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.

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, illustrated by Frank Morrison and written by Katheryn Russell-Brown, has been chosen as part of the Amelia Bloomer Project. The Amelia Bloomer Project creates a yearly list of the best feminist books for ages 0-18, chosen by the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association.

This inspiring book details the life of ‘little’ Melba Liston, a jazz trombonist who overcomes great adversity to become a global star.

The Children’s Book Council and National Council for the Social Studies (CBC/NCSS) publishes a list of Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People every year, and Under the Freedom Tree received the honor of being included on this list.

The CBC/NCSS selects books that “emphasize human relations, represent a diversity of groups and are sensitive to a broad range of cultural experiences, present an original theme or a fresh slant on a traditional topic, are easily readable and of high literary quality, and have a pleasing format and, when appropriate, illustrations that enrich the text.”

Under the Freedom Tree was illustrated by London Ladd and written by Susan VanHecke.

View the complete list and more here.

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, illustrated by Frank Morrison and written by Katheryn Russell-Brown, received the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children.

Established in 1989 for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children, the Orbis Pictus Award recognizes Little Melba as a recommended book for 2015.

The complete list of winners and more information here.

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, illustrated by Frank Morrison and written by Katheryn Russell-Brown, was chosen by the Anti-Defamation League as the Book of the Month for February.

The Anti-Defamation League chooses a book every month that teaches about bias and prejudice, promotes respect for diversity, and encourages social action.

More information here.

What’s in My Truck, written and illustrated by Linda Bleck, has been featured by Kirkus Reviews.

“Bleck’s cartoons, in carnival-bright colors, are simple enough to allow for recognition by the youngest readers and offer enough detail to draw in older preschoolers,” writes Kirkus.

Read the rest of the review here.