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!
Summer Reads 2024 from Publishers Weekly! Highlights include books by @ka_cobell @harlemportland @lynnbrunelle @authorjasonchin @donoghuebaldwin @traceybaptistewrites @verabee.
@harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks @bloomsburychildrens @penguinkids @01firstsecond
#summerreading #bookstagram #bookish #summerreads #readersofinstagram #weneeddiversebooks #youngadultbooks #middlegradebooks #picturebooks
Thank you to everyone who made Los Angeles Times Festival of Books such a success, especially those who attended my session and signing! Thanks also to Candlewick Press for sponsoring me and Kekla Magoon. It was lovely chatting with Kekla, Rachael Briner, Jennifer Chen, Meghan Boehman on the “Middle Grade: Girls Run the World” panel Saturday on the YA stage. I was delighted to spot so many VCFA alumnx in the audience. Highlights also included reconnecting with author pals.
@latimesfob @CandlewickPress @keklamagoon @rachaelbriner @jchenwriter @meghanboehman @paulayoo @michelle.knudsen @jbakernyc @harlemportland @dr.littlebadger @mollymurakami @harperkids @theshelfstuff @aaknopf @nortonyoungreaders @penguinteen @levinequerido @pagesabookstore @donnabarbahiguera
Join us online for the “Relationships & Revenge in YA Mystery” panel at 2:15 ET, Sun. April 28 as part of the Newburyport Literary Festival.
Mysteries are one of the hottest genres in YA right now and we have three recently published authors to tell us how they do it. E.A. Neeves, author of AFTER YOU VANISHED; Jordyn Taylor, author of THE REVENGE GAME; and Cynthia Leitich Smith, author of HARVEST HOUSE, will join us to discuss missing girls, hauntings, romance and relationships, revenge, and more.
@eaneeves @disneybooks @jordynhtaylor @delacortepress @jordynhtaylor @candlewickpress @candlewick_sl @nbptlitfest
#bookfestival #yabooks #youngadultbooks #yalit #mystery #thriller #horror #bookstagram #crime #suspense #paranormal
Cover reveal! A CONSTELLATION OF MINOR BEARTS by Jen Ferguson @jdotferg, cover art by Bailey Macabre @cedarsageskoden (Heartdrum @HarperKids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks, 2024). Design by Laura Mock @lauramock.design.
Award-winning author Jen Ferguson has written a powerful story about teens grappling with balancing resentment with enduring friendship—and how to move forward with a life that’s not what they’d imagined.
Before that awful Saturday, Molly used to be inseparable from her brother, Hank, and his best friend, Tray. The indoor climbing accident that left Hank with a traumatic brain injury filled Molly with anger.
While she knows the accident wasn’t Tray’s fault, she will never forgive him for being there and failing to stop the damage. But she can’t forgive herself for not being there either.
Determined to go on the trio’s postgraduation hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, even without Hank, Molly packs her bag. But when her parents put Tray in charge of looking out for her, she is stuck backpacking with the person who incites her easy anger.
Despite all her planning, the trail she’ll walk has a few more twists and turns ahead. . . .
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.
ABOUT
The Children’s Book Council’s 2024 Favorites award winners across all age groups and have been read and rated “by children, teens, teachers, and librarians. Annually, the CBC organizes this extensive reading program in which thousands of young people and their teachers and librarians read and rate hundreds of 2023 new books as supplied by over 100 publishers of all sizes. This long-time popular program was relaunched and expanded to 70 schools and libraries in rural, suburban, and urban communities in 40 states.
“The result is a very diverse and high-quality list of new picture books, middle-grade books, YA titles, and graphic novels that will be a valuable resource for you for years to come.” NOTE: The CBC “saw 18,000 downloads of last year’s PDFs and expect even more this year.”
Cover reveal! STITCHES OF TRADITION (GASHKIGWAASO TRADITION), written by Marcie Rendon, Illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Heartdrum, 2024).
“Noozhishenh, bimadiziwin,” Nookomis says. “My granddaughter, live a good life.”
An Ojibwe grandmother carefully measures and selects just the right colors of fabric, and her sewing machine hums whirr, whirr, whirr late into the night.
In the morning, her growing granddaughter has a beautiful new ribbon skirt to wear, a reminder of her nookomis and the cultural traditions that stitch together her family with love.
This heartwarming story by Marcie Rendon (Ojibwe), with stunning illustrations by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Ojibwe), celebrates the power of Indigenous craft and community and weaves together the spirit of resilience, female empowerment, and gratitude for the generations that came before us.
Highlighting a few of the Indigenous children’s-YA book releases of May 2024!
Picture Books
BEING HOME by Traci Sorell & Michaela Goade (Kokila)
A FAMILY TREE by Staci Lola Drouillard & Kate Gardiner (Clarion Books)
LOAF THE CAT GOES TO THE POWWOW by Nicholas DeShaw & Tara Audibert (Nancy Paulsen Books)
SUMMER’S MAGIC: AN INDIGENOUS CELEBRATION OF NATURE by Kaitlin B. Curtice & Eduardo Marticorena (Convergent Books)
TALA LEARNS TO SIVA by Kealani Netane & Dung Ho (Orchard Books)
WHEN WE GATHER by Andrea L. Rogers & Madelyn Goodnight (Heartdrum)
Middle Grade
HEROES OF THE WATER MONSTER by Brian Young, cover art by Shonto Begay (Heartdrum)(paperback edition)
Young Adult Book
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 May 2024 in the comments.
#picturebooks #diversebooks #bookstagram #nativeread #indigenous #nativehawaiian #youngadultbooks #yalit #childrensbooks #childrensliterature #middlegradebooks #middlegradefiction #cherokee #powwow #navajo
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
https://www.slj.com/event/school-library-journal-daydof-dialog-spring-2024
#SLJDOD
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
Spotlight on Indigenous audiobooks from AudioFile Magazine (April/May 2024)! REZ BALL by Byron Graves graces the cover and an interior spread. I’m interviewed with voice actor Shaun Taylor-Corbett, and highlights include books by Michaela Goade, Eric Gansworth, Traci Sorell, Dawn Quigley, Tara Audibert, Kevin Noble Maillard, Christine Day, Brian Young, Angeline Boulley, Anton Treuer & more!
@audiofilemagazine @michaelagoade @tracisorellauthor @tara_the_moxyfox @noblemaillard @bychristineday @byoungwrites @angelineboulley @treuera @harperaudio @weneeddiversebooks @harperkids @theshelfstuff & more! #audiobook #bookstagram #audiobooks #audible #audiobookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview
Almost there! Help WNDB reach it’s goal! From We Need Diverse Books: “…we fundamentally believe in the power of stories to offer support and belonging in times of mourning and grief. That’s why we’re sending bookish care packages to queer and trans youth in Oklahoma, offering hope and healing.
“We’re currently working with seven after-school groups that serve queer and trans youth in Oklahoma, and each care package we send will include:
- One copy of an LGBTQIA+ and/or Indigenous book, specially curated by our team
- Special swag items, such as stickers and temporary tattoos
- A bookmark featuring our LGBTQIA+ book dragon design (created by author and illustrator Jessie Sima) and a message of hope
“If funding allows, we will also host LGBTQIA+ book giveaways for educators, coordinate author visits with LGBTQIA+ writers, and much more. Will you consider making a donation so that we can reach as many kids as possible?”
Visit the link in my bio or @weneeddiversebooks for more information.
#twospirit #2Spirit #2S #nonbinary #NB #lgbt #lgbtq #pride #loveislove
Highlights of the 2024 ALSC Summer Reading Lists.
Since my first book debuted in 2000, I’ve been told: “Multiculturalism is dead. We tried it, and it didn’t work.” “The picture book is dead. The CD-Rom will replace the picture book.” “YA books are dead. Teens should be reading adult books anyway.” “Middle grade is…”
You know what? I’m Indigenous, and I’ve been told people like me died out long ago, too. But here I am. Still bookish, creative, fierce, and adorable.
Are children’s books facing challenges? Yes, so purchase and check them out. Read, review, and highlight through word of mouth. Donate to organizations like @weneeddiversebooks and @uniteagainstbookbans. Vent, when you need to, while supporting the freedom to read and the literary community and especially young readers.
Dear ones! We will persevere. So, write your story, open your teeth, and roar.
#bookstagram #authorsofinstagram #picturebooks #middlegradebooks #middlegradefiction #youngadultbooks #yalit #publishing #optimism #amwriting
The LOOKING FOR SMOKE preorder campaign is live! When you preorder a hardcover edition of LOOKING FOR SMOKE by K.A. Cobell (@ka_cobell) from any U.S. retailer, be sure to submit your receipt to receive a signed bookplate and one of four exclusive enamel pins designed by Blackfeet artist Jay Young Running Crane. Visit the link in @ka_cobell’s bio to fill out the form and submit your proof of purchase. (Click the image of the book and swag.)
Books may be ordered through any U.S. retailer with shipping to the U.S. only.
ABOUT THE NOVEL
LOOKING FOR SMOKE by K.A. Cobell (Blackfeet), cover art photo by Leah Rose Kolakowski (Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe)(Heartdrum @HarperKids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks, June 4, 2024). Ages 13-up.
★ 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.”
