by Jill Esbaum
Thanks, Tara, for hosting my cover reveal for STINKBIRD HAS A SUPERPOWER!
This book idea was sparked by a work-for-hire project for National Geographic Kids, Angry Birds Playground: Rain Forest. There I was, cramming my days with Amazon animal research, and … yeesh. Life in the Amazon is a big-time, bloody example of eat-or-be-eaten. And it was starting to get me down. (Maybe watching all those gobbledy-grisly videos wasn’t such a hot idea.)
But then a breath of fresh air blew in. The hoatzin. A leaf eater. A bird that bothers nobody, and nobody bothers it. Why? Because it smells to high heaven—like cow poop, thanks to its four-chambered, slow-mo digestive system. Golly, that cheered me up. Further research showed it to be a great singer (not), a great flyer (not), and a great nest-builder (um…). Best of all, their chicks have what might be called (if you’re me) a SUPERPOWER unlike any other bird in the whole entire world!
Well, how could I not play around with THAT idea? So I wrote an informational fiction manuscript from Papa Hoatzin’s POV.
And no editor got it.
In my 25 years of submitting, this manuscript actually holds the record for most rejections (so far *knock wood*). Hmm, maybe it was a little long. And, okay, a little over-written. But I’m stubborn, so, all along the way, I kept going back and tweaking. More rejections. Finally, I hit upon the idea of adding one of Papa’s chicks to the mix, making it funny, and WHEW, everything clicked.
A dream editor at Putnam snapped up my manuscript, had me tweak again, got the hilarious BOB SHEA to illustrate (I KNOW!), and ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom, here’s the cover:
STINKBIRD HAS A SUPERPOWER will release May 16th, 2023, to be followed in 2024 by the second book in the series, the equally amazing PARROTFISH HAS A SUPERPOWER. I am so proud of these books. Kiddos will love ’em and boy, will adults have fun reading them aloud.
Get your dibs in now, because this baby is available for PRE-ORDER!
Thanks, Jill! It looks SUPER!
And blog readers, the amazing Jill Esbaum is giving away a picture book critique!
Leave one comment below to enter.
A random winner will be selected in October.
Good luck!
Jill Esbaum is a widely published author of books for young readers. She is a frequent school visitor and conference speaker. She teaches writing for children at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival. Visit her at JillEsbaum.com and follow her on Twitter at @JEsbaum.
95 comments
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September 28, 2022 at 12:50 pm
Jane Heitman Healy
Congratulations, Jill! And thanks for your shining example of persistence!
September 28, 2022 at 12:52 pm
Kelly Russell Jaques
These Superpower books look amazing! Thanks for the great post!
September 28, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Kim A Larson
Congratulations, Jill! Persistence pays off. Your books sounds great. I can’t wait to read it!
September 28, 2022 at 12:57 pm
Judy Y
This sounds (and looks) hilarious. Can’t wait to read it!
September 28, 2022 at 12:58 pm
Melanie Ellsworth
This book sounds like so much fun! Glad it finally took flight. 🙂
September 28, 2022 at 1:04 pm
Lou Aamodt
Wahoo, Jill! Was that the exciting phone call you received during the retreat? Can’t wait to read it. I’m a fan of stink.
September 28, 2022 at 1:06 pm
JenFW
Way to stink with it–er . . . stick . . . way to stick with it!
September 28, 2022 at 1:09 pm
Helen Kampion
This would be the first time if a reviewer says an author’s book stinks that the author would be thrilled! Congratulations!
September 28, 2022 at 1:19 pm
Linda Hofke
Congrats! The cover looks great, Jill.
And you know I love birds.
I can’t wait to read it.
September 28, 2022 at 1:11 pm
Terry L Pierce
Congratulations, Jill! It looks like another winning story from you!
September 28, 2022 at 1:16 pm
stefsenn77yahoocom
Way to be persistent, Jill! Looks like a fun book!
September 28, 2022 at 1:17 pm
Linda Hofke
Congrats! It looks great, Jill. I can’t wait to read it.
