A Child’s Book of Prayers and Blessings, Illus. by Shadra Strickland, Released Today

October 10, 2017

A Child’s Book of Prayers and Blessings: From Faiths and Cultures Around the World, written by Deloris Jordan and illustrated by Shadra Strickland, is now available for purchase!

This beautifully illustrated picture book is filled with multicultural prayers and blessings. Featuring traditional blessings and prayers from a variety of religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism, this inclusive book encourages peace in children.

A Child’s Book of Prayers and Blessings is available for purchase here.

10 Books Illustrated by PW Artists On Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year List

June 4, 2018

Congratulations to the following Painted Words artists/authors whose books were included in Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year 2018 List:

Frank Morrison – One Last Word, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground
Ashley Spires – The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do, Mae and June and the Wonder Wheel
Vanessa Brantley-Newton – The Youngest Marcher
Fabricio VandenBroeck – Thirsty, Thirsty Elephants
Gabrielle Grimard – Stolen Words
Elise Gravel – Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere
Mircea Catusanu – Noah Webster’s Fighting Words
Elizabeth Zunon – One Last Word, The Legendary Miss Lena Horne

One Last Word: Wisdom From the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes with illustrations from 15 artists including Frank Morrison and Elizabeth Zunon was the recipient of the Claudia Lewis Award for the best poetry book of the year for young readers, while The Youngest Marcher illustrated by Vanessa B. Newton, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground illustrated by Frank Morrison, and The Legendary Miss Lena Horne illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, were each recognized for Outstanding Merit. You can view the full list of books here.

Three Books From Our Artists/Authors Featured on the Children’s Choices 2018 Reading List

May 11, 2018

Congratulations to Gerald Kelley, Josée Masse, and Frank Morrison, who each illustrated a book that appears on the Children’s Choices 2018 Reading List. This list is compiled based off of votes by 12,500 school children from all around the country, with the books being chosen from more than 800 titles. The list is designed for use by “anyone who wish to encourage young people to read for pleasure,” and is cosponsored by the International Literary Association and the Children’s Book Council. Kelley’s Please Please the Bees, Masse’s Thunder Underground and Morrison’s Clayton Byrd Goes Underground all appear on the list, with Thunder Underground being a finalist for the Children’s Choice Book Awards.

Find the complete Children’s Choices 2018 Reading List here.

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground illus. by Frank Morrison wins NAACP Image Award!

January 16, 2017

Congratulations to Frank Morrison, who illustrated the 2018 NAACP Image Award winning book Clayton Byrd Goes Underground! The award was given for “Outstanding Literary Work” in the Youth/Teens category.

You can find a complete list of NAACP Image Award winners here.

Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best Books 2017 Includes Seven Books from Our Artists

November 29, 2017

The end of the year is approaching at last. That means it’s time for best books of the year lists! The latest one is from the Chicago Public Library, and their list of recommendations includes seven books from our Painted Words authors and illustrators!

Best Picture Books 2017:

• Lucía the Luchadora, written by Cynthia Leonor Garza and illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez

Best Fiction for Younger Readers 2017:

• Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere by Elise Gravel

Best Informational Books for Younger Readers 2017:

• The Legendary Miss Lena Horne, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Eizabeth Zunon
• Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush’s Incredible Journey, written by Doug Kuntz and Amy Shrodes and illustrated by Sue Cornelison
• The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist, written by Cynthia Levinson and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton

Best Fiction for Older Readers 2017:

• Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, written by Rita Williams-Garcia and illustrated by Frank Morrison

Best Informational Books for Older Readers 2017:

• One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance, written by Nikki Grimes and with illustrations contributed by Shadra Strickland, Frank Morrison, and Liz Zunon

Congratulations to all our talented authors and artists! The CPL’s full list of recommended books from 2017 is available here.

Vanessa Brantley Newton and Frank Morrison Nominated for NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Literary Works

November 21, 2017

The 49th NAACP Image Awards are coming soon. The NAACP Image Award is an awards ceremony to honor the work of artists of color in genres spanning cinema, music, and literature, held each year on MLK’s birthday. This year, two books illustrated by Painted Words’s artists have been nominated!

In the “Outstanding Literary Work – Children” category is The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, A Young Civil Rights Activist, written by Cynthia Levinson and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton. In the “Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens” is Clayton Byrd Goes Underground written by Rita Williams-Garcia and illustrated by Frank Morrison. Congratulations!

The full list of nominees for the NAACP Image Award is available here. The Youngest Marcher can be purchased here and Clayton Byrd Goes Underground is available for purchase here.

