Miles of Style, illustrated by Lynn Gaines, and A Flea for Justice, illustrated by TeMika Grooms, were mentioned in a recent Miami Times Online article entitled “In picture book biographies, Black kids can see themselves, and what they can be,” written by Nosakhere A. Griffin-EL,Ph.D. The author writes, “picture book biographies can be powerful tools for helping Black children imagine their future selves, overcome personal barriers, navigate big emotions, even use their talents to make the world a better place. ” He goes on to highlight Flea for Justice and Miles of Style: “In the book A Flea for Justice, author Valerie Bolling shows how Marian Wright Edelman used her frustration and disappointment over racial injustice to make the world a better place by founding the Children’s Defense Fund and the Freedom Schools initiative. For kids struggling with big emotions, this book can be a tool to help them convert those feelings into positive change…In her book Miles of Style, Lisa Brathwaite writes about how fashion icon and entrepreneur Eunice Johnson used her exceptional fashion sense to found Ebony Magazine, which serves as an inspiration for Black women and continues to spark the imagination of Black people across the country. In […]
The Gathering Table, illustrated by London Ladd and written by Antwan Eady, was included on ALA’s Rainbow Book List for 2026, as a Top Ten Title for Young Readers. The list is a “a curated selection of books that celebrate the lives, experiences, and families of LGBTQIA+ youth, spanning from birth through age 18.” Congratulations London! You can view the full list here.
Michael Slack‘s Tate Tuber: Space Spud (Holiday House) was included on ALA’s Best Graphic Novels for Children list in the Younger Readers (0-7) category. Congratulations Michael! See the full list here.
Our World is a Family, illustrated by Nomar Perez, and written by Miry Whitehill and Jennifer Jackson, hit the New York Times Bestseller list this week! The book, published by Sourcebooks in 2022, was recently featured on the instagram channel, MaiStoryBook (@maistorybooklibrary). She called it “one of the BEST picture books for teaching about HUMAN MIGRATION and ways to WELCOME REFUGEES and IMMIGRANTS into our communities.” Congratulations Nomar!
Charnelle Pinkney Barlow‘s Two Artists, Granddad and Me, released on January 20th, has received its fourth starred reviews from School Library Journal! Congratulations Charnelle! ★ “Readers can almost feel the love and affection radiating off the pages as the girl in the story draws, paints, and creates with her grandfather . . . This is an excellent book for any budding artist but also to convey how mentors and teachers help on the journey of learning and creating.” —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW ★ “Pinkney Barlow pays homage to her late grandfather, illustrator Jerry Pinkney in a heartwarming reflection about artmaking’s improvisational process . . . It’s a portrait of ‘two artists’ at work that takes young creators seriously.” —Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW ★ “This radiant, deeply personal picture book honors creativity, legacy, and love and shows how one generation’s generosity can not only inform but inspire imagination in another.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW ★ “The soothing narrative evokes the beloved bond between grandfather and granddaughter, while descriptive language has a vividness that fully captures the girl’s discovery of her inner artist.” —The Bulletin, STARRED REVIEW
When I Hear Spirituals, illustrated by London Ladd, was selected by The Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books for their 2025 Blue Ribbon Awards! They wrote, “In this beautifully crafted celebration of African American spirituals, a young narrator alludes to the significance of twelve spirituals within the larger historical, cultural, and religious context of her community; the girl’s welcoming, wondrous tone makes this both an informative and evocative read.” The book was also named a Notable Children’s Book by the ALSC Notable Children’s Books Committee. See the full list here. Congratulations London!
