Happy Book Birthday

HER NAME WAS
MARY KATHARINE

The Only Woman Whose Name Is on the Declaration of Independence

by Ella Schwartz

and Award-winning Illustrator
Dow Phumiruk

—her 4^th book with Christy-OH!

As a businesswoman and a newspaper publisher, Goddard paved the way for influential Revolutionary media. Her remarkable accomplishments as a woman defied societal norms and set the stage for a free and open press. When the Continental Congress decreed that the Declaration of Independence be widely distributed, one person rose to the occasion and printed the document—boldly inserting her name at the bottom with a printing credit: Mary Katharine Goddard.

“The story of the printer, postmaster, and patriot whose choices played a significant role in American history….Accessible and engaging.…A solid resource for examining historical perspectives and concepts of inclusion, exclusion, justice, and fairness.”
―Kirkus

Here is an important biography of a groundbreaking woman who had the courage to write herself into the history she helped create.

Read about Dow’s process (and how she created images of Mary Katharine Goddard when there were NO photos!) in this Book Birthday Blog via Erin Dealey. 
https://www.erindealey.com/blog/

Christy Ottaviano (L), Deborah Warren, and Dow Phumiruk (R)

Interview with Mr. Schu (excerpted):

ES:  Dow Phumiruk’s illustrations are bold and breathtaking. I literally gasped the first time I saw them.

DP:  Ella Schwartz’s manuscript intrigued and captivated me by sharing a piece of United States history not represented in our school textbooks. I am grateful for talented authors like Ella. Her meticulous research shines a light on Mary Katharine’s life and accomplishments. I am also grateful for our editor Christy Ottaviano (Christy Ottaviano Books), who champions so many stories of influential and brave women like Mary Katharine. What an honor to be part of this team!

Betsy Bird’s 31 Days, 31 Lists:
2021 American History Titles for Kids

“I’m a sucker for a good story no one’s told before and this one is a doozy.”

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2021 American History Titles for Kids – A Fuse #8 Production (slj.com)

For each of the five titles that launch the imprint, please tell me what first drew you to the individual project and, in your mind, what makes each book exceptional.
 
CO: Upon reading the manuscript I was struck by the question—why didn’t I know about this incredible woman? Ella Schwartz gives voice to this hidden figure story of a courageous woman putting her life on the line for her country—a fearless patriot, and so much more. Dow Phumiruk is especially talented at capturing both emotion and historical accuracy in her compositions. I thought of her immediately upon reading the manuscript as the perfect artist for this project.

Inspired Publishing: Close-up on Christy Ottaviano Books (publishersweekly.com)

Dow Phumiruk is the award-winning illustrator of COUNTING ON KATHERINE, which won the Bank Street College of Education Cook Prize and was named an NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book as well as an NCTM Mathical Honor Book, among many other honors; AN EQUAL SHOT, and MAYA LIN, which was an Amazon Best Book of the Year and an NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People.

Next up:

Happy Book Birthday 

SMOOCH!

A Celebration of the Enduring Power of Love

by Karen Kilpatrick

Illustrated by Germán Blanco

(Genius Cat Books)

How do you let your child know they are loved?
With a SMOOCH!

Big or small, near or far…
…smooches stay right through it all.

This reassuring picture book highlights the permanence of love through lyrical rhyme and kid-friendly art. Humorous, heartwarming, and relatable, SMOOCH! will delight both kids and parents alike with its timeless message about the enduring power of love.

Creative team Karen Kilpatrick and Germán Blanco work together to successfully build children’s brands through storytelling – from the WHEN PENCIL MET ERASER series to plush toy brand, MeBears, launched through Russ. Kilpatrick is a mom of three, runs a nonprofit called Authors4Education, and is the Marketing Chair on the board of directors for Women in Toys.  Blanco is a graphic designer, a former Creative Director for a global toy company, and a member of the board of directors for Authors4Education.

Next up:
the third in the PB trilogy launched by WHEN PENCIL MET ERASER (Holt; Macmillan):