Countdown to EVERY BODY MOVE!

Plus Back-to-School Book Recs!

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I can hardly believe that EVERY BODY MOVE! hits the shelves NEXT month! September 30th is the big day. I’m not sure what to do to celebrate on the 30th. Any ideas? I want to make sure to mark the occasion. This book has been 3 years in the making! Also, if you are local, mark your calendars for Saturday, October 4th, as that is when I will be doing a book launch at Ruby’s Books!

There’s still so much to do before the book comes out. And most of the time, I feel like I have no clue what I am doing. I just take things day by day, hoping I am doing enough for my debut book to make a splash. Even so, I’m having so much fun. I can’t wait for you to read it! And sing it! And dance to it! Because, if I haven’t mentioned, my book is ALSO a sing-along. What does that mean? That means that in addition to a story, it is a song. The book will come with a QR code to a video-animation of the book in song-form. And, let me tell you, it is catchy! It will get your kids, students, and yes, even you, moving and grooving.

You can still PREORDER the book now anywhere books are sold! Signed copes are available at Ruby’s Books. Just leave a note at checkout if you want personalization. :) Preorders REALLY help authors.

So, what have I been up to? One of the super fun things about being an author is that you get to sign books! But as a debut author, I have yet to figure out what my author signature will be. I don’t want to use my legal signature, for obvious reasons. And I’m not sure I want to sign my entire name - Jenna Elyse Johnson - I imagine my hand would get very tired after a while.

(Side note: I’m happy I decided to go with my full name as my author name. I really like my middle name. And I’ve never really used it any other setting before. So, this feels right to me! But that’s a whole lot to write out if I am signing a bunch of books.)

I’ve thought about using just my initials for my signature. JEJ. Or perhaps just my first name? Readers will know I’m the Jenna associated with the book, right? Maybe I can go with Jenna Elyse? I do really enjoy my middle name. Or maybe I can go with my full name but make it more of a scribble rather than clearly and neatly writing it out? I definitely want a catch phrase or tag line that matches each book. Maybe even more than one for each book. I also got some fun stamps that I think will add some flair to my signature. I really admire illustrators and how they do some cute little doodles with their signatures. While I don’t trust in my ability to professionally doodle, I think I can stamp. But I’m not sure how quickly I can stamp. Or how long the stamping will take to dry. Stamping might have to be saved for school visits. I’m not sure. I haven’t nailed my signature yet, but below are some practice ones. I have had a LOT of fun with the process.

Practicing different signatures.

Speaking of school visits, I am pumped to offer school visits for the 2025-2026 school year! When I first started writing picture books, I knew school visits were going to be a highlight for me. Since I already AM an elementary school teacher, this idea excites me! There is no greater joy than connecting with young readers and the classroom (or MPR) is the perfect place to do this! I won’t be charging a fee to start out with, because I want to grow more comfortable as an author in the classroom, rather than a teacher. I will be updating my website soon with more info on school visits. If you are interested in hosting me at your school, please reach out. I would LOVE to come to your school! My service dog, Hamilton, might even come too! Please, spread the word!

Also speaking of school, it is back-to-school season! I will be back in the classroom this year at my beloved little wild school. As a disabled person, I feel so fortunate to work at a school that is incredibly inclusive and that allows me to work a schedule that fits my needs. I will be teaching 4th and 5th graders this year, older than my previous years, and specifically I will be teaching them all about how to become children’s book writers and illustrators! How fun does that sound?! We will get to analyze picture books and chapter books, write and revise stories, play writing games, and learn how to be entrepreneurs. It’s going to be a great year!

Back-to-School season is always a little bitter-sweet for me. Bitter because I LOVE summer. It’s hard to say goodbye. Sweet because the start of school is an exciting time. What makes the transition easier for me, is a great picture book, of course! Below are some of my favorite back-to-school reads!

Mr. S: A First Day of School Book by Monica Arnaldo | On the first day of school, the kindergarteners of room 2B notice something’s very wrong: their teacher is missing, and a mysterious sandwich sits on a desk. The only clue left behind is written on the chalkboard: three simple letters, "Mr. S."

Narwhal vs. Kindergarten by Vanessa Roeder | Hugo the narwhal is excited for his first week of school, except his horn keeps getting in the way! It blocks the bus door, causes chaos in the classroom, and makes Hugo feel like he just doesn’t fit in. But with a little creativity, teamwork, and a heartwarming baseball game, Hugo and his classmates learn that everyone needs different kinds of support and that inclusion makes all the difference.

Lupe Lopez: Rock Star Rules! by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Pat Zietlow Miller | Lupe Lopez arrives at kindergarten ready to rock with her drumsticks, sunglasses, and superstar rules. But her loud rhythm clashes with classroom expectations ~ and making fans isn’t as easy as she thought. As Lupe learns the value of friendship and teamwork, she discovers that being a true rock star means sharing the spotlight and following the rules.

Officer Buckle & Gloria by Peggy Rathmann | Officer Buckle is full of safety tips, but no one pays attention, until police dog Gloria joins him on stage, secretly acting out his advice in hilarious ways. Suddenly, his speeches are a hit! But when Officer Buckle learns the truth, he feels betrayed and quits. Will Gloria be able to show him how much he and their teamwork really matter to the town of Napville? Highlights the importance of safety and the power of partnership.

Tiny T. Rex and the First Day Oopsies by Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck | Tiny T. Rex may be small, but he’s big on courage, especially on the first day of school! Armed with a giant backpack and his lucky bowtie, he’s ready for anything… or so he thinks. When things don’t go as planned, Tiny learns that it’s okay to make mistakes and that trying his best (with a little help from his best friend, Pointy) is what really counts.

Let’s Play! A Book About Making Friends by Amanda McCardie and Colleen Larmour | When Sukie starts at a new school, she feels shy and out of place, until small acts of kindness from her classmates begin to help her feel welcome. As she finds the courage to pass that kindness on, Sukie discovers that friendship can grow from even the smallest gestures.

The Day the Crayons Made Friends by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers | Duncan’s crayons just won’t stay put! After wrangling some back to work and rescuing others from tricky spots, the crayons disappear again, this time exploring his room and making new friends. From Red Crayon driving a firetruck to Esteban taming a teddy bear, each crayon has a fun adventure to share.

Today My Brain is a Dinosaur by Jedidiah Mora and Mette Engell | A neurodivergent boy struggles to manage his ever-changing moods and thoughts: one day he’s a dinosaur, the next a raging bull. As his world spirals, his loving family helps him find calm and confidence. A heartfelt, authentic look at life with autism, ADHD, and other neurodiverse experiences.

Together a Forest by Roz MacLean | When Joy visits the forest with her class, she feels anxious about choosing just one thing for a school assignment. As she watches her classmates connect with nature in different ways, she realizes that everyone experiences the world uniquely, and that all ways of being, including neurodivergence and disability, belong in nature.

Sammy and Sunny’s First Day of School | It's the first day of kid school for Sammy and the first day of puppy school for Sunny. They both feel nervous, but they end up having a great time-- making friends, playing and napping, and learning all sorts of new things. That afternoon, they tell Mom and each other all about day one, Sammy with words and Sunny in his own special way. But what will happen on day two? Sammy wonders. And readers are in for a very funny surprise!

Thanks for reading! I can’t wait to continue to share updates with you.