@2024debuts #authorsofinstagram #nativeamerican #indigenous #firstnations #weneeddiversebooks #youngadultbooks #yabooks #bookstagram #youngadultfiction #mysterybooks #mystery
—
The LOOKING FOR SMOKE preorder campaign is live! When you preorder a hardcover edition of LOOKING FOR SMOKE by K.A. Cobell from any U.S. retailer, be sure to submit your receipt to receive a signed bookplate and one of four exclusive enamel pins designed by Blackfeet artist Jay Young Running Crane. Fill out the form and submit your proof of purchase: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdo2d81KLi3cOl8sIA-9UnFDrm6tIJFVpMl1iGi1qtWck95bQ/viewform (Click the image of the book and swag.)
Books may be ordered through any U.S. retailer with shipping to the U.S. only.
ABOUT THE NOVEL
LOOKING FOR SMOKE by K.A. Cobell (Blackfeet), cover art photo by Leah Rose Kolakowski (Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe)(Heartdrum, June 4, 2024). Ages 13-up.
★ 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.”
#authorsofinstagram #nativeamerican #indigenous #firstnations #weneeddiversebooks #youngadultbooks #yabooks #bookstagram #youngadultfiction #mysterybooks #mystery
Huge gratitude to everyone who supported the launch of my new graphic novel MISSION ONE: THE VICE PRINCIPAL PROBLEM, co-authored by @keklamagoon & illustrated by debut @mollymurakami (@candlewickpress)! Here’s a shout out to a few of our fellow releases of March 2024, chosen as new and noteworthy by Publishers Weekly:
BRAVE BABY HUMMINGBIRD, written by Sy Montgomery, illustrated by Tiffany Bozic (Paula Wiseman Books)
FERRIS by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press)
THE LUMINOUS LIFE OF LUCY LANDRY by Anna Rose Johnson (Holiday House)
WHERE SLEEPING GIRLS LIE by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Feiwel and Friends)
Visit the link in my bio to find the full list.
@candlewick_sl @pwpics @sytheauthor @tiffanybozic @annarosewriter @faridahlikestea
#publishersweekly #picturebook #picturebooks #middlegrade #middlegradefiction #middlegrademarch #yabooks #youngadultbooks #yalit #mglit #childrensbooks #childrensliterature #bookstagram #authorsofinstagram #publishing
Highlighting a few of the Indigenous children’s-YA book releases of April 2024:
ALOHA EVERYTHING by Kaylin Melia George & Mae Waite (Red Comet);
CAN YOU HEAR THE PLANT SPEAK? by Nicholas Hummingbird, Julia Wasson & Madelyn Goodnight (HarperChildren’s);
SHEINE LENDE: A PREQUEL TO ELATSOE by Darcie Little Badger, cover art by Rovina Cai (Levine Querido).
Indigenous books are on the rise! Share the news of additional titles of April 2024 in the comments.
@kaylinmgeorge @maewaitestudio @_native_hummingbird @juliawasson1601 @madelyn_goodnight @dr.littlebadger @rovinacai #picturebooks #diversebooks #bookstagram #nativeread #indigenous #nativehawaiian #youngadultbooks #yalit #childrensbooks #childrensliterature #hawaii #apache
Congratulations KA Cobell on her first starred review for LOOKING FOR SMOKE (Heartdrum, 2024)!
★ 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.”
The novel is published by Heartdrum, an imprint of @HarperKids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks.
#youngadult #bookstagram #ya #bookworm #youngadultbooks #reading #bookstagrammer #bookish #booknerd #bibliophile #mmiwg2s #mmiwg #yabooks #mysterynovel #thrillerbooks #suspensebooks #weneeddiversebooks #theshelfstuff
Cover reveal for book 4 in the JO JO MAKOONS chapter book series!
JO JO MAKOONS: RULE SCHOOL, written by Dawn Quigley, illustrated by Tara Audibert @tara_the_moxyfox (Heartdrum, Sept. 10, 2024). Ages 7-up.
It is good to follow the rules. But there are just so many! In this fourth book in the beloved Jo Jo Makoons chapter book series, Jo Jo’s talents may not quite include following her substitute teacher’s rules…
Jo Jo and her classmates are excited that the Elders’ Tribal Center has changed the rules for the talent show to invite the whole tribe to perform. But the rules have also changed in Jo Jo’s classroom, where instead of their teacher, they have a substitute. Since Jo Jo has a knack for being helpful, she puts her mind to helping her classmates decide on their talents—but can she manage to follow the substitute teacher’s rules?
Even if no one else quite understands Jo Jo’s own rules (like that saying “please” makes words softer and fluffier to hear and that square foods are too pointy to be yummy), her undeniable talents for celebrating, curiosity, and class keep her happily hop-skipping in step with her Ojibwe community.
Heartdrum is a Native-focused imprint of @HarperKids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks.
First review for WHEN WE GATHER by @andrealrogers & @madelyn_goodnight (Heartdrum, 2024)!
“Goodnight’s (Chickasaw Nation) gentle illustrations depict a supportive, tightknit community. Cherokee values—reciprocity, cooperation, respect, and kinship—are on full display. In an author’s note, Rogers reflects on the history of the Cherokee Nation and discusses the cultural significance of wild onion dinners. Serves up a delicious story, rich in culture and community, that will bring readers back for more.” — @kirkus_reviews
Heartdrum is a Native-focused imprint of @HarperKids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks. WHEN WE GATHER is now available for pre-order.
May 23
Heartdrum’s HEROES OF THE WATER MONSTER by Brian Young, cover art by Shonto Begay is now available in paperback!
★ Kirkus Reviews (starred): “The bittersweet ending is as beautiful as the prose describing the fantastical journey to get there. Thought-provoking and full of heart; a genuinely pleasurable read.”
- American Indian Youth Literature Honor Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
- Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2023
- American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) Best Books of 2023
- 2023 MISelf in Books List
#middlegrade #bookstagram #middlegradebooks #mglit #middlegradefiction #kidlit #middlegradereads #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #navajo #water #environment #indigenous #nativeamerican #folklore
Congratulations, Dawn Quigley! The first review for RED BIRD DANCED (Heartdrum, 2024) is a star from Publishers Weekly.
★ 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.”
Heartdrum is a Native-focused imprint of @HarperKids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks.
#middlegrade #bookstagram #middlegradebooks #mglit #middlegradefiction #books #kidlit #middlegradereads #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #bookworm #reading #bookstagrammer #weneeddiversebooks #theshelfstuff
“None of us is alone in this fight. There are so many of us who care so deeply. Whether or not you’re an author whose books have been attacked a lot, and you are weary from this, or you are somebody who has just been watching with horror, there’s a place for you in this fight. It is a matter of us just participating. Because we’ve seen that when we do participate, we have a lot of success stories. It doesn’t mean we’ll always win, but when we are present, we do so much better.” – Maggie Tokuda-Hall from ‘Authors Against Book Bans’ Mobilizes by Emma Kantor from Publishers Weekly.
#publishing #authorsofinstgram #firstamendment #bannedbooks #bannedbooksweek #bookstagram#censorship #booklover #bookworm #bibliophile #reading #read #nationalcoalitionagainstcensorship #readersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #banned #bookish #firstamendment
The official Discussion Guide for MISSION ONE: THE VICE PRINCIPAL PROBLEM (BLUE STARS #1) is now available.
Find the guide at bluestarsseries.com!
Questions were prepared by Dr. Nicholl Montgomery, a former middle and high school English teacher for Boston Public Schools. She teaches children’s literature courses at Simmons University and education courses at Boston College.
The BLUE STARS series is written by @keklamagoon @cynthialeitichsmith, and illustrated by @mollymurakami (@candlewickpress @candlewick_sl).
★ “Bustling slice-of-life plot beats by Magoon (CHESTER KEENE CRACKS THE CODE) and Smith (HARVEST HOUSE), paired with animated art by debut illustrator Murakami, culminates in a realistically rendered and impeccably paced graphic novel series opener that accessibly highlights the importance of youth involvement in local politics.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “…has everything: nuanced and empowered protagonists, a funny, gripping story, age-appropriate treatment of social issues, and expressive comic illustrations begging to be lingered over. Readers will come away inspired to raise their own voices and take action to create positive, peaceful change in their communities…sure to engender a devoted following.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
#teaching #education #learning #teacher #teachersofinstagram #school #teachers #students #english #learn #classroom #student #teach #iteach #teachersofig #teachergram #middleschool #graphicnovels #mglit #middleschoolbooks
“…it’s as easy for us to speak in support of books and programs as it is for others to speak against them. We have to pay attention to what’s happening, and when the time comes, make our voices heard.” —Cynthia Leitich Smith
“As children’s writers—together with librarians, teachers, parents, students, and communities—we do have the power to impact these discussions.” —Kekla Magoon
Visit the link in my bio to read Fighting for Libraries, On and Off the Page: A Conversation Between the Co-Authors of the “Blue Stars” Series from School Library Journal.
🚀Join us for the Launch Party featuring co-authors Kekla Magoon and Cynthia Leitich Smith, along with the talented debut illustrator Molly Murakami. 🎉 Mark your calendars for March 5th, 6:30 p.m. at Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, MN. (If you can’t make it in person, pre-order online!) 📚Then, catch Kekla and Cynthia at the Tucson Festival of Books from March 9-March 10 at the University of Arizona Mall. 🌟
@keklamagoon @candlewickpress @candlewick_sl @sljournal @mollymurakami @mollymurakami @keklamagoon @redballoonbookshop @tucsonfestivalofbooks @uarizona @candlewickpress @candlewick_sl
“Children need to learn about influential Native Americans from their own tribal background and read Indigenous biographies from all tribes in the U.S.” Leslie Stall Widener from an interview by AJ Eversole about the Choctaw Culture Keepers Series from Cynsations.
