Oct 46 min read

Trick or Treat with NorthSouth Books!

Hi, readers, writers, and gothic creatures of all sorts! We have a splendid treat for you today. We're thrilled to have the enchanting Gelsey White, associate publicist for the AMAZING NorthSouth Books with us, sharing some exciting fall theme books on their list. Whether you're in the mood for a witchy read, a book about friendship, or even a book about a head-banging gothic moth, Gelsey has totally got you covered - just wait to see what she has to share for this season, and some others, too! Want to know more about Gelsey and her role at NorthSouth Books PLUS want to know if she's offering a trick or a treat? Read on if you dare...

Q: Hi, Gelsey! Thanks so much for joining #SeasonsOfKidLit for our Trick-or-Treat event! We’re thrilled to have you with us and hear about NorthSouth Books. We happen to be HUGE fans of yours! :)

Can you share a little bit about NorthSouth Books and yourself with our readers? We’d love to hear more!

A: Thanks for inviting me to participate! NorthSouth Books is the US branch of Swiss publisher NordSüd Verlag. We specialize in picture books–sharing timeless stories for children through exceptional text and illustration. We also have a Spanish language imprint, Ediciones NorteSur. So, a typical day at NorthSouth includes English, Spanish, and German projects! (In the US we review submissions in English and Spanish.)

As associate publicist at NorthSouth, it’s my role to get people excited about our books and to encourage readers of all ages and languages to dive into the magic of picture books. I look forward to sharing some of those books here today!

Q: NorthSouth has so many fun titles on their list, ranging from classics to new releases! What books do you think would make excellent seasonal and/or spooky reads this month and why?

A: This is the fun part, where we get to talk about books! For young wizards, warlocks, and witches we have Wacky Witches and Their Peculiar Familiars by April Suddendorf. (More about this book below!) The book uses catchy rhymes and bright, graphic illustrations to introduce readers to all different types of witches and their animal assistants!

Another fitting title is Goth Moth, written by Kai Lüftner, illustrated by Wiebke Rauers and translated from German by Tim Mohr. This book is a follow-up to our title Jitterbug. In Goth Moth, shaggy-haired, bespectacled Walter the moth loves music, but is too shy to step into the limelight. Could all that change when his favorite band, led by the Jitterbug, comes to town? The illustrations are dark and spooky, and illustrator Wiebke listens to metal or rock music to inspire her as she works!

And what would be Halloween without dragons? Well I doubt you can find any in There are No Dragons in This Book, written by Donna Lambo-Weidner and illustrated by Carla Haslbauer. This book is the perfect read-aloud for kids who love The Monster at the End of This Book.

For some other seasonal titles, I suggest Hooray for Fall! By Kazuo Iwamura about three squirrel siblings (with the cutest red sweaters) as they explore nature in fall. And Bernadette Watts, who is a master at illustrating beloved fairy tales, brings the chilling Grimm Brothers’ Hansel and Gretel to life in her delicious rendition.

Q: Wacky Witches and Their Peculiar Familiars is such a unique title - from the theme to illustrations that go along with it. What caught NorthSouth’s eye most during the acquisitions process for this book (that made the editorial team say, yes!)? Writers are often told to not focus on holiday-themed books.

A: An interesting tidbit about Halloween is that it is not nearly as well-known and celebrated in Europe as it is in the United States. So our Swiss colleagues are not usually looking for Halloween-themed books. However, when April Suddendorf sent this project to us, we fell in love with it in English and in German!

April Suddendorf is a debut author-illustrator–Wacky Witches and Their Peculiar Familiars was actually her final project at the Wismar University of Applied Sciences in Germany. In the book, April introduces us to witches and their animal companions. But don’t just think black cats and toads . . . April’s witches have sheep, yaks, squirrels, snakes, even pangolin! Her bold, colorful illustrations depict witches with tattoos, witches with pink hair, witches that use wheelchairs and witches that are CEOs!

Her book is a playful way for young readers to discover what makes them unique. So even though witches are associated with Halloween in the US, this book can be read any time of year!

Q: We love all seasons/holidays here at #SeasonsOfKidLit and noticed you have quite a list. What other books of yours should we check out for the upcoming holiday season?

A: Our upcoming compendium Let’s Get Festive! written by Joanna Konczak and translated from Polish by Kate Webster features nonfiction information about 36 festivals and traditions from around the world. It includes celebrations that happen all throughout the year, so there’s always something to celebrate or learn about. For example, did you know that on the thirteenth day of Nowruz (the Iranian new year), Iranians play tricks on each other similar to April Fool’s Day? Or that Christians in the Philippines celebrate All Souls’ Day by camping out in cemeteries and spending time with the dead?

The illustrator, Ewa-Poklewska-Koziełło, also illustrated Christmas is Coming, which takes a closer look at traditions around the world specifically during Christmastime.

If you are looking for a new Christmas tale to put under the tree, The Little Christmas Tree written by Thomas Meyer, illustrated by Philippe Goossens and translated from German by Marshall Yarbrough is a fun story reminiscent of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. In the book, Alex is the littlest fir tree in the nursery school. Although he doesn’t stack up to the other trees, he finds a welcoming home where he can bring the biggest Christmas cheer!

Q: Thanks SO much - these all sound wonderful! Can you share any upcoming sneak peeks with us? What books should we keep on our radar?

A: Coming next spring we have the English and Spanish edition of debut author-illustrator Dayeon Auh’s book, based on a Korean folktale, The Three Year Tumble (Spanish edition: Un tropezón de tres años). I am thrilled to have this book on our list because there are shockingly few books published in the US based on Korean folktales. I bet it’s also a surprise to say this book features just a smidge of math as well.

In fall 2025 we will have a third book following Jitterbug and Goth Moth. I’ll leave some details to the imagination, but let’s just say the next book will star a spider who plays the keyboard!

Ha, a keyboard-playing spider? Count me IN! Thanks for sharing.

Bonus question: What was your favorite costume as a kid?

A: When I was a child, my go-to costume was a witch. It all started with my love for Miyazaki movies and Kiki’s Delivery Service. My mother is very talented with a sewing machine, so she made me Kiki’s classic purple dress and red hair bow!

Thanks again for joining us! It was such a pleasure having you with us today!

Readers, want to know what I thought about some of NorthSouth's books, including the upcoming adorable fall or any-time read, Worm's Lost and Found? 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: Happy Halloween! We want to offer a TREAT. We're offering three readers a copy of both Jitterbug and Goth Moth.

Wow, what a monstrously-HUGE treat! Thanks SO much Gelsey and NorthSouth Books!

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter to win this seriously sweet treat 1) share this post on social media and 2) leave a comment below to thank Gelsey and NorthSouth Books for stopping by! You'll get a bonus entry for each place you follow them online, so let us know where you follow them, too!

Of course, some creepy-crawly bug and moth GIFs are appreciated and welcomed.

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 NorthSouth Books

For more than 30 years, NorthSouth Books has published a wide range of high-quality picture books. We began in 1989 as an English-language imprint of the Swiss-based NordSüd Verlag. Since then, NorthSouth Books has released about 30 books a year, with titles that span the globe. From Japan to France, from Germany to the US, we are a truly international publisher. We are also home to Ediciones NorteSur, a Spanish-language imprint of NorthSouth. Regardless of their origin, a NorthSouth picture book brings with it a love of detail and originality.

For more about NorthSouth Books, check out the following links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northsouthbooks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthSouthBooks

Twitter/X: https://x.com/NorthSouthBooks

NorthSouth website: https://northsouth.com

To browse NorthSouth's AMAZING booklist, click here.