Sarah Dillard spent a fun day promoting her new book series Mouse Scouts at The Flying Pig bookstore in Vermont this past weekend. Mouse Scouts is an adorable series about young mice earning badges and learning about friendship, so naturally the Mouse Scouts event involved giving children a chance to earn their own mouse scout badges. With Sarah’s help, the kids planted seeds, camped out, and brainstormed for charity. Everyone, including Sarah, had a great time! The Flying Pig writes, “What I love about Sarah Dillard’s stories and characters is that they are cute without being cloying, and sweet without being saccharine. Like real children, her characters are a mixture of sweetness and rough edges, kindness and pinchiness. Fans of Ivy and Bean will LOVE this series.” For a fun write up of the whole event, plus cute pictures of kids enjoying Mouse Scouts and the related events, check out The Flying Pig’s post here. You can order Mouse Scouts online here.
Sarah Dillard Promotes Her New Series Mouse Scouts at The Flying Pig
Publishers Weekly Praises The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, illus. by Frank Morrison
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, comes out today! You can order it online here.
Publishers Weekly calls The Quickest Kid, “A story about teamwork and determination.” They praise Frank’s art, writing that, “Working in watercolor, Morrison…gives the girls abundant personality.” The Quickest Kid in Clarksville tells the story of two girls determined to impress their track hero, Wilma Rudolph, and prove who the fasted kid in Clarksville really is.
Check out Publishers Weekly’s full review here.
Race Car Count, illus. by Michael Slack, Chosen for the 2016 Texas 2×2 Reading List
Every year, the Texas Library Association chooses a list of 20 books to recommend for children age 2 to grade 2 in order to encourage reading. This year, Race Car Count, written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrated by Michael Slack, was chosen as one of the twenty books. Race Car Count is a counting book for children age 3-6 featuring Michael Slack’s brightly colored, expressive race cars. Congratulations, Rebecca and Michael!
The 2016 Texas 2×2 Reading List can be found here, and you can order Race Car Count here.
K.G. Campbell’s Dylan the Villain is One of The Horn Book’s Reviews of the Week
The Horn Book chose K.G. Campbell‘s upcoming picture book Dylan the Villain as one of their Reviews of the Week! The Reviews of the Week are the three books of the week that the Horn Book feels people should be talking about. Congratulations, K.G. Campbell! You can see the list of chosen books here.
Dylan the Villain tells the humorous tale of a boy born to be a super villain. It’s coming out March 8th, and you can pre-order it here!
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, illus. by Frank Morrison, Makes Amazon’s Best Books of February List
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, was chosen by Amazon as one of their best books of February for ages six to eight. The book won’t be out until February 9th, but you can pre-order your copy here. The full list of best books for ages six to eight can be found here.
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville tells the story of Alta and Charmaine, two rival girls who love running and want to prove themselves to their hero, Olympian Wilma Rudolph. Booklist praises the The Quickest Kid for its inspiring message of “teamwork and unification,” and they write that, “Morrison’s bold, expressive watercolors capture the flavor of the era (1960s) with a contemporary tone that will make this story feel strikingly current.” (Read the full Booklist review here.)
Il Sung Na’s Opposite Zoo
Liz Zunon, Frank Morrison, and Il Sung Na Included on CCBC Choices 2017 List
March 28, 2017
The CCBC Choices list is an annual selection compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center on the best children’s books of the year. This year, three of Painted Words authors illustrators have been included on the list under various categories!
Picture Books for School Age Children:
- The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison
- Don’t Call Me Grandma, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Liz Zunon
Concept Books:
The full list of selected books is available here.
Echo Echo and The Opposite Zoo Receive Honorable Mentions on Huffington Post’s Best Picture Books of 2016
December 15, 2016
As 2016 comes to a close, it’s time for Best Books of the Year lists! Huffington Post recently published their list of the Best Picture Books of 2016, including two of our author/illustrators as honorable mentions. In the Best Concept Book Category, Il Sung Na‘s The Opposite Zoo, which illustrated the concept of opposites through the medium of a zoo at night, was included as an honorable mention. In the Best Poetry category was Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse, which retold Greek myths through a unique poetic form. Congratulations, Il Sung and Josée!
The Huffington Post’s full article can be read here. The Opposite Zoo can be purchased online here and Echo Echo can be purchased here.
