On her Fuse 8 blog, Betsy Bird has included The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver, written by Gene Barretta and illustrated by Frank Morrison, on her list of Caldecott Predictions for 2021! She writes, “There are a couple of spreads at work here that honestly take your breath away. [Morrison’s] playing with light a lot more on these pages, and so when you see George’s hidden forest garden, it’s nothing short of magnificent.” Read the full write-up here.

Joanie Stone‘s illustrated picture book, Unbeatable Betty, publishing this June from Harper Collins, has received two great reviews from Kirkus and Booklist. The tale follows Betty Robinson, the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field, as she defied the odds and overcame an almost career-ending injury. Kirkus and Booklist applaud the story for its inspiring narration and action-filled illustrations. Kirkus said the book “is sure to encourage young readers and listeners to pursue their dreams,” and highlighted Joanie’s artwork, writing, “Action-filled illustrations give a sense of the period and focus on her runner’s stance and determined facial expressions.” Booklist highlights Betty’s “grit, determination, and lasting achievement,” and said of Joanie’s work: “Using color and texture well, the nicely composed digital illustrations convey a sense of athletic grace that enhances the inspiring story.” Congrats, Joanie, on illustrating such an incredible story!

You can pre-order a copy of the book here.

Avani Dwivedi joins Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast to discuss her current projects in development and share some of her amazing artwork. Check it out here!

Federico and the Wolf, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri, has received a Starred Review from School Library Journal! Their verdict praises Federico and the Wolf as “a delightful picture book with animated illustrations that are sure to attract readers.” Be sure to pick up a copy when it is released on May 19th, or pre-order it here.

A selection of our books were featured on the Bank Street College Best Books of the Year list! Hooray For Babies!, illustrated by Sue Cornelison, and Eric Barclay‘s Sheep Dog & Sheep Sheep are featured on the “Under Five” list. I Am A Farmer, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, is highlighted as one of the best children’s books about ecology. Frank Morrison‘s The Roots of Rap shines as one of the best books about art, while Keith Henry Brown‘s The Birth of the Cool takes a spot as one of the best children’s poetry books. Congrats everyone on this amazing achievement!

Dragon Meets Boy, the latest from Michael Slack, comes out on June 30, 2020. Kirkus wrote a glowing review for the book, emphasizing its valuable lesson for readers: “Old toys aren’t discarded: they’re re-loved.” They praised the book for its “charming” and “expressive” illustrations, and emphasized that the story imparts “the idea that beautiful childhood memories last a lifetime.” Congrats, Michael, on another amazing work!

You can pre-order a copy of the book here.

Il Sung Na’s latest book, That’s My Carrot, has received wonderful reviews from Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly, and now a Starred Review from School Library Journal!  SLJ says the book is “exquisite,” “beautiful,” and “highly readable,” encouraging everyone to include a copy in their picture book collections.

Kirkus praised the parallel composition of the work, while Publisher’s Weekly calls it a “a page-after-page showcase of compositional ingenuity.” Congrats on the well-deserved praise! Be sure to pick up the book from your local bookstore when it hits the shelves on May 12th!  You can pre-order a copy here.

Congrats to Elisa Chavarri! Her latest book, Bake A Rainbow Cake, has been receiving fabulous reviews. The interactive cookbook is a collaboration with Flour Shop founder Amirah Kassem, and it features a step by step guide on how to create a multi-layered, sprinkle-filled rainbow cake! Shelf Awareness calls the book a “wonderful sensory explosion.” Likewise, Kirkus writes in their review, “for sheer energy and dazzle, this is hard to beat. A feast…at least for the eyes, and much better for the teeth.”

You can purchase the book online here.