Last-minute Holiday Gifts, Virtual Visits and More 🎁
Need some last-minute gift ideas? Click here for perfect pairings of picture books and related gifts for all the readers in your life.
Coming 2/3/2021: World Read Aloud Day; Schedule Your Virtual School Visit Now
Mark your calendars for February 3, 2021 — it’s World Read Aloud Day!
LitWorld started World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) in 2010 to honor the power and joy of reading. To celebrate, authors and illustrators come together each year to offer virtual classroom visits around the world. This year, teachers and librarians have their pick of 15 Soaring ‘20s creators! Find our availability here.
Soaring '20s Panels at New Jersey Assoc. of School Librarians
Soaring '20s creators presented on a number of panels for the New Jersey Association of School Librarians virtual conference. Panels included:
Practicing Perseverance with Picture Book Biographies (Kirsten Larson, Angela Kunkel, Elisa Boxer, Anna Crowley Redding, Lindsay Metcalf, Jasmyn Wright)
Empowering Students of All Ages and Backgrounds with Diverse Picture Books (Rajani LaRocca, NoNieqa Ramos, Joana Pastro, Kelly Baptist)
Big Laughs (and Little Life Lessons) in Picture Books (Abi Cushman, Kjersten Hayes, Joana Pastro, Isabella Kung, Carrie Finison, Sam Wedelich)
STEAM-ing Up Kidlit (Rajani LaRocca, Kirsten Larson, Vicky Fang, Carrie Finison, Lindsay Metcalf, Jen Malia)
Own Voices Autistic Authors on Social Justice (Jen Malia and other #ownvoices autistic authors)
New Book Covers
Don't forget, you can see all our covers and preorder on our website.
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Soaring '20s in the news
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Susan Kusel’s THE PASSOVER GUEST has received two starred reviews! School Library Journal called the book, “a superb addition to modern celebrations,” while Booklist notes it is “full of hope and heart.”
Isabella Kung (NO FUZZBALL!) did a drawing demo on KIDLIT.TV’s Ready Set Draw! And she hosted an Instagram cover reveal for ABC CATS & 123 CATS by Lesléa Newman with Candlewick Press.
Rajani LaRocca's SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS appeared on Kidlit In Color, The Providence Journal, and BookRiot List of 10 Must-Read Picture Books from 2020 (a list that included books from Carrie Finison and Vicky Fang!). Shelf Awareness called SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS, “an excellent introduction to young readers who may be experiencing their first taste of India.” And the Concord Museum’s Family Trees exhibit featured a SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS-themed tree. Rajani revealed the cover for her middle grade, MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL, while her forthcoming RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE was named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
Jen Malia (TOO STICKY!) had an interview for Disability Arts Online (UK).
WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane by Kirsten W. Larson was selected by the National Science Teachers Association/Children’s Book Council as a Best STEM Book for K-12. At the annual NCTE conference, Kirsten chatted about the making of the book in the Boyds Mills & Kane booth. And she blogged about Reading Science History Through Photographs for STEM Tuesday at From The Mixed-Up Files of Middle Grade Authors.
DIGGING FOR WORDS (by Angela Kunkel) has been named a Best Picture Book Biography of 2020 by Kirkus and a Best Picture Book of 2020 by the Chicago Public Library. It was included on Vermont’s 2020 Holiday Gift Guide and appeared in an article in the Burlington Free Press. Angela recently did an author visit for Ridgefield Library and had discussed classroom connections on Caroline Starr Rose’s blog.
Vicky Fang (INVENT-A-PET) appeared on Episode 17 of Legit Kidlit.
Joana Pastro (LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS) appeared on Kaitlyn Sanchez’s blog. And LILLYBELLE was named a Latinidad Best Latinx Book of 2020.
NO VOICE TOO SMALL (edited by Lindsay Metcalf, Keila Dawson and Jeanette Bradley) has been named an NCTE 2021 Notable Book in Poetry, a Kirkus Best Picture Book of the Year, and Chicago Public Library Best Informational Book of the Year for Younger Readers. The book also appeared on librarian Betsy Bird’s 31 Days, 31 Lists “2020 Books With a Message” and on Publisher’s Weekly’s “New and Forthcoming Social Justice Titles.” Lindsay discussed the collaboration on Beth Anderson’s “Behind the Scenes.”
FARMERS UNITE (Lindsay Metcalf) was reviewed for Perfect Picture Book Friday, and appeared in the December issue of Progressive Farmer in the article, “Children’s Books with Farm Roots.” It was on Readers Lane: "Lisl Detlefsen’s Five Book Recommendations for AGvocates of All Ages.” And Lindsay blogged about the book on From the Mixed Up Files of Middle Grade Authors.
NO VOICE TOO SMALL (Lindsay Metcalf), DIGGING FOR WORDS (Angela Kunkel) and SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA (Candy Wellins) made the 50 Best Multicultural Picture Books Of 2020 on the Colours of Us blog.
DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS (Carrie Finison), SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS (Rajani LaRocca), and THE BLUNDERS: A COUNTING CATASTROPHE (Christina Soontornvat) all made Betsy Bird's list of 2020 math picture books.
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