September 28, 2022 at 1:18 pm
lizzie maxwell
Love this! Okay, I’ll be stubborn, too!
September 28, 2022 at 1:18 pm
Chelle Martin
Congratulations! Just another reminder to keep pitching.
September 28, 2022 at 1:18 pm
Hannah Roy LaGrone
Love the inspiration for the story! I have been watching some Disneynature documentaries lately with my toddler and keep thinking “oooh that should be a PB!” Guess it’s time to start writing. The cover is adorable. Congrats Jill!
September 28, 2022 at 1:19 pm
brennajeanneret
Woo hoo! Can’t wait for this!
September 28, 2022 at 1:21 pm
Sharon
Birds! My favorite! Super powers! My other favorite! Stinky? I don’t know. Let’s find out. Can’t wait to read this book. Congratulations!
September 28, 2022 at 1:27 pm
Cathy Ballou Mealey
I’m so stinkin’ excited for this book from Jill and Bob!
Phew!! Congrats!
September 28, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Tanya Konerman
I LOVE when humor combines with facts to make nonfiction and informational fiction fun and funny! Can’t wait to read them both!
September 28, 2022 at 1:41 pm
Ellie Huynh
Looks adorable!
September 28, 2022 at 1:46 pm
Mia Geiger
This books looks awesome!!
And thank you for sharing the backstory. Amazing!
Congratulations, Jill!
September 28, 2022 at 1:46 pm
Renée Neubauer
Oh my goodness! I can’t wait to get my hands on that book.
September 28, 2022 at 1:48 pm
Pat Zietlow Miller
It’s SO CUTE!
September 28, 2022 at 1:53 pm
Mark Ceilley
I liked hearing about your persistence and how you kept revising until an editor loved it. This has inspired me!
Great cover! Congratulations!
September 28, 2022 at 1:59 pm
Laura Perdew
Jill – I love your story and your persistence. It reminds me of my own stubbornness! Sometimes it just takes the magic combo of time, tweaks, and the right editor. Congrats!
September 28, 2022 at 2:03 pm
Laura Purdie Salas
Jill, congratulations! This looks so fun–and Bob Shea! Can’t wait to read both of these.
September 28, 2022 at 2:25 pm
Jennifer Lowe
Jill, these look fabulous! Can’t wait to see these SUPER books on the shelves!
September 28, 2022 at 2:41 pm
Gayle Veitenheimer
So excited to hear of your latest, Jill. Denise Benavides always talked you up in critique group. Can’t wait to read it!
September 28, 2022 at 2:44 pm
rosecappelli
This book looks so funny! Can’t wait to read it. Congratulations!
September 28, 2022 at 3:00 pm
EvonWrites
My take-away: stop fearing rejection letters! Thanks for your example of believing in your project enough to see it through, even if that means continuing to revise.
September 28, 2022 at 3:02 pm
Jan Milusich
I’m looking forward to reading Stinkbird Has a Super Power
September 28, 2022 at 3:03 pm
Jan Milusich
I love it!
September 28, 2022 at 3:18 pm
Sheila Dinn
Sounds like such a fun way to learn something completely new!
September 28, 2022 at 3:20 pm
mariletarobinson
Congratulations, Jill!
September 28, 2022 at 4:03 pm
sassyscribesblog
The cover makes me want to pick it up and find out just what Stinkbird’s superpower could possibly be.
September 28, 2022 at 4:04 pm
Marci Whitehurst
Wow, this looks wonderful! COngrats, Jill! All of your work is so good!
September 28, 2022 at 4:23 pm
katiemillsgiorgio
I love this all so much, Jill!!!!!
September 28, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Wendy Greenley
Congratulations on Stinkbird–and your tenacity!
September 28, 2022 at 4:32 pm
Sylvia Mary Grech
Congrats on your book! Sounds like a wonderful story.
September 28, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Buffy Silverman
Wow… perseverance is your superpower!
September 28, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Angie B.
Your writing career is amazing!
September 28, 2022 at 5:28 pm
Sunny Walker
Wow, and a title that gets kids ATTENTION! Can hardly wait!
