Vroma
n’s Bookstore is hosting a special Storytime with Michael Slack and his new book Dinosaurs on Kitty Island (Dial Books) January 8, 2022 2pm PST.
A playdate between intrepid kittes and cautious dinosaurs doesn’t go quite as planned in this hilarious story of friendship and compromise.
To learn more about the Storytime and save a spot go here
Get the book here
Paletero Man (HarperCollins) by Lucky Diaz, illustrated by Micah Player, and Friday Night WrestleFest (Roaring Brook) by J.F. Fox, illustrated by Micah Player have both been named to the Mockingbird Reading list. The list, for younger readers, was created by the Abilene School district inspired by the interest and enthusiasm generated by the Texas Bluebonnet Award.
See the full list here
In addition, J.F. Fox was recently featured in Publishers Weekly, with an editorial entitled A Call to the Children’s Publishing Community: Join the Fight for School Librarians.
See the editorial here
Get Paletero Man here
Get Friday Night Wrestlefest here
When The Schools Shut Down: A Young Girl’s Story of Virginia’s “Lost Generation” and the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Decision (HarperCollins) by Yolanda Gladden, as told to Tamara Pizzoli, illustrated by Keisha Morris as earned a star from Publishers’ Weekly.
The review says “Collaged tissue paper and digital media art by Morris offers a lushly layered backdrop to the events, emphasizing the expressions and closeness of the Black community portrayed in this informative, warmly personable autobiography. ”
The book will be published in January 2022.
Pre order the book here
See the full review here
Dinosaurs on Kitty Island (Dial Books) by Michael Slack will be published on December 14, 2021.
School Library Journal says “Young children will enjoy the mishaps and high jinks and perhaps take into consideration the feelings of others when playing. Children will enjoy interpreting the illustrations and bring their own takes to what is unfolding . . . Charming illustrations partner well with a simple story of playtime.”
Pre order your copy here!
Not E
nough Lollipops (Knopf) by Megan Maynor, illustrated by Micah Player has earned a starred review from Kirkus. The review says “Player’s retro-styled illustrations tie the hues of the lollipops to the children’s colorful attire but never go overboard; there’s plenty of drama around the crushing candy saga without overplaying the visuals.
Not Enough Lollipops will be published in January 2022.
Read the full review here
Pre order the book here
A starred review from Kirkus calls Stitch by Stitch (Holiday House) by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon “a poignant tribute to the remarkable life and craft of Elizabeth “Lizzy” Hobbs Keckly, a formerly enslaved woman who broke the color line in haute couture.”
The review goes on to say “Zunon’s breathtaking and masterful mixed-media illustrations—incorporating oil, paint, fabric, ribbon, paper, embroidery, and appliqué—beautifully capture the artistry of Keckly’s dresses.”
Get Stitch by Stitch here
Read the full Kirkus review here
Kirkus calls We Play Soccer (Holiday House) by Rene Colato Lainez, illustrated by Nomar Perez “A bright, sweet story about friendship, teamwork, and the joy of soccer.”
The review also says “The illustrations are vibrant, and characters are depicted having various shades of light brown skin. Backmatter helpfully provides direct translations of words that appear in the story.”
We Play Soccer will be published in January 2022. Pre order a copy here
Read the full Kirkus review here
In a post on HornBook’s Calling Caldecott blog, Scot Smith makes a strong case for King of Ragtime (Simon & Schuster) by Stephen Costanza. Smith commends the illustrations in the book for capturing the essence of music, and says “Costanza’s illustrations depict composer Joplin’s use of syncopation through complex collage work, thoughtful use of vibrant colors, and a mixture of artistic styles. We can almost hear “Maple Leaf Rag” as we turn the pages of this wonderful biography.”
Our fingers are crossed, Steve!
Read the full blog post here
Get King of Ragtime here
