In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, The Los Angeles Library will be hosting a panel discussion with award-winning illustrators and authors Isol, Rafael Lopez and Elisa Chavarri. They will show us how to draw one of their characters and talk about their illustrations and the stories behind them.
This L.A. Libros Fest event will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.
Learn more here
In a BBC spot about the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Alyssa Bermudez, author and illustrator of Big Apple Diaries (Roaring Brook Press) reflects on her personal memories of September 11 and discusses writing and illustrating her graphic novel memoir.
See the interview here
Get the book here
Michael Slack has three new drawings in a group show called, ARTDORKS: Socially Distanced (As Usual) at The ToyRoom Gallery in Sacramento.
There will be opening receptions 9/17/21 and 9/18/20 7-11pm. The show will run through 11/13/21.
Bank Street College of Education has just released their Best Children’s Books of the Year list for 2021.
The under 5 category includes:
Bedtime for Sweet Creatures (Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky) by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Federico and the Wolf (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) by Rebecca J. Gomez, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
Friday Night Wrestlefest (Roaring Brook) by J. F. Fox, illustrated by Micah Player
Welcome to Your World (Candlewick) by Smriti Prasadam-Halls, illustrated by Jaime Kim
5-9
Just Like Me (Knopf BFYR) by Vanessa Brantley Newton
9-12
Above the Rim (Abrams) by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Frank Morrison
Sharuko (Lee & Low) by Monica Brown, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
Congratulations Everyone!
You can see the full list here
Several Painted Words artists are represented in the Kid’s Book Choice Awards nominations! Initial voting is open for the Children’s Book Council’s 2021 Kids Book Choice Awards! Kids ages 3-18 can vote for the nominated Painted Words titles below in their respective categories here.
This round of voting, concluding on September 8th, will determine finalists for each category,with the ultimate round of voting occurring from late-September to November 14th.
Best Picture Book Duo
Respect (Simon & Schuster) by Carol Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison
I Got the School Spirit (Bloomsbury) by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Frank Morrison
Favorite Early Reader Series
Arlo & Pips (HarperCollins) by Elise Gravel
Favorite Picture Book Page
Above the Rim (Abrams) illustrated by Frank Morrison
Bedtime for Sweet Creatures (Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky) by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
For Beautiful Black Boys (Flyaway Books) by Michael W. Waters, illustrated by Keisha Morris
Just Like Me (Penguin Random House) by Vanessa Brantley Newton
Favorite Characters
Bedtime for Sweet Creatures (Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky) by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
For Beautiful Black Boys (Flyaway Books) by Michael W. Waters, illustrated by Keisha Morris
I Got the School Spirit (Bloomsbury) by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Frank Morrison
The King of Kindergarten (Penguin Random House), by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton and My School Stinks! (Philomel) by Becky Scharnhorst, illustrated by Julia Patton have been named to the Today Show’s List of 21 Back-to-School books for kids to calm first day jitters. Congratulations Julia and Vanessa!
See the full list here
Get My School Stinks! here
Get The King of Kindergarten here
Becoming Vanessa (Knopf BFYR) by Vanessa Brantley Newton and , (Philomel) by Becky Scharnhorst, illustrated by Julia Patton have been included on Amazon’s list of best back-to-school books for kids! Congratulations Vanessa and Julia!
See the full list here
Get Becoming Vanessa here
Get My School Stinks here
Congratulations to Alyssa Bermudez on the publication of Big Apple Diaries (Roaring Brook Press), a heartfelt diary-style graphic memoir about a young New Yorker doodles her way through middle school—until the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack leaves her wondering if she can ever be a kid again. The book is lighting up the internet this week- read about it in the following!
For anyone who hasn’t already, you can register for Alyssa’s virtual launch event with Remy Lai on Thursday at 7pm ET using this link.
Get your copy of Big Apple Diaries here
Publishers Weekly gave Sarah Dillard‘s Blueberry Cake a glowing Starred Review. They praised the book as “a warm, Blueberries for Sal–leaning slice of summer for any reader.” Read the full review here. Blueberry Cake also received a Starred Review from Kirkus.
Pick up a copy, and don’t miss the delicious blueberry cake recipe in the back!
Publishers Weekly called Remember to Dream, Ebere (Little Brown) by Cynthia Erivo, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow an endearing bed time story. The review goes on to say “Barlow’s illustrations, created digitally with handmade watercolor textures, provide an engaging visual divide between the fantastical dream space and the warmth of home through layers of soft color and light.” The book will be published in September.
Read the full review here
Pre order the book here