Check out episode #418 of ‘All the Wonders’ podcast, where Vanessa Brantley Newton talks about connecting with her readers, kids giving their parents a do-over, and the universal quest to give others what you never got.

Congratulations to Elise Gravel, whose book Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere made it onto New York Public Library’s “The Best Science Fiction Books for Kids of 2017” list! View the complete list here.

Olga also made onto the School Library Journal’s list of Great Hybrid Books, which you can find here.

In December, Elizabeth Bird of Fuse 8 compiled a list of must-reads for every day of the month. Seven books by our artists/authors made it onto these lists, which are broken down into categories from Non-fiction to Science & Nature.

December 22 – Fictionalized Nonfiction included:

• Noah Webster’s Fighting Words by Tracy Nelson Maurer and illustrated by Mircea Catusanu

December 23 – American History included:

• Noah Webster’s Fighting Words by Tracy Nelson Maurer and illustrated by Mircea Catusanu
• The Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton

December 24 – Science & Nature Books included:

• If You Were the Moon by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Jaime Kim

December 26 – Unique Biographies included:

• Noah Webster’s Fighting Words by Tracy Nelson Maurer and illustrated by Mircea Catusanu
• The Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton

December 27 – Nonfiction Picture Books included:

• Noah Webster’s Fighting Words by Tracy Nelson Maurer and illustrated by Mircea Catusanu
• The Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton
• If You Were the Moon by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Jaime Kim

December 31 – Picture Books included:

• Lucia the Luchadora by Cynthia Leonor Garza and illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez
• Please Please the Bees by Gerald Kelley
• Stolen Words by Melanie Florence and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
• Waiting for Pumpsie by Barry Wittenstein and illustrated by London Ladd

Congratulations to all our talented artists!

There’s a new way to enjoy Betsy Snyder‘s beloved children’s tale, Sweet Dreams Lullaby. Moonlite is a storybook projector for your mobile phone, which allows readers to project illustrations and access storybook text and sound effects. Now, you can add a Sweet Dreams Lullaby reel to your Moonlite collection, and enjoy Snyder’s story in a unique way!

Order the Moonlite projector here and the Sweet Dreams Lullaby reel here.

Written by Amanda Doering with illustrations from Joanie Stone, Purple brings the secondary color to life. This picture book is truly an interactive experience, thanks to musical accompaniment by Mark Mallman and the opportunity to seek and find the bold color with every turn of the page. Young readers will get to learn, listen, sing and explore along with Purple.

Get your copy, with online music access, here!

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!