A Red Carpet Moment

Sarah Mlynowski’s launch party for Don’t Even Think About It (Delacorte), about high school sophomores who acquire ESP after getting flu shots, was held on March 11 at McNally Jackson Books in New York City. After reading from her novel, Mlynowski had her palms and tarot cards read by a guest psychic who predicted that she would embark on a journey, which turns out to be true: her book tour begins on March 13. A slew of fellow YA writers were in attendance: Alecia Whitaker, Elizabeth Eulberg, E. Lockhart, Jennifer E. Smith, Susane Colasanti, Courtney Sheinmel, Gayle Forman, Aimee Friedman, Robin Wasserman, Rebecca Serle, Lexa Hillyer, and (not visible) Jenny Han. To commemorate the occasion, Mlynowski tweeted an Oscars-style selfie – and Siobhan Vivian tweeted back that was the selfie’s Liza Minnelli.

With Honors

Illustrator Mike Wohnoutka (l.) and author Eric Kimmel (r.) were honored for their work on Hanukkah Bear (Holiday House) during a ceremony for the 63rd annual National Jewish Book Awards, presented by the National Jewish Book Council. The event, which recognizes books of Jewish content, took place earlier this month at the Center for Jewish History in NYC. Hanukkah Bear, which is the first collaboration between the author and illustrator, received the award for Illustrated Children’s Book. The accolade marks Kimmel’s fourth National Jewish Book Award and Wohnoutka’s first.

Picture This

Artistic talent appears to run in the family. Illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi worked with Sophia, his six-year-old daughter, on an original painting for the Reading is Fundamental art auction to be held on April 24 in Washington D.C. (proceeds from the auction go to support the nonprofit literacy organization). The theme for the year is Dr. Seuss. Here, Sophia points out to her father a Truffula tree that she painted.

Young Sprouts

Cindy Jenson-Elliott launched her plant-themed picture book Weeds Find a Way (S&S/Beach Lane), illustrated by Carolyn Fisher, with an event at the Yellow Book Road children’s bookstore in San Diego. After reading from the book, the environmental educator, avid gardener, and San Diego resident supplied weeds from her own garden for fans to practice identifying as well as seeds for them to plant.