Seven of Painted Words’s Authors/Illustrators Books Included in Bank Street’s Best Children Books of the Year 2017

May 2, 2017

Every year, the Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College of Education compile a list of the best children’s books of the previous year. Based on criteria such as literary excellence, quality of illustration, diversity, and emotional impact, these books are recommended for parents, librarians, and children. This year, Bank Street has chosen seven of Painted Words’s books as some of the best books of 2016!

Under Five:

• Spare Dog Parts, written by Alison Hughes and illustrated by Ashley Spires
• Who Wants a Tortoise?, written by David Keane and illustrated by K.G. Campbell

Five to Nine:

• The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison
• Mouse Scouts: Make a Difference, by Sarah Dillard
• Don’t Call Me Grandma, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Liz Zunon

Nine to Twelve:

• Fluffy Strikes Back, by Ashley Spires
• Echo Echo: Reverso Poems about Greek Myths, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse

Bank Street’s full list of recommended books can be found here. Congratulations to our Painted Words artists and authors!

Echo Echo and The Opposite Zoo Receive Honorable Mentions on Huffington Post’s Best Picture Books of 2016

December 15, 2016

As 2016 comes to a close, it’s time for Best Books of the Year lists! Huffington Post recently published their list of the Best Picture Books of 2016, including two of our author/illustrators as honorable mentions. In the Best Concept Book Category, Il Sung Na‘s The Opposite Zoo, which illustrated the concept of opposites through the medium of a zoo at night, was included as an honorable mention. In the Best Poetry category was Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse, which retold Greek myths through a unique poetic form. Congratulations, Il Sung and Josée!

The Huffington Post’s full article can be read here. The Opposite Zoo can be purchased online here and Echo Echo can be purchased here.

Gene Barretta and Josée Masse Included In NYPL’s 2016 List of Best Books for Kids

November 30, 2016

The New York Public Library recently released their list of the best books of 2016 for teens and kids. They chose 100 books in various categories for kids, and 50 for teens. Two of Painted Words’s authors/illustrators made it to that list! In the nonfiction category was included Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare by Gene Barretta. Echo, Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse, was included in the poetry category. Congratulations, Gene and Josée!

The entire list of books can be found on the NYPL’s site here.

Echo Echo, illus. by Josée Masse, one of SLJ’s Best Books of 2016

November 25, 2016

The School Library Journal recently released their list of the best books of 2016, and Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse, made the list in the nonfiction section. Echo Echo retells classic Greek myths using the poetic format called reverso poems. Only 66 books were chosen this year to be included on the SLJ’s best of the year list. Congratulations, Josée and Marilyn!

You can check out all the books chosen by the SLJ here.

Gene Barretta, Gerald Kelley, Elise Gravel, Vanessa B Newton, and Josée Masse Nominated for CYBIL 2016 Award

October 10, 2016

The Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers Literary (CYBIL) Awards is an award given out every year for juvenile and children’s books that successfully combine literary merit and popular appeal. Every year, a list of nominees is created, and from this list, the winners are chosen. This year, five of our authors/illustrators were nominated for six different books!

Juvenile and Elementary Nonfiction:

• Sky High: George Ferris’s Big Wheel (Step Into Reading), written by Monica Kulling and illustrated by Gene Barretta
• Grover Cleveland, Again!, written by Ken Burns and illustrated by Gerald Kelley
• The Toad (Disgusting Critters Series), written and illustrated by Elise Gravel

Fiction Picture Books/Board Books:

• Mary Had A Little Glam, written by Tammi Saeur and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton

Middle Grade Fiction:

• The Nine Lives of Jacob Tibbs, written by Cylin Busby and illustrated by Gerald Kelley

Poetry:

• Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse

Congratulations to our talented authors and illustrators! To find out more about the CYBIL awards and who else has been nominated, visit their site here.

Advanced Praise for Echo Echo

February 9, 2016

Echo Echo, the third collection of reverso poems from author Marilyn Singer and illustrator Josée Masse, turns its focus to Greek myths. The book comes out February 16th, and has already received lots of advance praise, including two starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal. Echo Echo was chosen as a Spring 2016 Kids’ Indie Next List Pick, and Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast featured it in their 2016 picture book preview. Kirkus Reviews calls Josée’s art “gorgeous,” and Booklist calls it “enchanting.” If you want to check out what all the buzz is about, you can preorder Echo Echo here!

