Celebrate Rosh Hashanah with Faith Kramer

Did you know the Hebrew calendar celebrates four distinct New Years? * The most important and best-known of them is Rosh Hashanah (literally “head of the year”), observed this year from the evening of October 2 through nightfall of October 4. On Rosh Hashanah, often called the Jewish New Year, individuals attend special services to offer prayers for a year of health and prosperity and affirm their dedication to repenting their misdeeds. They also celebrate in their homes with festive meals featuring foods that are symbolically connected to these same prayers.  While customs and traditions vary across the global Jewish...

The story behind The Knitting Witch

At The Collective Book Studio, we have the unique privilege of bringing remarkable stories to life. In some special cases, the origin story is just as compelling as the book itself. The Knitting Witch is a tale that has woven its way from a cherished family memory into a beautifully illustrated book soon to be placed into the hands of eager readers everywhere. A Rediscovered Gem The story of The Knitting Witch begins in the 1950s with author Norma Kassirer, known for her classic Magic Elizabeth. Before she penned that beloved book, Norma wrote The Knitting Witch and would read...

Foreword Reviews Q&A with Lauren Sánchez and Behind the Book: The Fly Who Flew to Space

Introduction by Rebekah Lovato Piatte, Developmental Editor When the Collective Book Studio first approached me with this proposal, the first thing that drew me in were Raleigh Stewart’s drawings. I loved all the detail he was able to bring in—things for kids to notice at every turn. And I loved the play on words, with the fly who flew.  Working with Lauren was great—she was friendly, open to suggestions, and we were in sync about the direction of the book. Flynn is a character for both boys and girls—showing anyone can participate—and excel—in STEM subjects. Flynn’s curiosity and aspirations are...

Making Space for Mindfulness

I discovered mindfulness over a decade ago when I joined a weekly meditation group. I’d wanted to learn more about meditation for a while, but had no idea how to get started—it felt intimidating. So, when I stumbled across a postcard advertising a meditation class only ten minutes from my home, I thought: this is my sign to finally do it!  Once I began attending the group, it didn’t take long for me to notice the benefits: I was sleeping better and definitely felt less stressed. At the time, I was working with children who were dealing with high levels...

Summer Mini Writing Quests for Teens: Dive In & Get Curious!

Summer is a great time to explore your writing in new ways. Without assignments for school, you can really let yourself write what you want, how you want — be creative. Some writers like to record what they did, others how they feel, some invent stories, some write letters, poems, song lyrics. Choose a dedicated journal, notebook, or pad of paper and let yourself find your personal writing style and interests. Remember that writing is not just for writers, just like cooking isn’t only for restaurant chefs. Everyone has something to say! Think of your writing as a habit, something...

Behind the Book: Patterns, Patterns Everywhere

Being an adopted female of Latin and Indigenous descent, I grew up in a family that looked quite different from me. This difference sparked a constant search for understanding. I was always observing, noticing what was different and what was the same. As a child, I remember noticing how cracks in tile created recognizable shapes. I loved to draw and write from observation, and I honed this ability to recognize patterns in the world around me.  This skill was useful in everyday life for things like finding the answer in math problems, predicting how a story might end, repeating positive results in sports play,...