Trick or Treat with Annemarie Riley Guertin!

Hi, readers, writers, and hide-and-seek loving monsters of all sorts! What's better than a book about monsters? An interactive hide-and-seek adventure, of course! We're pleased to have the marvelous Annemarie Riley Guertin sharing her new lift-the-flap board book that's perfect for the season. Hide-and-Seek Monsters has monsters hiding throughout the book. Can you find them all? Come and have a look. This rhyming book is sure to excite readers of all ages. Want to know more about Annemarie and her newest book, PLUS want to know what tricks or treats she's brought with her? Read on if you dare...

Q: Hi, Annemarie! Thanks so much for joining #SeasonsOfKidLit. We’re thrilled to have you back with us and hear all about your new board book, Hide-and-Seek Monsters - how fun!

Readers, to check out Annemarie's other fright-filled interview with us, click here.

Hide-and-Seek Monsters is an interactive book which, in rhyme, asks young readers to find all the monsters throughout the pages.

Can you share more with us about this story and the inspiration behind it? 

A: Thank you so much for having me back! "Hide-and-Seek Monsters" was inspired by my love for Halloween and interactive reading experiences. As both an educator and author, I wanted to create something that would engage young readers, not just through the story but by actively involving them in the process. The idea of monsters hiding in various scenes and asking kids to find them felt like a perfect way to combine fun with learning. It encourages observational skills, builds excitement, and makes the reading experience more immersive. Plus, who doesn't love a good monster hunt?

Q: Interactive books are pretty tough to pull off. And so are board books! What’s key to making these successful, especially for a younger audience?

A: As you know, publishing a book has become increasingly more difficult over the past few years (I believe even more so in the board book category). I think the key to making interactive board books successful is to keep them simple yet engaging. The interaction should be intuitive so that young children can participate without much guidance from a parent or sibling. For "Hide-and-Seek Monsters," I focused on creating a rhythm in the rhyme that feels playful and encourages participation. The visuals are also crucial—clear, bright illustrations that capture attention and provide just the right amount of challenge in the search (Hannah Wood did an amazing job with her illustrations-they’re so fun!). I also think the added element of lifting the flaps helped to elevate the storyline and catch the publisher’s eye.

Q: What was your favorite part about seeing this book come to life? What do you think young readers will enjoy most about your book?

A: My favorite part was seeing the illustrations for the first time. Hannah did an amazing job bringing the monsters to life in a way that's fun and not too scary—perfect for our target audience! I think young readers will love the interactive element of searching for the monsters on each page. It's a little adventure they can embark on, and each read can be a new experience as they discover something they might have missed before.

Q:  You’ve had a successful year for book releases! Can you share what other books you have that recently came out? How do you manage multiple book releases in a year and all at the same time?

A:  It has been an exciting year! Alongside "Hide-and-Seek Monsters," I've been fortunate to release a few other titles, each with its unique flair. In June, Finding Mr. Trunks was released and just last month it won an award! In July, we released 123 Counting on Community (another board book) and then in August Hide and Seek Monsters was released.  Managing multiple releases in a year is definitely a juggling act. I work closely with my publisher and marketing team to ensure each book gets the attention it deserves. I’ve been busy making TikTok’s and posting about each book on my social media accounts. I’ve been busy reaching out to influencers and looking for interview/podcast/blogging opportunities to get the word out. Once school starts up again, I am hoping to do author visits again.   It’s all about balance and making sure that even when things are busy, I stay connected to the joy of sharing stories with readers.

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of working with Familius?

A: For me, it's the collaborative spirit. Familius is dedicated to creating books that bring families together, and being a part of that mission is incredibly fulfilling. They value the input of their authors and illustrators, and it's a true partnership in bringing stories to life. I feel very fortunate to have published 6 titles with them.

6 titles with them is super impressive. Thanks so much for sharing - we loved hearing more about them!

Bonus question: What’s your favorite Halloween Candy? OR What was your favorite costume as a kid? 

A: My favorite Halloween candy has to be Reese's Pieces—they're the perfect mix of chocolate and peanut butter, and I can never resist them (when I do find them) Thank goodness for Dollar General.

Thanks again for hanging out with us today! It was such a pleasure having!

Readers, want to know what we thought about Hide-and-Seek Monsters? Check out this Peek-a-Boo Review!

You can also find our reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

Q: Would you like to leave a Trick or a Treat for our readers?

A: A TREAT! I'd love to leave a signed copy of Hide-and-Seek Monsters to one reader!

Wow, thanks for such a monstrously-amazing treat!

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter to win this sweet treat 1) share this post on social media and 2) leave a comment below to thank Annemarie for stopping by! Monster GIFs are totally appreciated, too.

Winners for the Trick-or-Treat event will be drawn on or about 10/22!

*Books will be shipped in the US only.*

Note: Those who leave a comment on all posts will be eligible to win one (1) of ten (5) Rate Your Story Speed Passes, perfect for quick MS feedback, provided by Agent Mentee Lynne Marie & Author Heather Macht.

About Annemarie Riley Guertin

Annemarie Riley Guertin is a wife, mother, and award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of several children's books. She began her professional writing career in 2016, focusing on themes of kindness and the importance of dreaming big. Annemarie holds a bachelors and masters Education. She currently teaches Early Childhood Education in Massachusetts, where she resides with her husband and their two children.​ Annemarie is represented by Vicky Weber at CMA.

For More about Annemarie, check out the below links:

Twitter/X: @ARileyGuertin

Instagram: annemarie_r._guertin 

To purchase Annemarie's books on Amazon, or the leave a review for them, click here.

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A special thanks to David Rodriguez Lorenzo for the amazing custom-signatures!