@leslie.stall.widener @ajeversole
“My hope is that Native children specifically will read this book and be proud of whatever tribal nation that they come from and see that their culture and values are important. My hope is that everyone who reads this book will see what a hero General Tinker was and that it will propel them to read about other unsung Native heroes.” —Kim Rogers in a Cynsations interview by AJ Eversole, discussing the “Impact of Native Historical Representation.”
I AM OSAGE: HOW CLARENCE TINKER BECAME THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN MAJOR GENERAL by Kim Rogers and Bobby Von Martin is published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperChildren’s with We Need Diverse Books.
@bobbyvon14 @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks @ajeversole
Congrats to Cyntern AJ Eversole on her recent article in Publishers Weekly, “10 New Children’s and YA Books with Indigenous Representation.” Visit the link in my bio to check out the whole list.
@ajeversole @tracisorellauthor @michaelagoade @ka_cobell @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks @kokilabooks @davidobowles @guadalupemccall @bloomsburypublishing @leslie.stall.widener @charlesbridgepublishing @pwpics
“The lights are on and the shadows are retreating thanks to countless Indigenous voices who simply wouldn’t let their histories and stories be forgotten. Native American books are worth everyone’s time. They’re about this land’s Indigenous history, but they’re also about American history. We’re in this together, after all.” — Deidre Havrelock
I would say…put your fears aside, fear is impotent and paralyzing. Nothing truly powerful or beautiful comes from fear.
And what’s the worst thing that can happen when we do things that scare us? We are here on Mother Earth to learn and do what we didn’t know and haven’t done before. We are learning along the way so if you don’t make mistakes then you’re not going to learn from them and where will your journey/story take you then? And if you don’t know your story then go out and find it. Once you’ve found it, share your story with the world.” — Aly McKnight
View the link in my bio to read Creative Team Dierdre Havrelock & Aly McKnight on Their Creative Processes & New Picture Book, WHY WE DANCE (interview by AJ Eversole from Cynsations).
@deidrehavrelock @alymcknight @ajeversole @pwpics/
Happy Publication Day to Monique Gray Smith & Nicole Niedhart! CIRCLE OF LOVE (Heartdrum, 2024) is now available.
In this warmhearted book, we join Molly at the Intertribal Community Center, where she introduces us to people she knows and loves: her grandmother and her grandmother’s wife, her uncles and their baby, her cousins, and her treasured friends.
They dance, sing, garden, learn, pray, and eat together. And tonight, they come together for a feast! Molly shares with the reader how each person makes her feel—and reminds us that love is love.
Through tender prose and radiant artwork, author Monique Gray Smith (Cree/Lakota) and illustrator Nicole Neidhardt (Diné) show how there is always room for others in our lives. Circle of Love is a story celebrating family, friends, community, and, most of all, love.
@moniquegraysmith & @navabear12 @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks
“Was the book written by an Indigenous author? Did the author consult within the community they wrote about?”
—Stacy Wells
“It’s not simply adding to the collection. It includes taking outdated, inaccurate, and stereotypical materials out of the collection.”
—Debbie Reese
…both reflecting on Native books for young readers for Tips for Building an Indigenous Children’s Literature Collection by Patricia Morris Buckley from Publishers Weekly. Visit the link in my bio to read the full article.
@stacyvwells @dreese_nambe @patriciamorrisbuckley @pwpics
“…more Indigenous-written titles coming to market, deeper support for those books, and a reinforcing of ties among Native authors.” From Indigenous Children’s Book Authors Band Together by Patricia Morris Buckley from Publishers Weekly.
Visit the link in my bio to read the full article.
Honored to report that my latest YA novel HARVEST HOUSE and Heartdrum’s REZ BALL by Byron Graves have been named to the 2025 High School Sequoyah Masterlist from the Oklahoma Library Association! The list also highlights books by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Faith Erin Hicks, Nick Brooks, Ream Shukairy, Angeline Boulley, Sarah Hollowell, Amelia Brunskill & more. View the link in my bio for the full list.
@makwa_giniw @holoske @candlewick_sl @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks @lclineransome @faitherinhicks @offiicalnickbrooks @ream-shu @angelineboulley @smhollowell @ameliabrunskill @oklibs
Cover reveal! Award-winning author Jen Ferguson has written a powerful story about teens grappling with balancing resentment with enduring friendship—and how to move forward with a life that’s not what they’d imagined.
Before that awful Saturday, Molly used to be inseparable from her brother, Hank, and his best friend, Tray. The indoor climbing accident that left Hank with a traumatic brain injury filled Molly with anger.
While she knows the accident wasn’t Tray’s fault, she will never forgive him for being there and failing to stop the damage. But she can’t forgive herself for not being there either.
Determined to go on the trio’s postgraduation hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, even without Hank, Molly packs her bag. But when her parents put Tray in charge of looking out for her, she is stuck backpacking with the person who incites her easy anger.
Despite all her planning, the trail she’ll walk has a few more twists and turns ahead. . . .
A CONSTELLATION OF MINOR BEARS by Jen Ferguson, cover by Bailey Macabre (Heartdrum. Sept. 24, 2024).
@jdotferg @cedarsageskoden @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks
#youngadultbooks #YALit #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #authorsofinstagram
Congrats to Heartdrum’s Kim Rogers and fellow Austin author Anne Wynter! Kim was named an Erza J. Keats Award Honor Book author for JUST LIKE GRANDMA, illustrated by Julie Flett, and Anne was named an EJK Award winning author for NELL PLANTS A TREE, illustrated by Daniel Miyares!
Visit the link in my bio to find the list of all the winners and honorees.
@anne_wynter @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks @julie__flett @danielmiyaresdoodles @ejkfoundation
Profoundly honored that my latest novel, HARVEST HOUSE, cover art by Britt Newton (Candlewick Press), is an official Bram Stoker Award® nominee for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel. From the FAQ: “The Bram Stoker Awards® are the premiere awards in the horror genre; think the Oscar for dark writing!”
Congratulations to the authors of the other nominees:
FUNERAL SONGS FOR DYING GIRLS by Cherie Dimaline (Tundra Books)
FIND HIM WHERE YOU LEFT HIM DEAD by Kristen Simmons (Tor Teen)
CAMP DAMASCUS by Chuck Tingle (Tor Nightfire/Macmillan/Titan)
SHE IS A HAUNTING by Trang Thanh Tran (Bloomsbury YA)
@holoske @candlewickpress @candlewick_sl @cherie.dimaline @tundrabooks @kris10writes @torteen @tornightfire @bloomsbury_ya @thehorrorwritersassociation
#horror #horrorfan #horrorcommunity #thriller #gothic #instahorror #youngadult #bookstagram #books #booklover #ya #bookworm #youngadultbooks #bookstagrammer #bookish #booknerd #bibliophile #yabooks #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookaholic #youngadultfiction #yalit #instabook #readersofinstagram #igreads
Huzzah for YALSA’s 2024 Best Fiction for Young Adults! Highlighted titles include Heartdrum’s THOSE PINK MOUNTAIN NIGHTS by Jen Ferguson, cover art by Bailey Macabre as well as:
GOING BICOASTAL by Dahlia Adler (Wednesday Books)
MASCOT by Charles Waters and Traci Sorrell (Charlesbridge)
THE MINUS-ONE CLUB by Kekla Magoon (Henry Holt and Co.)
NIGERIA JONES by Ibi Zoboi (Balzar + Bray)
SAINTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD by Ari Tison (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
THE SHARP EDGE OF SILENCE By Cameron Kelly Rosenblum (Quill Tree Books)
WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED by Angeline Boulley (Henry Holt and Co.)
Visit the link in my bio for the full list.
@yalsa1957 @jdotferg @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks @missdahlelama @charleswaterspoetry @tracisorellauthor @keklamagoon @ibizoboi @aritisonwrites @ckellyrosebooks @angelineboulley @wednesdaybooks @charlesbridgepublishing @henryholtbooks @balzerandbray @mackidsbooks
Cynsations celebrates its 20th anniversary by switching to a new publishing schedule, beginning with an in-depth interview with me and Kekla Magoon about collaboration, career building, and the joy of creating children’s books.
“…I wish for all of us to find our unique voices, for each writer to feel able to speak and each reader to feel inspired to express themselves in the world. We need writers, readers, teachers, activists, leaders, voters, changemakers…we need so much, but collectively we have so much to offer.” —Kekla Magoon
“We need books that dare mighty things, lift up when needed, push back when needed, and welcome every young reader into the story circle. I wish for everyone to have a writing friend who inspires them as much as Kekla inspires me.” —Cynthia Leitich Smith
Interview by Gayleen Rabakukk; cover art of MISSION ONE: THE VICE PRINCIPAL PROBLEM by Molly Murakami (Candlewick Press, May 5, 2024; now available for pre-order).
#scottmccloud @gayleen_rabakukk @candlewickpress @candlewick_sl @vcfawcya @gknowlton58 @curtisbrown.ltd @mitaliperkins @davidrobertsonwriter @byoungwrites @bobbyvon14 @julie__flett @badwinds @moniquegraysmith @navabear12 @andrealrogers @madelyn_goodnight @nctegram @gburgbookfest @redballoonbookshop @tucsonfestivalofbooks @txla_1902 @latimesfob @weneeddiversebooks
Celebrating 2024 releases by Austin authors & illustrators for young readers! Highlights include books by me, Donna Janell Bowman, Anne Bustard, Meredith Davis, P.J. Hoover, Kari Lavelle, Cynthia Levinson, Mari Mancusi, Robyn McGrath, Liz Garton Scanlon & more! Give a shout out in the comments for these terrific titles and be sure to let us know what books should be added to the list! I know more covers are forthcoming, and I’ll be sure to do an updated reel in the not-too-distant future.
