March On! illus. by London Ladd on SLJ’s list of Great Books for Celebrating Martin Luther King Day

January 16, 2018

March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World by Christine King Farris and illustrated by London Ladd was included on School Library Journal’s list of “Great Books for Celebrating Martin Luther King Day!” March On! recounts the events of the March on Washington from the perspective of Martin Luther King Jr.’s sister, and includes Ladd’s “painterly illustrations” that “convey the participants’ soaring emotions.”

Check out the full list here.

Vanessa Brantley Newton Featured in CBC Diversity Newsletter

24 Jan 2019

Vanessa Brantley Newton was featured front and center on the first CBC (Children’s Book Council) Diversity newsletter of the year, with a brilliant spotlight interview. In it, she discussed the inspiration behind her recent picture book Grandma’s Purse, as well as her process and what she feels readers should take away from the story. Vanessa highlights the “the joy and preciousness of the grandparent and grandchild relationship” and insists that “grandparents are not just old people,” encouraging young people to cherish their time with their elders as she did with her own grandmother.

You can get your copy of the charming Grandma’s Purse here.

Vanessa Brantley Newton’s Grandma’s Purse On Colorado Parent’s List of Books Celebrating Grandparents

06 Sep 2018

Vanessa Brantley Newton‘s newest picture book, Grandma’s Purse, has made it onto Colorado Parent’s “22 Books that Celebrate Grandparents” list. The books on this list were all recommended by local librarians and book experts, and were compiled just in time for National Grandparents Day on September 9th.  The list’s preface encourages us to “honor the wisdom, differences, and connections to the older generation,” and Grandma’s Purse definitely does just that, through Grandma Mimi’s special connection with her granddaughter. “Grandma Mimi’s purse is an endless source of fascination for a young girl in this colorful ode to the comforting magic of grandmas,” says Denver Public Library children’s librarian Amy Forrester.

You can view the full list of books here and grab your copy of Grandma’s Purse here.

Vanessa Brantley Newton Featured on All the Wonders Podcast

10 Jan 2018
Check out episode #418 of ‘All the Wonders’ podcast, where Vanessa Brantley Newton talks about connecting with her readers, kids giving their parents a do-over, and the universal quest to give others what you never got.

Vanessa B. Newton’s Grandma’s Purse is out today!

09 Jan 2018

Happy Book Birthday to Vanessa B. Newton’s new picture book, Grandma’s Purse! See what the critics are saying…

“Brantley-Newton creates a whimsical interplay of patterns, rich color, and her trademark lively expressions–a beautiful visual mélange. The magic of grandparents is undeniable, and this book is an excellent treat for grandkids to share with their own grandmas and grandpas, or the other way around.”–Kirkus

“Brantley-Newton’s vividly colorful images paint the happiness the little girl feels in her grandmother’s presence. A strong intergenerational choice for any picture book collection.”–SLJ

“An exuberant melange of brightly colored, cheerful images, perfectly matched to the cheerful tone of the intergenerational story.”–Booklist

Order your copy here!

The Adventures of Wrong Man and Power Girl!, Illus. by Frank Morrison, Receives Praise from Kirkus

December 5, 2017

Sometimes dads are all wrong and it’s up to kids to save the day! That’s certainly the case in The Adventures of Wrong Man and Power Girl!, written by C. Alexander London and illustrated by Frank Morrison. A picture book/comic book mash up, this humorous story follows the imagined superhero adventures of a little girl and her dad.

Kirkus wrote a review of Wrong Man and Power Girl. They call it “sweet and amusing” and praise the imaginative nature of the story. They praise the diverse characters and the father-daughter relationship between characters of color. Of Frank’s illustrations, they write, “Morrison’s colorful artwork nicely mimics the style and feel of a vintage comic book, panels and layering lending the book a dynamic feel.” All in all, they conclude that Wrong Man and Power Girl is, “A lighthearted adventure story that charms and entertains.”

Kirkus’s full review is available here. The Adventures of Wrong Man and Power Girl! is coming out in March 2018. Pre-order it here!

Midnight Teacher illust. by London Ladd on NYPL Best Books for Kids 2018 List

November 21, 2018

Each year, the New York Public Library compiles a list of “outstanding children’s titles,” and this year, Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School illustrated by London Ladd is featured on that list! The historical fiction picture book received a starred review from Kirkus earlier this year, which admired Ladd’s “detailed, realistic illustrations” and described the book as “an excellent homage to an African-American woman who taught ahead of her time.”