“Masse’s acrylics, dominated by RICH COLORS and vertical symmetries, evoke weathered frescoes… Details about the myths appear across the bottom

of the pages, further boosting the utility of another INVENTIVE exploration of stories readers thought they knew.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This IMAGINATIVE work is a symphony of cannily composed verse intensified by a palette of Aegean blues, sunlit golds, and delicate greens…

The demanding wordplay is DEFTLY HANDLED AND PRETTILY DISPLAYED… For those unfamiliar with the Greek myths, an encapsulated summary

is provided at the bottom of each spread. Verdict: A witty, seductive pairing of poetic imagination and artistic vision.”—School Library Journal, starred review

Watch Josée’s illustration process for one of the pieces from the book below.

Liz Zunon, Frank Morrison, and Il Sung Na Included on CCBC Choices 2017 List

March 28, 2017

The CCBC Choices list is an annual selection compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center on the best children’s books of the year. This year, three of Painted Words authors illustrators have been included on the list under various categories!

Picture Books for School Age Children:

• The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison
• Don’t Call Me Grandma, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Liz Zunon

Concept Books:

• The Opposite Zoo by Il Sung Na

The full list of selected books is available here.

Echo Echo and The Opposite Zoo Receive Honorable Mentions on Huffington Post’s Best Picture Books of 2016

December 15, 2016

As 2016 comes to a close, it’s time for Best Books of the Year lists! Huffington Post recently published their list of the Best Picture Books of 2016, including two of our author/illustrators as honorable mentions. In the Best Concept Book Category, Il Sung Na‘s The Opposite Zoo, which illustrated the concept of opposites through the medium of a zoo at night, was included as an honorable mention. In the Best Poetry category was Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse, which retold Greek myths through a unique poetic form. Congratulations, Il Sung and Josée!

The Huffington Post’s full article can be read here. The Opposite Zoo can be purchased online here and Echo Echo can be purchased here.

NPR’s Best Books of 2016 Includes Il Sung Na’s The Opposite Zoo and Don’t Call Me Grandma, Illus. by Liz Zunon

December 7, 2016

The National Public Radio (NPR) put out a list of books chosen by their staff as being the best of 2016. Included in the children’s section is Don’t Call Me Grandma, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Liz Zunon, and The Opposite Zoo by Il Sung Na.

Don’t Call Me Grandma is the story of a young girl’s relationship with her prickly but fascinating grandma. NPR praised the fact that this story presents an unconventional and more fully realized version of a grandmother than most childrens’ literature. They describe Liz’s illustrations as “genius.”

The Opposite Zoo teaches children about opposites through the medium of a whimsical, brightly colored zoo after it closes for the night. They describe the picture book as “spacious” and inviting.

Congratulations, Il Sung and Liz! The full list of recommended books can be found on NPR’s site here.

Il Sung Na Awarded Honorable Mention in 3×3 Illustration Competition

June 15, 2016

Il Sung Na was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Picture Book category in the 3×3 International Illustration Annual Competition. His award came for his picture book, The Opposite Zoo, which teaches children about the concept of illustrations through illustrations of a zoo at night. Congratulations, Il Sung!

You can see the full list of winners here.

The New York Times Reviews Il Sung Na’s The Opposite Zoo

May 5, 2016

In an article about children’s picture books that explore new words for children, the New York Times gave high praise to Il Sung Na‘s new picture book, The Opposite Zoo, which explores the concept of opposites at a zoo closed for the night. The New York Times praised Il Sung for “bring[ing] fresh energy” to the familiar idea of opposites. They appreciate his humor and clever touches, and especially complimented his art, writing that he has “a coloring style that feels as if someone took a firecracker to a box of crayons.”

You can read the full review of The Opposite Zoo on the New York Times site here.

.Il Sung Na Interviewed by Mashable about The Opposite Zoo

March 3, 2016

Il Sung Na was interviewed by Mashable, a media/entertainment site, about The Opposite Zoo, his newest picture book, about a zoo filled with opposing creatures. Il Sung told Mashable that a book of opposites had been on his list of books he wanted to write about for a long time. Mashable praised The Opposite Zoo as, “A beautiful lesson in contrast and contradictions,” and shared some of Il Sung’s lovely illustrations.  To read the whole article, check out this link.

