Crushes of the Week: July 13-19, 2025

This week's crushes:

1. Forts by Katie Venit and Kenard Pak (Viking Books for Young Readers, July 2025)
2. Witch Cat by Lucy Rowland and Laura Hughes (Bloomsbury Children's Books, July 2025)
3. The Zombees by Justin Colón and Kaly Quarles (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, July 2025)
4. The Book of Hands by Fátima Fernández Méndez and Violeta Cano (Reycraft Books, June 2025)
5. But Where Do Sea Turtles Live? by Elina Ellis (Kids Can Press, June 2025)

    

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Let's Talk Illustrators #369: Zuzanna Celej

I was so lucky to grab illustrator Zuzanna Celej for a quick chat about her newly illustrated book The Vase with the Golden Cracks, written by Fran Nuño. This is a special book for so many reasons, and I'll let Zuzanna tell us more about the story and illustrations, but I would be hugely remiss if I didn't point out that one of the most special parts of this book literally has to be felt to be appreciated: The pages of the book are made from stone, not trees! This gives the book quite the unique tactile experience, and it's one of many excuses to run out and find it in person. Enjoy our interview about the illustration process for The Vase with the Golden Cracks!

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

We've got a case(wrap) of the Mondays!

Crushes of the Week: July 6-12, 2025

This week's crushes:

1. The Kite Collector by Zoey Abbott (Kids Can Press, June 2025)
2. Swap-A-Word! Fun with Sound-Alike Words by Marvin Terban and Andreas Wittmann (Reycraft Books, June 2025)
3. There's an Ocean in This Book by Rachel Elliot and Genevieve LaCroix (Thames & Hudson, June 2025)
4. Willow and the Wildflowers by Matthew Schufman (Random House Studio, June 2025)
5. The Wild Robot on the Island by Peter Brown (Little, Brown Young Readers, June 2025)
6. To Catch a Ghost by Rachel Michelle Wilson (Orchard Books, July 2025)
7. Ablaze: The Story of America's First Female Smokejumper by Jessica Lawson and Sarah Gonzales (Viking Books for Young Readers, July 2025)

      

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Let's Talk Illustrators #368: Lisa Brown

It is my pleasure, honor, and privilege to present a very special interview today with Lisa Brown, author and illustrator most recently of The Moving Book. The first book in this series, The Airport Book, holds a special place in my heart as one of the first books I ever shared on this site, back when I was doing my undies reveals flat on a table! Lots of things have changed since then, but Lisa's books haven't lost a single ounce of that specialness. I'll let Lisa take it from here!