SCBWI Winners of the 2026 Crystal Kite Awards

SCBWI Winners of the 2026 Crystal Kite Awards

On July 29th, SCBWI announced the winners and honorees of the 2026 Crystal Kite Awards!The Crystal Kite Award recognizes outstanding books by our amazing SCBWI members from all over the world! An award that celebrates books with "exceptional storytelling, imaginative illustrations, and creative excellence," this award is truly special as it is given by their peers, the other creators in our community. 

Atlantic

Winner: Sparkles for Sunny: A Lunar New Year Story 

Written by Sylvia Chen, illustrated by Thai My Phuong 

(Flamingo Books)

Honor: Lighthouse Ladies: Shining a Spotlight on Hardy Heroines
Written by Kris Coronado, illustrated by Islenia Mil 

(Clarion Books)

California & Hawaii

Winner: I AM NOT HAPPY! 

Written by Caroline Perry, illustrated by Sydney Hanson 

(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

Honor: Firefly Song: Lynn Frierson Faust and The Great Smoky Mountain Discovery
Written by Colleen Paeff, illustrated by Ji-Hyuk Kim 

(Margaret K. McElderry Books)






Midsouth

Winner: You Can Sit With Me 

Written by Rachel Tawil Kenyon, illustrated by Tatiana Kasmshilina
(Feiwel & Friends)

Honor: Henry's Picture-Perfect Day
Written by Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika Song
(Chronicle Books)









Midwest

Winner: STUCK! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits 

Written by Joyce P. Uglow, illustrated by Valerya Milovanova
(Bushel & Peck Books)

Honor: Maybe Just Ask Me!
Written and illustrated by Katie Mazeika
(Beach Lane Books)









New England

Winner: Cat Nap 

Written and illustrated by Brian Lies
(Greenwillow Books)

Honor: Woody’s Word’s: Woodrow Wilson Rawls and Where the Red Fern Grows
Written by Lisa Rogers, illustrated by Susan Reagan
(Calkins Creek)









New York

Winner: The Trouble with Heroes 

Written by Kate Messner
(Bloomsbury Children's Books)

Honor: Dinos That Drive
Written by Suzy Levinson, illustrated by Dustin Harbin
(Tundra Books)









Southeast

Winner: The Blue Jays That Grew a Forest 

Written by Lynn Street, illustrated by Anne Hunter
(Margaret Quinlin Books)

Honor: A Flea For Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change
Written by Valerie Bolling, illustrated by TeMika Grooms
(Charlesbridge)

Southwest

Winner: The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang 

Written and illustrated by Stan Yan
(Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

Honor: It Started With a P
Written by Brittany Pomales, illustrated by Andrew Joyner
(Flamingo Books)








Texas & Oklahoma

Winner: Racing the Clouds 

Written by Sydney Dunlap
(Jolly Fish Press)

Honor: So Many Years: A Juneteenth Story
Written by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey
(Clarion Books)








West

Winner: I Am We: How Crows Come Together to Survive 

Written by Leslie Barnard Booth, illustrated by Alexandra Finkeldey
(Chronicle Books)

Honor: The Arguers
Written and illustrated by Corinna Luyken
(Rocky Pond Books)







Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania

Winner: Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West 

Written by Jacinta Liu, illustrated by Freda Chiu
(Lothian Children's Books)

Honor:
 Emmie Builds Something New
Written and illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall
(Red Comet Press)







Canada & North America

Winner: The Dog Who Saved the Bees 

Written Stephanie Gibeault, illustrated by David Hohn
(Sleeping Bear Press)

Honor: Will and Krill
Written and illustrated by Stacey Byer
(Beaming Books)

Europe & Central, South and Latin America & Africa

Winner: Seven, A Most Remarkable Pigeon 

Written Sandra Nickel, illustrated by Aimee Sicuro
(Candlewick Press)

Honor: How to Reach the Moon
Written by Nicolás Schuff, illustrated by Ana Sender, translated by Lawrence Schimel
(Amazon Crossing Kids)







Middle East & Asia

Winner: Under Pressure: Freddie Mercury's Countdown to Fame written by Shyamala Shanmugasundaram, illustrated by Pankaj Saikia
(Niyogi Books)

Honor: Little Sheku and the Animal Orchestra
Written by Sheku Kanneh-Mason, illustrated by Rekha Salin
(Puffin Books)

Honor: The Beat of the Dragon Boat

Written by Christina Matula, illustrated by Nicole Wong
(Sleeping Bear Press)






United Kingdom and Ireland

Winner: Street Puppy, Masjid Cat 

Written by Moniza Hossain, illustrated by Wastana Haikal
(little bee books)

Honor: Atlas of Mythical Journeys
Written by Emily Hawkins, illustrated by Iryna Dobrovetska
(Wide Eyed Editions)

Prep for the 2026 Summer Conference

It's here! The SCBWI Summer Virtual Conference 2026!

As we gear up for the fantastic weekend, let's have a rundown on how to prepare!

This year the conference will be hosted by Airmeet, so keep a lookout in your inboxes for your "Access Event" link, that activates TODAY, July 30th. 

To kick off this year's 2026 Virtual Summer Conference, there will be a panel discussion on the current state of book bans with Phil Bildner, Cheryl L. Davis, George M. Johnson and Namrata Tripathi. Moderated by Alvina Ling. This panel, sponsored by the Authors Coalition of America, is FREE and open to the public.

Online on July 30th from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (PDT) / 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (EST)

Before the big day begins tomorrow, make sure that you have updated your Profile and Portfolio Gallery. Go to MEMBER HOME, click MY PROFILE and then on EDIT MY PROFILE.

To update your portfolio, click SHARE YOUR WORK, where you can ADD ILLUSTRATION or ADD A
BOOK. Don't be shy! Show us your work! Get feedback, connect and check out what others are creating!

 

ON MY TO-DO LIST

1. Snacks! - The conference is jam-packed with so many wonderful offerings, workshops, panels, etc and I always have my snacks at the ready as I'm taking it all in! On the list are Twizzlers, Sour Patch Watermelons, Popcorn and maybe, some cookies this time around. 
2. Notebook at the Ready! - Make sure you have a notebook or something to write on at the ready. There will be gems falling from the sky this weekend, and you never know what piece of advice or insight might spark your creativity.
3. Art Supplies (if it applies to you) - If you are an illustrator, bring your sketchbook. I love see the illustrated notes that people create and it inspires me to try it myself. Don't forget to tag us so we can share! IG, Threads, FB, tag us @scbwi and on Bluesky, @scbwi.bsky.social. Use hashtag #scbwiSummer26
4. Water/ Favorite Beverage - I have my water, my juice, my coffee and my electrolytes! Stay hydrated to stay motivated! 

Also, if you are looking for some light reading, check out free webinars, editor interviews, conference scholarship and more in your July INSIGHT!

Pitch-Perfect Translation Grant

Pitch-Perfect Translation Grant

The deadline for SCBWI Pitch-Perfect Translation Grant is quickly approaching! Submissions are still being accepted until July 31st!

What is the Pitch-Perfect Translation Grant, you ask? Well! The grant helps assists children’s book translators in the development of a specific translation project into English that is not currently under any contract. Two winners are selected annually.

Congratulations to our 2025 winners, Patience Haggin and Aerin Park! 

You must be a current SCBWI translator member when your work is submitted, when the grant is announced and payment remitted.  

Entrants will submit a written pitch of up to 500 words and a short translation sample of up to 500 words from the work being pitched. Each winner will receive $500 and the opportunity to craft a longer sample of up to 4000 words, which will be presented to agents, editors, and other industry professionals.

Special consideration will be given to emerging translators and to works translated from underrepresented languages.

Check out the submission guidelines and eligibility HERE!

