Author-illustrator Chris Monroe joined Minnesota Reads for an interview about her latest picture book, String Ball, which published in May 2025 from Lerner/Carolrhoda Books. Minnesota Reads is a radio show produced at The North 103.3, and you can listen to the full interview here.

The book has received great reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and School Library Journal:

“Crafting meets cat curiosity in this purr-fectly elegant, nearly wordless story from Monroe.”―Publishers Weekly

“This work of limited words is a fun little adventure of a classically mischievous cat getting into a pickle.”―Booklist

“Featuring spare visuals yet extravagant in its storytelling, a satisfying tale for impatient kittens everywhere.”―Kirkus Reviews

“A fun book that requires a sense of story and an attention to detail.”―School Library Journal

Elise Gravel‘s Killer Underwear Invasion! and Not A Monster, illustrated by Laura González, have been nominated for the New Mexico Landof Enchantment Book Award 2025-2026. Killer Underwear Invasion! was nominated in the 3-5 category, and Not A Monster was nominated in the Pre-K-2 category.

Congratulations Elise and Laura!

Booklist has given a Starred Review to I Truck, illustrated by Jam Dong. The review says, “The illustrations, featuring bold colors, watercolor, and collage, present clear images perfect for conveying concepts to young readers. . . Kids enamored with large vehicles will revel in the facts and details worked into the text and illustrations, neither of which gets bogged down by its educational load. . . Expect this big rig to rack up serious circulation miles.”

Kirkus also praised the book, writing, “An enticing tale of hitting the road that will hit the spot for transportation lovers.”

The book is part of the On the Move series from Lerner, released on October 7th.

Version 1.0.0

Publishers Weekly has given a Starred Review to Charnelle Pinkney Barlow‘s picture book, Two Artists, Grandad and Me, writing “Pinkney Barlow (Little Rosetta and the Talking Guitar) pays homage to her late grandfather, illustrator Jerry Pinkney (1939–2021) in a heartwarming reflection about artmaking’s improvisational process…It’s a portrait of “two artists” at work that takes young creators seriously.” The book will be released in January 2026 by Doubleday.

Congratulations Charnelle!

Kim Holt‘s latest illustrated book, Fight for the Right to Read: Samuel Wilbert Tucker and the 1939 Sit-Down Strike for Library Reading Equality (Creston Books), has been featured in the CBC’s September Hot Off the Press reading list. See the full list here.

Family Feast, the latest collaboration between illustrator Frank Morrison and author Carole Boston Weatherford, hit shelves this September, and the positive reviews are pouring in. The book received a Starred Review from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal. It was also chosen by Society of Illustrators to be featured in their 2025 Original Art Exhibition. Congratulations Frank!

★ “A triumphant and utterly inviting gustatory celebration.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “Readers will clearly see that sharing food at a table strengthens the bond of a family, and brings everyone closer together. This is a gorgeously illustrated celebration of African American family and food.” —School Library Journal, starred review

★ “The joy lingers long after dessert across this soulful tribute to legacy, love, and familial gatherings.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Run Home, the follow-up to Alyssa Bermudez‘s middle grade graphic memoir, Big Apple Diaries, has received a Starred Review from Kirkus. The review praises the book as, “a heartfelt, reassuring, and emotionally intelligent page-turner.” Run Home will be released by Roaring Brook Press on January 27, 2026. Pre-order a copy here.

Congratulations to Erika Lynne Jones on the Starred Review from School Library Journal for her debut author-illustrated picture book, Zara in the Middle (Harper Collins). The reviewer writes, “Themes of self-expression, family dynamics, and compromise make this a standout read for young audiences navigating big personalities in their own lives…A warm and empowering story about finding one’s voice while celebrating the love of family.”

A Voice of Hope: The Myrlie Evers-Williams Story, illustrated by London Ladd and written by Nadia Solomon, has received a Crystal Kite Award Honor in the West region.  The book is published by Penguin/Philomel Books.Congratulations to London!

See the full list of winners here.

Congratulations to Joanie Stone! Her illustrated picture book, The Wire Zoo (Simon & Schuster), has won the Colorado Book Award in the Children’s Literature category. See the full list of winners here.