Announcing the 101 Great Books for Kids List from Evanston Public Library (2022 Edition)!

Announcing the 101 Great Books for Kids List from Evanston Public Library (2022 Edition)!

by

Sing out! Rejoice! Happy times are here at last!

Every year my library organizes a committee. Any member of staff may join, as long as they clear it with their supervisor. It’s the 101 Great Books for Kids committee and the rules are simple. From January to October, people read every single book for children, ages 0-12, that they can get their hands on. Committee members must write up their thoughts on a communal Google Doc. They are encouraged to join the monthly virtual meetings. And then, mid-way through October, all those books they loved are reduced to a mere 101.

Today, I am pleased to announce the results of our 2022 debates. Some of these books will be familiar to you. Some will be surprising. And ALL of them are worth knowing, reading, loving, and passing on to some lucky kids.

Enjoy!

Picture Books

  1. A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree by Daniel Bernstrom, ill. Brandon James Scott

Fuzzy bear. Angry bees. Yummy honey. Silliness abounds in this delightful read aloud full of ursine hijinks.Call Number: JPicture Berns.D 

  1. Berry Song by Michaela Goade

Like their Tlingit ancestors before them, a grandmother and child gather gifts from the earth, all the while singing a song celebrating beautiful berries. A burst of joy from a Caldecott-winning illustrator. Call Number: JPicture Goade.M 

  1. A Blue Kind of Day by Rachel Tomlinson, ill. Tori-Jay Mordey

“It was a slumping, sighing, sobbing kind of day.” Coen is having a blue day and when his family can’t cheer him up, they wait and let him work through his feelings. A book of patience, care, and empathy. Call Number: JPicture Tomli.R 

  1. The Circles in the Sky by Karl James Mountford

One morning Fox finds a bird lying quite still upon the ground. With the aid of a small moth, the two reflect on life and death, accompanied by marvelous, beautiful illustrations. A meditative, contemplative, necessary book. Call Number: JPicture Mount.K

  1. City Under the City by Dan Yaccarino

Bix lives in a city where robotic Eyes take care of everyone’s needs. But when she discovers an ancient city under the ground, it leads to a love of books and reading she never had before. Call Number: JPicture Yacca.D 

  1. Emile and the Field by Kevin Young, ill. Chioma Ebinama

In this lyrical picture book from an award-winning poet, a young boy cherishes a neighborhood field throughout the changing seasons. With stunning illustrations and a charming text, this beautiful story celebrates a child’s relationship with nature. Call Number: JPicture Young.K

  1. Gibberish by Young Vo

Now that he’s in a new country, Dat feels completely different from the new people and language that surround him. Marvelous 1930’s style animation techniques drill home his separation, and show how one good friend can make all the difference. Call Number: JPicture Vo.Y 

  1. I Don’t Care by Julie Fogliano, ill. Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal

A remarkably charming tale of two girls seeing past their differences to become the best of friends. Illustrated by two artists who are best friends in real life! Call Number: JPicture Fogli.J 

  1. I Won’t Give Up My Rubber Band by Shinsuke Yoshitake

This rubber band? It’s mine. No one else’s. And if you want the world’s greatest (and funniest)  listing of what you can do with a single rubber band, you’ve come to the right place. Call Number: JPicture Yoshi.S 

  1. Kick Push: Be Your Epic Self by Frank Morrison

Ivan’s usually so legendary with his kickflipping, big rail grinding moves that his friends call him EPIC. Now he’s moved to a new town where skateboarding is not the norm. Should he fit in or stand out? A book teeming with motion and fire. Call Number: JPicture Morri.F

  1. Knight Owl by Christopher Denise

Owl has a dream. You may think it’s ridiculous, but more than anything he yearns to become a knight in shining armor. When his chance finally comes, will he be up to the challenge? Whoooo can say? Call Number: JPicture Denis.C 

  1. My Fade Is Fresh by Shauntay Grant, ill. Kitt Thomas

When one young girl walks into her local hair salon, she knows exactly what she wants: a fresh fade. So why does everyone else have an opinion about her hair? Call Number: JPicture Grant.S 

  1. My Parents Won’t Stop Talking by Emma Hunsinger and Tillie Walden

Molly is so stoked to go to the park with her family . . . until her parents start talking to their neighbors, the Credenzas. WILL the grown-ups ever stop talking? WILL Molly be able to go to the park? WHY is her brother so calm about this? A hilarious and universal childhood moment. Call Number: JPicture Hunsi.E 

  1. Pina by Elif Yemenici, translated by Sydney Wade

Pina lives in a tiny, warm house that contains everything he could ever need. But when he realizes he’s out of cheese, shopping turns into a walk into the unknown. A delightful Turkish import about trying new things. Call Number: JPicture Yemen.E 

  1. The Queen in the Cave by Júlia Sardà

One day Franca decides that she is going to plunge into the unknown to seek a marvelous queen. Her sisters come along! What will they find, and will they ever get back? A hypnotic cacophony of chaos. Call Number: JPicture Sarda.J 

  1. Rodney Was a Tortoise by Nan Forler, ill. Yong Ling Kang

Bernadette shares many great times with her tortoise Rodney. When he’s gone, she can’t stop thinking about him. Will anyone understand how she feels? A tale of empathy and kindness. Call Number: JPicture Forle.N 

  1. See You Someday Soon by Pat Zietlow Miller, ill. Suzy Lee

If you’re far away from someone you love, how do you connect with them immediately? A child yearns for their grandmother, and thinks up all kinds of creative ways for them to get together. Inventive art mixes with a hugely touching tale. Call Number: JPicture Mille.P

  1. Where Is Bina Bear? by Mike Curato

Bina’s friends have thrown her a supercool party. The only problem? Bina’s terrified of parties. A tale of friendship and clever disguises. Call Number: JPicture Curat.M 

  1. The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson, ill. Leo Espinosa

 In Brooklyn “not so long ago,” children of all backgrounds played together in the streets. Double dutch. Stickball. Kick the can. This loving ode to joyful communal play features vibrant illustrations and a dynamic text. Call Number: JPicture Woods.J 

Fairytales, Folktales, and Religious Tales

  1. Carrimebac: The Town That Walked by David Barclay Moore, ill. John Holyfield

When old Rootilla Redgums and her grandson Julius Jefferson walked into Walkerton, Georgia, no one was ready for their wisdom and magic. And when the Black people in town are threatened by a hooded mob, these two will move heaven and earth to save the day. A marvelous original folktale. Call Number: JPicture Moore.D 

  1. Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings by Laurel Snyder, ill. Dan Santat

Think you know your fairytales? How well would you do if you were actually in them? You’re Little Red Riding Hood and you’ve got to pick your adventures carefully. There’s more than evil wolves in these woods… Call Number: JPicture Snyde.L

  1. The Legend of Gravity: A Tall Basketball Tale by Charly Palmer

Let us bend your ear with the story of Gravity, a kid so good at defying centripetal forces that his feats are legendary. This is one of those legends. Call Number: JPicture Palme.C 

  1. The Legend of the Spirit Serpent by Adaiah Sanford, ill. Ken Daley

No one but the leader of the tribe can ever visit the Spirit Serpent. If you try, you’re sure to get eaten, but Natari is just too darn curious. A retelling of a traditional Kalinago legend from the island of Dominica. Call Number: x398.2097298 Sanfo.A  

  1. The Real Dada Mother Goose: A Treasury of Complete Nonsense by Jon Scieszka, ill. Julia Rothman

Master funnyman Jon Scieszka reworks classic nursery rhymes in ways that use everything from pig latin to secret codes. A rolicking reworking that’ll have you rolling in the aisles. Call Number: x398.3 Scies.J 