State of the Children's Publishing Market with Deborah Halverson - June 2026

State of the Children's Publishing Market with Deborah Halverson - June 2026

We are a week out to the 2026 SCBWI Virtual Conference! Before you attend, check out this free offering from to SCBWI Members! Hosted by Deborah Halverson, the "State of the Children's Book Market" is a great resource to get a gauge of what is happening in the Kidlit space!

Deborah discusses trends, and how to strategically understand and navigate the children's book world as well as broader market dos and don'ts in this 90 minute video, giving the SCBWI Members a comprehensive overview of the industry and marketplace. Deborah discuss the "influences of AI", the "current landscape of the Middle Grade Market", and "challenges around book banning."

Whether you are new or returning this year to the conference, this is a great tool to help you brush up and tune into the pulse of the publishing industry.

SCBWI Summer Conference 2026! Pitch Roundtables!

Less than TWO WEEKS away from the 2026 Virtual Summer Conference, I can't wait for a weekend jammed packed with amazing panels, workshops and more! Today, I want to highlight another fantastic offering— the Pitch Roundtable!

What is a Pitch Roundtable?

Groups of fifteen writers will meet (together as a group) with an agent or editor on Sunday, August 2, at one of the two times listed below. Each writer will have five minutes to pitch their book to the agent or editor. We recommend that you keep your pitch to 2-3 minutes to allow for feedback and questions. Come prepared to verbally pitch your book.

How to Register:

Only SCBWI Premium Members attending the conference can register for the Pitch Roundtables. Please read the bios of each of the industry professionals below to get a sense of who might be interested in your manuscript or work-in-progress. You may register for one fifteen-person roundtable with one agent or editor when you register for the Summer Conference. PLEASE NOTE: There are no refunds given for Pitch Roundtables.

Space is limited! 

Register at scbwi.org or with the link in our bio

The sessions will take place on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the following times:

Session One: 9:00 am–10:30 am PACIFIC/12:00 pm–1:30 pm EASTERN

Session Two: 11:30 am–1:00 pm PACIFIC/ 2:30 pm–4:00 pm EASTERN

UnBanning Books: What the Industry Really Thinks About Book Banning

 UnBanning Books: What the Industry Really Thinks About Book Banning

To kick off this years 2026 Virtual Summer Conference, there will be a panel discussion on the current state of book bans with Phil Bildner, Cheryl L. Davis, George M. Johnson and Namrata Tripathi. Moderated by Alvina Ling.

Censorship isn’t just a headline. It’s reshaping what gets created, sold, and read by young readers everywhere. Hear directly from the people inside children’s publishing about how banned books are changing acquisitions, sales, and the stories being told. Honest and essential listening for anyone who cares about kids and books. This panel, sponsored by the Authors Coalition of America, is FREE and open to the public.

Online on July 30th from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (PDT)

SCBWI Virtual Conference 2026 Scholarships! EXTENDED

Reposting, as the deadline has been EXTENDED!

The countdown to the conference has begin! For those who may need some assistance, SCBWI offers some wonderful scholarships to cover tuition for this year's conference! 

First up, we have the 

BIPOC Scholarship: Summer 2026

For Black, Indigenous, and People of color, this scholarship will reward two winners with tuition to the 2026 SCBWI Virtual Summer Conference. 

Members and Non-members may apply to this scholarship. Submissions for the BIPOC Scholarship is open through July 16, midnight PST.

Visit the BIPOC Scholarship: Summer 2026 for the submission guidelines!

Next, we have the 

Penguin Random House Scholarship (General Scholarship): Summer 2026

This next scholarship generously sponsored by Penguin Random House, grants EIGHT scholarships to SCBWI members who may be experiencing financial hardship with free tuition to the SCBWI conference!

Submissions for the General Conference Scholarship is open until July 16, midnight PST.

Visit the Penguin Random House Scholarship (General Scholarship): Summer 2026 for the submission guidelines! The submission portal can be found in your Member Profile under the AWARDS tab.

