May 2023

May 1, 2023

Good News–from East to West

and everywhere in between!

Image by Z.B. Asterplume

Featured in our May Illustrator Highlight

Happy Book Birthday

Joey Spiotto's now a
NYT-bestselling illustrator!

by NYT-bestselling
Luvvie Ajayi Jones

(Philomel Books)

(5.21.23)

What happens when you’re little, but your big heart gets you in big trouble?

A funny and heartfelt book that teaches important lessons to kids and the adults who love them.

“A lighthearted tale perfect for setting little ones on the path to good trouble … The playful and brightly colored illustrations match the book’s cheerful mood. Ideal for storytime, this one will also help kids develop social-emotional skills.”

“[LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER MAKES A MESS provides] techniques for behavioral and emotional development … lovely to see a Nigerian American child in the lead of a story celebrating a West African dish.”

Featured Podcast:

Professional Troublemaker: Draw More Trouble (with Joey Spiotto) – Little Troublemaker Special Episode 4 on Apple Podcasts

This funny, sweet story about a bighearted girl with the best of intentions is sure to become a family favorite.

An Amazon

in Children's Values Books

A Brightly Best Book of May:

“This upbeat picture book shows young children that needing a grown-up’s help is okay … the cheerful illustrations and lighthearted text make it a joy to read.”

An
INSTANT
NYT-bestseller!

"I make happy art for happy people" (except for maybe when he is grumpy)—is also the author and illustrator of the breakout fan favorite Grumpy Unicorn franchise (Scholastic). Launched by GRUMPY UNICORN: WHY ME?, these hilarious comic collections (including board book adventures of BABY Grumpy) are cantankerously clever and addictively adorable. —JS

Joey Spiotto's Illustrator Highlight

Happy Book Birthday

by award-winning creators
Kimberly & James Dean

Now in Paperback!

(Harper Collins)

An Amazon

in Children's Books on Peer Pressure

in hardcover

Pete the Cat is learning a new dance—the Cool Cat Boogie. When he hears a groovy beat he’s full of happy in his feet!

Happy Book Birthday

by
NYT-bestselling
Stacia Deutsch

Jessie's next article for the school paper is taking a dramatic turn.

Book #3 in an all new contemporary MG series spinoff of the Boxcar Children, THE JESSIE FILES

(Albert Whitman & Company)

Upcoming in September, Book #4:

Happy Book Birthday

Illustrated by award-winning
Dow Phumiruk

Written by Latin Grammy Award-winning musician Ben Gundersheimer (Mister G)

(Nancy Paulsen Books)

**A joyous ode to friendship that shows that everything is better when we work together!

“The text, written by children's music artist Mister G, is clear and tells the many different, simple ways children can help in their community, using vocabulary that they can understand. Phumiruk’s … art brings specific details to the words, illuminating them and lifting the text right off the page.”

“(A) heartfelt celebration (with) warm illustrations … An upbeat demonstration that working together can make the world a more loving, supportive, and welcome place.”

“Alongside Phumiruk’s crisp digitally finished spreads, Gundersheimer’s lines scan and rhyme satisfyingly. It’s an optimistic starting place for discussions about cooperation and mutual aid.”**

Dow Phumiruk's Illustrator Highlight

#5

(5.21.23)

Marking East/West's
301st week

*****

(week ending 5.06.23)

A three-week bestseller for the week ending 5.20.23

Joshua Pruett; co-author

*****

(week of 5.10.23—now a 2-week bestseller)

MPIBA

(#4; 5.3.23)

MIBA

(#8; week ending 5.14.23)

CALIBA

(#17; week ending 5.14.23)

(#20; 5.03.23–now a 4-week bestseller)

*****

#1 in Children's Environment Books
#1 in Children's Recycling & Green Living
#2 in Children's Bug & Spider Books
(5.15.23)

#24 in Children's Environment Books
(5.15.23)

#59 in Children's Environment Books
(5.15.23)

Happy Book Birthday

by Mark A. Vieira

(Running Press)
in association with Warner Bros. and Turner Classic Movies

Foreword by Ben Mankiewicz

The official centennial history of the fabled movie studio and its unforgettable stars, featuring untold stories and rare images from the Warner Bros. vault brings a century of entertainment to life …

From Vieira’s Preface:
“Warner Bros. started as a family business. The book could be the family album … it’s a record of extraordinary entertainment history, a panoply of the greatest names, faces, and talents in Hollywood lore.”

Listen to Vieira here.

Vieira (left) at book signing at the TCM Film Festival poolside at the
Roosevelt Hotel

Vieira, a filmmaker photographer and writer, has written 17 previous books, including CECIL B. DEMILLE, FORBIDDEN HOLLYWOOD and GEORGE HURRELL’S HOLLYWOOD. He has lectured at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, UCLA and USC in addition to appearing in documentaries such as Turner Classic Movies’ “Garbo.”

Coming this Fall in paperback:

Happy Book Birthdays:

by D.J.Butler

(Baen)

Now available in paperback!

“Butler’s fantasy is by turns sardonic and lighthearted … (the) story will appeal to fantasy readers of all stripes.”

… the launch title of
“The Witchy War” collection:

and

by USA Today bestselling author
M.A. Rothman and

D.J. Butler

“An entertaining first entry in what promises to be a fantastic time-travel series.”

An Amazon bestseller

in GameLit & LitRPG Fiction

COVER REVEAL!

by Erin Dealey

Illustrated by Kayla Stark

Coming July 15, 2023

(Sleeping Bear Press)

As featured in:

John Schu's
WATCH. CONNECT. READ.

ED: "Parades are a big part of our family holiday traditions. In fact, I wrote Christmas Ahoy! during the pandemic when—like so many events—the annual holiday boat parade was cancelled.

I looked for a picture book to fill the void for the boaters in our family and discovered there weren’t any. I’m so excited to share Christmas Ahoy! with everyone who loves parades, boats, and books!"

LICENSING

Pulbit Publishing Company has licensed Korean rights to Megan Hoyt’s KATI’S TINY MESSENGERS, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger (October 2023; Quill Street Books/HC).

*****

Scholastic has licensed paperback book club rights to Alexandra Alessandri’s debut PB, the award-winning FELIZ NEW YEAR, AVA GABRIELA!
(Albert Whitman)

A – MAY – zing NEWS and REVIEWS

… and AWARDS, too!

Nora Hilb’s board book, CRAC (Calibroscopio), was honored by the Association of Children’s and Young People’s Literature of Argentina (ALIJA IBBY)—a highly recognized award in Latin America—as the best Argentine book for babies. Nora and her daughter (her co-author) just accepted the award at the Buenos Aires International Book Fair.
See Nora's Illustrator Highlight here.

US rights are available.