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Recent Posts: Julie Stroebel Barichello | Author
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Author Archives: Julie Stroebel Barichello
The Midwest Book Award for middle grade fiction goes to …
The Mountain of Dempsey Molehill received the gold medallion in the 2026 Midwest Book Awards for middle grade fiction. I may have stated that very formally and plainly above, but inside my reaction is: Each year, the Midwest Independent Publishers … Continue reading
Writers, be your book’s biggest fan
I didn’t win the 2026 Newbery Medal. That isn’t a shock — it was, in fact, 99.99% expected, with a 0.01% margin left over for hope. What might be a shock is that I submitted The Mountain of Dempsey Molehill … Continue reading
Posted in children's literature, Writing
Tagged books, children's books, kid lit, self-publishing, writing
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8 memorable cats in children’s literature
Cats make great book characters. They have a reputation for being mysterious, aloof, cunning, mischievous, and occasionally irritating. All of those traits lend themselves to compelling, memorable personalities. Here are eight cats from children’s literature that stand out in my … Continue reading
Posted in children's literature, Reading
Tagged books, Cats, children's books, children's literature, reading
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6 middle grade books to kick off 2026
Happy 2026! With the start of a new year, people turn their focus to resolutions, self-improvement, and positive change in the world around them. Those concepts aren’t exclusive to adults, and they also aren’t exclusive to January. Here are six … Continue reading
Posted in Reading
Tagged books, children's books, children's literature, kid lit, middle-grade, reading
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Three years after Hocus Pocus 2 was released, I’m ready to talk about it
Lately I started to ask myself: Was Hocus Pocus 2 really as disappointing as I remembered it? I never rewatched it after that first screening. So three years later, I decided to give it another try—and I discovered my initial reaction might have been too hasty. Continue reading
Julie Stroebel Barichello | Author 