Picture Book Summer Camp with PJ Library 2025

Welcome!

Congratulations on your acceptance to the 2025 Picture Book Summer Camp hosted by PJ Library! This five day, in-person program is centered on mentorship, inspiration, and the Jewish community with:

• opportunities for learning, feedback, and interaction
• ample self-paced time to make progress on a project, or play with your creativity
• many opportunities for feedback
• support for Jewish themes and research

Mornings will be structured around lectures, workshops, and hands-on activities. Afternoons will be for independent writing and revising, as well as meetings with fellow creatives (including your faculty reader and small groups). Each evening we will gather for discussion and sharing. (Tentative schedule below.)

“The community was amazing. I can’t believe how lucky I was to attend this retreat, and I feel so indebted to PJ Library for supporting me and believing in my writing journey. I still can’t believe it all happened and I got to be there! And now I’m trying to figure out how to get back. Highlights is the most magical place.”

KEY PROGRAM ELEMENTS:

• This is an in-person workshop at the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center built to share ideas for stories with Jewish themes and content, along with experiences like keynotes, breakout sessions, mentorship, and ample time for independent writing, meeting informally with fellow creatives, and resting.
• Acceptance into the program covers tuition, lodging, and meals. Travel stipends to the retreat center will be available from PJ Library. (Details provided in registration confirmation email.)
• Accepted storytellers will arrive by 5:30 pm Eastern on Sunday, August 24
• Accepted storytellers will depart on Thursday, August 28 following lunch

Important Dietary Information

PJ Library maintains kosher style options for programs that they host. During this retreat, we will only be serving vegetarian and kosher fish options. Snacks and drinks will be certified kosher. While the Highlights Foundation’s kitchen is not kosher, they are happy to provide kosher certified packaged meals for accepted participants who mark this request.

ABOUT PJ LIBRARY:

Learn all about PJ Library at https://pjlibrary.org/home.

PJ Library sends free Jewish children’s books to families across the world every month. We know that something magical happens when parents sit down together to read with their children. PJ Library shares Jewish stories that can help your family talk together about values and traditions that are important to you. PJ Library welcomes all Jewish families, whatever your background, knowledge, or family make-up, or observance may be.

Questions directly for the PJ Library Team can be directed to: authors@pjlibrary.org

Important Dates:

Pre-retreat dates:

• June 18, 2025 at 9am Eastern:   A pre-retreat Zoom session will take place to answer any questions you have about your retreat, including finalizing the schedule, submissions, what to expect in small group discussions, and more! (Zoom link in registration confirmation.)
• June 18, 2025:   Link provided for manuscript submissions for small group discussions and faculty 1:1 reviews.
• July 18, 2025:   Submission due for small group discussions and faculty 1:1 reviews.
• August 20, 2025:   Room assignments and final needs confirmed.

Tentative Retreat Details:

Please note that this schedule is subject to change.

Faculty: Lesléa Newman, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, Alan Silberberg,

Chris Barash, Naomi Shulman, Tasha Flagg

Retreat Assistant: Molly Chao

DAY 1: SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2025

·         3 – 5:00pm Eastern     Arrival and check-in with Molly Chao in the Barn

·         5:30pm                         Appetizers and Dinner

·         After dinner                 Introductions and Special Welcome from PJ Library

DAY 2: MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2025

Morning:

·         7am    Optional Yoga in the Loft

·         8am    Breakfast

·         9am    Opening Keynote with Lesléa Newman

·         10am  Break

·         10:30 -12 Breakout Sessions (look ahead and map out your week)

• Heidi E.Y. Stemple  (Topic to come) Group 1
• Alan Silberberg (Topic to come) Group 2

Afternoon:

·         12pm – 12:45pm Lunch

·         1pm Special Virtual Session

·         1:30 – 4:30pm Meetings with Faculty Reader (Writing time when not in 1:1)

·         4:30pm – 5:30pm PJ Library & PJ Our Way: Ask Us Anything

Evening:

·         5:30pm Appetizers & Dinner

·         After Dinner: Panel discussion (fireside, weather permitting)

DAY 3: TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2025

Morning:

·         8am Breakfast

·         9am Keynote with Alan Silberberg

·         10am Break

·         10:30am  Breakout Sessions

• Lesléa Newman  (Topic to come) Group 1
• Heidi Stemple (Repeat topic to come) Group 2

Afternoon:

·         12 -12:45pm Lunch

·         1pm – 4pm Free writing time and informal activities (when not in groups)

·         2:30pm – 5:30pm Peer discussion groups facilitated by PJ Library

Evening:

·         Appetizers

·         Dinner

·         After Dinner: AMA with Lesléa, Heidi, and Alan

DAY 4: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2025

Morning:

·         8am Breakfast

·         9am Keynote with Heidi E.Y. Stemple

·         10am Break

·         10:30am  Breakout Sessions

• Alan Silberberg (Repeat topic to come) Group 1
• Lesléa Newman (Repeat topic to come) Group 2

Afternoon:

·         12 -12:45pm Lunch

·         1 – 5pm Free writing time and informal activities

·         2:30 – 4:30pm Informal 1:1 Meetings with PJ Library Team

Evening:

·         5pm Group Photo

·         5:30pm Appetizers & Dinner

·         After dinner: Open Mic/ Sharing

DAY 5: THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2025

Morning

·         Breakfast

·         Break/Packing/Writing/ Informal meetings

·         10am Reflections from attendees & closing comments from PJ Library and Faculty

Afternoon

·         Lunch & farewells

A note about workshop agendas and how they change and evolve. 

“I felt nurtured and supported, gently challenged, and made connections

I know will last a lifetime.”

FEEDBACK EXPECTED:

• Mentorship will be provided for picture book writers and writer/illustrators through one-to-one meetings with faculty readers to review one, complete manuscript submission.
• You will also have the opportunity to workshop one picture book submission during facilitated peer discussions led by the PJ Library team.
• The goal of all feedback sessions is to offer you support, and ask questions to help you problem-solve, brainstorm new ideas, and work through challenges. You will receive comprehensive submission details by June 18, 2025. 
• Informal feedback will be offered throughout the workshop via discussions and open sharing during free creative time.

ABOUT THE HIGHLIGHTS FOUNDATION RETREAT CENTER:

All in-person Highlights Foundation workshops (including this special partnership with the PJ Library) are held at our Retreat Center: The Barn at Boyds Mills.  This site was the home of the original founders of Highlights for Children Garry and Caroline Myers, and is located in the Poconos Mountains of Pennsylvania on the traditional lands of the Lenape Nation. For more information about attending a workshop or retreat here, visit the Barn at Boyds Mills website. 

To learn more about the Highlights Foundation, please read about the mission and Community Standards.

HOW THIS WORKSHOP IMPACTS KIDS:

Books are a foundational part of children’s lives. This program will help you create authentic picture books so all children can experience the rich cultures, histories, and joys that only you can bring to the page!

Why do we mention this? Learn about the Highlights Foundation mission.