  1. The Three Billy Goats Gruff retold by Mac Barnett, ill. Jon Klassen

The classic tale of three hungry goats and an even hungrier troll is told with flair and humor. Get ready to laugh out loud with this hilarious new interpretation. Call Number: x398.2 Barne.M 

Easy and Early Chapter Books

  1. Astrid the Astronaut: The Astronomically Grand Plan by Rie Neal, ill. Talitha Shipman

Astrid has an Astronomically Grand Plan to be the first astronaut with hearing aids, and she couldn’t be more excited! But when she realizes her best friend isn’t on board with all her plans, can Astrid figure out a way to complete her mission? Call Number: JChapter Neal.R 

  1. Billy & Rose: Forever Friends by Amy Hest, ill. Kady MacDonald Denton

Two best friends share small adventures over the course of four seasons. From selling ice cream in the snow to having sleepovers, Billy and Rose may sometimes fight but they are always best friends forever. Call Number: JEasy Hest.A 

  1. Bumpfizzle the Best on Planet Earth by Patricia Forde, ill. Elīna Brasliņa

The great Bumpfizzle of the Planet Plonk is on a mission to Earth so secret that not even HE knows why he’s here! Disguised as a human boy, he must deal with the daily injustices of being a kid. Hijinks definitely ensue. Call Number: JChapter Forde.P 

  1. Esme’s Birthday Conga Line by Lourdes Heuer, ill. Marissa Valdez

What do you do when your grandparents forget to throw you a birthday party with cake and a piñata? Throw your own! Esme is determined to get her neighbors together for the ultimate party time… whether they want to or not. Call Number: JChapter Heuer.L 

  1. Free Kid to Good Home by Hiroshi Itō, translated by Cathy Hirano 

When the new baby (a.k.a. Potato-face) sucks away all the parental attention, one determined little girl decides to give herself away for free to a better home. A tongue-in-cheek tale of finding home. Call Number: JChapter Ito.H 

  1. Gigi and Ojiji by Melissa Iwai

It’s so exciting! Gigi’s grandfather is coming to live with her family all the way from Japan! But when he doesn’t immediately live up to what she imagined him to be, can they ever be friends? Call Number: JEasy Iwai.M

  1. Meet the Super Duper Seven by Tim Hamilton

The Super Duper Seven are here to save the day! Wait, scratch that. Hungry Kitty just ate four members. How can the team stick together when heroes keep, ah, disappearing? Call Number: JEasy Hamil.T 

  1. Tâpwê and the Magic Hat by Buffy Sainte-Marie, ill. Buffy Sainte-Marie and Michelle Alynn Clement

When Tâpwê goes to visit his relatives for the summer, he little suspects the troubles and adventures he and his magic hat will get into. A mix of Cree stories and songs. Call Number: x398.208997 Cree Saint.B 

Poetry

  1. Book of Questions / Libro de Las Preguntas: Selections by Pablo Neruda, ill. Paloma Valdivia, translated by Sara Lissa Paulson

Neruda’s last great work of poetry is reimagined for kids in this sumptuous collection. 70 questions of the original 320 are presented thematically to kids, with results ridiculous, thoughtful, and often unanswerable. Call Number: Spanish x861 Nerud.P

  1. Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens, ill. Monica Mikai

Written to commemorate the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, this song tells the tale of sorrow and joy, pain and triumph, always with the child reader in mind. A marvelously honest look at how to sing when the world has left you nothing at all. Call Number: JPicture Gidde.R 

  1. Marshmallow Clouds: Two Poets at Play Among Figures of Speech by Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek, ill. Richard Jones

30 poems complemented with evocative paintings play with images and metaphors, constructing whole new ways to encounter the world. Call Number: x811 Koose.T 

  1. Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi

With vivid poems and engaging mini-chapters, Zoboi offers a cosmic look at the legendary science fiction writer’s youth and the events that inspired her to create her otherworldly stories.xBiog Butle.O Zoboi.I 

  1. Take Off Your Brave: The World Through the Eyes of a Preschool Poet by Nadim (age 4), ill. Yasmeen Ismail 

When Nadim was 4-years-old, his mom told him that a poem is “a kind of story of a feeling or a moment.” Delve into Nadim’s 23 poems, each capturing what it means to really and truly be a kid. x821 Shamm.N 

Fiction

  1. Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King

Does he dare disturb the universe? Mac’s used to speaking out when he sees something wrong, so when he discovers that his school copy of The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen has certain words blacked out, he and his friends set out to uncover the truth and make it known. Call Number: J King.A 

  1. Aviva vs the Dybbuk by Mari Lowe

Bad enough that Aviva lost her dad and doesn’t have any friends at school, but why does she have to live with a mischievous and difficult dybbuk at home? A clever tale of grief, loss, and practical jokes. Call Number: J Lowe.M 

  1. Black Bird, Blue Road by Sofiya Pasternack

Ziva will do anything to save her twin brother, who has leprosy, even if it means facing the Angel of Death. An unforgettable historical fantasy packed with action and heart. Call Number: J Paste.S

  1. Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros

Basketball star Isaac and super-studious Marco are best pals despite their differences. Things become interesting when 5’ 3” Marco taps into his inner-Muggsy Bogues and decides to join the basketball team. A hilarious and moving friendship story. Call Number: J Cisne.E 

  1. If You Read This by Kereen Getten

Brie’s mother passed away three years ago. With her 12th birthday approaching, Brie discovers that her mama left her a special surprise: a series of letters that lead her on a scavenger hunt across Jamaica to a very special place. Call Number: J Gette.K 

  1. It’s the End of the World and I’m in My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds

Eddie’s a kid who’s got it all figured out. Then his summer plans go apocalypse-level awry. Enjoyable antics from kids unafraid to have some fun. Call Number: J Reyno.J 

  1. Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone by Tae Keller

After “The Incident,” Jennifer, who believes in aliens from outer space, has gone missing. Now the students who bullied her must figure out what happened to her. Call Number: J Kelle.T 

  1. The Kaya Girl by Mamle Wolo

Abena is not looking forward to spending her vacation with an aunt she hardly knows at Accra’s largest market. Then she meets Faiza, a girl her age, also from Ghana but practically living in another world, and all her assumptions start to fall away. Call Number: J Wolo.M 

  1. The Language of Seabirds by Will Taylor

A tender story about two boys who find each other in a vacation town and use seabird names to communicate their feelings to each other. Call Number: J Taylo.W 

  1. The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

Sai’s been living a lie, ever since she became assistant to Mangkon’s greatest mapmaker. Nobody knows her secrets, and when she’s invited on an epic adventure, how can she say no? A rousing, rollicking adventure tale full of fun and villainy. Call Number: J Soont.C 

  1. The Lock-Eater by Zack Loran Clark

Melanie Gate is an orphan and a lock-eater a.k.a. someone who can open any door. But when she sets off for adventure under an assumed name with a sentient automaton, she discovers there’s more to the world, and herself, than she ever could have imagined. Call Number: J Clark.Z 

  1. The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton, ill. Khadijah Khatib

Though she gets to attend the magical Arcanum Training Institute, nobody trusts Ella Durand because she’s a Conjuror. Things get worse when her mentor disappears. Can she solve the mystery, clear her name, and triumph? Only if she befriends a few misfits along the way. Call Number: J Clayt.D 

  1. Nikhil Out Loud by Maulik Pancholy

Out and proud Nikhil voices one of the first Indian-American lead characters on a hit animated series. After a family issue forces him to move from L.A. to Ohio, Nikhil must use his now crackling, changing voice to speak up for himself. Call Number: J Panch.M 

