In today’s Feature Interview, I’m talking with children’s librarian and kidlit author Robin Currie. Robin has published more than 45 picture books, selling more than 1.7 million copies, and today she’ll be sharing her secret to writing success with us!
FEATURE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Robin, it’s my pleasure to welcome you to the blog! I hope your summer is off to a great start! Any highlights so far?
We’ve just returned from taking my grandson to an International Science Fair and then enjoyed a cruise of the Adriatic! It has been a pretty sparkling June!
Where are you joining us from today?
We’ve lived in the Chicago suburbs for the last 30 years. I love it—Go Cubs!
How did you hear about the Feature Interview series, and what made you want to apply?
Look at where our writing lives have intersected: SCBWI, Mighty KidLit, and participation in writing contests and events such as Storystorm, PBParty, 50 Precious Words, and WriteOnCon. Of course I wanted to be on Chelsea’s blog!
What made you want to become a writer?
Hmm—I can’t think of a moment when I chose to write. I think it’s just who I am.
What kind of books do you write? (Age group and genre)
I write for the dribblers and droolers—board books! Also picture books, in both the religious and secular markets. I’ve rewritten Bible stories, explored the Arctic, dressed a dinosaur, and found Just Enough Room for Christmas.
When and how did your author journey begin?
I was working on my library degree, commuting with another student from rural (very rural) Iowa to the University of Iowa. After we exhausted family and school topics, we decided to compile a book of library storytime programs. That was the beginning of seven resource guides that are still in publication.
What were the early stages of your publishing career like? Querying? First drafts? Etc.
Since we were writing resource books in the 1990s, we queried a very niche market but had great success. I didn’t really deal with the highly structured children’s writing market until the 2000s. It was a whole new world with new rules!
You’ve had tremendous success in the kidlit market, traditionally publishing over 45 picture books and selling over 1.7 million copies. What an incredible achievement! Could you share with our readers what your secret to writing success is?
Sigh—I wish I had a magic wand! My success came from being in the right place at the right time. D.C. Cook Publishing (where I worked as an editor) had some artwork left over from a project that didn’t sell. They asked me to write stories for babies based on the illustrations.
As it turned out, The Baby Bible Storybook was the very first Christian book with language and stories specifically for babies and toddlers. That book, its reissue with new artwork, and follow-up books (Baby Bible 123, ABC, Christmas, Animals, etc.) account for the 1+ million copies sold and are still selling today.
What suggestions do you have for writers who aim to one day achieve what you’ve accomplished?
Take every opportunity you can. Enter contests, join critique groups, follow blogs, and comment so your name becomes familiar. Find a group or two that will support you and offer advice. Never stop taking classes on the craft of writing, reading picture books, and attending conferences.
Do you have any favorite children’s books or authors who inspired you?
I grew up with A. A. Milne and Ogden Nash! During my library years, I loved storytime read-aloud books by Eric Carle, Marjorie Flack, and Kevin Henkes. There are so many wonderful books being published today—kids are lucky!
Working as both a children’s librarian and a children’s book author, what impact did these two careers have on one another?
The number of times, as a librarian, that I searched for a book for a child who had read all the truck books or needed a book about Colorado at a second-grade reading level—the ideas for new books never ended!
Could you share with readers how books and materials are chosen for the public library?
Librarians are tasked with spending someone else’s money and, as such, are accountable for every selection. To support our choices, we rely heavily on reviews from Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Kirkus. We also purchase through approved distributors such as Ingram and IPG. Those are hard but very real facts.
Working in the children’s library, no doubt you’ve done your share of read-aloud activities. How are you able to engage children in a story using sounds and actions?
Okay—the other thing that helped sell more than one million copies of the Baby Bible Storybooks was the interactive opportunities built into each page. Roar like a lion. Wiggle your fingers for stars in the sky. Fold your hands in prayer.
Kids learn by doing, and a group of children all acting together is very powerful.
In your application, you mentioned that you had two different books coming out in 2025 and 2026 (congratulations!). Could you share a little about the similarities and differences in the writing and editing processes for those two experiences?
My 2026 book is now on the 2027 list (sigh). But the two books could not be more different.
