May 2022

May 31, 2022



Image by Shiho Pate.
 
 

 


Happy Book Birthday

LLAMA LLAMA
BACK TO SCHOOL 

An Anna Dewdney Book
Written by Anna Dewdney
and Reed Duncan
Illustrated by JT Morrow
(Viking Books for Young Readers)
 
Audio Book narrated by
Cassandra Campbell

With over 30 million copies in print, Anna Dewdney‘s NYT-bestselling Llama Llama books have provided hours of comfort and
fun-to-read-aloud rhyme.

…the latest installment in the beloved series to capture a milestone moment.

“As is characteristic of the series, this is one more situation familiar to many a young child solved in sweet Llama style… Another solid addition to the beloved series.” 
 

With some help from his friends and Mama Llama, maybe going back to school will be fun after all!


Best Children’s Book of the Month:
“Young children who get nervous about the first day of school will appreciate this charming story.”

Celebrate the Llama Llama ?? way with 25 books and activities you can share with your little ones. Join the fun by downloading a FREE Llama Llama Month Bingo Card. 


 

Congrats


 

#2 

(35 weeks cumulative)

as of 5.1.22

#6 

(6 weeks cumulative)

Marking East/West’s


286th week


CALIBA
(Northern California)

#4

as of 05.08.22
 

NAIBA
(New Atlantic)

#5

as of 05.08.22


#7


In Children’s Basic Concept Books

#19

#67

as of 05.21.22

Best Books ages 3-5
Editor’s Picks

Teacher’s Pick

as of 05.21.22

#82

as of 05.02.22


Happy Book Birthday

WHEN GLITTER
MET GLUE

by

the award-winning team of
Karen Kilpatrick

and 

 Germán Blanco

(Henry Holt & Company BFYR )

 In the third hilarious picture book in the award-winning WHEN PENCIL MET ERASER series, underappreciated Glue longs to stand out. It’s a sticky situation until Glue meets a new friend, Glitter, who helps bring out her inner sparkle, confidence, and creativity.

Noteworthy Picture Book and Novel Sequels

New Kids’ and YA Books: 
Week of May 9, 2022

 

Behind the scenes Book Birthday interview with Erin Dealey—  

Q: They say each of our books is a tiny bit autobiographical. Which character in this series (WHEN PENCIL MET ERASER, WHEN PENCIL MET THE MARKERS) is most like you: Glitter, Glue, Markers, Pencil, Eraser?

Karen Kilpatrick: I think I’m a mix of Pencil, Eraser, Glitter, and Glue! Sometimes I get annoyed while working with others (Pencil), sometimes I am super exuberant and positive (Eraser), I really love helping people shine (Glitter), and sometimes I intimately relate to Glue (working hard in the background without being seen). 

Germán Blanco: I feel like Purple Marker. I like being weird and a bit crazy, and like the Purple Marker, I like coloring outside the lines and coming up with my own things.

Q:  What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
 
Karen Kilpatrick: Everyone wants to be seen. It’s an incredible gift to be able to help someone shine. Be the Glitter to someone’s Glue!

As featured in

Praise for
WHEN PENCIL MET ERASER: 

  • A 2020 ILA-CBC Children’s Choice Selection
  • A 2019 Parents Best Children’s Book
  • A #1 Amazon “Hot New Release”
  • Handpicked by Amazon for their Prime Book Box subscription service

 

“An imaginative and engaging look into artistic possibility.” ―Kirkus 

“Readers young and old alike will love this imagining of the dynamic duo that is Pencil and Eraser.” ―SLJ 

  • An Amazon Best Book of the Month  
  • A #1 release in its category
  • Amazon Editors’ Best Book Pick

Karen Kilpatrick knows her ABCs and likes to tell stories, so she makes up combinations of words on the computer. She also is a mom of three, runs a nonprofit called Authors4Education, is the marketing chair on the board of directors for Women in Toys, and created the plush toy brand MeBears.
 
Germán Blanco likes doodling, so he draws some caricatures and then put them on the computer, and voilá.  He is also a graphic designer, a former creative director for a global toy company, and a member of the board of directors for Authors4Education.

Upcoming
(July, 2022; Henry Holt)

  


Where is East/West?


 


Thanks to Jeanne Walker Harvey 
and her Harper Collins Editor
Megan Ilnitzki
for a session “ablaze” with book love on PB Biographies and 
Marketing & PR tips!

