The All Over Albany blog interviewed Elizabeth Zunon in a holiday-themed post about giving (and receiving) gifts. Elizabeth revealed what she’d like to receive, what she’d like to give, and which charity she’d like to support – “Sweethearts for a Cause”, a charity dedicated to assisting orphanages in West Africa’s Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), which was started by Elizabeth herself alongside her mother and a family friend.
Elizabeth’s upcoming book, One Plastic Bag, will be out in February 2015.
The Curious City blog picked three Painted Words artists for its best children’s books of 2014 line-up. The three titles are Extraordinary Warren Saves the Day by Sarah Dillard, Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Frank Morrison, and What Ship is Not a Ship? by Josee Masse.
Sarah Dillard’s Extraordinary Warren Saves the Day was deemed the “best excuse to don a cape.”
Frank Morrison’s Little Melba and Her Big Trombone was dubbed “best girl tooting her own horn.”
Josee Masse’s What Ship is Not a Ship? was praised for its “best use of word play.”
Publishers Weekly gave a fine review to My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay, written by Cari Best and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Publishers Weekly called the book a “frank, encouraging story”, and described Brantley-Newton’s illustrations as “exud[ing] warmth and empathy as they build to a triumphant conclusion.”
Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, illustrated by Frank Morrison, appeared in Kirkus’ list of best books celebrating diversity 2014. Kirkus previously awarded Little Melba with a starred review, calling Morrison’s illustrations “perfect match for Melba’s story.”
The Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast blog featured Elizabeth Zunon, detailing her unique collage and multimedia illustrations. The feature was used to focus on Elizabeth Zunon’s artwork in the upcoming book One Plastic Bag, calling it “very textured and colorful, capturing well the transformation at the hands of Isatou.”
One Plastic Bag, written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, will be available February 2015.
The Quill & Quire gave a fantastic review to The Fabulous World of Mr. Fred, written by Lili Chartrand and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, calling it “an imaginative, multi-layered fable about overcoming obstacles and taking chances.”
Regarding the illustrations, the Quill & Quire said: “Gabrielle Grimard’s watercolour, gouache, and oil-paint illustrations more than make up for any awkwardness in translation. The art flows gracefully across the page. Warm and touching, it perfectly complements the story’s spirit.”
Buy The Fabulous World of Mr. Fred at Amazon or Barnes & Noble today.
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.
Two Painted Words artists were featured in Kirkus’ best children’s books of 2014 list – K.G. Campbell for The Mermaid and The Shoe and Frank Morrison for his illustration in Little Melba and her Big Trombone. 
Both books have received incredibly favorable reviews, including starred reviews from Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly, as well as the School Library Journal, amongst others.
Congratulations to Frank and K.G.!
My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay, written by Cari Best and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, has received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.
Aimed at readers aged 5-8, this charming book follows Zulay, a first grader who must learn to navigate around school using a white cane. Although she is encouraged by her three best friends – Chyng, Maya and Nancy – all Zulay wants is to be like every other kid: to fit in. My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay‘s inclusive nature ensures that readers of all backgrounds and abilities will feel welcomed and assured by the story and its characters.
About Brantley-Newton’s illustrations, Kirkus said: “Brantley-Newton’s bright colors and attention to facial expressions swiftly convey Zulay’s enthusiasm, attitude and apprehension, as well as the skeptical and encouraging looks she can’t see.”
On the back cover of the book, a raised braille alphabet will introduce the unfamiliar and provides a nice final touch to the experience.
Buy My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
The praise keeps coming for Little Melba and her Big Trombone, written by Katheryn Russell-Brown and illustrated by Frank Morrison. A review by the Smithsonian BookDragon blog commented on the artwork, saying that “Morrison also knows how to add soul-soothing rhythm to the page: take that cover with young Melba barely grown enough to hold that instrument, then compare it to the final double-page spread in which an adult Melba takes the same leaned-waaay-back, feel-the-stirring-sounds stance decades later and wows a sold-out audience of thousands.”
Further praise comes from School Library Journal, where Little Melba was featured in an article entitled “A Trio of Trailblazing Performers.” In the review, SLJ says of Frank Morrison’s gorgeous artwork: “Frank Morrison’s vibrant oil paintings gleam with deep jewel tones, bold lines, and kinetic motion. Gracefully elongated figures provide a fine counterpoint to this performer and her often stretched-to-the-max slide, and a kaleidoscope of shifting perspectives keep Melba—and her music—center stage.”