NPR’s Best Books of 2016 Includes Il Sung Na’s The Opposite Zoo and Don’t Call Me Grandma, Illus. by Liz Zunon
December 7, 2016
The National Public Radio (NPR) put out a list of books chosen by their staff as being the best of 2016. Included in the children’s section is Don’t Call Me Grandma, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Liz Zunon, and The Opposite Zoo by Il Sung Na.
Don’t Call Me Grandma is the story of a young girl’s relationship with her prickly but fascinating grandma. NPR praised the fact that this story presents an unconventional and more fully realized version of a grandmother than most childrens’ literature. They describe Liz’s illustrations as “genius.”
The Opposite Zoo teaches children about opposites through the medium of a whimsical, brightly colored zoo after it closes for the night. They describe the picture book as “spacious” and inviting.
Congratulations, Il Sung and Liz! The full list of recommended books can be found on NPR’s site here.
Il Sung Na Awarded Honorable Mention in 3×3 Illustration Competition
June 15, 2016
Il Sung Na was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Picture Book category in the 3×3 International Illustration Annual Competition. His award came for his picture book, The Opposite Zoo, which teaches children about the concept of illustrations through illustrations of a zoo at night. Congratulations, Il Sung!
You can see the full list of winners here.
The New York Times Reviews Il Sung Na’s The Opposite Zoo
May 5, 2016
In an article about children’s picture books that explore new words for children, the New York Times gave high praise to Il Sung Na‘s new picture book, The Opposite Zoo, which explores the concept of opposites at a zoo closed for the night. The New York Times praised Il Sung for “bring[ing] fresh energy” to the familiar idea of opposites. They appreciate his humor and clever touches, and especially complimented his art, writing that he has “a coloring style that feels as if someone took a firecracker to a box of crayons.”
You can read the full review of The Opposite Zoo on the New York Times site here.
.Il Sung Na Interviewed by Mashable about The Opposite Zoo
March 3, 2016
Il Sung Na was interviewed by Mashable, a media/entertainment site, about The Opposite Zoo, his newest picture book, about a zoo filled with opposing creatures. Il Sung told Mashable that a book of opposites had been on his list of books he wanted to write about for a long time. Mashable praised The Opposite Zoo as, “A beautiful lesson in contrast and contradictions,” and shared some of Il Sung’s lovely illustrations. To read the whole article, check out this link.
Kirkus Reviews Praises Il Sung Na’s Opposite Zoo
February 2, 2016
Il Sung Na’s Opposite Zoo, coming out March 8th, has received advanced praise from Kirkus. Opposite Zoo uses the setting of a zoo at night to help explain the concept of opposites to young readers. Kirkus praises his humor and writes that, “Readers…will be struck by the simplified, free style he adopts in this book for young learners.” They call Opposite Zoo, “A beautiful treatment of a familiar subject that repays close looking again and again.”
Kirkus Reviews Praises Il Sung Na’s Opposite Zoo
Il Sung Na’s Opposite Zoo, coming out March 8th, has received advanced praise from Kirkus. Opposite Zoo uses the setting of a zoo at night to help explain the concept of opposites to young readers. Kirkus praises his humor and writes that, “Readers…will be struck by the simplified, free style he adopts in this book for young learners.” They call Opposite Zoo, “A beautiful treatment of a familiar subject that repays close looking again and again.”
You can pre-order Opposite Zoo here.
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, Illustrated by Frank Morrison
Seven of Painted Words’s Authors/Illustrators Books Included in Bank Street’s Best Children Books of the Year 2017
May 2, 2017
Every year, the Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College of Education compile a list of the best children’s books of the previous year. Based on criteria such as literary excellence, quality of illustration, diversity, and emotional impact, these books are recommended for parents, librarians, and children. This year, Bank Street has chosen seven of Painted Words’s books as some of the best books of 2016!
Under Five:
- Spare Dog Parts, written by Alison Hughes and illustrated by Ashley Spires
- Who Wants a Tortoise?, written by David Keane and illustrated by K.G. Campbell
Five to Nine:
- The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison
- Mouse Scouts: Make a Difference, by Sarah Dillard
- Don’t Call Me Grandma, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Liz Zunon
Nine to Twelve:
- Fluffy Strikes Back, by Ashley Spires
- Echo Echo: Reverso Poems about Greek Myths, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse
Bank Street’s full list of recommended books can be found here. Congratulations to our Painted Words artists and authors!
