JUST ANNOUNCED...

Just announced on Publisher’s Marketplace!

Shawna J. C. Tenney to illustrate NYT-bestselling series author Sherri Duskey Rinker’s CONSTRUCTION SITE:THE CREW NEEDS YOU!, the first novelty book in the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series, featuring flaps, pull tabs, turn wheels, and press buttons to help your favorite trucks get through a busy day of work and play, to Mary Colgan at Chronicle Children’s for publication in fall 2026, by Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary for the illustrator (world).

Swipe to see a fun little sneak peak of Crane truck lifting his crane! Working with novelty features was a fun new challenge! I can’t wait to see kids discover all the fun ways to play with this book!

ACTIVITY KIT - GOODNIGHT GOODNIGHT CONSTRUCTION SITE

Whether your little one is moving up this week or already diving into summer break, the first “I’m bored” of the season might be just around the corner. This year, be ready with this activity kit starring all your favorite Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site characters. Packed with coloring pages, mazes, and word games, it will help keep literacy learning fun and combat the summer slide! Check my ACTIVITY KITS page!

Zoom Zoom

If there’s one thing you should know about the Rinker family—it’s that we love fast cars almost as much as we love BIG trucks! With the Indy 500 in the rearview and the Cracker Barrel 400 ahead this weekend, I wanted to give a shoutout to Revver: The Speedway Squirrel and share a little bit more about the middle-grade book’s origin story.

One day, while our family was watching a NASCAR race, a squirrel darted across the track to the infield. The commentator was laughing, and so were we, but that evening, when we were eating dinner, my son asked if we thought the squirrel would be okay. And just like that, I knew I needed to create a story for the speedway squirrel!

Can't Wait to See What You Do!!!

He was six years old when I wrote Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, and now our oldest son will be heading to Georgetown Law this fall. 🎉🎉🎉 We’re beyond-thrilled to celebrate his accomplishment, fueled by endless hard work and passion — and we’re in awe of his intelligence, determination, commitment and honor.

Fly off and do great things, sweet boy. 😭

Enter to Win!

To celebrate the upcoming release of the Deluxe Edition of Steam Train, Dream Train, with illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld, on August 26th, I’m so excited to give away some of my series favorites!

- One signed and personalized copy of the original Steam Train, Dream Train picture book
- One Steam Train, Dream Train Sound Book
- One super-exclusive, out-of-print Steam Train, Dream Train Puzzle
- One Steam Train, Dream Train 1-2-3
- One Steam Train, Dream Train Colors

To enter:
1 Follow this account
2 Tag two friends in the comments

Enter by 12 PM EST on Sunday, July 13th.
One winner will be announced on Monday, July 14th.
U.S. entries only, please!

Don't forget to share this in your stories, too!

Easter is almost Upon Us!

Easter is quickly approaching! 🐣 This is just a reminder to the Easter Bunny (and all his helpful friends!) that BOOKS last much longer than candy — without the tummy aches and sticky fingers! 📚💫

Just a little reminder that those plastic Easter eggs aren't only good for hiding treats!

They're the perfect size for tucking in letters to create simple sight words, silly rhymes, or sentence starters. It's egg-cellent fun! 🥚📚

P.S. Don’t forget the real candy on Easter morning—because no matter how sweet the learning is, chocolate always wins! 🍫

Librarians Matter

Did you know that school librarians do SO much more than help kids discover new books? They play a crucial role in helping teachers find books that match EVERY student's reading level and interests. They also provide essential guidance to older students navigating research in the digital world. These dedicated professionals set our kids up for success from pre-K all the way through college.

As these vital roles face growing threats from budget cuts, I encourage you to join the American Library Association in discovering how you can support the school librarians who are making a meaningful difference in your child's life this month at ALA.org/aasl.

April is School Library Month!

Today kicks off National Library Week, a time to celebrate the invaluable contributions that libraries and librarians make to our communities. April is also School Library Month, and if you've been following me for years, you know this is a topic close to my heart.

School libraries serve as safe spaces where children can develop literacy skills, explore their interests, research and discover credible information, and unlock their creativity. Unfortunately, as more school districts close their libraries, it's clear that our kids will bear the consequences.

I encourage you to visit ALA.org/aasl to learn more about the critical role school librarians play in shaping our children’s education, and if you can, download one of the cards or printables to help your family say thanks to these very special educators.

An egg-cellent combination!!! Construction Trucks and Easter Fun!!!

What do you get when you combine construction trucks, and Easter fun?? An egg-cellent combination!!
Shooshoo and I both love reading the Construction Site books collection, and he adores all his Construction trucks. When I found this book I knew it would be a great one to base some sensory play off of. In this lesson we incorporated letter recognition, reading, color sorting, and tactile fun! This will definitely be a repeat play this spring season!

Stick around for more ideas and inspiration to enhance your days with your children.
Make sure to turn on notifications for my page so you don't miss out on the fun!

Love Libraries and Support them!!!

School libraries and school librarians matter. Thank you, @tarawinequeenwrites for these beautiful reminders.
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Sending much love to Kek Robein, my high school librarian. We remained in touch until just a few months before she recently passed away. She was full of laughter, light and a love of literature and learning.

She would often tell me that she was proud of me. 🥹Now, I imagine her in heaven, meeting all of her favorite authors and joyfully surrounded by golden shelves, full of books.

Wherever you are, Mrs. Robein — thank you for everything. ❤️

Some Wonderful Books!

According to @readingpartners, reading poetry aloud to children is a surefire way to boost their literacy skills while adding loads of fun to storytime. Poetry helps early readers develop their understanding of rhythm and sound, spark creativity, and expand their vocabulary.

And what better time to highlight some fantastic poetry collections for kids than at the start of #NationalPoetryMonth?

The Smell of Wet Dog by my friend Barney Saltzberg is an absolute treat for dog lovers big and small. If there’s anyone who can somehow make you appreciate the actual smell of a wet dog, it’s definitely Barney—and I've yet to find anyone else who can do it quite like he can!

Jane Yolen's In and Out the Window is a true celebration of the wonder of childhood. Released just last year and illustrated by Cathrin Peterslund, this is the largest single anthology of Jane Yolen's poetry to date.

John Himmelman's brand-new book, The Boy Who Lived in a Shell, tells the story of a young boy named Ivo who is swept out to sea inside a giant moon snail shell. This illustrated collection of story poems captures Ivo's magical journey and is ideal for middle-grade readers and anyone who enjoys a poetic adventure.

Feed from Chistianne 52619

Thank you SO MUCH @christianne52619 !!! This lovely feed is all about supporting children’s literature and literacy, and I’m so honored she took the time to feature some of my titles. 🥰
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Construction Site Series by Sherri Duskey Rinker 🚜🚧🚜

I couldn’t be more excited to jump on tonight and feature a favorite children’s author, Sherri Duskey Rinker! Best known for her Construction Site Series, Sherri is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author. If you have a little one who loves all kinds of diggers, this series is your go-to! You’ll love the clever stories, colorful illustrations, and impeccable rhyme. Not to mention, you may even learn the names of a few new diggers!

KidWeekly Book Club Pick of the Week

🌼Book Club Pick of the Week🌼

Title: Construction Site: Spring Delight
By: Sherri Duskey Rinker & AG Ford

Your favorite construction site workers are getting ready for spring! They find lots of spring surprises at the site- the best surprise being an Easter egg hunt! This book has rhyming and lift-a-flaps for maximum fun & engagement!

Swipe to see a sneak peek of the book companion activities. Click the link in bio to download the ⭐️FREE⭐️ book companion!

XOXO & happy reading ☺️