 

As to Licensing tips:


 

Karen Kilpatrick, E/W licensing agent for April Showers’ AFRO UNICORN franchise, and Deborah attend the show.


 

The Unique. Divine. Magical. 
April Showers herself!


 

April’s manager, Askia Fountain (left), along with Angel Tyree, entertainment consultant, at their blow-out party.


 

Happy AFRO UNICORN month!


 

Stacia Deutsch was on a webinar BOOKLIST panel hosted by ALA 
celebrating her Boxcar Children spinoff series, THE JESSIE FILES (Albert Whitman),
and “stories that show readers the importance of staying curious:…Super Sleuths, space explorers, & scientists.”


More ‘Where’s East/West?’ below…
 


Happy Book Birthday

ALONE

Now available in paperback! 

by award-winning author & poet

Megan E. Freeman

(Aladdin)

“Hatchet for a new age.”
—Kirkus


in Children’s Dystopian Fiction Books

This newest edition of ALONE includes new essays about the book’s inspiration, writing in verse, and ideas for playing w/poetry. Order a signed copy here.

An Indie Bound Bestseller!

ALONE is on the shortlist for the Reading the West Awards. Voting is now open, so click here and vote for your favorites!

Megan celebrated the softcover release of her award-winning debut novel-in-verse with a tour that launched at The Wandering Jellyfish. 

Did we say Award-Winning?

Named on multiple Best of ’21 book lists, ALONE is an NCTE Notable Verse Novel, a Goodreads Choice Award Finalist,


a YALSA 2022 Quick Pick,


a Bank Street Books
Best Children’s Books of the Year 2022
, 
*Outstanding Merit,


a Finalist for the Colorado
Book Award
,


and was recently included on the 2023 Rhode Island & Massachusetts Children’s Book List, which brings the total number of state lists to 10!

More here!


 
9 High Stakes Survival Stories for Readers of Hatchet | School Library Journal


 


Happy Book Birthday

YES WE WILL

Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country

(Dial Books)


in Children’s United States Biographies

Dow Phumiruk
is honored to be a contributor to Kelly Yang’s important picture book about Asian-American changemakers.


Each spread is illustrated by a different, renowned Asian American or Asian artist. 

“Succinct text and the combined talents of diverse artists bring vibrancy and color to the portrayal of Asian American pioneers. . . . A radiant tribute to groundbreakers to inspire the next generation.”
Kirkus, starred review

 


Best Children’s Book of the Month

 

“It makes a fantastic
addition to any child’s collection of books about
change-makers in the United States.”


Click above to check out the beautiful trailer.


Included in April’s National Poetry Month


And check out Dow‘s art (at about 1min 36sec) in this segment on GOOD MORNING AMERICA!


 


Happy Book Birthday

ABBOTT IN DARKNESS

by

award-winning D. J. Butler

(Baen Books)

Science Fiction Space Opera

From the Dragon Award-winning author of the Witchy War series, blending alternate history, Appalachian Folklore, and epic fantasy.

“…a brisk and engaging narrative . . . folk and religious based magic . . . for fans of urban or historical fantasy…”—Booklist

“Fans of epic and alternate historical fantasy will savor this tale of witchery and intrigue.”—PW

“For readers who love history-based fantasy, steampunk, or urban fantasy . . . this series . . . gives the genre a new twist.”—Booklist


Our May Illustrator Highlight

features images by Chris Case.

  

See full Highlight here.

 


 



 


Hey, yay—it’s May!

CONGRATS—

to Alma Fullerton on her Blue Spruce Award Honor – the second, following the 2022 Green Earth Award Honor:

 

Stay tuned for Alma’s new MG, FLIPPING FORWARD TWISTING BACKWARD (Peachtree) in July:

“Designed with accessibility in mind (the typeface is meant to be easily decoded), the text stresses that learning disabilities are in no way a bad thing. Fullerton offers readers a glimpse into what it’s like to try to read with difficulties … A positive representation of perseverance.”
—Kirkus 
 

FELICITACIONES—

to Alexandra Alexandra and ISABEL AND HER COLORES GO TO SCHOOL: 
a 2021 Florida Book Awards Gold Medal winner, ISABEL is also a 2022 Americas Award Commended Title from the Consortium of Latin American Studies Program (CLASP) and is included in the Association for Library Service to Children’s Dia Reading List.


