Thank you all for sharing your incredible PBParty entries with us. Wow, wow, wow. It’s been such a journey behind the scenes. All the judges have worked so hard! I see their smiling faces on the voting spreadsheet all hours of the day and night. And if you were a fly on the wall, you’d see how much we gush about so many of the entries. They’re full of heart, humor, new knowledge and so much more.
Going through almost 1100 entries takes tons of time away from their own writing, illustrating…and limits activities during an intense few weeks. I can’t thank each of these amazing judges enough for volunteering! Please show them your gratitude. If they have books out or releasing, it would be wonderful for you to help boost them in any way possible. Buying them is great, but there are other ways to help…like borrowing or requesting them from your library, leaving reviews, boosting their social media posts, etc.
Are you wondering how finalists will be notified?
I’ll post their titles on my website on Sunday, March 17 (which is almost here–wahoooooo)! I’ll also e-mail winners later that day with important info, a PBParty Finalist badge and banner (designed by the talented Melissa Escobar), and an invite to join the PBParty Finalist Facebook group, where I share helpful instructions and shout out when each agent, editor & art director pop in and what numbers they request.
Read on for info about the incredible judges and others who have helped make PBParty a success…and you’ll also see a surprise for everyone. 🙂
Reminder: If you receive an offer of representation from an agent, we need you to let us know ASAP if you can’t give requesting agents at least two weeks for an answer from the end of the showcase if you’re a finalist. It’s incredible having at least 70 amazing agents, editors and art directors participating…and we need to keep them happy so they’ll come back year after year.
*We’ve already had 8 participants withdraw this year because of agent offers. Wahoooo! I’m happy dancing for them and hope they quickly sell their PBs.
Get to know the incredible PBParty judges who are helping make dreams come true.
I could gush on and on about PBParty Judge and Ninja Superstar Sylvia Chen. She has made PBParty a thousand times easier for me and the judges and I can’t thank her enough. She creates wonderful graphics for our PBParty Zooms and works magic coding the agent/editor/art director invite spreadsheet so it keeps constant track of how many yeses, maybes and nos…plus how many I haven’t heard from yet. And I’m forever grateful for what Sylvia does to the PBParty entry spreadsheet. Judge votes turn into color coded boxes to easily see where entries stand. And then she brings all the green-lighted yeses over to a new spreadsheet for our duke-it-out-for-final-spots Zoom. I used to have to copy/paste all that information…and then do it again once the list was finalized. Some people think I don’t sleep. I actually do (but often can’t pry myself away from my laptop at night and have strange hours). Before Sylvia came onboard, I truly was sleep deprived from all the manual work I had to do. Thank you a bazillion times over, Sylvia!
Sylvia Chen
A New Yorker now living in the Seattle area with her husband and two sons, Sylvia Chen is an Asian American children’s book author represented by Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Birch Path Literary. Sylvia is a member of SCBWI and 12×12, a 2019 PBChat mentee of Pam Calvert, a 2021 #PBParty finalist, a 2022 and 2023 #PBRisingStars mentor, a #PBParty judge (and behind-the-scenes Ninja Rockstar) since 2022, and the creator of #PBStudyBuddy, which features amazing picture book creators and mentor texts on Twitter/X and Instagram each week for fellow creators, teachers, and librarians. Ever so excited about her upcoming debut picture book TRICKY CHOPSTICKS (illus. Fanny Liem; Atheneum/Simon & Schuster; March 19, 2024), Sylvia loves crafting picture books that spark kids’ interest in STEAM and creative thinking. She often stays up late into the night puzzling away with wordplay and working on quirky ideas.
Twitter/X | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | Author Website | Book Website
Tricky Chopsticks on Goodreads:
Please mark ‘Want to read’
Join Sylvia for her virtual launch!
EXCLUSIVE OFFER! Want an author-signed copy of TRICKY CHOPSTICKS with SUPER-swag? Pre-order from Brick & Mortar Books in Redmond, WA before March 19, 2024!
*If you pre-order from anyplace else by March 19, 2024, fill out this form for swag!
