Happy Book Birthday
by Award-winning
Alexandra Alessandri
in her MG Fantasy debut
(Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
Cover by Dana Sanmar
Design by Debra Sfetsios-Conover
Encanto meets The Chronicles of Narnia by way of Colombian folklore
“With the action beginning on the first page, this fast-paced adventure set in a well-realized world will keep readers on their toes.
Modern kids meet traditional tales with thrilling results.”
“Beautiful prose combines with gripping adventure in this magical ode to Colombia and its legends. Fans . . . will adore this book, for both its mythic monsters and its plucky heroine.”
“An adventurous journey that is by turns bone-chilling and joyful.”
“Alessandri (Isabel and Her Colores Go to School) expertly weaves an immersive tale bursting at the seams with folklore, enchantments, and spirit.”
Featured at:
Excerpt from Alessandri‘s
Book Birthday interview with Erin Dealey:
Q. They say every book is a bit autobiographical in some way. Are you more like Valentina, her brother, Julián, or their father?
Alessandri: Valentina is creative but also anxious, eager to please her parents but also wanting to carve a space that’s hers alone. She second-guesses herself and is sometimes indecisive, especially when the stakes are high because she doesn’t want to fail. All of these are traits that I share with her.
With cool bookmarks!
Upcoming:
Happy Book Birthday
by Award-winning
Poet & Author
Mariko Nagai
(Square Fish/Macmillan)
Cover art by Yuta Onoda
A beautifully told MG novel-in-verse about a Japanese orphan’s experience in occupied rural Manchuria during World War II.
A 2021 Sakura Medal nominee
A NCSS-CBC 2020 Notable
(Social Studies)
An NCTE Notable 2020
(Poetry & Verse novels)
An ILA 2020 Notable
for a Global Society
A Main Student Book Award Nominee
Denver Library Best & Brightest
Now available in paperback!
“Published for middle-grade readers but necessary for all of humankind, UNDER THE BROKEN SKY is a breathtaking work of literature.”
Nagai (R) with Ottaviano
“An afterword includes . . . a reminder from the author that refugee families to this day leave their homes because they have no choice; this story offers readers a moving way to put themselves in such families’ shoes.“
“Echoing the hardships and redemption of many novels about World War II, this well-timed story about a lesser-known group of refugees adds an important chapter to the narrative of human oppression and survival.”
“A story of hope and resilience during one of history’s tragic forced migrations. Mariko‘s beautiful free verse reveals the emotional impact on a child and her family.”
―Margarita Engle,
Newbery Honor-winning author of
The Surrender Tree
Mariko Nagai is the author of UNDER THE BROKEN SKY and DUST OF EDEN as well as several books of poetry and fiction for adults. She has received the Pushcart Prize in both poetry and fiction, as well as many other accolades. She is an associate professor of creative writing and Japanese literature at Temple University, Japan Campus, in Tokyo, where she is also the director of research.
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Happy Book Birthday
An Anna Dewdney Book
(Viking)
illustrated by JT Morrow
in Children’s Size & Shape Books
Anna Dewdney’s NYT’s bestselling franchise continues with a new Llama Llama concept board book . . . the 4th in the “Learning with Llama Llama” series.
Llama Llama spends the day at the farmers market surrounded by shapes. From rectangles, squares, triangles, circles, and stars, children will love this look-and-find format.
“There are plenty of engaging details to keep readers looking, … The text is concise, and each spread features a simple question inviting participation. This title is more captivating than other shape concept books … Llama Llama’s popularity will make this a hit with fans, and readers looking for substance will find it.“
Featured in:
The On-Sale Calendar: February
Pair it with
 