  1. The Prince of Steel Pier by Stacy Nockowitz

In 1975 Atlantic City, 13-year-old arcade whiz  Joey meets a bunch of mobsters who have their eyes on his grandparents’ boardwalk hotel. Can he outwit them and save his family…and himself? Lean and fast-paced. Call Number: J Nocko.S

  1. A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

A little Mars rover named Resilience has a big job on the red planet. Meanwhile on Earth, the daughter of the scientist who helped develop Resilience worries about the robot’s fate. A charming speculative sci-fi story. Call Number: J Warga.J 

  1. The Secret Battle of Evan Pao by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

Chinese-American Evan must move to a small Virginia town immersed in its Civil War past. He shakes things up after he discovers that Chinese soldiers also fought in the war. Now he’s battling bigotry and a bully at the same time. Call Number: J Shang.W 

  1. The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck by Matt Phelan

When a disreputable villain tries to start a war through evil means, it’s up to two French children and some highly intelligent barnyard animals to save Benjamin Franklin and the day! Call Number: J Phela.M 

  1. Three Strike Summer by Skyler Schrempp

Dust Bowl Okie Gloria Mae Willard finds herself uprooted and working on a California peach orchard where she tries to join a secret, all-boys baseball team. Expect near escapes, a labor uprising, and lots of sports! Call Number: J Schre.S 

  1. Tumble by Celia C. Pérez

Adela loves her mom and stepfather but wants to learn more about her estranged father. Her search  reveals loads of secrets and professional wrestling! Call Number: J Perez.C 

  1. We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad, ill. Martina Heiduczek

In the midst of World War II, three German children must escape East Prussia as Russian forces enter their territory. A riveting survival story. Call Number: J Nanne.K

  1. We Were the Fire by Sheila P. Moses

In 1963 Birmingham, 11-year-old Rufus and his friends join the civil rights movement to fight for racial  justice. This fast-paced, powerful novel gives readers a potent “you are there” feeling and a confident, resilient hero. Call Number: J Moses.S  

  1. Weird Rules to Follow by Kim Spencer

Mia loves rock music, her Indigenous family and her best friend, the non-Indigenous Lara. Soon, though, Mia starts noticing how people treat her differently from Lara, and life is about to change. Vividly set in a coastal Canadian town in the mid-1980s. Call Number: J Spenc.K 

  1. Wildoak by C.C. Harrington, ill. Diana Sudyka

When young Maggie’s stutter gets her sent to her grandfather in Cornwall, she discovers the beauty of nature, as well as an abandoned snow leopard cub that desperately needs her help. Call Number: J Harri.C 

  1. Yonder by Ali Standish

In a small Appalachian town in World War II, a teen who once performed a heroic deed has gone missing. His younger pal Danny wants to find out what happened…and discovers troubling secrets about his community along the way. Call Number: J Stand.A

Graphic Novels

  1. The Flamingo by Guojing

While visiting her grandmother, a child hears story after story about a girl long ago that raised a flamingo chick from an egg. An artful, nearly wordless tale with the feel of a Miyazaki film. Call Number: JGraphic Guojing 

  1. Freestyle by Gale Galligan

It’s bad enough that Cory can’t join his dance crew because he’s been grounded but now he’s being tutored by Sunna, his seemingly uncool lab partner? But when Cory learns Sunna’s yo-yo secret, he discovers talents he never knew he had before. Call Number: JGraphic Galli.G 

  1. Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega, ill. Rose Bousamra

Marlene loves a lot of things in life. But hair-straightening weekly visits to the salon–not so much. Why must everyone pick on her beautiful curly hair? Call Number: JGraphic Orteg.C 

  1. Little Monarchs by Jonathan Case

In a future where very few mammals have survived, a girl and her guardian fight to find a vaccine that will save the human race. The secret ingredient? Monarch butterflies! Just watch out for the very people you’re trying to save… Call Number: JGraphic Case.J 

  1. Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo

Sue’s dream is to go camping with her friends for the first time ever. Instead, she’s being packed off to Honduras with her family where she’ll endure mad turkeys, fire, waterlogged manga, and (worst of all) a quinceañera party she never wanted. How can she make it her own? And does she want to? Call Number: JGraphic Fajar.K 

  1. PAWS: Gabby Gets It Together by Nathan Fairbairn and Michele Assarasakorn

Three girls. Zero dogs. Gabby, Priya, and Mindy are all desperate to pet and play with dogs of every kind, but their families are strict about not having them in the home. Enter PAWS! But who knew a dog walking service could be this much work? Call Number: JGraphic Fairb.N 

  1. Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

Who is the mysterious new girl at Edgewood Stables? When Victoria shows up one day to ride the horses she tells the others there that she does not need new friends. But why is she here? And what happened at her stable before? Call Number: JGraphic Hicks.F 

  1. Santiago! Santiago Ramón y Cajal – Artist, Scientist, Troublemaker by Jay Hosler

Santiago just can’t seem to keep out of trouble. His father just wants him to stop drawing and study. A fiery look at the life of a mischievous kid who went on to become the father of modern neuroscience. Call Number: JGraphic Hosle.J 

  1. Scout Is Not a Band Kid by Jade Armstrong

Scout’s mission is clear. To get to see her favorite author she must join . . . band! But can this trombone faker convince her new uptight seat leader that she’s worthy enough to stay? Call Number: JGraphic Armst.J 

  1. Sir Ladybug by Corey R. Tabor

Evildoers and hungry chickadees beware! Whenever there’s trouble, he’s there on the double. He’s… Sir Ladybug! Call Number: JGraphic Tabor.C 

  1. Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

Oh no! Bree ends up in a swimming class at her new school but hates being in a pool. Will she learn to love the sport? This immensely enjoyable and emotionally satisfying story makes a splash! Call Number: JGraphic Chris.J

  1. Your Pal Fred by Michael Rex

Post-apocalyptic adorableness! Meet Fred. He wants to be your friend, even if you happen to be a killer robot, a warlord, or entirely covered in spikes. Resist his charm if you dare! Call Number: JGraphic Rex.M 

Nonfiction Picture Books

  1. Before Music: Where Instruments Come From by Annette Bay Pimentel, ill. Madison Safer

Music from rocks. Music from shells. Music from seed pods, cocoons, and ore. Come see a fantastic array of worldwide instruments, many of which you will have NEVER heard of before. Call Number: x784.19 Pimen.A 

  1. Blue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, ill. Daniel Minter

The color blue has meant so many different things to so many different people around the world. Take a deep dive into its history and the good, and bad, stories that lie behind the color of the sky. Call Number: x535.6 Brewh.N 

  1. Call Me Miss Hamilton: One Woman’s Case for Equality and Respect by Carole Boston Weatherford, ill. Jeffery Boston Weatherford

Can you fight to have people call you a name with respect? Mary Hamilton did. The story of one brave woman’s fight to be called “Miss Hamilton,” accompanied by emotive scratchboard art and photos. Call Number: xBiog Hamil.M Weath.C 

  1. Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy, ill. Janelle Washington

The life of Emmett Till’s mother highlights one woman’s lifetime of making brave, rather than easy, choices. Meticulous papercuts tell her story with dignity. Call Number: xBiog Tillm.M Joy.A

  1. Concrete: From the Ground Up by Larissa Theule, ill. Steve Light

A highly amusing history of a material we all take for granted. From the Partheon to the Berlin Wall, get the low down on concrete, what it’s made of, what it’s capable of, and where it might go in the future. Call Number: x620.136 Theul.L 

