New books, appearances and even TV appearances are in store for our clients and their books in the next month. Here’s what they’re up to…
BOOK RELEASES
The first picture book written by award-winning MG and YA author Mitali Perkins releases Sept. 10. Illustrated by Sara Palacios, BETWEEN US AND ABUELA: A FAMILY STORY FROM THE BORDER is a timely tale about love overcoming the border fences between Mexico and the United States. The book is being published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers/Macmillan.
Also, coming in September are the picture books JUNIPER KAI: SUPER SPY written by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis (TWO LIONS) on Sept. 3 and FIVE MINUTES (THAT’S A LOT OF TIME) (NO, IT’S NOT) (YES, IT IS) written by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick and illustrated by Olivier Tallec (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers) on the 17th; young adult novels THE HIDDEN CODE, written by P.J. Hoover (Cbay Books) on the 10th and BECOMING BEATRIZ, written by Tami Charles (Charlesbridge) on the 17th; and the graphic novel version of Kwame Alexander‘s award-winning THE CROSSOVER on Sept. 24, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile (HMH Books for Young Readers). See all our clients’ upcoming books.
APPEARANCES
Salina Yoon and Carmen Oliver will be at the Princeton Children’s Book Festival on Sept 14 at the Princeton Public Library in New Jersey.
Sarah Aronson is busy! She’ll be at the great Evanston Public Library on Sept. 15 for some Holiday Sparkle in September! She will be speaking on a panel with authors Carolyn Crimi, Celia Perez, Barb Rosenstock, Betsy Bird and others. Prizes, trivia and book talk are included.
On Sept. 16, Sarah will be in conversation with Andrea Beaty and Ruth Spiro at Innovation DuPage. This is a program for STEM educators and parents.
And Sarah will be faculty at the 2020 Get To Know Your Novel event at The Highlights Foundation. This class offers lectures and writing exercises online followed by an in-person retreat.
Kwame Alexander was chosen to be the first Innovator-in-Residence at the American School in London (ASL) in England. He will be mentoring ASL students on writing and publishing projects for the 2019-20 school year.
REVIEWS
School Library Journal gave a starred review to picture book biography RISE! FROM CAGED BIRD TO POET OF THE PEOPLE, MAYA ANGELOU, written by Bethany Hegedus and illustrated by Tonya Engel. “The rich language conveys the emotions Angelou felt at different times in her life, ranging from terror to jubilance…” The book has a pre-order gift when it’s ordered through Austin’s indie bookstore BookPeople before Oct. 20. As well as the book, purchasers will receive a gorgeous illustrated art print by Tonya Engel.
Picture book LET ‘ER BUCK written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Gordon C. James received four wonderful trade reviews. Kirkus wrote, “James’ painterly oils swirl with energy, visible daubs creating the dusty, monumental landscape and equally monumental horses and humans.” Publisher’s Weekly wrote of the book, “Colloquial narration by Nelson pairs with striking oil-on-board paintings by James to introduce readers to African-American cowboy Geroge Fletcher.” School Library Journal said, “The rollicking language and gorgeous art make this a terrific read-aloud and conversation starter for older elementary students.” And Booklist said, “The fantastic colloquial language is atmospheric without being overwrought…and the excellent and thorough backmatter includes insight into Coretta Scott King Award-winning Nelson’s research process.”
JUST LIKE RUBE GOLDBERG, written by Sarah Aronson, has been named a Junior Library Guild selection and was awarded a Parents’ Choice Foundation Recommendation in nonfiction.
BOOK DEALS
Caldecott-honoree Gordon C. James will illustrate JUST LIKE JESSE OWENS, a story from the life of Andrew Young, civil rights activist, former Mayor of Atlanta and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. This picture book is written by Young’s daughter, Paula Young Shelton and scheduled for publication through Scholastic in the spring of 2020.
Gordon also will partner again with award-winning author Derrick Barnes on I AM. This picture book is a poetic declaration of self-actualization in which a young black boy makes it abundantly clear that he and he alone defines who he is, how he should be addressed and what he will become. This book will be published by Nancy Paulsen Books.
OTHER NEWS
Award-winning picture book CROWN: AN ODE TO THE FRESH CUT, written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Gordon C. James, will make its television debut on the NBC dramedy This Is Us. Look for this book to appear as set dressing on the Oct. 1 episode.