Above the Rim (Abrams) by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Frank Morrison has been named to the Texas Library Association’s 2022 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List. The purpose of the Texas Topaz Reading List is to provide children, teens, and adults with recommended nonfiction titles that stimulate reading for pleasure and personal learning.
Congratulations Frank!
See the complete list here
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BECAUSE OF YOU, JOHN LEWIS: THE TRUE STORY OF A REMARKABLE FRIENDSHIP (Scholastic) by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illus. by Keith Henry Brown
Ten-year-old Tennesseean Tybre Faw finds a hero in Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights icon nicknamed “Good Trouble,” who worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. As the anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the commemorative march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge approaches, Faw begs his grandmothers to drive him to Selma. There Lewis shakes Faw’s hand and invites the boy to march with him, thus beginning a friendship. Pinkney’s lyrical prose recounts the high points of Lewis’ (and to some extent King’s) life interspersed with details of Faw’s interest in history and the particulars of his meetings with Lewis. She emphasizes Lewis’ mentoring of Faw (and its parallels to King’s mentoring of Lewis), ensuring continuity in the civil rights struggle. Brown’s digitally enhanced watercolor-and-ink illustrations focus on the humans depicted, and several compositions reflect published photos of events. Equally strong are the settings (particularly Selma) and subtle details, such as Faw reading Lewis’ graphic novel, March (2016). Appended with generous back matter, this makes an inspiring addition to the civil rights canon. — Kay Weisman
The book will be published on June 7, 2022.
Pre-order it here
Ashley Spire’s The Most Magnificent Thing (Kids Can Press) has made the shortlist of the BolognaRagazzi Crossmedia Award 2022, which goes to the publishing projects that have best expanded their narrative universe to other media. The international jury examined over 80 projects, selecting 10, from which the Grand Prize and the special mentions will be chosen.
The short animated movie, produced by Nelvana, based on the book written by award-winning author and illustrator, Ashley Spires, The Most Magnificent Thing is an inspirational story about a little girl with a creative spirit, determined to make great things. When she receives her very own tool kit, the little girl sets out to make the most magnificent thing for her best friend—but it’s not as easy as she thinks! The Most Magnificent Thing is a timeless tale about learning through perseverance and hard work, the power of love, and selflessness.
See the complete list here
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Acamy Schleikorn discusses representation in reading in an interview on KTNV, as part of Nevada’s Reading Week. Reading week was created to encourage young readers, and this years’ theme is, ‘Catch the Reading Wave’. This year, some Educators and Illustrators are putting emphasis on ‘Representation in Reading’ to make sure all students can see themselves in books and on covers.
“I want to illustrate all kinds of people, all kinds of races, ethnicities, stories, backgrounds,” said Schleikorn.
“I’m very passionate about making sure that children can see themselves in the work that I create, because it reflects the world that we live in,” Schleikorn added. “Like we come in all kinds of shades, our hair is all kinds of textures. We’re not a monolith, and I want to show that in my work.”
See the full interview here
Because of You, John Lewis (Scholastic) by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown is included in a People Magazine collection of books by contemporary Black authors that celebrities and bestselling authors can’t stop talking about. The book will be published June 7, 2022.
See the article here
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King of Ragtime (Simon & Schuster) by Stephen Costanza
is one of the books featured in the Black Children’s Book Week Read Aloud. Veronica N. Chapman, founder of Black Baby Books, launched the first annual Black Children’s Book Week, a week to extend Black History Month and celebrate Black children and the Black-authored books that represent them. The pre-recorded real aloud of the book features award-winning educator Jashonai Payne, with a performance of some of Scott Joplin’s compositions by award-winning pianist, Gil Scott Chapman!
See the video here
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London Ladd is featured in a spot on Spectrum News in Syracuse, New York. In the spot, London talks about his art, background and inspirations, while working on a portrait of James Baldwin. In the accompanying article London is quoted as saying “I want the colors to speak. The body language. The glimmer of the eye,” says Ladd. “I’m extremely excited about the direction of where I am going. The projects that I am doing now. They feel much more a part of my heart.”
See the spot and read the article here
Like a Dandelion (HarperCollins) by Huy Voun Lee, King of Ragtime (Simon & Schuster) by Stephen Costanza and Born Ready (Crown) by Jodie Patterson, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow have been selected as CCBC Choices 2022. CCBC Choices is a best-of-the-year list created annually by the librarians of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center.
See the full list here
Get Like a Dandelion here
Get King of Ragtime here
Get Born Ready here
Let’s Be Friends/Seamos amigos (Holiday House) by René Colato Laínez, illustrated by Nomar Perez, has been named to Tejas Star Reading List for 2022-2023!
The Tejas Star Reading List (TSRL) provides a recommended reading list to encourage children ages 5-12 to explore multicultural books and to discover the cognitive and economic benefits of bilingualism and multilingualism. The Tejas Star Reading List is intended for recreational reading, not to support a specific curriculum.
Congratulations Nomar!
See the full list here
Get the book here
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 is not enough to diminish the book’s overall value.
VERDICT Thoughtful, engaging, and visually bright, this is an excellent addition to any library serving preschool and early elementary ages.
Pink, Blue and You! will be published in March 2022. Pre-order it here