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, by Rita Williams-Garcia and Illus. by Frank Morrison, Nominated for National Book Award

October 6, 2017

Every year since 1950, a select group of books wins the National Book Award. This prestigious award is given to the best books of the year in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and children’s literature categories. This year’s nominees for the awards have been announced, with five potential winners in each category.

In the children’s literature category, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground was one of the nominees. Clayton Byrd was written by Rita Williams-Garcia and the cover was illustrated by Frank Morrison. This bittersweet book for young readers tells the story of a boy’s attempts to cope with the loss of his grandfather through music. Congratulations to Rita and Frank for their nomination!

The full list of nominees for the National Book Award can be found here. Clayton Byrd Goes Underground is available for purchase here.

Kirkus Starred Review for A Night Out with Mama by Quvenzhané Wallis and Illus. by Vanessa B Newton

October 4, 2017

Released yesterday, A Night Out with Mama is the new picture book from Academy Award nominated actress Quvenzhané Wallis and illustrator Vanessa Brantley Newton. This stylish story tells of the night of the Academy Awards themselves and Wallis’s excitement over dressing up beautifully and going out with her mother.

Kirkus recently reviewed this charming new book and gave it a starred review. Kirkus praises the exciting and unique true story. As they observe, few actresses of color, let alone ones under ten, have the chance to experience and tell a story like this! Kirkus also praises Vanessa’s illustrations, writing, “Expressively illustrated with Brantley-Newton’s characteristically upbeat illustrations, the book exudes positivity.”

Kirkus’s full starred review is available here. A Night Out with Mama is now available for purchase and can be ordered online here.

Praise for Guy Stuff, Illus. by Micah Player

August 9, 2017

You might not expect American Girl to publish a book for boys going through puberty, but that’s exactly what they’ve done with Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys. Written by pediatrician Cara Natterson and illustrated by Micah Player, Guy Stuff is a fact-filled non-fiction to help guide boys through adolescence and puberty. Guy Stuff was released as of yesterday, and already praise is pouring in. Both Bustle and the Chicago Tribune have written reviews praising Guy Stuff.

Bustle praises Guy Stuff for its gender inclusivity. As Cara Natterson points out, multiple great books have been published (many by American Girl!) to help guide young women through puberty, but far fewer exist for boys. Not only that, but Guy Stuff makes an effort to encourage young men to understand and express their emotions in a healthy way. Bustle’s full review is available here.

The Chicago Tribune also appreciates the emphasis on healthy emotional development in boys. They compliment the conversational, casual tone of the prose. They also praise Micah’s illustrations, which they call “fabulous” and “irreverent.” The Tribune’s full review can be found here.

Guy Stuff was published August 8th and can now be purchased here.

Two Picture Books Illus. by Nomar Perez Ranked as Amazon Best Sellers in Children’s Christian Learning Concepts Fiction

December 15, 2017

All Day Long, God Loves Me and Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me, both written by Mikal Keefer and illustrated by Nomar Perez have made it to Amazon’s Best Sellers page in the category of Children’s Christian Learning Concepts Fiction! All Day Long is the number one bestseller in the genre and Everywhere I Go is number two. These adorable picture books depict animal characters learning about the presence of God in the daily lives.

Amazon’s Best Sellers page for Children’s Christian Learning Concepts can be found here. All Day Long, God Loves Me is available here and Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me is available here.

Publishers Weekly Praises Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me, Illus. by Nomar Perez

August 8, 2017

Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me, a religious board book for children, was only released yesterday, but it’s already receiving praise! Written by Mikal Keefer and illustrated by Nomar Perez, the picture book follows the adventures of a blue whale as he learns about God’s love. Publishers Weekly wrote a review of the book and had nothing but praise! A stand out feature was Nomar’s cute and ridiculous illustrations of the whale protagonist. PW writes, “Perez’s gently textured, Golden Books–retro images bring a welcome dose of absurdity to the book’s comforting message.”

Publishers Weekly’s review is available here. Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me is available for purchase here.

Two New Board Books Illustrated by Nomar Perez Available Today

August 7, 2017

Not one but two new children’s books illustrated by Nomar Perez are out today! All Day Long, God Loves Me, written by Mikal Keefer, is the story of a cute little bird as he goes about his day feeling God’s love. Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me, also written by Mikal Keefer, centers on a whale learning about God. Part of the Best of Li’l Buddies series, these two sweet board books for preschoolers are perfect for the Christian family.

All Day Long, God Loves Me can be purchased online here. Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me is available here.

Two Picture Books Illus. by Nomar Perez Ranked as Amazon Best Sellers in Children’s Christian Learning Concepts Fiction

December 15, 2017

All Day Long, God Loves Me and Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me, both written by Mikal Keefer and illustrated by Nomar Perez have made it to Amazon’s Best Sellers page in the category of Children’s Christian Learning Concepts Fiction! All Day Long is the number one bestseller in the genre and Everywhere I Go is number two. These adorable picture books depict animal characters learning about the presence of God in the daily lives.