September 28, 2022 at 5:38 pm
seahorsecoffeeelektra79018
I’ve heard of stink bugs and, of course, we know about skunks, but a stinkbird? Looking forward to meeting stinkbird on the pages of your new book!
September 28, 2022 at 5:44 pm
Sue Lowell Gallion
WOW, Jill! Love this happy ending after all
the waiting! Can’t wait for this duo!
September 28, 2022 at 6:07 pm
Elayne
Jill! How exciting! And such a long, slow burn to get that awesome ending for this book’s journey! 🙂 Can’t wait to read it!
September 28, 2022 at 6:34 pm
Deb Buschman (@DebBuschman)
I love that story of how it came about. I have such a love of animals and manuscripts that are long shots and I hope will someday catch the eye of an editor. Jill you are the queen of bringing humor to a story. I can hardly wait to read it.
September 28, 2022 at 6:50 pm
Bethanny Parker
These books sound great. I bet my daughter would love them. She loves to collect interesting animal facts.
September 28, 2022 at 6:58 pm
Reed Hilton-Eddy
I love the kinds of non-fiction being written these days. Information is a fun way about things not taught in school. Keeps kids coming back to books!
September 28, 2022 at 7:01 pm
seschipper
Wow! Looking forward to reading this one!!
❤
September 28, 2022 at 7:26 pm
kskeesling
Stinking cute! Congratulations and thanks for sharing
September 28, 2022 at 7:34 pm
Jaime Petrucci
This sounds so cute and super funny! Looking forward to reading it.
September 28, 2022 at 8:57 pm
Jennifer Phillips
Thanks for sharing your journey to publication. Fascinating. The journey, the bird and the book! Congratulations.
September 28, 2022 at 8:57 pm
Kathy Doherty
I’ll admit…you had me at the title (and cover)!
September 28, 2022 at 9:39 pm
abby mumford
The perseverance! What an inspiration. Congrats, Jill! And congrats us to for this not being a scratch and sniff book. 😜
September 28, 2022 at 10:07 pm
Rosi Hollinbeck
What a great journey to publication on this one. And what a fun idea for a book. Thanks for telling me about it.
September 28, 2022 at 10:44 pm
Kari (🚗+E) Lavelle (@KariALavelle)
What a fun premise! Congrats, Jill!
September 28, 2022 at 10:51 pm
catchandi
Wow, what a journey! I’m so glad it clicked in the end, and so glad you persisted. It looks like such a fun story! Congratulations!!
Andi Chitty
September 29, 2022 at 12:24 am
Katie Schwartz
Totally looks adorable! And congrats on your persistence, super and well-deserved outcome!
September 29, 2022 at 1:15 am
Elizabeth Kalasinsky
Can’t wait to read this!
September 29, 2022 at 6:27 am
Melissa-Jane Nguyen
Oh this sounds fabulous! So wonderful to hear about your journey to getting this one published.
September 29, 2022 at 7:56 am
Judy Sobanski
Jill, YOU have a superpower…finding fabulous characters to star in your PB’s! I can’t wait to read this!
September 29, 2022 at 8:07 am
christinashawnbooks
Oh I can’t wait to see these books and I loved hearing the backstory. Thank you!
September 29, 2022 at 8:12 am
Joy Moore
This book will be on my list!
September 29, 2022 at 8:43 am
Debra Shumaker
Ohhh, I love this so much. I devour weird animal stories so cannot wait to pick up this one. Congrats!
September 29, 2022 at 11:51 am
Angie
That is fascinating, Jill! Amazing birds! Congratulations and best wishes!
September 29, 2022 at 11:57 am
kiwijenny
Jill I love your books. I love this and I know my class of four year olds would laugh uproariously at this.
September 29, 2022 at 11:59 am
Nancy Ferguson
That’s so exciting, Jill. Your persistence and re-visioning are inspiring. Congratulations.
September 29, 2022 at 12:01 pm
NC Karuzis
I am intrigued! Thank you for sharing the story of this books journey – I am inspired to keep on keeping on.