Also available in Spanish editions
Stay tuned for LLAMA LLAMA
OPPOSITES this fall:
Happy Book Birthday
by Erin Dealey
Art by Dilys Evans Founder
Award-winning Illustrator
Luisa Uribe
(Harper Collins)
Now available in paperback
What begins as a monthly exchange of ideas between Earth and Room 5 grows into a lasting friendship, a school club with a surprising president,
and–hopefully–lifelong Earth-smart habits.
Dear Earth …From Your Friends in Room 5 | Storytime Read Aloud
(105,200 views)
A
in hardcover
A celebration of every child’s ability to connect with the environment and make a positive impact.
“A year’s worth of letters between elementary students and Earth highlight practical ways to care for our planet . . . A well-thought-out presentation of an important environmental message.“
“Small changes add up to big results, as Dealey’s classroom … become monthly pen pals with Earth. The planet magically answers:
“Room 5,
Your letter arrived on the wind.
A whisper of hope in the night.
I’m thankful for helpers who care for their planet.
Here’s one way: please turn off the lights.
Using less electricity saves energy. Stargazers will thank you too!
Your friend, Earth.”
The upbeat tone on both sides of the correspondence will keep kids turning pages, anxious to see the next payoff in this crescendo of good will and great stewardship.
The steps are small, the goals are global, and any class or story hour can launch their own year of being Earth Heroes.”
BONUS:
The reverse side of the book jacket is repurposed to become a poster that features twelve months of Earth Hero activities.
Be An Earth Hero All year!
“ A fitting classroom read-aloud choice for Earth Day.”
Q: You have a multitude of ways that are accessible for kids to be able to implement right away (turning off lights, using a re-usable water bottle, recycling paper, etc.). Why is this message something you wanted to share with young readers?
Dealey: I wanted to find a way to encourage these wonderful Earth-friendly habits all year long. When you think about it, most schools celebrate I-Love-To-Read or Read Across America Day, but we encourage students to read every day, right? Why can’t Earth Day be like that, a day to celebrate the good deeds we’ve done for our planet all year?
Simply 7 with Erin Dealey: DEAR EARTH FROM YOUR FRIENDS IN ROOM 5 | Jena Benton
From a student:
As featured in The SKIMM
Teacher Resources and activities here.
Erin Dealey is a children’s author of over a dozen books. She grew up in Oakland, California, where she often did her homework on the roof of her garage. School visits, kidlit conferences, and ZOOMS have taken her as far south as Brazil and as far north as Tok, Alaska.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Jim Averbeck authored and/or illustrated:
         
with
 
Pictured: Brynne Barnes (L) and editor Melissa Manlove (R)
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… and here’s a shout out to visionary entrepreneur and CEO April Showers, creator of Afro Unicorn® …
 
… a fully licensed character celebrating representation founded by as a conscious brand with the mission to positively uplift and impact women and children of color, representing the beauty and uniqueness of vanilla, caramel, and mocha complexions.
Stay tuned for exciting book deals to come, including:
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Congrats!
Also
A #2 Amazon bestseller in Children’s Art Biographies
and a Most Wished for in Children’s Art Biographies
(as of 2/17)
More FABulosity February news:
Megan E. Freeman’s award-winning indie bestseller, ALONE, has just earned its FOURTEENTH state list.
*****
Congrats!
Ana Crespo‘s LIA y LUÍS: ¿QUIÉN TIENE MÁS? and Natasha Yim‘s LUNA y SU RIQUÍSIMO DIM SUM are 2023 Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year in Spanish.
 
Pre-order LIA & LUÍZ: PUZZLED! (illustrated by Giovana Medeiros, Charlesbridge),
another Lia & Luís mathematical adventure, out on March 7.
WHERE IS EAST/WEST?
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Colorado Council of International Reading Association
 
Left: Jim Averbeck & Gregory Barrington
Right: Jim Averbeck & Heather Brockman Lee
Lauren Kerstein, Lynn Becker, & Jim Averbeck
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Deborah Warren and E/W client and producer Angel Tyree at WIT (Women in Toys) cocktail party
Back: Deborah Warren and Mary Kay Russell (Women in Toys)
Front: agent Karen Kilpatrick, AdELA Hassan, CEO and managing partner of All Star Kids, and Angel Tyree
Overheard on TWITTER
 
 
*CONGRATULATIONS ONE AND ALL*
We are thrilled and thankful to represent such amazing talent.
Artwork by Danielle Arbour
Thanks for following us on Twitter.
Tweet your good news our way and we’ll retweet. @EastWestLit .
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LOVE, LOVE–LOTS OF LOVE! 
