School Library Journal gave a Starred Review to PUSHING HOPE: AN ILLUSTRATED MEMOIR OF SURVIVAL, written by Raymond Santana, one of the Exonerated Five, and illustrated by Keith Henry Brown. SLJ writes: “A powerful illustrated memoir of one of the Central Park Five, who were exonerated in 2002… Readers will feel anger, heartbreak, and hope as they witness Santana transition from a fun-loving teen to wronged prisoner and artistic entrepreneur… This touching, heartrending work will inspire young people to action. With so many curricular tie-ins and as a powerful choice for aspiring activists and artists, and striving readers, this is a must-purchase for all collections.”
Run Home, the follow-up title to Alyssa Bermudez‘s graphic novel memoir, Big Apple Diaries, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection! The book will be released by Roaring Brook Press in January 2026. Congratulations Alyssa! From the publisher: This heartrending graphic memoir by Alyssa Bermudez (Big Apple Diaries) is a moving and unforgettable story about inner strength, healing, and finding hope. It’s 2002, and 14-year-old Alyssa is a freshman at a new high school where she knows NO ONE and the uniforms are hideous! What a disaster… Even worse? Her parents are forcing her to join the cross-country team. No one needs to run, or sweat, this much! Over time though, Alyssa actually starts to like running. She’s getting better with practice, and some of the girls on the team are really nice. Alyssa begins to find a steady rhythm with high school, cross country, and her new stepfamily. But Alyssa’s dad is sick, and she doesn’t know what to do. When the worst thing imaginable happens, Alyssa will need to count on her friends, family, and herself to keep running forward.
Congratulations to all our illustrators whose books were included in Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year! Our Spot, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard (Amazon Publishing) Summer is Here, illustrated by Bea Jackson (Bloomsbury) Your Voice, Your Vote, illustrated by Keisha Morris (Harper Collins) Adela’s Mariachi Band, illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina (Charlesbridge) Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now!, illustrated by Bea Jackson (Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR) The Sole Man, illustrated by Stephen Costanza (Sleeping Bear Press) The Wire Zoo, illustrated by Joanie Stone (Simon & Schuster) A Voice of Hope: The Myrlie Evers-Williams Story, illustrated by London Ladd (Philomel Books)
Congratulations to Michael Slack! His hilarious graphic reader, Tate Tuber: Space Spud, has been chosen as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. The book will be released from Holiday House on October 28th. Mark your calendars!
The Woman Behind the Magic, illustrated by Joanie Stone (Simon & Schuster), received a Starred Review from School Library Journal. The book highlights the legacy and contributions of Lillian Disney, Walt Disney’s wife. The review calls the book “an insightful and inspiring biography that shines a well-deserved light on a little-known figure who quietly helped shape the magic of Disney.”
Friday Night Wrestlefest (Roaring Brook Press), written by J.F. Fox and illustrated by Micah Player, won the New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Award at the Roadrunner Level! A student choice award selected by New Mexico’s young readers, Friday Night Wrestlefest was chosen as their favorite in the 5 and up category. Congratulations to J.F. and Micah on this wonderful honor! Learn more about the award HERE.
