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

Shelf Awareness has given a starred review to Adela’s Mariachi Band (Charlesbridge) by Denise Vega, illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina.

The review says “Vega’s punchy voice and Medina’s lively digital illustrations combine for an affirming reminder that age and size needn’t be a barrier to following a passion.”

Read the full review here

Get the book here

Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, a world-leading international producer, distributor, and licensor of children animated and live-action content, has partnered with Peacock, to officially launch three of its hit redknot-produced animated kids’ television series in the U.S. Starting August 15^th, U.S. viewers will be able to stream all three seasons of paws-itively hilarious Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe.

The 3D animated series produced by redknot, a joint venture between Nelvana and Warner Bros. Discovery, is based on the best-selling books Binky The Space Cat (Kids Can Press) by Ashley Spires and published by Corus Entertainment’s Kids Can Press. Agent Binky and his fellow P.U.R.S.T. Agents are all geared up and ready as ever to protect their human families from aliens, robots and the W.U.R.S.T. villain – Chirpy McChirp! Featuring characters, adventures and cool gadgets, this furr-tastic team is certified for action and determined to go where no pet has gone before.

Congratulations Ashley!

The Pie That Molly Grew (Sleeping Bear Press) by Sue Heavenrich, illustrated by Chamisa Kellogg has won a Growing Good Kids Book Award.

The Junior Master Gardener Program and the American Horticultural Society honor engaging, inspiring works of plant, garden and ecology-themed children’s literature through the “Growing Good Kids – Excellence in Children’s Literature Awards” Program.

Congratulations Chamisa!

Learn more about the awards here

Get the book here

Huy Voun Lee, Elisa Chavarri and Frank Morrison are featured in an exhibition at the Eric Carle Museum called Sprouting Stories: Plants and People in Picture Books from August 7 through December 29, 2024.

The exhibition features 45 picture books that highlight plants and the varied stories they tell. Books are divided into three thematic sections—Growing Gardens, Plant Protagonists, and Rooted Stories—and are arranged along shelves in the Reading Library for visitors to explore and read. Additional books displayed on library tables invite creative play and reflection.

The books featured are:

A Crown for Corina, by Laekan Zea Kemp, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri, Little, Brown and Company, 2023.

Like a Dandelion, by Huy Voun Lee, Balzer + Bray, 2021.

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver, by Gene Barretta, illustrated by Frank Morrison, Katherine Tegen Books, 2020.

Learn more about the exhibition here.

Beautiful Noise (Anne Schwartz Books) by Lisa Rogers, illustrated by Il Sung Na has been named a Notable Book in the Boston Authors Club 2023 Julia Ward Howe Awards Competition!

The Boston Authors Club (BAC) is an independent, non-profit organization founded in the late 19th century to gather authors and people who love books and to celebrate literature. The annual competition is named in honor of Julia Ward Howe, one of the founders of the BAC who served as the organization’s first president.

Learn more about the award here

Get the book here