Amazon’s Best Sellers page for Children’s Christian Learning Concepts can be found here. All Day Long, God Loves Me is available here and Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me is available here.

Two New Board Books Illustrated by Nomar Perez Available Today

August 7, 2017

Not one but two new children’s books illustrated by Nomar Perez are out today! All Day Long, God Loves Me, written by Mikal Keefer, is the story of a cute little bird as he goes about his day feeling God’s love. Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me, also written by Mikal Keefer, centers on a whale learning about God. Part of the Best of Li’l Buddies series, these two sweet board books for preschoolers are perfect for the Christian family.

All Day Long, God Loves Me can be purchased online here. Everywhere I Go, God Is With Me is available here.

Trucks Galore by Peter Stein Now Available for Purchase

October 17, 2017

Trucks Galore, written by Peter Stein and illustrated by Bob Staake, was released today! A humorous collection of all things truck related, Trucks Galore is the newest volume in Peter and Staake’s Galore series.

Kirkus praised Trucks Galore as “imaginative” and “highly original” in their review of the picture book.

Trucks Galore is now available for purchase! Order your copy here.

Kirkus Praises Trucks Galore, Written by Peter Stein and Illus. by Bob Staake

August 3rd, 2017

Coming out in October, Trucks Galore is a gleeful celebration of all things truck related, silly and serious. Written by Peter Stein and illustrated by Bob Staake, Trucks Galore is the newest in the duo’s Galore series. Kirkus recently reviewed this new picture book. They praised the silly compilation of various kinds of trucks, commenting on Peter’s, “seemingly impossible descriptions,” and Staake’s “highly original” illustrations.  According to Kirkus, Trucks Galore “is sure to lure in both hardcore preschool truck enthusiasts and their truck-curious compatriots as they pore over the details on every page.”

Kirkus’s full review is available here. Trucks Galore can be pre-ordered online here.

10 Books Illus. by PW Artists On Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books Of Year List

June 4, 2018

Congratulations to the following Painted Words artists/authors whose books were included in Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year 2018 List:

Frank Morrison – One Last Word, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground
Ashley Spires – The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do, Mae and June and the Wonder Wheel
Vanessa Brantley-Newton – The Youngest Marcher
Fabricio VandenBroeck – Thirsty, Thirsty Elephants
Gabrielle Grimard – Stolen Words
Elise Gravel – Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere
Mircea Catusanu – Noah Webster’s Fighting Words
Elizabeth Zunon – One Last Word, The Legendary Miss Lena Horne

One Last Word: Wisdom From the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes with illustrations from 15 artists including Frank Morrison and Elizabeth Zunon was the recipient of the Claudia Lewis Award for the best poetry book of the year for young readers, while The Youngest Marcher illustrated by Vanessa B. Newton, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground illustrated by Frank Morrison, and The Legendary Miss Lena Horne illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, were each recognized for Outstanding Merit. You can view the full list of books here.

Stolen Words, Illus. by Gabrielle Grimard, One of Shelf Awareness’s Best Picture Books of the Year

December 20, 2017

Shelf Awareness, a newsletter about the book industry, recently released a 2017 Best Children’s and Teen Books of the Year list. Stolen Words, written by Melanie Florence and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard was right at the top of the list! Stolen Words is the story of the relationship between a young girl and her Cree grandfather. When she discovers that he lost his native language in Canada’s residential school program, she sets out to help him recover it. It’s one of Shelf Awareness’s best picture books of 2017.

Shelf Awareness’s full list of best books of the year is available here. Stolen Words can be purchased online here.

Quill and Quire Praises Stolen Words, Illus. by Gabrielle Grimard

December 7, 2017

Due in part to institutions such as residential schools, Aboriginal languages in Canada and the US are in danger of going extinct. But children’s books are doing their part to prevent this tragic result, with several books coming out recently that introduce the language, culture, or history of vulnerable languages. Quill and Quire, a Canadian magazine of book news and reviews, reviewed picture books focused on the Cree language, including Stolen Words.

Written by Melanie Florence and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, Stolen Words tells the story of the relationship between a young girl and her Cree grandfather. When the young protagonist discovers her grandfather lost his Cree language from the residential school system, she sets out to help him relearn the language. Quill and Quire praises the picture books evocative description and illustrations and its frank confrontation of the trauma of the residential schools. Gabrielle’s illustrations are described as “beautiful and disturbing.”

Quill and Quire’s full review is available here. Stolen Words can be purchased online here.

