Mascot Blog

In 2011, Mascot Author Denise L. Kaminsky published her first book without any expectations. Now, we’re celebrating Denise’s ten-year milestone as the author of seven books in the highly successful series!Read all about her writing stages, publishing process, and long journey of authorship in her guest post below.Ten years! Ten years! It has been ten years since I published my first children’s book with Mascot Books, , starring the ever-popular Penn State University mascot. It’s even harder to believe that it has been followed by six additional books — with the eighth book well on its way! After retiring from … read more

This month’s featured title is  by Nikki Hennek!In this storybook with coloring pages, Emerson’s exquisite eyes are what make her unique! Although she grew up learning how to do things differently than her friends, they all admire and like her for who she is. Emerson’s happiness and bravery show how children of all abilities are superstars! Emerson’s Exquisite Eyes lets the reader color along with Emerson as she experiences the world around her.We chatted with Nikki about the benefit of storytelling through an activity book, the challenges she faced in her publishing journey, and more.What inspired you to write Emerson’s … read more

It’s an exciting day because we have 19 new releases! From children’s books about circus animals on the loose to a collection of devotional and spiritual quotes, we have some exciting summer reads just for you. Fill your shelves with some of our new books below.Children’s BooksA Crooked Crown DayBy Brandie HollingsworthA Crooked Crown Day is about an African-American girl who is just having a bad day. She is teased at school, forgets her homework, and is laughed at by the kids at school. By the time she arrives home, her invisible crown, representing her inner strength, is about to … read more

Our June featured title is East of Hell by Whiskey Emerson!Maintaining a five-star Amazon rating, Whiskey’s sequel continues the story of Thomas, a man who is seeking vengeance against a powerful organization after discovering that his mother’s death was not the accident it appeared to be. Taking place one hundred and fifty years ago in New York City, Thomas, Madame (his distant guardian) and the rest of her renegades have yet to discover who their true enemy is, or rather, which threat must be dealt with first. With everything at stake, alliances are tested. Trust is broken. And war is on … read more

It’s totally normal to come into the publishing industry with a hundred questions. There’s a lot to know! But at Mascot, we work diligently with our authors to give them all the information they need throughout the entire publishing process.As a reference, our departments answered some of the most commonly asked questions that we get from authors. Read away and come back to us if you have any more questions!AcquisitionsDo I need to copyright my book before sending it? No! The electronic time stamp on your manuscript acts as your copyright until a book is published. You can always fill out … read more

Happy June Release Day! The summer days are upon us, and a new season calls for new books. Spend some time in the sun and get lost in one of our June releases!Children’s BooksA Child Called YouBy JD WiseThis book is about you! That’s right, it is about YOU! You can love others for who they are by showing them kindness without judgment. The first book in the Kindness is for Everyone series, this book will teach you that celebrating our differences is the true expression of kindness the world needs.Adventures at the HospitalBy Michael BanDoctors, nurses, patients…superheroes? You never … read more

Hybrid Publishing can be quite an enigma. That’s because there wasn’t really a universal definition up until three years ago. In 2018, the IBPA Advocacy Committee couldn’t identify the differences between a self-publishing service provider and a hybrid publisher, and so they developed nine hybrid publishing standards to give a definitive definition. Now there are three main publishing models authors have to consider: traditional publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid publishing (you can learn more about each model by visiting our blog post on Amplify Publishing, an imprint of Mascot Books).In this blog post, we’re shining a spotlight on hybrid … read more

May’s featured title is My First Book of Shona and Ndebele by Yeve C. Sibanda!“I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me,” Author Yeve C. Sibanda quotes Kwame Nkrumah, the first president Ghana, calling for the need to celebrate, embrace, and learn about other cultures.In this colorful picture book, little readers will learn basic words in the two primary indigenous languages of Zimbabwe as they follow the daily adventures of Rufaro! My First Book of Shona and Ndebele serves as a powerful tool to introduce African cultures to children and to … read more

Those spring allergies can be miserable, but luckily, we have new books to distract yourself from the sniffles and sneezes. From heartwarming picture books to gripping memoirs, enjoy our May releases below!Children’s Books Balloons for TigerBy Lori OrlinskyHow can children begin to heal after losing a pet? Balloons for Tiger takes an imaginative look at this tough topic as colorful balloons travel from the hands of children to their beloved cat who has passed on. This book lets children open up their hearts and imaginations for a magical journey to the farthest corners of the world, where they’ll … read more

Remote schooling, cancelled playdates, and an entire year of isolation made the world turn upside down for children.In this time, three Mascot authors decided to write picture books about the pandemic experience to help children process their difficult emotions, appreciate the rekindled unity and human spirit, and learn to be hopeful in some of the darkest days.Learn more from them below on why they wrote their book, what the publishing process was like on a timely schedule, and what their readers will take away from their books.Why did you decide to write your book?Erin Harrington, the author of : I … read more