Last, but not least, we have the 

Student Illustrator Scholarship: Summer 2026

Each year, the SCBWI sponsors conference scholarships for full-time graduate or undergraduate students studying illustration. The winners will receive admission to the Summer Conference and entry in the Juried Portfolio Showcase. 

Many of our SIS winners have gone on to be represented by agents, get illustration work, publish books, and win awards. SCBWI reserves the right not to award the scholarship in any given year.

For this scholarship, you must submit by July 16, midnight PST. 

You must be currently enrolled, or have graduated in the past semester, as a full-time graduate or undergraduate student at an accredited educational institution, and must be at least 18 years old.

Visit the Student Illustrator Scholarship: Summer 2026 for the submission guidelines! The submission portal can be found in your Member Profile under the AWARDS tab.

How to Submit to the Scholarships

Submission portal can be found in your Member Profile under the AWARDS tab.

1. Click on your MEMBER HOME

2. Click on the AWARDS Icon

3. Scroll down to your desired Scholarship box and click 'submit'

Questions? Please email Sarah Diamond at sarahdiamond@scbwi.org.

Note: In the event that a recipient cannot attend for any reason, SCBWI staff should be notified as soon as possible. The scholarship may, in that event, be awarded to another applicant. The grant is not transferrable and cannot be postponed.

SCBWI 2026 Virtual Conference Keynote Speakers

The keynote speakers for this year's event will be none other than Pam Muñoz Ryan and Brian Selznick! Check out their bios below!

Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Pam Muñoz Ryan is an "American author and the 2026 U.S. nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. She is the author of ECHO, a Newbery Honor book and the recipient of the Kirkus Prize. She has written over forty books, including the novels ESPERANZA RISING, BECOMING NAOMI LEÓN, RIDING FREEDOM, PAINT THE WIND, THE DREAMER, ECHO, and Mañanaland. She is the author recipient of the National Education Association’s Civil and Human Rights Award, the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award for Multicultural Literature, and is twice the recipient of the Pura Belpré Medal and the Willa Cather Award."

"Honors include the PEN USA Award, the Américas Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, and the Orbis Pictus Award."

To read more on Pam Muñoz Ryan, visit her website HERE!

Brian Selznick is an award winning author and illustrator of many books for children and young adults, including The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Run Away With Me, Wonderstuck, Big Tree and many, many more. 

"To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the beloved Harry Potter series, Brian created new covers and a box for all seven books."

"Other books include The Marvels, The Doll People trilogy by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley and Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride by Pam Muñoz Ryan."

His work ranging from novels to short stories to works on the big stage, Brian has "written the story for a new version of The Nutcracker at the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago, choreographed by Tony Award winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon (An American In Paris). Brian has worked professionally as a puppeteer with Basil Twist, and he’s created three toy theater pieces directed by Dan Hurlin."

To read more on Brian Selznick, visit his website HERE

Have you registered for the 2026 Virtual Conference yet? Register HERE! Hope to see you there!

Illustrators' Intensive 2026 Virtual Conference

On Sunday, August 2nd, at the end of what shall be a fantastic virtual conference, Pat Cummings, Laurent Linn and Cecilia Yung will be hosting the SCWBI Illustrators' Intensive!

PERSONAL IS POWERFUL: 

Transforming Individual Expression into Universal Communication

Your experiences, interests, and passions are what make you unique as an illustrator and writer. But how do you incorporate these personal aspects into your work in ways that are compelling and relatable to even the youngest reader?

The secret is building a strong emotional connection between your story, your images, and your reader. Powerful storytellers shape their experiences to create dynamic visual narratives that help us make sense of our lives. They reframe personal anecdotes that enable us to recognize ourselves in their stories. They capture specific and nuanced details that invite us into their world. As illustrators, they take advantage of color, composition, expressions, and body language to express the emotions of the experience, so that their fascination, excitement, and disappointment become ours. Their personal stories are grounded in the shared experience—as much about us as they are about them.That’s the thrilling alchemy of storytelling.

Three successful illustrators show how their perceptions shape their unique styles and share the different ways they translate their distinct experiences into impactful visual stories that resonate with readers of all ages.

