📣 #Giveaway: Picture books and classroom Skypes, enter by 3/12
Read Across America Giveaway
Graphic by Abi Cushman
In celebration of our spring debuts, and in honor of Read Across America week, five Soaring ‘20s members are giving away their brand new picture books, PLUS free classroom Skype visits!
As book creators, we love to see reading celebrated in such a joyful way, and we want to share in the fun. If you’re not familiar with the National Education Association’s Read Across America initiative, learn more here. There are many ways to celebrate reading, not only in March but throughout the year.
Graphic by Abi Cushman
Happiest of book birthdays to Elisa Boxer who is soloing this month with THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE (illos. by Vivien Mildenberger from Sleeping Bear Press).
We encourage you to subscribe to our blog, so you don't miss a single book birthday (or any other) post.
Women's History Month: Filling in the Gaps (compiled by Kirsten W. Larson, Elisa Boxer, and Lindsay H. Metcalf)
History isn't written in stone. More is being uncovered each day about how women and BIPOC played a role in the past. It's our job as writers to seek out these stories and fill in the gaps of contemporary understanding. In honor of Women’s History Month, three Soaring '20s authors discuss how they approach their work with this in mind.
Read more here.
WOOD, WIRE, WINGS and the Process of Engineering a Story by Kirsten W. Larson
In 1906, just three years after the Wright Brothers first flew, Emma Lilian Todd, an inventor and self-taught engineer, looked at the airplane designs of the day and decided she could build something better. The process of creating her own unique airplane took Lilian four years, multiple designs and redesigns, and numerous tweaks and tests. Nevertheless, she persisted (as they say).
Read more here.
Top 10 Things to Love About Picture Books by Christina Soontoornvat
10. They are meant to be shared with someone — a child, a grownup, or even a whole classroom full of wiggly people.
9. You can give your favorite ones as gifts to nice people. Mean people should never be given picture books. Give them smelly cheese, loosely wrapped in thin newspaper instead.
Read more here.
Happy Book Birthday Kid Coach by Rob Justus
As a debut picture book author and illustrator, I didn’t know that “book birthdays” were a thing (I like to operate in a nice little bubble). We were told that we could write about anything that celebrates this momentous occasion in an author’s life. It’s a big deal! GUYS! I’M PUBLISHED!!!
Read more here.
A bevy of new book covers...click on the covers to learn more
Don't forget, you can see all our covers and preorder on our website.
📣 New book deals 📚
Soaring '20s in the news and on the road
Elisa Boxer is the spotlighted author on KidLit411. You can enter a giveaway for THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE (ends 3/10). Want a second chance to win? Enter Laura Renaud's Debut Review Challenge.
WOOD, WIRE, WINGS by Kirsten W. Larson became an Amazon #1 New Release in Children's Planes and Aviation Books. Her book launch at Barnes & Noble was a sell-out success and helped get new books into a local elementary school through a Bookfair fundraiser.
Teacher Jasmyn Wright was on Strahan, Sara, and Keke with her book I'M GONNA PUSH THROUGH. Watch the video here.
Synagogue librarian and bookseller Susan Kusel (THE PASSOVER GUEST) appeared on the Children's Book Podcast with Matthew Winner and Arthur Levine. Listen here.
School librarian Angela Kunkel (DIGGING FOR WORDS) appeared on Mr. Schu Reads to discuss her book. And her Tweet about library book fines went viral. Check it out.
Joanna Pastro revealed the cover of LILLYBELLE: A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS on Kathy Temean's blog.
Penguin Young Readers promoted Abi Cushman's SOAKED at the Public Library Association conference in Nashville.
Dynamic duo Keith and Larissa Marantz shared their unboxing of their CLYDE THE HIPPO books live on Twitter. Watch the video here.
Mary Wagley Copp received two outstanding reviews for WHEREVER I GO: “Beautiful, realistic paintings portray the challenging everyday life of refugees in the northern Ethiopian camp...A fine addition to children's literature about refugees, resettlement, and resilience.” –Kirkus Reviews
“This story captures the unequivocal joy of childhood even in the midst of refugee status and resettlement.” –BooklistSaira Mir's MUSLIM GIRLS RISE was nominated by Reading the West, a contest put on by independent booksellers across 12 states. Read more here. The book also was featured in Atlanta Parent Magazine for Women’s history month. Read the issue here.
Jen Malia got two book reviews for TOO STICKY! Kirkus Reviews called her book, "charming, inclusive and grounded in real-world experiences." Booklist said, "Malia, writing from an #OwnVoices perspective, illustrates how an autistic child can coexist with neurotypical children, address her personal difficulties, and--thanks to a supportive environment--thrive."
Rajani LaRocca was faculty on at the SCBWI Central-South Ohio workshop where she spoke about plotting MG novels and writing picture books.