FRUIT BOWL

Mark Hoffman's author debut Fruit Bowl is equal parts funny and informative.

Crushes of the Week: May 13-19, 2018

This week's crushes:

1. Penguinaut! by Marcie Colleen and Emma Yarlett (Scholastic Inc., October 2018)
2. A Most Unusual Day by Sydra Mallery and E. B. Goodale (Greenwillow Books, April 2018)
3. Unstinky by Andy Rash (Arthur A. Levine Books, September 2018)
4. Snail Mail by Samantha Berger and Julia Patton (Running Press Kids, May 2018)
5. Kat Writes a Song by Greg Foley (Simon & Schuster, May 2018)
6. Rhyme Flies by Antonia Pesenti (Phaidon, May 2018)

     

Let's Talk Illustrators #70: Mike Curato

If you've seen any of Mike Curato's illustrations, you know just how special they are. They have a way of transcending the page, taking you right into the world you're reading about, and Samantha Berger's What If... is no exception. If the gorgeous purples on the cover don't immediately capture you, other purposeful design elements like the case cover and endpapers will, and I was thrilled to get to chat with Mike about his latest illustration work, particularly because I know just how special this book is to him. Enjoy!

SEVEN PABLOS

Seven Pablos by Jorge Luján and Chiara Carrer introduces readers to seven different Pablos living seven different lives across the world.

Crushes of the Week: May 6-12, 2018

This week's crushes:

1. How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk and Sara Palacios (Viking Books for Young Readers, May 2018)
2. Today I'll Be a Unicorn by Dana Simpson (Andrews McMeel Publishing, May 2018)
3. Lovely by Jess Hong (Creston Books, October 2017)
4. Little Boat by Taro Gomi (Chronicle Books, August 2018)
5. Rhymoceros by Janik Coat (Abrams Appleseed, March 2015)

    

DISAPPEARING ACTS

Disappearing Acts: A Search-And-Find Book of Endangered Animals by Isabella Bunnell is a colorful seek-and-find book for young readers looking to learn more about the world's endangered animals.

Let's Talk Illustrators #69: Nancy Vo

Nancy Vo's The Outlaw is one of those books where I love every single part of it, and the more I study it, the more the little details pop out. I remember very distinctly falling in love with the typeface on the front (she and I talk about that later), but the quietness of the text, coupled with the muted illustrations, practically begs readers to take the book slow and ask questions about the motives of the characters and the moral of the book. Take a look at my conversation with Nancy about her debut and how she designed such a ominously prescient story.