Kirkus Reviews Praises Il Sung Na’s Opposite Zoo

February 2, 2016

Il Sung Na’s Opposite Zoo, coming out March 8th, has received advanced praise from Kirkus. Opposite Zoo uses the setting of a zoo at night to help explain the concept of opposites to young readers. Kirkus praises his humor and writes that, “Readers…will be struck by the simplified, free style he adopts in this book for young learners.” They call Opposite Zoo, “A beautiful treatment of a familiar subject that repays close looking again and again.”

Seven of Painted Words’s Authors/Illustrators Books Included in Bank Street’s Best Children Books of the Year 2017

May 2, 2017

Every year, the Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College of Education compile a list of the best children’s books of the previous year. Based on criteria such as literary excellence, quality of illustration, diversity, and emotional impact, these books are recommended for parents, librarians, and children. This year, Bank Street has chosen seven of Painted Words’s books as some of the best books of 2016!

Under Five:

• Spare Dog Parts, written by Alison Hughes and illustrated by Ashley Spires
• Who Wants a Tortoise?, written by David Keane and illustrated by K.G. Campbell

Five to Nine:

• The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison
• Mouse Scouts: Make a Difference, by Sarah Dillard
• Don’t Call Me Grandma, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Liz Zunon

Nine to Twelve:

• Fluffy Strikes Back, by Ashley Spires
• Echo Echo: Reverso Poems about Greek Myths, written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josée Masse

Bank Street’s full list of recommended books can be found here. Congratulations to our Painted Words artists and authors!

Liz Zunon, Frank Morrison, and Il Sung Na Included on CCBC Choices 2017 List

March 28, 2017

The CCBC Choices list is an annual selection compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center on the best children’s books of the year. This year, three of Painted Words authors illustrators have been included on the list under various categories!

Picture Books for School Age Children:

• The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison
• Don’t Call Me Grandma, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Liz Zunon

Concept Books:

• The Opposite Zoo by Il Sung Na

The full list of selected books is available here.

CBC’s 2017 Notable Social Studies Books for Young People List Includes Frank Morrison, Gene Barretta, Gerald Kelley

January 27, 2017

Every year the Children’s Book Council (CBC) releases a list of children and YA books with social studies themes that they consider to be exceptional in storytelling, themes, diversity, and illustrations. They have recently released the preview for the 2017 list, and three of our authors and illustrators have made the list!

Kindergarten to Second Grade:

• Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare, by Gene Barretta

Third to Fifth Grade:

• Grover Cleveland, Again!, written by Ken Burns and illustrated by Gerald Kelley
• The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison

Congratulations, Gene, Gerald, and Frank! The full preview of recommended books for 2017 as well as more information about the selection process can be found here.

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville chosen for a Junior Library Guild Selection

October 5, 2016

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection for Spring 2016! This great honor is often a great predictor of future success for a children’s book. Congratulations, Frank and Pat!

Quickest Kid in Clarksville, illus. by Frank Morrison, nominated for North Carolina Children’s Book Award

August 30, 2016

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, a picture book written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, was nominated for North Carolina’s Children’s Book Award. Every year, the school children of North Carolina nominate their favorite picture and junior books. Members of the North Carolina Children’s Book Award committee choose about ten books from the nominees. This year, The Quickest Kid was one of those chosen books. During the upcoming school year, children will read the nominated books and vote for their favorite. We’ll find out who won in March!

To see all the nominated books, check out the Children’s Book Award’s site here. The Quickest Kid in Clarksville can be purchased online here.

Publishers Weekly Praises The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, illus. by Frank Morrison

February 9, 2016

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, comes out today! You can order it online here.

Publishers Weekly calls The Quickest Kid, “A story about teamwork and determination.” They praise Frank’s art, writing that, “Working in watercolor, Morrison…gives the girls abundant personality.” The Quickest Kid in Clarksville tells the story of two girls determined to impress their track hero, Wilma Rudolph, and prove who the fasted kid in Clarksville really is.

Check out Publishers Weekly’s full review here.

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, illus. by Frank Morrison, Makes Amazon’s Best Books of February List

February 2, 2016

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, was chosen by Amazon as one of their best books of February for ages six to eight. The Quickest Kid tells of rival girls in the fifties who love to run track and learn to work together. Congratulations, Pat and Frank!

