April 2024

April 22, 2024

Good News–from East to West

and everywhere in between!

Image by Kerstin Stock

Happy Book Birthday

by the
NYT–bestselling
team

Max Brallier and

Joshua Pruett

Illustrated by
Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate

(Viking Books for Young Readers)

Book #2 in a 4-book, full-color graphic novel spin-off series launched by:

…also a PW and IndieBound bestseller

Based on the #1 NYT, WSJ, and USA Today bestselling Last Kids on Earth series and Emmy-winning
Netflix show.

Hilarious, interactive and packed with all the fun of the zombie monster apocalypse, perfect for reluctant readers and comic book fans, as well as fans of the Last Kids series…

Illustrations © Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate, throughout

“More daft and daffy derring-do.”

Shelf Awareness Indie Pre-Order
E-Blast

The On-Sale Calendar: April 2024

Also available as an Audible Audiobook:

NYT-bestselling Joshua Pruett is an Emmy Award winning writer best known for his work on Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Last Kids on Earth animated series, and the original feature for Disney Plus, Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe. Josh has been a storyboard artist, writer, and creative consultant for LEGO, Warner Animation Group, Pure Imagination Studios, Disney TV, DreamWorks Feature Animation, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks TV, Sprout/NBC Universal, Netflix, and Paramount Feature Animation.

Stay tuned:

Happy Book Birthday

by Shannon Hitchcock

Illustrated by Sophie Page

The fourth book in Reycraft’s

… exploring unsung Appalachian lives

This lyrical MG PB bio of writer and environmentalist Wilma Dykeman traces how her love for a local river led to her efforts to protect both it and the livelihood of those who depended upon it.

Illustrations © Sophie Page, throughout

Environmental Wisdom:

Wilma Dykeman dedicated her life to imparting the invaluable lesson that water is the irreplaceable gift of life. Uncover the environmental insights she shared, leaving a lasting impact on generations to come.

“Nature and aquatic imagery infuse the flowing lines of this picture book biography. …””

“Seven years before Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) was published, Wilma Dykeman’s The French Broad (1955) illuminated the devastating effects of pollution. … Elevates a conservationist who deserves to be far better known.“

“An accessible introduction to environmental activism for younger readers, introducing them to a woman who deserves to be remembered for her life’s work.”

(https://chapter16.org/the-irreplaceable-gift/)

[excerpt]

Like Dykeman, you grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. How have those particular mountain settings influenced the writer you’ve become?
Hitchcock: I grew up in an old-fashioned setting. My grandparents lived on a 100-acre farm. They raised tobacco, milked cows, kept pigs and chickens. So, when I started writing for children, my own life experiences crept into my stories. I’m happiest writing about what I love, and I love the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Legacy of Love:

Join us in celebrating the life of a woman whose words continue to ripple through time, inspiring readers to appreciate and protect the precious gift of water.

And how cool is this?

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center Story Trail featured
OF WORDS AND WATER. (https://facebook.com/Bereastorytrail)

Shannon Hitchcock, “a New Voice in Historical Fiction” according to the ALAN Review, was born in North Carolina and grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Along with her Reycraft PB bios, she is the author of four MG novels, DANCING IN THE STORM (co-author), FLYING OVER WATER (co-author), ONE TRUE WAY, and RUBY LEE & ME. Her books have been featured on many state award lists and have received acclaimed reviews. Shannon currently lives in North Carolina where she can see the mountains every day.

Happy Book Birthday

by Alma Fullerton

(Pajama Press)

A love letter to the oceans and its inhabitants, as well as a call to action.

“Among the best of the recent books about ocean plastic thanks to its positive approach and practical suggestions … A gentle, effective presentation of an environmental disaster.”

From the Author’s Note:

Environmental reading for EARTH DAY! I’ve collected some great books with important messages (and ideas) about pollution, conservation, … | Instagram

NO MORE PLASTIC | Storytime Trail

Children’s Picture Books

(as of 4.14)

#3

(4 consecutive weeks; 46 in total)

Marking
East West Literary’s
310th week
on the NYT list!

