Now introducing the fifth and FINAL class of PB Rising Stars Mentees! Check out their profiles at www.pbrisingstars.com/mentees

It’s time! Now announcing the 2026 PB Rising Stars Mentees, Runners-Up, and Honorable Mentions ⭐️ Head on over to our website for the full details: www.pbrisingstars.com/2026announce...

⭐️Applications for PB Rising Stars Are Now Closed⭐️ Sound off in the comments: did you apply? We want to thank every person who trusted us with their work for the last five years. Whether you were an applicant, an honorable mention, a runner up, or a mentee of mentor, you mean the world to us.

⭐️Ready For a Challenge?⭐️ #pbrisingstars applications close TONIGHT at 11:59 pm Eastern Time for the fifth and FINAL time. That means this is your LAST chance at joining our community. #kidlit #kidlitart #picturebook #author

⭐️Tomorrow is your LAST chance to apply to be a #pbrisingstars mentee⭐️ So let’s chat! Tell us: - have you applied yet or are you waiting til the final moments? #kidlit #illustration #kidlitart #picturebook

It’s our final WHO TO APPLY TO post! And today is all about mentors seeking STEM/STEAM! So if you write about science, technology, engineering, the arts, & math, make sure to check eligibility and apply to these mentors! www.pbrisingstars.com/mentors #kidlit #author #picturebook #pbrisingstars

With only TWO days left to apply, we need your help again to tag BIPOC authors who NEED TO apply to M.O. Yuksel! Because this is our fifth and FINAL year, we want to make sure we are finding every single potential applicant. #kidlit #picturebook #pbrisingstars #author

⭐️Do you write in rhyme all of the time?⭐️ WE might not be strong rhymers, but these mentors are absolute rhyming PROS! #pbrisingstars #author #picturebook #rhyme #kidlit

We’re switching things up and doing our tag post in the morning because… WE HAVE NEWS! Charles R. Smith has decided that since this is the fifth and FINAL year of #pbrisingstars he wants to expand his reach and ensure that all Black creators have the opportunity to apply to work with him.

⭐️it’s that time again: tag a friend who NEEDS to work with Gwendolyn ⭐️ Gwendolyn’s strengths and tastes are super wide ranging. Fiction, nonfiction, historical fiction, and more! #pbrisingstars #kidlit #author #writer #mentor

Do you create lyrical picture book stories or art? Then we want to see them at #pbrisingstars! If gorgeous language, poetic devices, rhythmic cadence, imagery, and more are your things? Then these mentors are right for you! #kidlit #author #writing #illustrator

Time for another chance to help us spread the word about the fifth and FINAL year of #pbrisingstars ✨ Do you know a friend who writes picture book manuscripts with that special “it” factor? #kidlit #author #picturebook #writer

⭐️ SEL Picture Book Creators: take note ⭐️ If your work has a layer of social-emotional learning, these mentors want to see it! SEL books are truly important, so of course our #PBRisingStars mentors are excited about them too! #kidlit #author #picturebook #illustrator

Time for another spread the word post! Janelle Harper is an absolute powerhouse of an author. We cannot wait to see who she partners with for #pbrisingstars this year!

Time for another spread the word post! Janelle Harper is an absolute powerhouse of an author. We cannot wait to see who she partners with for #pbrisingstars this year!

⭐️ if you’re funny and you know it, raise your hand! ⭐️ This year we have LOTS of mentors wanting to see your humorous text and/or art! So if you’re making kids laugh and ready to take it to the next level, make sure to add these mentors to your list of who to apply to! #kidlit #author #illustrator

Spread the #pbrisingstars love! Tag a friend who you know NEEDS to apply to work with Steph Littlebird! For the final week that applications are open, we will be highlighting one mentor and encouraging you to apply and tag your friends who NEED to to know about this program!

