Cynsations: Celebrating Children’s & Young Adult Literature is overjoyed about our 20th anniversary! We’ve shifted to a quarterly format with in-depth articles, interviews, and an overview of everything you need to know about the world of books for young readers. Check out the spring 2024 issue: https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/cynsations/
Congratulations and gratitude to Cynsations team contributors Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, Mitu Malhotra, AJ Eversole, Michael Leali, and Gail Vannelli on a job well done!
Several books by Indigenous authors raise awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit People and Other Relatives, contextualize the crisis, empower young readers or offer healing. With regard to my YA ghost mystery HARVEST HOUSE, I have been asked whether I was writing to a trend, and my answer is: We’re writing for our lives and to offer our young people understanding, compassion, and a path forward. Each of these titles speaks from its own slant, including through metaphor, or in the way in which they frame young Indigenous voices. Authors include Angeline Boulley, KA Cobell, Lisa Charleyboy, Mary Beth Leatherdale, Dawn Quigley, Jen Ferguson, Cheryl Issacs. What additional titles would you suggest?
From Native Hope @projectnativehope: “May 5 is the official MMIW Day and is the most widely celebrated across the U.S. and Canada. Every year, individuals wear red, and attend marches, rallies, bike rides, fundraisers, and more to raise awareness for the MMIW cause and fight against the injustice that’s happening to Native women and their families every day.”
“A red hand over the mouth has become the symbol of a growing movement, the MMIW movement. It stands for all the missing sisters whose voices are not heard. It stands for the silence of the media and law enforcement in the midst of this crisis. It stands for the oppression and subjugation of Native women who are now rising up to say #NoMoreStolenSisters.” Visit the link in my bio to learn more. What additional resources would you suggest?
#MMIW #MMIWG #MMIWG2S #NoMoreStolenRelatives #NativeAmerican #FirstNations #Indigenous
Highlights of the 2024 ALSC Summer Reading Lists.
Honored that my YA novel, HARVEST HOUSE, was named to three Children’s Book Council 2024 lists—Young Adult Favorites, Teacher Favorites, and Librarian Favorites. View all the lists, including Children’s Favorites, at the link in my bio.
Summer Reads 2024 from Publishers Weekly! Highlights include books by @ka_cobell @harlemportland @lynnbrunelle @authorjasonchin @donoghuebaldwin @traceybaptistewrites @verabee.
2024 Summer Reading Recommendations by Elissa Gershowitz, Editor in Chief, from Notes from the Horn Book. PEEK: “When compiling the lists — thirteen selections (a baker’s dozen!) for all age ranges — we seek out page-turning fiction, nonfiction, folklore, and poetry. We approach these lists in the spirit of exploration and curiosity and with the important reminder that “the individual child is the real criterion.”
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Congrats to the short-listed titles for the Reading the West Book Awards! Vote now at the link in my bio.
@xfactor.live @adrianamjgarcia @tracisorellauthor @arigonstarr @makwa_giniw @anne_wynter @HarperKids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks
#bookstagram #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooksforkids #picturebooks #youngadultbooks #YALit #bookaward #amreading #ojibwe #cherokee
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Heartdrum: WHEN WE GATHER PUB DATE May 7
Congratulations, Andrea L. Rogers & Madelyn Goodnight on the release of WHEN WE GATHER (OSTADAHLISIHA): A CHEROKEE TRIBAL FEAST (Heartdrum, 2024). Ages 4-up. @andrealrogers @madelyn_goodnight @HarperKids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks
#picturebooks #childrensbooks #diversebooks #weneeddiversebooks #cherokee #wildonions #oklahoma #Indigenous #nativeamerican
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Join us at Gaithersburg Book Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 18 at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Free to attend! Free to park!
Venue: Willa Cather Pavilion
Time: 12:15 p.m. to 1:05 p.m.
Signing Time: 1:15 p.m.
Presentation Authors: Cynthia Leitich Smith and Kekla Magoon
@gburgbookfest @candlewickpress @candlewick_sl @mollymurakami @keklamagoon
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Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month with TWO TRIBES by Emily Bowen Cohen (Heartdrum)!
ABOUT
A Jewish Muscogee girl, navigating sensitive family dynamics, “learns to embrace the complexity, meaning, and deep love that comes from being part of two vibrant tribes.”
★ School Library Journal (starred): “A must-purchase for young readers everywhere on how to learn about, be empowered by, and embrace one’s identity.”
Honors include: Finalist, National Jewish Book Award; ALSC Summer Reading List; Jewish Women’s Archive Book Club Pick; New York Public Library Best Books for Kids; New York Times Editor-Recommended Book; School Library Journal Best Books; School Library Journal Best Graphic Novels; Texas Library Association Bluebonnet List; Texas Library Association Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List; American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) Best Books; Nerdies: Graphic Novels. TWO TRIBES by @memberoftwotribes is published by Heartdrum @HarperKids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks.
“Jewish American Heritage Month in May recognizes Jewish contributions to American culture, history, military, science, government, and more,” according to the U.S. National Archives. @usnatarchives
#jewish #judaism #jewishlife #judaica #jewishculture#jewishholidays #jewishcommunity #jewishart #graphicnovel #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooksforkids #middleschoolreading #middlegradebooks
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Reminder! Pre-order RED BIRD DANCED by Dawn Quigley, cover art by Carla Joseph @carla.joseph.35 (Cree)(Heartdrum @HarperKids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks, 2024). Ages 8-up.
ABOUT
Ariel and Tomah have lived in the city’s intertribal housing complex all their lives. But for both of them, this Dagwaagin (Autumn) season is different than any before. With lyrical verse and powerful emotion, Dawn Quigley tells the story of urban Native kids who find strength in connection with those who came before–and in the hope that lets them take flight.
