What does it mean to be an Audie Award finalist!? It means your book has been interpreted by some fantastic actors who’s storytelling abilities are going to grab kids’ attention and pull them even closer into your book! So congrats to Lesa Cline-Ransome for her book The Overground Railroad, narrated by Shayna Small and Dion Graham, published by Live Oak Media. AND to Bethany Hegedus for Rise! From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou narrated by Cherise Boothe, published by Live Oak Media. AND to Kelly Starling Lyons for Going Down Home with Daddy, narrated by Daxton Edwards, published by Dreamscape Media LLC. All three are Audie Award finalists in the young listeners category! 
Kudos continue to the following authors for books that were added to the Dogwood Titles grades 3-5 list, a designation of the best of the best titles as determined by the Missouri Association of School Librarians:
Rise! From Caged Bird to Poet of the People by Bethany Hegedus
William Still and His Freedom Stories by Don Tate
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
The Golden Kite Awards, presented by Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), are the only accolades presented by writers and illustrators honoring their own. Author/illustrator Don Tate should be 
super stoked to have just received the award in the Nonfiction Text for Younger Readers category for his picture book William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad. Author Tami Charles received the award for Picture Book Text for Younger Readers with her picture book All Because You Matter. Check out the awards video featuring all the winners and find out what his programs can offer kids!
Cynthia Leitich Smith’s new anthology of short stories for middle grade readers Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids has received 4 starred reviews: Kirkus, Booklist, PW, and Shelf Awareness.
This collection of interrelated stories, published by Heartdrum in partnership with We Need Diverse Books, was credited by Booklist “with exceptionally strong writing throughout, mak[ing this] an appealing choice for those just learning about contemporary Indigenous life as well as readers well versed with the powwow circuit.” Woot-woot!
