Book bans are at an all-time high, most often blocking access to books featuring diversity, factual history, gender, sexuality, and the LGBTQ+ experience. Our librarians are under attack and now—more than ever—we need their presence and steadfast dedication to protect reading culture across the country.
Painted Words artists TeMika Grooms, Alex Nees, Chamisa Kellogg, Huy Voun Lee, Cherise Harris and Romina Rollhauser (cover). led by author J. F. Fox, are speaking up loud and clear to denounce book bans and support the librarians protecting kids’ freedom to read, by creating a piece, suitable for printing on a 4×6″ post card that can be printed out and mailed to elected officials.

To download art for postcards, go here.

School Library Journal has given a starred review to Baking with Mi Abuelita (Random BFYR) by Julissa Mora, and says the “Illustrations are delightful, perfectly portraying the big emotions that come with a big celebration….This book is a fabulous example of ­Rudine Sims Bishop’s mirrors, windows, and ­sliding glass doors concept. ” The book will be published September 12.

Congratulations Julissa!

Preorder the book here

Read the full review here

Erika Lynne Jones, illustrator of The Loud Librarian ( Simon & Schuster) by Jenna Beatrice, and Black Girls: A Celebration of You (HarperCollins) by Dominique Furukawa is featured in an article in the Moms We Love Section of DFW Child. In the interview, Erika talks about how she has cultivated her talent to create quirky characters that help kids feel seen.

Read the article here

Get the Loud Librarian here

Pre order Black Girls: A Celebration of You here

Michael Slack’s sculptures are featured in a solo show at The Compound Gallery titled Chunky Artifacts: Objects For Future Discovery,featuring new drawings and ceramic sculptures.

In the distant future when cultural archaeologists are sifting through the detritus of contemporary culture what objects will they unearth? What stories will they attach to these objects? Will there be a point in the future where all mythology merges into a single universal mythology? If so, what would the personifications of this mythology look like? Objects for Future Discoveries is Slack’s playful attempt to explore these questions. Chunky Artifacts is also a humorous contemplation on disposable culture and the valuation of fine art.

Learn more here

The Most Magnificent Idea (Kids Can Press) by Ashley Spires, has been shortlisted for the Chocolate Lily Book Award. The Chocolate Lily Book Awards celebrates BC authors and illustrators while striving to increase literacy for grade school children in British Columbia, all of Canada and the whole reading world!

See all of the nominees here

Get the book here

Erika Lynn Jones , illustrator of The Loud Librarian (Atheneum) by Jenna Beatrice, is featured on the KidLit in Color Blog, sharing tips for aspiring illustrators. She talks about her road to becoming an illustrator and shares some of the obstacles and triumphs she faced along the way.

Read the full post here

Because of You, John Lewis (Scholastic) by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown, has been awarded the 2023 NCSS Carter G. Woodson Book Award – Honor: Middle Level Category.

Congratulations Keith!

See the full list of awards here

Get the book here