Who Should Attend?

The Illustrators' Intensive is open to SCBWI Premium Members only. There is an additional $95 fee. Members can purchase the Illustrators Half-Day Intensive as a package with the Portfolio Showcase for a reduced rate.

Check out these interviews from the 2026 Winter Conference with Pat Cummings, Laurent Linn and Cecilia Yung to hear why the Illustrators' Intensive is right for you!

2026 Illustrators' Intensive: Interview with Cecilia Yung

2026 Illustrators' Intensive: Interview with Laurent Linn

2026 Illustrators' Intensive: Interview with Pat Cummings

Summer 2026 Virtual Conference: Portfolio Showcase

Summer 2026 Portfolio Showcase

Our annual Summer Portfolio Showcase is a career-launching opportunity for children's book illustrators! This juried showcase is a terrific way to get your illustrations in front of top publishing professionals. This year’s format will be a three-image portfolio, with links to your SCBWI Member Profile Illustrator Gallery. 

For Conference attendees only, you must submit your work by JULY 17. Artwork uploaded after this time, may not be seen by the judges.

Portfolios are judged as a whole, not on any individual image. The judges are looking for children’s book publishing appropriateness, consistency of a strong illustrative “voice” throughout, and fresh and unique styles.

Visit the Portfolio Awards page to learn how to enter.

You must be registered for the conference to participate and you must be a Premium Member. Participation in the showcase is an additional $75. Members can purchase the Portfolio Showcase as a package with the Illustrators Half-Day Intensive for a reduced rate. 

The showcase winners and honor recipients will be announced live on Zoom at the Summer Conference Wrap-Up and Awards on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

Get your art in front of industry professionals at our career-launching online showcase. 

PRIZES

1 Gold Award (1) winner will receive:Free admission to the next Virtual Summer Conference,
Two phone/virtual meetings with art directors/agents who will provide guidance and feedback on your portfolio,
A one year renewal of your SCBWI membership, and
Two images from your portfolio will be showcased in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.*

1 Silver Award winner will receive:Two phone/virtual meetings with art directors/agents who will provide guidance and feedback on your portfolio,
A one year renewal of your SCBWI membership, and
One image from your portfolio will be showcased in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.*

2 Bronze Award winners will receive:One phone/virtual meeting with an art director or agent who will provide guidance and feedback on your portfolio.
One image from the winner’s portfolio will be showcased in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.*

Images from the Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners’ portfolios will be displayed in a special showcase in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair along with their name, website, and country of origin. There will be more than 30,000 people and 1500 exhibitors from 100 countries attend this renowned book fair.

SCBWI Virtual Conference 2026 Scholarships!

The countdown to SCWBI Summer Virtual Conference 2026 starts as we enter July! There is so much in store and we hope you will join us! 

For those who may need some assistance, SCBWI offers some wonderful scholarships to cover tuition for this year's conference! 

First up, we have the 

BIPOC Scholarship: Summer 2026!

For Black, Indigenous, and People of color, this scholarship will reward two winners with tuition to the 2026 SCBWI Virtual Summer Conference. 

Members and Non-members may apply to this scholarship. Submissions for the BIPOC Scholarship is open through July 8, midnight PST.

Visit the BIPOC Scholarship: Summer 2026 for the submission guidelines!

Next, we have the 

Penguin Random House Scholarship (General Scholarship): Summer 2026

This next scholarship generously sponsored by Penguin Random House, grants EIGHT scholarships to SCBWI members who may be experiencing financial hardship with free tuition to the SCBWI conference!

Submissions for the General Conference Scholarship is open until July 8, midnight PST.

Visit the Penguin Random House Scholarship (General Scholarship): Summer 2026 for the submission guidelines! The submission portal can be found in your Member Profile under the AWARDS tab.

Last, but not least, we have the 

Student Illustrator Scholarship: Summer 2026

Each year, the SCBWI sponsors conference scholarships for full-time graduate or undergraduate students studying illustration. The winners will receive admission to the Summer Conference and entry in the Juried Portfolio Showcase. 

