The upcoming picture book, Mary Had a Little Glam, written by Tammi Sauer and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton, received a starred review from Kirkus. Mary Had a Little Glam is the fun, rhyming story of a fashionable little girl who transforms her drab fairy tale classmates into young fashionistas. Kirkus praised the positive story and smooth rhymes, and wrote that, “Brantley-Newton’s bright, fun-filled illustrations teem with energy and life.” Kirkus particularly pointed out the diversity in the story. “Whether by happenstance or by design, this delightful picture book positively answers the call for more books about children of color.” You can read Kirkus’s full review on their site. Mary Had a Little Glam comes out August 2nd. Pre-order it here!
Boston Public Schools released lists of recommended summer reading for the summer of 2016. Poems in the Attic, written by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Liz Zunon, was included on the reading list for grades 3-5. Poems in the Attic tells of a young girl’s connection to her family through generations of poems. Congrats, Liz and Nikki! You can find the full list of recommended summer reading here under 2016 Summer Reading Lists. You can order Poems in the Attic online here.
The Cranky Ballerina, Elise Gravel‘s upcoming picture book, was recently reviewed by the School Library Journal. The Cranky Ballerina tells the story of Ada, a little girl who hates her ballet lessons and would much rather learn karate. The School Library Journal praised Elise’s complex portrayal of her character, pointing out that Ada’s grumpiness is not merely for humor but is due to her frustration. They write, “This book will resonate with children, especially those who have yet to channel their misunderstood talents.” They also praise Elise’s humor and the illustrations in her signature style and call The Cranky Ballerina, “A noteworthy addition for most collections.” The Cranky Ballerina will be released August 9th. Pre-order it here!
Come see Eric Barclay, the author/illustrator of picture books such as I Can See Just Fine, at Half Price Books in Dallas, Texas on July 12! Eric will be signing books there as part of Scholastic’s Summer Reading Roadtrip. The signing will run from 4-6 pm and will have a special appearance from Clifford the Big Red Dog, plus plenty of other activities to encourage summer reading. If you’re in the area, you should stop by to join in the fun. You can find out more information on Half Price Books website here (scroll down to July 12).
Over in the Forest: Come and Take a Peek, written by Marianne Berkes and illustrated by Jill Dubin, is being featured in Nonotuck Park’s new Story Walk feature. Spreads from Over in the Forest are placed on plaques along the park’s Totem Walk so that families can learn about woodland creatures as they walk through the park. Nonotuck Park is located in Easthampton, MA. If you’re in the area and have the time, you should check it out! While you’re there, if you buy Over in the Forest from White Squares Bookstore, they’ll donate ten percent of the proceeds to the park.
Jaime Kim and Il Sung Na were awarded Honorable Mentions in the Picture Book category in the 3×3 International Illustration Annual Competition. Il Sung’s award came for his picture book, The Opposite Zoo, which teaches children about the concept of illustrations through illustrations of a zoo at night. Jaime Kim won a Merit Award for her work “Sister.” Congratulations, Il Sung and Jaime! You can see the full list of winners here. You can order The Opposite Zoo online here.