 


 

Spotlight on Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

         
 


Spotlight on Jewish representation with HC


 

The 2021 National Jewish Award Finalist

Upcoming:
From award-winning Megan Hoyt, the author of BARTALI’S BICYCLE, comes a second nonfiction PB, THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL, that dives into the inspiring story of Isaac Stern, the violin virtuoso who saved Carnegie Hall from being demolished.

“Hoyt pays tribute not just to the renowned violinist but to a unique cultural institution that has hosted many luminaries.”
—Booklist
 

To learn how a famous concert violinist helped unite the world to save one of NYC’s most elegant architectural treasures, order a signed copy here.

Check out these books, poster, and reading guides Illustrated by Nora Hilb for PJ Library:

And don’t miss these other titles:

 

Pura Belpré winner Ernesto Cisneros’s FALLING SHORT is included in the Horn Book round-up for Jewish American Heritage Month as a MG book providing a “glimpse into diverse Jewish experiences.”
 
The Horn Book | Jewish experiences (hbook.com)

 


 

Spotlight on Mental Health Awareness Month with SCBWI

   
 

Additional titles:

      
 


 

Happy #TeacherAppreciationWeek
(month, year!)


We’re celebrating with this NEW 2-book Educator Guide 
for EFRÉN DIVIDED & FALLING SHORT by
Ernesto Cisneros—from Quill Tree Books/Harper Collins. 

Spotlight on our graduates!

See the life lessons of Bob McKinnon’s NYT-bestselling THREE LITTLE ENGINES (Workshop/PRH), a modern retelling of the classic THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD, sharing the timely message that everyone’s journey is different, and that sometimes, success comes from a helping hand:


Click image above to watch the video.
 


 

June book buzz:

This enduring anthem for Black girls from Brynne Barnes, BLACK GIRL RISING (illustrated by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Chronicle), celebrates their power, potential, and brilliance—for themselves and for the world.



As a Black girl, I face the beauty, the challenges, the glory, and grace of that every single day.  I’ve always tried to embrace all aspects of who I am, and this book, in particular, addresses the human experience (which is universal) through the lens of Blackness and Black girlhood.
 
There are people outside of us who can model strength and resilience, but ultimately, the most powerful resource we have to tackle anything we face comes from within us. We already have it.  We all have that magic.  This is what I want all young people everywhere to know.
 
Get To Know…Brynne Barnes – Sadé Magazine (sademagazine.co)

 


 

See the transformative life cycle of a sunflower play out from page to page in this bold read-aloud by Sibert honoree Antoinette Portis.

★ 
“Clear, engaging, beautiful, and perfectly pitched to its young audience—simply brilliant.”
—The Horn BookStarred Review

★ 
“Employing spare language and sunny, stippled multimedia spreads that belie their quiet complexity, Portis gracefully traces a sunflower’s cycle from seed to sprout to plant—and back again. . . It’s a volume almost as jam-packed as a seed itself.”
—Publishers WeeklyStarred Review

“Youngsters will feel a sense of awe as they witness the magic of a seed’s first tender shoot and the symbiosis of nature. . . . [A] useful primer on one of nature’s miraculous cycles.”
—Kirkus Reviews


2022 ALA LLX Book Buzz – YouTube
 


 

Award-winning science writer Mary Batten and NYT-bestselling illustrator Thomas Gonzalez, the masterful duo that created LIFE IN A FROZEN WORLD, team up again in this impressive overview of hydrothermal ocean vents.

ALA LibLearnX 2022 Virtual Booth
 



 

With an insightful eye into the world of an inspired genius, award-winning author Susan B. Katz tells of Gaudí’s life and work. Linda Schwalbe’s dazzling and powerful illustrations reflect the inventive, daring, and flamboyant style of Gaudí’s work.

 
 


More…

Where’s East West?

SCBWI Seminars—



Hosted by Megan Hoyt with her HC editor:

Conferences and School Visits—



Upcoming:

 

Overheard on TWITTER

 

 
  

*CONGRATULATIONS ONE AND ALL*

We are thrilled and thankful to represent such amazing talent.

 



Artwork by Danielle Arbour

 

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Tweet your good news our way and we’ll retweet.
@EastWestLit .