London Ladd is the SCBWI Featured Illustrator of the Month!

See him interviewed by Painted Words own TeMika Grooms here

Learn more about SCBWI here

Four Painted Words Artists have books on the 2023 ALSC Notable Books List!

They are:

Standing in the Need of a Prayer (Crown) by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Killer Underwear Invasion! (Chronicle) by Elise Gravel

Ivaliz Explains it All (Random House) by Andrea Beatriz Arango, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez

Everything in its Place (Doubleday) by Pauline David-Sax, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

See the Complete List here

Ivaliz Explains it All (Random House) by Andrea Beatriz Arango, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez has been named a Newbery Honor book!

In this timely and moving illustrated novel in verse, a preteen girl navigates seventh grade while facing mental health challenges. A hopeful, poetic story about learning to advocate for the help and understanding you deserve.

Get the book here

Standing in the Need of a Prayer (Crown) by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison has won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award!

This stunning and deeply moving picture book based on the popular spiritual from an award-winning author and critically acclaimed illustrator. The classic lyrics have been reworked to chronicle the milestones, struggles, tragedies, and triumphs of African American history.

Congratulations Frank!

Get the book here

The Northern Lights Book Awards have been announced, and three Painted Words artists are on the list. Our World is a Family (Sourcebooks Explore) by Miry Whitehill and Jennifer Jackson, illustrated by Nomar Perez is the winner of the Picture Book Non-Fiction category. Playtime for Restless Rascals (Sourcebook Jabberwocky) by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon is the winner of the Family Category, and A Prayer for Our Country (Zonderkidz) by Senate Chaplain Barry Black, illustrated by Kim Holt is the winner of the Religious/Spiritual category.

See the full list here

All Aboard the Schooltrain: A Little Story from the Great Migration (Scholastic) by Glenda Armand, illustrated by Keisha Morris has received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist and Publishers Weekly. Here’s what they said:

* “A vivid evocation of place and era rolling solidly on a bed of timeless values.” ― Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* “A child-friendly picture book introducing the Great Migration.” ― Booklist, starred review

* “Lends the meandering feel of family stories to this portrait of a historical moment.” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review

Congratulations Keisha!

Get the book here

Publishers Weekly has given a starred review to How Do You Spell Unfair? MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee (Candlewick) by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison. The review says “Morrison’s distinctive portraiture shows the protagonist meeting with Black legends in Akron, and juxtaposes the community support Cox enjoys in her home state with experiences of racial discrimination in the nation’s capital.”

How Do You Spell Unfair? will be published April 11 2023.

Read the full review here

Pre order the book here

Stitch by Stitch: Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly Sews Her Way to Freedom (Holiday House) by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon has been selected for the 2023 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Booklist.

Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 has been promoting quality feminist literature for young readers since 2002 as a part of the Feminist Task Force and the Social Responsibilities Round Table.

Get the book here

Keisha Morris’s cover for Words of Wonder (Doubleday) by Zaila Avant-garde is featured on people.com. Avant-garde was the 2021 winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The book will be published June 27, 2023.

See the article here

Pre order the book here

Canada’s Corus Entertainment has greenlit a CG-animated series based on author Ashley Spires’ book The Most Magnificent Thing (Kids Can Press) and a same-name 2019 short film for its Treehouse preschool channel.

Millie Magnificent (52 x 11 minutes) features the book’s namesake protagonist taking on kid-sized challenges in the neighborhood with her friends and pet dog using STEAM-based skills and creative problem-solving.

Read more about it here

Get the book here