Poems in the Attic, written by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, was reviewed in the November/December issue of the Yellow Brick Road newsletter. In the book, a girl finds poems her mother wrote as a child, and the book was praised for speaking “deeply to individual and intergenerational experiences.”

My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay, written by Cari Best and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton, was reviewed in The New York Times’ Sunday Book Review. The review praised Vanessa Brantley-Newton’s “wonderfully spirited” illustrations, and say My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay is “refreshing in its casual approach to racial diversity.” Read the full review here.

Last year Barroux‘s widely-acclaimed graphic novel Line of Fire was adapted into a sell-out theater show in France, which is now touring in the UK.  The “musical-drawing ‘spectacle'” features Barroux painting live on stage with music performed by electric guitarist Julien Jubert.  Like the book, the musical explores the experiences of a WWI soldier, whose diary Barroux happened upon one day in the streets of Paris. View a clip from the show below and read more about Line of Fire here.

Lend a Hand, featuring London Ladd’s illustrations, was reviewed by Washington Parent Magazine in their “Mixed Media” newsletter. From the review: “The importance of unity and collective responsibility are vividly portrayed in these 14 free-verse poems and beautiful artwork…With its focus on young people engaged in small acts of kindness, this book makes for a perfect family read-aloud.” Read more here.

TeachingBooks.net has produced a special “Meet-the-Author” audio clip from Frank Morrison.  In the segment, Frank introduces Little Melba and Her Big Trombone and shares some background information on how he became the illustrator for the book. This is a wonderful resource for teachers and students studying Little Melba and Her Big Trombone Click here to listen!

Extraordinary Warren: A Super Chicken is a finalist in the category of Easy Readers & Early Chapter Books for the CYBILS Awards, or Children’s & Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards. The CYBILS honor authors and illustrators whose books “combine the highest literary merit and popular appeal.”  Good luck to our favorite Super Chicken, Warren!

Learn more about the awards & Sarah’s fellow finalists here.

The New York Public Library’s end-of-year list, 100 Titles for Reading & Sharing, includes The Mermaid and the Shoe by K.G. Campbell, and Frank Morrison‘s illustrated reader Ballerina Dreams.  Also selected was The Most Magnificent Thing, a picture book by Painted Words’ newest author-illustrator, Ashley Spires.  Congrats K.G., Frank, and Ashley on this great honor!

More praise for Little Melba and Her Big Trombone came from The Horn Book this week, with a fantastic review that details precisely why this gorgeous book contains an important story.

Little Melba appears as one of The Horn Book’s ‘recommended books’, praising illustrator Frank Morrison‘s stunning artwork: “Morrison’s oil paintings, in his trademark elongated, angular style, perfectly convey the jazz scene and, of course, Melba’s amazing horn.”

The Horn Book joins a list of other publications in its praise of the book. Little Melba and Her Big Trombone received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and School Library Journal.