Above the Rim (Abrams) by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Frank Morrison, has won the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Orbis Pictus Award. The award was established in 1989 to promote and recognize excellence in writing of nonfiction for children. Orbis Pictus commemorates the work of Johannes Amos Comenius: Orbis Pictus; The World in Pictures (1658), considered to be the first book actually planned for children.
See the announcement here
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School Libary Journal has given Coqui in the City (Dial) by Nomar Perez a rave review. See the full review below!
PreS-Gr 2–Miguel loves listening to his abuelito’s stories, sharing meals with his family, and playing baseball with his friends and pet frog, Coquí. When Miguel and his parents have to move to the U.S. mainland, he has to leave so much that he loves in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Once in New York City, he is uncertain and misses his home, Miguel agrees to go out to explore their new neighborhood with Mamá. As they find familiar things they love—empanadillas, a baseball field, and even a pond full of frogs like Coquí—New York City begins to feel much more like home. Vibrant, colorful illustrations depict the life and beauty of Puerto Rico and the rich diversity that can be found in Miguel’s new neighborhood. The text is available in English and Spanish editions and conveys the excitement, sadness, and new possibilities that Miguel experiences. This is a wonderful book with a comforting message, perfect for sharing with young readers who are experiencing big changes. Miguel is light-skinned. VERDICT A strong choice for all collections.–Selenia Paz, Harris County P.L., Houston
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Sharuko (Lee & Low) by Monica Brown and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri has made The Today Show’s list of 23 beautiful kids’ books to celebrate and honor Hispanic Heritage. The list was created by panelists Meg Medina, the Newbery award-winning author of “Merci Suárez Can’t Dance”; Caldecott honoree Yuyi Morales, author of “Bright Star”; #DignidadLiteraria co-founder David Bowles, author of “My Two Border Towns”; and Pura Belpré Award-winning poet Margarita Engle, author of “A Song of Frutas.
See the full list here
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Shelf Awareness calls Big Apple Diaries (Roaring Brook) by Alyssa Bermudez “a playfully illustrated graphic memoir that takes the form of journal entries by Bermudez’s instantly empathetic middle-school self as she navigates tweenhood and the tragedy of 9/11.”
The review goes on to say “Big Apple Diaries is a beautiful snapshot of preteen life.”
Read the full review here
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In an interview on CBS This Morning, Cynthia Erivo discussed her new album, and her new children’s book Remember to Dream, Ebere (Little Brown), illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow.
The book will be on sale September 28.
See the full interview here
Get the book here
In a starred review of Carla and the Christmas Cornbread (Simon & Schuster by Carla Hall, illustrated by Cherise Harris, Publishers Weekly says:
In warm, vintage-toned acrylic inks and digital art, Harris beautifully renders the nuances of Christmas in a close-knit Black family, from taking off shoes at the door to foam rollers adorning the girls’ hair as they lay down to sleep, in this gift of a book.
Read the full review here
The book will be published November 2. Pre-order it here
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