The Joffrey Ballet is proud to present the world premiere of Rita Finds Home, a family-friendly program and collaborative project between the Joffrey and Miami City Ballet, which will make its debut at the Navy Pier Lake Stage in Chicago from July 9-10. Rita Finds Home is conceived by a nationally recognized, women-led creative team including choreographer Amy Hall Garner, author Karla Estela Rivera,and award-winning children’s book author/illustrator Elisa Chavarri; and will be danced by the Joffrey Studio Company and Academy Trainees of the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet. For a full list of venues and schedule, visit Joffrey.org. Read more about the performances in Chicago here
School Library Journal has given a starred review to Because of You, John Lewis (Scholastic) by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown. The review calls the illustrations “a vivid and dramatic complement to this story of friendship, courage, and effecting change.” Read the full review here Get the book here
Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Children’s Books features artwork from over 40 picture books. The illustrations tell the story of how Black people and families were impacted by and resisted racism. The exhibition features civil rights leaders, foot soldiers, and everyday people, and celebrates organized protests as well as day-to-day joys. Painted Words books included in the exhibit are: Let the Children March (Clarion) by Monica Clark-Robinson, illustrated by Frank Morrison Parker Looks Up (Simon & Schuster) by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry, illustrated by Brittany Jackson The Youngest Marcher (Simon & Schuster) by Cynthia Levinson, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton White Water (Candlewick Press) by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein, illustrated by Shadra Strickland The exhibit will be on display at the New York Historical Society through July 24, 2022.
Shadra Strickland’s work is included in the exhibit Imprinted: Illustrating Race at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. The piece is from the book Bird (Lee & Low) written by Zetta Elliot. The book was the recipient of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent in Illustrations and the Ezra Jack Keats Award. To learn more about the exhibit, visit here Get Bird here
Alyssa Bermudez‘s middle grade graphic memoir, Big Apple Diaries, has been shortlisted for the Comic Arts Awards of Australia (The Ledger). Winners will be announced in August. You can view the full list here. Congratulations Alyssa!
School Library Journal gave a Starred Review to Stand Up! 10 Mighty Women Who Made a Change, written by Brittany Cooper and illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson. SLJ writes, “Vibrantly illustrated and featuring a variety of justice-seekers, this book belongs in every library and classroom.” The book hits shelves in August 2022 from Scholastic. You can pre-order a copy here!
