Let's Talk Illustrators #376: Rafael Sica

I was lucky to get a chance to chat with debut Brazilian children's book and seasoned comics creator Rafael Sica about No One Slept, translated by Bruna Dantas Lobato. It was such a thrill getting to talk to Rafael about his illustration inspiration for the book, which just so happens to be one of my favorite illustrators––but I won't spoil the surprise! Enjoy our chat!

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Crushes of the Week: September 21-27, 2025

This week's crushes:

1. Wolf in the City by Rachel Tilda Wolf (Scallywag Press, September 2025)
2. Benjamin Grows a Garden by Melanie Florence and Hawlii Pichette (Kids Can Press, September 2025)
3. I Don't Want to Go to School by Amélie Graux (NubeOcho, September 2025)
4. Woody's Words: Woodrow Wilson Rawls and Where the Red Fern Grows by Lisa Rogers and Susan Reagan (Calkins Creek, September 2025)
5. Thank You, Old Oak by Britt Crow-Miller and Amy Schimler-Safford (Barefoot Books, August 2025)
6. My First Black and White Book: Play! by Pascale Estellon, translated by Post Wave Children's Books (Post Wave Children's Books, July 2025)
7. I Am So Strong by Mario Ramos (Gecko Press, August 2025)

      

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Down to the Last Detail: SNOW KID

Once again, a Jessie Sima book jacket gets prime treatment! It's so shiny, who even needs to read the story inside (I do, I do!)?

Let's Talk Illustrators #375: Olga Fadeeva

I am excited to share my interview with Russian author-illustrator Olga Fadeeva today! She most recently created Sound, translated be Lena Traer, a fascinating look at the concept and history of sound (you'd be surprised at what you can learn about something most take for granted!). Enjoy a closer peek at this book! 

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Crushes of the Week: September 14-20, 2025

This week's crushes:

1. Cake!: An Interactive Recipe Book by Lotta Nieminen (Phaidon Press, September 2025)
2. Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King and Maurice Sendak (HarperCollins, September 2025)
3. Cats and Us: A Ten-Thousand-Year Fascination by Marta Pantaleo and translated by Debbie Bibo and Yvette Ghione (Groundwood Books, September 2025)
4. All Around a Year by Mariana Ruiz Johnson and translated by Avi Silberstein
5. I'm Longer Than You!: An Epic Contest of Measurement by Carolyn Fisher (Kids Can Press, September 2025)
6. My Dog Smudge by Sujean Rim (Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, September 2025)
7. The Very Last Drop: Meet the Animals at the Watering Hole by Joanna Rzezak and translated by Post Wave Books (Post Wave Books, July 2025)
8. Nosy by Seymour Chwast (Creative Editions, August 2025)

       

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Down to the Last Detail: EVERYTHING GROWS IN JIDDO'S GARDEN

So not only does this beautiful book have a gorgeous slipcase it comes in, but both the slipcase and the cover of the book are covered in bright green foil! What a stunning package!

Let's Talk Illustrators #374: Matthew Forsythe

Today I'm proudly sharing Matthew Forsythe's insights into his process for creating the funny and moving book Aggie and the Ghost. I hope you enjoy learning about this book as much as I did!

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Crushes of the Week: September 7-13, 2025

This week's crushes:

1. Bally the Amazing Wonderball by Jordan Morris (Kids Can Press, September 2025)
2. The World Entire: A True Story of an Extraordinary World War II Rescue by Elizabeth Brown and Melissa Castrillón (Chronicle Books, September 2025)
3. Fly Like a Bird by Olga Ptashnik (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, September 2025)
4. Hello, Tobi! by Andrea Cáceres (Candlewick Press, August 2025)
5. Victor and the Giant by Rafael Yockteng and translated by Elisa Amado (Greystone Kids, August 2025)
6. Let's Get Spooky by Stepanka Sekaninova and Lukas Figel (Albatros Media, August 2025)
7. Tiger, It's Snowing! by Daishu Ma (Post Wave, August 2025)
8. Baby Basics: My Animal Sounds by Xavier Deneux (Twirl, August 2025)

       

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Let's Talk Illustrators #373: Mariana Villanueva Segovia

I am so excited to show off the book The Lighthouse Keeper by Eugenio Fernández Vázquez and Mariana Villanueva Segovia through the eyes of illustrator Mariana. We're talking about her process for the book, the challenges she encountered along the way, and what she has going on next!

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Crushes of the Week: August 31-September 6, 2025

This week's crushes:

1. Animals Everywhere: A Lift, Look, and Find Book by Stéphanie Babin, Robert Barborini, Marie Caudry, Jessica Das, and Marie Kyprianou (Twirl, August 2025)
2. Good Night, Ninjas by Sanae Ishida (Little Bigfoot, August 2025)
3. A World to Meet by Katie Harnett (Rise x Penguin Workshop, August 2025)
4. The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole by Cecilia Heikkila and translated by Polly Lawson (Floris Books, August 2025)
5. This Is Me: Getting to Know Yourself and Others Better by Helena Harastova and Ana Kobern (Albatros Media, August 2025)
6. Flat Cat: The Class Pet by Tara Lazar and Pete Oswald (Flamingo Books, June 2025)

     

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Down to the Last Detail: ALWAYS BEGINNING

Check out the foil on the cover of this book! Can't think of a better way to visually articulate the Big Bang, how pretty!

Let's Talk Illustrators #372: Hyewon Kyung

I hope everyone enjoyed the retrospective I ran in August! Today we're back to our usually scheduled program with Hyewon Kyung, author-illustrator of I Am a Lioness, This book caught my eye the moment I saw it, and I'm excited to share the process behind creating it with you all! I'll let Hyewon take it from here!

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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