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…
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
THE UNDEFEATED by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson is on the National Book Award Longlist!
Kwame’s book is also on Betsy Bird’s Newbery/Caldecott 2020: Fall Prediction Edition, along with GOING DOWN HOME WITH DADDY written by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Daniel Minter and RISE: FROM CAGED BIRD TO POET OF THE PEOPLE, written by Bethany Hegedus and illustrated by Tonya Engel. Betsy called GOING DOWN HOME a “remarkable family story,” and said of RISE, “Hegedus has a firm grasp on the wordplay, so it’s nice to see it paired with something this luminous.”
At the Kansas Book Festival on Sept. 14, Don Tate was awarded the Kansas Notable Book Award for the picture book NO SMALL POTATOES, which he illustrated.
Donna Gephart‘s IN YOUR SHOES was selected as Washington DC’s Children’s Choice Award Middle School Nominee.
The audio version of Mitali Perkins’ YA novel FORWARD ME BACK TO YOU, narrated by Soneela Nankani, received a starred review from School Library Journal.
LET ‘ER BUCK: GEORGE FLETCHER THE PEOPLE’S CHAMPION, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrated by Gordon C. James, has earned a place on Booklist’s “Top Ten Biographies for Youth” list and “Top Ten Sports Books for Youth.” It was also featured as School Library Journal’s “2019 Picture Book Done Exceedingly Well.”
APPEARANCES
Salina Yoon and Carmen Oliver were featured at the Princeton Children’s Book Festival on Saturday, Sept 14.
Don Tate will deliver a Master Class workshop on Creating Winning Picture Book Biographies at the SCBWI Western Washington on Oct. 12.
Caroline Starr Rose will launch her new picture book biography A RACE AROUND THE WORLD at book signings in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mark your calendar for: Oct. 4, 6pm at Bookworks; Oct. 5, 2pm at Barnes and Noble Westside; and Oct. 12, 4pm at Page One Books.
Donna Gephart has several upcoming events in support of her new book, THE PARIS PROJECT, including a launch party at her local indie bookstore, Inkwood Books in New Jersey, at 6pm on Oct. 8. Kirkus Reviews said of the book, “Readers won’t ‘pity’ Cleveland (she wouldn’t want any), but they’ll be rooting for her all the way.”
Jessixa Bagley will present at the SCBWI Wisconsin Regional Conference on Nov 8-10.
Laura Gehl is busy this fall! Here’s where you’ll be able to find her: the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct.12 (panel at 1pm); Mid-Atlantic Episcopal School Association Early Childhood Conference in Alexandria, Vir., on Oct. 25; Books by the Banks in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Oct. 26; National Press Club Book Fair in Washington DC on Nov. 1; Baltimore Book Festival in Baltimore, Md., on Nov. 2 (panel at 4pm); NCTE Annual Convention in Baltimore, Md., on Nov. 22 (signing at 11:30am, Publisher’s Spotlight).
NEW BOOKS
The third book in Erica S. Perl‘s series, ARNOLD AND LOUISE: HAPPY FELL, illustrated by Chris Chatterton, bowed on Aug. 27. On one brisk, chilly day, Arnold the bear is determined to stay inside and make popcorn balls. But his best friend, Louise the chipmunk, wants to be outside and make leaf piles. After all, the leaves have finally fallen to the ground, bringing the first day of what Louise calls fell, the season between fall and winter. An argument ensues, so they decide to do their preferred activities separately. But when they both realize that one thing is missing—each other—can they find a way to celebrate together?
BECOMING BEATRIZ, by Tami Charles released Sept. 17. This YA novel has received wonderful starred reviews, and Tami narrated the audio version, scheduled to release on Oct. 1. Set in 1984, this companion novel to Tami’s lauded LIKE VANESSA follows fifteen-year-old Beatriz Mendez as she navigates romance, gang culture, and her family’s dark past. Beatriz longs to live the life she wants, instead of the life her gang leader brother has chosen for both of them. After he’s killed in a turf war, Beatriz must give up her dance dreams to run the gang and care for her grieving mother. That all changes when the school brainiac asks her to audition for Fame with him. Beatriz has to decide where her loyalty lies—on the streets or on the dance floor.
The picture book A RACE AROUND THE WORLD: THE TRUE STORY OF NELLIE BLY AND ELIZABETH BISLAND, written by Caroline Starr Rose and illustrated by Alexandra Bye, will release on Oct. 1. In 1889, New York reporter Nellie Bly—inspired by Jules Verne’s book Around the World in 80 Days—began an around-the-world journey that she hoped to complete in less time. Her trip was sponsored by the newspaper that employed her, The World. Just hours after her ship set out across the Atlantic, the publisher of another New York publication, The Cosmopolitan magazine, put writer Elizabeth Bisland on a westbound train. Bisland was headed around the world in the opposite direction, thinking she could beat Bly’s time. Only one woman could win the race, but both Bly and Bisland completed their journeys in record time and experienced unforgettable adventures.
Laura Gehl has two books releasing Oct. 1: BABY BOTANIST from HarperCollins and ALWAYS LOOKING UP: NANCY GRACE ROMAN, ASTRONOMER from Albert Whitman. Check out more upcoming books from our clients.
COVER REVEAL
We’re thrilled to reveal the cover for Carmen Oliver‘s new book BEARS MAKE THE BEST WRITING BUDDIES, illustrated by Jean Claude. This is the third book in the BEARS series, after BEARS MAKE THE BEST READING BUDDIES and BEARS MAKE THE BEST MATH BUDDIES. Newbery medalist Kwame Alexander called WRITING BUDDIES, “a marvelous way to introduce the tips, tricks, and wonders of the writerly life to young readers.” The book will be released on Jan. 1 by Capstone. A fourth book in the series, BEARS MAKE THE BEST SCIENCE BUDDIES, is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2020.
IN THE PRESS
Robin Benway wrote a piece for Bustle about writing, family, grief and refinishing furniture.
Mitali Perkins was featured in the NBC News article entitled, “Here’s how the literary world is shedding light on the lives of undocumented kids and teens,” by Lakshmi Gandhi. Mitali spoke of her debut picture book, BETWEEN US AND ABUELA: A FAMILY STORY FROM THE BORDER.