Trick or Treat with Serina Mercier and Tundra Books + Treats Inside!

Hello, readers, writers, and lovers of all things booooks 👻📚 We’re excited to welcome Serina Mercier, publicist extraordinaire with Tundra Books!

She’s bringing us a spellbinding selection of books to discover, along with a BIG giveaway that’s sure to make your Halloween season sweeter!

Want to know more about Serina and her role at Tundra Books PLUS want to see theTundra-sized treat she's offering? Read on if you dare...🖤

Q: Hi, Serina! Welcome to #SeasonsOfKidLit's Trick-or-Treat event! We're so excited to have you join us and learn more about you and Tundra Books. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your role at Tundra?

A: Hi Heather! Thank you so much for the opportunity to chat. I’ve been working with Tundra Books as a Senior Publicist for over a year now, and I absolutely love it! Children’s books have always held a special place in my heart, so getting to work on books for young readers every day really is a dream come true.

As a publicist, I work with authors, illustrators, media, booksellers, reviewers, educators, librarians, festival programmers, and influencers to help connect our books with the readers who will love them most. Every day looks a little different, which is one of my most favorite things about my job. One day I might be pitching a new picture book, the next I’m working with a YA author on an event or brainstorming creative ways to get a middle-grade novel in front of its audience. There’s never a dull moment!

Q: Publicists play such an important role in bringing books to readers. Can you tell us a little about what a children's book publicist does and what you enjoy most about your job?

A: I love discovering new ways to share books with readers, whether it’s a brand-new release or a backlist title that deserves another moment in the spotlight. A big part of my job is doing the research and figuring out who might be interested in a particular title, finding the right media and influencers to reach out to, and thinking about what makes a book stand out.

But truly the best part is seeing the excitement when everything comes together. There’s nothing better than seeing an author get a wonderful review, watching a book find its way onto a “must-read” list, or hearing from a reader who connected with a story. Children's books have such a unique ability to spark imagination and create lifelong readers, and I feel incredibly lucky to play even a small role in that.

We love this! Thanks so much for sharing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into your important role in kidlit!

Q: Fall is such a wonderful season for reading, and we know Tundra Books has an amazing lineup of autumn-themed titles! Which books would you recommend families add to their cozy reading pile this fall?

A: You can probably tell from our titles that Tundra Books loves fall! There’s something so magical about curling up with a great book during this time of the year.

I’m especially excited about our fall titles that capture that cozy, adventurous feeling. For 4- to 8-year-olds, and their parents, I recommend Muriel and the Mystery by Charlotte Parent which combines the story of a tiny forest animal with a little mystery. I also recommend Rebecca Green's brand-new Henri & Miko series. There are two out this fall. Autumn in Bosk Olivette and Winter in Bosk Olivette. They are both delightfully cozy and tenderhearted picture book / graphic novel hybrids that celebrate the seasons. They're also set in a cider press in a wooded village.

My next recommendation is the gift edition of Little Witch Hazel. In addition to being a perfect gift, it’s an earthy and beautiful picture book collection of four stories that also celebrate the seasons, nature and life, from award-winning author and illustrator Phoebe Wahl.

Some more picture books that came out in the summer that are also perfect for the fall include Fritz: A Mushroom Story  by Kelsey Garrity-Riley and Bean Supreme by Stephanie Graegin. Both feature beautiful, whimsical illustrations and have that cozy, nature-filled feeling that makes them perfect for curling up on a crisp fall day.

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Q: For readers looking for a few more thrills, which delightfully spooky books would you recommend this Halloween season?

A: I love Halloween and I especially love spooky books that deliver a little bit of a thrill without being too scary. Some of the titles I'm going to recommend have genuine spooky moments, while others bring in mystery, adventure, and even a bit of comedy.

For middle-grade readers, I have so many great titles from new and ongoing series to recommend including The Shadow on the Wreck, book two in The Mizzy Mysteries by Claire Hatcher-Smith about Mizzy Maypole who loves solving mysteries and won’t let anyone or anything, including her Down syndrome, hold her back from becoming the next Sherlock Holmes. Next is book one in a new series, Ghost Chickens: Omelet from the Other Side by Adi Rule, which follows Florence, who just moved to the countryside from the city, and finds a green glowing egg, and eats it in hopes of teleporting back to the city but starts seeing ghost chickens instead. Last but not least is book one of Beast Ballerz by Wesley King. Eleven-year-old, Baxter Brooks, suddenly discovers he’s a werewolf and is sent to a school for misfit monsters, where he must embrace his new identity, play beast ball, and solve a mysterious supernatural case.

