Becoming Vanessa (Penguin Random House) by Vanessa Brantley Newton and My School Stinks (Penguin Random House) by Becky Scharnhorst, illustrated by Julia Patton, have been included on Publishers Weekly’s list of Back to School books for 2021.

See the full list here

Get Becoming Vanessa here

Get My School Stinks here

Let The Children March (HMH) by Marcia Clarke-Robinson, illustrated by Frank Morrison, has been nominated for the California Young Reader Medal for 2021-2022.

The California Young Reader Medal (CYRM) program encourages recreational reading of popular literature among the young people of our state. Since its inception in 1974, millions of California children have nominated, read, and voted for the winners of the California Young Reader Medal.

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See the list of nominees here

Happy book birthday to Blueberry Cake (Aladdin) by Sarah Dillard.

There’s nothing Little Bear loves more than delicious, delectable blueberries. And one of the very best ways to eat blueberries is in Mama’s sweet, scrumptious blueberry cake. But when Little Bear goes to pick berries so Mama can fix him a treat, he can’t resist eating them all! Can Little Bear figure out how to save some yummy blueberries, or will he once again come home empty handed and never get any blueberry cake?

Booklist calls the book “Equally appealing to preschoolers who are blueberry fans and beginning readers who can manage just a few words.”

Kirkus included the book in its list of the 16 best books to read in July.

Get your Blueberry Cake here

Happy Birthday to Tiny Barbarian (HarperCollins) by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Ashley Spires.

Kirkus calls the book “A rollicking read-aloud. Spires imbues Tiny with as much, if not more, personality and vibe as any of the fantastical creatures that dot these pages. Other visual elements, like the dad cooking and taking on bedtime duty, eschew the usual stereotypes. [Tiny’s] cry to “CONQUER EVERYTHING!” will ring true for small warriors-to-be.”

Publishers Weekly says “Lively digital art and comic rhythms from Spires (Turtle and Tortoise Are Not Friends) are reminiscent of a satisfying cartoon episode. Tiny, an indomitable, highly expressive protagonist, carries the tale, and his all-caps cry of “CONQUER EVERYTHING!” may very well start resounding through readers’ own pretend play.”

Congratulations Ashley!

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Happy book birthday to My Voice is a Trumpet (Penguin Random House) by Jimmie Allen and illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson.

From voices tall as a tree, to voices small as a bee, all it takes is confidence and a belief in the goodness of others to change the world. Coming at a time when issues of social justice are at the forefront of our society, this is the perfect book to teach children that they’re not too young to express what they believe in and that all voices are valuable.

In a starred review, School Library Journal says Beautifully painted portraits bring depth to the faces, as well as emotion to each setting.

Read the SLJ review here

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In a starred review of Coqui in the City (Penguin Random House) by Nomar Perez, School Library Connection says “Author and illustrator Perez lavish   ly portrays San Juan and New York City with beautiful artwork and crafts a tale that is sure to ring true to many children.”

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Jimmy Allen was on Ellen recently talking about his upcoming picture book My Voice is a Trumpet (Penguin Random House), illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson.

See the clip here

School Library Journal says the book is “A suggested first choice for libraries, the rhythm and flow of words perfectly match the art while advising readers to choose love and use their voices in a powerful song.”

The book will be published July 13.

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Stephen Constanza’s latest picture book King of Ragtime (Simon & Schuster) has received glowing starred reviews form Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. Kirkus calls the book “Outstanding” and Publishers Weekly says the “pitch-perfect picture book biography of Black ragtime composer Scott Joplin (c. 1867–1917)” is “A richly detailed profile fit for a king.” The book will be published September 14.

Read the Kirkus review here

Read the Publishers Weekly review here

Pre-order the book here