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!

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Annual LTPB Diversity Audit: June 2024 - May 2025

Below are the results from my annual diversity audit. As a reminder, I perform this audit to examine how I represent BIPOC creators on this site. As always, a lot of work to do. Here are this year's results, and you can see previous years' diversity audits here.

Gone Fishing

I'm taking the next few weeks off to attend some conferences (come say hello if you'll be at Children's Institute or the American Library Association's Annual conference!), but I'll be back first thing in July. Until then, I recommend checking out all the favorites lists, which are all updated as I find books to add to them. Have a great few weeks, and see you in July!

           

Crushes of the Week: June 1-7, 2025

This week's crushes:

1. The Paper Bridge by Joelle Veyrenc and Seng Soun Ratanavanh, translated by Katy Lockwood-Holmes (Floris Books, May 2025)
2. George & Lenny Are Always Together by Jon Agee (Rocky Pond Books, May 2025)
3. Party Rhyme by Antonia Pesenti (Scribble US, May 2025)
4. Clara and the Man with Books in His Window by María Teresa Andruetto and Martina Trach, translated by Elisa Amado (Greystone Kids, May 2025)
5. The History of We by Nikkolas Smith (Kokila, May 2025)
6. The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough by Rébecca Dautremer, translated by Charis Ainslie
7. Tiger, Don't Worry! by Daishu Ma (Post Wave, May 2025)
8. Music of the Mountains by Sabrina Shah and Manal Mirza (Barefoot Books, May 2025)

       

Endpapers for the end of your week!

Down to the Last Detail: UNNATURALLY BLUE

Yesterday I shared my interview with Byron Eggenschwiler, but I can't get over the spot gloss detailing on the cover of this book and had to show it off for you all! It makes me feel like I'm under the water, too!

Let's Talk Illustrators #366: Byron Eggenschwiler

I am so pleased to present my in-depth chat with Byron Eggenschwiler about the gorgeous-from-top-to-bottom Unnaturally Blue, written by Dorson Plourde! This book is seriously beautiful with a keen attention to design detail, and it was an honor getting a chance to talk to Byron about how it all came together. 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: THE GLASS PYRAMID

Absolutely stunning spot gloss on the cover of this book! What a gorgeous detail!

Let's Talk Illustrators #365: Susie Ghahremani

I have long been a fan of Susie Ghahremani. It was her award-winning book Stack the Cats that put her on my radar (see my review from almost 9 years ago to the day here), and I've been itching to find an opportunity to interview her since. It turns out, Rosemary Long Ears was that opportunity! Tune in below to check out the process behind creating it.

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

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

Crushes of the Week: May 18-24, 2025

This week's crushes:

1. Precious by Carlos Aponte (Nancy Paulsen Books, May 2025)
2. Nightsong by Sally Soweol Han (Bloomsbury Children's Books, May 2025)
3. Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation by Cathy Ballou Mealey and Kelly Collier (Kids Can Press, May 2025)
4. Gymnastica Fantastica! by Briony Stewart (Viking Books for Young Readers, May 2025)
5. Diggers, Dozers, and Dumpers by Ole Könnecke (Gecko Press, May 2025)
6. No One Is Home by Mikolaj Pa and Gosia Herba and translated by Scotia Gilroy (Greystone Kids, April 2025)
7. A Seed in the Universe by Elyon Liu (Post Wave, April 2025)