Michael Slack‘s Tate Tuber: Space Spud (Holiday House) was included on ALA’s Best Graphic Novels for Children list in the Younger Readers (0-7) category. Congratulations Michael! See the full list here.
Feb
05
Tate Tuber by Michael Slack Selected for the ALA Best Graphic Novels for Children list
Feb
05
Our World is a Family, illus. by Nomar Perez, is a New York Times Bestseller!
Our World is a Family, illustrated by Nomar Perez, and written by Miry Whitehill and Jennifer Jackson, hit the New York Times Bestseller list this week! The book, published by Sourcebooks in 2022, was recently featured on the instagram channel, MaiStoryBook (@maistorybooklibrary). She called it “one of the BEST picture books for teaching about HUMAN MIGRATION and ways to WELCOME REFUGEES and IMMIGRANTS into our communities.”
Congratulations Nomar!
Feb
04
A Fourth Starred Reviews for Charnelle Pinkney Barlow’s Two Artists, Granddad and Me
Charnelle Pinkney Barlow‘s Two Artists, Granddad and Me, released on January 20th, has received its fourth starred reviews from School Library Journal! Congratulations Charnelle!
★ “Readers can almost feel the love and affection radiating off the pages as the girl in the story draws, paints, and creates with her grandfather . . . This is an excellent book for any budding artist but also to convey how mentors and teachers help on the journey of learning and creating.” —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
★ “Pinkney Barlow pays homage to her late grandfather, illustrator Jerry Pinkney in a heartwarming reflection about artmaking’s improvisational process . . . It’s a portrait of ‘two artists’ at work that takes young creators seriously.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
★ “This radiant, deeply personal picture book honors creativity, legacy, and love and shows how one generation’s generosity can not only inform but inspire imagination in another.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
★ “The soothing narrative evokes the beloved bond between grandfather and granddaughter, while descriptive language has a vividness that fully captures the girl’s discovery of her inner artist.” —The Bulletin, STARRED REVIEW
Feb
04
When I Hear Spirituals, illus. by London Ladd, Selected for ALA’s Notables List and The Bulletin’s 2025 Blue Ribbon Awards
When I Hear Spirituals, illustrated by London Ladd, was selected by The Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books for their 2025 Blue Ribbon Awards! They wrote, “In this beautifully crafted celebration of African American spirituals, a young narrator alludes to the significance of twelve spirituals within the larger historical, cultural, and religious context of her community; the girl’s welcoming, wondrous tone makes this both an informative and evocative read.”
The book was also named a Notable Children’s Book by the ALSC Notable Children’s Books Committee. See the full list here.
Congratulations London!
Feb
04
How Sweet the Sound, illus. by Charly Palmer, named a Boston Globe Best Book of the Year for 2025
How Sweet the Sound, illustrated by Charly Palmer, was named a Boston Globe Best Book of the Year for 2025. See the full list here. Congratulations Charly!
Feb
04
Pushing Hope, illus by Keith Henry Brown, featured on The Innocence Project’s Watch & Read Guide
Pushing Hope, the graphic memoir by Raymond Santana, a member of the Exonerated Five, and illustrated by Keith Henry Brown, was featured on The Innocence Project’s list, “Your Year-End Watch & Read Guide: 9 Books and Documentaries That Will Open Your Eyes About Our Criminal Legal System.” Check out the full list here.
Dec
15
Betsy Bird’s 31 Days, 31 Lists include several Painted Words books!
We love counting down the end of the year with Betsy Bird’s 31 Days, 31 Lists. This year’s lists include a number of books by Painted Words authors and illustrators:
- Fairy Finds Her Song by Bea Jackson (Simon & Schuster) – “Easy Books“
- Tate Tuber by Michael Slack (Holiday House) – “Easy Books”
- No More Gnomes by Beth Mills (Lerner) – “Funny Books“
- Not A Dog, illustrated by Laura González (Charlesbridge) – “Bilingual Children’s Books“
- Some of Us, illustrated by Huy Voun Lee (Little Brown) – “Books with a Message (Social & Emotional Learning)”
- A Song For Two Homes, illustrated by Charly Palmer (Random House Studio) – “Books with a Message (Social & Emotional Learning)”
- Lady of the Lines, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri (Astra) – “Unique Biographies for Kids“
Dec
10
The Horn Book Fanfare (Best Books of 2025) Includes When I Hear Spirituals and How Sweet the Sound
The Horn Book Fanfare, their list of the best books of 2025, includes When I Hear Spirituals, illustrated by London Ladd (Holiday House), and How Sweet the Sound, illustrated by Charly Palmer (Little Brown). Congrats to London and Charly! See the full list here.
Dec
08
Some of Us, illus. by Huy Voun Lee, is an NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Title
Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States, illustrated by Huy Voun Lee and written by Rajani LaRocca (Christy Ottaviano Books), was selected as an NCTE Children’s Book Awards Recommended title. The Orbis Pictus Award is the oldest children’s book award for nonfiction. Congratulations Huy!
Dec
04
Nice Review from Kirkus for Seasons by the Lake, illus. by Alex Nees!
Seasons by the Lake, illustrated by Alex Nees (Dial Books), received a nice review in Kirkus. The review says, “Nees’ soft-hued landscapes showcase everything from the trickle of spring’s flowing water and flower-filled summer meadows to fall’s snow-covered hills and the dazzling glow of the northern lights; even the chilliest winter scenes are imbued with pure warmth…Soaring visuals and a cozy text pair for a wondrous romp through nature.” See the full review here.
Congrats Alex!