*****

#9

GLIBA
(week of 4.07)

#22

Print edtion
(as of 4.08)

Happy Book Birthday

by debut authors

Nicholas Hummingbird
with Julia Wasson

Illustrated by
Madelyn Goodnight

(Harper Collins)

in Children’s Flower & Plant Books
(4.29.24)

A soaring PB debut by indigenous habitat restoration expert, plant activist and teacher Nicholas Hummingbird and co-author Julia Wasson—a call to listen that inspires us to bring nature back, one native plant at a time—to apartments, balconies and parkways, with nonfiction sections about how to steward land wisely and with respect.

Illustration © Madelyn Goodnight, throughout

Indigenous connection to the land:
one drop of rain, one seed, one plant can renew a cycle of hope and connection …

“Nicholas Hummingbird fights to protect the homeland he loves, reconnecting with his family’s culture by restoring one native plant at a time, and inspiring us to join him.”
—Julia Wasson, co-author

in Children’s Gardening Books
(4.28.24)

A modern multigenerational story:
The story’s arc begins with Nick learning from his great-grandparents and ends with Nick joyfully passing on those teachings to his young son, Tuhui.

Touches on urbanism and
habitat destruction:
Rich back matter includes activities that will inspire everyone—even city dwellers—to start a native plant garden.

Inspiring and empowering:
Perfect for readers of Sy Montgomery, debut authors Hummingbird and Wasson joyfully proclaim even the youngest person can be an earth protector.

“Hummingbird—a descendant from the Cahuilla nation of Southern California’s Inland Empire and the Apache nation of New Mexico—and Wasson’s matter-of-fact text emphasizes the importance of respect for the environment. Goodnight’s (Chickasaw Nation) realistic art complements this tender story … underscoring the themes of growth, compassion, and strength. … Heartfelt reflections on the importance of kinship with nature.”

“Hummingbird … calls on readers to ‘take a walk’ back into his childhood when he spent summers with his great-grandparents … watching and learning from the fauna and flora … (and) the teachings of his elders… regarding all living things with consideration and care…”

Nicholas Hummingbird is a native plant expert and plant activist. When Nicholas was a child, his Cahuilla and Apache great-grandparents taught him to listen to plants and how to steward their lands wisely and with respect. Today he keeps their memories and stories alive through his work restoring habitat and bringing nature back to concrete urban spaces. He and his young son, Tuhui, whose name means the first drop of rain, enjoy hiking, cooking, and reading picture books.

Photo credit: Natalia Gurney

National Board Certified educator and coach Julia Wasson’s enthusiasm for learning about people who contribute new ideas for the seemingly intractable challenges of the Los Angeles megalopolis led to her Huffington Post column about local activists. Native plant restorationist Nicholas Hummingbird and his work to bring habitat back to our concrete spaces made a lasting impact on her, and their deepening friendship has led to this co-authored debut. She and her husband tend a small native plant garden, inspired by Nicholas, on their Hollywood curb strip.

“I hope this book, with Madelyn Goodnight’s wonderful illustrations,
invites you to deepen your relationship with the voices
and the and where you live.”
—Nick Hummingbird

Happy Book Birthday

From the NYT-bestselling
Llama Llama series
comes a new concept board book–
the 6^th in the series!

Easy to understand and perfect for little hands, this is a must-add to any young reader’s library.

A Target May Book Club pick!

(in English and bilingual
Spanish editions)

The series also includes:

Happy Book Birthday

Illustrated by NYT Bestselling

Thomas Gonzalez

written by Sibert Medal honoree,
Suzanne Slade

(Peachtree)

Strange but true nonfiction filled with stunning illustrations…

fascinating facts … hummingbirds can hover like a helicopter, fly backwards and upside down, and consume half their body weight in a single day …

and illuminating, elegant poetry, with informational sidebars and backmatter.

“An impressive introduction to a
mind-boggling bird.”

BEHOLD THE HUMMINGBIRD Book Trailer – YouTube

The second book in the NF PB
trilogy launched by:

“[An] absolute treat.” The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“[An] accessible, fact-rich volume.” PW

Chicago Library’s Best of the Best, 2023
BCCB 2023 Blue Ribbon title

Stay tuned:
BEHOLD THE CHAMELEON (Peachtree; 2025),
the third volume from this powerhouse creative team.

Thomas Gonzalez has been drawing since he was a child in Havana, Cuba. A Spanish speaker, Thomas didn’t know the English language when he migrated with his family to the States, so it became even more natural to express himself in pictures. Express and impress, we might add! Gonzalez’s debut picture book, 14 COWS FOR AMERICA, received many starred reviews—SLJ described it as “exquisite”—and made several national bestseller lists, including the NYT, which hailed Gonzalez’s illustrations as “beautifully evocative.”