Kirkus List of Best Picture Books of ’17 to Give Strength Includes Two Books from Painted Words Artists

November 28, 2017

2017 has been a rough year for many. But in trying times, you can always turn to picture books for inspiration! To that end, Kirkus has composed a list of the Best Picture Books of 2017 to Give Readers Strength. Two of the books on that list, Stolen Words and Lucía the Luchadora, were illustrated by our artists.

Stolen Words, written by Melanie Florence and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, is the story of a little girl and her Cree grandfather, who lost his ancestral language in the Canadian residential school system. Kirkus calls this story “Unforgettable.” Stolen Words is available for purchase here.

Lucía the Luchadora, written by Cynthia Leonor Garza and illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez, follows a little girl who is inspired by her family tradition of luchadoras to become a hero on the playground.  Kirkus calls it, “A KA-POW kind of wonderful.” Lucía the Luchadora is available here.

Kirkus’s full list of inspiring picture books from 2017 can be found on their site here.

Kirkus Starred Review for Stolen Words, Illus. by Gabrielle Grimard

July 20, 2017

Kirkus has written a starred review for upcoming Stolen Words, written by Melanie Florence and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard. This poignant picture book tells of the relationship between a Cree girl and her grandfather. When the girl asks her grandfather to teach her the Cree language, she learns of the devastating effects of Canada’s residential school program for indigenous inhabitants.

Kirkus praises the storytelling of the book, writing, “Florence’s tender text soothes the harsh reality of…Canada’s former residential schools.” They also strongly compliment Gabrielle’s illustrations. Kirkus writes, “Grimard’s equally emotive illustrations show the stark realities of the experience…At the same time the soft colors and nuanced expressions enrich Florence’s text.” They conclude that this important story is “Unforgettable.”

Kirkus’s full starred review is available here. Stolen Words is coming out in September and can be pre-ordered here.

Gene Barretta, Gerald Kelley, Elise Gravel, Vanessa B Newton, and Josée Masse Nominated for CYBIL 2016 Award

October 10, 2016

The Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers Literary (CYBIL) Awards is an award given out every year for juvenile and children’s books that successfully combine literary merit and popular appeal. Every year, a list of nominees is created, and from this list, the winners are chosen. This year, five of our authors/illustrators were nominated for six different books!

Juvenile and Elementary Nonfiction:

• Sky High: George Ferris’s Big Wheel (Step Into Reading), written by Monica Kulling and illustrated by Gene Barretta
• Grover Cleveland, Again!, written by Ken Burns and illustrated by Gerald Kelley
• The Toad (Disgusting Critters Series), written and illustrated by Elise Gravel

Fiction Picture Books/Board Books:

• Mary Had A Little Glam, written by Tammi Saeur and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton

Middle Grade Fiction:

• The Nine Lives of Jacob Tibbs, written by Cylin Busby and illustrated by Gerald Kelley

Poetry:

• Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse

Congratulations to our talented authors and illustrators! To find out more about the CYBIL awards and who else has been nominated, visit their site here.

Toronto Public Library Includes Elise Gravel and Gabrielle Grimard on List of Best Canadian Books of the Year

November 30, 2016

The Toronto Public Library released a First and Best 2016 list, naming the books they thought were the best Canadian books of the year. Included in this list were their Top Ten Picks for Kids Under Five. Two of the books to make this list were Lila and the Crow, by Gabrielle Grimard, and The Toad, by Elise Gravel. Congratulations, Elise and Gabrielle!

Make sure to check out these First and Best books! You can purchase Lila and the Crow here and The Toad here.

Gene Barretta, Gerald Kelley, Elise Gravel, Vanessa B Newton, and Josée Masse Nominated for CYBIL 2016 Award

October 10, 2016

The Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers Literary (CYBIL) Awards is an award given out every year for juvenile and children’s books that successfully combine literary merit and popular appeal. Every year, a list of nominees is created, and from this list, the winners are chosen. This year, five of our authors/illustrators were nominated for six different books!

Juvenile and Elementary Nonfiction:

• Sky High: George Ferris’s Big Wheel (Step Into Reading), written by Monica Kulling and illustrated by Gene Barretta
• Grover Cleveland, Again!, written by Ken Burns and illustrated by Gerald Kelley
• The Toad (Disgusting Critters Series), written and illustrated by Elise Gravel

Fiction Picture Books/Board Books:

• Mary Had A Little Glam, written by Tammi Saeur and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton

Middle Grade Fiction:

• The Nine Lives of Jacob Tibbs, written by Cylin Busby and illustrated by Gerald Kelley

Poetry:

• Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse

Congratulations to our talented authors and illustrators! To find out more about the CYBIL awards and who else has been nominated, visit their site here.