Many of our SIS winners have gone on to be represented by agents, get illustration work, publish books, and win awards. SCBWI reserves the right not to award the scholarship in any given year.

For this scholarship, you must submit by July 8, midnight PST. 

You must be currently enrolled, or have graduated in the past semester, as a full-time graduate or undergraduate student at an accredited educational institution, and must be at least 18 years old.

Visit the Student Illustrator Scholarship: Summer 2026 for the submission guidelines! The submission portal can be found in your Member Profile under the AWARDS tab.

How to Submit to the Scholarships

Submission portal can be found in your Member Profile under the AWARDS tab.

1. Click on your MEMBER HOME

2. Click on the AWARDS Icon

3. Scroll down to your desired Scholarship box and click 'submit'

Questions? Please email Sarah Diamond at sarahdiamond@scbwi.org.

Note: In the event that a recipient cannot attend for any reason, SCBWI staff should be notified as soon as possible. The scholarship may, in that event, be awarded to another applicant. The grant is not transferrable and cannot be postponed.

German Kidlit Words, English is Long Overdue for

I am a native German-American writer, translator, and proofreader. I have been fascinated with languages since the fifth grade when we studied Latin as our first foreign language. The ancient history and culture of Rome, Pompeii, the aqueducts, and architecture intrigued me. I was hooked. Diving deep into this ancient time, culture, and way of life was truly captivating. Of course, cramming new vocabulary words every week was also tedious. So, when we finally started learning English in the seventh grade, a language that felt much more vibrant than Latin (a dead language), I was excited. I could read more contemporary texts and later books and magazines like Time and Newsweek. That made me feel very grown-up and mature.

As I got deeper into the English language, I read wider and different genres and recognized a few fully naturalized German words. 

Kindergarten, literally “children’s garden,” is essentially Preschool in Germany. It was introduced to English in the 19th century. Kindergarten began in the nineteenth century with German educator Friedrich Fröbel, who built on child‑centered ideas from Pestalozzi and Rousseau. In the 1830s and 1840s, he promoted music, nature work, storytelling, playful learning, and the iconic kindergarten circle time. He established the first Kindergarten in Blankenburg in 1837. 

The idea reached the United States in 1856, when Margarethe Schurz founded a German‑language kindergarten in Wisconsin. Her work inspired Elizabeth Peabody to open the first English‑language kindergarten in Boston in 1860. By the late nineteenth century, kindergarten had become established nationally.

A Doppelgänger “double walker” is a ghostly or uncanny double. It was first used by the 18th-century German writer Jean Paul. He actually invented the word and used a footnote to explain it. When the book was translated into English a little later, the word was left untranslated, and so it came into English.

Then there is Rucksack, or backpack, used especially for hiking. Lots of kids take their Rucksack, Knabberdose (Snack or Bento-style box), and water bottle to school and Kindergarten every day.

Soon, I discovered that many German words have no equivalent in English. When you come across them in translation, you have to set the scene differently to evoke the specific emotions that these German words hold. They carry whole worlds in one small, lovely bundle, and make young readers giggle, wriggle, or smile because they name something they’ve always known but never had a word for. A lot of them are also fun to say out loud. 

How about Kuschelecke? A perfectly cozy snuggle‑nook with fairy lights, full of pillows and stuffed animals, where stories are so much more fun. Your dream reading nook, with maximum coziness factor.

Quatschkopf (a lovable goof with endless potential for silliness) is an endearing term for kids who love being silly. I remember those after‑dinner moments when the laughter got so big my brother and I collapsed under the table, tears streaming down our faces. We could not stop. Every time I looked at him, I started again.

Silly goose is probably the best match and also holds the same lovable endearment. 

Fingerspitzengefühl (the gentle, intuitive touch that children use when handling beetles, sharing secrets, or forming new friendships). Some people possess more of it than others. It is definitely a sign of emotional intelligence and empathy when you know how to handle fragile matters or people with care. What a word! I know it’s long, but with a little phonetic help, it should be no problem!