★ Publishers Weekly (starred): “Through Ariel and Tomah’s steadfast resolve, this heartbreaking yet heartening story tackles themes of grief and the strength it takes to grow through adversity. Even as the tweens confront personal challenges, they remain committed to bettering their surroundings in a moving narrative that highlights issues relating to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis while celebrating the healing power of art—including dance, folklore, music, and poetry—and the solace one can find in connecting with one’s heritage.”
#middlegrade #ojibwe #mglit #bookstagram #childrensbooks #childrensliterature #weneeddiversebooks #diversebookstagram
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Happy Birthday, @littlefreelibrary! Little Free Library became a nonprofit on May 17, 2012, launching its journey to make books accessible to everyone. They’re turning our organization’s nonprofit birthday into a week-long celebration May 12-18, 2024!
Visit the link in my bio to find out how you can participate in the conversation.
#lflweek #littlefreelibrary #bookstagram #books #littlefreelibraries #littlefreelibrariesofinstagram #reading #littlelibrary #lfl #library #takeabookleaveabook #littlefreelibrarystewards
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14 Reminder! Pre-order LOOKING FOR SMOKE by KA Cobell (Heartdrum, 2024)!
K.A. Cobell @ka_cobell, Staa’tssipisstaakii, is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she spends her time writing books, chasing her kids through the never-ending rain, and scouring the inlet beaches for sand dollars and hermit crabs. LOOKING FOR SMOKE is her debut novel, releasing in Summer 2024 from Heartdrum/HarperCollins in the US and Penguin Books in the UK. @HarperKids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks.
ABOUT
In her powerful debut novel, Cobell weaves loss, betrayal, and complex characters into a thriller that will illuminate, surprise, and engage readers until the final word.
★ Publishers Weekly (starred): “Via four alternating POVs informed by the intricacies of reservation life, Cobell highlights the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis and delivers a gut-punch of an ending in this timely debut thriller that is by turns spine-tingling and emotionally raw.”
#youngadult #bookstagram #ya #bookworm #youngadultbooks #yabooks #booksofinstagram #fiction #mysterynovel #suspense #thriller #indigenous #blackfeet #weneeddiversebooks
Heartdrum: HEROES OF THE WATER MONSTER PAPERBACK May 14
Now available in paperback! HEROES OF THE WATER MONSTER by Brian Young @byoungwrites (Navajo), cover art by Shonto Begay @shontobegay (Navajo)(Heartdrum @HarperKids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks, 2023). Ages 8-up.
An unmissable companion to HEALER OF THE WATER MONSTER, which won the American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award, this novel by Navajo author Brian Young tells the story of two contemporary young Navajo heroes—and one water monster—who must learn to work together to save their present world from the lasting hurts of their people’s past.
Honors include: American Indian Youth Literature Honor Award; Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection; Kirkus Reviews Best Books; American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) Best Books.
#navajo #middlegradebooks #mglit #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooksforkids #paperback #bookstagram #authorsofinstagram
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Join us May 23rd for our School Library Journal Day of Dialog virtual event! Our day-long program of author panels, in-depth conversations, and keynote talks will leave you informed, inspired, and entertained.
“Come hear about the hottest forthcoming titles for children, tweens, and teens, from nonfiction and romance to picture books and graphic novels. You can also visit the virtual exhibit hall to network with leading publishers, enjoy intimate author chats, and download digital galleys and other free resources.” @sljournal
Honored to be participating with authors like @deidrehavrelock @leslie.stall.widener @henakhanbooks @yamilesmendez @caroleweatherford @jasminewargabooks @rajanilarocca @tracisorellauthor @stacyvwells @traceybaptistewrites!
Visit the link in my bio for more information and to register.
#schoollibrary #schoollibrarian #bookstagram #library #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librarylife #librarian #librarylove #teacherlibrarian #teachersofinstagram #schoollibraries #SLJDOD
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Highlighting a few of the Indigenous children’s-YA book releases of June 2024!
Picture Book
THE CHEROKEE SYLLABARY/: AN ILLUSTRATED KEY TO THE CHEROKEE LANGUAGE/TSALAGI DIGOWELI TSUNOYVGI by Brad Wagnon & Beth Anderson (7th Generation)
I AM THE SUN by Janessa Parker & Beverly Blacksheep (Bushel & Peck Books)
TWELVE YEARS OF SUMMER: A WILDLIFE CELEBRATION by Sherri Maret & Thomas Hilley (Globe Pequot/Muddy Boots)
Early Reader
BEHIND EVERY RUG by Daniel Vandever & Lynne Hardy (Scholastic)
Middle Grade
LEI AND THE INVISIBLE ISLAND by Malia Maunakea (Penguin Workshop)
RED BIRD DANCED by Dawn Quigley, cover by Carla Joseph (Heartdrum)
Young Adult
LOOKING FOR SMOKE by KA Cobell, cover by Leah Rose Kolakowski (Heartdrum)
WHERE WOLVES DON’T DIE by Anton Truer (Levine Querido)
Joyful Disclaimer: Due to the rise in Indigenous books, it’s impossible to me to offer an all-inclusive guarantee. Please feel free to let me know about additional Indigenous titles of June 2024 in the comments.
#picturebooks #diversebooks #bookstagram #nativeread #indigenous #nativehawaiian #youngadultbooks #yalit #childrensbooks #childrensliterature #middlegradebooks #middlegradefiction #mmiwg2s #mmiwg #ojibwe #navajo #yabooks
Heartdrum: LOOKING FOR SMOKE PUB DATE June 4
Heartdrum: RED BIRD DANCED PUB DATE June 4
HARVEST HOUSE paperback release day July 2
Heartdrum: WE STILL BELONG PAPERBACK July 9