@donnajbbwrites @annebustard @meredithdavis @pj_hoover @karilavellewrites @cylevinson @marimancusi @robynmcgrathwrites @lizgardensalad @scbwiaustintx @austinpubliclibrary @writersleagueoftexas crtxla @txla_1902
#texasauthors #texasbooks #texasreaders #literarytexas #lonestarlit #bookishtexas #texaswriters #bookstagram #austin #bookstagrammer #authorsofinstagram #childrensbooks #childrensliterature #youngadultbooks #yalit
Kudos to Kim Rogers, Julie Flett, Byron Graves & Natasha Donovan! Heartdrum’s JUST LIKE GRANDMA and REZ BALL were named to the longlist for the 2024 Reading the West Book Awards. Cheers also to Kari Lavelle, Traci Sorell, Arigon Starr, Nikki Loftin, Phillip D. Cortez, Mafs Rodríguez Alpide, Xelena Gonzales, Adriana M. Garcia, Anne Wynter, Daniel Miyares, Ismée Williams, Rebecca Balcárcel & more!
ABOUT
“The Reading the West Book Awards are sponsored…by the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association. The awards honor the best fiction, non-fiction, and illustrated books for adults and children set in one of the states, or created by an author or artist living or working in the region. The awards…celebrate the rich variety of writing in and about this region, and reflect the extraordinary diversity of the reading public.”
@julie__flett @makwa_giniw @ndonovan @karilavellewrites @tracisorellauthor @arigonstarr @nikki.loftin @phillipdcortez @im_mafs98 @xfactor.live @adrianamjgarcia @anne_wynter @danielmiyaresdoodles @ismeewilliams @rebeccabalcarcel @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks @readingthewest
I grew up in Kansas City, where professional football is ubiquitous. I call for my hometown team to #changethename. The “chop” is rightly described by Acoma Pueblo Rhonda LeValdo (Acoma Pueblo), co-founder of KC’s Not In Our Honor Coalition, as “synchronized racism.” For related reading, I recommend reading MASCOT by @tracisorellauthor & @charleswaterspoetry.
Excerpt from RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME
Mourners and hangers-on crowded my house. It seemed like a typical get-together—babies fighting over Binky toys, women eating apple cobbler in the kitchen, neighborhood men watching Chiefs football on the family-room TV.
Galen and I crawled through my bedroom window onto the roof. We sat on the shingles, sharing my quilt. He tried to hold my hand, but I pulled it away, across the shingles, and three or four splinters burned inside my skin.
“I hate football,” I said.
“Me, too,” Galen answered.
@harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneediversebooks, cover by @ndonovan #nativeamerican #indigenous #notyourmascot #activist #activism #equality #socialjustice #education #middleschool #solidarity #endracismkc #stopthechop #youngadult #bookstagram #books #booklover #ya #youngadultbooks #bookstagrammer #bookish #booknerd #bibliophile #yabooks #booksofinstagram #youngadultfiction #yalit #instabook #readersofinstagram #igreads
“…books…have the power to introduce many different viewpoints and ideas to readers, who must then make their own decisions about what to believe and value and how to act toward other humans. When we deprive children of diverse books, we limit their ability to think critically and make their own choices about how to be world citizens.” — @keklamagoon from “The Drumbeat Under the Music of Everything I Do” @shelf.awareness.
Visit the link in my bio to read the full interview and in-depth reflections on THE SECRET LIBRARY (@CandlewickPress).
#middlegrade #bookstagram #middlegradebooks #mglit #middlegradefiction #books #kidlit #middlegradereads #childrensbooks #diversebooks #weneeddiversebooks
Join me, @keklamagoon & debut illustrator @mollymurakami at the launch party for the BLUE STARS middle grade graphic novel series at 6:30 PM March 5 at Red Balloon Bookstore in St. Paul, Minnesota. RSVP or order a triple-signed book at the link in my bio: https://www.redballoonbookshop.com/event/cynthia-leitich-smith-kekla-magoon-and-molly-murakami-blue-stars-mission-one-vice-principal
Congratulations, Emily Bowen Cohen on TWO TRIBES (Heartdrum, 2023) being named to YALSA’s 2024 Great Graphic Novels for Teens! Additional titles include:
A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING by Dan Santat (First Second)
SUNSHINE: HOW ONE CAMP TAUGHT ME ABOUT LIFE, DEATH, AND HOPE by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Graphix)
THE TRYOUT: A GRAPHIC NOVEL by Christina Soontornvat & Joanna Cacao (Graphix)
THE SPIRIT OF DENENDEH by Richard Van Camp, Scott B. Henderson, Donovan Yaciuk & Nickolej Villiger (Highwater Press)
- VOL. 1: A BLANKET OF BUTTERFLIES
- VOL. 2: AS I ENFOLD YOU IN PETALS
HOOPS by Matt Tavares (Candlewick Press)
SAVING SUNSHINE by Saadia Faruqi & Shazleen Khan (First Second)
Join co-authors Kekla Magoon & Cynthia Leitich Smith on The BLUE STARS Tour! We’re coming to St. Paul (appearing with illustrator Molly Murakami), Tucson, San Antonio, LA, Gaithersburg (MD), and Chicagoland (Naperville, IL)! Huge gratitude to Candlewick Press!
TOUR STOPS
Launch Party featuring co-authors Kekla Magoon and Cynthia Leitich Smith, showcasing illustrator Molly Murakami, 6:30 p.m. March 5 at Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, MN
Tucson Festival of Books, March 9-March 10 at the University of Arizona Mall
Texas Library Association, April 16-April 19 in San Antonio, TX
LA Times Festival of Books, April 20-21 in Los Angeles, CA
Gaithersburg Book Festival, May 18 in Gaithersburg, MD
LITapalooza, July 25-July 26 with Anderson’s Bookshops in Naperville, IL
YA Midwest (YAM), July 27 with Anderson’s Bookshops in Naperville, IL
REVIEWS
★ “Bustling slice-of-life plot beats by Magoon (CHESTER KEENE CRACKS THE CODE) and Smith (HARVEST HOUSE), paired with animated art by debut illustrator Murakami, culminates in a realistically rendered and impeccably paced graphic novel series opener that accessibly highlights the importance of youth involvement in local politics.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “…has everything: nuanced and empowered protagonists, a funny, gripping story, age-appropriate treatment of social issues, and expressive comic illustrations begging to be lingered over. Readers will come away inspired to raise their own voices and take action to create positive, peaceful change in their communities…sure to engender a devoted following.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
@keklamagoon @mollymurakami @candlewickpress @candlewick_sl @weneeddiversebooks @tucsonfestivalofbooks @txla_1902 @gburgbookfest @andersonsbookshop
#authorsofinstagram #authorsofinsta #bookstores #bookfest #teachers #elementaryteachers #secondaryteachers #education #libraries #librarians #txla
Join me March 9 & March 10 at Tucson Book Festival! My sessions are:
@tusconfestivalofbooks @keklamagoon @sarahmlynowski @elanakarnold @mr.adamrex @cherie.dimaline @lauriegoodluck @davidrobertsonwriter
Huzzah! Rosemary Brosnan and Cynthia Leitich Smith at HarperCollins/Heartdrum have bought North American rights to MOTHER EARTH’S SONG by Kim Rogers (Wichita), illustrated by MaryBeth Timothy (Cherokee), a picture book ode to the passing of the seasons and Mother Earth’s beauty. Publication is planned for summer 2026. Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
@moonhawkart @emliterary @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiverseboos #picturebook #picturebooks #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #booksforkids #illustration #childrensbook #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #kidlitart #childrensliterature #picturebookillustration #kidslit #picturebooksofinstagram #booksforchildren #illustrator #indigenous
#picturebooks #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #picturebook #booksforkids #raisingreaders #childrensbook #childrensbookillustration #readaloud #childrensbookstagram #storytime #kidlitart #childrensliterature #kidsbook #picturebookillustration #booklover #kidslit #picturebooksofinstagram #indigenous #nativeamerican #powwow #airforce #biography #nonfiction
Thanks to the Writers League of Texas and everyone who turned out for February’s One Page Salon at Radio Coffee and Beer!
The one-page reading series featured me, Joe Brundidge, Andrew Hilbert, Hillery Hugg, and Stephanie Macias, hosted by WLT Executive Director Becka Oliver.
@writersleagueoftexas @radiocoffeeandbeer @element615 @ahilbert3000 @hilleryhugg @stephaniemaciasgibson @jzstories @bartographyatx @Evan_Griffith @seanjpetrie @theekelisrowe
#austin #texas #atx #austintexas #austintx #atxlife #austinlife #keepaustinweird #authorsofinstagram #authorsofig #readaloud #booksigning #books #bookstagram #author #bookstore #booksofinstagram #bookstagrammer #bookshelf #bookslover #bookshop #booksbooksbooks #bookshelves
ALA
Indigenous books honored by the ALAYMAs, Notable Children’s Books, Notable Children’s Recordings, and Rise: A Feminist Book Project List! YALSA Lists are still forthcoming–crossing fingers that Indigenous voice actors are honored along with authors and illustrators!
