London Ladd Interviewed About Frederick’s Journey on James Preller’s Blog

January 19, 2017

London Ladd recently participated in blogger James Preller’s “5 Questions” interview series, in which he interviews authors and illustrators on one of their recent books. In this case, Preller interviewed London Ladd on Frederick’s Journey, the biographical picture book written by Doreen Rappaport that London illustrated, which tells the life story of the famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass. James and London discussed London’s artistic process, diversity in children’s books, and London’s upcoming projects. London reveals details about his careful sketching process,d detailed research, and even the way that he works to understand a character by growing out his hair! Anyone who enjoys London’s work and wants to learn more about how he creates his beautiful paintings should make sure to check this detailed interview out.

The full interview can be found on Preller’s blog here. Frederick’s Journey can be ordered online here.

Frederick’s Journey, Illus. by London Ladd, Included on the Horn Book’s List of Recommended Picture Book Biographies

December 12, 2016

The Horn Book, a site that publishes information and recommendations about books for children and young adults, included Frederick’s Journey: The Life of Frederick Douglass, on a list of recommended picture book biographies. Frederick’s Journey, written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by London Ladd, is a biography of the life of famous American abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The Horn Book praises the book’s ability to synthesize Douglass’s complex life into the short form of a picture book, and writes that London’s illusrations, “alternate between moments of violence and times of reflection — all resulting in a portrait that is fiery yet dignified.”

To see the full review and the Horn Book’s other recommended biographies, check out their site here. You can order Frederick’s Journey online here.

London Ladd, illustrator of Frederick’s Journey, Interviewed by Good Reads With Ronna

February 25, 2016

Good Reads With Ronna, a blog dedicated to reviewing children’s books, interviewed illustrator London Ladd on his recent book, Frederick’s Journey, written by Doreen Rappaport. Good Reads described Frederick’s Journey as an “expertly crafted crafted picture book,” and asked London questions ranging from what medium he likes to work in to his research for this book to the importance of art in general. To read the interesting interview, check out Good Reads’s post about it here. You can order Frederick’s Journey online here.

Frederick’s Journey Named an ALA Notable Children’s Book of 2016!

January 13, 2016

Frederick’s Journey: The Life of Frederick Douglass, written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by London Ladd, has been named a 2016 Notable Children’s Book: Middle Reader by the American Library Association. The full list can be viewed here.

Congrats London on this terrific honor!

New York Public Library includes Frederick’s Journey and One Plastic Bag on List of 2015 Recommendations

December 17, 2015

Frederick’s Journey: The Life of Frederick Douglass, written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by London Ladd, and One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of Gambia, written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, both made the New York Public Library’s list of recommendations for 2015! The NYPL recommended one hundred children’s books from 2015, and Frederick’s Journey and One Plastic Bag both made the list for non-fiction children’s books. Congratulations!

Frederick’s Journey can be purchased here and One Plastic Bag can be purchased here. Check out all of the NYPL’s recommended books for the year here!

Frederick’s Journey, illus. by London Ladd, makes the Kids’ Indie Next List

November 5, 2015

Frederick’s Journey: The Life of Frederick Douglass, illustrated by London Ladd, made the Winter 2015-2016 Kids’ Indie Next List – “Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers.” Congratulations! Frederick’s Journey can be bought online here!

Starred Review from Kirkus for Frederick’s Journey

August 12, 2015

The latest installment in Disney-Hyperion’s critically-acclaimed Big Words series, Frederick’s Journey: The Life of Frederick Douglass, is already garnering attention for its spotlight on the historical figure, and London Ladd’s stunning illustrations. The book received advanced praise in a Kirkus starred review: “Ladd’s powerful and dramatic full-bleed art is richly textured and detailed…A fittingly inspirational tribute to a most praiseworthy man. ” The book comes out from Disney-Jump At the Sun on November 3rd, and is available for pre-order now.

Charlie Piechart Makes Amazon’s List of Best Books of the Month for Ages 6-8

September 3, 2015

Amazon named Marilyn Sadler’s and Eric Comstock’s Charlie Piechart a Best Book of the Month for Ages 6-8. The book is available now online and in bookstores near you!

Charlie Piechart Book Trailer Now Online!

August 24, 2015

Get ready for Pizza Night at Charlie Piechart’s house. Can you help Charlie and friends solve the case of the missing pizza slice?

Watch the trailer here, and start sniffing for clues!

Charlie Piechart, by Marilyn Sadler and Eric Comstock, Featured in the NY Times!

August 24, 2015

Eric Comstock’s and Marilyn Sadler’s Charlie Piechart was featured in the New York Times !  Check out their nice write-up below and pre-order your copy here!

Advanced Praise for Charlie Piechart, by Eric Comstock and Marilyn Sadler

July 9, 2015

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.

BCCB Reviews Constance Lombardo’s Mr. Puffball

December 3, 2015

The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (BCCB) wrote a great review of Constance Lombardo‘s middle school illustrated novel, Mr. Puffball: Stunt Cat to the Stars, which tells the tale of a young cat’s journey to become a famous actor. The BCCB praised the story’s humor, writing, “Lombardo positively revels in loading on the cinematic clichés and topping them with a generous sprinkle of cat-themed wordplay…and Mr. Puffball’s breathless, straightfaced delivery of one droll line after another adds to the fun.” Lombardo both wrote and illustrated the book, and the illustrations are praised too: “The numerous comical black and white line drawings continue the jokes, with plenty of speech bubbles…and amusing visual details adding another layer of fun.”