September 29, 2022 at 1:30 pm
katieschon
Love the cover, love the concept!
September 29, 2022 at 2:02 pm
Danielle Hammelef
Thank you for the chance to win a critique from this talented author.
September 29, 2022 at 2:11 pm
claireannette1
This is a book that kids will grab off the shelves and devour! Can’t wait to see and share it.
September 29, 2022 at 2:34 pm
Janet Frenck Sheets
It’s so encouraging to hear that an oft-rejected manuscript ended up in the hands of a dream editor, Putnam, and Bob Shea! I bet it will be a hit.
September 29, 2022 at 3:53 pm
chardixon47
Congratulations, Jill! I’m going to chase persistence forever! I look forward to reading your book.
September 29, 2022 at 5:02 pm
marty bellis
Jill, I love all your books, and this one is most intriguing, since I’ve never heard of a stink bird. Can’t wait to read it!
Thanks so much for sharing the winding route it took to publication. Just proves again that persistence and believing in your story is so important! Yay for you!
September 29, 2022 at 5:15 pm
srkckass
I’m really excited to read about Stinkbird! Great post!
September 29, 2022 at 5:29 pm
Penny Parker Klostermann
Congrats, Jill. Cute, eye-catching cover! I love hearing book journey stories and this one was so interesting! But not nearly as interesting as the stink bird! Looking forward to learning more.
September 29, 2022 at 6:11 pm
Rebecca Van Slyke
Is there anything that sells better than something stinky in picture books?
September 29, 2022 at 7:14 pm
tinamcho
What a neat back story! Congrats on these books, Jill!
September 30, 2022 at 9:31 am
Joyce
Love hearing about your journey to this book.
September 30, 2022 at 10:44 am
karamarsee8716
Wow! I had no idea – and I love unique animals. Thanks for sharing your fun story Jill! And how fantastic to have Bob Shea illustrate it.
September 30, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Natasha Wing
Lucky to have Bob Shea as your illustrator! He doesn’t stink.
September 30, 2022 at 4:33 pm
Lynn Baldwin
I love the story of how this book can to be. The cover looks great!
September 30, 2022 at 5:23 pm
Karan Greene
I’m so glad you were persistent! Congratulations! Sounds like a great book!
October 1, 2022 at 2:55 am
Liz Godfrey
Looking forward to reading your humorous and informative book – Congrats!
October 1, 2022 at 11:06 am
millerritam
I do a lot of volunteer work with kids, sharing their love of nature at a local library. This is just the type of book they would adore. Can’t wait to get my hands on it and use it for a mentor text!
October 2, 2022 at 11:52 am
JoLynne Ricker Whalen
This sounds hilarious! I’ve added it to my library’s order list for 2023. Thanks Jill!!!
October 2, 2022 at 4:28 pm
mlyablonaolcom
Can’t wait to find out what Baby Hoatzin’s superpower is!
October 3, 2022 at 1:05 pm
jensubra
This sounds fascinating, and I really want to know what the super power is! Way to leave us with a cliff-hanger, Jill!
October 3, 2022 at 9:30 pm
Rebecca Gardyn Levington
YAY! Another wonderful book from the amazing Jill Esbaum! Can’t wait! 🙂
October 3, 2022 at 11:37 pm
Allison Green
My kids are going to love this!
October 5, 2022 at 10:44 pm
Meredith Fraser
Thank you for your testimony of perseverance. It gives all of us in the trenches hope!
Both books sound right down my grandson’s alley!!! Can’t wait to read!
Congratulations
October 6, 2022 at 3:01 pm
Jessica Milo
This sounds so fun, I can’t wait to read it and learn more about hoatzins!!! Curious to know the superpower! Congrats, Jill and Bob!
October 10, 2022 at 3:27 pm
Susan Johnston Taylor
Congrats, Jill! Looking forward to reading this book.
October 12, 2022 at 5:54 pm
Kathy Crable
This looks hilarious!
October 23, 2022 at 4:38 pm
S. K. Wenger
Fabulous! I love how you stuck with your story. Your cover looks amazing. Can’t wait to read it! Congratulations!