@sharkgoddess808 @deanhhamer @moabackeastot @nasugraqrhopson @xfactor.live @adrianamjgarcia @holoske @jennykaydupuis @bridgetsioln @artnerdforever @carolelindstrom @lilyhopeweaver @kelseymatafoote @cherie.dimaline @alexis.bunten @thegalavantgirl @navabear12 @makwa_giniw @aritisonwrites @lauriegoodluck @badwinds @madelyn_goodnight @tracisorellauthor @michaelagoade @charleswaterspoetry @tara_the_moxyfox @bychristineday @byoungwrites @shontobegay @angelineboulley @andrealrogers @americanlibraryassociation @weneeddiversebooks
Pre-order Alert! THE GOLD MEDAL DREAMS OF BILLY MILLS, written by Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota) and Donna Janell Bowman, illustrated by S.D. Nelson (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe)(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, July 2, 2024). Picture book autobiography.
He faced poverty on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, was orphaned by the age of 12, developed a debilitating health condition, and struggled against extreme racism, but Billy Mills persevered against all odds by chasing a dream. In 1964, he became the first American to win Olympic Gold in the 10,000-meter event—the second Native American in history to win Gold in any Track & Field event, after Jim Thorpe. Billy knew then that it was time for his traditional Lakota Giveaway. He stepped off the winner’s podium and into a life of service, helping Indigenous people around the world.
#picturebooks #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #picturebook #booksforkids #illustration #raisingreaders #books #childrensbook #reading #childrensbookillustration #readaloud #childrensbookstagram #kidlitart #childrensliterature #indigenous #nativeamerican #trackandfield #athletics #running #runner #olympics #runnersofinstagram
Seven reflections!
Huge shout out to the Tulsa Native Youth Board! You’re amazing. I’m rooting for y’all!
I’ve reviewed first pass pages for my MG road trip novel, ON A WING AND A TEAR, and quintuple fact-checked the highways numbers. My fictional characters have a better sense of direction than I do. Also, I’ve read the last two contributor short stories for LEGENDARY FRY BREAD DRIVE-IN, the YA anthology, and they’re everything I could’ve hoped. Wow.
It’s Black History Month, so be sure to follow @brownbookshelfteam and both educate yourself and boost Black book creators featured in the #28DaysLater campaign.
Cooking tip! Try adding crumbled Parmesan chips to your coating for baked “fried” chicken. If you have any healthy-swap tips for comfort food, let me know in the comments!
Let’s talk movies! Has anyone else watch “American Fiction” or “Poor Things”? I saw both in the theater on the same day. I thought @americanfictionmovie was brilliant and hilarious. I longed for more of the goddess who is @traceellisross, but I’m not complaining. Make time for it. As for @poorthingsfilm, it’s visually inundating. @emmstone & @markruffalo put in formidable performances. The metaphors are mind spinners. I’ve received a lot of questions about “Killers of the Flower Moon.” First, I defer to Osage tribal members. Beyond that, I fully support the Native actors and other artists who worked on the film. I’m delighted @lilygladstone is receiving so many well-deserved accolades. The history is brutal, and the story was painful to watch. I am hopeful the film’s critical success will lead to representation that fully centers the Native characters, especially when there’s trauma depicted onscreen. Your thoughts?
Thank you to my friends @HarperKids @theshelfstuff for the lovely flowers (pictured)!
Finally, I’m excelling at fulfilling my main goal in life–playing with the dogs.
#writers #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writer #writing #writingcommunity #writersofig #writerslife #author #authors #authorsofinstagram #author #bookstagram #authorlife #authorsofig #authorssupportingauthors #authorslife
the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”
Rosemary Brosnan and Cynthia Leitich Smith at HarperCollins/Heartdrum have bought world rights to Free to Fly by Karina Iceberg (Aleut/Alutiiq) (l,), illustrated by Steph Littlebird (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde). When a child visits their grandfather while he works on his art, he demonstrates how strength of mind and the ability to dream is a way to reclaim power and feel free, informed by the author and illustrator’s family’s experiences in residential boarding schools. Publication is slated for winter 2026; Melanie Figueroa at Root Literary represented the author, and Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
@karinaiceberg @artnerdforever @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiverseboos @wellmelsbells @rootliterary @andreabrownlit #picturebook #picturebooks #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #booksforkids #illustration #childrensbook #childrensbookillustration #childrensbookstagram #kidlitart #childrensliterature #picturebookillustration #kidslit #picturebooksofinstagram #booksforchildren #illustrator #indigenous
Huzzah for the ALA ALSC Notable Children’s Books! “Each year a committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children’s books. According to the Notables Criteria, ‘notable’ is defined as: Worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children’s books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children’s interests in exemplary ways.”
Visit the link in my bio for the full list.
@jenncbailey @mikasongdraws @marlafrazee @anne_wynter @_mtanderson @nasugraqrhopson @carolelindstrom @artnerdforever @xfactor.live @adrianamjgarcia @melissastewartscience @americanlibraryassociation
Hooray! TWO TRIBES by Emily Bowen Cohen (Heartdrum, 2023) is a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award (Middle Grade).
MORE WINNERS & HONOREES
Richard Ho wins the Children’s Picture Book Tracy and Larry Brown Family Award for TWO NEW YEARS, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield (Chronicle Books). Elana K. Arnold receives the Young Adult Literature Award for THE BLOOD YEARS (Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins Children’s Books), and the Middle Grade Literature Award goes to THE DUBIOUS PRANKS OF SHAINDY GOODMAN by Mari Lowe (Levine Querido).
Picture Book Finalists: THE INSIDE NAME, written by Randi Sonenshine, illustrated by Gina Capaldi (Apples & Honey Press, an imprint of Behrman House); STARS OF THE NIGHT: THE COURAGEOUS CHILDREN OF THE CZECH KINDERTRANSPORT, written by Caren Stelson, illustrated by Selina Alko (Lerner Publishing Group).
Middle Grade Finalists: TWO TRIBES by Emily Bowen Cohen (Heartdrum); THE BOY WHO FOLLOWED HIS FATHER IN AUSCHWITZ by Jeremy Dronfield (Quill Tree Books), THE WITCH OF THE WOODLAND by Laurel Snyder (Walden Pond Press).
Young Adult Finalists: JUST A HAT by S. Khubiar (Blackstone Publishing); COURAGE TO DREAM: TALES OF THE HOLOCAUST by Neal Shusterman (Scholastic).
@memberoftwotribes @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks @lynndoodle @richkarho @elanakarnold @marilwrites @randisonenshine @ginacapaldi77 @carenstelson @selanaalko @jeremydronfield @laurelsnyder @nealshusterman @balzerandbray @levinequerido @lernerbooks @waldenpondpress @blackstonepublishing @scholastic
Kaua Māhoe Adams has joined the contributors for LEGENDARY FRY BREAD DRIVE-IN, a YA anthology (Heartdrum, spring 2025). The sale was announced under a working title, “Davy June’s Legendary Fry Bread Drive-In.” Contributors also include Darcie Little Badger, Marcella Bell, Angeline Boulley, KA Cobell, Christine Derr, AJ Eversole, Jen Ferguson, Eric Gansworth, Byron Graves, Kate Hart, Karina Iceberg, Cheryl Isaacs, Andrea L. Rogers, David A. Robertson, and Brian Young. Editor Rosemary Brosnan has scheduled publication is set for summer 2025.
#publishing #vcfawcya #youngadultbooks #youngadultfiction #shortstories #anthology #authorsofinstagram #authorsofig #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #weneediversebooks #diversebooks
The 2024 Charlotte Zolotow Award Committee also named three honor books and ten highly commended titles.
The honor books are: ALL THE FACES OF ME, written by Laura Alary, illustrated by Salini Perera (Owlkids Books); FINDING FAMILY: THE DUCKLING RAISED BY LOONS, written by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis (Millbrook Press); MY BABA’S GARDEN, written by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House).
The ten Highly Commended Titles include: A LETTER FOR BOB, written by Kim Rogers and illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Heartdrum); NELL PLANTS A TREE, written by Anne Wynter and illustrated by Daniel Miyares (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins); SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS, written by Rajani LaRocca and illustrated by Abhi Alwar (Abrams, 2023).
Visit the link in my bio to read the full press release for complete information about the 2024 Charlotte Zolotow Award. @ccbcumadison @julie__flett @harperkids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks @laura.alary @salini.banana @owlkidspublishing @laurapsalas @alexneonakis @lernerbooks @sydneydraws @holidayhousebks @badwinds @anne_wynter @danielmiyaresdoodles @rajanilarocca @Balzer + Bray @abramsbooks
#picturebooks #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #picturebook #booksforkids #illustration #raisingreaders #childrensbook #reading #childrensbookillustration #readaloud #childrensbookstagram #storytime #kidlitart #kidsbookswelove #childrensliterature #bookworm #kidsbook #picturebookillustration #booklover #picturebooksofinstagram #booksforchildren
Huzzah for Notable Books for a Global Society! “Annually, a committee of the CL/R SIG (Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group) of the International Literacy Association selects 25 outstanding trade books for enhancing student understanding of people and cultures throughout the world.” Visit the link in my bio for the full list.
