Friday Night Wrestlefest (Roaring Brook Press), written by J.F. Fox and illustrated by Micah Player, won the New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Award at the Roadrunner Level! A student choice award selected by New Mexico’s young readers, Friday Night Wrestlefest was chosen as their favorite in the 5 and up category. Congratulations to J.F. and Micah on this wonderful honor!
Learn more about the award HERE.
Congratulations to Lynn Gaines! Her illustrated book, Miles of Style (Lee & Low Books), written by Lisa D. Braithwaite, has been recognized as a 2025 Septima P. Clark Women in Literature Book Award Honor. From the National Council for the Social Studies, the award “is dedicated to recognizing outstanding nonfiction or informational trade books tailored for elementary, middle, and high school-aged readers that highlight the stories, perspectives, and accomplishments of women. Each year, the award committee selects high-quality books that embody originality and are well- crafted, undertold stories.”
Learn more about the award HERE.
My Cousin, the Quinceañera, written and illustrated by Julissa Mora (Random House/Step Into Reading) and Wonderfully Wild, illustrated by Josée Masse (Simon & Schuster), were recently named Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections. Congratulations to Julissa and Josée!
Caitlin Clark: A Little Golden Book Biography, by Marisa DiNovis and illustrated by Joanie Stone, is a New York Times Bestseller! This was Joanie Stone’s SECOND bestseller in April, following That’s My Truck! which appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list for two weeks earlier in the month. Congratulations to Joanie!
Leo’s Lunchbox, written by Reverend Senator Raphael Warnock, and illustrated by TeMika Grooms, was an instant New York Times Bestseller! Published by Philomel Books, this is the second picture book collaboration between Senator Warnock and TeMika Grooms, following their 2023 book, Put Your Shoes On and Get Ready!
Congratulations TeMika!!!
Author-illustrator Sarah Hwang appeared on CBS New York to discuss her new book, Gertrude Gish on a Dish on a Fish. Part of the Seuss Studios line of Beginnger Books fromRandom House, the book is based on an unpublished sketch by Dr. Seuss. See Sarah discuss the inspiration behind the book below!
Batter Up for the First Day of School! (Viking) by Bethany Hegadus, illustrated by Nomar Perez has received a starred received a starred review from School Library Journal.
★ It’s the first day of school at Grand Slam Elementary and twins Hank and Erin, both with light skin and brown curly hair, are eager to go. They wake up cheerfully in their baseball-themed bedroom, while their parents radiate the enthusiastic energy of supportive fans. Hegedus’s inventive game announcer narration increases the anticipation: “The Twins are off to a sluggish start. And here they come … with a bit more pep in their step … and they are ready for some fuel!” At Grand Slam Elementary, designed to replicate a baseball stadium, Hank and Erin meet their teacher, who plays the role of a coach. The class huddles for an overview of the dugout rules before starting their school day innings, which include art, spelling, lunch, and recess. Will Hank and Erin’s first day of school be a home run? Reminiscent in style to his book Coqui in the City, Perez again digitally paints colorful illustrations, which are bright and uplifting. Endpapers are scattered with mitts, helmets, foam fingers, and pennants against a vibrant yellow-green background. Hegedus and Perez are a winning team, hyping up young readers for their own first day of school. Intent on positivity, anxious feelings about starting school are not addressed, leaving that experience to be tackled in other stories about the first day of school. VERDICT: This is a peppy first day of school story to knock game-day jitters out of the park.
Congratulations Nomar!
The book will be published May 13, 2025. Pre order it here
Gertrude Gish on a Dish on a Fish (Random House Books for Young Readers) by Sarah Hwang has received a glowing review from School Library Journal.
Gertrude Gish adores stacking stuff. Her obsession leads to a poorly planned stack and an inevitable crash, after which her community requests that she cease and desist. Soon, though, it turns out that a penchant for balancing random objects on top of one another is the very thing that will help save the mayor’s precious penguins, who are stuck in a tall, tall tree. Gertrude revives her hobby to rescue the penguins, and from then on she uses her stacking talents in service to others. Bold outlines and bright colors make for cheerful illustrations. This title is part of the new Seuss Studios early reader series; though the rhymes in this volume don’t scan with the ease of Seuss’s work, the overall feel is similar. VERDICT This rhyming tale of an unusual character in a wacky situation will appeal to fans of Dr. Seuss.
Congratulations Sarah!
The book will be published May 6, 2025. Pre order it here
That’s My Truck! A Good Inside Story About Hitting, written by Dr. Becky Kennedy and illustrated by Joanie Stone, is a New York Times Bestseller for the second week in a row! Congratulations Joanie!
Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now! (FSG) by Phillip Hoose, illustrated by Bea Jackson has been selected for the 2025 Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Titles Intermediate List.
Since 1926 KNEA has published a list off recommended books by reading level as a service for school librarians and classroom teachers.
Congratulations Bea!
Get the book here
Learn more about the KNEA Reading Circle here