New York Public Libary’s 100 Best Books for Kids includes Adela’s Mariachi Band, illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina (Charlesbridge), and My Hair is a Book, illustrated by London Ladd (Harper Collins). Congratulations Erika and London! See the full list here.

Chicago Public Library’s 2024 list of Best Informational Books for Young Readers includes Miles of Style, illustrated by Lynn Gaines (Lee & Low Books) and Elise Gravel‘s El rosa, el azul y tú (NubeOcho). Congratulations Lynn and Elise!

See the full list here.

My Hair is a Book, illustrated by London Ladd, has been included in School Library Journal’s Best Picture Books of 2024.  SLJ writes:

“Everything in this must-have book builds Black beauty and love. In mixed-media art of thick acrylic strokes, the typography graphically highlights plays on words, and everything shines a light on strong historical figures, moving and doing and being.”

Congratulations London!

See the full list here.

The Chicago Public Library announced its Best Board & Picture Books of 2o24, and included Una Corona para Corina (Little, Brown), illustrated by Elisa Chavarri, and both the Spanish and English editions of Adela’s Mariachi Band (Charlesbridge), illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina. Congratulations Elisa and Erika!

Booklist and Kirkus each praised When Alexander Graced the Table in Starred Reviews. Kirkus proclaimed, “The joy of cooking—and family—brought to brilliant life.” Booklist says, “For an excellent example of #BlackBoyJoy, look to this sweet celebration of food and familial love from renowned chef Smalls and his cocreators. Warmth and community are exuded in Morrison’s oil paintings.” Published by Simon & Schuster/Denene Millner books, When Alexander Graced the Table, written by Alexander Smalls and Denene Millner and illustrated by Frank Morrison, hits shelves in January.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books has given a starred review to When I Hear Spirituals (Holiday House) by Cheryl Willis Hudson, illustrated by London Ladd. The review cites London’s work saying Cut paper, tissue paper, and acrylic paint give the art layered depth, much like the spirituals themselves..

The book has also received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist. It is also a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection.

When I Hear Spirituals will be published January 7, 2025. Pre order it here

Anika Noni Rose, author of  Tiana’s Perfect Plan (Disney/Hyperion), illustrated by Olivia Duchess, was featured on The Today Show, to promote the book which was published 10/22/24. The segment features many of Olivia’s beautiful illustrations.

The book was also featured in People Magazine! In the article, Anika talks about her own experiences with perfectionism, and what led her to write the book. The article shows Olivia’s beautiful cover for the book, which dare we say is perfect! Congratulations Olivia!

See the full article here and the Today Show segment here

Get the book here

Publishers Weekly has given a starred review to Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now! (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) by Claudette Colvin and Phillip Hoose, illustrated by Bea Jackson.

The review says “Vibrant illustrations from Jackson (Summer is Here) depict characters past and present with precision, from Colvin’s act (which occurred nine months before Rosa Park’s protest) to the Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.

The book will be published in November, 2024.

See the full review here

Pre order the book here

Shy Robin and the First Day of School (Candlewick) by Jaime Kim has been featured in a New York Times article by Travis Jonker titled 9 Books for Kids Starting Kindergarten.
See the full article here

Get the book here

Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar (Doubleday) by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow has been awarded the 2024 Norman A. Sugarman Children’s Biography Honor Award from the Cleveland Public Library.

Learn more about the award here

Get the book here