iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 03/05/2026

I'm thrilled to be @vaughanpl.bsky.social Writer-in-Residence this spring! I'll be coaching, encouraging, & inspiring writers through workshops, manuscript consults, & drop-in sessions - 100% FREE to Vaughan residents. Hope to see you at VPL soon! Go to vaughanpl.info/wir or scan the QR code below.

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 23/07/2025

🐾 Gotcha Day Cover Reveal 🐾 ⁠Adorably illustrated by Udayana Lugo & pubbed by @orcabook.bsky.social this heartfelt story about a stray dog finding their fur-ever home was inspired by our family’s experience with our sweet rescue pup, Freddie. In bookstores March 17/26 & available for pre-order now

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 21/07/2025

I was thrilled to discover IGGY INCLUDED on the list of Red Cedar Fiction nominees for 2025/26! Huge thanks to the selection committee and my fellow Red Cedar nominee @annarosner.bsky.social for the heads up! #bookawards #nominee #middlegradebooks #canlit #ireadcanadian #Iwritecanadian #kidlit

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 21/07/2025

And just like that, a brand new children's book springs to life 🌱 More details coming soon 😊 #thisnevergetsold #picturebook #canlit #Ireadcanadian #iwritecanadian #amwriting #writersofbluesky #bookcontract #kidlit

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 11/06/2025

“A little space, please!” Got a kiddo who craves a bit of personal space? Bought a copy of NO HUDDLES FOR HELOISE or taken it out from the library? DM me your address & proof of purchase/library loan and I’ll send you a custom door hanger (with art by illustrator Udayana Lugo). *🇨🇦 residents only

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 03/04/2025

With shrinking review outlets for 🇨🇦 kidlit, the loss of CM Reviews leaves quite a void. Feeling grateful for all their years of steadfast support for 🇨🇦 kids books & sad to see it end. A review of NO HUDDLES FOR HELOISE appears in the latest (& possibly final 😔) issue. Thank you for everything, CM!

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 31/03/2025

I’m excited to share a sneak peek of the adorable 'book sibling' for WHAT ABOUT AN OCTOPUS? WHAT ABOUT AN ELEPHANT? will be stomping into bookstores August 2025 😊 Illustrated by Dawn Lo & published by @owlkids.bsky.social 🐘🐙📚🇨🇦 #ireadcanadian #informationalpicturebook #picturebook #fall2025 #kidlit

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 20/03/2025

Here's to new seasons, fresh starts, & finding little sprigs of hope at a time when they've never been more needed. Bring on the light...and happy first day of spring, friends 🌱 (Art by @joseebisaillon.bsky.social from WHIRL, published by @owlkids.bsky.social) #picturebook #wordless #spring

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 11/03/2025

My 30th kids book publishes today 🎉 NO HUDDLES FOR HELOISE is about respecting personal space, accepting differences, & finding creative ways to support the people you love. May she waddle her way into ❤️ of kids who see themselves in her quest for ‘alone time’ in a world full of huddlers.

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 08/03/2025

Happy #internationalwomensday! May we continue having our voices heard, our words known, our opinions valued, and our work recognized. May we always remember our strength and our worth. And may we be blessed with a community of sisters who uplift each other whenever possible 💪

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 17/02/2025

❄️ ☃️ COVER REVEAL ☃️ ❄️ Who's ready for more snow? (No shovelling required 😉 ) COMMUNITY SNOWMAN will be rolling into bookstores in #fall2025. (Illustrated by uber-talented Tine Modeweg-Hansen and published by the wonderful team at @groundwoodbooks.bsky.social)

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 11/02/2025

With just 1 month to go until NO HUDDLES FOR HELOISE officially hatches, I'm happy to share the news that Turkish & traditional Chinese language rights have been sold! So excited for kids around the world to meet Heloise the introverted penguin! 🐧 (Art: Udayana Lugo. Pubbed: @orcabook.bsky.social)

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 10/02/2025

Getting mail from young readers is one of my favourite parts of this job. I mean, how cute is this letter?? 🥰🥰🥰