Mr. Puffball can be ordered here!

Watch the Mr. Puffball Book Trailer!

August 24, 2015

Watch El Gato, legendary actor, sit down with James Catnip of “Inside the Actor’s Cat Box” here.

Publishers Weekly Praises Constance Lombardo’s Mr. Puffball

July 6, 2015

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!

Barroux’s Where’s the Elephant Out Now

April 20, 2015

Barroux’s Where’s the Elephant was released by Egmont UK last week, just in time for Earth Day.  The Guardian featured the near-wordless picture book in an article titled, “Which books deal with climate change for younger children?” The article’s writer says that the book “powerfully demonstrates the devastating effects of deforestation as Elephant, Parrot and Snake find their simple game of hide and seek is no longer possible as the trees of the forest have been cut down to make way for houses, road and cars.”  Barroux’s beautiful illustrations paint an important message about climate change for young readers. Where’s the Elephant isn’t to be missed.

Il Sung Na’s Welcome Home, Bear and Betsy Snyder’s I Can Dance make Amazon’s Best Books of 2015

November 16, 2015

Il Sung Na’s Welcome Home, Bear and Betsy Snyder’s I Can Dance made it to Amazon’s list of Best Books of 2015! Welcome Home, Bear and I Can Dance were both included as one of the best books of the year for the baby to age 2 category. Congratulations to Il Sung Na and Betsy Snyder! You can buy Welcome Home, Bear here and I Can Dance here.

A Starred Review for Il Sung Na’s Welcome Home, Bear

April 16, 2015

Welcome Home, Bear by Il Sung Na won’t be available for purchase until July, but Kirkus is already singing its praises in a Starred Review.  They write, “The text is spare, usually only a sentence on each spread, but carefully and engagingly written. Listeners can’t help but sympathize with Bear in his frustration and rejoice when he finds the place that’s ‘just where he wanted to be.'” Look out for this sweet new story from the inimitable Na, in stores this summer.

Origami Playhouse Now Available from Chronicle Books!

April 16, 2015

Huy Voun Lee‘s activity kit, Origami Playhouse: Fold, Play, and Display, is on sale now! A do-it-yourself dollhouse for folding enthusiasts, Origami Playhouse is fun craft for families to work on together. The kit comes with beautiful papers and patterns to equip your own playhouse with furniture and accessories. Available for purchase here.

First Book Blog Chose Sunday Shopping, Illus. by Shadra Strickland, for Its Monthly Book List

November 16, 2015

The First Book Blog chose Sunday Shopping, written by Sally Derby and illustrated by Shadra Strickland, for one of its Five Favorite Books of October. The First Book Blog chose Sunday Shopping as the best pick of the month for ages eight to ten.  They write, “This sweet story about a Sunday tradition between a loving grandmother and her granddaughter is also a great opportunity for imaginative play!” Congratulations, Sally and Shadra!

You can see the full list here and buy your own copy of Sunday Shopping here.

Fantastic Review for Sunday Shopping from the BCCB

August 24, 2015

Sunday Shopping has received further praise from the Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books. Praising Shadra’s illustrations, the BCCB writes:

“Strickland’s mixed-media art effectively differentiates real from pretend: reality offers cozily domestic views in a softly edged circle…Pretend, on the other hand, stretches out across the pages in full-bleed with electric scenes of plenty, with a cornucopia of layered collage elements freely playing with scale in cheerfully surreal and energetic scenes. ”

Check out the review here.

See Shadra Strickland’s illustrations in the Sunday Shopping Book Trailer

August 7, 2015

Sunday Shopping is out now from Lee & Low Books! Of Shadra’s gorgeous illustrations, School Library Journal writes, “Strickland’s illustrations are a vibrant mix of watercolor, acrylic, and wax pencil, digitally interspersed with fanciful, oversize images of whimsy and delight.”  Kirkus says: “Both old-fashioned and fresh-feeling, this book is thoroughly worthy of a shopping trip.”

Sunday Shopping Featured in The Horn Book

April 9, 2015

Sunday Shopping, written by Sally Derby and illustrated by Shadra Strickland, received a terrific review in The Horn Book Magazine.

“Strickland’s bright, breezy acrylic, watercolor, wax pencil, and digital collage-style illustrations blend realistic portraiture with creative flights of fancy to evoke this weekly ritual, making manifest Evie and Grandma’s vivid storytelling in ways that will speak to young readers’ imaginations,” wrote The Horn Book.

Sunday Shopping Chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection

December 10, 2015

Sunday Shopping, written by Sally Derby and illustrated by Shadra Strickland, has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild selection. The book will be among their 2015 offerings.

Sunday Shopping comes out on May 15, 2015.

Tony Baroni Loves Macaroni by Marilyn Sadler and Lucie Crovatto is available now

February 11, 2015

Tony Baroni Loves Macaroni, written by Marilyn Sadler and illustrated by Lucie Crovatto, is available now! This charming book is an ode to picky eaters everywhere, but contains a subtle lesson about the importance of a balanced diet.

Find Tony Baroni Loves Macaroni on Amazon or Barnes & Noble today.