Highlighted books include:
SAINTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD by Ari Tison (Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers)
MASCOT by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell (Charlesbridge)
AUTUMN PELTIER, WATER WARRIOR by Carole Lindstrom & Bridget George (Roaring Brook Press)
THAT FLAG by Tameka Fryer Brown & Nikkolas Smith (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
MY POWERFUL HAIR by Carole Lindstrom & Steph Littlebird (Abrams Books for Young Readers)
DANCING HANDS: A STORY OF FRIENDSHIP IN FILIPINO SIGN LANGUAGE by Joanna Que, Charina Marquez, Fran Alvarez, translated by Karen Llagas (Chronicle Books)
EAGLE DRUMS by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson (Roaring Brook Press)
WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED by Angeline Boulley (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers)
CONTENDERS: TWO BASEBALL PLAYERS, ONE WORLD SERIES by Traci Sorell & Arigon Starr (Kokila)
JOVITA WORE PANTS: THE STORY OF A MEXICAN FREEDOM FIGHTER by Aida Salazar & Molly Mendoza (Scholastic Press)
FINALLY SEEN by Kelly Yang (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
@aritisonwrites @mackidsbooks @charleswaterspoetry @charlesbridgepoetry @tracisorell @carolelindstrom @bridgetsioln @tamekafryerbrown @nikkolas_smith @harperkids @theshelfstuff @carolelindstrom @artnerdforever @abramskids @chroniclebooks @nasugraqrhopson @angelineboulley @aida_writes @mollymendoza.art @scholastic @kellyyanghk @simonkids
Congrats to the Rise: A Feminist Book Project Top 10!
FLOWER GIRL by Amy Bloom, illustrated by Jameela Wahlgren (W.W. Norton/Norton Young Readers)
SPIN by Rebecca Caprara (Simon & Schuster/Atheneum)
THE BLACKWOODS by Brandy Colbert (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray)
I KICK AND I FLY by Ruchira Gupta (Scholastic)
BIG by Vashti Harrison (Little, Brown/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
AUTUMN PELTIER, WATER WARRIOR by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Bridget George (Macmillan/Roaring Brook)
MY POWERFUL HAIR by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Steph Littlebird (Abrams)
BARELY FLOATING by Lilliam Rivera (Penguin Random House/Kokila)
THE MOONLIT VINE by Elizabeth Santiago (Lee & Low/Tu)
ALL THE FIGHTING PARTS by Hannah V. Sawyerr (Abrams/Amulet)
@jameelaillustration @brandycolbert @ruchiragupta @vashtiharrison @carolelindstorm @bridgetsioln @artnerdforever @lilliamr @liznarratives @hannahsawyerr @nortonyoungreaders @simonkids @balzerandbray @scholastic @littlebrownyoungreaders @mackidsbooks @abramskids @kokilabooks @leeandlow
#youngadult #bookstagram #youngadultbooks #bookstagrammer #bookish #booknerd #bibliophile #yabooks #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #youngadultfiction #yalit #instabook #readersofinstagram #igreads #womenempoweringwomen #empoweringwomen #feminism #feminist #picturebooks #nonfiction #childrensbooks #kidlit
Congratulations to the winners and honorees of the Walter Award from We Need Diverse Books!
2024 Walter Award, Younger Readers Category
REMEMBER US by Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Random House)
2024 Walter Honors, Younger Readers Category
GROUNDED by Aisha Saeed, Huda Al-Marashi, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, and S.K. Ali (Amulet/Abrams)
2024 Walter Award, Teen Category
SAINTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD by Ari Tison (Farrar, Straus and Giroux/Macmillan)
2024 Walter Honors, Teen Category
ALL THE FIGHTING PARTS by Hannah V. Sawyerr (Amulet/Abrams)
From WNDB: “The Walter Dean Myers Award, also known as ‘The Walter,’ is named for prolific children’s and young adult author Walter Dean Myers (1937-2014). Myers was the third National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, appointed in 2012 by the Library of Congress. He was a champion of diversity in children’s books. The Walter Awards commemorate Myers’ memory and his literary legacy, as well as celebrate diversity in children’s literature.”
@weneeddiversebooks @jacqueline_woodson @nancyrosep @aishacs @huda.almarashi @authorjamilah @skalibooks @abramskids @aritisonwrites @mackidsbooks @hannsawyerr
#diversebooks #bookstagram #childrensbooks #weneeddiversebooks #diversereads #kidlit #bookworm #representationmatters #bookstagrammer #booklover #diversebooksforkids #kidsbooks #blackauthors #kidsbookstagram #booksforkids #readersofinstagram #diversity #booksbooksbooks #bibliophile #bookish #booksofinstagram #diversechildrensbooks #raisingreaders #diversitymatters #middlegradebooks #youngadultbooks #middlegradefiction #yabooks
Those who feel the same are kindred spirits.
1845. The Potato Famine devastated Ireland. An ocean away, Choctaw people heard and were moved by the similarities to the injustice they had suffered on the Trail of Tears. Though they had little, they gathered money to donate.
2017. Irish people built a statue to remember their connection to the Choctaw Nation—twenty-foot high feathers in the shape of a bowl.
2020. COVID-19 disproportionately ravaged the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe. Irish people remembered the Choctaws’ kindness and paid it forward by donating millions of dollars to support water access and basic services.
A nonfiction picture book about the inspiring true pay-it-forward story that bridges two continents, 175 years, and two events in history—connecting Ireland, Choctaw Nation, Navajo Nation, and the Hopi Tribe.
@leslie.stall.widener @stretcharthorizon @charlesbridgepublishing
- BOARDING SCHOOLS
- LONGHOUSE FORM OF GOVERNMENT
- WHAT IS CULTURAL APPROPRIATION?
TOO MUCH: MY GREAT BIG NATIVE FAMILY, written by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan/Hidatsa/Tsimshian), illustrated by Bridget George (Anishinaabe – Kettle and Stony Point First Nation)(Simon & Schuster BYR)
Nothing welcomes spring like a wild onion dinner!
As the dirt warms and green sprouts poke up, a Cherokee girl joins her family in the hunt for green onions. Together, they pick enough to bring to a feast, which is cooked with love and shared by their community.
Idalisdayvhvga!
Let’s all eat!
Written with simple, sensory lyricism by Andrea Rogers (Cherokee) and featuring warm, vibrant art by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw), this picture book celebrates the spring tradition of wild onion dinners—and the community and comfort that are shared when we gather.
#picturebooks #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #kidlit #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #picturebook #booksforkids #illustration #raisingreaders #childrensbook #childrensbookillustration #readaloud #childrensbookstagram #storytime #kidlitart #kidsbookswelove #childrensliterature #kidsbook #picturebookillustration #booklover #kidslit #picturebooksofinstagram #booksforchildren #indigenous #nativeamerican #cherokee @andrealrogers @madelyngoodnight @weneeddiversebooks @harperkids @theshelfstuff
- Board Books & Fiction Picture Books
- Easy Readers & Early Chapter Books
- Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction
- Graphic Novels [Elementary/Middle-Grade + Young Adult]
- Middle-Grade Fiction
- Nonfiction [Elementary + Middle-Grade + High School]
- Poetry [Collection + Novel in Verse]
- Young Adult Fiction
- Young Adult Speculative Fiction
★ “Using short, propulsive chapters, Smith…intertwines thoughtful conversation surrounding the racism faced by Indigenous teenagers with a convincing ghost story to craft a spine-tingling, edge-of-the-seat chiller.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “Smith uses a slow, deliberate pace initially to take time to develop and deliver backstory for each character while building the mystery, then intensifies the pace about halfway through which carries the reader through to the story’s unexpected climax… This is one heckuva roller coaster ride that ratchets up the tension the closer the story comes to Halloween.” —School Library Connection, starred review
★ “…includes moments of joy: Hughie speaking to his sister in Mvskoke, the language of his ancestors, and doing seasonal activities with his friends. What results is an atmospheric, transfixing mystery.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review
“This was a great read. It definitely works as a stand-alone story, but readers who have already read HEARTS UNBROKEN will enjoy getting to see more stories from characters they met in that book.” —Teen Librarian Toolbox at School Library Journal
Delighted to find TWO TRIBES by Emily Bowen Cohen and REZ BALL by Byron Graves (both Heartdrum) among the 2023 Nerdies! Visit the link in my bio to view the Nerdy Book Awards lists.
Hey, friends! Let’s take a moment to reflect on book awards and best-of lists. These accolades spotlight literary achievement and bring attention to gems that might have otherwise slipped under the radar. Behind every selection is a hard-working committee that dedicated time and effort to recognize outstanding contributions to literature.
It fills me with joy and hope when wonderful writing and art are honored, especially when a book reflects those whose voice and vision are gaining support but still marginalized. For authors/illustrators, having a book highlighted can make a positive impact, especially for those with BIPOC and 2SLGBT+ titles. Given the political landscape, such recognition can help gatekeepers advocate for their choices in the classroom, library, or curriculum. I often boost award announcements to raise awareness, express enthusiasm, and remind literary creators that folks are rooting for them.
That said, I’ve received a couple of emails of late from new voices navigating related anxiety, and we’ve still got miles to go. So, a quick reminder: Awards and honors are one of many measuring sticks. There’s truth in that old saw about “compare and despair.” If you’re feeling stressed, try to prioritize creativity and community. And if that sounds easier said than done, that’s okay. You might take a break from social media until the chatter quiets down.
In any case, take care of yourself and keep nurturing your artistic/literary journey. Stretch, take risks, ponder mentor texts, and remember that this season is a brief time in the overall life of your book.
Thank you for centering young readers. Thank you for your courage and commitment. I’m rooting for you!
