Kirkus has given a starred review to My Block Looks Like (Viking) by Janelle Harper, illustrated by Frank Morrison.

The review says “By focusing on the child’s active engagement with the neighborhood, Morrison portrays the protagonist’s excitement for this space and its people in his graffiti-style art. The artist’s careful attention to detail and the shifting visual perspectives in action scenes bring Harper’s musical text to life.”

The book will be published January 2, 2024.

See the full review here

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Publishers Weekly has given a starred review to Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage (Anne Schwartz Books) by Lisa Rogers, illustrated by Il Sung Na.The review says “Na exhibits sound through vibrant colors and bold shapes against line art backgrounds, varying the style of each spread and increasingly warping the flat perspective as Cage experiments, fittingly representing his inventive music and spirit.”

The book also received a starred review from BookList.

See the full Publishers Weekly review here

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Today is Different, (CarolRhoda Books) by Doua Moua, illustrated by Kim Holt , has won the Social Justice Literature Award for Picturebook Fiction.

This award is presented by the International Literacy Association to honor books that address social responsibility towards individuals, communities, societies, and/or the environment as well as invite reflection and socially responsible action by the reader.

Learn more about the awards, and see a full list of winners here

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Publishers Weekly has given a starred review to Breaking to the Beat! (Lee & Low) by Linda J. Acevedo, illustrated by Frank Morrison. The review says “…graffiti-inflected art style makes smart use of changing perspectives, crowd scenes, and dance silhouettes to showcase a triumphant story of a child honing his talent…”

The book has also received starred reviews from Booklist, The Horn Book, School Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.

Read the full Publishers Weekly review here

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Booklist has given a rave review to The Bronx is My Home (Christy Ottaviano Books) by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris; illustrated by Kim Holt.

The book will be published Octobere 24, 2024.

Pre order it here

See the full review below:

A love letter to the Bronx, the only New York City borough with a definite article in its name. Afro-Latinx Santiago Alvarez-Rosario and his mom spend Saturday visiting all of the cool places their borough has to offer—the Bronx Zoo, Orchard Beach, Little Italy, and more. Striking down stereotypes, this joyous picture book shows the city’s northernmost town as a place of rich history and culture. It also offers eye-opening stats, such as how Pelham Bay Park is more than three times the size of Central Park and the High Bridge is the oldest bridge in the city. Passing mentions of Fordham University and the Edgar Allan Poe Park highlight some of the more recognizable sites, but much of Santiago’s narrative focuses on unsung gems. The boy’s energy is contagious, which is reflected in the effusive text. The illustrations add to the work’s liveliness. Bright colors take up full spreads. The art is digitally rendered in acrylic and pencil, giving the pages a textured feel. The expressions on the characters’ faces will bring smiles to readers’ own, especially as they slurp spaghetti at the Italian restaurant and act silly at the zoo. The endpapers feature a lovely tour guide–like map, and the back matter includes info on more sites and a selected bibliography. The fun there is in spending the day with someone you love in the place you call home will resonate with all readers. VERDICT An ode to the Bronx that natives and tourists alike will cherish, this is a great choice for picture book shelves.

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!

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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