Crushes of the Week: April 23-29, 2023

This week's crushes:

1. The Flock by Margarita del Mazo and Guridi (Nubeocho, April 2023)
2. What's That, Jack? by Cédric Ramadier and Vincent Bourgeau (Gecko Press, April 2023)
3. All in a Day by Chihiro Takeuchi (Berbay Publishing, April 2023)
4. Wake Up, Trucks! by Jodie Parachíni and Teresa Bellón (Tiger Tales, March 2023)
5. Enough Is... by Jessica Whipple and Nicole Wong (Tilbury House Publishers, April 2023)
6. The Perfect Sushi by Emily Satoko Seo and Mique Moriuchi (Barefoot Books, April 2023)
7. Flipflopi: How a Boat Made from Flip-Flops Is Helping to Save the Ocean by Linda Ravin Lodding, Dipesh Pabari, and Michael Machira Mwangi (Beaming Books, March 2023

      

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Let's Talk Illustrators #246: Sandhya Prabhat

I am so pleased to present my interview with the unparalleled Sandhya Prabhat, illustrator of A Garden in My Hands by Meera Sriram, today! Sandhya's illustrations are always colorful and full of attention to detail, and it was such a blast talking to her about her work. I hope you enjoy a peek at this prolific illustrators process!

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Crushes of the Week: April 16-22, 2023

This week's crushes:

1. Make Way: The Story of Robert McCloskey, Nancy Schön, and Some Very Famous Ducklings by Angela Burke Kunkel and Claire Keane (Random House Studio, April 2023)
2. The Forest Keeper: The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Rina Singh and Ishita Jain (NorthSouth Books, April 2023)
3. The Dream Train: Poems for Bedtime by Sean Taylor and Anuska Allepuz (Candlewick Press, March 2023)
4. Last Flight by Kristen Mai Giang and Dow Phumiruk (Levine Querido, April 2023)
5. A Girl Can Build Anything by E. E. Charlton-Trujillo, Pat Zietlow Miller, and Keisha Morris (Viking Books for Young Readers, April 2023)
6. Can You See It? by Susan Verde and Juliana Perdomo (Abrams Books for Young Readers, April 2023)

  

  

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Let's Talk Picture Books...at School Library Journal!

I wrote an article for School Library Journal! It's all about what makes good picture books great, and you can read the online version here. I hope you enjoy taking a closer look at some beautiful books with me…at a different location!

Let's Talk Illustrators #245: Kimberly Annece Henderson and Ciara LeRoy

Today I'm excited to share one of my more unique interviews, with Kimberly Annece Henderson and Ciara LeRoy about Dear Yesteryear. I say unique because there are no illustrations in this book, rather it features archival photos collected and presented by Kimberly supported by hand-lettered text done by Ciara. Again, a really unique and insightful interview––I hope you enjoy looking more closely at this incredible project that honors Black Americans!

Kimberly Annece Henderson photo credit: Kimberly Henderson; Ciara LeRoy photo credit: Ayna Lorenzo

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Crushes of the Week: April 9-15, 2023

This week's crushes:

1. One, Two, Grandpa Loves You by Shelly Becker and Dan Yaccarino (Abrams Appleseed, March 2023)
2. The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker (Candlewick Press, March 2023)
3. What Cat Likes Best: Rhymes for Children by Erwin Moser and Alistair Beaton (NorthSouth Books, April 2023)
4. Bookscape Board Books: Bon Voyage! by Ingela P. Arrhenius (Chronicle Books, April 2023)
5. The Artist by Ed Vere (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, April 2023)
6. Be the Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon by Mo Willems (Union Square & Co., April 2023)
7. All about Nothing by Elizabeth Rusch and Elizabeth Goss (Charlesbridge Publishing, April 2023)
8. The Invitation by Stacey May Fowles and Marie Lafrance (Groundwood Books, April 2023)
9. 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David Larochelle and Lian Cho (Dial Books, April 2023)

         

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Let's Talk Illustrators #244: Abigail Halpin

Recently I spoke with veteran illustrator Abigail Halpin about her most recent picture book Mouseboat, written by Larissa Theule. We discussed Abigail's career so far, what she has planned for the future, and the importance of leaning into certain emotions (even the hardest ones) to best connect with a manuscript. Enjoy the read.

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Crushes of the Week: April 2-8, 2023

This week's crushes:

1. How Birds Sleep by David Obuchowski and Sarah Pedry (Minedition, March 2023)
2. The Name Game by Elizabeth Laird and Olivia Holden (Tiny Owl Publishing, March 2023)
3. I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know by Leslie Odom, Nicolette Robinson, and Joy Hwang Ruiz (Feiwel & Friends, March 2023)
4. Babajoon's Treasure by Farnaz Esnaashari and Nabi H. Ali (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, March 2023)
5. Pitch Perfect and Persistent!: The Musical Debut of Amy Cheney Beach by Caitlin Delems and Alison Jay (Calkins Creek Books, March 2023)
6. My Friend, Loonie by Nina Lacour and Ashling Lindsay (Candlewick Press, March 2023)

  

 

 

 

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Let's Talk Illustrators #243: Morissa Rubin

I recently got a chance to catch up with author-illustrator Morissa Rubin about how she created Dot, Dot, Polka Dot, a board book that takes a unique approach to exploring the fabric patterns that make up a child's quilt. Enjoy a peek at how this book got made!

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Crushes of the Week: March 26-April 1, 2023

This week's crushes:

1. This Is a Story by John Schu and Lauren Castillo (Candlewick Press, March 2023)
2. Linh's Rooftop Garden by Janay Brown-Wood and Samara Hardy (Peachtree Publishers, March 2023)
3. Just a Worm by Marie Boyd (Greenwillow Books, March 2023)
4. The Blue Umbrella by Emily Ann Davison and Momoko Abe (Random House Studio, March 2023)
5. Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine: Josephine Cochrane's Bright Invention Makes a Splash by Kate Hannigan and Sarah Green (Calkins Creek Books, March 2023)
6. In the Pond: A Magic Flaps Book by Will Millard and Rachel Qiuqi (Magic Cat, March 2023)
7. Hooray for Spring! by Kazuo Iwamura (NorthSouth Books, March 2023)