Rachel Funez Writes

Welcome to my website!

Thanks for stopping by. I love great writing in all of its forms, but picture books and kidlit mysteries bring me the most joy. Celebrating and promoting diversity in children's literature (and in life) is very important to me, as is finding ways to help children and their parents (and myself!) cope with big emotions. My blog consists of picture book reviews, author interviews, craft talk, writing contest entries, and a Collaboration Corner - where I interview writers and artists who have created picture books in collaboration (prior to finding a publisher). Click on the links above to explore, and please leave a comment. I'd love to hear what you think!

I’m thrilled to announce that my debut picture book is under contract with Free Spirit Publishing, and is tentatively scheduled to be released in the summer of 2024.

This picture book is a story of my heart, about a little girl, Sonia, who realizes she forgot Mom’s birthday, and decides to whip up a super surprise. She sends Mom back to bed and enlists her little brother to help make breakfast for Mom. But her ADHD foils her best paid plans and her anxiety multiples as the family pets jump into the mix, creating chaos. With her brother’s help, Sonia uses all her superhero gadgets – Breath Blasters, Stellar Self-Talk, and her Senses-Scanner – to calm her thumping heart, settle her flip-flopping stomach, and quiet her buzzing head so she can focus on the task at hand. It’s a recipe for success, allowing Sonia to access her super-focus and save the day!