In a review of Esperanza Caramelo, The Star of Nochebuena (Knopf) by Karla Arenas Valenti, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri Kirkus says “Chavarri’s effervescent artwork offers an appealing depiction of Navidad, with all its baked-in promises of magic.” Read the full review here The book will be published September 12, 2023. Pre order it here
Erika Lynne Jones, illustrator of The Loud Librarian ( Simon & Schuster) by Jenna Beatrice, and Black Girls: A Celebration of You (HarperCollins) by Dominique Furukawa is featured in an article in the Moms We Love Section of DFW Child. In the interview, Erika talks about how she has cultivated her talent to create quirky characters that help kids feel seen. Read the article here Get the Loud Librarian here Pre order Black Girls: A Celebration of You here
Freshman Year (Christy Ottaviano Books), by Sarah Mai has been selected by the Junior Library Guild. The book, a stylish graphic novel about the unique angst, humor, and self-doubt universal to the experience of going away to college, will be published in February 2024. Pre-order it here
Michael Slack’s sculptures are featured in a solo show at The Compound Gallery titled Chunky Artifacts: Objects For Future Discovery,featuring new drawings and ceramic sculptures. In the distant future when cultural archaeologists are sifting through the detritus of contemporary culture what objects will they unearth? What stories will they attach to these objects? Will there be a point in the future where all mythology merges into a single universal mythology? If so, what would the personifications of this mythology look like? Objects for Future Discoveries is Slack’s playful attempt to explore these questions. Chunky Artifacts is also a humorous contemplation on disposable culture and the valuation of fine art. Learn more here
The Most Magnificent Idea (Kids Can Press) by Ashley Spires, has been shortlisted for the Chocolate Lily Book Award. The Chocolate Lily Book Awards celebrates BC authors and illustrators while striving to increase literacy for grade school children in British Columbia, all of Canada and the whole reading world! See all of the nominees here Get the book here
Erika Lynn Jones , illustrator of The Loud Librarian (Atheneum) by Jenna Beatrice, is featured on the KidLit in Color Blog, sharing tips for aspiring illustrators. She talks about her road to becoming an illustrator and shares some of the obstacles and triumphs she faced along the way. Read the full post here
