The second book in Elise Gravel‘s Olga series has received an excellent review from Kirkus. The book hit stores yesterday, and follows the space journey of Olga and her pal Meh, who is ailed by a mysterious sickness that Olga must help combat. The reviewer showers praise upon the “delightfully unconventional heroine,” pointing out her boldness, intelligence, and humor.  Also complimented is Gravel’s “charming artwork,” more specifically the “pleasing” and “appealing” nature of the illustrations.

You won’t want to miss this “well-wrought sophomore,” which is now available for purchase here!

Come join in celebrating Shadra Strickland at the Highlights Foundation Art Reception in her honor on March 17, 2018. The reception launches the Highlights Foundation’s 2018 Visual Arts Exhibit, which features Shadra’s original art from A Child’s Blessings and Prayers: From Faiths and Cultures Around the World, written by Deloris Jordan.

Not only can you attend the reception, but you’re also welcome to join Shadra in “Unworkshopping,” where the Highlights Foundation provides lodging and meals while you focus on your creative work.

RSVP for the reception here, and get more info about both the reception and Unworkshopping event here.

London Ladd, illustrator of Frederick’s Journey: The Life of Frederick Douglass, recently paid a visit to Douglass’ hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, where he presented to a troop of boy scouts at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum on the importance of the prominent African American historical figure.  Through art and lecture, he helped them learn about the impact of the famed abolitionist, who fought for equal rights for everyone.

You can watch a video of Ladd’s impact here.

Congratulations to K.G. Campbell, whose picture book Dylan the Villain has been nominated for the Iowa Association of School Librarians’ Goldfinch Award for 2018-2019! This award is unique because children get to read the nominated titles and vote for the winner, directly influencing the yearly reading list. You can read more about the award here.

Ashley Spires was recently interviewed for the podcast Art Side of Life, where she discussed topics such as finding an agent and things she wishes she had known starting off as an author/illustrator. Listen to Ashley’s inspirational chat with Iva, the show’s host, where you’ll hear everything from great advice about children’s publishing to Ashley’s own art tool preferences and process.

You can find the full episode  here.

Let the Children March, written by Monica Clark-Robinson and illustrated by Frank Morrison, is included in a recent New York Times piece titled “Children’s Books About Black History, Heavy on Biographies.” The piece features a list of children’s books that are biographical in nature and focus on prominent African-American figures, with a brief review of each book. The author of the piece states that in Let the Children March “Frank Morrison’s illustrations are loose and modern in spirit, enlivening the history lesson.”

You can view the full piece here and purchase a copy of the book here.

Congratulations to Josée Masse, who illustrated the picture book Thunder Underground, which has been nominated for two awards in 2018! The book appears on the Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards master list, which you can find here, and is also a 2018 Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards finalist, which was announced here. You can vote and show your support for Thunder Underground to win the PYRCA and the C+TCBA online.

Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School written by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by London Ladd is available for purchase today! The nonfiction picture book, which received a Kirkus Starred Review ahead of its release, relates the history of the courageous enslaved woman who held secret classes to educate fellow enslaved people. Teaching hundreds of enslaved individuals to read and write, Granderson’s story is inspirational, and beautifully portrayed through Halfmann’s prose, coupled with Ladd’s realistic illustrations.

Purchase your copy here today!

Last week, the New York Public Library hosted a Facebook Live video for World Read Aloud Day, and The Cranky Ballerina by Elise Gravel was one of the 6 books included! Click here to watch a recording of this special event, where Gravel’s book is read at about 26 minutes in.