  1. Dragon Bones: The Fantastic Fossil Discoveries of Mary Anning by Sarah Glenn Marsh, ill. Maris Wicks

Born in 1799, no one would have expected Mary Anning to be remembered as the mother of paleontology. The story of a scientist that couldn’t stop digging up impressive, ancient sea creatures. Call Number: xBiog Annin.M Marsh.S

  1. Fighting for Yes! The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann by Maryann Cocca-Leffler, ill. Vivien Mildenberger

Can you imagine being told NO your entire life? The story of Judith Heumann’s life, told so stirringly, it’s sure to make activists out of each and every reader. Call Number: xBiog Heuma.J Cocca.M 

  1. Good Eating: The Short Life of Krill by Matt Lilley, ill. Dan Tavis

How much do you know about krill? Did you know that they are shapeshifters? Or that they shed armor? Take a deep dive into the organisms on whom the fate of our planet may rest. Call Number: x595.3 Lille.M 

  1. A History of Underwear with Professor Chicken by Hannah Holt, ill. Korwin Briggs

Thongs, corsets, hezi, and paper. Underwear from everywhere is celebrated in this poultry-filled tour, hosted by the delightful Professor Chicken. Call Number: x391.42 Holt.H 

  1. If You’re a Kid Like Gavin: The True Story of a Young Trans Activist by Gavin Grimm and Kyle Lukoff, ill. J. Yang

If you’re a kid like Gavin you shouldn’t have to make the choice to stand up for yourself as a trans boy who deserves to use the boy’s bathroom, but that’s just what he did. The inspiring tale of a modern child hero, expertly told. Call Number: x306.76 Grimm.G

  1. Jack Knight’s Brave Flight: How One Gutsy Pilot Saved the U.S. Air Mail Service by Jill Esbaum, ill. Stacy Innerst

A gripping, edge-of-your-seat telling of the daring flight by one man to save air mail service in America. Call Number: x383.144 Esbau.J 

  1. Listen to the Language of the Trees: A Story of How Forests Communicate Underground by Tera Kelley, ill. Marie Hermansson 

Think trees can’t communicate? Think again. Trees have a whole underground system of sending nutrients, messages, and even alarm systems to one another. Learn more about this amazing wood wide web. You’ll never look at a tree the same way again. Call Number:  x582.16 Kelle.T 

  1. Marcel’s Masterpiece: How a Toilet Shaped the History of Art by Jeff Mack

What is art? Let Marcel Duchamp help you answer that question. He once turned a toilet into an artistic statement, and the world was never the same again. Call Number: x709.04 Ducha.M

  1. Mega-Predators of the Past by Melissa Stewart, ill. Howard Gray

Forget the dinosaurs! Meet the REAL (and enormous) mega-predators of the past. All but one is extinct… but which one? Call Number: x560 Stewa.M 

  1. Out of the Shadows: How Lotte Reiniger Made the First Animated Fairytale Movie by Fiona Robinson

Who knew that a love of fairy tales could turn into something so amazing? The story of one of the world’s earliest animators and how she brought her tales to life in a whole new way. Call Number: xBiog Reini.L Robin.F 

  1. Pink, Blue, and You!: Questions for Kids About Gender Stereotypes by Elise Gravel with Mykaell Blais 

The gender spectrum is explained in clear, concise language for the young in this fun breakdown of a sometimes complicated topic. Call Number: x305.3 Grave.E

  1. Shapes, Lines, and Light: My Grandfather’s American Journey by Katie Yamasaki

“Serenity. Surprise. Delight.” Japanese-American architect Minoru Yamasaki used that mantra throughout his life. Now his granddaughter is able to tell his story, with all its ups and downs. Call Number: xBiog Yamas.M Yamas.K 

  1. Washed Ashore: Making Art from Ocean Plastic by Kelly Crull, art by Angela Haseltine Pozzi

There’s a lot of plastic in the ocean. What to do? Artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi collected it, then turned it into magnificent sculptures of sea creatures. Waste and beauty go hand in hand with a keen environmental message. Call Number: x731.2 Crull.K 

Nonfiction for Older Readers

  1. American Murderer: The Parasite That Haunted the American South by Gail Jarrow

What made workers in the American South so tired and feeble during the 19th and early 20th centuries? This exciting medical mystery uncovers the secrets of the parasitic hookworm. Call Number: x616.9654 Jarro.G 

  1. Hardcourt: Stories from 75 Years of the National Basketball Association by Fred Bowen, ill. James E. Ransome

Basketball. Its personalities, rivalries, and moments of sheer remarkable physicality. All the drama is on display in this quick synopsis of its greatest moments, with stunning watercolors that capture the soul of the game. Call Number: x796.323 Bowen.F

  1. Honeybee Rescue: A Backyard Drama by Loree Griffin Burns, photos by Ellen Harasimowicz

Uh-oh. Bees have moved into a rickety old barn. Who will move them to a safe spot before the winter? It’s Mr. Nelson, the bee rescuer! An informative and fun look at finding honeybees a brand new home. Call Number: x638.1 Burns.L 

  1. How to Build a Human in Seven Evolutionary Steps by Pamela S. Turner, ill. John Gurche

How do you make a human? How many “cousins” are on our family tree? The mysteries of evolution abound in this funny, fascinating, and completely up-to-date deep dive into humanity’s origins. Call Number: x599.938 Turne.P 

  1. Killer Underwear Invasion! How to Spot Fake News, Disinformation & Conspiracy Theories by Elise Gravel

How do you know what to believe when you read something online? Using the fake news that underwear can kill you, this book breaks down all the different ways to figure out if news is trustworthy or not. Call Number: x070.4 Grave.E 

  1. Muhammad Najem, War Reporter: How One Boy Put the Spotlight on Syria by Muhammad Najem and Nora Neus, ill. Julie Robine

What can one boy do in the face of a nation at war? When Muhammad Najem started reporting live from Syria, his bravery brought attention to his country’s plight like never before. A harsh, hopeful story. Call Number: JGraphic Najem.M 

  1. Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams’s Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration by Elizabeth Partridge, ill. Lauren Tamaki

When your country makes a horrible mistake, how do you document that failure? Three great photographers saw the internment of Japanese American during WWII from different angles. Look through their eyes and determine where the truth lies, and where the lies start to sound like the truth. Call Number: x940.5317 Partr.E 

  1. Trapped in Terror Bay: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Franklin Expedition by Sigmund Brouwer

How did Inuit knowledge keepers, historians, archaeologists and forensic scientists solve the mystery of the ship known as the HMS Terror? Find out for yourself what caused a historical disaster. Call Number: x917 Brouw.S 

  1. The Waiting Place: When Home is Lost and a New One Not Yet Found by Dina Nayeri, photography by Anna Bosch Miralpeix

The Waiting Place wants everyone in it to stay. Meet the children who fight back against the interminable boredom and tension of living in a refugee camp, refusing to be forgotten by the rest of the world. Call Number: x305.906914 Nayer.D 

And now, some random but fun facts about the EPL 101 Great Books for Kids lists, past and present. Full credit to Brian Wilson for coming up with these stats:

People Who Have Now Appeared on the List 4 Times

  • Elise Gravel
  • James E. Ransome
  • Carol Boston Weatherford
  • (others in this prestigious club are Kwame Alexander, Lesa Cline-Ransome and Floyd Cooper) 