These German kidlit terms are more than words. They’re tiny clues to how Germans view and understand childhood, play, coziness, and emotions. Part of their charm is the emotion they spark, and part comes from the way they sound. 

Zappelphilipp

TSAP: like the word "zap"
el: like "el" in "elephant"
FIL: similar to "fill"
ip: like "ip" in "ship"

“Wiggle‑Phillip” first appeared in a 1920s story collection called Der Struwwelpeter and is the story of a boy who could not sit still and caused huge chaos at the dinner table.  

It is used for the joyful, unstoppable wiggle-energy of a child who simply cannot sit still.

Dreckspatz,

Phonetic Breakdown: DREK-shpahts,

literally means “dirt sparrow”. A child who always ends up dusty, muddy, or delightfully dirty, a lovable mess-maker. I was that girl who returned home just in time for dinner, covered in mystery dirt. You get the picture. My parents lovingly called me Dreckspatz a lot growing up, because we spent a lot of time outside and in nature, exploring big time!

Tohuwabohu means complete chaos, utter confusion, or a wild, disorderly mess. 

It originates from the Biblical Hebrew phrase tohu va‑vohu, meaning formless and void, used in Genesis to describe the primordial chaos before creation. Some fun English equivalents that capture the noisy or frantic nature of kid-induced chaos include "hullabaloo" and "ruckus."

Sorgenfresserchen,

Phonetic Breakdown:
ZOR-gen-fres-er-shen

This adorable “little worry-eater” is the perfect companion to help ease your fears and worries. It’s very soft and cuddly, too.

You write or draw whatever bothers you on a small piece of paper, feed it to the Sorgenfresserchen, zip it up, put it under your pillow at night, and voila, your worries are gone, and you are ready for sweet dreams.

Believe it or not, I still have mine for all the ridiculous, never-ending worries that pop up way too much. Keeping my little monster fed gives me a sense of control. It helps me dump everything, so I can move on. It reminds me a lot of South American worry dolls.

Last but not least is Schnickschnack.

Pronounced SHNIK-shn-ah-k,
shnik (short 'i' sound, like in "stick")
shnahk (open 'ah' sound)

It is a term for charming, unnecessary decorative little extras, a little bit like knick-knacks. Another word that has a great English equivalent and captures the playful sound of the German expression. Kids love Schnickschnack; they endlessly collect things, those sparkly bits and bobs, and all sorts of random stuff they find. I definitely did. When I was growing up, my town collected and recycled unwanted household items twice a year. My friends and I could not wait to hunt for treasures and rummage through all the boxes that our neighbors put out the night before pickup. It was almost like Christmas! I always found something special that ended up on my bookshelf for display, or in my treasure box. One year, my friends and I (six of us) built an elaborate Smurf mansion from all the Schnickschnack we gathered. We worked on it for a week. It was a masterpiece! Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of that. 

I hope you enjoyed this short list of my favorites. English children's literature could really use some of these German imports because each one carries us into a familiar emotional space that children recognize instantly. I think it is time for some of these to make an appearance in the books we write. What do you think? Do you have a favorite?

Karin Redclift is the Translation Coordinator for SCBWI SF South. She is a

German‑born creative writer, translator, and proofreader, raised in Southern

Germany. Her passion for children's books started in pre-school and deepened

when she began teaching. She specializes in writing and translating kidlit, loves

playing with words (German and English), and dreams of making the world a better

place, one sentence at a time. She is bridging cultures and generations through

storytelling, with publications including the German translation of Emily of

New Moon by L.M. Montgomery and an updated version of the German classic

Maya the Bee. Her flash fiction appears in the Bolts of Fiction anthology.

She also enjoys reading, knitting, drawing, Tai Chi, gardening, hiking, and chasing

her little rescue dog, Charlie. 

Find her at www.KarinRedclift.com (sign up for the monthly newsletter).

Follow @karinredclift on Instagram.