Gabriele Davis
As a child, Gabriele longed to see families like hers reflected in the books she read. Now she gets to make that happen for other underrepresented readers. Gabriele has worked as a children’s magazine editor and freelance writer. She enjoys creating works that inspire children to laugh, love, discover their inner strength, and feel seen. Peaches, releasing on May 7, 2024, is Gabriele’s debut picture book. Her second picture book, Our Joyful Noise, will release on October 1, 2024. Gabriele is a member of SCBWI, 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, KitLit in Color, KidLit Works, and Black Creators HQ. She was a 2019 KidLit Nation Picture Book Mentee, a 2020 PBParty Finalist, and is currently a PBParty Judge. Learn more about Gabriele and her books at www.gabrieledavis.com.
Jenna Waldman
Jenna Waldman is thrilled to be joining #PBParty for her third year as a judge! She’s the author of the picture books, PURR-IM TIME! (Apples & Honey Press, 2023), LARRY’S LATKES, SHARKBOT SHALOM (Apples & Honey Press, 2021), and an unannounced book in 2025. She’s also contributed poetry to Cricket Media and Pomelo Books, and is a Rhyme Co-Elf for 12×12 in 2024. Jenna is originally from Rhode Island, but now lives in the SF Bay Area. She shares her home with her husband, two boys, and a herd of cats.
Aixa Pérez-Prado
Aixa is a writer, illustrator, translator, sensitivity reader and university professor from Argentina. Aixa has lived in several different countries, and draws inspiration for her stories and illustrations from diverse locations. Her passion is writing and illustrating books that give diverse children a chance to see their multilayered identities represented through stories that resonate with heart and humor. Aixa writes in Spanish and English and enjoys mixing languages in her prose. Similarly, she loves illustrating by employing different techniques in a whimsical mixed media collage style.
Aixa is the author/ illustrator of CITY FEET (Reycraft, 2023), author of OUR WORLD: ARGENTINA (Barefoot Books, 2023), and author/illustrator of MERCEDES SOSA: THE VOI’CE OF THE PEOPLE (Lee & Low 2024).
Insta: @aixasdoodlesandbooks | TikTok: @aixasdoodlesandbooks | Facebook: @aixasdoodlesandbooks
Marietta Apollonio
I am the author-illustrator of Jack The Library Cat (Albert Whitman 2023) and Wombat And The Family Tree (Tommy Nelson Books/HarperCollins 2024). My stories focus on characters who explore their curiosity and are looking for something—a home, acceptance, growth, their place within a family or community, magic. In creating an atmosphere inclusive of diverse characters, my illustrations use traditional materials and digital, with texture, patterns, and vibrant saturated moments pulling readers into universal experiences. I received my BFA in illustration from Lesley University College of Art and Design, and spend my professional time doing what I love: illustrating and writing for picture books, working with a writers’ group, and mentoring. I am a member of SCBWI, the Boston Authors Club, and the PB23BUNCH. In 2019 I received the SCBWI Memorial Scholarship for Illustrations, I was a 2022 PB Rising Stars Mentor, a 2023 PBParty Judge (and 2024 woo-hoo!), and a 2022 and 2023 mentor with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency’s Big Sur Children’s Writers Workshop. I’m represented by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
I was incredibly honored to be asked to participate in PBParty 2023 as a judge, having been a past finalist. PBParty helped to launch my career with my debut picture book Jack The Library Cat and it was such an amazing feeling to work with a great group of judges to help do that for others. Let’s get this party started!!
Instagram | X | Threads | TikTok | Website
Brittany Pomales
Brittany Pomales was a 2021 #PBchat mentee and 2022 #PBparty finalist. She loved being a #PBparty finalist so much that she volunteered to be a #PBparty Zoom Co-host last year and is now back as a judge. When she isn’t writing she is probably singing itsy bitsy spider for the hundredth time or chasing her toddler around—seriously she is fast! Brittany’s debut picture book IT STARTED WITH A P is slated for April 2025.
You can find her across most social media platforms as @brittanypomales or at her website brittanypomales.com.
Layton Scarbrough
Hi there! I am Layton Scarbrough, a Virginia-based author/illustrator, and I am THRILLED to be a judge for the 2024 PBParty Extravaganza!