In early 2024, I entered a Christmas story in a contest and won first place, so I sent it to Good Books/Skyhorse. The editor happened to notice they needed a new Christmas book on the very day I submitted Just Enough Room for Christmas. It was published with lovely artwork in September 2025. It sold out at the publisher, Ingram, and Amazon by December 15!
Back in 2021, I started writing Pioneer Tree. There were so many revisions and rewrites through critique groups. Finally, I began submitting it through “Above the Slushpile” opportunities on blogs, and in 2023, The Little Press/One Little Earth acquired it. Finding an illustrator took a great deal of time, as did several industry setbacks. We are now hopeful for a Spring 2027 release.
And it will be magnificent! It is the story of my heart, and the illustrator has already won several awards.
What’s something that you think every writer should know about the industry, craft, or something else?
See above for the tale of two books. The market is full of delightful surprises and frustrating setbacks—neither of which has anything to do with the quality of your writing!
That probably isn’t going to change, so position yourself to take advantage of opportunities when they arise, and don’t take rejection personally.
What are some struggles you’ve had to overcome on your writing journey, and how were you able to do so?
Ah—a peek into the writer’s inner sanctum!
I was an undiagnosed dyslexic long before dyslexia was recognized. That meant I grew up believing there was something wrong with me because I couldn’t reliably identify my left hand, spell correctly, add numbers, or walk into a shop full of fragile things without feeling certain I would knock something over.
Only while raising my own children did I realize that my elaborate “workarounds for things others seemed to do naturally” were simply necessary adaptations—not evidence of some personal flaw.
And thank goodness for spell-check!
What have been some of your greatest writing moments?
Oh, there’s nothing like seeing the illustrations for the first time! And reading a book aloud to the intended audience and discovering they love it.
I also recently won a Selah Award (a big deal in Christian publishing) for Just Enough Room for Christmas and experienced the thrill of walking across the stage to accept it.
Have there been any events and/or author visits that you’ve participated in that you’d like to talk about today?
Familius published my book How to Dress a Dinosaur in 2022, near the end of COVID, when children were back in school, but everyone was still being extremely cautious. There were no bookstore or library storytimes.
Just Enough Room for Christmas, however, enjoyed a wonderful launch. Last fall, I read it to more than 350 preschoolers in their classrooms.
As a former librarian, I know there are a ton of programs and resources that libraries often offer to the community, including ones tailored to writers. What are some resources or opportunities that libraries offer to writers?
Keep in mind that public library programs are free to the public. School libraries must support the curriculum and typically operate with small program budgets.
There are writers doing excellent work in library systems and schools across the United States and Canada. These events provide wonderful publicity and great photographs, but don’t expect them to generate significant income.
Any final words of wisdom that you’d like to offer today?
Keep your day job. In my case, I eventually left the library world to complete a master’s degree and doctorate in theology, and I am licensed as both a Lutheran pastor and an Episcopal priest. Everything I do grows out of passion, and it brings me great joy.
GIVEAWAY
Robin is offering three giveaway prizes, one prize each for three winners total!
Prize 1: a copy of her book, How to Dress a Dinosaur.
Prize 2: a copy of her book, Just Enough Room for Christmas.
Prize 3: a copy of her book, Pioneer Tree (in 2027).
HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY
LIKE AND SHARE this article on X and/or Instagram and mention/tag my handle on X @chellysbooks / Instagram @chelseasworldofbooks so I can add your entry! Don’t have X or Instagram? Enter the giveaway by LIKING and leaving a COMMENT at the bottom of the interview.
ENTRY DEADLINE: 08/18/2026.
Feature Interviews come out on the third Wednesday of every month. Questions? Visit the FAQ page or drop a comment below.
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Robin Curre spent her library career in the children’s department, where she could baa, moo, and honk without getting shushed. Her writing engages children not only in noisemaking but jumping, waving, and face making. Despite her incessant need to wiggle, Robin earned a Master’s Degree in Library Science.
She and her husband have 4 mature children and a crop of grown-up grandchildren who keep them from becoming Old Foggie’s. Because there is no fun noise for that.
Robin has traditionally published more than 45 picture books, selling more than 1.7M copies. She writes stories to read and read again!
Purchase How to Dress A Dinosaur HERE.
Purchase Just Enough Room for Christmas HERE.
