THE GREAT CHICKEN ESCAPE

Nikki McClure continues to showcase her mastery of minimalist children's book illustration and design with her new book The Great Chicken Escape.

Crushes of the Week: April 22-28, 2018

This week's crushes:

1. Moon by Alison Oliver (Clarion Books, April 2018)
2. The Fox on the Swing by Evelina Daciūtė and Aušra Kiudulaite (Thames & Hudson, June 2018) 
3. A Bear Sat on My Porch Today by Jane Yolen and Rilla Alexander (Chronicle Books, March 2018)
4. Whale in a Fishbowl by Troy Howell and Richard Jones (Schwartz & Wade Books, May 2018)
5.  Mon Petit Busy Day by Annette Tamarkin (Little Simon, April 2018)
6. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Jeremy Holmes (Chronicle Books, August 2009)

     

THE FUNERAL

Matt James' author debut The Funeral is anything but sad. In fact, one could even say it helps readers focus on the good DURING the bad.

Let's Talk Illustrators #67: Cozbi A Cabrera

Cozbi Cabrera has mastered a lot of skills. She's a doll-maker, clothing designer, and children's book illustrator, and now she gets to add the word "author" to her resume with My Hair Is a Garden. It is a treasure of a book that focuses on cultivating who you are and reminds readers to take the time to get to know themselves. Personally, it took me years to understand my own hair, and this book is a wonderful reminder of the importance of celebrating every part of yourself, no matter how frustrating it can be! Cozbi was a thrill to chat with, and I'm so excited to share our conversation with you all today.

Crushes of the Week: April 15-21, 2018

This week's crushes:

1. Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins and Emily Hughes (Chronicle Books, April 2018)
2. From the Heart of Africa by Eric Walters (Tundra Books, January 2018)
3. Dad By My Side by Soosh (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, May 2018)
4. Someone Farted by Bruce Eric Kaplan (Simon & Schuster, April 2018)
5. Hooray for Books! by Brian Won (Houghton Mifflin, September 2017)

    

H IS FOR HAIKU

H Is For Haiku: A Treasury From A to Z by Sydell Rosenberg and Sawsan Chalabi finds fun and poetry in everyday moments.

Let's Talk Illustrators #66: Thao Lam

Thao Lam's second picture book Wallpaper is a gorgeous and mostly wordless interpretation of what it feels like when faced with the universal childhood trial of making friends. Lam instills hope in her readers within a colorful and imaginative world full of fears and anxieties. Readers cannot help but connect with her work, and I'm so glad I got the chance to talk to her about her exquisite paper-collage technique in this book.