wade

Exciting things have been happening in Pluto’s universe this last week (and we all know he could use a little good news).

A PLACE FOR PLUTO has been chosen by Barnes & Noble as part of their National Storytime for August 11, 2018! What exactly does that mean? Every Barnes & Noble across the country holds a Saturday morning storytime each week with the same book at each store. And they’ve chosen A PLACE FOR PLUTO as one of those books! There will be a reading, worksheets and lots of Pluto love! So mark your calendars for August 11!

I couldn’t be more excited. I literally threw confetti.

And due to this development, the release date for A PLACE FOR PLUTO is now July 1, 2018! You can pre-order from Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound, Amazon, Capstone and more.

Just a little over a month and PLUTO will be out on the shelves!

Pre-order A PLACE FOR PLUTO

Posted on February 23, 2018 by Stef Wade

Every step of this process makes my dream feel like a reality. Today, it’s the link…to buy my book…at Barnes & Noble! A PLACE FOR PLUTO comes out August 1, but you can order your copy now! Or two. Just kidding. (Not really kidding, they make great gifts.)

So without further ado, here is the link: A PLACE FOR PLUTO pre-order

A PLACE FOR PLUTO coming Summer 2018

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Stef Wade

Dreams come true.

Writing has been my “thing” since I was able to form words on a paper. Being an author has been my dream since I started reading. Eight years ago, I decided to get serious about it.

I’m proud and excited to announce that my first children’s book is becoming a reality. A PLACE FOR PLUTO will hit shelves Summer 2018.

A PLACE FOR PLUTO follows Pluto as he struggles with a bit of an identity crisis after being told he’s no longer a planet. The book is illustrated by Melanie Demmer and published by Capstone.

For the Publisher’s Weekly announcement, click here.

I’ll share more about my journey along the way, but for now, we’re popping the cork and toasting to Pluto. Here’s to chasing dreams that may seem out of this world.

Cheers!

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Stef’s 2015 Year in Review

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Stef Wade

It is said that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but I happen to believe it’s right after Christmas when year-in-review and best-of lists swarm all forms of media. I guess I’m a sucker for nostalgia. This year, I’m making a short year-in-review for what has proved to be my most monumental year in writing (to-date, of course. I’m hoping it doesn’t go down in history that way).

I often get asked where I’m at with all of my writing projects. This should help sum it up, along with providing some tidbits I’ve learned about my writing, the publishing industry and myself.

2015 started off with a resolution or some may just say a goal (perhaps a recycled goal) of getting an agent.

I received suggested edits from an agent during a Twitter contest the previous year and was invited to revise and resubmit. I worked from September until January to polish up my manuscript and get it out. I waited for a response from the original agent, and after waiting six weeks, decided to put it forth into the world. I sent my manuscript to agents who also represent picture books as that is another interest of mine and to my pleasant surprise – ended up in talks with five different agents, three different offers and one agent signed and sealed by the end of the process! Amazing! Living on top the world! Right? Well sort of…

As with all writing roller coasters, it’s back to the computer for more edits. I was so excited for the direction THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BIRDS took after my edits, I couldn’t help but excited about the whole process.

In the meantime, my first creative non-fiction children’s book PLUTO SINGS THE BLUES and my second entitled DO IT MYSELFIE were polished up and officially sent on submission. Which is where those stand now and right before the end the year, THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BIRDS released itself into the publishing wild. So I am currently being reviewed by a variety of amazing editors. I pray that, just like the Bachelor (see Bachelor Agent Post), I will find my match made in heaven and you will someday in the not too distant future be able to check out my work.

Until then, I’m working on a yet to be titled contemporary YA work and praying hard every night that my writing finds its match with the right pair of eyes!

2016…Let’s do this.