Every year, experts at The TODAY Show review and evaluate hundreds of toys and books for children, prior to the holiday gift-giving season. This year, they selected “OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE?”  as one of the 39 best toys and gifts for 2-year-olds in 2021. “This funny, punny book features friends Over and Under for a wordplay-filled take on prepositions,” said the experts at The TODAY Show.

Click here to see where “OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE?” landed on their list.

Read the most recent blog post from Laura Roettiger, Author, Photographer, Editor. She interviewed Julie Hedlund for the October 27, 2021 edition of her blog. Julie shares what inspires her and the key takeaways from “OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE?”

If you comment on the blog post you could win a 30-minute “Ask me anything,” with Julie on ZOOM.

Click here to read the full interview.

Julie Hedlund and “OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE” are featured in the October 22, 2021 edition of the Picture Book Builders Blog. She is interviewed by Kim Norman, author of more than twenty children’s books.

Julie covers her love of words as a self-confessed “word nerd,” and the joy and whimsy contained within the pages of the book including the heart warming friendship that evolve among the characters: Bird, Mole, Bear and Dog.

Click here to read the full interview.

Join me as I appear on the Institute for Writers podcast to share my Top 3 Submission Tips. Click here to listen.

As frequent speaker at writing retreats and conferences, I’ve shared my Top 3 Submission Tips many times. But on the Institute for Writers podcast, I was able to go into more depth and answer follow-up questions that I think offered greater insights for listeners.

Apparently there are women who… get this… make funny books for kids. Hoity-Toity Otter, the rather furry alter ego of Abi Cushman, completed a  research project for a recently-published article.

Julie Hedlund was one of thirteen authors interviewed for the project posted on Tara Lazar’s blog, “Writing for Kids (While Raising Them).”

Click here to read Julie’s thoughts and others.

(Hoity-Toity Otter Is Not Only The Author Of The Article, He Also Plays The Small But Pivotal Role Of “Taxi Cab Passenger Who Eats A Three-Course Meal While Sitting In Traffic” In The Upcoming Picture Book, “ANIMALS GO VROOM,” By Author-Illustrator, Abi Cushmanwhich Which Rolls Onto Shelves On July 13, 2021 From Viking Children’s Books.)

Hellooooo… Do you hear an echo? New 12X12 Challenge member, Connie B. Dowell, invited me to be her latest guest on the Book Echoes podcast.  I hope you’ll give it a listen (along with her many other wonderful episodes, including 12X12’s own  Valerie Bolling.

Connie and I talked about picture book writing, 12 x 12 (of course), and what it means to be an ally. Thanks again for having me, Connie!

Click here to check out the interview.