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Happy Book Birthday
Feliz día de lanzamiento!
ISABEL
AND HER COLORES
GO TO SCHOOL
in Children's Hispanic
& Latino Books
by award-winning Alexandra Alessandri
Bilingual (English/Spanish) edition
Illustrated by Courtney Dawson
(Sleeping Bear Press)
Featured in SLJ & PW’s
Back to School round-ups:
8 Picture Books to Help Students Come Back to School | School Library Journal (slj.com)
Back to School Books for Fall 2021 (publishersweekly.com)
“Alessandri melds Spanish and English in a narration filled with varying color words, and bubbles on each page offer the corresponding text entirely in Spanish … This synesthesia-inflected tale helps teach colors while simultaneously buoying those nervous about language barriers."
–PW
Click image above to watch the trailer
“ A first-day-of-school story steeped in vibrant imagery…This story affirms the experiences of English language learners while encouraging empathy for others. Readers will root for Isabel and her colorful new beginning.”
—Kirkus
“Alessandri and Dawson fill the book with colors, both visually and in the words, which helpfully signal the emotions that Isabel, who loves to draw with an expansive palette, experiences over the course of the day…Pleasantly rounded characters add to the welcoming atmosphere, as does the message that art can bridge divides.”
–Sarah Hunter, Booklist
“Poetic text – including Spanish words sprinkled throughout and a full Spanish translation of every page – and vibrant illustrations celebrate bilingualism and how friendship can cross almost any border.”
50 Back-to-School Books About Mighty Girls' Adventures at Elementary School | A Mighty Girl
Check out some of the Blog Tour stops:
The story has the Spanish translation right on the pages. Was that part of your original vision for this story, so that Spanish speakers could read and enjoy it, too?
I’ve always wanted to have my stories translated into Spanish, so my family and Spanish speakers could read and enjoy them. For ISABEL, though, I wrote and submitted the story in English with Spanish sprinkled in, as it’s what’s most natural for me. It was my brilliant editor Sarah Rockett who suggested having the book as a both an English and Spanish edition. I didn’t realize just how much I yearned for this, and I’m incredibly excited to be able to share this story with English and Spanish speakers.
Q&A with Alexandra Alessandri about her new book Isabel and Her Colores Go to School, illus. by Courtney Dawson | Latinxs in Kid Lit (latinosinkidlit.com)
You're an educator yourself. Is this picture book based on any real experiences?
ISABEL AND HER COLORES GO TO SCHOOL is based on my own experience of starting kindergarten in New York City while not knowing English … And, as an educator at a college with a large number of students who are English Language Learners, I know this is a story that is true for many immigrants and children of immigrants.
“Alessandri’s conversational Spanish translations, which appear both in the English narrative and on a bright box at the top or bottom of each page, are excellent.”
—Beverly Slapin
De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children: Isabel and Her Colores Go to School (decoloresreviews.blogspot.com)
Can you talk about Courtney Dawson’s illustrations? Did you cry for joy when you saw your illustrations?
Alexandra: I’m obsessed with Courtney’s illustrations! They’re so gorgeous and vivid and colorful. I love her vision for the story, the way she captured the characters’ essence. Her art surpassed my expectations. I particularly loved the way she captured Isabel’s connection to color throughout the pages. I absolutely cried for joy!
Happy Book Birthday to Isabel and Her Colores Go to School! - LAS MUSAS BOOKS
Celebrate Picture Books
"Simultaneous translations of the English story are presented in colorful boxes on each page. A Spanish-to-English translation glossary of words typeset in bold throughout the book is found at the end of the story."
Plus:
Erin Dealey's Book Birthday Blog
“5yo me would be ecstatic to know that not only did she learn the language, but she grew to teach AND write in it.”
—AA
Alexandra Peñaloza Alessandri is also the award-winning author of FELIZ NEW YEAR, AVA GABRIELA!, which won the silver medal in the 2020 Florida Book Awards Young Children’s Category. The daughter of Colombian immigrants, she is a former associate professor of English and a poet, with some of her work appearing in The Acentos Review, Rio Grande Review, Atlantic Review, and Young Adult Review Network. She received her BA and MA degrees in English from Florida International University and a Certificate in Fiction Writing from UCLA Extension. 
Awards
- 2021 International Mariposa Latino Book Award Finalist for “Best First Book”: FELIZ NEW YEAR, AVA GABRIELA!
- 2020 Florida Book Awards Silver Medal in Young Children’s Literature, FELIZ NEW YEAR, AVA GABRIELA!
- Florida Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators 2021 Rising Kite Award Winner
- Middle Grade Fiction Honorable Mention, THE ENCHANTED LIFE OF VALENTINA MEJÍA
- Finalist, 2017 Atlanta Review International Poetry Competition, “Inheritance”
- Winner of the 2017 Finding Home poetry contest, YARN, “Where I’m From."
Stay tuned for a deal announcement for Alexandra’s debut MG Diverse Fantasy featuring the legends of her rural Colombia …
Congrats
LLAMA LLAMA
MEETS THE BABYSITTER
An Anna Dewdney Book
by Anna Dewdney and
Reed Duncan
with illustrations
by JT Morrow
(Viking Books for Young Readers)
#2
7.18.21
Marking East/West's
273rd week
Also a
Bestseller 7.04.21
Andrew Root's
NERDYCORN
Illustrated by Erin Kraan / Beach Lane Books,
is back on the Indie Bestseller List!
James Dean's
PETE THE CAT
5-MINUTE BEDTIME STORIES
(Harper Collins)
07.04.21
Image by Shiho Pate |
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Happy Book Birthday
A LITTLE ROUND PANDA
ON THE BIG BLUE EARTH
(Tory Christie/ Amicus Ink)
Illustrated by
Luciana Navarro Powell
in their second collaboration
Starting with a baby panda in a bamboo forest, this richly illustrated PB illuminates a unique geographical perspective, showcasing China's environment. Take in ever-widening views from forest to terraced farms to village and city, country, continent, ocean, and finally the planet in space.
End papers include a map of the area shared and its relation to the world.
“By highlighting the interconnectedness of the world from a small specific location, the beautifully rendered combination of text and illustration takes readers on a journey through perspective. The poetic nature of the words draws readers in while the illustrations expand on and enhance the simple but evocative wording. In detailed, textured illustrations, Powell evokes the beauty and deep greens of the bamboo forests, the intricate layers of the rice terraces, the warm pastels of the countryside, the deep rich tones of the city, and the bold brightness of the greater planet.”
—SLJ, STARRED review
Click on image above to watch trailer.
Activity sheets available here.
A companion volume to:
A TINY BROWN MONKEY
ON THE BIG BLUE EARTH
"From the first moment, readers are plunged into a vibrant world of color and texture in this beautiful book. Illustrations rich in detail dominate every page of this story. The book’s design highlights these riveting images, including end papers that educate readers about the geographic locations described in the text. Lovely, poetic phrases guide readers on a journey from the rain forest of Brazil into outer space, utilizing spare language that is highly accessible to young readers and reminds them that every small creature is part of a large and interconnected world. … will be enjoyed by readers of all ages thanks to its thoughtful design and memorable presentation."
—SLJ, STARRED review
Luciana Navarro Powell grew up in Brazil -- where monkeys and toucans show up from time to time in the tropical rain forest that surrounds her parents’ home – but now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons, with whom she shares her love of the big, blue Earth. 
Happy Book Birthday
DEEP IN THE SEA
NOVELTY BOOK/ POP-UP
by award-winning author
Susan B. Katz
Illustrated by pop-up engineer David A. Carter
(Little Simon)
Compare sea creatures to land animals with similar names in this interactive play-on-words pop-up book with spectacular illustrations.
"... a book full of non-stop fun!"
Watch the trailer here.
"… the land animals are 2-D, and their sea counterparts are rendered in 3-D images that seem to “swim” across the page. Stunning!"
Activity sheet available here.
“Each land animal (a cow, for example) is depicted, and then the door is flipped to show a sea creature with a very similar name (sea cow, in this case) … The flaps to open with each connection, add a nice amount of fun...plus, they are sturdy enough to hold more than a few rounds of opening and closing."
"A genius little book..."
—Dr. Dylan C. Teut,
Executive Director of Plum Creek Fest
Happy Book Birthday
BIG BEAR WAS NOT THE SAME
Illustrated by John Ledda
(Joanna Roland/ Beaming Books )
"In his picture book debut, Ledda presents digital illustrations of expressive characters, seamlessly reflecting the text’s shifting emotions through varying color schemes, perspectives, and typography. An accessible, age-appropriate primer that sheds light on trauma and PTSD."
— PW
John Ledda was born and raised in Southeast Michigan, and has been a lifelong reader, artist and lover of children's literature. He graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco with an MFA in Illustration in 2014, and currently lives and works in the Bay Area.
Visit John at
www.john-ledda.com
Happy Book Birthday
ALONE
(Simon Kids)
by award-winning
Megan E. Freeman
Audio Book narrated by Gail Shalan
Click here to listen to sample.
- A 2021 Mighty Girl Summer Reading List title
- 2021 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers (Nominee)
- “HATCHET for a new age.” —Kirkus
- A Reading Middle Grade best MG Novel in Verse
- “Engaging novel in verse based on ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS.” —PW
- 2021 Book Frenzy Essential Read for MG and/or High School
- A 2021 Mr. Sharp Awesome Book
“Tense, engrossing survival story on par with classics such as HATCH.” |
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Happy Book Birthday
GRUMPY UNICORN
SAVES THE WORLD
by Joey Spiotto
(Scholastic/ Graphix)
A companion volume to:
 
Hilarious illustrated collections of comics about a unicorn that isn’t all rainbows and sunshine and features his least favorite things like seasons (all of them), holidays (every single one), traveling (anywhere), and more.
From party planning to looking tough, this grumpy guy will make you smile with all his frowning.
A Scholastic Book Club selection:
And for the littlest grumps:
“Inspired by my little 4yo grumpy unicorn, this book shows you and your own little unicorns that it’s okay to be grumpy sometimes.” –JS
Happy Book Birthday
SHE SANG
FOR THE MOUNTAINS
Jean Ritchie, Singer,
Songwriter, Activist
by Shannon Hitchcock
(Reycraft/ Illustrated by Sophie Page)
This lyrical picture book biography of songwriter and activist Jean Ritchie traces her life from the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky to New York City and beyond as her protest songs inspired a nation.
"Introduced to folk singers cum protesters – sketched portraits bear the names of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Carl Sandburg, and Doc Watson – by a Library of Congress song collector, Ritchie takes up protest songwriting to oppose coal mining. Hitchcock uses gently melodious, alliterative prose: “Rumbling cars replaced rambling walks. The roar of radios replaced the strum of strings.” Earthy, dimensional collage art by Page underlines the story’s themes with its organic, handmade feel. A hearty portrait of the “Mother of Folk,” emphasizing the belief that music can create change."
—PW
A companion book to SAVING GRANDDADDY’S STORIES, and the second book in the Appalachian picture book trilogy …
Stay tuned for STORY QUILTS – APPALACHIAN WOMEN SPEAK, by the same team.
Click image above to watch it.
As featured @ SLJ & ALA
Happy Book Birthday
BOSS BABY
FAMILY BUSINESS
Junior Novelization
Adapted by #1 NYT
bestselling author
Stacia Deutsch
(Simon Spotlight)
Everyone’s favorite baby executive returns to screens this summer in DreamWorks Boss Baby 2: Family Business!
This novelization comes with an eight page, full-color glossy insert of images from the film.
Official trailer: THE BOSS BABY 2 Official Trailer (2021) - Bing video
And just in time
for Back-to-school:
AMERICAN HISTORY
FOR KIDS: 500 FACTS
in Children's Explorations Books
by Stacia Deutsch
(Rockridge)
Happy Book Birthday
Seven and a Half
Tons of Steel
A Post-9/11 Story of Hope and Transformation
by
Janet Nolan
Illustrated by
NYT bestselling
Thomas Gonzalez
now in paperback
(Peachtree)
in Children's Boats and Ships Books
Powerful text from Janet Nolan is paired with stunning illustrations from New York Times best-selling illustrator Thomas Gonzalez (14 Cows for America) in this inspiring story that reveals how something remarkable can emerge from a devastating event. Also includes back matter and details on shipbuilding.
Perfect for American history and 9-11 studies.
A moving 9-11 story about the USS New York, a navy ship with a bow made from a World Trade Center Towers beam.
“This beautiful, sober, and hopeful recounting of a difficult chapter in American history is a stellar addition to history collections.”
―SLJ
“Gonzalez’s breathtaking spreads dazzle… The emphasis is not on damage and destruction, but on America’s power to recover. Teachers and parents looking for picture books that celebrate the nation and its military will welcome Nolan and Gonzalez’s work.”
―PW
Awards:
- Teachers’ Choices ―ILA
- Garden State Children’s Book Award (Nominee)
- Land of Enchantment Award (Nominee)
- Show Me Readers Award!
- Alabama Camelia Children’s Book Award (Nominee)
- Louisiana Readers’ Choice Award (Nominee)
- Charlotte Award (Nominee)
- Comstock Read Aloud Book Award (Honor)
- Delaware Diamonds Award
- Illinois Reads ―Illinois Reading Council
- Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award
- Magnolia Book Award (Short List)
- Books All Young Georgians Should Read
- Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee)
- Great Lakes Great Books Award (Nominee)
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Heather Brockman Lee
#SCBWIBigFiveOh
2021 Portfolio Showcase Grand Prize WINNER!
We are THRILLED for you!
Check out Heather's latest Illustrator Highlight.
PW Deal Announcements
Save the Date!
Saturday, September 11
2-4pm EST
Christy Ottaviano
RSVP to make sure you get the link!
Exclusively for E/W clients
SUMMER BOOK LOVE
Congratulations!
… to our International Latino Book Award Recipients!
Virtual Ceremony October 16 – 17 th
... to Belen Medina Cabot, second runner-up for the Volemas Grant, Meg Medina’s new opportunity for writers of Hispanic/Latinx/Ibero-American heritage and recipient of SCBWI's Ann Whitford Paul Honor Award for one of this year’s most promising manuscripts, UNSTOPPABLE LORENA, a poetic non-fiction manuscript about Maria Lorena Ramirez, a member of the Tarahumara indigenous people of Chihuahua, Mexico.
Belen Medina is a picture book writer and recipient of the 2019 Lee & Low New Voices Honor Award for her manuscript The Seesaws. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she was born and raised in California's Central Valley. She spent her childhood summers in Mexico with her grandparents and has been navigating two cultures her entire life.
Stay tuned for Belen's first deal announcement, to come!
  
… to Pura Belpré award winning Ernesto Cisneros. Efrén Divided was celebrated as a Gold Medal winner in the Juvenile category for the 90th Annual California Book Awards, one of the most distinguished literary award programs in the nation.
And check out the cover reveal of Ernesto's upcoming novel, FALLING SHORT (Quill Tree Books / Cover art: Jay Bendt)—featured on John Schu's Watch. Connect. Read blog.
FOUR East/West authors, in three different categories,
have books nominated for the
KIDS' BOOK CHOICE AWARDS:
Anna Dewdney, Reed Duncan, Lauren H. Kerstein, and Ana Crespo.
Kids—3-18 yrs—vote for top 5 in each category until 9/8.
Best Picture Book Duo
Lauren H. Kerstein and Nate Wragg for
Ages 3-8: Best Picture Book Duo (author and Illustrator) – Every Child a Reader
Favorite Early Reader Series
   
ROLLO, by Reed Duncan and ROSIE THE DRAGON & CHARLIE series , by Lauren H. Kernstein and Nate Wragg
Ages 3-8: Favorite Early Reader Series – Every Child a Reader
Favorite Illustrated Character
  
Ages 3-8: Favorite Illustrated Character – Every Child a Reader
by Kwame Alexander
Upcoming from the award-winning creators Ana Crespo & Dow Phumiruk:
BOOK LAUNCH:
Tuesday, September 14th, 4:30pm MT at BookBar Denver
This in-person event has an online option. For more information, click here.
Click the above image to view Ana talking about HELLO TREE in Little Brown's preview video.
Where's East West?
FOUR PATHS TO SUCCESS: HOW I DID IT & WHAT I LEARNED THAT CAN HELP US ALL
Halli Gomez ( LIST OF TEN / Sterling) was a guest speaker on World Brain Day:
 
Hooray for Hollywood--
Congrats Daytime EMMY winner
Josh Pruett!
 
and
 
Randy Preston will work with GBH in Boston and author Kwame Alexander, who are developing a television series based on Alexander’s first children’s picture book, Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band (Sleeping Bear Press, illustrated by Tim Bowers).
"...musical consultant Randy Preston, [works] for Alexander’s company Big Sea Entertainment."
Full PW article here.
And stay tuned for some other G R E A T news about Randy’s upcoming picture books – his debut as a (solo) author.
Summer’s not over … yet!
Jeanne Walker Harvey's BOATS ON THE BAY (Cameron Kids) was featured in Bay Area Parent.
The Best Summery Board Books for Babies and Toddlers
The Best Summery Board Books for Babies and Toddlers | Brightly (readbrightly.com)
12 OF THE BEST CAMPING BOOKS FOR KIDS
Sarah Scheerger's debut MG OPERATION FROG EFFECT (Random House)
was on the Summer Reading List in THE Junior WEEK.
 
ICYMI—This delightful illustration by Gela Kalaitzidis was featured in PW
—in celebration of 25 years of the amazing @BincFoundation.
Overheard on TWITTER
 
 
 
*CONGRATULATIONS ONE AND ALL*
We are thrilled and thankful to represent such amazing talent.
Artwork by Danielle Arbour
Thanks for following us on Twitter.
Tweet your good news our way and we'll retweet. @EastWestLit .
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"Strange new teacher. Strange new toys. 
