The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) released its CCBC Choices list, which included Lend a Hand (by John Frank, illus. London Ladd), Little Melba and her Big Trombone (by Katheryn Russell-Brown, illus. Frank Morrison), Flora and the Penguin (by Molly Idle), The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen (by Thelma Lynne Godin, illus Vanessa Brantley Newton), and The Most Magnificent Thing (by Ashley Spires).

CCBC Choices is an annual list of children’s books that are considered the “best-of-the-year” for various categories including “Understanding Oneself and Others” and “Historical People, Places and Events.”

The complete list of books can be found here.

In a recent review of Poems in the Attic, the School Library Journal praised the collection of poems illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon as “sweet and accessible but never simplistic.”

“Rendered in acrylic, oil, and collage, Zunon’s warm, vibrant illustrations complement the text perfectly,” wrote the School Library Journal.

The Bank Street College of Education releases an annual list of the best children’s books, and this year we are proud to announce the inclusion of several of our illustrators’ and authors’ books. Included on the list are The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires, Flora and the Penguin by Molly Idle, I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison and illustrated by Frank Morrison, and Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, illustrated by Frank Morrison.

According to Bank Street’s website, “In choosing books for the annual list, reviewers consider literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotype.”

Congratulations Frank, Connie, Molly, and Ashley on this fantastic honor!

To view the complete list, click here.

Alice From Dallas by Marilyn Sadler, illustrated by Ard Hoyt, has been selected as a Finalist in the Western Writers of America 2015 Spur Awards in the Best Western Storyteller – Illustrated Children’s book category.  Alice from Dallas is the best cowgirl at school, until new student, Lexis from Texas, shows up and gives Alice a run for her money. What School Library Journal calls “a rollicking fun read-aloud” would be at home on any cowgirl’s bookshelf.

See the rest of the finalists and winners here.

Politics & Prose Bookstore named four books in its list “Young Readers and Black History Month,” each honoring the vibrancy of African-American history. Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, written by Katheryn Russell-Brown and illustrated by Frank Morrison, was included on this list.

“Brimming with ebullience and the joy of making music, Little Melba and Her Big Trombone is a fitting tribute to a trailblazing musician and a great unsung hero of jazz,” wrote Politics & Prose.

For the full list of books and more information click here.

School Library Journal’s Elizabeth Bird compiled a fantastic list of books for her blog, Fuse 8 Production, to celebrate Black History Month. The “African-American Experience Children’s Literary Reference Guide (2010-2015)” consists of numerous stories from the past 5 years that portray the African-American experience, both historical and contemporary, by some of the most talented authors and illustrators working today. We were delighted to find some Painted Words artists mentioned in the list, including works by Elizabeth Zunon, Frank Morrison, and Vanessa Brantley Newton. See which of our illustrators’ books were mentioned below, and a full list on the Fuse 8 blog here.

The San Francisco Book Review published a review of Little Melba and Her Big Trombone (written by Katheryn Russell-Brown and illustrated by Frank Morrison), and rated the book with 4/5 stars.

“Little Melba and Her Big Trombone will delight every child who carries a rhythm or song in their heart.  The words and illustrations of this picture book biography of musician and song-writer Melba Doretta Liston (1926-1999) practically blast off the page.”

Read the rest of the review here.

The Spider and Head Lice by Elise Gravel are available now. 

The much-anticipated latest books in Elise Gravel’s Disgusting Critters series are finally for sale!

They join other titles The Worm, The Rat, The Slug and The Fly in a fun, informative series all about those nasty little creatures many refer to as disgusting.