LOOPS Preview

A peek at practice, perseverance, and how to tie your shoes

Oct 21, 2025

As far as publishing goes, 2026 will be a busy year for me. I have two books coming out in March and the second Towed by Toad book will be released in the summer. Loops from Simon & Schuster is up first!

Loops is about practice, perseverance, and learning to tie your shoes. Here’s a preview:

Loops is out March 3, 2026.

Pre-order LOOPS

Early buzz for LOOPS

Over on her newsletter, librarian Chrissie Wright included Loops in a list of books she can’t wait to share with her students!

I’m calling it — Jashar Awan is the poet laureate of preschool. Every Monday Mabel is one of my favorite picture books of the year, so I was thrilled to get the chance to read an early copy of Jashar Awan’s forthcoming book. Here, we have what first reads like an earnest pep talk for learning to tie your shoes (including a how-to spread that parents and teachers can legit use to help kids learn), but when you hit the ending, you realize it is also something infinitely more fantastic. I won’t spoil the surprise, but know that if you teach preschool, K, or 1st, you’re going to need this one. (And though it’s not out til 2026, I highly recommend you pick up Every Monday Mabel and Towed by Toad in the meantime.)

Thanks, Chrissie! Read the rest of her list here.

Building a Home Library

The Children’s Book Council has put together “an up-to-date list of recommended new and classic books for every home by age group.” Both Towed by Toad and Every Monday Mabel are on this list! How cool is that?1

Thanks, CBC and the Ingram Content Group!

View the complete list

I ♥ Olivia

Speaking of lists, Slate recently put together a package about “this century’s revolution in children’s literature.” I was one of the many people asked to submit suggestions to their best picture books from the past 25 years list and was even asked for a follow-up quote about one of my picks, Olivia by Ian Falconer. Here’s what I said:

“Despite Ian Falconer’s warning that Olivia is very good at wearing people out, Olivia is a book that never feels worn out, no matter how many times you’ve read it. Kids can relate to Olivia’s adventures, opinions, and daily routine, while there’s a good chance that their adult can laugh and sigh along with the challenges Olivia’s mom faces.”

As I was making my top 5 list, I reread Olivia and was surprised to realize what an influence Falconer has had on my work (the Simon & Schuster books, especially). I guess when you read a book aloud a few times a day for a few years it inevitably becomes a part of you.

Slate even has an interview with the real-life Olivia Falconer!

Read Slate's coverage here