School Library Journal has given a starred review to Pink, Blue, and You!: Questions for Kids About Gender Stereotypes (Random/Anne Schwartz) by Elise Gravel with Mykaell Blais (text) & illus. by Elise Gravel. See the review below. PreS-Gr 2–In her signature style, Gravel (What Is a Refugee??” and others) and Blais provide an accessible introduction to gender and gender stereotypes. Beginning with smart, open-ended questions, the authors challenge readers to think about gender stereotypes, why they exist, and if they are true or fair. The book progresses to an overview of sex versus gender, complete with helpful visual aids, an exploration of pronouns, and ultimately, a few examples of how gender is treated in different communities. At each step, the authors ask readers what they think and how they feel. This engagement, coupled with the accessible presentation of the material, makes for an excellent resource. The folks depicted throughout vary in appearance, and include many skin tones, ages, and family structures. A few folks wear hijabs, and two others use wheelchairs. Gravel’s illustrative style is wildly appealing, and the comic-style presentation helps to endear the book to readers. A slight weakness is the homogeneity of illustrated body type, though this […]
Born Ready (Crown) by Jodie Patterson, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow, has been selected for the 2022 KNEA Reading Circle Recommended List in the Primary category. Each spring, the newest list is published and sent at no cost to every school in the state of Kansas as a service of the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA). School library media specialists across the state use this catalog as a respected, dependable tool for evaluating and selecting new reading material for purchase. Additionally, educators and librarians from more than 20 other states access this recommended list online. Get the book here
Nelvana and Discovery Kids has given the greenlight to a third season of Redknot’s Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe. The hit animated preschool series airs in Canada on Treehouse, and is based on the best-selling Binky Adventure graphic novels (Kids Can Press) by Ashley Spires. Read the full press release here Get the Binky Graphic Novels here
Stitch By Stitch: Elizabeth Hobbs Sews Her Way to Freedom (Holiday House) by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, has been selected as a 2022 Notable Social Studies Trade Book! The Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People is an annual project of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the CBC running since 1972. The selection committee looks for books that emphasize human relations, represent a diversity of groups and are sensitive to a broad range of cultural experiences, present an original theme or a fresh slant on a traditional topic, are easily readable and of high literary quality, and have a pleasing format and, when appropriate, illustrations that enrich the text. Congratulations Connie and Liz! See the full list here Get the book here
The 2022 Booklist from Rise: A Feminist Book Project is out and several books illustrated by Painted Words artists are on it! Included are: Secrets of the Sea (Clarion) by Evan Griffith, illustrated by Joanie Stone The Library Bus (Pajama Press) by Bahram Rahman, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard Legacy (Bloomsbury) by Nikki Grimes, including illustrations by Vanessa Brantley Newton, Cathy Ann Johnson, Keisha Morris, Shadra Strickland, and Elizabeth Zunon
The Arlo and Pips series (Harper Alley) by Elise Gravel (Arlo and Pips: King of the Birds and Arlo and Pips: Join the Crow Crowd)has made the top 10 on The ALA Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table 2021 list of Best Graphic Novels for Children.In addition, The Bug Club (Drawn and Quarterly) also by Elise Gravel, Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite (Kids Can Press) by Ashley Spires, and Big Apple Diaries (MacMillan) by Alyssa Bermudez are included on the full list. Congratulations Elise, Ashley and Alyssa! See the full list here
