Chana Stiefel’s picture book, AWE! IT’S EVERYWHERE (Scholastic Press, 2026), illustrated by Susan Gal, explores how awe-inspiring (A.W.E. – Awesome, Wondrous, Empowering emotion) sights are all around us – from nature to architecture, faith, and more. AWE! IT’S EVERYWHERE features stunning illustrations that match the sense of wonder throughout the text. It’s a thoughtful, uplifting book that will encourage meaningful discussions with readers of all ages. I can’t wait to learn more about how AWE! IT’S EVERYWHERE was created.

Welcome back, Chana!

Your new book, AWE! IT’S EVERYWHERE, is so inspiring. What inspired you to write it?

Thanks so much, Barbara. When I was growing up in South Florida, my parents instilled in me and my siblings a love of nature. We used to catch tadpoles and watch them metamorphosize into frogs. We traveled to national parks from the Everglades to the Great Smoky Mountains and the Grand Canyon. But I never understood why I love these experiences so much, until 2023, when I listened to a podcast called 10% Happier with Dan Harris, who interviewed Dr. Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley. Dr. Keltner describes the “one emotion that may be the key to happiness.” And that’s awe! Dr. Keltner defines awe as “experiencing something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world.” After researching the transformative effects of awe, I knew I had to write about it for children.

Your rhyming text is lyrical and calming. Did you face any challenges writing about a fairly complex topic and keeping it kid-friendly?

Awe is truly everywhere, so the first challenge was figuring out how to capture the essence of awe with concrete, kid-friendly examples. Then I had to organize those ideas into a structure or arc that lyrically flowed. I decided to explore opposites (awe can be big/small; silent/loud; light/dark), and then I expanded to acts of human kindness, the arts, spiritual awe, and more. I left lots of room for illustration. I think that when you combine the spare text with Susan Gal’s stunning illustrations, it becomes a book that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

The illustrations by Susan Gal are spectacular. Were you able to collaborate at all? What were your thoughts when you saw her illustrations? Do you have a favorite?

Susan’s illustrations are truly awe inspiring. She and I bonded after the release of our first book, THE TOWER OF LIFE. We learned that we had many shared interests, including travel and exploring nature. When I wrote AWE, I definitely had Susan in mind. I’m so grateful she said yes! During the process, we met at Books of Wonder in NYC. Susan shared some early sketches and they were jaw droppingly gorgeous. We brainstormed some ideas together and I think the results are magical. It’s so hard to choose a favorite because every spread is a masterpiece. This spread of a diverse community coming together to paint a mural is mind blowing. (BTW, can you spot the kippah?)

What do you hope young readers take away from the book?

Research shows that experiencing awe can change the way we think and feel. For example, when you see a sky full of stars, you may feel less anxious. When you experience a concert or perhaps prayer services (like Neilah on Yom Kippur), you may feel more connected to the people around you. When you see someone being very charitable, you may become more generous and kind. My hope is that people of all ages will search for awe every day—in nature, the arts, science, spirituality, and in other human beings. You don’t have to travel far. Awe is truly everywhere!

Where do you find AWE?

Great question! I’ve been making it a practice to try to find awe every day. Tonight, I experienced awe when I saw the new moon over the ocean. Earlier this week, I was in awe of the generosity of friends who donated to a charity bike ride that my husband is participating in. I’m in awe of my author friends who keep writing and revising despite the challenges in the publishing world. And this year, I’ve witnessed some miraculous medical procedures that have saved the lives of friends and neighbors. The key is to pause and be mindful of the awe that surrounds us.

Thank you, Chana!

Chana Stiefel is the award-winning author of more than 30 books for children. Her nonfiction picture book, THE TOWER OF LIFE: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs, published by Scholastic, won the 2023 Sydney Taylor Book Award, a Robert F. Sibert Honor, the Margaret Wise Brown Prize for Children’s Literature, and the SCBWI Russell Freedman Nonfiction Award for a Better World. Other nonfiction titles include LET LIBERTY RISE: How America’s Schoolchildren Helped Save the Statue of Liberty (a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, Scholastic), and ANIMAL ZOMBIES & OTHER REAL-LIFE MONSTERS (a Top 10 YALSA Quick Pick, NatGeoKids). Chana’s funny fictional picture books include BRAVO, AVOCADO (HarperCollins, 2023), MENDEL’S HANUKKAH MESS UP (Kalaniot, co-written with Larry Stiefel), MY NAME IS WAKAWAKALOCH (HMH, short-listed for the 2023 UNICEF Prize for Children’s Literature), and DADDY DEPOT (Feiwel & Friends). She loves to visit schools and libraries to share her passion for reading and writing with children. She earned a Master’s degree in Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting from New York University. Chana is represented by Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Follow her @chanastiefel on FB, Twitter, and Instagram. To hear Chana pronounce her name, click here.

Tagged Chana Stiefel, picture book, Scholastic Press