This week, Jason Reynolds chats with Jacqueline Woodson; Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson make wishes come true; New Hampshire children’s book creators meet up; a new exhibition opens at the Eric Carle Museum; Matthew Cordell crowns students; and the Simon & Schuster offices have a cuteness overload.
On Track
Jason Reynolds recently kicked off his tour for Lu (Atheneum/Dlouhy), the final book in his Track series, with an event held at Strand Bookstore in New York City. Joining Reynolds in a discussion was National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jacqueline Woodson.
I Wish I May...
Author Matt de la Peña (l.) and illustrator Christian Robinson recently toured for Carmela Full of Wishes (Putnam). One of their first events was held at Curious Iguana bookstore in Frederick, Md., on October 8. The bookstore recently launched Classroom Full of Wishes, a campaign to raise donations to provide more than 500 students with copies of Carmela Full of Wishes, which were given to local schools that the author and illustrator also visited. Curious Iguana owner Marlene England said, “It was absolutely amazing to see the joy on their faces. I know that Matt and Christian’s visit, and the surprise gift of a book, will be long remembered by these children.”
Sharing Stories
Author-illustrator Lita Judge recently hosted fellow children’s book creators at her studio in Peterborough, N.H., as part of “New Words Night,” a program through Kidlit603, which invites local authors and illustrators to share their works in progress. Organized by Erin Moulton and Adi Rule, Kidlit603 connects writers and illustrators within the children’s book community. Attendees were Lita Judge (seated, from l.), Deborah Bruss; (in back, from l.) Erin E. Moulton, Adi Rule, Marty Kelley, Cassie Gustafson, Kira Cote, Emilie Christie Burack, and Kate E. Schoedinger.
Joining Voices
A new exhibition called “Our Voice: The Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards” opened on October 20 at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass. Several illustrators whose work is featured in the show attended the opening celebration. Here (from l.) is Ellen Keiter (Carle Chief Curator), with CSK winners Reynold Ruffins, Ekua Holmes, Gordon C. James, Jerry Pinkney, and George Ford. Ford, 92, was the very first winner of the Illustrator’s award., who was the first winner of the award. The illustrators spoke about their work and the significance of the honor.
It’s Good to Be King
Matthew Cordell recently embarked on a six-city tour for King Alice (Feiwel and Friends), his first book published since his Caldecott Medal for Wolf in the Snow. During an event held at Pillow Academy, an elementary school in Greenwood, Miss., students sported royal paper crowns.
Tickled Pink
Pickles the pig and Dill the French bulldog took a trip to New York City to promote How Pickles Saved Tickles (Simon & Schuster), a true story about Pickles, who became very sick after consuming rat poison; Pickles was saved by another pig named Tickles, who became a blood donor to Pickles. Now, Pickles lives at home with author Maddie Johnson and his friend Dill. Johnson (l.), Pickles, Dill, and Ruta Rimas, senior editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, got to know each other at S&S’s offices.
