Best picture books for kids including Caldecott and other award winning books for children.
I was able to see Salmon Run by Annie Chen at ALA in Philadelphia. It was hot off the presses. Not even the author/illustrator, Annie Chen, had seen it. It felt like a full circle moment because Annie Chen is my oldest daughter’s best friend from college. A dual degree RISD/Brown student, Annie took the…
Dorktales Podcast’s Hidden Hero of History series features Makoto Hagiwara from picture book Fortune Cookies for Everyone! A tale of artistry, innovation, and lasting legacy! Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese American landscape architect, transformed a World’s Fair exhibit into San Francisco’s Japanese Tea Garden. It’s the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States, still cherished…
BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US [STARRED REVIEW!] Author: Mia Wenjen Illustrator: Violeta Encarnación Review Issue Date: November 15, 2025 Online Publish Date: October 10, 2025 Publisher: Red Comet Press Pages: 48 Price (Hardcover): $19.99 Publication Date: March 31, 2026 ISBN (Hardcover): 9781636551920 Section: Children’s Japanese Chinese American author Wenjen and Cuban American artist Encarnación have created a sobering, stupendous reminder of recurring injustice. Wenjen’s reverso…
Please welcome my guest author, Maria Gianferrari, today. She has a book list featuring horses in celebration of her newest picture book, Rain and the Reading Horse! Rain and the Reading Horse by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Hannah Salyer Rain is very shy, and words get stuck in her throat when she tries to read…
Today is my book birthday! To celebrate, I’m giving away 5 signed/inscribed copies! To enter, please leave a comment below! Fortune Cookies for Everyone! (Smithsonian): The Surprising Story of the Tasty Treat We Love to Eat by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage, published by Red Comet Press Junior Library Guild Gold Selection An investigative…
Today, I’m thrilled to talk to illustrator and artist Colleen Kong-Savage. I also had the pleasure of meeting her in real life at ALA in Philly! She’s a blast to be with! We also have a book together coming out TOMORROW, and she will talk about Fortune Cookies for Everyone! too! Q1: What was your…
I am humbled and thrilled for the recognition that We Sing From the Heart has received. We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court ALSC Notable Children’s Book 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction…