Before and After: Family Kitchen Reno

I’ve been a little quiet on the blog in the new year. That’s because our lives were turned upside-down this winter… in the best way possible!

February and most of March were consumed with the realization of a long-dreamed-of kitchen renovation. Ever since we moved into our house seven years ago (when I was eight months pregnant with our second daughter), my husband and I have been pacing the floors, wondering what an updated kitchen space would even look like. It wasn’t a matter of if. It was when.

We made some cuts on our own - literal cuts - removing this peninsula (below) among other things, and we updated appliances slowly, as break downs occurred.

But something more had to be done. Our 44-year-old cabinets, part of the original 1976 construction, were falling off the hinges, and a year of quarantine life put an extra bright spotlight on the disfunction.

Not that there weren’t a million beautiful memories made in the old kitchen.

Yogurt baths…

First steps…

Sister playtime…

Cooking escapades…

And Christmas morning gymnastics…

But don’t be distracted by the cute children! Changes needed to be made!

There were years when we thought it would never happen at all - and that’s why it was so overwhelming when construction took only three weeks! Many, many thanks to our kitchen designer Nancy Muller of CR Cabinetry (and Monarch Cabinetry of Sullivan, IL) and our local contractor Robert Silvestri of Park West Design/Construction.

With warm mid-century wood tones, shiny surfaces, clean-yet-classic lines, and black accents on the brain, we created a plan and went for it. Here are the before-and-after pics!

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BEFORE: Looking into the kitchen

AFTER: Wall down, same view

(Soffits and cabinets out, lighter floors and walls, new lighting, cabinets and counters)

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BEFORE: Sink and primary prep space

AFTER: Same area, different angle

(Moved the oven, closed one window, installed a bigger window over the sink)

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BEFORE: Wall between kitchen and dining room

AFTER: Same view, wall removed

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BEFORE: Refrigerator wall

AFTER: Same wall

(Added a much needed pantry!)

And just like that, it’s done!

Wow, is it nice to have a more open floor plan. We are researching getting a new gait trainer for our 9 year old, Miss E - like the one she uses at school (below). She’ll have much more room to move in her equipment in this new set up. I recently wrote an update on Miss E on the www.wolfhirschhorn.org website (Elsa: 9 years old), in case you’d like to check that out!

Happy spring (and spring break) to all of you! And be sure to scroll down to the posts below, to see the books I’ve reviewed on the blog so far this year. They are all EXCELLENT and not to be missed.

Until next time!

Kidlit Spotlight: KAFKA AND THE DOLL

Meet Bear-Bear-Bear.

This sweet mint-tinted stuffy was given to one of my girls during a hospital stay. For the life of me, I cannot recall which girl or why we were at the hospital…

But alas. What’s most important is that Bear-Bear-Bear is my 6 year old’s husband.

In fact, they just returned from a weeklong getaway in New York. I’m trying not to be jealous, but NEW YORK? What I wouldn’t give to see a show and dine my way across the city with my hubby, Dan. We’re approaching our 15th anniversary, after all. Nevertheless, I’m happy for them.

As Miss L’s betrothed, Bear-Bear-Bear is an official member of our family and always with us. Unless, of course, he’s been left outside on accident, which brings about quite a lot of sadness, particularly at bedtime. When it’s very cold and very dark, we trust that the raccoons and skunks will be kind to him until the sun climbs into the sky once again.

The relationship between a child and his or her doll is sacred and absolute. It’s something that grown ups respect and honor because at the center of each human heart was once such a toy.

Indispensable. Irreplaceable. Inextricably yours.

New picture book KAFKA AND THE DOLL - by Larissa Theule, illustrated by Rebecca Green (Viking Books for Young Readers, March 2021) - delves into and lyrically lives within that imaginative, intimate, technicolor space. This is the divine cover that captivated me for months before the book’s publication, and called me to get to know this story through-and-through…

KAFKA AND THE DOLL is based upon the true story of a unique friendship that developed between writer Franz Kafka and a young girl. As the tale goes, while at the park one day, Kafka and his partner Dora Diamant met a girl, who had lost her doll. Kafka’s generous heart compelled him to create a narrative that continued the doll’s journey, to the anticipation and ongoing delight of the girl.

This warm, surprising, moving story captured my heart, and holds it still. So as you can imagine, it’s a joy for me to tell you about it! Here are three things that I love about KAFKA AND THE DOLL…

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Gorgeous Lines and Limited Palette

The sincerity and unique tone of KAFKA AND THE DOLL is first experienced in the glorious palette and certain marks of illustrator Rebecca Green. The story is set in a sepia past, where autumnal hues punctuates the page in falling leaves and pretty patterns. The natural setting, minimally rendered, bends and sways in sync with the story’s brilliant characters, whose postures, expressions and clothing are set in angular, fashionable lines, creating a compelling, sartorial cast. The entire look is novel and in complete accord with the spirit of the story, which is - as I’ll soon elaborate - positively enchanting.

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Heart-driven Narrative

Noticing a girl in distress, Kafka and Diamant approach and learn that the child, Irma, has lost her doll. Her doll Soupsy. (Let us linger on the perfection of the name for just a moment longer… ) To ease Irma’s worries, Kafka swiftly whips up a story: Irma needn’t fret because Soupsy is simply traveling, and Kafka - “a volunteer postman” - will deliver Soupsy’s hand-written letter to Irma the very next day.

From the backmatter of this story, we learn the Kafka was not in good health at the time that he assumed the role of "postman.” Yet, day-after-day, for weeks, he arrived at the park with a new letter from Soupsy, filling the moments of separation between Irma and and her doll with adventure and new experiences. Only a person with an unwavering belief in the power of story would dutifully undertake such a noble and worthy assignment.

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Tender and Imaginative Prose

While this story is based upon true events, the letters written by Soupsy, and the dialogue between Kafka and Irma, are Theule’s delightful creation. Kafka’s wise, observational generalities and open-ended queries create an ocean of possibility in which Irma can interpret the details of Soupsy’s journey and imagine what might happen next.

In chronicling Soupsy’s travels - to Paris and Barcelona, and Morocco and Egypt - Kafka introduces Irma to the world outside Berlin, filled with wondrous landscapes and marvels of cuisine and architecture. As Soupsy’s letters grow shorter, a sign of Kafka’s failing health, it’s clear that Kafka has given Irma a gift that extends beyond Soupsy’s enduring existence.

“You’re pale,” Irma says to Kafka. “You miss nothing,” Kafka replies. Such is the heartbeat of KAFKA AND THE DOLL. Children see it all, and know what is real. The light in their doll’s eyes. The magic that’s just beyond what they can touch. The hope of the next grand adventure. Bigger than big. Truer than true. KAFKA AND THE DOLL captures this intuitive spark and invites us to keep the light burning, for the children in our lives and for the child inside our very heart.

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Larissa Theule is the author of many books for children, including A Way With Wild Things, illustrated by Sara Palacios (Bloomsbury), Born to Ride: A Story About Bicycle Face, illustrated by Kelsey Garrity-Riley (Abrams), How Do You Do?, illustrated by Gianna Marino (Bloomsbury), and Fat and Bones: And Other Stories, illustrated by Adam S. Doyle (Carolrhoda). She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Southern California with her family and dog.

