Kirkus has given a starred review to Not A Monster (Charlesbridge) by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez, illustrated by Laura Gonzalez. The book explores the traits of the axolotl; a water based salamander, the Aztec origin myth about the species, and the way pollution is affecting its natural habitat: the canals of Xochimilco in Mexico City. Kirkus calls the artwork “sublime and earthy.” Congratulations Laura! See the full review here Not a Monster will be published May 9, 2023. Pre-order it here
Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar (Doubleday) by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, was featured in the New York Times Book Review in an article by Chris Raschka entitled “Two Picture Books about the Godmother of Rock ‘n Roll”. The article says: Pinkney Barlow, who illustrates her storytelling with winsome painted-paper collage (cutout shapes layered to create shadows), painstakingly constructed this “talking guitar” from separate pieces: body, neck, sides. Plus strings made of cotton twine. There is no skimping — six strings on a real guitar, six pieces of twine in her palpable art. Pastel colors on light backgrounds throughout convey the atmosphere of warmth that nurtured the soul and goodness of Tharpe’s voice. Congratulations Charnelle! Read the full article here Get the book here
Everything in its Place (DoubleDay) by Pauline David-Sax, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow has been selected as an Ezra Jack Keats Honors book. The Award ceremony will be live streamed on April 13 at 1:00 pm ET. Learn more about it here Get the book here
Stella and the Mystery of the Missing Tooth (Denene Millner Books) by Clothilde Ewing, illustrated by Lynn Gaines, comes out today, March 7, 2023. In this effervescent companion to the picture book Stella Keeps the Sun Up, Stella goes on the hunt to figure out who’s behind her friend’s missing tooth. Congratulations Lynn! Get the book here
Rolling Stone Magazine reports that Taylor Swift: A Little Golden Book Biography (Little Golden Books) by Wendy Loggia, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri is “starting Swifties young!” The book is already topping Best Seller charts on Amazon, two months before its publication date of May 2, 2023. Read the full article here Pre-order the book for your little Swifties here
A Publishers Weekly article titled “Black History Month 2023: Q&As with Picture Book Creators Highlighting Black History features All Aboard the Schooltrain (Scholastic) by Glenda Armand, illustrated by Keisha Morris, Justice Rising: 12 Amazing Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement (Viking) by Katheryn Russell-Brown, illustrated by Kim Holt and My Red, White, and Blue (Philomel) by Alana Tyson, illustrated by London Ladd. Read the article here