⭐️ ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO APPLY!! ⭐️ We can’t believe that #PBRisingStars applications will close for the fifth and FINAL time in exactly one week! That means NOW is the time to get another application in! So let’s look at a specific group of mentors! #kidlit #author #illustrator #picturebook

⭐️Do you love telling true stories through text and/or art?⭐️ Nonfiction picture book creators are in luck! We have a LOT of mentors looking for your work! #kidlit #pbrisingstars #picturebook #author #illustrator

⭐️Calling all Illustrators and Author-illustrators⭐️ This year, we received more interest in #pbrisingstars than ever before from the #kidlitart community! So we listened! We invited more artists than ever before to mentor for our fifth and FINAL year! #illustration #picturebook #illustrator #author

One of the things we’re most proud of at #pbrisingstars is our commitment to create a space that reflects what publishing SHOULD look like! That’s why we hope our BIPOC applicants will apply widely to every mentor they are eligible for! #kidlit #picturebook #author #illustrator

⭐️Are you an agented pictured book creator, but just haven’t been able to snag that book deal yet?⭐️ We have good news for you! A good number of our #PBRisingStars mentors are open to agented creators! #picturebook #kidlit #illustrator #writer

⭐️Calling all Cultural Picture Book Creators⭐️ Are you ready to level up your craft? Do you need help taking your story or art where you want it to go? A guiding hand to help you find the voice, the heart, and more?

⭐️Calling all Picture Book Creators⭐️ Starting tomorrow, we will be sharing our “Who to Apply to” graphics for #pbrisingstars ✨

⭐️IT’S TIME⭐️ #pbrisingstars applications are now open! Are you ready to improve your craft as a picture book creator, working with an experienced mentor for FREE?? Then our program is for you!

⭐️ Can you believe that #pbrisingstars mentee applications open TONORROW?? ⭐️ We know there are a lot of big feels and we know that you might be feeling nervous. So let’s take tonight to slow down and celebrate each and every one of you! #kidlit #author #illustrator #picturebook

Got a picture book full of big laughs, absurd ideas, and unexpected heart? 👀 Check out our FINAL #PBRisingStars mentor Lian Cho! Lian helps creators find the heart of their story, sharpen their voice, stick the landing on the perfect joke, and make every page turn count. #kidlit #author #illustrator

We’re so honored to have Sara Holly Ackerman returning as a FOUR-TIME mentor with #PBRisingStars! She’s a great fit for writers who want to enhance their stories thru rhyme.! #kidlit #author #picturebook

Meet #PBRisingStars mentor Kate Allen Fox! ✨ A standout in lyrical, nature-forward NF, Kate shines at nontraditional structures and line-level writing packed with metaphor and poetic devices. #kidlit #author #picturebook #writing

Allow us to reintroduce you to TWO-TIME #PBRisingStars mentor, Audrey Perrott! When it comes to increasing the tension/drama of a story, Audrey’s the best. She’s a 🧙 at pacing, picking perfect words, and adding layers to a story without any fluff. #kidlit #author #picturebook #writing #mentor

Surprise!! We are thrilled to announce that Kathryn Rammell is joining the 2026 #PBRisingStars mentors!! Kathryn was a 2022 mentee, became a mentor in 2024, and is back for our fifth and FINAL year!! Talk about a full circle moment! #kidlit #kidlitart #author #illustrator

Make some noise for FOUR-TIME #PBRisingStars mentor Anne Appert! 🎉 Anne is an award-winning artist who thrives on whimsy, humor, bold color, and authentic storytelling #kidlit #illustrator #kidlitart #picturebook

Looking for a mentor who helps you see the big picture? Meet #PBRisingStars mentor Jasmine Fang! ✨ She shines at finding the heart of a story, big-picture edits, and guiding creators through querying, acquisitions, and the author-agent relationship #kidlit #author #picturebook #writer .