For more, see
Gonzalez’s Illustrator Highlight.

Happy Book Birthday

Illustrated by
NYT-bestselling

Ruth E. Harper

Written by Steven
& Clifford Simmons

Book #3 in the N/F PB trilogy

Vietnamese license (Kim Dong Publishing House)

Featured on:

• Instagram photos and videos

– Bethany Stahl,
Bestselling Author of Save the Ocean

• Instagram photos and videos

Help the seahorse find a coral
to hold onto while it sleeps!

Happy Book Birthday

by award-winning

Erin Dealey

Illustrated by
Kate Cosgrove

(Sleeping Bear Press)

Brighten your day with this inclusive, joyful, “ranunculus” read aloud!

Illustration © Kate Cosgrove, throughout

Think 1 part friendship + 2 parts random acts of kindness + lots of flowers that soon make the entire town blossom.

Will Izzy, the budding young Botanist, ever get the new neighbor (a bit of a grump) to accept the bloom of friendship?

Back matter includes a seek-and-find and information on the flowers mentioned in the book.

As featured:

“…honestly warm, welcoming, and flower-filled…
Lovely. Just lovely.”
—Betsy Bird, Fuse8

[excerpt]

BB: In addition to some nice flower identification at the back of the book there’s also a bit of information about Monarch Migration Waystations. Was this always intended to be part of the storyline, or was it something you added after the initial draft?

ED: …the milkweed and monarch migration waystations were always in the book. One of my goals was to involve as many members of the community as possible. I was thrilled that my brilliant editor, Sarah Rockett, wanted to keep the waystation information in the backmatter too. … I truly appreciate how Sarah’s insights helped to shape this book.

BB: What are your feelings about the art for this book by Kate Cosgrove? Did she bring anything to the book that surprised you?

ED: Kate’s illustrations are breath-taking! The palette alone is gorgeous. And the world she brought to our story is full of surprises, from the flowers in Izzy’s mother’s hair to the absolutely beautiful community that blossoms from Izzy’s acts of kindness. I could stare at this book all day and find something new. It’s grown into a stunning work of art.
I am in awe.

BLOG SIGHTINGS:

Book Blog Tour & #Giveaways

[selected]

PPBF – Wander, Ponder, Write

Children will love learning about the various flowers growing in the garden, including their Latin names, with further information about them in the back matter. Like Izzy, they’ll wonder why the grumpy neighbor doesn’t love all of the flowers. After all, who hasn’t seen a child mesmerized by a dandelion, that most beautiful “weed.” What a great opportunity to discuss notions of beauty and worth.

Children and their adult readers will love the inclusivity of the text and illustrations: Izzy is never identified by a pronoun, the name is genderless, and they wear a rainbow hoodie; and townspeople include a pediatrician wearing a head scarf, a principal with a prosthetic leg, a fellow student in a wheelchair, and many other inclusively-portrayed people.

Whether you read JUST FLOWERS at home, in a classroom, or at the library, this hope-filled, inclusive story will bring a bouquet of smiles to brighten your life.

“Sometimes a book comes alone that is so inclusive, I want to HUG the author and illustrator!
[JUST FLOWERS] is exactly that!

Why I Love This Book:

“I love stories that encourage children to have hope and share kindness.
I love stories that burst with inclusivity – important characters and characters in leadership roles have all types of disabilities – and are of all nationalities and colors and genders.
I love stories that are filled with fabulous art – the illustrations are so joyful – even the grumpy old neighbor!”

Perfect Picture Book Friday,
hosted by Vivian Kirkfield

What Was On…
hosted by Sandra Nickel

“Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove with a full bouquet of colors,
JUST FLOWERS is a delight for the eyes. Its muted palate… is calming and reassuring and the perfect accompaniment to Erin’s story that radiates generosity.”

10 Diverse Picture Books about Gardens, Community, and Kindness
on pragmaticmom.com with a shout out to Marie Boyd‘s JUST A WORM,
as well!

Erin Dealey is an award-winning playwright (see Uproar Theatrics)
and author of over 20+ children’s books (so far) including:

(Harper Collins)

a New York State Reading Association Charlotte Award (intermediate category, 2023)
and a Connecticut Reading Association Nutmeg Book Award nominee (2024)

(S&S/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books)

(Sleeping Bear Press)

and

(Sleeping Bear Press)

an Anna Dewdney Read Together honor book.