All three of these titles are for reluctant young readers looking for something funny and light on the scary side.

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For the younger readers, I would recommend Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown by Vikki VanSickle and Illustrated by Jennica Lounsbury, a playful collection of spooky poems that brings the characters and creatures of Spookytown to life; A Super Scary Narwhalloween by Ben Clanton, a funny and festive Halloween adventure featuring Narwhal and Jelly; and The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt, a charming and sweet story about facing your fears, embracing what makes you different, and learning to celebrate who you are.

I love stories that let kids experience that feeling of being a little bit scared while still having plenty of fun, and even learning something along the way.

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Q: Many of our readers are authors and illustrators. Once a book is published, what are some of the best ways creators can partner with their publicity team to help spread the word?

A: The biggest thing is to think of publicity as a partnership. Your publicist knows the media landscape and is working to find opportunities, but no one knows your book better than you do. Sharing ideas and letting us know about communities or organizations you’re already connected with can be incredibly helpful.

I also encourage authors and illustrators to think about what they genuinely enjoy doing. Are you comfortable on social media? Do you love speaking to school groups? Are you passionate about book clubs, libraries, workshops, or classroom visits? Those interests can help us find authentic ways to promote your book.

And finally, don’t underestimate the power of being enthusiastic and engaged. Celebrate your book, celebrate other creators, interact with readers, and share wins when you can. Word of mouth is incredibly powerful in children's publishing, and every little bit helps a book find its way to the right reader.

Q: What is your favorite Halloween or fall-themed treat, and which Tundra book would you pair it with?

A: This is so hard to choose! So, I’m going to pick two titles. One for Halloween and one for fall. I love baking sweet treats during the fall season and I have a major sweet tooth, so I’m going to have to go with a pumpkin cream pie paired with Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown, specifically the poem called The Pumpkin Parade would be perfect for this.

And for fall, I’d like to go with a cinnamon apple crumble paired with the coziest title this season by Rebecca Green, Henri & Miko: Autumn in Bosk Olivette. You’ll even find a recipe for a cinnamon apply crumb crumb in the book.

There’s nothing better than reading a slightly spooky book while enjoying a sweet fall treat that feels like the perfect October afternoon, or evening. Give me a blanket, a yummy fall dessert, a stack of books, and I’m very happy.

All I can say is YUMMM! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks again for joining us, Serina! It was so charming to meet you. And thanks for all you do to share books with the world.

Readers - Tundra is giving away TONS of books for our Trick-or-Treat Event!

Including: Whale that was Unexpected, The Wise Pickle, Mother Boo: Poems from Spooky Town, The Mizzy Mysteries & More! Check out the picture below.

To enter to win their exciting book giveaway 1) leave a comment below to thank Serina and Tundra Books for stopping by, 2) and share this post. 2 winners will receive 2 books at random drawing by Heather Macht.

Please Note: Books will be shipped in the U.S. only.

*Special Reminder: Those who like, leave a comment on, and share all posts will be entered into a drawing and be eligible to win:

• One (1) of five (5) Rate Your Story Speed Passes, perfect for quick MS feedback, provided by Editor Lynne Marie and Author Heather Macht and/or

• Books from Heather's Treat Bag (see below)!

Winners will be drawn and announced on 10/18. Head back to the blog then for the official announcement!

About Serina Mercier:

Serina has been working in the publishing industry for about 6 years and has been in children's book publicity for over a year. Her favorite time of the year is obviously fall, and on her spare time she loves reading books, watching a good tv show and spending time with her little one Evie.

About Tundra Books:

Tundra is Canada’s oldest English children’s book publisher, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2017, and is renowned across North America and throughout the world for its beautifully illustrated, award-winning books. We publish primarily for young readers, in a wide range of categories: board books, picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, illustrated nonfiction and middle-grade fiction. Tundra is the home of many accomplished writers and illustrators from Canada, the United States and beyond, as well as the beloved Canadian classics The Hockey Sweater and Mordecai Richler’s Jacob Two-Two. With its literary merit and striking art and design, our carefully curated list stands out on bookshelves.

For more about Tundra and their books, check out their website at: Tundra Book Group – Home of Tundra Books, Swift Water Books, Puffin Canada, Penguin Teen Canada, and Friends

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