February 28, 2023

Let's Talk Illustrators #238: Dinara Mirtalipova

Woven of the World by Katey Howes and Dinara Mirtalipova is a beautiful, deeply moving meditation on the interconnectedness of people. I got a chance to talk to Dinara about how she created the illustrations,  which do visual justice to the multifaceted tradition of weaving AND just so happen to have been printed with a fifth color (which you know is my jam). I hope you enjoy some insight into this beautifully woven tale!


February 27, 2023

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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


February 25, 2023

Crushes of the Week: February 19-25, 2023

This week's crushes:
  1. Around Antartica: Exploring the Frozen South by Tania Medvedeva and Maria Vyshinskaya (Thames & Hudson, February 2023)
  2. Symphony for a Broken Orchestra: How Philadelphia Collected Sounds to Save Music by Amy Ignatow and Gwen Millward (Walker Books Us, October 2022)
  3. The Bright Side by Chad Otis (Rocky Pond Books, February 2023)
  4. A Walk though the Rainforest by Martin Jenkins and Vicky White (Candlewick Press, October 2022)
  5. Ducks! by Deborah Underwood and T. L. McBeth (Godwin Books, January 2023)
  6. Giant Island by Jane Yolen and Doug Keith (Flashlight Press, August 2022)
  7. Rabbit, Duck, and Big Bear by Nadine Brun-Cosme and Olivier Tallec (Random House Studio, February 2023)
  8. The Gentle Genius of Trees by Philip Bunting (Crown Books for Young Readers, January 2023)
  9. Linus by Stuart Hausmann (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, February 2023)
        

February 21, 2023

Let's Talk Illustrators #237: Jerome Pumphrey

I feel so lucky that I got to talk to author-illustrator Jerome Pumphrey about Elbert in the Air, written by Monica Wesolowska. You might recognize Jerome's name as half of the "Old" duo (as I'm dubbing them): Jerome and his brother co-created the phenomenal companion titles Old Truck and Old Boat together a couple of years ago. This is the first time Jerome has had full reign of the illustration process, though, and his work continues to wow! Enjoy your peek inside this book! 


February 20, 2023

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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


February 18, 2023

Crushes of the Week: February 12-18, 2023

This week's crushes:
  1. Nila's Perfect Coat by Norene Paulson and Maria Mola (Beaming Books, February 2023)
  2. Together with You by Patricia Toht and Jarvis (Candlewick Press, February 2023)
  3. Mister Kitty Is Lost! by Greg Pizzoli (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, January 2023)
  4. A Take-Charge Girl Blazes a Trail to Congress: The Story of Jeannette Rankin by Gretchen Woelfle and Rebecca Gibbon (Calkins Creek Books, February 2023)
  5. Sprout Branches Out by Jessika Von Innerebner (Roaring Brook Press, January 2023)
  6. No No, Baby! by Anne Hunter (Tundra Books, February 2023)

  
  

February 16, 2023

SO MUCH SNOW

So Much Snow by Hyunmin Park has so much going for it, including a die-cut cover, a binding on the top of the book, a gatefold...the list goes on! AND it's (mostly) wordless!



February 14, 2023

Let's Talk Illustrators #236: Zeno Sworder

I was enamored with Zeno Sworder's 2021 debut This Small Blue Dot (see more here and here), so I'm thrilled to have caught Zeno on his much-anticipated follow-up My Strange Shrinking Parents. I'll let the interview speak for itself, but it's safe to say that this new book lives up to the high expectations Zero has set for himself, and he has a bright future in children's book creation. More below!


February 13, 2023

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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


February 11, 2023

Crushes of the Week: February 5-11, 2023

This week's crushes:
  1. You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce!: The Storied Life of Folk Artist Elijah Pierce by Chiquita Mullins Lee, Carmella Van Vleet, and Jennifer Mack-Watkins (Kokila, January 2023)
  2. Jump In! by Shadra Strickland (Bloomsbury Publishing, January 2023)
  3. Love Is Loud: How Diane Nash Led the Civil Rights Movement by Sandra Neil Wallace and Bryan Collier (Paula Wiseman Books, January 2023)
  4. Jessie: Queen of the Road by Lindsay Ward (Two Lions, January 2023)
  5. Stillwater and Koo Save the World by Jon J. Muth (Scholastic Press, February 2023)
  6. All the Colors of Life by Lisa Aisato and translated by Olivia Lasky (Arctis, October 2021)
  7. Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story about an Amazing Swimmer by Lynne Cox and Richard Jones (Anne Schwartz Books, January 2023)
      

February 9, 2023

THE FIRE OF STARS

The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made of by Kirsten W. Larson and Katherine Roy celebrates groundbreaking astronomer Cecilia Payne.



February 7, 2023

Let's Talk Illustrators #235: Bryan Collier

I'm so happy I got a chance to catch up with legendary, award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier about his illustration process! Today we're talking specifically about We Are Here, written by the amazing Tami Charles, which serves as an ode to the Black and Brown people who have made notable societal contributions throughout history. Enjoy our inspirational chat!


February 6, 2023

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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


February 4, 2023

Crushes of the Week: January 29-February 4, 2023

This week's crushes:
  1. Whose Egg Is That? by Darrin Lunde and Kelsey Oseid (Charlesbridge Publishing, January 2023)
  2. Heart String by Brooke Boynton-Hughes (Chronicle Books, December 2022)
  3. Dark on Light by Dianne White and Felicita Sala (Beach Lane Books, December 2022)
  4. Feminist Kids by Luis Amavisca, Blanca Lacasa, and Gusti (NubeOcho, October 2022)
  5. Tiptoe Tiger by Jane Clarke and Britta Teckentrup (Candlewick Press, November 2022)
  6. Hello, Robot!: Day-To-Day Life with Artificial Intelligence! by Cosicosa and Ana Seixas (Little Gestalten, November 2022)
  7. Love Made Me More by Colleen Rowan Kosinski and Sonia Sánchez (Two Lions, December 2022)
  8. The Sun Is Late and So Is the Farmer by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead (Neal Porter Books, November 2022)
       

February 2, 2023

AT THE DROP OF A CAT

At the Drop of a Cat by Ã‰lise Fontenaille and Violeta Lópiz, and translated by Karin Snelson and Emilie Robert Wong is the loving story of a child getting to know their grandfather.