The much-anticipated fourth book in Sarah Dillard‘s Mouse Scouts series is finally here! Join the Acorn Scouts in their quest to earn the Making Friends badge, embarking on a journey that will test old friendships, forge new ones, and ultimately reveal what it means to be a true friend.

Get your copy here!

London Ladd will be taking part in a webinar with the Western/Central NY chapter of the SCBWI for aspiring illustrators starting on January 13th, 2018. Join Ladd as he provides his insider information on the nuances of navigating as a professional illustrator, specifically the art of negotiating with artist reps and art directors.  Registration will give you access to the webinar, along with the opportunity to type in your own questions and access the recording for two weeks afterward.

For registration and more info about the webinar, click here!

A Child’s Introduction to African American History: The Experiences, People, and Events That Shaped Our Country, written by Jabari Asim and illustrated by Lynn Gaines, is available for purchase! This book provides an in-depth guide to the compelling history of African Americans, touching on a variety of subjects such as politics, music, sports, entertainment, and many more. Asim provides details from the slave trade to the recent Black Lives Matter movement, noting prominent African American icons such as Rosa Parks, Miles Davis, and Toni Morrison. Gaines’ illustrations bring the expansive, complex history to life.

Grab a copy here!

Happy Book Birthday to Vanessa B. Newton’s new picture book, Grandma’s Purse! See what the critics are saying…

“Brantley-Newton creates a whimsical interplay of patterns, rich color, and her trademark lively expressions–a beautiful visual mélange. The magic of grandparents is undeniable, and this book is an excellent treat for grandkids to share with their own grandmas and grandpas, or the other way around.”–Kirkus

“Brantley-Newton’s vividly colorful images paint the happiness the little girl feels in her grandmother’s presence. A strong intergenerational choice for any picture book collection.”–SLJ

“An exuberant melange of brightly colored, cheerful images, perfectly matched to the cheerful tone of the intergenerational story.”–Booklist

Order your copy here!

Publishers Weekly shared a review of upcoming biographical picture book Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School. Written by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by London Ladd, Midnight Teacher recounts the story of a woman born into slavery whose determination and bravery led to the literacy of countless slaves. Publishers Weekly praises London Ladd’s “rich, naturalistic” images and remarks on the “painful but uplifting” nature of the inspirational narrative.

Publishers Weekly’s full review is available here. Midnight Teacher is coming out February 6, 2018 and can be pre-ordered here.

Shelf Awareness, a newsletter about the book industry, recently released a 2017 Best Children’s and Teen Books of the Year list. Stolen Words, written by Melanie Florence and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard was right at the top of the list! Stolen Words is the story of the relationship between a young girl and her Cree grandfather. When she discovers that he lost his native language in Canada’s residential school program, she sets out to help him recover it. It’s one of Shelf Awareness’s best picture books of 2017.

Shelf Awareness’s full list of best books of the year is available here. Stolen Words can be purchased online here.

All Day Long, God Loves Me and Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me, both written by Mikal Keefer and illustrated by Nomar Perez have made it to Amazon’s Best Sellers page in the category of Children’s Christian Learning Concepts Fiction! All Day Long is the number one bestseller in the genre and Everywhere I Go is number two. These adorable picture books depict animal characters learning about the presence of God in the daily lives.

Amazon’s Best Sellers page for Children’s Christian Learning Concepts can be found here. All Day Long, God Loves Me is available here and Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me is available here.

Booklist’s starred review of The Great Dictionary Caper is their Review of the Day today! The review of this humorous new picture book is featured on the front page of their website. Written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Eric Comstock, The Great Dictionary Caper tells the story of what happens when the words escape from the dictionary.

Booklist calls The Great Dictionary Caper, “Delightful,” and praises both the humor and the educational worth of the story. They write, “It’s all fun and word games, but in the process, readers will also get a tidy lesson in linguistic concepts.” They also praise the elaborate page spreads which visually depict the textual word play, which are “enhanced by Comstock’s energetic, retro-flair illustrations, which fill the pages with cavorting words and creative details.” In all, Booklist concludes, “In approach and format, this is both entertaining and educational—likely to hold and pique kids’ interest in the topic and provide a fun learning supplement.”

Booklist’s starred, featured review is available here. The Great Dictionary Caper will be coming out January 2018 and is available for pre-order here.