You can grab your copy of Midnight Teacher here and view the full NYPL Best Books for Kids 2018 list here.

Two Books From Painted Words Artists Win 2018 Parents’ Choice Awards

June 11, 2018

Congratulations to Jaime Kim and London Ladd, who illustrated books that have received 2018 Parents’ Choice Awards! Kim’s La La La: A Story of Hope, written by Kate DiCamillo, has won a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, and Ladd’s Midnight Teacher: Lily Ann Granderson and Her Secret School received a Parents’ Choice Silver Award. You can view the complete winners list here and don’t forget to grab a copy of La La La here and Midnight Teacher here.

Midnight Teacher, Illust. by London Ladd Released Today

February 6, 2018

Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School written by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by London Ladd is available for purchase today! The nonfiction picture book, which received a Kirkus Starred Review ahead of its release, relates the history of the courageous enslaved woman who held secret classes to educate fellow enslaved people. Teaching hundreds of enslaved individuals to read and write, Granderson’s story is inspirational, and beautifully portrayed through Halfmann’s prose, coupled with Ladd’s realistic illustrations.

Purchase your copy here today!

Great Publishers Weekly Review for Midnight Teacher, Illus. by London Ladd

December 20, 2017

Publishers Weekly shared a review of upcoming biographical picture book Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School. Written by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by London Ladd, Midnight Teacher recounts the story of a woman born into slavery whose determination and bravery led to the literacy of countless slaves. Publishers Weekly praises London Ladd’s “rich, naturalistic” images and remarks on the “painful but uplifting” nature of the inspirational narrative.

Publishers Weekly’s full review is available here. Midnight Teacher is coming out February 6, 2018 and can be pre-ordered here.

Kirkus Starred Review for Midnight Teacher, Illus. by London Ladd

December 4, 2017

Coming out in February 2018, Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School is the true story of an amazing woman. Written by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by London Ladd, Midnight Teacher tells the story of Lilly Ann Granderson, a woman living in slavery who ran a secret school to teach her fellow slaves how to read, despite the high potential for punishment.

Kirkus reviewed Midnight Teacher and gave it a starred review. They praised the importance of the story, calling it a “remarkable, true story.” They write of London’s illustrations, “[The] picture book’s detailed, realistic illustrations were created using acrylic paint and colored pencil. Ladd’s artwork shows Lilly Ann’s determination to improve lives through literacy and will also familiarize readers with the book’s historical settings.” In all, they conclude that Midnight Teacher is, “An excellent homage to an African-American woman who taught ahead of her time.”

Kirkus’s full starred review is available here. Midnight Teacher is coming out February 6th. Pre-order it here!

Kirkus Praises Gene Barretta’s The Bat Can Bat

December 4, 2017

Gene Barretta‘s newest picture book is a continuation of his series on word play. Having previously examined homographs and homophones, he has now moved on to homonyms with The Bat Can Bat: A Book of True Homonyms. A humorous examination of words that are spelled the same but have different meanings, The Bat Can Bat was recently reviewed by Kirkus.

Kirkus praises the hilarious illustrations and the clever explanation of this difficult concept. They write, “Barretta is a master of wordplay…and his hugely expressive, brightly hued watercolor cartoons certainly depict both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, all with endless humor and charm.” They also praise the educational quality of the book which teaches without lecturing, writing, “Youngsters will laugh out loud while they are unconsciously, painlessly learning.”

Kirkus’s full review is available here. The Bat Can Bat is coming out this February and can be pre-ordered online here.

High Praise for Newly Released Martha and the Slave Catchers, Illus. by Elizabeth Zunon

November 27, 2017

Martha and the Slave Catchers, written by Harriet Hyman Alonso and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, is now available for purchase! This high-suspense adventure set shortly after the Fugitive Slave Act follows a young girl, Martha, who sets out to rescue her younger brother through the Underground Railroad. Martha has already been greeted with high praise from reviewers.

“Alonso pens an informative, easy-to-follow adventure story that nevertheless tackles the persistent issues arising from antebellum America, including race and skin color, situational ethics and their devastating consequences, and allyship and using privilege for justice. A tense adventure about interracial adoption that gets to the heart of what’s most important: love.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Alonso and Zunon have both done a masterful job bringing America’s pre-Civil War years to the page. Readers will sit in suspense as Martha risks her life in the Underground Railroad network. . . Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Seeds of America” series will want to pick this up.” – School Library Journal

“The fast-paced plot, filled with twists and surprises, will engage readers and spark discussion of these important issues. Alonso breathes life into the sights, sounds, and emotions of travel on the Underground Railroad.” – Elisa Carbone, author of Stealing Freedom

Martha and the Slave Catchers is available for purchase here.

