Join Us For Change

Dear Friends,

At the Booking Biz, we’re heartbroken and asking what can we do over the unjust atrocities taking place in America. We write books for ALL children. We write to help them determine their voices in the world. We write to be heard so they can learn how to be heard, too. And right now, the people of America want to be heard. They protest the unfair and unequal treatment of black people in this country. Promises broken. Denied. Ignored.

The people protesting;

Demand change,

Stand up,

Kneel,

Raise their voices.

And the children are watching.

To that end, we invite you to join us in supporting change. This Thursday, June 4th, 2020 at 7pmEST on Facebook Live @TheBrownBookshelf, our client Kwame Alexander, Newbery Medalist & Founding Editor of Versify/HMH, will be holding a Rally For Black Lives with friends. Please join us.

Rally for Black Lives

Here are just a few books that we hope you will turn to as a beacon of hope.

Picture Books

THE UNDEFEATED written by Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

HOW SWEET THE SOUND: THE STORY OF AMAZING GRACE written by Carole Boston Weatherford

ALL BECAUSE YOU MATTER written by Tami Charles, Illustrated by Bryan Collier

WORDS SET ME FREE: THE STORY OF YOUNG FREDERICK DOUGLASS written by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Illustrate by James E. Ransome

CROWN: AN ODE TO THE FRESH CUT written by Derrick Barnes, Illustrated by Gordon C. James

GRANDFATHER GANDHI & BE THE CHANGE: A GRANDFATHER GANDHI STORY written by Bethany Hegedus & Arun Gandhi, illustrated by Evan Turk

THE BOOK ITCH: FREEDOM, TRUTH & HARLEM’S GREATEST BOOKSTORE written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

I AM FARMER written by Miranda Paul and Baptiste Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

BETWEEN US AN ABUELA: A FAMILY STORY FROM THE BORDER written by Mitali Perkins, Illustrated by Sara Palacios

SING A SONG: HOW LIFT EVERY VOICE & SING INSPIRED GENERATIONS written by Kelly Starling Lyons, Illustrated by Keith Mallet

RADIANT CHILD written and illustrated by Javaka Steptoe

BLACK ALL AROUND written by Patricia Hubbell, Illustrated by Don Tate

Novels

SWING written by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess

LIKE VANESSA written by Tami Charles, Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

FINDING LANGSTON written by Lesa Cline-Ransome

NOTE SO PURE AND SIMPLE written by Lamar Giles

BOOK UNCLE AND ME written by Uma Krishnaswami, illustrated by Julianna Swanney

HEARTS UNBROKEN written by Cynthia Leitich Smith

NO CRYSTAL STAIR: A DOCUMENTARY NOVEL OF THE LIFE AND WORK OF LEWIS MICHAUX, HARLEM BOOKSELLER written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

YOU BRING THE DISTANT NEAR written by Mitali Perkins

JADA JONES: DANCING QUEEN written by Kelly Starling Lyons

Starred Reviews, Six-Figure Deals & More News

With so much distressing news in the world, we welcome wonderful praise for our clients. Here’s what they’ve been up to…

AWARDS

Let 'er Buck written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Gordon C. JamesNonfiction picture book LET ‘ER BUCK: GEORGE FLETCHER, THE PEOPLE’S CHAMPION written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Gordon C. James was a 2020 Spur award winner for the Storyteller/Illustrated Children’s Book by the Western Writers of America.

Donna Gephart‘s LILY AND DUNKIN was nominated for the California Young Readers Award.

REVIEWS

not so pure and simple by Lamar GilesLamar Giles has received his FIFTH starred review for NOT SO PURE AND SIMPLE! It’s from Bookpage, and follows the stars from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist.  BookPage also posted agreat interview with Lamar.

THE STARTUP SQUAD: FACE THE MUSIC, the second book in the series written by Brian Weisfeld and Nicole C. Kear, is “an enjoyable and diverse story highlighting friendship, entrepreneurship, and perseverance,” according to Kirkus.

APPEARANCES

The Booking Biz clients Bethany Hegedus, Don Tate and Jessixa Bagley talked about writing through troubled times in a webinar for The Writing Barn.

The Writing Barn is also holding classes for parents and kids featuring The Booking Biz clients:

Brian Weisfeld has been featured on the news in Austin on KEYE and KXAN, plus in San Antonio on WOAI and KABB.

Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies by Carmen OliverCarmen Oliver has been busy. She wrote a post for the Nerdy Book Club on what makes a successful author. Also her book, BEARS MAKE THE BEST READING BUDDIES, was chosen for Hillsborough School Board Member Dr. Stacy Hahn’s StoryTime Online initiative. Plus. on March 21, Carmen participated in giveaways courtesy of her publisher Kids Can Press for 2020 International Day of Forests. She also revealed an online reading of her book A VOICE FOR THE SPIRIT BEARS: How One Boy Inspired Millions to Save a Rare Animal for educators, librarians, and parents.

BOOK RELEASES

Green On Green written by Dianne WhiteDianne White‘s new picture book GREEN on GREEN came out on March 17! The book has received two starred reviews, from School Library Journal and BookList. It is also a Junior Library Guild selection. An activity kit for the book is available on her website.

NEW BOOKS

Scholastic has acquired Tami Charles‘ next young adult novel in a six-figure deal at auction. Tami was inspired to write MUTED after the Me Too movement and her experience in an all-girl R&B group. The book set in the music industry looks at the business of exploitation and how dreams of the girls are often used against them. MUTED is set for publication in 2021.

Caldecott Medal, ALA Awards, and More Client News

We couldn’t be more proud of our amazing clients. They’ve racked up awards, starred reviews, and more. Here’s their latest news… Continue reading “Caldecott Medal, ALA Awards, and More Client News”

Our 2020 Most Anticipated Books

It’s the beginning of a whole new decade, and lots of great-looking books are coming out soon. From new books in acclaimed picture book series, to a sequel to an award-winning middle-grade novel, to a young adult novel that has received four starred reviews… so far!

Here are our most anticipated books coming out in 2020. Continue reading “Our 2020 Most Anticipated Books”

Awards, Praise and Cover Reveals!

2020 has only just begun, and our clients are already raking up the kudos and getting busy with appearances. Here’s their latest news. Continue reading “Awards, Praise and Cover Reveals!”

Awards, Best-Of Lists, Appearances and More

The year is coming to an end, but our clients’ kudos and work never ends. We’re thrilled for their awards, appearances, starred reviews and more. Read all their latest news…

Continue reading “Awards, Best-Of Lists, Appearances and More”

New Books, New Pajamas, New Imprint!

Our clients have new books, starred reviews and more announced this past month, but it’s not every day we get to reveal that one of our clients has launched a new imprint! Continue reading “New Books, New Pajamas, New Imprint!”

Uma Krishnaswami Nominated for ALMA, Plus More Client Kudos

Congratulations to Uma Krishnaswami for her ALMA nomination! Plus, our clients have new books out this month, new books sold, starred reviews and more. Read on… Continue reading “Uma Krishnaswami Nominated for ALMA, Plus More Client Kudos”

National Book Award Longlist, Top Ten Lists and More Great Client News

From being honored in the National Book Award Longlist, included in multiple Top Ten lists, and featured on NBC News, our acclaimed clients are busy. Here’s their latest news… Continue reading “National Book Award Longlist, Top Ten Lists and More Great Client News”