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville comes out February 9th and can be pre-ordered here. The full list of best books for ages six to eight can be found here.

Booklist Praises The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, illus. by Frank Morrison

January 27, 2016

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, doesn’t come out until February 9th, but it’s already receiving positive reviews! The Quickest Kid in Clarksville tells the story of Alta and Charmaine, two rival girls who love running and want to prove themselves to their hero, Olympian Wilma Rudolph. Booklist praises the The Quickest Kid for its inspiring message of “teamwork and unification,” and they write that, “Morrison’s bold, expressive watercolors capture the flavor of the era (1960s) with a contemporary tone that will make this story feel strikingly current.” The review is in Booklist’s February 1st issue. You can read it online here, and The Quickest Kid in Clarksville can be pre-ordered here!

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Frank Morrison, doesn’t come out until February 9th, but it’s already receiving positive reviews!  and The Quickest Kid in Clarksville can be pre-ordered here!

Release of Elise Gravel’s New Book I Want a Monster!

March 3, 2016

Elise Gravel‘s latest book, I Want A Monster!, is now available for purchase! I Want A Monster! tells the story of a little girl who longs for a monster as a pet and her process of finding and learning to care for her monster. The School Library Journal calls it, “A fun, spirited read-aloud for storytime or classroom use.” A French version, Je Veux Un Monstre, has also been released.

You can order I Want A Monster! online here.

I Want A Monster! Receives Advance Praise from Quill & Quire

January 13, 2016

I Want A Monster!, Elise Gravel’s new picture book from Katherine Tegen Books, won’t hit shelves until March, but the positive reviews are already rolling in. Quill & Quire, Canada’s top book news magazine, praised the book in their January/February issue. They write, “Silly and offbeat, I Want A Monster! is more fun than a barrel of baby Oogly-Wumps.”

Pre-0rder your copy here.

Sewing Stories Featured on SLJ’s List “Celebrating African Americans: The Arts”

January 13, 2016

Sewing Stories, written by Barbara Herkert and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton, is the wonderful picture book biography of Harriet Powers, a little-known artist born into slavery in rural Georgia. The book was released in late 2015 by Random House Children’s Books to praise from Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal, and was recently featured on SLJ’s list “Celebrating African Americans: The Arts.” The list features recent picture book biographies that introduce young readers to “noteworthy African Americans who have defined their place in the world by following their passions and pursuing their art. The full list can be viewed here.

Praise for Sewing Stories:

“A much-needed introduction to the life of a little known African American artist, with many possible curriculum connections: artists, quilters, women’s history, and the Civil War.”–School Library Journal

“As a picture-book introduction to an unsung artist, it inspires. Harriet Powers: an artist worth knowing.”–Kirkus Reviews

The New York Times Reviews Ashley Spire’s Over-Scheduled Andrew

February 18, 2016

Ashley Spire‘s new children book, Over-Scheduled Andrew, was recently reviewed by The New York Times. Over-Scheduled Andrew is the cautionary tale of a little bird who signs up for way too many clubs and classes at school. The New York Times praises Ashley’s “digitally drawn creatures…with big heads and tiny paws and wings” and her “small details,” and remarks on the timeliness of her message in this age of over-scheduled children, calling it, “a sneaky kind of cautionary tale.” You can read the full review on The New York Times website and you can buy Over-Scheduled Andrew online here.

Over-Scheduled Andrew is On Sale Now!

January 13, 2016

Ashley Spires‘ Over-Scheduled Andrew was released by Tundra Books this week.  In this sequel to Edie’s Ensembles, Andrew and Edie return in a cautionary tale that Kirkus calls a “tongue-in-cheek take on an all-too-common plight.” When Andrew signs up for too many extracurricular activities, he learns the trouble in spreading oneself too thin.  Publishers Weekly writes, “While the premise of the overcommitted child has been explored before…Spires makes it her own, bringing a playful touch to her writing and artwork. In fact, insofar as this is a message book, the real takeaway is less ‘know your limits’ than ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained.'”

You can read the Kirkus review here, and the Publishers Weekly review here. Over-Scheduled Andrew was also featured on CBC Canada’s Spring 2016 Book Preview.

Purchase a copy of the book here.