Vanessa Brantley Newton‘s newest picture book, Grandma’s Purse, has made it onto Colorado Parent’s “22 Books that Celebrate Grandparents” list. The books on this list were all recommended by local librarians and book experts, and were compiled just in time for National Grandparents Day on September 9th.  The list’s preface encourages us to “honor the wisdom, differences, and connections to the older generation,” and Grandma’s Purse definitely does just that, through Grandma Mimi’s special connection with her granddaughter. “Grandma Mimi’s purse is an endless source of fascination for a young girl in this colorful ode to the comforting magic of grandmas,” says Denver Public Library children’s librarian Amy Forrester.

You can view the full list of books here and grab your copy of Grandma’s Purse here.

Congratulations to Sarah Dillard, author and illustrator of the upcoming picture book I Wish It Would Snow!, on receiving a stellar review from Kirkus Review. This sweet seasonal story tells the tale of a charismatic brown bunny in a red turtleneck who wishes that it would snow. When his wish finally comes true, the excited bunny only enjoys it momentarily, quickly becoming exasperated at what appears to be too much snow. So it is back to square one, wishing and pleading for the snow to cease. Kirkus Review notes that this cycle of wishing, momentary enjoyment, and wishing for something else acts as a “mirror” of the young readers who will enjoy the book, and “the exuberant characterization, easy-to-read expressions, and limited text make it just right for their short attention spans.” The review also remarks that “sharp-eyed readers will enjoy watching the body language of a purple bird as the bunny expresses their wishes,” and champions that the message of “satisfaction and contentment in the present” also shines through.

You can read the full review and pre-order your copy of I Wish It Would Snow! here.

Congratulations to London Ladd, who illustrated Lend a Hand, which has been chosen as an Action Book Club Selection from the Little Free Library! The Action Book Club, a program of the Little Free Library nonprofit, combines reading with social engagement. In a twist on the traditional book club, the Action Book Club invites participants to read books on a particular theme, engage in lively discussions, and take part in meaningful group projects to benefit their communities. The Action Book Club offers book recommendations for adults, middle readers, and young readers, with a new theme announced twice a year. The theme that corresponds with Lend a Hand was “Everyday Heroes”. You can see the full list of books here and grab your copy of Lend a Hand here.

Congratulations to Josée Masse, who illustrated Thunder Underground, which is included in a column entitled “Children’s Literature Reviews: 2017 Notable Poetry Books for Children” that appears in the July issue of the NCTE journal, Language Arts. While inclusion on this list is an honor in itself, there’s also a lovely description of the book provided, which highlights Masse’s artistic contribution to the project. The author remarks that “Josée Masse’s mixed-media illustrations offer a visual adventure, including colorful cross-sections of what lies underground. Notably, Masse chooses to feature a boy and girl of different races across most of the scenes in this poetic journey.” Featuring poetry by Jane Yolen, this picture book takes young readers on an unforgettable expedition you won’t want to miss out on.

Read the full column here and purchase your copy of Thunder Underground here.

Happy book birthday to Ashley Spires, who illustrated the delightful bedtime story Go To Sleep, Little Creep, which is released today. Debut storyteller David B. Quinn and Painted Words artist Ashley Spires have joined forces to create an adorably charming, funny picture book that is sure to charm little creeps who aren’t quite ready to fall asleep. From werewolves to mummies, Go To Sleep, Little Creep presents the night time routine of tucking little monsters into bed, full of humor and heart.

Grab your copy of Go To Sleep, Little Creep here today!

Congratulations are in order for Il Sung Na, author and illustrator of the stunning, whimsical new children’s book, The Dreamer. Ahead of its September release, Na’s book about a pig who admires birds and longs to take flight has received an excellent review from Publishers Weekly.  The review aptly points out that in his determination to soar, the mint-green pig “continues to be himself,” a bird-admiring pig. Publishers Weekly praises Na’s “visual storytelling,” taking note of the way that he uses an interplay of color to add drama, and admires the “atmosphere of cool rationality” that Na creates through plot elements such as an analysis of the pig’s failures, and the artwork depicting blackboard calculations. The moral of The Dreamer is simply, sweetly summarized by Publishers Weekly – “success requires quiet judgment and hard work.”

Pre-order your copy of The Dreamer here and read the full review from Publishers Weekly here.

Painted Words illustrator London Ladd is taking part in an community effort to “bring hope back to Syracuse’s Southside,” starting with two murals under the railroad bridge that serves as an unofficial border between downtown Syracuse and the Southside neighborhood. These murals are meant “to mark the entrance to the Southside with hope,” and depict Martin Luther King Jr. giving his speech in 1961 at Syracuse University, as well as the abolitionist Frederick Douglass, featuring the words of these two prominent historical figures. Ladd is also planning to move into an artist’s loft above a community cafe, where he will start art programs for kids and adults on the Southside. You can read the full article about Ladd and the efforts to change the direction of the Southside neighborhood here.

Publishers Weekly has compiled a list of the bestselling books of 2018 so far, and A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by EG Keller (aka Gerald Kelley) appears on that list. The adorable parody picture book is number 6 on the list of NPD BookScan Top 20 Print books, January 1–July 1, 2018, and has been #1 on the New York Times children’s picture book bestseller list for 15 weeks.

Click here to read the full list of best books of 2018 so far, and here to grab your copy of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo!

2018 is flying by, and already has us book lovers looking ahead to the next round of exciting children’s book releases. Dylan Teut, who runs the Mile High Reading blog, is not immune to this anticipatory enthusiasm. He’s compiled a list of highly anticipated children’s picture books that will be released in 2019, and Bedtime for Beasties by Leslie Staub and illustrated by Jia Liu was included on that list. We’re not surprised – this adorably creative book is at the top of our must-reads list as well. In this imaginative bedtime story, a little girl takes control of her nightmare and becomes the boss of the beasties in her dreams.

You can pre-order this original tale here and view the Mile High Reading blog’s post here.

Never fear, Nomar Perez‘s newest book is here! Released on May 29th as a #1 new release on Amazon, Never Fear, God is Near is the most recent book in the Best of Li’l Buddies board book series. Illustrated by Perez, this adorable book follows Beacon, a small toucan on a big adventure. Little ones will love following Beacon on his flying test as he dodges trees, flies down to the sea, around a cliff, and up high in the sky. All with his parents nearby reminding him, “Don’t worry!” Beacon’s adventure reminds little ones to “Never Fear, God Is Near” in fun, age-appropriate ways. Packed with  vibrant, full-color illustrations and relationship-reinforcing Bible truths, little ones will delight in this engaging story.

Grab your copy of Never Fear, God is Near here.