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 04/02/2025

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an author in possession of a forthcoming book, must be stressing out about reviews. I am, thus, SUPER grateful for this sweet advance review of NO HUDDLES FOR HELOISE from @ala-booklist.bsky.social. Thank you, Booklist! 😍 🐧 (Coming to stores March 11)

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 30/01/2025

Sending out a Newfoundland-sized 'thank you' to Storytime with Stephanie for this wonderful review of IGGY INCLUDED 🥰 🐾 🙏 #middlegrade #IReadCanadian #bookstagram #bookreviews #canlit #kidlit #mysteries #dogbooksforkids #middlegradefiction #newfoundlanddog #silverbirch #forestofreading

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 25/01/2025

I’m very grateful to have recently received a recommender grant for my WIP. Sending out a heartfelt thank you to @ontarioarts.bsky.social and @groundwoodbooks.bsky.social 🙏

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 20/01/2025

🐧 It's Penguin Awareness Day 🐧 Heloise the introverted penguin avoids crowds, huddles & other social gatherings, but loves giving rocks to let her penguin pals know she cares 💛 NO HUDDLES FOR HELOISE (art by Udayana Lugo & published by @orcabook.bsky.social) is available to pre-order now!

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 14/01/2025

The annual OLA #Superconference in #Toronto is coming up soon! I’ll be signing copies of IGGY INCLUDED and OPPOSITE IDENTICALS on Friday January 31st — if you’re there too, please find me and say ‘hello’ 👋 📚 #forestofreading #olasc #IReadCanadian #middlegradebooks

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 08/01/2025

New year = new books! Delighted to be collaborating again with the brilliant Dawn Lo & the wonderful team @owlkids.bsky.social & thrilled to finally share the cover of our upcoming #fall2025 #informationalpicturebook & companion title to WHAT ABOUT AN OCTOPUS? WHAT ABOUT AN ELEPHANT? - coming Aug/25

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 22/11/2024

I got reader mail 😊 Of all my books, the Grade 3 kids at Robert Munsch PS chose ‘What About an Octopus?” as their fave! They were even inspired to write ‘story & fact’ books of their own. How awesome is that? Now they can't wait for the 2nd book in the ‘What About?’ series to come out next Fall…🐙 🐘

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 19/11/2024

Very grateful to 'sea' this 'inkredible' 5-star review of WHAT ABOUT AN OCTOPUS? in the latest edition of CM 😍 🐙 (Sorry…I’m a ‘sucker’ for silly puns 😆 ) www.cmreviews.ca/node/4240#bo... #picturebook #informationalpicturebook #kidlit #canlit #IReadCanadian #IWriteCanadian #octopus #octopusbooks

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 18/11/2024

I received the coziest hand knit blanket for my birthday...and Freddie immediately claimed it for himself. Maybe if I'm lucky he'll let me share it once in a while ☺️

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 17/11/2024

My friends got me a pink tool kit for my birthday and it's quite possibly the best present of all time!

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 15/10/2024

Some exciting news… 🎉 IGGY's INCLUDED 🎉 Nominated for the Forest of Reading Silver Birch Fiction Award! The Forest of Reading® Program is the largest recreational reading program in 🇨🇦. Last year, almost 270,000 schools/libraries/individuals participated in this incredible program!

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 14/10/2024

Earlier this week, I received this message from a reader that literally brightened my day ☀️ Look at what this mother created as a tribute to her child's favourite book 😮 A beautiful reminder of how art inspires art! (SUNNY DAYS was written by me, illustrated by Miki Sato & dubbed by Pajama Press)

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 05/09/2024

Did you know octopuses are similar to dogs? 🐙 🐶 Both are curious, playful & extremely intelligent 🐙 🐶 Both share the same amount of neurons (about 500 million) 🐙 🐶 Both can perform tricks to get rewards But, although octopuses boast 9 brains (to a canine’s 1), dogs win when it comes to cuddliness 🐾

