Have You Ever Wanted to Write a Picture Book?

Hi friends!

I'm so excited to announce the pre-order campaign for my debut picture book PAY ATTENTION TO ME!, coming out May 5th, 2026* from Sourcebooks, with fantastic illustrations by Rob Justus! I was once like you, a person who had an idea for a picture book, but had no idea of what to do next. Even as a literary agent, I had little experience in the genre when I wrote this book NINE YEARS AGO. But boy have I learned a lot since–the writing, the pitching, the selling, the making–and I want to share what I know with you.

If you preorder PAY ATTENTION TO ME! from any retailer and send me the receipt (fill out the form here!) you'll get a link to an exclusive Zoom where I will tell you the ins and outs of writing and selling picture books and you'll get a chance to ask me anything! Zoom schedule to be announced, but if you can't make it, we'll send you a recording.

Want a signed copy? Get yours exclusively from The Strand!

The lovely folks at The Strand bookstore in NYC have agreed to let me come in and sign books for those who preorder through them! Isn't this fun?

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! I'm doing a storytime event there at the Union Square location on Saturday May 9th, 2026 at 11am! I can't wait to chat with you about Edgar, the cat who very much wants your attention, and how he came to be.

Questions? Contact me at kate@katemckean.com.

Preorder Pay Attention to Me! here!

Bookshop.org (best price!)

The Strand (Signed copies exclusively here! )

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Books-a-million 

Target

Walmart

Preordered already? Fill out this form!

XOXOXOX,

Kate

*This is the day after my birthday so you basically HAVE to preorder it.