Latest Blog Posts: Children's (page 16)

It’s a new year, which means new picture books! I’ve had, for a while now, stacks of early copies of 2016 ones. There are several slotted for spring publications that I think are really good, and today in particular I’m going to focus on forthcoming spring collaborations—those books, that is, by author-illustrator duos, whether a familiar pairing or an all-new one. How about I feature seven very possibly winning collaborations before breakfast? Let’s get right to it.

1): Coming in ...

I went to my monthly book club meeting the other night, and there was a lively discussion about favorite holiday picture books. I was woefully underprepared for this gathering and didn’t have my favorite with me, but since it is Christmas Day, I’ll tell you about it now, should it be the case that you haven’t read it. This year, I also discovered another wonderful holiday title—old, but new to me.

I’m not sure it gets any better than John ...

Maybe it’s because I’ve still got Star Wars: The Force Awakens on my mind (it was as good as everyone says), but I’ve been thinking lately about new children’s books that feature strong female protagonists, those who aren’t defined by the boys or men in their lives (much like the amazing Rey in the film).

It turns out that one of my favorite books from this year is such a book, Katherine Rundell’s The Wolf Wilder. I’ve been bugging all ...

I’m in the mood this week for a bit of a children’s literature round-up, a list of books featuring fairy tales accompanied by beautiful art. All would make great holiday gifts, if you’re looking for such a thing. Let’s get right to it, shall we?

For your serious fairy-tale fans, I highly recommend two books—Franz Xaver von Schönwerth’s The Turnip Princess: And Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales and The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm: The Complete ...

One day, about this time last year, I was driving my children home from school. It turns out that the hour of 3 to 4 p.m. is my sleepy time of day (if I knew why, I’d fix this problem), and I was feeling drowsy as I talked to them about the upcoming holidays. Because I was also focused on oncoming traffic, words weren’t quite coming to me as I bid them—the fatigue and distraction had me focused on ...

In her debut book, the graphic memoir Dare to Disappoint: Growing up in Turkey, Özge Samanci writes with unflinching honesty and humor about her childhood in a country under a military government, torn between Muslim fundamentalism and more Western, even secular, values. Though many aspects of this will be new and eye-opening to American readers, Samanci gracefully finds the universal elements in her story, packed with details and vivid memories. The starred Kirkus review calls it “a bright, perceptive bildungsroman ...

If you love picture books and don’t already know about Politics & Prose’s annual picture book panel discussions in D.C., take note. This year in early November, they had their third annual discussion, which I was happy to moderate, called “Too Good to Miss—Picture Books for Older Readers.” Those speaking at the event were author-illustrators Christopher Myers and Jason Chin, author and poet Jacqueline Woodson, and illustrators John Parra and Chris Soentpiet. (Editor Nancy Paulsen was scheduled to speak but was ...

Cowboys. Wrestlers. Knights in shining armor. Even the tattooed motorcycle rider who has inadvertently hit a squirrel on the road. They’re tough on the outside, but sometimes “it’s not easy”—and sometimes they have rough days too. Illustrator Keith Negley’s new picture book, Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too), is a conversation-starter for young readers on the topic of masculinity and emotional expression. Negley doesn’t explore why it’s not easy to be a tough guy getting misty-eyed, and as the Kirkus review ...