People Who Have Now Appeared on the List 3 Times

  • Julie Fogliano
  • Jon Klassen
  • Kyle Lukoff
  • Juana Martinez-Neal
  • Daniel Minter
  • Laurel Snyder
  • Diana Sudyka 
  • Jacqueline Woodson
  • (Others include Jacqueline Alcantara, Atinuke, Derrick Barnes, Don Brown, Kate DiCamillo, Eric Fan, Terry Fan, Ryan T. Higgins, Varian Johnson, Raul the Third and Elaine Bay, Sydney Smith, Andrea Tsurumi, Renee Watson and Eugene Yelchin)

Of Those on the List, the Person Who Has Made It 3 Consecutive Years (2020, 2021, 2022)

  • Jon Klassen (Skunk and Badger, Rock from the Sky, The Three Billy Goats Gruff)

1st Time for Prolific Creators

  • Mac Barnett
  • Fred Bowen
  • Steve Light
  • Matt Phelan
  • Jon Scieszka
  • Melissa Stewart
  • Shinsuke Yoshitake

1st Oscar Winner to Make Our List

  • Buffy Sainte-Marie (she won the Oscar for the song “Up Where We Belong” from 1982)

1st Grammy Winning Singer to Make Our List

  • Rhiannon Giddens (she has won two actually–2011 Best Traditional Folk Album and 2022 Best Folk Album)

Only Screen Actors Guild Winner to Make Our List So Far

  • Maulik Pancholy (won a Best Ensemble award for 30 Rock)

Youngest Author Ever to Make Our List

  • Nadim, reportedly age 4 when he created the poems for Take Off Your Brave with his mother

Mother Son Combinations

We have had many family members team up to create works that made our list. This year we have one mother-son combo:

  • Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffrey Boston Weatherford (Call Me Miss Hamilton)

Posthumous Author

  • Pablo Neruda joins a group of posthumous authors who have made our list. The list includes Floyd Cooper, Gary Paulsen, Dovey Johnson Roundtree, Ulf Stark and Mark Twain. And others who originally created folk tales and fairy tales. There might be more?

6 Continents Are Represented on This Year’s List

  • And I’m wondering if any of the authors have spent time in Antarctica. I bet someone has…

Category Hoppers

  • Guojing has now appeared in Picture Books and Graphic Novels
  • Jon Klassen has now appeared in Middle Grade Fiction, Picture, and Folktales
  • Melissa Iwai has now appeared in Non-fiction and Easy Readers
  • Kyle Lukoff has now appeared in Picture, Middle Grade Fiction, and Non-fiction
  • Frank Morrison has now appeared in Non-fiction and Picture
  • Michael Rex has now appeared in Picture Books and Graphic Novels
  • Dan Santat has now appeared in Picture Books and Folktales
  • Laurel Snyder has now appeared in Easy Readers, Middle Grade, and Folktales
  • Christina Soontornvat has now appeared in Non-fiction and Middle Grade
  • Diana Sudyka has now appeared in Nonfiction, Poetry and Middle Grade
  • Corey R. Tabor has now appeared in Picture Books and Graphic Novels

Thanks to Brian Wilson for making this info, and HUGE thanks to the dedicated committee members who put in gobs of time reading, discussing, reviewing, and ultimately selecting the books on this list. The library simply could not have done this without their input:

Patricia Alm, Laura Antolin, Ana Ariza, Stephen Barnes, Sally Battle, Shonique Carter, Kimberly Daufeldt, Lauren Gray, Jessica Iverson, Kennedy Joseph, Taylor Keahey, Leigh Kennelly, Liliana Lule, Martha Meyer, Jeny Mills, Olivia Mo, Bill Ohms, Bridget Petrites, Julie Rand, Robin Sindelar, Elizabeth English Steimle, Kasandra Trejo, Louise Tripp, and Brian Wilson

Quartet of Screams: A Katherine Arden Interview to Remember

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Scary season is upon us.

Now let’s say you had the option of interviewing any author of frightening tales for kids out there, living or dead. Whom would you choose? Would you opt for R.L. Stine? Track down Alvin Schwartz of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark fame? Christian McKay Heidicker?!?

Me? Gimme Katherine Arden every time. I can still remember reading her first book Small Spaces. Let me put it this way: I wasn’t scared of scarecrows until I read that book.

That title started an entire series which ended, this year, with the final title Empty Smiles. So I’ve asked Katherine all kinds of questions about the books, and she’s been kind enough to reply to my queries:

Betsy Bird: Katherine, thank you so much for answering my questions today. I remember back in the day when I first saw a copy of SMALL SPACES. The cover of the book was great, but it was the blurb from Jonathan Auxier that really caught my eye (he doesn’t blurb just anyone, y’know). Where did this series originate? How did you come up with it in the first place?

Katherine Arden

Katherine Arden: The series originated somewhat by accident—I was waiting on editorial notes for my second book for adults, The Girl in the Tower, and decided to take a weekend to visit a dear friend in Boston. I took the bus from Burlington, and as we were rolling through southern Vermont, a heavy fog came down over the road. I wondered vaguely what would happen if the bus broke down, trapping us in that fog—it was like water, just dense. Since I had some time on my hands, I started riffing on this idea—fog, a bus breaking down—and thought that it sounded like a scenario I might have come across when I was a horror-obsessed eleven-year-old, staying up late with a flashlight to mainline Goosebumps, or reread Wait til Helen Comes. So my broken-down bus became a school bus. When I asked myself what monster exactly, might menace kids in a fog-bound bus, I looked no further than my own town, which every fall sets up dozens of homemade scarecrows all over main street. At dusk, with their scowling burlap faces—I remember one had rusty garden trowels for hands—they almost seem alive, and out for blood. I was like, great. What if they actually are?

So that was the origin of the idea, and the rest was just inventing as I went, fueled by nostalgia for middle grade horror, Faustian bargains, and love for fall in Vermont.

BB: Right off the bat I’m going to take a deep dive into my most burning question: Your book series is now officially coming off as a “Quartet”. Was that the plan from the very beginning? Did you plan everything that was going to happen from the start, or did it come to you as you wrote each subsequent book?

KA: I did not plan a quartet originally, no. After finishing Small Spaces, and exploring autumn horror vibes, I thought it would be fun to do a book based on each season. I built the plot as I went along. I enjoyed figuring out seasonally-appropriate horrors, watching the kids evolve, and figuring out the smiling man’s endgame.

BB: Well, I love the trajectory of frights that occur in each book in the series. The first was haunted scarecrows (I never had a fear of them before, but that ALL changed after I read SMALL SPACES). The second felt influenced by the film THE SHINING. The third had hints of LOST. And now with the fourth (EMPTY SMILES) we’re in serious IT territory. At least two of the books I’ve mentioned have a hint of Stephen King about them. When you were younger, what books or movies scared you? And what influences the books you write today?

KA: I definitely read Stephen King as a tween, and Dead Voices was certainly influenced by The Shining, among other things. As a kid I was really into Goosebumps, and the work of Mary Downing Hahn. I also watched a lot of, Are You Afraid of the Dark—we need more kids’ horror on television these days, in my opinion. I also read books of ghost stories and creepy folklore. When I got a little older, I read a lot of Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Shirley Jackson.

As far as my influences today, they are wide. I read a ton of nonfiction, especially history, as well as a lot of historical fiction. I read fantasy, mystery, thrillers…really anything I come across. I think it is important for writers to read widely. My current favorite writer of horror is Stephen Graham Jones.

BB: I’m still gleeful that you watched Are You Afraid of the Dark. When that show was on it was ON. Was there any idea you wanted to try with this series that simply didn’t work out? Anything left on the cutting room floor? Anything you wanted to try but couldn’t work in for one reason or another?

KA: Of the four books, Dead Voices went through the most drafts. I had all these ideas about having the kids out and about on the ski hill, meeting more ghosts, finding a cabin of horrors, encountering frost monsters, etc, but in the end, those ideas didn’t really fly, and keeping the characters in the ski lodge turned out to be the more viable path. The cabin of horrors sort of made an appearance in Dark Waters, actually. For the summer book, Empty Smiles, I thought about setting it around a real-life puppet theater in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont but decided that carnival felt more summery. I do have an idea for a puppet-theater horror however, that I’d love to tackle.

Horror is such a fun, thrilling genre to write and really feels like the sky’s the limit.

BB: You’ve been writing these characters for a number of years now. It must feel a little strange to say goodbye to them now. Will you miss writing about Ollie, Coco, Brian and (to a lesser extent) Phil?

KA: It does feel strange, but I do feel like I’ve told these kids’ stories, and I am excited to go in new directions. I’ve had a lot of students ask me what Ollie, Coco and Brian do when they’re older, and ask if the smiling man ever comes back. I have a few thoughts, but honestly, I’m happy to leave the answers to readers’ imaginations. I think it might be fun to do an historical horror, with the smiling man making a cameo, but no specific plans right now.

BB: I confess that I myself am sad to see this series go. Are you looking to continue to scare the socks off of kids in the future or will you be trying entirely different creative ventures? What’s next for Katherine Arden?

KA: I have a new adult book finished that will hopefully be announced later this year. I’ve also been working concurrently on a middle grade fantasy and a new middle grade horror. I’m not trying to draft them on a schedule, just work steadily and see what I come up with—it is really nice to just be creative and try different ideas and see. 

Loads of thanks to Katherine for the answers and to Jordana Kulak and the team at Penguin Young Readers for setting this up. Empty Smiles is already out so enjoy it this Halloween season!

Dogs and Breaking Into Comics: An Interview with Nathan Fairbairn and Michele Assarasakorn About P.A.W.S.

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I’m going to let you in on a little secret.

You have to promise not to tell anyone. Scout’s honor. Seriously, I shouldn’t even be telling you, but we’re old pals and I trust your discretion.

This past Thursday the Evanston Public Library determined, once and for all, the books that would appear on the 101 Books for Reading and Sharing List for 2022. Out of all the titles published during the year (thousands and thousands of the things) a mere 101 made it to the final list.

I am now going to quote for you, practically verbatim, a debate that happened between two committee members, discussing what to do about two different dog-related picture books:

Committee Member #1: I don’t want that book on the list.

Committee Member #2: Well, I don’t mind that one, but I hate this one.

Committee Member #1: I’ll make you a deal. If you let me take off one, then we can take off the other.

Committee Member #2: Sounds good to me.

Committee Member #1: But P.A.W.S. stays.

Committee Member #2: Oh, God yes! P.A.W.S. absolutely stays!!

Such is the opinion of professional library types, cutting deals, but always keeping what’s important topmost in their minds.

You see, this past March a graphic novel was released from Razorbill called P.A.W.S.: Gabby Gets It Together. Now I read whole heaping helpfuls of comics in the course of a given year, but this one was special. It actually tapped into a tone that I hadn’t felt since Raina Telgemeier started adapting the Baby-sitters Club books into a graphic form. In the book, three girls desperately want dogs but their parents all have legitimately understandable reasons for not wanting pets in the home. Then, it hits them. Why not make a dog walking agency? That mix of cutie pie pups and capitalism, to say nothing of the complex interpersonal issues, has made P.A.W.S. the hit it is today.

Now, this November, comes the sequel. In Mindy Makes Some Space, and there are different issues to address. Here’s the publication info:

“Best friends Mindy Park, Gabby Jordan, and Priya Gupta are back in business! After a few ups and downs, their dog-walking business is booming and the girls are closer than ever. It’s a dream come true!

But for Mindy, things at home are beginning to feel like a bit of a nightmare. Her mom just started dating someone, which has Mindy feeling like the odd one out. For as long as she can remember, it’s been just the two of them and she doesn’t want that to change. (So what if her mom’s boyfriend has a cute pet cat, and all of Mindy’s friends seem to think he’s pretty cool?)

And things only get worse when a new student named Hazel arrives in class and seems totally into joining PAWS. Sharing her mom feels bad enough, so there’s no way Mindy’s is going to share her best friends and her business, too! But when Mindy’s stubbornness starts to hurt everyone around her, will she be able to overcome her fears and learn that change doesn’t have to be a cat-tastrophe?”

When offered the chance to talk about the books with creators Nathan Fairbairn and Michele Assarasakorn, I kinda, sorta, completely jumped at the chance:

Betsy Bird: Michele and Nathan, thank you so much for talking with me today! P.A.W.S., I am pleased to report, has done wonders at filling that little niche that the graphic novel versions of The Baby-sitter’s Club opened up but simply cannot constantly meet.

Nathan & Michelle: Thanks very much!  The Baby-sitters Club is a big inspiration of ours, so we’re happy to hear that P.A.W.S. has found a place alongside it.

BB: Just to start us off, and maybe to fill in anyone who hasn’t read the series yet, how did P.A.W.S. come to be? What’s its origin story?

Nathan Fairbairn

Nathan Fairbairn: After almost a dozen years working in the comic book industry on titles such as Batman, Wolverine, and Scott Pilgrim—as well as having written an original Sci-Fi graphic novel called Lake of Fire—I wanted to make a book that would appeal to my own daughter, Lily.

Lily was a huge fan of middle grade graphic novels—especially the work of Raina Telgemeier—but nothing I’d ever worked on was remotely interesting to her. So I came up with a handful of concepts and pitched them all to her. I still clearly remember her giving me a hard pass on everything until I presented her with the idea of a group of friends who start their own dog-walking business. It was an idea that was inspired by a problem I was desperate to solve—at the time, Lily was obsessed with having a pet, but we couldn’t give her one for a variety of reasons: we lived in a rental building that didn’t allow pets; I’m mildly allergic to animals; and, if I’m honest, I like to keep a clean house, and a big fluffy animal makes that sort of thing tricky!

Anyway, once I had my concept, I just needed a partner to help me tell the story. As luck would have it, Michele had just moved to Vancouver and we connected through our shared work as colorists for publishers such as Marvel and DC. I pitched the idea to her and she was immediately interested. The rest is history!

BB: Okay, I kind of love that the three different reasons the three parents give were all concentrated in one person: yourself. So I’ve already alluded to the fact that with its let’s-start-ourselves-a-club premise, this has some surface similarities to The Baby-sitter’s Club. Was that in your mind at all when you initially wrote the books?

NF: I’d be a liar if I said the thought never occurred to me! Reading comics in bed with my daughter was a nightly ritual for years (a ritual she has now sadly outgrown) and the Baby-sitters Club books were always among my favorites, especially the early volumes by Raina and Gale. I honestly haven’t revisited those books since I started writing P.A.W.S., but the tone and feel of those books definitely informed some of my choices, especially early on.

BB: Michele I feel like you’ve done a supremely good job with the art in all the P.A.W.S. books. Going from something like GOTHAM ACADEMY to a series with such a younger audience feels like it would require a bit of a shift. So I’m curious. How do you pare down your art for a younger readership without losing something in the process?

Michele Assarasakorn

Michele Assarasakorn: Thank you very much, but I can take only the coloring credit for Gotham Academy!

P.A.W.S. is the first project I have ever drawn. My background is more in concept design and painting, so it took tremendous effort to hone a style for this book.

Luckily, my drawing inspiration has always been more cartoony and I had second-hand experience in animation storyboards (I’ve worked on one show but I’m married to a storyboarding wizard) so P.A.W.S. was the perfect project for me to start on.

BB: Of course what really made P.A.W.S. memorable for me were the individual battles that each girl in the group was fighting. Of particular note was the challenge of being a year younger than your friends and how big a deal that is. Did any of the girls’ experiences come from real life at all?

NF: Absolutely. There are definitely aspects of these books that draw from Michele’s and my own childhood memories, but much of the friendship dynamics and power struggles in P.A.W.S. come directly from observations of my own daughter’s social life. In fact, the characters and personalities of P.A.W.S. were so directly inspired by the experiences of my daughter and her friends that it felt utterly necessary to set the story in our own neighbourhood in East Vancouver. It’s a choice I’m really glad we made. I feel like grounding the story in a specific place helps the story and characters feel real, and lets me as a writer connect better to my characters.

BB: I’m going to remember that, next time someone asks me for middle grade comics set in Canada. Of course, one thing that struck me when reading your bios was that both of you started out as colorists. Now I’m not overly familiar with how one breaks into the world of comics. My brother-in-law was an inker for D.C. for many years, but that’s not exactly the same thing.

NF: Oh that’s cool! The comics industry is surprisingly small–I bet I know your brother-in-law (or at least his work). What’s his name?

BB: Steve Bird! He’s Atlanta-based. I remember him doing his inking during big family events over the holidays. I’m also friends with David Baldeón, whom you may know. But back to my question! How did you both come to work in the comics field and why did you come to it via the role of colorist?

NF: I’d always dreamed of becoming a comics writer, but had no idea how to go about doing that. After college, I spent a few years spinning my wheels. I wrote spec scripts that went nowhere (often literally, as I didn’t even know who to send them to) and entered writing contests that I never heard back from. Once, out of frustration I even physically mailed off a few sample scripts to Marvel, and eventually got a lovely form letter back asking me to stop doing that. I still have and cherish that letter. It’s got Spider-man on it!

Anyway, I eventually decided to try to get into the comics industry through a side door. I’d always drawn—I even did a weekly (terrible) cartoon strip in the university paper—but I knew I didn’t have the chops for professional work. However, I suspected that I could get my coloring or inking skills up to par reasonably fast. Inking is harder than coloring, so coloring it was!

I started getting more coloring work from Marvel and DC than I could handle, and for almost a decade my writing aspirations became a victim of my own success as a colorist. (Well, that and the fact that I started having kids and stopped sleeping for five or six years.) I ultimately realized, though, that my editors were never going to think of me as a writer and I would have to stop taking on coloring work if I was ever going to get serious about writing.

It’s a decision I still struggle with. I love coloring! And it’s a heck of a skill to bring to a creative partnership. I’m coloring P.A.W.S., because I can and because it saves Michele time.

MA: Honestly, I kind of stumbled onto colouring comics after enthusiastically offering my painting skills to Karl Kerschl, an artist I admired at a comic convention in Toronto. He reached out to me months after because they needed someone to replace Gotham Academy’s colourist, and the rest is history! I started phasing out all my animation and game jobs and focused on colouring full-time until I moved to Vancouver, BC where I met Nathan.

I draw 99% of the time now..well more like  40% because I have a toddler, and will squeeze in colouring a cover here and there.

BB: So the moral of the story is, kids are a time-suck. Got it. I’m so glad that the series is catching on and that we’re seeing another book in the series. MINDY MAKES SOME SPACE shifts the focus to Mindy’s life with her single mom and the changes that are happening there. It’s funny, but sometimes it feels like narratives from the perspectives of one-parent households was something that got really big in children’s books in the late 70s and 80s and then kind of disappeared for a while.

NF: I think I know what you mean by that! My own childhood was rather chaotic at times, and I always loved it when the characters in books I read had unconventional families, like mine.

BB: Right? Along those lines, how did you go about making Mindy’s experience as real as possible?

NF: It was really important to me that this series represented a range of family types and parenting styles. So for Mindy’s family I drew upon feelings and experiences I had as a kid (plus a few details I picked up from some close friends). There are very few characters and relationships in these books that are completely fabricated—if there are parts of it that ring especially true, it’s probably because they are!  

BB: That’s awesome. Okay, final question, and it’s for the both of you: What are you both working on next?

NF: We’re hard at work on the third volume of PAWS, of course! It’s called Priya Puts Herself First and it should be out next fall.

MA: Apart from catching up on sleep, I’m very busy drawing our third book at the moment. It’s going to be a good one!

Thanks indeed to Nathan and Michele for taking the time to answer all my questions today! Thanks too to Kaitlin Kneafsey and the folks at Penguin Young Readers for setting this up. Mindy Makes Some Space will hit shelves November 15th and, of course, you can pick up Gabby Gets It Together wherever good comics are sold or borrowed.

Self-Publishing: A Conversation with Becky Gehrisch and Bookling Media

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Self-publishing!

Time was when those words were looked upon with disdain by the literary “establishment”. Today? Well, it reminds me of something my husband once said about breaking into the film industry. “They call it ‘breaking in’ because once you’ve done it they block it up so that no one else can come in that way.” That’s sort of how I look at self-publishing. Who cares how you find success as long as you find it?

Today I am in conversation with author Becky Gehrisch. She’s a “portrait artist, illustrator and author” who works with colored pencils, acrylic paints and chalk pastels. Highly talented, she came to my attention when I noticed how sophisticated her art was. Having self-published the picture book Escape to Play, I was interested in asking her a couple questions about the current self-publishing world. It’s been doing well for at least a decade now, but what is its current state of affairs? Becky, I’m happy to say, was willing to oblige me with answers, and her methodology and technique when self-publishing is quite different from what you might assume:

Betsy Bird: Hi Becky! Thanks so much for joining me here today. So first and foremost, I’d like to talk to you a bit about your self-publishing journey. Like the process of writing books, this can take a myriad number of different forms. How did yours begin? And what got you writing in the first place?

Becky Gehrisch: Thanks for having me, Betsy! I am happy to share a bit about my journey to publication. Beyond drawing and writing stories when I was little, I was influenced in middle school. My art teacher encouraged students to submit our own picture books to the Written and Illustrated competition. As the name suggests, we wrote and illustrated then bound and copied our picture book. I loved the process and my panda themed book won honorable mention!

Years later, I received a degree from The Ohio State University in Painting and Drawing! Shortly after that, I moved out to the countryside in Delaware, Ohio. Needing a break from the stress that college can create, I took time away from art. It wasn’t long until the sights, sounds and farm animals inspired me to paint again.

My three dogs at the time were good subject to put in funny situations. The resulting paintings would evolve into Escape to Play. I slowly began to write a poem to accompany each painting. Not knowing what I didn’t know, I had a rough book created and was sending it off to publishers.

It was a long road to learn how the picture book process worked. Joining the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) helped me gain valuable information on the children’s book industry, writing, illustration, and publishing. I’d recommend this organization to any aspiring author or illustrator.

Between 2015 and 2020, I reworked Escape to Play from top to bottom. I added pages and included an informational section (backmatter). This section introduces young readers to art terms and fun facts about classic art that was recreated throughout the book! Overall, each spread took over 60 hours to create and roughly the same on studying and writing the rhyming text.

Like others who wondered how to deal with quarantine during 2020, I needed a creative outlet. I hunkered down and worked with my publishing team to complete and promote a presale campaign. Funding the picture book printing, marketing, and initial distribution, was a success! Escape to Play was released soon after in August of 2021.

BB: You’ve also started your own publishing company, which is fascinating. Bookling Media has an interesting model. Could you tell us a bit more about it, how it came to be, and who it serves?

BG: This is true! The catalyst for Bookling Media’s creation was when I was approached by a publisher asking me to illustrate for them. After looking at the intellectual property rights terms, I decided I wanted to keep my rights. I began to wonder if building my own publishing company wouldn’t be the best for my book(s).

Through my involvement with SCBWI, I learned that my frustration with the traditional publishing industry is shared by other creators. Knowing I wasn’t alone, I saw there was an opportunity to build a better publishing model. I didn’t just want to publish my own books but create a place where other author-illustrators could retain full rights to their picture books and Bookling Media was born.

BB: And your first picture book ESCAPE TO PLAY came out last August. I know that when someone goes with a traditional publisher, they usually have to do the bulk of marketing and promotion themself. How has the release of the book been for you? How do you market it?

BG: I’m glad you asked this! Many authors might think marketing is managed for them by their publisher. However, like you said, they need to carry much of the load themselves. Because Bookling Media created a preorder campaign, Escape to Play gained a lot of early traction. As a result, sales have now gone beyond the word-of-mouth!

Most of Bookling Media’s marketing is done through the usual channels. We use advertising on social media, blog posts, Instagram bloggers, conference trade shows, trade magazines, billboards, and even old-school postcards to bookstores. As a small independent press, we need to get the word out in as many places that we can.

Since author visits are also a very effective marketing tool, I am building a repeatable framework to help Bookling Media’s author-illustrators plan successful strategies for their book events and author visits to drive sales.

BB: When I spoke to you back in January of 2021 you didn’t yet have any other authors or illustrators on your publishing roster. Has that changed?

BG: I am excited to say that Bookling Media has opened submissions for author-illustrators! This is a big step. I am thrilled for the opportunity to collaborate with other author-illustrators to help them bring their picture books into the world!

Bookling Media does not use print-on-demand services which often automatically place books on Amazon and Ingram. Because Bookling Media prints with high-quality off-set printing, we had to do the legwork to get distribution.

Before I could bring another author-illustrator on, it was imperative that Bookling Media develop distribution and logistics capabilities to allow bookstores and libraries to order through their standard suppliers, typically Ingram (bookstores) and Baker and Taylor (libraries). Self-published authors whose books are not available through Ingram have a hard time getting books into bookstores.

BB: And what have you learned about the book industry and the process of publishing since you began?

BG: Oh, wow! I have learned so much. I often feel that I am still constantly learning. Such is the life of an entrepreneur! It seems that the biggest lesson is that there are numerous ways to play the publishing game. Between self-publishing and traditional publishing lies a whole sea of choices.

Not every option will work for everyone, yet there are countless options available. It is all fluid – and challenging. This industry is tough but magical; hard but rewarding. My personal experience has made me learn to take baby steps every day to get to my goal. I am amazed how far that has taken me!

BB: All right! Finally, I just gotta ask, what’s next for you?

BG: Adding a new title to Bookling Media’s catalog is next. That will keep me busy building industry relationships to drive the upcoming project, launch, and eventual marketing blitz that will follow.

Additionally, I will continue to develop Bookling Media’s capabilities to include eBooks, physical product lines, and expanded marketing and distribution support for author-illustrators. I want creators to see that it is possible to publish and promote their books on their terms.

I am excited for this next chapter!

Big time thanks to Becky for answering my questions today. A glimpse into self-publishing in a whole new form. I hope you got something out of it today!

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Matilda, Who Told Lies and Was Burned to Death by Hilaire Belloc

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As Halloween draws closer and closer, we delve deeper and deeper into the macabre. We kicked off the month of October with Edward Gorey. Now we’re following him up with his spiritual cousin, none other than Hilaire Belloc himself. We’re looking at two different editions of the Struwwelpeter-inspired (surely) poem Matilda, Who Told Lies and Was Burned to Death. One edition, illustrated by Steven Kellogg, was produced in 1970. The other, created in 1991 (and originally published in Great Britain), illustrated by Posy Simmonds, is the far tamer titled picture book Matilda: Who told such Dreadful Lies . . . (note that the original title is on the title page, not the cover). A lot can change in the intervening 20 years, and so we compare the two editions, their oddities and similarities, and come to the almost certain conclusion that Hilaire Belloc was . . . quite the interesting fella. But are these good books? That is the real question.

Special thanks to Stephanie Lucianovic for the suggestion!

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, PlayerFM, or your preferred method of podcast selection.

Show Notes:

Here’s where I’ll be interviewing Tom Felton. If you’d like to attend and you live in the Chicago area, you can go here and do so.

One aspect of these two very different editions that we found interesting was the level of accuracy when it comes to depicting their era. For example, while we often found the Steven Kellogg title to be filled with far more delightful details, the Posy Simmonds (which originally published in England) seemed to edge a bit more towards historical accuracy. Here we see the current rulers in both editions:

And here’s an example of the two different types of phones (with the image Kate was using for reference):

Here too are the two different kinds of transportation the firefighters take to Matilda’s home:

When we discuss the level of detail in the Kellogg version, this is a fairly good example of what we mean. Please note the sign on this page telling the firefighters not to take lit cigars to bed:

The Time Traveler: Here is our 12 Monkeys fellow who looks as though he’s livestreaming Matilda’s pseudo-fire.

The degree of attention/destruction on the part of the firefighters is fascinating.

Note that in both cases, the fire is (A) accidental and (B) started by a small furry animal. One may show more animosity than the other, though . . .

Finally, we come to the end of the book. Could you find two editions that differ more tonally than these?

Betsy Recommends: Reservation Dogs on Hulu

Kate Recommends: Getting your mammogram done!

Press Release Fun: Enter the Stinetinglers Scary Story Writing Contest

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R. L. Stine ushers us into spooky season with Stinetinglers, his gruesome new middle-grade novel that is full of scary stories sure to make your head spin. This Halloween season, parents and guardians of budding horror enthusiasts ages 8-12 are invited to enter the Stinetinglers Scary Story Writing Contest. Entries are open to all who dare from October 1 – 31, 2022.

Can you scare R. L. Stine, the master of scary tales?

The contest will be judged by the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group Stinetinglers team, including Stine’s editor, Kat Brzozowski (Senior Editor, Feiwel & Friends), Brittany Groves (Assistant Editor, Feiwel & Friends), Sage Kiernan-Sherrow (Editorial Intern, Feiwel & Friends), Elysse Villalobos (Marketing Coordinator, MacKids School & Library), Kristen Luby (Senior Marketing Manager, MacKids School & Library), Mary Van Akin (Director, MacKids School & Library Marketing), and R. L. Stine himself. We’re on the lookout for a story so bone-chilling that it’ll make us witch it was Halloween all year long.

Rules and Requirements: bit.ly/StinetinglersRules
Privacy Notice: https://us.macmillan.com/privacy-notice

The grand prize winner will get to meet R.L. Stine in a virtual classroom visit and will receive a $500 Amex gift card, a signed copy of Stinetinglers, a class set of Stinetinglers for their school, and a Stinetinglers sticker, plus their short story will be published online or in print.

The runner-up will receive a signed copy of Stinetinglers, a classroom set of Stinetinglers for their school, and a Stinetinglers sticker.

Writing Prompt: R. L. Stine’s writes tales that terrify, and now we want to hear yours! Write a scary short story between 1,000 and 1,500 words. It must have a catchy title, a protagonist, a creepy setting, and a moment of suspense.

Submit Your Scary Short Story Here!

View the contest on our School & Library page here.