Lend A Hand, illustrated by London Ladd, was awarded the 2015 Social Justice Literacy Award by the International Reading Association (IRA). The Social Justice Literacy Award was created in 2013 to recognize 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.” Congratulations to London on this terrific honor!

Lend a Hand, illustrated by London Ladd, and The Hula Hoopin’ Queen, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton, were selected for inclusion on the Delaware Diamonds 2015-2016 Titles 3-5 List.  The winners were voted on by students in Delaware. More information regarding the award program can be found on their website.  Congratulations London and Vanessa!

The Association for Library Service to Children, a division of ALA, has launched a new public-awareness campaign called “Babies Need Words Every Day: Talk, Read, Sing, Play.” Eight gorgeous posters featuring Il Sung Na‘s artwork are now available to download for FREE on the ALSC website. Each poster includes a simple, fun activity to help mothers communicate with their little ones.

The ALSC states that the campaign is “designed to help parents and caregivers understand the importance of enriching communication with their babie…The campaign is kicking off with free and customizable resources that offer caregivers instant, fun ways to boost their children’s language base and build all-important pathways for learning.”

Visit the ALSC site for more information and the FREE posters!

Charlie Piechart and the Case of the Missing Pizza Slice won’t be released until September 1st, but it received its first review this month from Kirkus. Kirkus only had praise for Comstock’s and Sadler’s ingenious math detective tale: “The authors find sneaky ways to seamlessly add more and more fractions to the tale while at the same time upping the humor…Kids will have fun following Charlie as he solves the mystery and reinforce their fraction skills along the way.” Read the full review here.

Can’t wait to get your hands on a copy? Pre-order here and ensure you receive Charlie PieChart the day it comes out.

The verdict is in: Mr. Puffball is a star! A Publishers Weekly review called  Mr. Puffball a “quirky, humorous debut.” Featuring Constance’s hilarious black-and-white illustrations, the book chronicles one ambitious cat’s journey from New Jersey to Hollywood and his humorous attempts to break into showbiz. Publishers Weekly wrote, “Emotions run high and dramatic moments are many, but Mr. Puffball’s positive attitude and growing understanding that good friends are what matter most light up the pages.”

The book doesn’t release until September, but you can pre-order a copy now!

Vanessa Brantley Newton’s cover art for Hello magazine has received the “Best Cover Award” for 2014. Congrats Vanessa on this amazing honor!

Elise Gravel has been awarded the Science in Society 2014 Children’s Book Award for her book, The Fly. The awards are granted by Canada’s National Association of Science Writers. The Disgusting Critters series teaches kids about some of the world’s nastiest creatures, serving up lots of gross scientific facts along with a big helping of humor. Congrats Elise!

I Got the Rhythm, illustrated by Frank Morrison and written by Connie Schofield-Morrison, has been included on the 2015 list “Books All Young Georgians Should Read” by the Georgia Center for the Book. The list includes works by authors and illustrators living in Georgia. Books were nominated throughout the year by the writers, educators, and librarians who comprise the Georgia Center for the Book Advisory Council.

“For the Georgia Center for the Book, the ‘Books All Georgians Should Read’ and the ‘Books All Young Georgians Should Read’ lists are a wonderful way to honor the extraordinary talent we have right here in Georgia. They give us the opportunity to inform readers across our state about the diverse body of work  being produced that celebrates Georgia’s literary heritage so well,” said Joe Davich, Executive Director of the Georgia Center for the Book Advisory Council, in a press release.

Congrats to Frank and Connie, residents of Atlanta, GA, on this special honor!

There will be a public awards ceremony held on Thursday, August 13 at the Decatur Library in Decatur, Georgia. More details can be found on the Georgia Center for the Book website.

Shadra Strickland has two pieces of artwork published in Rhythm and Resistance: Teaching Poetry Through Social Justice. The book, published by Rethinking Schools, offers inspiration and practical advice for educators on how to teach poetry as an implement to build communities and fight injustice. The book can be purchased online or through mail order.