Celebrate National Sandcastle Day with Stephanie Henson!

Happy National Sandcastle Day, readers, writers, and beach lovers too! 🏖️🏰 Grab your buckets, shovels, and sunscreen because today we're celebrating with a picture book that's as warm, wonder-filled, and inspiring as a day spent by the sea. We're thrilled to welcome author Stephanie Henson and her beautiful picture book illustrated by Yasmin Akhtar, Tall as the Sun.

Filled with heart, imagination, and the timeless joy of building castles in the sand, Tall as the Sun invites readers to discover that the greatest treasures aren't always the ones the tide leaves behind.

Want to know more about Stephanie and Tall as the Sun, PLUS want a chance to win a copy and some book swag? Read on… 🌊☀️

Q: Hi, Stephanie! Thanks for joining SeasonsOfKidLit.com. We’re thrilled to feature you and hear all about you and your book! Please share the inspiration behind your book and a little about your path to publication? 

A: Tall as the Sun was born on the beach in Ocean City, NJ in the summer of 2024. I witnessed an interaction between a father and daughter one day where they were walking on the sand and he hoisted her up on his shoulders so she could have a better view. She was calling out all of the things that she could see along the shoreline - the seagulls, the sandcastles, the houses, etc. I thought to myself that it would make a great picture book if she imagined herself getting taller and taller with each thing she encountered until she was as “tall as the sun” and, right at that moment, I started jotting down the ideas for the book in the notes app on my phone. It came to life very quickly in terms of the story itself and was acquired in November 2024 by Watchful Wizard Publishing, a newer independent small press. Since we knew it would be a Summer book, we didn’t want to rush a Summer 2025 release so we waited over a year to ultimately publish in May 2026. 

Q: What holiday/season does your book fit into and what does that holiday mean to you? How did you tie that into your book?

A: We really focused Tall as the Sun to be a Summer season book for obvious reasons since it takes place at the shore. Beach staples such as umbrellas, sandcastles, dolphins, parasailers, and banner airplanes (to name a few) were integrated into the text. However, we felt it also worked well as a Father’s Day story since the bonding between the father and child is so integral to the book. A walk along the beach with Dad leads to a playground of endless possibilities and that feature was important to us.

Q: What’s your favorite spread from the book? Please share it and explain why it’s your favorite.

A: It’s funny because in real life I am VERY afraid of birds stemming from childhood and I am NOT a fan of seagulls at the beach since they are very annoying, but in the story I love the spread with the seagulls since you can really see the perspective/scale change and the child is visibly getting taller compared to what she is seeing in the sky. She is “magically soaring with seagulls” and the art represents that in a fun way.

This is SUCH a gorgeous spread - thanks for sharing!

Q: What’s the most rewarding part about being a kidlit creator? How about the most challenging part?

A: The most rewarding part of being a kidlit creator is having your words come alive on the page and reach children all over the world. To see kids enjoying the stories you have created, whether it be at a storytime event or a school visit, is so validating. When kids tell me that they want to be a writer just like me, it warms my heart because this has been my dream since I was a child. 

The most challenging part, of course, are the rejections and long wait times you experience in publishing. It’s not for the faint of heart.

Q: What feedback would you like to share with readers who are stuck in the query trenches?

A: It can be so tough at times but keep going. Shoot your Shot! Invest in yourself and your craft by taking classes, attending webinars or conferences etc. Embrace every opportunity since you never know where it can lead to. It only takes one yes for a dream to come true.

Q: Would you like to leave a tip or a treat for our readers?

A: A TREAT! I will give away a copy of “Tall as the Sun” and some book swag to one lucky reader. 

Giveaway Details: Readers, to enter to win Stephanie's giveaway, 1) share this post on social media and 2) leave a comment below to thank her for stopping by.

Giveaway winners will be drawn and announced on or about 08/15.

Books will be shipped in the US only.

About Stephanie Henson:

Stephanie resides with her family in West Chester, Pennsylvania, but her roots trace back to Central, New Jersey. She holds a degree in Communications and a Publishing and Professional Writing Certificate from Rider University. Stephanie also spends her summers in Ocean City, NJ.  She is an active member of SCBWI (Eastern PA Chapter) and has achieved recognition as a 2024 SCBWI Virtual Conference Scholarship winner. Her work has been featured in both print and online publications.

Notably, she has published a Children’s Poetry Book entitled “In the Right Lane” (Number 1 New Release in Children’s Poetry), and a Picture Book through Tielmour Press entitled “No School, My Rules!” (Number 1 New Release in Children’s School & Education Books).  "No School, My Rules!" has received numerous industry awards and is a Tielmour Press best-selling title. Her second picture book, “Tall as the Sun” released with Watchful Wizard Publishing in May 2026 and has been recognized with several industry awards as well.

For more about Stephanie, check out the below links:

Stephanie Henson Author Site: www.stephaniehensonbooks.com

Watchful Wizard Publishing: www.watchfulwizardpublishing.com

Amazon listing: Click here

Socials:

Twitter/X: @stepha_henson  

Instagram: @stephahenson 

Facebook: Stephanie Lupo Henson 

---