I work out of my home studio and do everything from large-scale outdoor murals to gallery shows to pet portraits to children’s books! I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Utah Valley University in 2020 and have had the opportunity to create artwork for clients all over the world. At the age of 4, I picked up a crayon to draw and found my passion for art. At the age of 24, I picked up a pen to tell a story and discovered a love for writing!
In 2023, after two and a half years of crawling through the querying trenches, covered head to toe in rejections, I submitted a manuscript to PBParty. I was accepted into the Illustration Showcase and I signed with an agent! A few weeks later I went to my first SCBWI conference in Florida where I won 2nd Place in the Illustration Showcase. It was the exact confidence boost I needed to keep pursuing this dream!
PBParty is one of the best things that has happened to my picture book career. I have made lifelong friends and currently have two picture books out on submission! I am so excited for everyone who has the courage and passion to submit their work to this amazing showcase! Good luck to all!
Instagram | Twitter | Portfolio
PBParty has grown so much through the years! It takes many talented and generous volunteers to make it an amazing event. Here’s more much-needed thanks!
All those amazing PBParty contest graphics were created by author/illustrator Melissa Escobar. I’m so grateful that she takes the time to update the info every year. Those adorable party animals always make me smile. 🙂
Melissa Escobar
Melissa Escobar graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California, with an MFA degree in illustration, focusing on children’s books. She has illustrated four educational paint-by-number books for children who are blind. In that same vein, she has worked on products that help kids, most recently a speech therapy flipbook.
She is now working on writing and illustrating her own stories. She is an active member of SCBWI, was a PBChat mentee in 2019 and a judge for PBParty in 2021. She is passionate about learning new things from Earth Science to Astronomy to Geology and beyond.
At any given time, she has at least three dragon, horses/unicorn and dragonfly story ideas happily gamboling in her imagination. Her favorite color is blue, she loves 80’s music and adorable animals. If you look at her work, you will realize she loves horses! Like really loves them. When not working on her projects (there’s always so much to create!), she enjoys life in the Bay Area with her husband and watching the squirrels, crows and birds in the big oak tree outside her window.
She is represented by Joyce Sweeney of The Seymour Agency.
*In addition to her own books, Melissa is actively seeking illustration work for traditional publishers and self-publishers.
Tasks that used to take tons of my time away from other PBParty business are the Ranking Parties to help participants prepare for the contest and advanced critique groups to help the finalists dazzle agents and editors. I asked for a volunteer this year and past PBParty Finalist Callie B Dean jumped at the chance to help. Thanks, Callie! I’ve heard raves about the 2024 Ranking Parties. 🙂
SURPRISE! Callie and I are already planning for her to put together critique groups in the PBParty Participants Facebook group for anyone who needs one after the 2024 PBParty showcase ends. Wahoooo! We want to help give you all the tools for you to succeed. And we can’t wait to celebrate when you do. Plus…it’s not too early to start getting ready for PBParty 2025!
Callie B. Dean is a writer, researcher/program evaluator, and musician living in Shreveport, LA. She loves to tell stories that spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and inspire action!
Did you notice all the amazing changes to my website in preparation for PBParty 2024?
I muddled through creating this website myself years ago, and now it’s so much stronger thanks to Molly Ippolito. She was so patient and helpful–creating charts to keep track of potential new header colors and fonts, fun new graphics that fit my style, and so much more. If you’re looking for a new website or want to overhaul your existing one, definitely contact Molly!
Pssst…she also does tons of other services for authors, like teaching guides, classroom visit resources, launch party prep, plus blog, social media and author branding.
I had created my website logo when I was first learning Canva. It was okay…but it was time for something spectacular. Enter the talented author/illustrator and PBParty Judge Layton Scarbrough. What he created took my breath away! He included illustrations of my sweet rescue dog (who keeps me company during long hours of PBParty judging and prep), and my adorable fairly new rescue grandkitty. Plus, you all know how much I love glitter–and I adore hearts and butterflies, too. If you’re looking for a unique illustration for your website or social media, contact Layton. (Pssst–he also creates pet portraits!)
My next post will be the finalists! And then the 2024 PBParty Showcase which runs March 25 through 29. I can’t wait to see which of the gems the judges and I discovered will be there–and share them with all of you.
Fingers and toes crossed for all of you!
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