Publishers Weekly Starred Review for March Forward, Girl, Illus. by Frank Morrison

November 14, 2017

Publishers Weekly shared a starred review of upcoming memoir March Forward, Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine. Written by Melba Pattillo Beals and illustrated by Frank Morrison, March Forward is Beals’s powerful memoir of her childhood and her experiences being one of the Little Rock Nine who integrated Arkansas schools in the Civil Rights Era. Publishers Weekly praised the “visceral and vital” writing and unflinching depiction of traumatic, racial violence that Beals witnessed and experienced. They call it, “A no-holds-barred reflection of the physical and psychological toll that prejudice, discrimination, and hate take on a young life.”

Publishers Weekly’s full starred review is available here. March Forward, Girl is coming out January 2018 and can be pre-ordered here.

Book or Bell?, Illus. by Ashley Spires, Released Today!

October 17, 2017

It’s here at last! Today is the release day for Book or Bell?, the new picture book written by Chris Barton and illustrated by Ashley Spires. Henry is hooked on a brand new book, but when the school bell rings, he has to put it down for the day…or does he? When one boy chooses a book over the school bell, hilarious chaos results.

Book or Bell? is now available for purchase online here.

Let the Children March Illust. By Frank Morrison Receives Positive Review From New York Times

February 14, 2018

Let the Children March, written by Monica Clark-Robinson and illustrated by Frank Morrison, is included in a recent New York Times piece titled “Children’s Books About Black History, Heavy on Biographies.” The piece features a list of children’s books that are biographical in nature and focus on prominent African-American figures, with a brief review of each book. The author of the piece states that in Let the Children March “Frank Morrison’s illustrations are loose and modern in spirit, enlivening the history lesson.”

You can view the full piece here and purchase a copy of the book here.

Two Strong New Reviews for Let the Children March, Illus. by Frank Morrison

November 1, 2017

Coming out January 2018, Let the Children March is already bringing in positive reviews. Written by Monica Clark-Robinson and illustrated by Frank Morrison, this inspiring picture book tells the story of the Children’s Crusades. In 1960s Birmingham, hundreds of children and adolescents marched in protest of segregation. Many were harassed, water hosed, and even arrested. The Horn Book Magazine and the School Library Journal (SLJ) both positively reviewed Let the Children March, and the SLJ awarded it a starred review!

The Horn Book Magazine praised “the strong, poetic text” and the unflinching depiction of the brutality the young protesters faced. They also praised Frank’s illustrations, writing that Frank’s “remarkable oil paintings…[are] a vibrant representation of the determination and courage of the civil rights movement.” The Horn Book Magazine’s full review is available in their November/December issue.

The School Library Journal wrote a starred review of Let the Children March. The SLJ appreciated the text’s ability to provoke important conversations in the modern day about racism and civil rights. They also had nothing but good to say about Frank’s art, writing, “The experiences of segregation are sensitively depicted by Morrison…The defiance, determination, and passion comes through clearly on the faces of the figures.” In conclusion, they wrote that Let the Children March is, “A highly readable historical account which deserves a place on picture book and nonfiction shelves alike.” The full review from the SLJ is available in their November issue.

Let the Children March can be pre-ordered online here. It’s coming out January 2018.

Let the Children March, Illus. by Frank Morrison, Receives a Starred Review from Kirkus

October 16, 2017

Today is a good day for us here at Painted Words! Two new picture books illustrated by our artists have been reviewed with starred reviews from Kirkus. The second is Let the Children March, written by Monica Clark-Robinson and illustrated by Frank Morrison. This powerful picture book tells the true story of the Children’s March for civil rights in 1960s Birmingham.

Kirkus praised the narrative’s factual yet emotional description of the harrowing true events and the use of free verse. They strongly praise Frank’s illustrations, writing, “Morrison’s powerful use of perspective makes his beautiful oil paintings even more dynamic and conveys the intensity of the situations depicted, including the children’s being arrested, hosed, and jailed. The child crusaders, regardless of how badly they’re treated, never lose their dignity, which the art conveys flawlessly.” In all, they conclude Let the Children March is, “A powerful retrospective glimpse at a key event.”

Kirkus’s starred review can be read online here. Let the Children March will come out January 2nd, 2018. Pre-order it here.