Liz Zunon, Frank Morrison, and Il Sung Na Included on CCBC Choices 2017 List
March 28, 2017
The CCBC Choices list is an annual selection compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center on the best children’s books of the year. This year, three of Painted Words authors illustrators have been included on the list under various categories!
Picture Books for School Age Children:
- The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison
- Don’t Call Me Grandma, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Liz Zunon
Concept Books:
The full list of selected books is available here.
CBC’s 2017 Notable Social Studies Books for Young People List Includes Frank Morrison, Gene Barretta, Gerald Kelley
January 27, 2017
Every year the Children’s Book Council (CBC) releases a list of children and YA books with social studies themes that they consider to be exceptional in storytelling, themes, diversity, and illustrations. They have recently released the preview for the 2017 list, and three of our authors and illustrators have made the list!
Kindergarten to Second Grade:
Third to Fifth Grade:
- Grover Cleveland, Again!, written by Ken Burns and illustrated by Gerald Kelley
- The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison
Congratulations, Gene, Gerald, and Frank! The full preview of recommended books for 2017 as well as more information about the selection process can be found here.
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville chosen for a Junior Library Guild Selection
October 5, 2016
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection for Spring 2016! This great honor is often a great predictor of future success for a children’s book. Congratulations, Frank and Pat!
Quickest Kid in Clarksville, illus. by Frank Morrison, nominated for North Carolina Children’s Book Award
August 30, 2016
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, a picture book written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, was nominated for North Carolina’s Children’s Book Award. Every year, the school children of North Carolina nominate their favorite picture and junior books. Members of the North Carolina Children’s Book Award committee choose about ten books from the nominees. This year, The Quickest Kid was one of those chosen books. During the upcoming school year, children will read the nominated books and vote for their favorite. We’ll find out who won in March!
To see all the nominated books, check out the Children’s Book Award’s site here. The Quickest Kid in Clarksville can be purchased online here.
Publishers Weekly Praises The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, illus. by Frank Morrison
February 9, 2016
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, comes out today! You can order it online here.
Publishers Weekly calls The Quickest Kid, “A story about teamwork and determination.” They praise Frank’s art, writing that, “Working in watercolor, Morrison…gives the girls abundant personality.” The Quickest Kid in Clarksville tells the story of two girls determined to impress their track hero, Wilma Rudolph, and prove who the fasted kid in Clarksville really is.
Check out Publishers Weekly’s full review here.
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, illus. by Frank Morrison, Makes Amazon’s Best Books of February List
February 2, 2016
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, was chosen by Amazon as one of their best books of February for ages six to eight. The Quickest Kid tells of rival girls in the fifties who love to run track and learn to work together. Congratulations, Pat and Frank!
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville comes out February 9th and can be pre-ordered here. The full list of best books for ages six to eight can be found here.
Booklist Praises The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, illus. by Frank Morrison
January 27, 2016
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, doesn’t come out until February 9th, but it’s already receiving positive reviews! The Quickest Kid in Clarksville tells the story of Alta and Charmaine, two rival girls who love running and want to prove themselves to their hero, Olympian Wilma Rudolph. Booklist praises the The Quickest Kid for its inspiring message of “teamwork and unification,” and they write that, “Morrison’s bold, expressive watercolors capture the flavor of the era (1960s) with a contemporary tone that will make this story feel strikingly current.” The review is in Booklist’s February 1st issue. You can read it online here, and The Quickest Kid in Clarksville can be pre-ordered here!
Booklist Praises The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, illus. by Frank Morrison
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, doesn’t come out until February 9th, but it’s already receiving positive reviews! and The Quickest Kid in Clarksville can be pre-ordered here!
Ashley Spires and Eric Barclay’s New Books Released Today
Two of our illustrators have new books out today! The first is Spare Dog Parts, written by Alison Hughes and illustrated by Ashley Spires, a charming story about what makes our pets unique. It can be purchased here. The second is How to Dress a Dragon, a cute instruction of how to get a dragon dressed, written by Thelma Lynne Godin and illustrated by Eric Barclay. It can be bought here. Congratulations to Ashley and Eric, and happy birthday to your new books!