More About Sara Holly Ackerman (She/Her)
Languages: English
Sara Holly Ackerman is a school librarian and the co-author of THE GABI THAT GIRMA WORE, and the author of NOT JUST THE DRIVER! and several other forthcoming books.
She lives in Brooklyn, New York and never leaves home without her library card.
You can find Sara online at:
Sara's strengths are…
Rhyme and meter, humor, lyrical language, research.
What Sara is looking for…
Sara is looking for a mentee who cares deeply about children and the books that they read.
She hopes to connect with someone who loves learning and is passionate about working on their craft. Her writing includes rhyme and prose, fiction, nonfiction, and informational fiction, humorous and lyrical, and she welcomes a mentee who writes in any or many of those areas.
A Note from Sara:
“I'm particularly interested in hearing about the children you hope to reach with your writing. Also, I'm rooting for you!”
Sara’s Upcoming Picture Books
CHALLAH FOR SHABBAT TONIGHT, written by Sara Holly Ackerman and illustrated by Alona Millgram (Algonquin Young Readers, 2024)
THE GABI THAT GIRMA WORE, co-authored by Sara Holly Ackerman and Fasika Adefris, illustrated by Netsanet Tesfay (Little, Brown, 2024)
NOT JUST THE DRIVER, written by Sara Holly Ackerman and illustrated by Robert Neubecker (Beach Lane Books, 2024)
WOODS AND WORDS: THE POETRY OF MARY OLIVER, written by Sara Holly Ackerman and illustrated by Naoko Stoop (S&S/Beach Lane Books, 2025)
If Sara created a Visual Wish List, it would be made up of…
*Unless otherwise stated, the below serves as a wish list only. Each mentor is excited about the opportunity to find a manuscript they can’t stop thinking about. Please apply if you think you’d be a good fit.
OFF LIMITS, written and illustrated by Helen Yoon
HOW TO COUNT TO 1, written by Caspar Salmon and illustrated by Matt Hunt
EVELYN DEL REY IS MOVING AWAY, written by Meg Medina and illustrated by Sonia Sánchez
EVERYBODY SAYS MEOW, written and illustrated by Constance Lombardo
HOW TO BIRD by Rasha Hamid
SATURDAY, written and illustrated by Oge Mora
BIG DREAMS, SMALL FISH written and illustrated by Paula Cohen
DARK ON LIGHT, written by Dianne White and illustrated by Felicita Sala
TWO NEW YEARS, written by Richard Ho and illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
THE COURAGE OF THE LITTLE HUMMINGBIRD: A TALE TOLD AROUND THE WORLD, written by Leah Henderson and illustrated by Magaly Morales
Sara is a good fit for…
Rhyme that enhances the story or concept
Quirky humor
Friendship stories
School settings
Subtle SEL
Retellings
Nonfiction
Authors who write in a variety of styles and genres
Sara is not a good fit for…
Toilet humor
Pun-only humor
Anthropomorphized food
Who can apply to Sara? Unagented authors only. Historically marginalized creators are especially encouraged to apply, but Sara is open to everyone.
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