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 15/08/2024

🥳🎈🐙 Today's my book birthday 🐙 🎈 🥳 Fact: there's no better way to celebrate than with an ‘ink’redible first review! WHAT ABOUT AN OCTOPUS? A FACT-FILLED UNDERWATER ADVENTURE is available to order now! 🎉 (Illustrated by Dawn Lo & pubbed by the wonderful team at Owlkids)

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 08/08/2024

Signed an armful of books at Indigo Yorkdale yesterday. There’s something for everyone on your #kidlit reading list here. (And bonus…all Canadian 🇨🇦 written, illustrated, & published!) #graphicnovel #middlegradebooks #PictureBook #IReadCanadian #IWriteCanadian #Canlit

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 08/07/2024

✨COVER REVEAL✨ Delighted to share the cover of my #winter2025 #picturebook — NO HUDDLES FOR HELOISE, about an introverted penguin who appreciates personal space (a problem when all the other penguins like to huddle). Pubbed by Orca Books & adorably illustrated by Udayana Lugo. #coverreveal #kidlit

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 14/02/2024

Happy heart day to my fellow book lovers ❤️

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 20/01/2024

Happy #penguinawarenessday 🐧 Delighted to share a snippet of art from NO HUDDLES FOR HELOISE, a picture book about an introverted penguin who craves personal space. Pubbed by Orca Books & art by Udayana Lugo, Heloise will land in stores March 2025. (As long as the shelves aren't too crowded!)

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 14/01/2024

3, 2, 1...BOOK LAUNCH! Hope to see some local kidlit folk come out tomorrow to support this wonderful indie bookshop in Burlington, ON 📚 🚀

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 06/01/2024

"Your book inspired me to always follow my dreams no matter what happens." This, right here, is why I write for kids 🥰🥰🥰

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 21/12/2023

Happy winter solstice, friends! Here's to making the most of every moment on the shortest day of the year. And to brighter days ahead for us all ✨ ❄️ (Illustration from Snow Days by me, Miki Sato, & Pajama Press)

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 07/12/2023

✨ Cover Reveal ✨ I’m doggone excited to share the cover of my #spring2024 #middlegrade novel — IGGY INCLUDED. (Yes friends, another book about dogs — at this point, are you really surprised? ) Publishing with Scholastic Canada in May, 2024 🎉

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 05/12/2023

The search for my dream agent has finally come to a happy end 🙌 (And it only took 15 years and four false starts...) Cheers to us @bigkidbookworm.bsky.social 🥂

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 04/12/2023

I'm delighted to see NEXT DOOR included on this wonderful list for #Toronto's youngest readers. Thank you, Toronto Public Library!

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 31/10/2023

I missed my book’s birthday last week 😬 This one’s been 10 years in the making so I’m excited for it to finally meet readers! If a fast-paced MG adventure about teens dealing with the effects of climate change in the near future sounds up your alley, please check out OPPOSITE IDENTICALS.

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 29/10/2023

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood...

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 20/10/2023

Some thoughts to share after having dinner with a Holocaust survivor 💔

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 10/10/2023

Prayers for the victims and their grieving families. Prayers for peace and healing in Israel 🇮🇱 🕊️

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 03/10/2023

Today's the day my newest #wordless #picturebook enters the world! A whole lot of love went into the creation of this book, and I'm so excited for it to meet young readers everywhere. Happy #bookbirthday NEXT DOOR 🎉 (Illustrated by Isaac Liang, published by Kids Can Press)

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 02/10/2023

Twinning with my newest book baby!! My latest Middle Grade novel took me ten years to write and publish. I think it was definitely worth the wait...and I hope you'll agree 😊 OPPOSITE IDENTICALS, lands in bookstores on Oct 24 and is available for pre-order now 🎉

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 02/10/2023

My last two audio-book reads were sooo good...highly recommend both these titles!

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 19/09/2023

✨Thrilled to share the news that OPPOSITE IDENTICALS is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection! I’m very grateful to ⁦@JrLibraryGuild for this honour! @GreatPlainsPub #IReadCanadian #MGlit

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Deborah Kerbel @deborahkerbel.com · 19/09/2023

About a week, poor little guy. But the new cone's definitely more comfy.

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