Our wonderful clients have new books and more news. Here’s what’s going on…
COVER REVEAL
We’re excited to reveal the beautiful cover for Caroline Starr Rose’s new picture book, A RACE AROUND THE WORLD: THE TRUE STORY OF NELLIE BLY AND ELIZAB ETH BISLAND, illustrated by Alexandra Bye. Here’s what Caroline told us about the book and its cover: In 1889, journalist Nellie Bly set out on a round-the-world trip that she hoped to complete in less than 80 days. Unbeknownst to Nellie, another lady journalist, named Elizabeth Bisland, embarked on a competing journey that very same day! That’s our westward traveler, Elizabeth, on the left, with her pen in hand, and eastbound Nellie on the right, with the only dress, coat, and bag she brought with her. The steam train and steam ship were Nellie and Elizabeth’s primary means of travel. The inclusion of the compass and watch show this race was a journey of distance and time. I grew up with a Nellie Bly book on my shelf. I found it deeply satisfying to bring her story to a new generation of readers.” The book is being published by Albert Whitman and Co. on Oct. 1, 2019.
BOOK RELEASES
Erica S. Perl’s next book, TRUTH OR LIE: SHARKS!, comes out May 28. It is illustrated by Michael Slack and is the first book in a new non-fiction early reader series from Random House Children’s Books. Here’s some information about the book and series from the publisher:
“Shark lovers will enjoy hunting down the TRUTH about their favorite ocean predators in this innovative new Science Reader series.
“Baby sharks are toothless at first, right? That’s a LIE! The TRUTH is, sharks are born with a mouthful of teeth to protect themselves and hunt right away. Though this engaging early reader is 100% fun, 25% of it is FALSE! In a unique question-and-answer format, proficient readers are quizzed about their favorite ocean predators to see if they can separate facts from ‘lies.’ The book’s mascot–the Truth Sleuth–guides readers through this funny and fact-packed Step 3 Reader, filled with photos of sharks in action, as well as kid-appealing art and humor.”
Client books coming in June:
- HOW TO READ A BOOK written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Melissa Sweet — June 18
- RISE! FROM CAGED BIRD TO POET OF THE PEOPLE, MAYA ANGELOU written by Bethany Hegedus and illustrated by Tonya Engel — June 25
- TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: FORCES OF NATURE written by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson — June 25
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Author/illustrator Salina Yoon won the kids’ choice Hudson Readers Thumbs Up Award at the Hudson Children’s Book Festival on May 2. More than 3,000 kids cast their votes for the award.
Robin Benway’s FAR FROM THE TREE has been selected as an Evergreen Teen Book Award HS nominee for 2020. The Evergreen Teen Book Award is sponsored by the Washington Young Adult Review Group (WashYARG), a group comprised of school and public teen services librarians from the state of Washington. This award was created to provide teens in Washington a voice in deciding the best literature published for their age group. Additionally, FAR FROM THE TREE has been nominated for the 2020 Garden State Book Award, a project of the Young Adult Section of the New Jersey Library Association.
Tami Charles’ LIKE VANESSA has been nominated for the (ola) Sequoyah Children’s Book award 2020.
The new young adult novel by Mitali Perkins, FORWARD ME BACK TO YOU, has been named a Best Fiction for Young Adults nominee by YALSA!
IN THE PRESS
The Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference interviewed author Mitali Perkins about empowering young readers. Here’s a sneak peek: “I didn’t start pursuing a full time career as an ‘author’ until my second novel, MONSOON SUMMER, was rejected by twenty-two publishers over eleven years. When it was finally published, I decided that if I couldn’t be thwarted by all that opposition, it was time to be ‘all in.'” Read the full interview here. Mitali will be on faculty at the Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference on Aug. 1-3.
Author Tami Charles was recently interviewed for a digital TV show. Watch her talk about her love of stories and her recent middle-grade novels LIKE VANESSA and BECOMING BEATRIZ.
APPEARANCES
Penny Parker Klostermann will be appearing at the Abilene Public Library as part of their summer “Who I Could Be” program on Friday, June 21, 2019.
On June 25 at 6:00pm (EST), Boston’s Belmont Books will welcome Ammi-Joan Paquette for the launch of her new non-fiction book TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: FORCES OF NATURE. This is the third book in this middle-grade series co-authored with Laurie Ann Thompson that challenges readers to separate fact from fiction.
Vaunda Micheaux Nelson will be speaking at the Esther Bone Memorial Library in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, on June 11 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in celebration of the the traveling exhibit “Telling a People’s Story: African-American Children’s Illustrated Literature”. There will be live jazz music and light refreshments for the hour prior to Vaunda’s presentation.