Congratulations to Sarah Dillard, author and illustrator of the upcoming picture book I Wish It Would Snow!, on receiving a stellar review from Kirkus Review. This sweet seasonal story tells the tale of a charismatic brown bunny in a red turtleneck who wishes that it would snow. When his wish finally comes true, the excited bunny only enjoys it momentarily, quickly becoming exasperated at what appears to be too much snow. So it is back to square one, wishing and pleading for the snow to cease. Kirkus Review notes that this cycle of wishing, momentary enjoyment, and wishing for something else acts as a “mirror” of the young readers who will enjoy the book, and “the exuberant characterization, easy-to-read expressions, and limited text make it just right for their short attention spans.” The review also remarks that “sharp-eyed readers will enjoy watching the body language of a purple bird as the bunny expresses their wishes,” and champions that the message of “satisfaction and contentment in the present” also shines through.

You can read the full review and pre-order your copy of I Wish It Would Snow! here.

Congratulations to London Ladd, who illustrated Lend a Hand, which has been chosen as an Action Book Club Selection from the Little Free Library! The Action Book Club, a program of the Little Free Library nonprofit, combines reading with social engagement. In a twist on the traditional book club, the Action Book Club invites participants to read books on a particular theme, engage in lively discussions, and take part in meaningful group projects to benefit their communities. The Action Book Club offers book recommendations for adults, middle readers, and young readers, with a new theme announced twice a year. The theme that corresponds with Lend a Hand was “Everyday Heroes”. You can see the full list of books here and grab your copy of Lend a Hand here.

Congratulations to Josée Masse, who illustrated Thunder Underground, which is included in a column entitled “Children’s Literature Reviews: 2017 Notable Poetry Books for Children” that appears in the July issue of the NCTE journal, Language Arts. While inclusion on this list is an honor in itself, there’s also a lovely description of the book provided, which highlights Masse’s artistic contribution to the project. The author remarks that “Josée Masse’s mixed-media illustrations offer a visual adventure, including colorful cross-sections of what lies underground. Notably, Masse chooses to feature a boy and girl of different races across most of the scenes in this poetic journey.” Featuring poetry by Jane Yolen, this picture book takes young readers on an unforgettable expedition you won’t want to miss out on.

Read the full column here and purchase your copy of Thunder Underground here.

Happy book birthday to Ashley Spires, who illustrated the delightful bedtime story Go To Sleep, Little Creep, which is released today. Debut storyteller David B. Quinn and Painted Words artist Ashley Spires have joined forces to create an adorably charming, funny picture book that is sure to charm little creeps who aren’t quite ready to fall asleep. From werewolves to mummies, Go To Sleep, Little Creep presents the night time routine of tucking little monsters into bed, full of humor and heart.

Grab your copy of Go To Sleep, Little Creep here today!

Congratulations are in order for Il Sung Na, author and illustrator of the stunning, whimsical new children’s book, The Dreamer. Ahead of its September release, Na’s book about a pig who admires birds and longs to take flight has received an excellent review from Publishers Weekly.  The review aptly points out that in his determination to soar, the mint-green pig “continues to be himself,” a bird-admiring pig. Publishers Weekly praises Na’s “visual storytelling,” taking note of the way that he uses an interplay of color to add drama, and admires the “atmosphere of cool rationality” that Na creates through plot elements such as an analysis of the pig’s failures, and the artwork depicting blackboard calculations. The moral of The Dreamer is simply, sweetly summarized by Publishers Weekly – “success requires quiet judgment and hard work.”

Pre-order your copy of The Dreamer here and read the full review from Publishers Weekly here.

Painted Words illustrator London Ladd is taking part in an community effort to “bring hope back to Syracuse’s Southside,” starting with two murals under the railroad bridge that serves as an unofficial border between downtown Syracuse and the Southside neighborhood. These murals are meant “to mark the entrance to the Southside with hope,” and depict Martin Luther King Jr. giving his speech in 1961 at Syracuse University, as well as the abolitionist Frederick Douglass, featuring the words of these two prominent historical figures. Ladd is also planning to move into an artist’s loft above a community cafe, where he will start art programs for kids and adults on the Southside. You can read the full article about Ladd and the efforts to change the direction of the Southside neighborhood here.