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…
NEW BOOKS
Picture book biography COUNTING THE STARS: THE STORY OF KATHERINE JOHNSON, NASA MATHEMATICIAN, written by award-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by Raúl Colón, was released on Oct. 8 by Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster. The sensitive, informative, and inspiring book tells the story of the remarkable mathematician Katherine Johnson, one of the NASA “human computers,” whose work was critical to the first U.S. space launch.
Erica S. Perl’s fourth book in the ARNOLD AND LOUISE series, ARNOLD AND LOUISE: ALL THE FUN WINTER THINGS was released on Oct. 15 by Penguin Workshop. In this wintertime story, illustrated by Chris Chatterton, Arnold knows that—as a bear—it’s time to hibernate. But Louise insists that he’ll miss all the fun if he does, so she convinces him to try hibernating like a chipmunk instead. They’ll sleep for a short time, wake up to go sledding or have a snowball fight, and repeat! The only problem is, Arnold can’t seem to keep his eyes open. What if he can’t stay awake for the winter fun?
The latest Paddington book illustrated by R.W. Alley, PADDINGTON GOES TO HOSPITAL, is now available in paperback. The picture book is written by Karen Jankel and the late Michael Bond, who created the series. When the Browns find Paddington lying on the lawn, unable to remember where he is or even what the word “bun” means, they immediately realize something is seriously wrong and send for an ambulance. It’s Paddington’s first time in hospital and the doctors and nurses soon discover that he is rather an unusual patient. Full of the humorous misunderstandings and adventures that this lovable bear is famous for, this is a great story for the young Paddington fan who is apprehensive, or merely curious, about what goes on inside a hospital.
Penny Parker Klostermann’s THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT has been released in a new format, making the story accessible on mobile phones. Randomhouse’s Moonlite library now includes this award-winning book in a three-story bundle of Dinos, Dragons & Pirates!
Check out more of our clients’ upcoming titles.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Author Uma Krishnaswami has been nominated for the 2020 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award from Canada. Nominees were presented at the Frankfurt Book Fair on Oct. 17 and represent a “gold mine for anyone illustrated in children’s and YA literature,” according to ALMA.
The Read Aloud Revival picked Caroline Starr Rose’s A RACE AROUND THE WORLD: THE TRUE STORY OF NELLIE BLY AND ELIZABETH BISLAND as an October Book of the Week.
Don Tate and Laura Gehl are 2019 Northern Lights Book Award winners! Author Laura Gehl won in two categories: Poetry for her picture book EXCEPT WHEN THEY DON’T, illustrated by Joshua Heinsz, and in the Family category for her picture book JUNIPER KAI: SUPER SPY, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis. Picture book CARTER READS THE NEWSPAPER, written by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Don Tate, won in the Biography category.
Published by Peachtree, Don Tate and Deborah Hopkinson’s CARTER READS THE NEWSPAPER also has been honored with an Eureka Excellence in Nonfiction award. Created by the California Reading Association, the award serves to honor and celebrate nonfiction for children.
Don Tate and Kelly Starling Lyons are among the winners of the Children’s Book Council’s 2019 CBC Diversity Outstanding Achievement Awards. Don and Kelly won for their involvement with The Brown Bookshelf, which pushes awareness of black voices writing for young readers.
STARRED REVIEWS
Tami Charles has received starred reviews for her most recent books. Her newly released young adult novel BECOMING BEATRIZ received a starred review from Shelf Awareness. The site said the book is a “beautifully written follow-up to LIKE VANESSA [that] creates a believable character in Beatriz, one with an intensity of spirit likely to draw in fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Tiffany D. Jackson.”
Plus, Tami Charles‘ forthcoming picture book, FREEDOM SOUP, was awarded a starred review from Kirkus AND from Publisher’s Weekly! This book about a Haitian grandmother and granddaughter sharing a holiday, a family recipe, and a story of freedom, was called, “a stunning and necessary historical picture book” by Kirkus. Set with a publication date of Dec. 10, FREEDOM SOUP is available for pre-order now.
BETWEEN US AND ABUELA: A FAMILY STORY FROM THE BORDER, written by Mitali Perkins and illustrated by Sara Placios, received a starred review from School Library Journal. The magazine called the picture book, “a story of family strength and unity overcoming fences along the Mexican/United States border … [a] poignant piece to add to the current national discussion about the border. A must for any collection.”
APPEARANCES
Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome will be teaching a Picture Book Workshop for Authors & Illustrators for the Austin chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators on Nov. 9, from 12:30pm by 6:30pm.
Two The Booking Biz clients are teaching six-week classes at The Writing Barn: Bethany Hegedus is teaching “Social Justice, Kindness & Inclusion in the Picture Book Market”, starting Oct. 29, and picture book author Adam Lehrhaupt is teaching “Character vs. Plot—The Battle of Writing a Good Book”, starting Nov. 6. Both classes are online, so attendees can participate from anywhere in the world.
Paddington Bear illustrator R.W. Alley had two upcoming events. On Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11:00am to 1:00pm, he’ll be at the Ogunquitfest 2019 at The Village Toy Funatic, 232 Main St, Ogunquit, Maine). On Sunday, Nov. 10, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, he’ll be at the 30th Children’s Illustration Celebration with other children’s illustrators at R. Michelson Galleries, 132 Main Street, Northampton, Mass.
Author/illustrator Michael Garland was at the Chappaqua Book Festival in Chappaqua, N.Y., earlier this month and signed books at Bronx RIver Books in Scarsdale, N.Y.
IN THE PRESS
Typewriter Rodeo appeared on Texas Country Reporter 1674 Season 28 Episode 3. You can view the clip on Youtube.
BOOK DEALS
Bethany Hegedus, author of the GRANDFATHER GANDHI series, has sold her first fiction picture book to Tamar Brazis at Viking. HUDDLE UP! CUDDLE UP! is about a football-loving family as they run through their bedtime playbook before the clock runs out. The book will be illustrated by Mike Deas and is scheduled for publication in fall 2020.