#writerslife #writersofinstagram #writer #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofig #writing #writers #authorsofinstagram #writersnetwork #write #authorlife #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #bookstagram #illustration #picturebooks #kidlit #childrensbookillustration #kidsbookstagram #booksforkids #picturebook #childrensbook #childrensbookstagram #childrensliterature #kidlitart #illustrator #author #kidsbookswelove
Do you have a Model Author… or two? I’m not talking about mentors, who play a more personal and hands-on role in a writing life. They’re a blessing of a different sort.
Model Authors (or Illustrators) are those whose creative careers we study for inspiration and insights into our own journeys.
For example, during my writing apprenticeship, I decided to read every book by the late Paula Danziger. I chose her because she had been actively publishing when I was a young reader and because I enjoyed her novel P.S. LONGER LETTER LATER: A NOVEL IN LETTERS, co-authored by Ann M. Martin (1998). I read Paula’s books in the order they were released. (Was that the order in which they were written? I don’t know, but close enough.) What struck me was the steady improvement in her writing—the small and the significant ways she kept challenging herself with kid-friendly writing that was commercially successful and had a lot of heart. I can only imagine how many children of divorce found comfort in her AMBER BROWN series. From Paula—an author of my childhood and beyond, I learned that my only real competition as a writer was with my past self.
As a new voice in the early 2000s, the next Model Author was Laurie Halse Anderson. I was struck by how her YA novel, SPEAK (1999), was advancing the conversation of young adult literature in a way that respectfully and sensitively empowered teens. Her writing was raising awareness and making space in the for more voices reflecting sensitive topics. But that wasn’t all. At author events, I was moved by her kindness and attention to young readers. For me, Laurie underscored a message that has become a mantra. In communicating with young readers, I always remind myself: You are the priority. I write for you.
Do you have a Model author? Who did you choose? What did they teach you by example?
Honored to find HARVEST HOUSE (@CandlewickPress @candlewick_sl) among Notable Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror of 2023 by Alex Brown @bookjockeyalex from @torbooks @torteen. “By the end of the year, more than 320 science fiction, fantasy, and horror novels for teens will have gone through the traditional publishing machine…I narrowed that big list down to 30…that pushed the envelope, did something compelling or extraordinary with a familiar premise or trope….” Visit the link in my bio for the full list.
Highlights include:
BLOOD DEBTS by Terry J. Benton-Walker @icecreamvicelord (Tor Teen @torteen)
DAMNED IF YOU DO by Alex Brown @bookjockeyalex (Page Street YA @pagestreetya)
THE EVERLASTING ROAD by Wab Kinew @wabber (Tundra Books @tundrabooks)
FUNERAL SONGS BY DYING GIRLS by Cherie Dimaline @cherie.dimaline (Tundra Books)
IF I SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW by Robbie Couch @robbiecouch (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers @simonkids)
MAGIC HAS NO BORDERS, edited by Sona Charaipotra @sonesone2 and Samira Ahmed @sam_aye_ahm (HarperTeen @harperteen)
NIGHT OF THE LIVING QUEERS: 13 TALES OF TERROR AND DELIGHT, edited by Shelly Page and Alex Brown @bookjockeyalex (Wednesday Books @wednesdaybooks)
TIM TE MARO AND THE SUBTERRANEAN HEARTSICK BLUES by H.S. Valley @hsvalley (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing @hardiegrantkids)
WHAT STALKS AMONG US by Sara Hollowell @smhowllowell (Clarion Books @clarionbooks)
WRATH BECOMES HER by Aden Polydoros @adenpolydoros (Inkyard Press @inkyardpress)
#youngadult #bookstagram #fantasy #ya #youngadultbooks #bookstagrammer #yabooks -#youngadultfiction #bookblogger #bookphotography #yalit #instabook #readersofinstagram #igreads
#sciencefiction #scifi #fantasybooks #fantasybookseries #darkfantasy #fantasyauthor #fantasynovel #writersofinstagram #ghoststories #mysteries #mysterynovels #suspensenovels #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooks #diversebookstagram #bestbooks
Congrats, Jen Ferguson @jdotferg! Heartdrum’s THOSE PINK MOUNTAIN NIGHTS, cover by Bailey Macabre @cedarsageskoden, has been named to @cbcbooks Best Canadian Books for Kids & Teens in 2023! Highlights of the list include titles by @cherie.dimaline @davidrobertsonwriter & more! Visit the link in my bio for the full list.
#firstnations #indigenous #metis #picturebooks #picturebook #middlegradebooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #authorssupoortingauthors #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooksforkids #diversebooks #canadianbookstagram #bookishcanadians #readersofinstagram #canadianbookstagrammer #booknerd #canadianbookworm #bookrecommendations #igreads #bookblogger #bookaholic #instabooks #readersofig #reader #booklove #currentlyreading #alwaysreading
Congrats, @bychristineday! Heartdrum’s WE STILL BELONG, cover by @madelyn_goodnight, was named one of @sljournal’s Best Middle Grade Books of 2023 along with THE MANY ASSINATIONS OF SAMIR, THE SELLER OF DREAMS by @danielnayeri @levinequerido and LEI AND THE FIRE GODDESS by @maliamaunakea @penguinworkshop & more! Visit the link in my bio for the full list.
Heartdrum is an imprint of @harperkids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks.
#middlegrade #bookstagram #middlegradebooks #mglit #middlegradefiction #kidlit #middlegradereads #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #bookstagrammer #kidsbookstagram #mgbooks #authorsofinstagram #middlegradefantasy #middleschool #booksforkids #childrensliterature #indigenous #nativeamerican
Heartdrum’s JUST LIKE GRANDMA has been named a @booklist_ala Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, 2023. Peek: “Committed to providing a broad selection of outstanding books that mixes popular appeal with literary excellence, the Books for Youth editorial staff has chosen the titles below as its most-recommended nonfiction, fiction, and picture-book offerings of the year.” Visit the link in my bio to view the whole list.
ABOUT
JUST LIKE GRANDMA, written by Kim Rogers, illustrated by Julie Flett @julie__flett (Heartdrum, 2023).
Becca loves spending time with Grandma. Every time Becca says, “Let me try,” Grandma shows her how to make something beautiful. Whether they are beading moccasins, dancing like the most beautiful butterflies, or practicing basketball together, Becca knows that, more than anything, she wants to be just like Grandma. And as the two share their favorite activities, Becca discovers something surprising about Grandma, too.
★ Booklist (starred): “A tender and touching tribute to the loving, reciprocal bonds of intergenerational relationships.”
★ Publishers Weekly (starred): “…emphasizes a love of family and sense of tradition that anchor this subtly told story’s world.”
#picturebooks #picturebook #grandparents #grandmothers #grandmas #childrensbooks #childrensliterature #weneeddiversebooks
#nativeamerican #indigenous #bookstagram #kidlit #childrensbooks #childrensliterature #booksforkids #diversebooks #weneeddiversebooks #theshelfstuff #booksforkids #raisingreaders #readalouds #storytime #bookstagrammer #authorssupportingauthors #illustration #bookcover #bestbooks
Heartdrum’s WE STILL BELONG by @byChristineDay, cover by @madelyn_goodnight and A LETTER FOR BOB by Kim Rogers & @badwinds were named among the “Best Multicultural Children’s Books of 2023” by the Center of Multicultural Children’s Literature.
Additional highlighted titles include those by @britt.luby @ndonovan @michaelagoade @joyharjoforreal @michaelagoade @carolelindstrom @artnerdforever @jerrycraft @poetrynikki @maliamaunakea @tracisorellauthor @charleswaterspoetry @alexis.bunten @armyvetfive & more!
#childrensbooks #kidsbooks #bookstagram #picturebooks #kidlit #childrensbookillustration #kidsbookstagram #booksforkids #picturebook #children #raisingreaders #childrensbook #childrensbookstagram #storytime #childrensliterature #kidlitart #kidsbookswelove #readaloud #diversebooks #weneeddiversebooks #diversereads #diversechildrensbooks
A star for the BLUE STARS @candlewick_sl! ★”This middle-grade graphic novel, the first in a series, has everything: nuanced and empowered protagonists, a funny, gripping story, age-appropriate treatment of social issues, and expressive comic illustrations begging to be lingered over. Readers will come away inspired to raise their own voices and take action to create positive, peaceful change in their communities. A fresh new graphic series sure to engender a devoted following.” @kirkus_reviews
Congrats to co-author @keklamagoon & debut illustrator @mollymurakami!
ABOUT
When cousins Riley Halfmoon and Maya Dawn move to Urbanopolis to live with their activist grandma, they get off to a rocky start. Outgoing Riley misses her Muscogee cousins but is sure that she and Maya will be instant BFFs. Meanwhile, introvert Maya misses her parents, on active duty in Japan, and just wants some space to herself.
At school, Maya joins Robotics Club and Riley bonds with fellow gymnasts. Just when they start to feel at home, their school culture is threatened by an influential foe in disguise. Joining student council feels like a way to help, so both cousins toss their hats in the ring for sixth-grade class president. But when they realize what they’re up against–money, power, and lies–they quickly shift from competition to cooperation, joining forces as superheroes.
Riley is savvy with people; Maya is a whiz with gadgets. In no time, this dazzling duo is off to save the day! Relatable and rich in themes of family, community, and compromise, the Blue Stars series will entertain and empower, inspiring readers to be the stars they are.
#middlegrade #bookstagram #middlegradebooks #mglit #middlegradefiction #kidlit #middlegradereads #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #mgbooks #authorsofinstagram #bookreview #middleschool #booksforkids #childrensliterature #graphicnovel #comics #comic #comicbooks #comicbook #comicart #graphicnovels #comicbookart #comicartist #artwork #graphicnovelart #diversebooks
Heartdrum’s JO JO MAKOONS: SNOW DAY has been named one of @sljournal’s Best Transitional Books of 2023!
