Down to the Last Detail: SEA IN MY CELLS

Oh. My. Goodness. How gorgeous is this spot gloss on the front and back covers of this book?! Truly brings the cover to (undersea) life!

Let's Talk Illustrators #371: Vikki Zhang

Today I am pleased to share my interview with Vikki Zhang. We're talking about If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe, written by Cynthia Mackey, which is a beautifully thoughtful look at what happens when we take a moment to just be. Enjoy!

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Down to the Last Detail: JOAN IN THE CONE

My dog was in a cone just last week and this book cover really spoke to me! Who doesn't love a nice spot gloss to dull the sting of having to wear a dog cone?

Let's Talk Illustrators #370: Mike Ciccotello

To say it's about time I caught up with my decade-long friend, author, and illustrator Mike Ciccotello is an understatement! But I got lucky because I got to talk to him about Leonard Builds a Haunted House, and I'm nothing if not a big fan of spooky mixed with humor. It's my absolute pleasure to present that interview to you all today!

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

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!

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Crushes of the Week: June 29-July 5, 2025

This week's crushes:

1. A Little Sailing Lesson by Sara Stefanini (Post Wave, June 2025)
2. A Summer Without Anna by Kate Jenks Landry and Risa Hugo (Kids Can Press, June 2025)
3. As the World Goes By by Jonny Lambert (Tiger Tales, June 2025)
4. The Friendship Train: A True Story of Helping and Healing after World War II by Debbie Levy and Boris Kulikov (Bloomsbury Children's Books, June 2025)
5. Rabbit's Feat by Barney Saltzberg (Hippo Park, June 2025)
6. More or Less by Alison Hughes and Oge Mora (Little, Brown Young Readers, June 2025)
7. The Beautiful Layers of Me by Sophia Payne and Ruchi Mhasane (Candlewick Press, June 2025)

      

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Down to the Last Detail: MAKING LIGHT BLOOM

I am just absolutely and completely obsessed with how this spot gloss looks on the Tiffany lamp!! What a spectacular detail to add!

Let's Talk Illustrators #367: Lidia Branković

I'm excited to be back with a whole new batch of interviews! Today I'm sharing a peek into the process of making the book Circus of Shadows by Lidia Branković! This enigmatic book takes a closer look at the inner-workings of the subconscious, and it was a pleasure to pick Lidia's brain about it. Enjoy taking a closer look at this book!