Erika Lynn Jones , illustrator of The Loud Librarian (Atheneum) by Jenna Beatrice, is featured on the KidLit in Color Blog, sharing tips for aspiring illustrators. She talks about her road to becoming an illustrator and shares some of the obstacles and triumphs she faced along the way.
Read the full post here
Because of You, John Lewis (Scholastic) by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown, has been awarded the 2023 NCSS Carter G. Woodson Book Award – Honor: Middle Level Category.
Congratulations Keith!
See the full list of awards here
Get the book here
Elisa Chavarri is the subject of one of a series of articles in School Library Journal, that look that profile star illustrators. The article talks about Elisa’s illustrations for Abuela’s Super Capa (HarperCollins) by Ana Siqueira, and the personal connection that Elisa felt to the story.
Read the full article here
Get the book here
School Library Journal has given a starred review to Harlem at Four (Random House Studio) by Michael Datcher, illustrated by Frank Morrison
See the full review below:
This book tells the story of two Harlems. The first part follows a modern Black family, a single father and his daughter Harlem. When Harlem is four years old, her father takes her to an art museum, where they see works by famous Black artists, including Romare Bearden and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Later, the pair dances to John Coltrane and Miles Davis on the street and create science and art projects in their apartment. The father is in awe of his daughter’s fierceness and confidence: “And your eyelashes brush/ A Super Daddy ‘S’/ Across my beating chest.” The second part tells the story of the Harlem neighborhood in 1904. It serves as a tribute to Philip A. “Papa” Payton, Jr., who helped to start the Great Black Migration and the Black housing explosion in Harlem through the Afro-American Realty Company. Payton paved the way for Black families to thrive in Harlem, and for the father and daughter in the beginning of the book to later bond over the work of Black artists from Harlem who were inspired by their community. This book is a beautiful celebration of Harlem’s history and a loving relationship between a father and daughter. Morrison’s vibrant, dynamic images bring the characters and neighborhood to life. Back matter includes a glossary of notable people, places, and phrases featured throughout the book. VERDICT A moving tribute to two Harlems, and a must-purchase for all school and public libraries.–Jillian Girardeau
The book will be published September 19, 2023. Pre-order it here
Standing in the Need of Prayer (Crown) by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison has been named a Boston Globe/Hornbook Award Honor Book!
See the announcement here
Get the book here
Juneteenth: Our Day of Freedom (Random House/Step into Reading) by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, illustrated by Kim Holt, is included on the Black Children’s Books and Authors Blog list of 12 Fiction and Nonfiction Books celebrating Juneteenth.
See the full list here
Get the book here
Burt the Beetle Lives Here! by Ashley Spires is out now. Published by Kids Can Press, this follow-up title to Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite finds our beloved junebug star on an adventure to find the perfect home, as he learns all about other insect homes along the way. Kirkus calls the book, “a wide-ranging survey of insect homes delivered with humor and heart.”
Pick up your copy today!
In a review of The Loud Librarian (Atheneum) by Jenna Beatrice, illustrated by Erika Lynne Jones, Publishers Weekly says:
“Jones’s scenes lean fully into the chaos while showcasing Penelope’s cheerful resilience, and a clever conclusion emphasizes the idea that there’s a place for everyone at the library.”
See the full review here
Get the book here
Who Needs Friends (Nancy Paulsen Books) by Jia Liu, has been named to the Children’s Book Council Hot of the Press Reading List for June 2023.
See the full list here
Get the book here
In a starred review, Horn Book says this about Breaking to the Beat! (Lee & Low) by Linda J. Acevedo, illustrated by Frank Morrison:
“This LUSCIOUSLY ILLUSTRATED picture book, with Morrison’s signature images of characters with elongated arms and legs, effectively captures Manolo’s initial hesitancy and later verve, bravado, and dizzyingly bodacious moves. A WONDERFUL story of an important artistic form that, like jazz, emerged from Black and Brown communities.”
The book has also received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus.
Get the book here