ABOUT
JO JO MAKOONS: SNOW DAY, written by Dawn Quigley (Ojibwe), illustrated by @tara_the_moxfox (Wolastoqey)(Heartdrum @HarperKids @theshelfstuff with @weneeddiversebooks, 2023). Ages 7-up.
Oh, snow day, snow day, what a very fun no school day!
Jo Jo has noticed that the family members she loves most—Mama, Kokum, and even her cat, Mimi—all have their own ways of being healthy. So when Teacher says that their class will be learning about healthy habits, Jo Jo is ready to be neighborly by helping everyone around her be healthy too.
After a snowstorm shuts down power on her Ojibwe reservation, Jo Jo uses her big imagination and big personality to help both Elders and classmates alike. Because after all, being healthy means being together!
With her signature heart and hilarity, in this third book in her series Jo Jo Makoons shows care for her Ojibwe community as only this vibrant young girl can.
#chapterbooksforkids #childrensbooks #childrensliterature #ojibwe #indigenous #nativeamerican #firstnations #socialstudies #languagearts #bookstagram #authorssupportingauthors #diversebooksforkids #weneeddiversebooks
Heartdum author @bychristineday: “Writing for publication can be so daunting, especially these days, as people aim to remove books from schools and public libraries. But no matter what, I feel I have to keep going. Because if I were to stop, or if I were to avoid certain topics or ideas out of fear of being censored—well, I just can’t. I refuse to cede my creative sovereignty. I refuse to give in to fear.”
Read more at Profile: Best Middle Grade of 2023: Christine Day by Katherine King from Kirkus Reviews at the link in my bio.
ABOUT
Christine Day is a citizen of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. Her first novel, I CAN MAKE THIS PROMISE, was a best book of the year from NPR, as well as a Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book, and an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book. Her second novel, THE SEA IN WINTER, was a Top 10 Indie Kids’ Next selection, a finalist for the Pacific Northwest Book Award, and an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book. She also wrote SHE PERSISTED: MARIA TALLCHIEF, a biography in Chelsea Clinton’s book series about inspirational women. Her latest book, WE STILL BELONG received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly. Recent honors include:
- Chicago Public Library Best Fiction of 2023
- Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2023
- Texas Library Association Lone Star Reading List
- 2023 Teaching for Change: Social Justice Books Selection
- Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
- American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) Best Books of 2023
- Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) Best Multicultural Children’s Books of 2023
Christine lives with her family in the rainy and resplendent Pacific Northwest.
Heartdrum’s A LETTER FOR BOB by Kim Rogers & @badwinds has been named to Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Books of 2023 About Families.
★ Kirkus Reviews (starred): “For its tender vignettes of modern Indigenous life, this tale will make a glowing addition to any…library.”
★ Booklist: (starred): “Imaginative children from many backgrounds will empathize with Katie’s feelings and her reluctance to say goodbye. An engaging, emotionally resonant picture book.”
★ Publishers Weekly (starred): “Easy prose and crisply drawn digital illustrations give equal weight to each member of family caring for its members through life’s seasons.”
Cynsational Books of 2023 were nominated by Cynsations team members and selected by Cynthia Leitich Smith. Our own titles and Heartdrum titles were ineligible. However, past contributors’ books were considered.
The selections (in alphabetical order):
CALLING THE MOON: 16 PERIOD STORIES BY BIPOC AUTHORS, edited by Aida Salazar and Yamile Saied Mendez (Candlewick Press). @aida_writes @yamilesmendez @candlewickpress
DARK HEIR by C. S. Pacat (Quill Tree Books). @c.s.pacat @HarperKids @theshelfstuff
THE DAVENPORTS by Krystal Marquis (Dial Books). @krystabelle_reads @penguinteen
I’M AN AMERICAN by Darshana Khiani, illustrated by Laura Freeman (Viking Books for Young Readers). @darshanakhiani @laurafreemanart @penguinkids
MASCOT by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell (Charlesbridge). @charleswaterspoetry @tracisorellauthor @charlesbridge
MEO AND BE by Doan Phuong Nguyen (Tu Books). @doanphuongwrites @leeandlow
RACE FOR THE RUBY TURTLE by Stephen Bramucci (Bloomsbury). @steve_bramucci
SAINTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD by Ari Tison (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). @aritisonwrites @mackidsbooks
SHINING A LIGHT: CELEBRATING 40 ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD by Veeda Bybee, illustrated by Victo Ngai (Versify). @veedabybee @victongai @versifybooks
THE STUPENDOUS SWITCHEROO by Mary Winn Heider and Chad Sell (Knopf BYR). @marywinnheider @chadsell01
THAT FLAG by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith (HarperCollins). @tamekafryerbrown @nikkolas_smith @HarperKids @theshelfstuff
WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED by Angeline Boulley (Henry Holt). @angelineboulley @mackidsbooks
“I love who I am. I love my family, my friends, my Native Nation.
“I love Kansas. And chances are pretty kick-ass that I love Joey, too.
“Pu fvckvkes. We are happy.
“My arm circled his waist. His arm circled my shoulders.
“He asked, ‘Do Native people believe in Thanksgiving?’
“I kissed him. ‘We believe in gratitude.'”
from HEARTS UNBROKEN by @cynthialeitichsmith (@CandlewickPress), winner of an American Indian Youth Literature Award (YA Books Category)
★ “Absorbing….Blending teen romance with complex questions of identity, equality, and censorship, this is an excellent choice…” —School Library Journal, starred review
@weneeddiversebooks announces Indigenous Reads Rising, a new resource site about Indigenous, Native and First Nations books for young readers. Features book lists, articles on best practices, educator info and much more! Click the link in my bio to visit.
Huge gratitude to @weneeddiversebooks @leslie.stall.widener, @tracisorellauthor, @angelineboulley, @kathiappelt and all of the contributing Indigenous educators for their efforts and support.
#nativeamericanheritagemonth #weneediversebooks #indigenous #teachers #education #teachersofinstagram #teacher #libraries #library #librariesofinstagram #books #bookstagram #reading #librarylife #librarylove #diversebooksforkids #firstnations #alaskanative #nativehawaiian
What’s your favorite fictional ghost story? I’m giving away two copies of my upcoming YA ghost mystery novel, HARVEST HOUSE, @candlewickpress, April 11. To enter, please comment below with the title of your favorite ghost story—be it from a book, TV show or film. Ages 18+ U.S. only. Deadline: March 21. If you win, I’ll pre-order the book for delivery to you on the release date.
Cover art by Britt Newton @holoske; cover design by Pam Consolazio.
#youngadultfiction #yalit #yaliterature #booksforteens #ghoststory #mystery
#nativeamerican #americanindian #indigeneous #indigenousreads #weneeddiversebooks #diversebooks #bookstagram #ya #bookworm #book #youngadultbooks #reading #bookish #booknerd #bibliophile #romance #yabooks #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #fiction #bookgiveaway #giveaway #bookaholic
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I’m writing a MG road-trip novel, so I took my process on the road! It was an 11-day journey (counting the flight to the starting point and the plane ride home from the end). These aren’t images that speak to the story but rather glimpses into the side moments. Not every writer can do this sort of research for various reasons, and I’m grateful for the experience.
Do you recognize any of the landscapes? I was able to squeeze in a bit of family time, but my apologies to friends I missed along the way. Part of the mission was to stick to the characters’ schedule, which meant I had to keep on truckin’.
#writers #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writer #writing #writingcommunity #writersofig #writerslife #author #roadtrip #travel #nature #travelphotography #adventure #photography #wanderlust #travelgram #landscape #summer #landscapephotography #research
A social justice workshop, the Connections Conference gathers together high school and middle school students, teachers, and administrators to explore issues of bias, privilege and discrimination and support each other in how we can work together to make our communities a better place for everyone.
This year’s conference theme is “Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Creating Just and Equitable Schools for Everyone.”
Celebrating Andrea L. Rogers! Andrea is an award-winning author of historical and contemporary fiction across a variety of genres. Her work includes essays, picture books, young adult novels, middle grade stories and one comic. So far. Her first book, MARY AND THE TRAIL OF TEARS (Capstone) is historical fiction, which is pretty much horror for Native people. It was on both the NPR & American Indians in Children’s Literature best of 2020 lists.
Her critically acclaimed young adult horror novel, MAN MADE MONSTERS, was released by Levine Querido in October 2022. It includes illustrations by Jeff Edwards (Cherokee). The novel received the Walter Award and several other accolades. Her next YA novel is a Cherokee Futurism called THE ART THIEVES out from Levine Querido in September 2024.
Her debut picture book about Southeastern tribes and wild onion dinners (the opposite of horror) is called WHEN WE GATHER: (OSTADAHLISIHA): A CHEROKEE TRIBAL FEAST and will be illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw) will be out from Heartdrum in May 2024. A second picture book, CHOOCH HELPED, will also be out in October 2024 from Levine Querido and will be illustrated by Rebecca Kunz (Cherokee).
Andrea is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She currently attends The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where she is a doctoral student in English. Andrea graduated with an MFA from the Institute for American Indian Arts. She taught Art and HS English in public schools for 14 years. She has three wonderful children.
@capstonepub @levinequerido @andrealrogers @instituteofamericanindianarts @harperkids @theshelfstuff @weneeddiversebooks @madelyn_goodnight @treeoflife.studio
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