Not Enough Lollipops (Knopf) by Megan Maynor, illustrated by Micah Player has earned a starred review from Kirkus. The review says “Player’s retro-styled illustrations tie the hues of the lollipops to the children’s colorful attire but never go overboard; there’s plenty of drama around the crushing candy saga without overplaying the visuals. Not Enough Lollipops will be published in January 2022. Read the full review here Pre order the book here
A starred review from Kirkus calls Stitch by Stitch (Holiday House) by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon “a poignant tribute to the remarkable life and craft of Elizabeth “Lizzy” Hobbs Keckly, a formerly enslaved woman who broke the color line in haute couture.” The review goes on to say “Zunon’s breathtaking and masterful mixed-media illustrations—incorporating oil, paint, fabric, ribbon, paper, embroidery, and appliqué—beautifully capture the artistry of Keckly’s dresses.” Get Stitch by Stitch here Read the full Kirkus review here
Kirkus calls We Play Soccer (Holiday House) by Rene Colato Lainez, illustrated by Nomar Perez “A bright, sweet story about friendship, teamwork, and the joy of soccer.” The review also says “The illustrations are vibrant, and characters are depicted having various shades of light brown skin. Backmatter helpfully provides direct translations of words that appear in the story.” We Play Soccer will be published in January 2022. Pre order a copy here Read the full Kirkus review here
In a post on HornBook’s Calling Caldecott blog, Scot Smith makes a strong case for King of Ragtime (Simon & Schuster) by Stephen Costanza. Smith commends the illustrations in the book for capturing the essence of music, and says “Costanza’s illustrations depict composer Joplin’s use of syncopation through complex collage work, thoughtful use of vibrant colors, and a mixture of artistic styles. We can almost hear “Maple Leaf Rag” as we turn the pages of this wonderful biography.” Our fingers are crossed, Steve! Read the full blog post here Get King of Ragtime here
Illustrations by Sarah Dillard from several of her picture books will be on view in “The Art of Stories: A Vermont Picture Book Exhibit” at the TW Wood Gallery in Montpelier, Vermont from November 7 through December 22, 2021. Learn more about the exhibit here
Students and Teachers of RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architecture) Learning have chosen Number 7 Evergreen Street (Templar Books) by Julia Patton as their favorite book as part of the Reading Architecture Project. Reviews loved the idea of neighborhoods and communal spaces that the book introduced, as well as the beautiful illustrations and relatable characters. Congratulations Julia! Get the book here
