School Library Journal’s Fuse 8 Blog featured a number of our authors and illustrators’ books on their “31 Days, 31 Lists,” written by Betsy Bird. Vanessa Brantley Newton’s The King of Kindergarten was featured on the “Best Picture Books of 2019” list.   Arithmechicks Add Up, illustrated by Jia Liu, was included on the list of best math books of the year. Constance Lombardo‘s Everybody Says Meow appeared on the list of the best read-aloud picture books. Thanksgiving-centered Around the Table That Grandad Built, illustrated by Jamie Kim, was featured on the list titled “2019 Transcendent Holiday Picture Books.” And finally, Joanie Stone‘s The Kid and the Chameleon made an appearance on the list “Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books: Some of the Best of 2019.”

You can find the full lists here:

2019 Math Books for Kids

2019 Picture Book Readalouds

2019 Transcendent Holiday Picture Books

Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books: Some of the Best of 2019

Congratulations to our illustrator Eric Barclay! His latest work Once Upon A Goat is a CYBILS finalist in the picture book category! CYBILS writes, the book “succeeds at what the best children’s literature does: teaches a lesson without preaching a lesson.”

The full list of CYBILS finalists can be found here. Once Upon A Goat is available for purchase online here.

 Frank Morrison has done it again! The Roots of Rap was featured on School Library Journal’s “Top 20 Books of 2019” list! Congrats Frank!

You can find the full list at the link here. Be sure to check out The Roots of Rap here!

Congrats to Vanessa Brantley-Newton for being included in the Washington Post’s “Best Children’s Books of 2019” list with THE KING OF KINDERGARTEN!  The book was also featured on The Bulletin of the Center of Children’s Books Blue Ribbons list, commemorating the most magical books of the previous twelve months.

You can purchase The King of Kindergarten online here!

What is A Refugee? By Elise Gravel was included in a New York Times Article titled “Kids Have Questions. These Picture Books Have Answers.” NYT writes, “Gravel’s bubbly, cartoon-style art and plain-spoken explanations help soften the truth’s harsh edges.”

You can check out the full article here. What Is A Refugee? is available for purchase online here.

Congrats to our illustrators Elizabeth Zunon and Vanessa Brantley-Newton for being featured on the CSMCL’s list of the best books of 2019! The CSMCL, the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature, highlighted Zunon’s I Am Farmer and Brantley-Newton’s The King of Kindergarten. What an achievement!

You can find the full list here.

Charnelle Pinkney Barlow‘s debut children’s book, Just Like A Mama, explores “the dynamics and different emotions that can arise” within an unconventional family. Charnelle spoke with Les Femmes Folles, an organization that aims to support and promote women in all forms. Charnelle discussed her passion for illustration and the inspiration behind the story. She said, “I hope that people are not only able to enjoy the book, but that they are able to see a piece of themselves within the story.” You can check out the full interview here!

Just Like A Mama can be pre-ordered here. It hits shelves on January 14th!

Congrats to Frank Morrison for being featured on The Chicago Public Library’s “Best of the Best” list for 2019. CPL calls The Roots of Rap “one of the very best informational books published for kids in Kindergarten through 3rd grade.”

You can check out the full list here!

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver written by Gene Barretta and illustrated by Frank Morrison has received a starred review from Booklist! Booklist applauds the creators of this biography saying, “Barretta creates a strong impression of Carver’s delight in nature, drive to learn, and sense of purpose,” and “Morrison’s oil paintings reinforce those impressions with glorious scenes of the woodland garden.”

Pre-order your copy here.

Congrats to Frank Morrison, Jaime Kim, and Sue Cornelison! The New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2019 list includes the Spanish language edition of Where Are You From, ¿De dónde eres?, the Spanish language edition of Mango Moon, La Luna Mango, and The Roots of Rap.   A very special honor indeed!