Happy Book Birthday

by award-winning

Alexandra Alessandri

Illustrated by Manu Montoya

(Barefoot Books)

Board Book Bilingual edition

“This book has everything I love of Colombia, from the fincas in the Andes, to the food, to fútbol and cumbia, to Monserrate. Colombia is so diverse both in regions and in people, and it was a joy getting to depict that here.” —Alexandra Alessandri
(excerpt from the launch invitation)

[excerpt]

“Manu’s illustrations are just darling–there are so many details that stirred up wonderful memories of my visits to my parents’ country. The cover alone is reminiscent of a traditional Andean town, from the colorful building façades to the hanging planters and fruits, to the palmas de cera in the Quindio region and Andes mountains in the background. And the careful observer will also notice the yellow butterflies, a nod to our literary hero Gabriel García Márquez!” —Alexandra Alessandri

Alexandra Alessandri is the author of several books for children, including Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela!, Isabel and Her Colores Go to School, and The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía. Her books have received numerous distinctions, including the Florida Book Award, International Latino Book Award, Américas Award Commendable Title, and the ILA 2022 Children’s and Young Adults’ Book Award in Primary Fiction. The daughter of Colombian immigrants, Alexandra is also an educator and a poet. She lives in Florida with her husband and son.

Next up:

Happy Book Birthday

(Epic Ink/Quarto)

in Antique & Collectible Dolls

(as of 4.27)

Created in partnership with Mattel to celebrate Barbie doll’s 65th anniversary and featuring rare images from their archives, BARBIE is a stunning tribute to the beloved pop culture icon that has echoed the taste, style, and events of every decade she has experienced.

Project manager: NYT-bestselling Stacia Deutsch

BARBIE reveals how Barbie is more than a toy—she is an ideal that lives forever, encouraging girls to persist through to become whatever they dream to be.

Looking forward!

(For clients only.)

AWE-some April news!

Featuring award-winning

Heather Brockman Lee…

*****

Featuring Sibert Honoree

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Plastic, Ahoy! – The Lerner Blog

[excerpt]

“Associate Publisher Carol Hinz reflects on publishing this nonfiction book saying, “It’s amazing to think that when I started editing Plastic, Ahoy! I was pregnant with my youngest child. He’s now reaching the end of fifth grade! PLASTIC, AHOY! was the first book I ever worked on with Patricia Newman, and since that time, we’ve worked on a wonderful assortment of photo books and picture books. Patricia has a real passion for environmental topics, and her commitment to being a good steward of the Earth shines through in everything she does. As an editor, it’s really heartening to see books on topics that are close to my heart get a great reception. It’s also tremendously meaningful to know that PLASTIC, AHOY! has been out in the word reaching readers for a decade and will continue reaching new readers for many years to come!””

Related reading from Lerner:

(additional graphics added by E/W)

Travel beneath the waves and visit three distinct ocean zones to examine climate change, pollution, and sustainability, and find out what you can do to protect the sea. Page Plus QR codes link to videos of the featured sites.

101 Great Books for Kids List of 2021

Time for a commercial break:

Discover the Best 24 Earth Day Books for Children | Earth Day 2024 – The ChariTree Foundation

Washington State Library Association (WLA)

*****

Related reading from Lerner (continued):

Kelly Crull’s WASHED ASHORE is making a splash!

Further accolades:

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2022 Nonfiction Picture Books (slj.com)

2025 Bluestem Award Nominee (Illinois)
2024 Towner Award Nominee (WA State)
2023-2024 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award Nominee (PA)

Just in!

(Beijing)

*****

Additional 2024 award winners just in, as well –
YAY Megan and Dow!

2024 Award Winners

2024 NSSTB – Children’s Book Council

… More CBC Favorites

Also:

*****

NYT bestsellling Megan E. Freeman is bookin’ additional Children’s Choice Awards (8 in total) … Mississippi (Magnolia) and Kentucky (Bluegrass) now join Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Vermont:

*****

MORE state award WINNERS…

this time, from Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME)
for Book #3 in Karen Kilpatrick & German Blanco’s award-winning
WHEN PENCIL MET ERASER series: