Good News from Past Mentees

2024 Mentee Eloise Narrigan signed with Agent Alexandra Levick at Writers House!
2023 Mentee Delano Brown signed with Ariana Philips of Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency and sold a two-book deal to Penguin Random House!
2022 Mentee Kathryn Rammell sold two books: RORY THE REMARKABLE DRAGON and BANDAGE BUDDIES!
2023 Mentee Shuba Mohan sold her debut picture book GANESHA CREATION to Free Spirit Publishing!
2022 Mentee Naja Lund Aparico sold a picture book titled SEASONS BY THE LAKE: ADVENTURES IN GREENLAND!
2022 Mentee Aimee Satterlee is now represented by Lynnette Novak of The Seymour Agency!
2023 Mentee Carren Jao signed with an agent and sold her debut picture book, MAYA BREAKS IT DOWN, to Charlesbridge!
2024 Mentee Joy Nicolas is now represented by Daniele Hunter at McIntosh & Otish!
2022 Mentee Kathryn Rammell sold her debut picture book RORY THE REMARKABLE DRAGON to Scholastic!
2023 Mentee Sayuri Stabrowski signed with Sarah Stevens of Red Fox Literary and sold a six-book picture book series — the first of which debuts in 2026!
2022 Mentee Trenise Sabin is now represented by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Andrea Brown Literary Agency!
2022 Mentee Jasmine Fang signed with Christie Megill of the CAT Agency and sold her debut picture book to Beaming Books!
2024 Mentee Zarlasht Niaz is officially named a Boston Public Library Writer-In-Residence!
2025 Mentee Rachel Kiderchah signed with Luddington Creative!
2025 Mentee Brooke Baum signed with Marissa Brown at Pippin Properties!

APPLY FOR THE FINAL YEAR OF PB RISING STARS FEB 27-MARCH 13!

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THIS IS YOUR YEAR!

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APPLY FOR THE FINAL YEAR OF PB RISING STARS FEB 27-MARCH 13! ⭐ THIS IS YOUR YEAR! ⭐

Want to learn more about being a PB Rising Stars Mentee? Start here by watching this video.

Mentee Information

Please review all eligibility requirements, program information, and important dates below to see if this program is a good fit for you before applying.

MENTEE ELIGIBILITY:

Must be 18 years or older at the time of submitting your application.
Must be an agented or unagented picture book author, illustrator, or author-illustrator.
Everyone in our program must foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.
We encourage past PB Rising Star Runners-Up and Honorable Mentions to apply!
You must not use AI engines like ChatGPT or others to create the art, text, or application responses you submit for consideration. *If you need accommodations or translation help while filling out your application, please contact us at pbrisingstars@gmail.com.
You must not have any AGENT-REPRESENTED traditionally published PICTURE BOOKS or traditional PICTURE BOOK deals sold by (or represented by) an agent. Self-published creators can apply! AND Creators who self-represented their book deals can apply! And creators with agent-repped traditionally published books in other markets outside of picture books can apply!
Must not have been or be scheduled to be a PICTURE BOOK MENTEE in another official mentorship program anytime between January 2025 and September 2026.
Must be available to participate in the full mentorship program from May 15, 2026 through September 30, 2026. The schedule and workload are flexible and are led by the mentor’s availability + a mutually agreed upon plan.
Must agree to pause (or wait on) querying for the duration of the mentorship program. There will be no exceptions to this requirement.
Must commit to revising one or more manuscripts, portfolio pieces, and/or dummies based on you and your mentor’s agreed-upon terms and schedule.

PB RISING STARS MENTORSHIP INCLUDES:

A 4-month long mentorship, including 3 months of a 1-on-1 craft intensive with your mentor + 1 month of publishing business development with PBRS co-founders Ebony Lynn Mudd and Kailei Pew. The full experience runs from May 15-September 30, 2026.

Feedback and revision help on one (or more) manuscripts, dummies, or portfolio pieces that will go well beyond a typical critique. Mentors are NOT required to work on more than one project.
A website spotlight, showcasing your headshot, bio, and social media links for the lifetime of our program.
FREE access to exclusive picture book craft workshops hosted by industry professionals.
A mentee-only Discord chat group to communicate and build community with fellow mentees.
An end-of-mentorship wrap party to celebrate your accomplishments and growth.
Lifelong membership in our PB Rising Stars community, which gives you access to private, in-person meetups and any private virtual events that we have for our community. This community will NOT end in 2026! Once a mentee, always a mentee!

Excited to apply?! Click here to download the 2026 Sample Application and Preparation Resource Packet!

Click here to read the 2026 FAQs.

Click Here to Download Your "I'M APPLYING" Badge!

Important Dates

January 13, 2026, from 8:00-9:30 PM Eastern Time:
Informational Ice Cream Social (Virtual/Zoom) — Bring your favorite ice cream, learn more about the program, and ask the leadership team your questions. Click here to register.
January 23, 2026:
The 2026 Mentors are ANNOUNCED, and Mentor wish lists go live!
February 2, 2026 - February 8, 2026:
Meet the Mentors Blog Week — Visit our blog to learn more about each mentor’s wish lists + what they are looking for in a mentee directly from our 2026 Mentors. Via a daily blog-style format, potential mentees will get the chance to learn more about what Mentors are looking for + ask them any questions.
February 12, 2026, from 8:00-9:30 PM Eastern Time:
Application Prep Party (Virtual/Zoom) — Attend our first-ever mentee application prep party event! This live session will break down the application step by step, highlight what makes submissions shine, help you proactively troubleshoot tech issues, and feature past mentees spilling their best tips. Bring your questions, your notebook, and your big dreams. Click here to register.
February 27, 2026 - March 13, 2026:
Mentee applications are open! They close on March 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time SHARP. Please check your time zone and plan ahead for technical difficulties!
May 12, 2026, from 8:00-9:30 PM Eastern Time:
LIVE 2026 Mentee Announcement Event (Virtual/Zoom) — Attend the event of the year where we will have special guests, inspiring speeches, and announce all of our Mentees, Runner-Ups, and Honorable Mentions! Click here to register. Note: If you cannot attend live, the announcement will be posted to our website and sent out via our newsletter.
May 19, 2026, from 8:00-10:00 PM Eastern Time:
2026 Mentee Bonding Event (Virtual/Zoom) — This is an opportunity for our mentees to meet and mingle prior to the mentorship. Expect introductions, games, and more! *This will be a private event for the 2026 Mentees only.
May 28, 2026, from 8:00-10:00 PM Eastern Time:
2026 Mentee Orientation (Virtual/Zoom) — This is mandatory to attend live or to watch the recording by May 31, 2026. *This will be a private event for 2026 Mentees only.
June 1, 2026 - June 7, 2026:
Your one-on-one mentorship begins! During this week, Mentors will host their first meetings with their Mentees based on a mutually agreed-upon date and time.
June 2, 2026, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time:
Honorable Mention Ask Me Anything Zoom Q&A w/ PB Rising Stars Co-Founders Ebony Lynn Mudd and Kailei Pew. *This will be a private event for the 2026 Honorable Mentions only.
August 26, 2026:
This is the final day of the one-on-one mentorship with the Mentors!
August 27, 2026, from 8:00-10:30 PM Eastern Time:
2026 PB Rising Stars Wrap Party (Virtual/Zoom) — Time to celebrate yourself, the mentors, and your fellow mentees! *This will be a private event for the 2026 Mentees and Mentors only.
September 3, 2026 - September 28, 2026: The four-week publishing business intensive with co-founders Ebony Lynn Mudd and Kailei Pew. [Workshops will tentatively be held on September 3, 10, 17, 24, and 28 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.]
*In addition to the dates above, exclusive industry workshops will take place during the mentorship. The dates and details will be released to our 2026 Mentees in May.

Books from Past Mentors