Rebecca Green is an illustrator, painter, and author working in children’s publishing, editorial, and fine art. Her books include A Place Called Home by Kate Baker (Lonely Planet Kids), Becoming A Good Creature by Sy Montgomery (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Madame Saqui, Revolutionary Rope Dancer by Lisa Robinson (Schwartz & Wade Books), and A Year with Mama Earth by Rebecca Grabill (Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers). She loves experimenting with traditional materials and use an array of media including gouache, colored pencil, ink, and cut paper.

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One lucky reader will win KAFKA AND THE DOLL, signed by Larissa Theule!

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Author Spotlight: Richard Ho

February brings the annual delivery of a Valentine’s Day care package to our home. When my daughters slit the side of the bubble pouch, sent via USPS by my parents, love comes tumbling out…

Red cards!

Chocolate bars!

Pink stickers!

Holiday scarves!

Smiles, then jumps. Jumps, then squeals. Just like that, the day is brighter. We’re in the midst of a kitchen renovation, and this bouncy heart headband definitely added a ring-a-ding-ding to our basement Valentine’s Day dinner…

But what happens when a package gets lost? What becomes of the care and heart tucked within? New picture book THE LOST PACKAGE, by Richard Ho, illustrated by Jessica Lanan (Roaring Brook Press, coming March 2, 2021), explores exactly that. Here’s the stunner of a cover…

THE LOST PACKAGE is a beautiful, tender, informative story about a package that takes an unexpected route. The story begins with a simple box, as all packages do, but soon it’s much more. In her bright peachy room, a young girl fills the cardboard container with special things, closes it up securely, and sends it on its way.

The package arrives at the post office and is immediately swept into the delivery system. Gorgeously detailed watercolored compositions reveal the inner workings of the rooms and machines that ensure each package is directed to the correct zip code and door.

The girl’s package is well on its way when the unexpected happens. The mail truck hits a pot hole, sending the box flying - out of the truck and into the wet street. It lands in a puddle. Lost.

Will the package be found? Will it ever make it across the country, to its final destination? Light and hope glow upon the silvery streetscape, revealing a chance encounter with the potential to set things right. In prose warm and clear, author Richard Ho tells a sparsely written yet broad, sweeping tale about taking a chance and bringing things home. What inspired this heartfelt story? I had a chat with the author to find out! Here’s my Author Spotlight with Richard Ho:

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3 Questions with Richard Ho

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In your author’s note, readers learn that your father worked as a clerk for the US Postal Service for more than 30 years. How did growing up around the stories of mail and special deliveries inform the journey of the package in this story?

Research is vital when writing about a complex topic like the mail system. But I feel like I cheated a bit with this story, given that my “research” was chatting with my dad! Growing up, I was always curious about the mail, and my father’s role in it. He loved to explain all the intricacies of the process, from how to calculate the correct postage for sending a package to the difference between first class and priority mail. Plus, it was so convenient to just hand him letters on his way to work—I never had to use a mailbox or go to the post office myself! So when I was writing the story, I asked my father to read several drafts, and he fact-checked the technical details.

But more than anything, my father instilled in me a tremendous respect for the USPS as an institution. It has a real nobility of purpose: connecting people across the country, allowing friends and family to maintain personal bonds even over great distances. And I saw that nobility every day, because my father embodied it with his diligence and sense of duty. I wanted to imbue this story with that same nobility. Even though the package gets lost and falls out of the hands of the mail system, it eventually reaches its destination because the people who find it also share that belief in the power of personal connections.

While we’re on the topic of journeys, tell us about your path to picture books! How long has writing been part of your life, and when did writing for children become an area of focus for you? 

I’d like to say that my writing journey started from the time I could string two words together. But the truth is, I was a late bloomer! I’d always enjoyed writing as a child, but I never considered it as a career until college. And even then, my initial interest was in journalism. Post-college, I started dabbling in creative writing, and my passion for storytelling grew. And after our oldest son was born, I was reintroduced to the wonderful world of children’s books.

Reading these books from an adult perspective was truly eye-opening. I was able to see the craft and appreciate the structure and wordplay to a degree I never appreciated as a child. Even then, the thought of writing them myself didn’t occur to me—until a conversation with a co-worker who happened to be a children’s book illustrator. She had seen some pictures of our pet hedgehog (Henry, we miss you!), and she suggested I write a story about him. So I did. That manuscript was the first of many to come, and officially marked the start of my kidlit journey!

Handwritten letters and care packages are such precious gifts of time, energy, creativity and love – kind of like picture books! What special elements do you like to tuck into your stories, for readers to discover? 

For each of my books, the story as a whole is a love letter to a topic that’s close to my heart. Whether it’s mail (THE LOST PACKAGE), space exploration (RED ROVER: CURIOSITY ON MARS), or the Chinese fables I grew up with (YEAR OF THE CAT), the story ends up being a vessel for storing the things I love about that topic. So I try to cram in as many fascinating details as possible! For example, there’s a five-mile system of purple conveyor belts called “Barney” in the Morgan Processing and Distribution Center, the largest mail sorting plant in New York City. The Morgan plant is depicted in THE LOST PACKAGE, and even though Barney wasn’t central to our story, illustrator Jessica Lanan was able to sneak a glimpse of it into the background!

Of course, so many of the delightful discoveries in picture books are courtesy of the illustrators. And as the author, I can’t claim credit for them! In THE LOST PACKAGE, there’s a whimsical rabbit lamp in the girl’s bedroom that Jessica based on a real lamp from editor Emily Feinberg’s office. And all the children in the story are modeled after Jessica’s adorable neighbors!

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What great fun- thank you for the wonderful interview, Richard!

Richard Ho is the author of THE LOST PACKAGE, illustrated by Jessica Lanan, and RED ROVER: CURIOSITY ON MARS, illustrated by Katherine Roy (both published by Roaring Brook Press). His third book, YEAR OF THE CAT, illustrated by Jocelyn Li Langrand (Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins), publishes in Fall 2022. Visit Richard’s website at www.richardhobooks.com, and be sure to follow him on Twitter at @richkarho.

THE LOST PACKAGE publishes March 2, 2021. It is available for pre-order now through your favorite indie bookstore.

One lucky blog reader will win THE LOST PACKAGE, signed by Richard! Here's how to enter:

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Kidlit Spotlight: OFF TO SEE THE SEA

Now that we’re a couple of weeks into 2021, it’s safe to say that the new year, in many ways, is much like 2020. Aside from our hybrid school schedule and outdoor snow play with neighborhood friends, we are at home. We find our fun every day… some way! But many of our activities are reruns of things we’ve done for the past 10 months.

Assembling puzzles…

Making crafts…

Baking (and eating) all the things…

Though we often come to our wits’ end with one another, I know this time is precious, especially at my daughters’ young ages. But, oh! How lovely it would be to sail away right about now. Somewhere warm. Somewhere sandy. Somewhere tropical. Somewhere far, far away. A new picture book provides a great reminder that so long as imagination lives and breathes within us, we can go farther, and find more joy, than we might think.

