Shadra Strickland‘s Here Comes the Band, illustrated by John Holyfield, has received Starred Reviews from School Library Journal and Kirkus!

The SLJ review says the book is “a great read-aloud to introduce readers to all the grace and rhythm of marching bands as well as the vibrant, enduring culture present at HBCUs.”

Kirkus writes, “Transcending simple description, Strickland’s buoyant verse moves to the rhythms of an HBCU halftime show. Band terminology, traditions, and rollicking rhymes surge forward in a cadence that mirrors the music itself, yielding the spotlight whenever Holyfield’s magnificent acrylic illustrations demand it. And demand it they do.”

Congratulations Shadra!

Betsy Bird interviewed Frank Morrison and author Derrick Barnes on their book, Seven Million Steps, for the Fuse8 Blog. The book chronicles Dick Gregory’s 1976 two-and-a-half month run from Los Angeles to NYC to raise awareness about food insecurity and poverty in the US.

When Frank was asked to describe what appealed to him about working on the book, he said, “I’m just trying to do my part by collaborating with this amazing team, visualizing a world where everyone has their basic needs met. This is not about us, it’s about the people. During the pandemic, the world came together and mobilized in response—can you imagine if we had that kind of stance for the poor and hungry?”

See the full interview here.

Seven Million Steps was also included in the New York Times article, “How Four Picture Books See America at 250.” The article says, “Frank Morrison’s expansive illustrations emphasize Gregory’s lean physique and robust spirit, the natural beauty he encountered and the people he welcomed into his orbit. That there were no parades for him when he crossed the George Washington Bridge on July 4 did not bother him; Gregory believed that “what we’re here for” is doing all that we can to help those in need. This may not seem like a particularly American ideal, then or now, but we can amend our selves at any age.”

You can read the article here.

And GeekDad included the book in its “Stack Overload: 14 Books for June,” writing, “The illustrations feel made in oils, all pictographic and speedy in quality, you feel this runner rushing by!”   Find the full blog post here.

Core, a division of ALA, included TATE TUBER: SPACE SPUD by Michael Slack (Holiday House) on its Golden Duck Notable Picture Books List, recognizing excellence in children’s science fiction. Congratulations Michael! See the full list here.

Imperfectly Perfect Posey (Spinning Wheel Stories) by Lizzie Brooks, illustrated by Enni Heikura has a starred review from Kirkus.

“Posey is sweet and sympathetic, and Heikura’s soft, swirly pastel illustrations are the perfect complement.”

Congratulations Enni!

The book will be released June 9, 2026

Pre-order it here

No More Gnomes (Lerner) by Beth Mills, and Goats Afloat (Amazon/Two Lions) by Lezlie Evans and illustrated by Julia Patton have made The Children’s Book Council’s Kids Favorites List for 2026.

See the full list here

Fight for the Right to Read (Creston Books) by Jeff Gottesfeld and Michelle Y. Green, illustrated by Kim Holt was recently featured in ALXnow, an online news source of everything Alexandria.

Fight for the Right to Read tells the story of the Alexandria Library sit-in as Tucker, at age 26, led a group of five young Black men to enter the whites-only Alexandria Library on Aug. 21, 1939.

“I have an affinity for older things, history in particular, and that is from a drawing perspective,” Holt, a graduate of Tucker’s alma mater, Howard University, said. “Even my personal art that I do is like ’40s, ’50s, ’60s. Those times really resonate with me and I love little-known history, because I just feel like it expands what you know, and so many times I’m like, ‘man, I wish I had learned this in school.’”

Get the book here

Leave Me Alone!, illustrated by Joanie Stone and written by Dr. Becky Kennedy (Feiwel & Friends/ Macmillan),  hit the New York Times Bestseller list at #3 the week of its release! The book also made the USA Today Bestseller list at #45.

Congratulations Joanie!

Several books by Painted Words illustrators were named National Council for the Social Studies, 2026 Notable Social Studies Trade Books:

Becoming a Ballerina, illustrated by Olivia Duchess (Harper Collins)

Giving Thanks with Halmoni: Celebrating Chuseok, The Korean Harvest Festival, illustrated by Il Sung Na (Red Comet Press)

Kente for Jojo, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (Random House)

Through Sand and Salt: A Tale of Discovery Across the Sahara, written and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (Bloomsbury)

A Flea for Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change, illustrated by TeMika Grooms (Charlesbridge)

Lady of the Lines: How Maria Reiche Saved the Nazca Lines by Sweeping the Desert, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri (Astra BFYR)

Fight for the Right to Read: Samuel Wilbert Tucker and the 1939 Sit-Down Strike for Library Reading Equality, illustrated by Kim Holt (Creston Books)

Congrats to Olivia, Il Sung, Elizabeth, TeMika, Elisa, and Kim!

See the full list of NCSS Notable Science Studies Trade Books here.

Three books illustrated by Painted Words illustrators have been nominated for the 2027 Monarch Award, sponsored by the Association of Illinois School Library Educators: Not A Monster, illustrated by Laura Gonzalez (Charlesbridge); Some of Us, illustrated by Huy Voun Lee (Little Brown/Christy Ottaviano Books); and Fix-it Familia, illustrated by Micah Player (Harper Collins). See the full list here.

Congrats to Laura, Huy, and Micah!