Camilla and the Fall Festival picture book out now!

Happy Book Birthday to Camilla and the Fall Festival! My fall holiday picture book is illustrated by Laura Wood and published by Magination Press. It's officially released today, Aug 5, 2025 (though if you pre-ordered, smart you, chances are it's already landed on your doorstep).

And if you haven't ordered, now is a great time to do so -- it's a perfect read to snuggle up with when the weather turns crisp and the holiday season begins to twinkle its way into our lives. The "Fall Festival" is an annual forest celebration beloved by Camilla, the map-loving wild boar, and her forest friends, making it a stand-in for any holiday that centers around traditions of special food and gathering together to celebrate.

Click on an ordering button on my book page to choose a retailer, or ask for it at your local bookstore. Please consider requesting that your public library add it to their collection, or gift a copy to your favorite TK-3 teacher!

Like all my Magination Press picture books, the tie-ins to social emotional learning (SEL) and STEM make it great for both classroom and home libraries. I love to write about problem-solving with maps and coping with change -- in this case, massive disappointment when a wind storm ruins the Fall Festival. But this turn of events gives Camilla a chance to practice flexible thinking (learn more about that in the book's backmatter).

Watch this video to hear about the inspiration behind this story:

(Fun fact: I recorded this video in June -- luckily we had some overcast weather that coordinated better with the fall setting than a sunny summer day!)

I hope you, and any 4-8 year-olds in your life, enjoy this fourth Camilla adventure! Be sure to check out the backmatter for reading comprehension questions and activities you can do with your child(ren).