OFF TO SEE THE SEA is a new title from the dream duo of author Nikki Grimes and illustrator Elizabeth Zunon (Sourcebook Kids, January 2021). Their collaboration BEDTIME FOR SWEET CREATURES was one of my favorite books of 2020. Both titles center on finding adventure within every day childhood moments. (And I believe one more story is coming in this series! Yay, a trilogy!)

OFF TO SEE THE SEA is a joyful, fantastical, poetic tale about a child coaxed into the bath, where splashing fun awaits. In prose bubbling with beauty and vibrant oceanic art, this picture book invites readers to dive into their daily routines with eyes open to new possibilities. Here are three things that I love about OFF TO SEE THE SEA…

Playful and Tender

Wrangling a child into the bath can take some serious creativity. OFF TO SEE THE SEA is told in the second person by a mother who invents an immersive new world to get the job done. A delightful game plays out on the page, as child evades (hiding and giggling) and mom gently beckons (in whispers and coos). When the little one finally enters the tub, mom asks, “Now, was that so bad?” In playful dialogue and tender action, mom deepens the detail of her narrative, keeping her child in the soapy sea while also building a special story that’s theirs alone. Time shared tub-side by these two is filled with ritual and comfort. It is pure fun and pure love.

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Sensory Rich Language

Lively and aurally rich, OFF TO SEE THE SEA serenades readers with evocative imagery and swells of internal rhyme and alliteration. Grimes’s words are so incredibly pleasing to say and hear. Phrases such as “toes touch the tile” and “slip-sliding into a soft-scented sea” roll off the tongue, awakening the senses. You can feel the smooth cool of the bathroom floor, the warm surround of the bath water, the floral effervescence of the bubbles. Each word-dancing spread in OFF TO SEE THE SEA brings you further into this intimate familial space, a feeling sure to bring treasured memories to mind for readers.

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Color and Movement

OFF TO SEE THE SEA is a glowing, happy, heartfelt visual delight. Zunon’s bright, dreamy palette conveys the heightened excitement of imaginative play. Backgrounds are bathed soft splashy blue and warm cozy yellow. The characters’ clothes pop with blocks of color - hot pink, soft purple and kelly green. Collaged representations of ocean sand, waves and seaweed sway and swirl. Even the text itself arcs and bows, then balloons and peeks. Everything moves. Like the swells and splashes of the sea, this bath story frolics and dances with life.

OFF TO SEE THE SEA transports readers to a sunny, sparkling place at a time when snow and solitude blanket much of the country and world. Readers looking for a sliver of shine will certainly find it in this celebratory story. And they also just may catch a spark of inspiration - a bit of encouragement to reach through the monotony of the day and make a regular old chore something memorable and more.

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New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes is the recipient of the ALAN Award for outstanding contributions to the field of adolescent literature, the 2017 Children's Literature Legacy Award, the 2016 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Her distinguished works include the much-honored books Garvey's Choice, ALA Notable book What is Goodbye?, Coretta Scott King Award winner Bronx Masquerade, and Coretta Scott King Author Honor books Jazmin's Notebook, Talkin' About Bessie, Dark Sons, Words with Wings, and The Road to Paris. Creator of the popular Meet Danitra Brown, Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California.

Elizabeth Zunon is the illustrator of many books for children. In addition to Off to See the Sea and Bedtime for Sweet Creatures (written by Nikki Grimes), Zunon wrote and illustrated Grandpa Cacao: A Tale of Chocolate, From Farm to Family, and illustrated Walking through Africa: A Rhyme in Zulu, As Big as the Sky, I am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon, Martha and the Slave Catchers, The Legendary Miss Lena Horne, and many more. Zunon lives in Albany, New York, where she draws, paints, collages, sews, silkscreens, and makes jewelry and purses. Her work is largely influenced by the people, places, and things from her childhood in the Ivory Coast as the product of two cultures.

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One lucky reader will win OFF TO SEE THE SEA by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon!

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2020 Picture Book Picks

Picture book writers are almost always also avid picture book readers - and wow do they have GREAT recommendations.

For the past few years, I’ve queried lots of picture book writers (and some librarians, too!) who I admire, asking for their favorite title of the year. Creating this end-of-year round up is such a joy for me. I love seeing what books light other people up, which always leads to the discovery of new titles to check out… books that might have otherwise escaped my attention, which I do not care for at all. I want to read all the books!

Interested in previous years’ picks? Find them here!

• 2018 picture book pics, here!

• 2019 Picture Book Pics, here!

The 2020 Picture Book Picks list is as beautiful as it is engaging and powerful. Have a look, then find the titles at your local library or bookseller! (And be sure to check out each curators’ books, too. You’ll be very glad that you did!)

Now, for that list…

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2020 Picture Book Picks

Weshoyot Alvitre (@weshoyot), illustrator of the 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award honor book AT THE MOUNTAIN’S BASE, recommends WAA’AKA’: THE BIRD WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SUN by Cindi Alvitre, illustrated by Carly Lake (Heyday Books): I chose this book for a variety of reasons: The illustrations by Carly Lake are bold and beautifully rendered painted renditions of our birds and plants here in Southern California. The story by Cindi Alvitre is a modern tale which opens the door to combine both our traditional oral storytelling history as Tongva people, but breaks down doors to show how we have the potential to create new stories for our children and grandchildren. The combination is a fresh take on teaching stories which creates a bridge for non-Native readers to learn more about the Indigenous people of Southern California and their relationships with the native world that surrounds them.

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Hayley Barrett (@hayleybwrites), author of 2020 picture book releases THE TINY BAKER and GIRL VERSUS SQUIRREL, recommends SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS by Rajani Larocca, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan (Lee & Low Books): SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS is visually gorgeous and delightfully intelligent, not to mention heartwarming. It's lovely.

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Ariel Berstein (@ArielBBooks), author of I HAVE A BALLOON and WHERE IS MY BALLOON? and the upcoming 2021 release WE LOVE FISHING!, recommends THE PASSOVER MOUSE by Joy Nelkin Wieder, illustrated by Shahar Kober (Doubleday Books for Young Readers): It’s a funny, heart warming and truly original take on Passover that can be enjoyed any time of the year by every reader.

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Valerie Bolling (@valerie_bolling), author of 2020 picture book LET’S DANCE!, recommends TIARA’S HAT PARADE by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell (Albert Whitman): This is one of my favorite stories. The language in the book is beautiful. Lines like: “Their laughter jingled like silver charms” and “… voice sharp as a hatpin. Then … hushed as a feather.” Not only is the language captivating, but the touching story grabs a hold of the reader and doesn’t let go. I love that the story features the determined, innovative spirit of a young girl! When her mother is forced to close her hat shop, Tiara finds a creative, thoughtful way to bring the joy back to her mother and celebrate her as a milliner. Tiara has clearly inherited her mother’s entrepreneurial gene!

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Shannon Bramer (@brokencloudco), author of the 2019 picture book CLIMBING SHADOWS: POEMS FOR CHILDREN , recommends ONCE I WAS A BEAR by Irene Luxbacher (Scholastic): In ONCE I WAS A BEAR, a little cub who is profoundly at home and at peace in the forest wakes from a deep slumber to discover that he is about to embark on a new journey as a little boy in a busy city. It is a story about transformation, bravery and the kindness and beauty in the world that is waiting to meet us, even if it might take a bit of time to get there, even if we must always let our hearts live in the woods where we most belong.

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Anika Aldamuy Denise (@anikadenise), author of the 2020 picture book A GIRL NAMED ROSITA, and 2019 titles BUNNY IN THE MIDDLE, PLANTING STORIES and THE LOVE LETTER, recommends YOUR NAME IS A SONG linked by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Luisa Uribe (Innovation Press): All through my life, teachers, classmates, friends, and colleagues have had trouble pronouncing my name. I wish I had had this book when I was a girl, that celebrates the lyrical beauty and history of African, Latinx, Middle Eastern, Asian, and any non-Anglo names. It's a beautifully written and illustrated celebration of diversity and cultural identity.

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Raissa Figueroa (@rizzyfig), illustrator of two books coming out in January 2021 - WE WAIT FOR THE SUN by Kate McCabe and OONA by Kelly DiPucchio - recommends LIFT by Minh Le, illustrated by Dan Santat (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers): I just discovered his (Le) book DRAWN TOGETHER earlier this year, and it evokes so many feelings of my childhood in particular that I just had to buy his other works! LIFT has the pair teaming up again (I’m also in love with Dan’s illustrations) and doesn’t disappoint. The story is just a breath of fresh air-a delight to the imagination!

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Josh Funk (@joshfunkbooks), author of 2020 picture book releases SHORT & SWEET: LADY PANCAKE & SIR FRENCH TOAST, WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY?: A STORY OF PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE and IT’S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD recommends GRANDPA GRUMPS by Katrina Moore, illustrated by Xindi Yan (little bee books): GRANDPA GRUMPS is a super cute book about a little girl whose grandpa visits from China. While Grandpa speaks a different language, isn't interested in kid-friendly things, and generally appears grumpy, the two of them slowly bond in unexpected ways (a little food always helps). This book makes a great read aloud over a zoom with grandparents (or grandchildren) you haven't seen in a while and for anyone who likes uplifting, beautifully written, and gorgeously illustrated picture books.

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Jenna Grodzicki (@jennawritesPB), author of 2020 picture book release WILD STYLE: AMAZING ANIMAL ADORNMENTS, and 2019 title I SEE SEA FOOD: SEA CREATURES THAT LOOK LIKE FOOD, recommends MAMIE ON THE MOUND: A WOMAN IN BASEBALL’S NEGRO LEAGUES by Leah Henderson, illustrated by George Doutsiopoulos (Capstone): As a huge baseball fan, I absolutely loved this book. Mamie Johnson was so much more than a baseball player. She broke down racial and gender barriers and paved the way for future female African American players. The combination of thoughtful prose and expressive artwork make this a home run.

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Alastair Heim (@alastairheim), author of 2020 release IF I HAD YOUR VOTE BY CAT IN THE HAT and the upcoming 2021 picture book QUIET DOWN LOUD TOWN!, recommends THE BARNABUS PROJECT by The Fan Brothers (Tundra Books): I have been a fan of The Fan Brothers since one of my children pointed to The Night Gardener on the shelves of a local bookstore in 2016 – when I asked her what book we should get. The Barnabus Project is, in my opinion, a master class on artistry, craft, and storytelling for any and all aspiring author/illustrators. I cannot draw to save my life, but if I could, this book is what I would aspire to.

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Joshua C. Heinsz (@JCHeinsz), illustrator of 2019 release EXCEPT WHEN THEY DON’T and 2020 picture book FROG BOOTS, recommends STARCROSSED by Julia Denos (HMH Books for Young Readers): The power of wishes has always been a narrative draw for me, and as a big Julia Denos fan, I couldn’t have been more excited about her take on this subject in her latest book Star Crossed. The friendship shared between Acamar and Eridani is pure magic and reflected so perfectly in Julia’s breathtaking watercolor illustrations of the stars and beyond. A true work of art narratively and visually, this book is an absolute must for any dreamer’s bookshelf!

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Anna Kang (@annakang27), author of ERASER and the "NOT” series, including 2020 release IT IS (NOT) PERFECT, recommends I TALK LIKE A RIVER by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith (Neal Porter Books): I TALK LIKE A RIVER is one of the most beautiful picture books I've read this year. in a time when there is so much negativity, this book stands out as beautiful and empathetic, without being cloying or preachy. The lyrical text and gorgeous watercolors work hand-in-hand to capture the boy's frustration and sadness. I love how the author uses elements of nature to reflect his inner struggle and, ultimately, his epiphany.

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Supriya Kelkar (@supriyakelkar_), author of 2019 picture book THE MANY COLORS OF HARPREET SINGH and upcoming 2021 release BINDU’S BINDIS, recommends OUTSIDE IN by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby (HMH Books for Young Readers): OUTSIDE IN is a gorgeously illustrated, moving picture book about reconnecting with the outdoors. It was so gentle and profound, I found myself reading it over and over again.

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Kelly Starling Lyons (@kelstarly), author of 2020 picture book TIARA’S HAT PARADE and early reader series TY’S TRAVELS, and 2020 Caldecott Medal winner GOING DOWN HOME WITH DADDY, recommends I AM EVERY GOOD THING by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James (Nancy Paulsen Books): Like their masterpiece, Crown, I Am Every Good Thing is a jewel that lets Black boys know they're seen, heard and loved. Bursting with confidence and conviction, this powerful picture book deserves a place on every shelf. It brings me joy each time I read it.

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Ishta Mercurio (@IshtaWrites), author of 2019 release SMALL WORLD, recommends LITTLE THIEF! CHOTA CHOR! written by Vijaya Bodach, and illustrated by Nayantara Surendranath (Reycraft Books): I just love the clever, clear-headed heroine in this book. And the way it acknowledges that some moments in childhood can be scary, but shows young readers how to cope with that fear and move through it, is really wonderful.

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Jerome Pumphrey (@wjpumphrey), illustrator of the 2020 picture book release THE OLD TRUCK, recommends A POLAR BEAR IN THE SNOW by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Shawn Harris (Candlewick): This is a gentle poetic story, told with spare text and beautiful intricately crafted illustrations. The illustrations were created using cut paper and interesting lighting techniques. It’s deceptively simple and rewarding to re-read. Definitely a stand-out.

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (@CynLeitichSmith), author of 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award winning novel HEARTS UNBROKEN and editor of the 2021 release ANCESTOR APPROVED: INTERTRIBAL STORIES FOR KIDS recommends WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade (Roaring Brook): An exquisite pairing of deeply resonant, lyrical text and breathtaking, evocative illustrations birthed one of the most powerful picture books ever published—a proudly Indigenous call to action, a glittering literary triumph, a must-read for every child, family, classroom and community.

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Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (@jtbigelow), author of 2018 release MOMMY’S KHIMAR and 2020 picture book YOUR NAME IS A SONG, recommends MAGNIFICENT HOMESPUN BROWN: A CELEBRATION by Samara Cole Doyon, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita (Tilbury House Publishers): This book is poetry and wonder and love. The vivid yet soft language and illustrations depict the beauty and joy of Black children.

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Kataneh Vahdani (@KatanehV), author and illustrator of 2020 picture book KAT AND JUJU and upcoming stories in the KAT AND JUJU series, recommends THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE by Charlie Mackesy (HarperOne): This book has a heartbeat! The words are like poetry to the ears and the outstanding strong illustrations dance beautifully with the story. I want to frame each page.

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Mia Wenjen (@PragmaticMom), author of 2019 picture book SUMO JOE, co-creator of Multicultural Children’s Book Day, and host of the Pragmatic Mom blog, recommends NO STEPS BEHIND: BEATE SIROTA GORDON’S BATTLE FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN JAPAN by Jeff Gottesfeld, illustrated by Shiella Witanto (Creston Books): In 1929, A young Jewish girl, Beate Sirota Gordon, immigrated to Japan from Austria with her family to escape anti-Semitism. Because she spoke Japanese and understood the culture like a native, she would be asked to help write Japan's new Constitution after the war. At a time when girls could be sold or forced to marry, Beate's proposed new law gave Japanese women more rights than American women had at the time.

Beate was a hidden figure until now because the U.S. considered her role in writing Japan's Constitution a security issue. While the U.S. rounded up Japanese Americans and put them in prison camps, Japan was doing the same thing to foreign ex-pats living there, including Beate's parents. Her parents' imprisonment prompted Beate to return to Japan to search for them. One young person, with just the strength of her convictions, made life more just for generations of Japanese women. "All of the people are equal under the law and there shall be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status, or family origin." -- From Article 14, Japanese Constitution

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I hope you enjoyed the 2020 Picture Book Picks roundup and found some new titles for your next library or bookstore haul! And if you’re a Twitter person, visit the hashtag #PBchat from 8 to 10 p.m. EASTERN (7 to 9 p.m. CENTRAL) on Dec. 23, as PB Debut Troupe 21 (my picture book debut group!) joins #PBchat host Justin Colón for a Twitter Holiday Party - for picture book prompts, giveaways, games and more!

Wishing you the very best this holiday season, and a Happy New Year, too!

Anitra

A Month Full of Gifts

Even in the midst of a pandemic, December has been a month full of gifts. Maybe it’s the mistletoe, but I’ve been feeing it - so fortunate to be on the receiving end of several incredible gestures of love and support, as 2020 comes to a close.

One present was the opportunity to gush about books and writing to my book debut group, PB Debut Troupe 21. (Goodness, I’m so humbled to call these authors peers and friends!) It was a blast dishing about my earliest picture book memories (Little Golden Books), favorite authors (many!) and trusty writing snack (peanut butter topped with Mini M&Ms). Here’s the link to my interview on our Troupe Tales blog. Hope you enjoy it!

Then, as I was scrolling Instagram, an illustration popped into my feed: A sneak peek of my debut picture book, DANCING WITH DADDY, which will publish in October 2021 (Two Lions)!! The art is gorgeous and completely conveys the joy, sparkle and intimacy I felt when writing the manuscript. Thank you Ziyue Chen for your phenomenal vision and art! I can’t wait to share more soon. Stay tuned… cover coming January 2021, most likely!

Illustration by Ziyue Chen

And again this holiday season, our house has been bursting at the seams with books for nonprofit Leading with Literacy on Chicago’s South Side. We received more donations than ever before in our 4th annual Holiday Book Drive Chi year! This month and into early 2021, Pastor Michael Neal of Leading with Literacy will be sharing more than 700 new books with young readers in Bronzeville and surrounding neighborhoods. Pastor Neal and I are blown away by the generosity of authors, publishers and literacy friends from all across the country - in the midst of COVID, no less. Book joy is most certainly alive and well, and our hearts are so grateful! Visit the Holiday Book Drive 2020 blog post to see all the books donated this year. Incredible gifts!

Sharing stories and life happenings here is a continual source of great happiness and blessings. I have many of your Christmas cards hanging in my dining room, and I cannot tell you how much joy it brings me to see your smiling faces throughout my day. Longing for the time when we can exchange hugs and laughs in person… hopefully soon!

Sending my holiday best to each and every one of you! I pray you feel all the love there is for you, in our earthly world and in the kingdom of heaven - xo Anitra

A Book Review and Reflection: Raising a Rare Girl by Heather Lanier

Once every month or so, I go to Google or Twitter and type in “Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome” to see what’s percolating out there, in the world of my oldest daughter’s syndrome. This typically nets broadcast and local news features about fundraisers for children with WHS, to help with medical equipment or procedures that insurance won’t cover.

(Occasionally the news is very grim. I don’t have the heart to share those stories.)

In summer 2020, I came across the news that a mother in the WHS community had a book coming out: RAISING A RARE GIRL: A MEMOIR (Penguin Press). I knew right away that it must be written by Heather Lanier, the incredible writer and essayist (The Atlantic and Salon) behind the blog Star in Her Eye about Lanier’s daughter Fiona.

Rich in detail, deeply insightful and overflowing with heart, Lanier tells stories with passion and power. When my daughter, Miss E, was very young (extremely close in age to Lanier’s daughter), my mom routinely sent me links to Lanier’s blog posts. The few that I read were incredible.

But at the time I was completely snowed with doctor’s appointments, therapy sessions and feeding challenges. I wasn’t reading much of anything. Then, when Miss E was hospitalized for a grand mal seizure at 10 months, I found out I was expecting my second daughter. The tailspin never stopped. Within three years, I had three baby girls. I always intended to get back to reading Star in Her Eye, I just never quite could.

When I saw the cover of RAISING A RARE GIRL: A MEMOIR, and I jumped at the chance to dive into Lanier’s writing and personal account. Timing is a funny thing. Around the time that it published, a friend also shared Lanier’s TED Talk, which I had somehow never seen but learned has been viewed 2.5 MILLION times. (Like I said, I was living under a rock and essentially under house arrest.)

All signs just kept pointing me to the story of Fiona, and at last I was ready and able to dig into RAISING A RARE GIRL. The experience was singular. The only way I’ll ever feel it again would be to reread this exceptional memoir. And I might.

So much of Lanier’s story is precisely my story. I cannot stress how unusual this is. For frame of reference, Down Syndrome occurs in 1 in every 700 babies. Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome (4p-) occurs in 1 in every 50,000. Our early experiences were nothing short of identical. Just like Fiona, Miss E’s growth dot for height and weight was “in the bowls of the chart.” She too was too small for premie clothes. We fed her (unsuccessfully) every two hours and woke constantly through the night to ensure she got those (unsuccessful) feedings.

The similarities went on and on. The run-in with the geneticist (identical). The "purgatory” of entire days spent in the hospital (identical). The blow of seeing able-bodied babies everywhere (identical). And the relief of connecting with other families in the WHS community: “It was like we’d instantly been gifted close relatives.”

YES. THIS.

But our stories were very different too, particularly in how we processed the barrage of emotional and societal implications of this new life and how it abutted our preparations and expectations. Everyone brings their past, personality and faith into parenting, and it’s all the more evident in raising rare children. Lanier’s own life story is very different than mine, and I was riveted by how that rippled through her WHS journey. One thing that brought me back in tandem with Lanier, however, was that although I wanted “the uncertainty of our lives batted straight out of my life,” I too wanted my daughter as close to me as humanly possible.

Always.

If ever a person wondered what raising a rare girl is like, top to bottom, this book captures it. The moment of the memoir that brought it all together for me came upon Lanier’s realization that a love of music connects children with Wolf-Hirschhorn (4p-). Here, Lanier ponders this shared affinity:

But how could this be? People with 4p- shared an absence of something. How could this create a presence of something? How could deletion create addition? It seemed both a mystery and a metaphor. A so-called deficit could surprise you. A so-called deficit could create an attribute.

Viewing what is missing, what is delayed and what is different is the way of our world. As a parent, you see and feel it constantly. But the “deficit lens” is the wrong lens. A paradigm shift, as Lanier describes it, is all it takes to recognize that rare life creates.

As I reflect on our first holiday with Miss E, and look to the holiday season of 2020 ahead, I’m extremely thankful for Lanier’s book. I must confess, it was hard to read all that Fiona is now able to do (eat, walk, talk), particularly because Fiona and my daughter are so close in age. But I still hold fast to the shared truth that a mother so generously gave to our community and to all who desire to understand a parenting experience both rare and beautiful.

Miss E's 2020 Halloween Costume Pick

Halloween is just a few weeks away. Though we are not exactly sure what that evening will bring, we decided at the very least, the girls will be eating candy (in one way, shape or form) and dressing up. So we secured ourselves some festive apparel.

My younger two are still deep in Disney’s Descendants, so their costumes took about 30 seconds to procure. Miss C will be Evie, and Miss L will be Uma. They really wanted my oldest, Miss E, to join their VK partay.

But what did Miss E want? We needed to know!

Like last year, we used laptop screen grabs to find out. I sat next to Miss E and navigated to about 20 costume possibilities. We looked at characters from her favorite books, shows and movies, and also reviewed Target’s impressive array of costumes for children who use wheelchairs. Miss E expressed interest in six dress-up options.

Mermaid, Black Widow, and Fancy Nancy…

… and Mal, Cindy Lou Who, and Alice!

From each grouping of three, Miss E chose her favorite, narrowing it to two:

Black Widow and Cindy Lou Who

So what did Miss E choose?

Martial arts maven?

Or sweet holiday who?

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*

*

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And if you’re up for a little blog hop… I recently posted a family update on the Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome support group website. Here’s the link to the post, if you’d like to check it out. Happy fall to all!

Author Spotlight: Jackie Azúa Kramer

One of the reasons I’m so enamored with picture books is that there are stories for absolutely every moment of life.

Silly stories for when you need a good belly laugh. Non-fiction stories that explore our fascinating world. Poetic stories that linger in a feeling and help you better understand it.

Jackie Azúa Kramer is a picture book author who doesn’t shy away from exploring human experiences. In books both light-hearted and deep, Jackie lyrically traverses the landscape of childhood, leaning into familiar topics in fresh and profound ways.

Jackie’s latest picture book, THE BOY AND THE GORILLA, illustrated by Cindy Derby (Candlewick), which publishes Oct. 13, is an emotional, love-filled story about a boy who is coping with the loss of his mother. Written with great tenderness and honesty, and awash in the fluid feelings of grief, THE BOY AND THE GORILLA is a truly unforgettable story.

THE BOY AND THE GORILLA is written as a conversation between a boy and a gorilla. But the book begins in silence. The first two spreads are completely wordless compositions of the mother’s funeral, a poignant extension of the deafening sound of loss. The first words spoken are by the gorilla, an imagined manifestation of the new, immovable truth that the boy is about to confront.

In the same way that the gorilla fills the page, looming large, so does the sparse, raw dialogue. (My mom died. I know.) As a reader, you sit with these words - these questions, answers and statements - wrestling with them and meditating on them. The boy’s worries are very real and very big.

Gorgeous and solemn, the art in THE BOY AND THE GORILLA reflects that grief doesn’t have crisp, clean edges. It’s a series of heavy feelings and shapes that press down on you, and that you lean into, as you find your way. Each spread of THE BOY AND THE GORILLA moves the reader through a different dimension of pain, toward an unknown future.

I was never fully ready to turn the pages of THE BOY AND THE GORILLA - to move through the book and to the next layer of feeling. Instead, I found myself lingering in each moment, holding my breath, holding on. The pacing of this story made the page turn a metaphor for grief, such a completely brilliant use of the picture book form. In the end, the gorilla helps the boy to discover that a very real companion is there, too, ready and waiting to comfort and love him. It’s incredibly powerful and still pulses in my heart right now, as I share this review with you.

Where did this story come from? And how did the universal feeling of grief get onto the page with such accuracy and impact? I had to chat with Jackie to find out. Luckily, I got the chance! I hope you enjoy this Author Spotlight with Jackie Azúa Kramer:

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3 Questions with Jackie Azúa Kramer

This story has such a deep and emotional focus and tone. What inspired this manuscript?

I want to start by saying—thank you, Anitra, for inviting me as a guest author. And, thank you for your thoughtful questions. I dug deep in my writer’s journey on The Boy and the Gorilla.

So, in 2012 Hurricane Sandy ripped through New York, bringing with it record breaking storm surges and flooding that devastated many communities including my own in Long Island. I had known this lovely family for a few years mostly through my daughter’s funny recounting of events while babysitting these two adorable, little sisters. And, from a time, I had them over for a very messy tea party. It was their father who was killed by a falling tree while attempting to drive his family to a safer location during the hurricane.

I wished I could do something, anything to help those innocent children. But what? I thought, Hey, you’re a writer. Imagine their feelings and questions and write that story. Easier said than done--it took a few years to write.

The presence of the gorilla, and some additional artistic elements (such as the red bird), carry great weight in the narrative. How did you approach art notes for this story? 

Great question! Actually, there are a few questions wrapped in that one. So, bear with me. As picture book writers most of us learn and understand to keep our art notes to a very minimum, if any. However, The Boy and the Gorilla manuscript was about 300 words, and the rest all art notes. The story is told completely in dialogue; no narrative text at all. So, the only way to explain what I imagined in setting, characters, tone and pacing, was to write what I called ‘visual interpretations’. In other words, when I created the dummy for the book, I knew exactly what each spread and page turn would look like. I wrote the manuscript with art notes like scenes in a movie.

The Gorilla character came to mind as a I learned about how some children are affected by loss. What if a little boy lost his mother and both the boy and his father are grieving, but separately and unaware of each other’s pain.

Maybe the boy was afraid to ask questions fearing he’d make his father sad. Maybe the father’s afraid to talk about the boy’s mother fearing he’d upset his son. Their unspoken feelings become the metaphorical idiom of the eight-hundred-pound gorilla in the room. What if that large gorilla comes to life in the little boy’s mind? By creating the character of a kind, honest and supportive gorilla, the boy has someone he could share his feelings with and ask questions about death.

One of the many things I love about being a picture book writer, is the magic that happens between the time your story leaves your hands and into the illustrators.

Cindy Derby, the illustrator, did a magnificent job of interpreting my thoughts into beautiful and moving images. I believe, Oscar, a gorilla at the San Francisco Zoo was Cindy’s model. And, the little red bird is an example of the magic that happens in creative collaborations. I didn’t write a word about the sweet and mysterious bird in the story. That was all Cindy, and now I can’t imagine the story without it. I’ve shared the story with adults and children and they all ask about the meaning or significance of the Gorilla and the red bird. I LOVE that because the story leaves room for the reader’s imagination to decide.

Your voice is poetic, unique and powerful. What do you see as the thematic hallmarks of your work, and how have you honed this, and your writing voice, over time? 

Oh gosh! Thank you, Anitra! The word, hone, perfectly characterizes what it took to get the voice just right in The Boy and the Gorilla. For that matter, all of my stories. Practice! Practice! Practice! The lyrical quality of poetry is a writing style that I find perfect for picture books. I’m so flattered you picked up on the power of voice. In this business, one is best served if you can find that voice that makes your stories unique.

One of the ways that I’ve honed that voice, beyond reading and learning from other great picture books, has developed from my love of theatre and movies. If I absorbed anything from those genres, it’s the sweeping, dynamic and dramatic flow of great story-telling. I literally see my stories first like a moving image or scenes in a play before I write anything.

As for thematic hallmarks—hmm. I won’t deny it; all my main characters have a bit of me in them. As a kid, I was filled with wonder, curiosity and questions about everything! I remember feeling like a bit of an odd duck as a result. My characters seem to start out alone on some kind of journey.

But ALWAYS seeking and needing to make a connection/s with someone or something. I believe the need for humans to be understood, accepted and loved is a universal feeling. The Green Umbrella (NorthSouth, 2017) is a good example of that universality.

I also have the utmost respect for young readers, and I strive not to talk down to them. I’m inspired and emotionally moved by what’s happening in the world today. So, with The Boy and the Gorilla and in some of my other upcoming books--I Wish You Knew (Roaring Brook, 2021) and We Are One (Two Lions, Amazon, TBD) and Manolo and the Unicorn (Cameron Kids, TBD) which I co-wrote with my son, I write about loss; deportation; universal connections and gender norms. However, I always keep in mind a child’s point of view, imaginative play, and that anything is possible.

THE BOY AND THE GORILLA publishes Oct. 13, 2020. It is available for pre-order now through your favorite indie bookstore.

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Thank you for the wonderful interview, Jackie!

Jackie Azúa Kramer is the author of THE GREEN UMBRELLA (NorthSouth), IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP (Clavis), THAT’S FOR BABIES (Clavis), and many more to come! Visit Jackie’s website at jackieazuakramer.com, and be sure to follow her on Twitter at @jackiekramer422 and Instagram at @jackie_azua_kramer.

One lucky blog reader will win THE BOY AND THE GORILLA, signed by Jackie! Here's how to enter:

*** Win THE BOY AND THE GORILLA ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 10/9/20 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

Deliver Book Joy! Holiday Book Drive 2020

Who could have imagined what 2020 would bring? Last year’s book drive, Holiday Book Drive 2019, was the biggest one yet. My hopes were sky high for the fourth annual Delivery Day.

As I announce Holiday Book Drive 2020, it’s clear our effort will be different this year, due to coronavirus and district-wide e-learning in Chicago Public Schools. Yet, it’s also true that the book drive is needed more than ever. Now is not the time to hesitate or stop working to deliver book joy to young readers.

A classroom delivery from Holiday Book Drive 2019

The schools served by Pastor Michael Neal of Leading with Literacy in Bronzeville, on Chicago’s South Side, share that many of their students are in learning environments that are not ideal for home learning. Internet connectivity for students and teachers alike is an issue. And students in daycares do not have one-to-one support and have very noisy work stations, which causes more difficulty in focusing. I asked Pastor Neal how we can best help his community this year.

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Pastor Michael Neal’s Free Little Library in Bronzeville.

What impact has Covid had on your community in 2020?

Covid-19 has in most cases left a feeling of despair and anxiety. Yet it has also allowed a spirit of resilience come to the forefront.

With school visits restricted, are you still able to connect with young readers?

We are not allowed in schools as children are not either. It is our plan to focus on supporting virtually with recorded read alouds.

In what ways can authors and advocates of literacy meaningfully contribute to Holiday Book Drive this year?

The teachers and educators feel even more strongly that the book drive would be good, especially seeing that with children being at home, they are not certain what type of reading material they have access to. 

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So, this year, the drive goes on! We will deliver books directly to our partner teachers and principals at the schools. Then, parents will schedule a time to drive by and pick up their child’s book. Amen!! There is still a way, and we are running headfirst toward it. Please join us!

We are officially open for donations for Holiday 2020! Here’s how you can be part of this year’s effort…

• Books, Please! We are excited to receive any book written for children. We do ask that the books are new, not used. Picture books, early readers, chapter books, middle grade and young adult titles - all welcome, and very appreciated!

• The Magic Number: Any single book donation is celebrated. But if you have the ability to join forces with a friend (or friends) and donate 30 copies of the same book, you’ll be able to give an entire classroom the SAME book, which is a truly amazing gift.

• Pssst! Authors… If you think your publisher might be able to provide a complete classroom donation of 30 books, please let me know!

• Book-Skype Combo: Also, authors! If you’d like to donate a copy/copies of your book to a class, and offer a free Skype alongside it, that would be terrific! I’d be happy to help make those arrangements.

• Shouting It Out! I celebrate all book donations as I receive them, on social media and on my website, too. Sharing these special deliveries is one of my favorite things to do!

• Special Collections: If you are planning a local giving initiative this holiday season, consider asking friends and family to donate a book for a Bronzeville scholar. If you’re interested in organizing something like this, let me know and we can chat logistics.

• Title Ideas: I’m happy to share book recommendations at any time, if you’re not sure which book or books to give. (Diverse books are always greatly appreciated by Leading with Literacy.)

• Or… If You’d Rather: Financial donations are most welcome, too. Whatever works best for you!

• Follow Along: Want to know what’s going on with the drive? Visit Twitter and search the hashtag #HolidayBookDriveChi for the latest!

Donations will be accepted through Dec. 1, 2020. On Delivery Day, we will bring your donations to schools all over Bronzeville and in other nearby Chicago neighborhoods to share the gift of literacy. Thank you for your friendship and partnership. Let’s make this a holiday full of JOY!

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Below, you’ll find all of the books donated for Holiday Book Drive 2020, so far!

Thank you Pat Zietlow Miller for kicking off the drive with an entire classroom donation of…

THE QUICKEST KID IN CLARKSVILLE

(By Pat Zietlow Miller, Illustrated by Frank Morrison, Chronicle Books)

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Thank you Bradley family for your entire classroom donation of…

ONE CRAZY SUMMER

(By Rita Williams-Garcia, Quill Tree Books)

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Thank you Robin Newman for an entire classroom donation of your book…

THE CASE OF THE BAD APPLES

(By Robin Newman, Illustrated by Deborah Zemke, Creston Books)

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Thank you Raven Howell for an entire classroom donation of your book…

CHUCKLES AND SMILES: Children’s Poems

(By Raven Howell, Illustrated by Jordan Wray, Warren Publishing)

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Thank you Lauren H. Kerstein and Two Lions for an entire classroom donation of your book…

ROSIE THE DRAGON AND CHARLIE SAY GOOD NIGHT

(By Lauren H. Kerstein, Illustrated by Nate Wragg, Two Lions)

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Thank you Dow and Taylor families for your entire classroom donation of…

THE PARKER INHERITANCE

(By Varian Johnson, Scholastic)

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Thank you Schaper and Bateman families for your entire classroom donation of…

The KING OF KINDERGARTEN

(By Derrick Barnes, Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Nancy Paulsen Books)

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Thank you Beth Anderson for an entire classroom donation of your book…

LIZZIE DEMANDS A SEAT!: Elizabeth Jennings Fights for Streetcar Rights

(By Beth Anderson, Illustrated by E. B. Lewis, Calkins Creek)

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Thank you Moran family for your entire classroom donation of…

HIDDEN FIGURES

(By Margot Lee Shetterly, HarperCollins)

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Thank you Mikuta family for your entire classroom donation of…

LAYLA AND THE BOTS: Happy Paws

(By Vicky Fang, Illustrated by Christine Nishiyama, Scholastic)

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Thank you Schulte family for your entire classroom donation of…

ZOEY AND SASSAFRAS: Dragons and Marshmallows

(By Asia Citro, Illustrated by Marion Lindsay, The Innovation Press)

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Thank you Happel, Ris and Rowe families for your entire classroom donation of…

I GOT THE SCHOOL SPIRIT

(By Connie Schofield-Morrison, Illustrated by Frank Morrison, Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

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Thank you Maria Dismondy and Cardinal Rule Press for two entire classroom donations…

EVIE’S FIELD DAY

(By Claire Noland, Illustrated by Alicia Teba, Cardinal Rule Press)

COOKIE & MILK

(By Michele McAvoy, Illustrated by Jessica Gibson, Cardinal Rule Press)

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Thank you Baecher, Klaus and Oxie-Twohig families for your entire classroom donation of…

FINDING LANGSTON

(By Lesa Cline-Ransome, Holiday House)

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Thank you Laura Renauld and Beaming Books for an entire classroom donation of your book…

PORCUPINE’S PIE

(By Laura Renauld, Illustrated by Jennie Poh, Beaming Books)

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Thank you Sarah Aronson for an entire classroom donation of your book…

JUST LIKE RUBE GOLDBERG

(By Sarah Aronson, Illustrated by Robert Neubecker, Beach Lane Books)

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Thank you Conway family for your entire classroom donation of…

THE GRUFFALO

(By Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler, Puffin Books)

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Thank you DiOrio, Osmundsen and Pihl families for your entire classroom donation of…

SHURI: A BLACK PATHER NOVEL

(By Nic Stone, Scholastic)

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Thank you Katey Howes for donating 25 of your books…

MAGNOLIA MUDD (Illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti, Sterling Children’s Books)

and BE A MAKER (Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic, Carolrhoda Books)

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Thank you Jodi McKay for donating 20 copies of your book…

PENCIL’S PERFECT PICTURE

(By Jodi McKay, Illustrated by Juliana Motzko, Albert Whitman & Company)

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Thank you Poler family for donating 15 copies of the book…

RESTART

(By Gordon Korman, Scholastic Press)

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Thank you Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia for donating 12 copies of your book…

BESS THE BARN STANDS STRONG

(By Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia, Illustrated by Katie Hickey, Page Street Kids)

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Thank you Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum for donating 10 copies of your book…

BOATS WILL FLOAT

(By Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum, Illustrated by Brett Curzon, Sleeping Bear Press)

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Thank you Gene Napue for donating 10 copies of your book…

IN MY POD

(By Gene Napue, Illustrated by Nate Mericle, Story Poem Time Books)

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Thank you Campbell family for donating 10 copies of…

MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN

(By Jason Reynolds, Scholastic)

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Thank you Christy Mihaly for donating eight of your books…

FREE FOR YOU AND ME, Illustrated by Manu Montoya (Albert Whitman & Co.)

HEY, HEY, HAY! , Illustrated by Joe Cepeda (Holiday House) and

The GOVERNING THE UNITED STATES series (Rourke Educational Media)

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Thank you Sue Lowell Gallion for donating eight of your books…

OUR WORLD, Illustrated by Lisk Feng (Phaidon),

ALL EXCEPT AXLE, Illustrated by Lisa Manuzak Wiley (Aladdin) and

TIP AND TUCKER: Paw Painters, By Gallion & Ann Ingalls, Illustrated by Andre Ceolin (Sleeping Bear Press)

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Thank you Laura Gehl for donating seven of your books…

PEEP AND EGG stories, Illustrated by Joyce Wan, BABY PALEONTOLOGIST, Illustrated by Daniel Wiseman

HAPPY LLAMAKKAH!, Illustrated by Lydia Nichols, MAY SAVES THE DAY, Illustrated by Serena Lombardo

and ONE BIG PAIR OF UNDERWEAR, Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

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Thank you Jody Jensen Shaffer for donating six of your books…

EMERGENCY KITTENS!, Illustrated by Dave Mottram (Doubleday Books for Young Readers) and

WHO IS JACKIE CHAN? (Penguin Workshop)

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Thank you Katy S. Duffield for donating five of your books…

CROSSINGS, Illustrated by Mike Orodán (Beach Lane Books) and

the GOOD SPORTS series, Illustrated by Karl West (Rourke Educational Media)

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Thank you Susan S. Novich for donating five copies of your book…

GUESS WHO IS BEHIND THE DOOR: A Counting Book In Four Languages

(By Susan S. Novich, Schiffer Kids)

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Thank you Deb Gruelle for donating four copies of your books…

SLEEPY TIME COLORS and TEN LITTLE NIGHT STARS

(By Deb Gruelle, Illustrated by Gabi Murphy, ZONDERKIDZ)

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Thank you Alastair Heim for donating four copies of your book…

IF I HAD YOUR VOTE

(By the Cat and the Hat, with a little help from Alastair Heim, Illustrated by Tom Brannon, Random House)

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Thank you Jackie Azúa Kramer for donating three copies of your book…

THE BOY AND THE GORILLA

(By Jackie Azúa Kramer, Illustrated by Cindy Derby, Candlewick)

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Thank you Amy Nielander for donating two of your books…

THE LADYBUG RACE (Pomegranate Kids) and

GRAMA’S HUG (Page Street Kids)

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Thank you Corey Rosen Schwartz for donating a copy of your book…

MOOTILDA’S BAD MOOD

(By Corey Rosen Schwartz and Kirsti Call, Illustrated by Claudia Ranucci, little bee books)

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Thank you Nancy Churnin for donating a copy of your book…

FOR SPACIOUS SKIES

(By Nancy Churnin, Illustrated by Olga Baumert, Albert Whitman)

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Thank you Jarm Del Boccio for donating a copy of your book…

THE HEART CHANGER

(By Jarm Del Boccio, Ambassador International)

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Thank you Sharon Giltrow for donating a copy of your book…

BEDTIME, DADDY!

(By Sharon Giltrow, Illustrated by Katrin Dreiling, EK Books)

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FINAL TOTAL:

728 BOOKS

THANK YOU for coming along on this journey and being a part of delivering book joy to young scholars!

I can’t wait to see what we do together this holiday season!