Calling all illustrators & author-illos: Nadia Fisher is BACK as a two-time #PBRisingStars mentor! 🎨✨ Nadia shines at visual storytelling, character-building, pacing (in both text AND art), and color that stops you in your tracks. #kidlit #author #illustrator #picturebook #mentorship

Next up in our #PBRisingStars mentor spotlights: the award-winning Melissa Cristina Márquez! 🦈✨ Melissa excels at making complex ideas click for young readers, especially through narrative nonfiction and educational storytelling. #kidlit #picturebook #author #nonfiction #writing #book #mentorship

Mentee applications open in ONE WEEK! Tell us below: are you applying? Have you prepped any apps? #pbrisingstars #kidlit #author #illustrator #picturebook

At #PBRisingStars, we bring you BIG DOG 🐶 mentors, and this next one is truly legendary. 50+ picture books. Stonewall Honors. National Jewish Book Awards. And counting. Who could it be? Lesléa Newman, of course! ✨

Today, we’re excited to introduce you to #PBRisingStars mentor Michael Genhart! ✨ Michael is THAT GUY for layered, heart-led storytelling — from family and SEL themes to social justice, and stories centering underrepresented voices. #kidlit #author #mentor #picturebook #amwriting

After a couple summers off, THREE-TIME #PBRisingStars mentor Sylvia Chen is back like she never left! If you’re looking for a mentor to help you turn that big, mind-sparking (but a little messy) idea into a strong, polished piece, then keep Sylvia on your radar. #kidlit #author #picturebook

Looking to work with a #PBRisingStars mentor who is: ✅ An award-winning author & illustrator ✅ A master of memorable characters ✅ A dummy-building pro Then Jenny Alvarado might be YOUR mentor! ✨ #kidlit #kidlitart #picturebook #illustrator #illustration #author

Looking for help writing stories that stick with the reader long after they finish reading? 💫 Then you need to meet #PBRisingStars mentor A.J. Irving! ✨ A.J. helps writers hone voice, up their lyrical language game to deepen emotion, and nail their page turns for lasting impact.

Our next #PBRisingStars mentor can COOK – literally and figuratively. 🧑‍🍳 Meet Namita Moolani Mehra! Namita brings serious craft + business savvy, helping mentees find the heart of their story, sharpen characters, & balance the personal with the universal #kidlit #author #picturebook #amwriting

We’re beyond excited to introduce award-winning #PBRisingStars mentor Gwendolyn Wallace! 🎉 Gwendolyn blends STEM, history (especially Black history), and genre storytelling into kid-friendly, compelling books—and as a Gen Z author, she knows how to use social media to grow an author platform.

We’re THRILLED to share that 3-TIME #PBRsingStars mentor Julia Mills is back and ready to make an impact for another rising illustrator or author/illustrator! She’s excited to see “weird” books, silly stories with emotional payoff, and animal or non-human protagonists.

Today we’re welcoming back–and reintroducing you to–TWO-TIME #pbrisingstars mentor, Tonya Duncan Ellis! Tonya is a lyrical writing BOSS, and her knack for developing strong hooks in unparalleled.

The great Ana Siqueira is back as a TWO-TIME #PBRisingStars mentor—and we’re SO excited! 🎉 An award-winning author and Spanish teacher, Ana excels at humor with heart, culturally rich stories, action-packed plots, and powerhouse brainstorming.

Looking to work with a #PBRisingStars mentor this summer who: ✅ Is an award winner 🏆 ✅ Is a BEAST at character, voice & structure ✅ Knows the rules AND how to break them? Then you need to meet Caroline Kusin Pritchard!

⭐️Who’s excited for our first ever Application Prep Party??⭐️ Join us tomorrow, Thursday February 12th at 8:00 PM Eastern Time for an event you don’t want to miss!

Meet #PBRisingStars mentor Jenna Elyse Johnson! ✨ A teacher + professional bookseller, Jenna’s here to help you refine craft and think about market, storytime, age groups, and where a book belongs in the world.

Does your story have some heart, but you’re struggling to find it? Then you need to apply to #PBRisingStars mentor Pasha Westbrook! #kidlit #amwriting #mentorship #picturebook #author #kidlitart #illustrator #kidlitillustration