THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING: Interview with Kao Kalia Yang

Happy New Year! I am thrilled to kick off 2021 with something beautiful. Award-winning author Kao Kalia Yang is here to discuss THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING, an exquisite picture book memoir written by Kalia – with stunning artwork by Khoa Le, an illustrator and painter based in Vietnam. Book description: …

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A Life Made by Hand

A Life Made by Hand, The Story of Ruth Asawa, written and illustrated by Andrea D’Aquino. I am extremely grateful for the recent publication of several non-fiction books about artists. Especially those books which highlight the work of lesser known visionaries, yet artists’ whose work has contributed and influenced the …

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A timely title: I AM THE STORM

2020 has — unarguably — been a difficult year. We’ve been tossed and turned by a pandemic, a contentious presidential election, racial injustices and a variety of natural disasters. That makes I AM THE STORM, a picture book written by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple and illustrated by Kristen …

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The perfect treat for the gift-giving season: THE PURPLE PUFFY COAT + a chat with author Maribeth Boelts

When a book makes me laugh out loud a time or two, that’s a book I’m going to love. When I can’t stop giggling/smiling through an entire book that also emits massive doses of that elusive element we call HEART, that’s a keeper—a book I’m adding to my permanent collection. …

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Chatting with Sue Soltis about THE STARS JUST UP THE STREET (+Giveaway!)

Hello! I’m so pleased to have author (and fellow Chapel Hill resident) Sue Soltis here today to chat about her beautiful new book The Stars Just Up the Street, illustrated by Christine Davenier (Candlewick Press, 2020). In the book, young Mabel—with assistance from her grandfather—convinces neighbors and town officials to …

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21 Picture Books I’m Looking Forward to in ’21!

Like most of you, I am ready to shut the door on 2020. Let’s go ahead and take a peek at some of the good stuff 2021 has in store for us…. I also have three books coming out in 2021 that I’m pretty excited about: Not Now, Cow illustrated …

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