The Weekly 411 (10/29/21)

Oct. 29, 2021 vol. 44

The Weekly 411 gathers all the links added to Kidlit411 each week. To receive this post by email, sign up for our email updates. Are you on Facebook? Join our Kidlit411 group for conversations & camaraderie. This week's illustration is by Megan Higgins.

Kid Lit News

Kidlit411 listed in the Top 100 Children's Book Blogs and Websites

The Book Biz Tries to Avoid Supply Chain Disruptions

Author Spotlights

We are excited to feature author Ann Magee and her debut picture book, Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree, illustrated by Nicole Wong (Charlesbridge, 2021). Enter to win a copy!

We are pleased to feature author Jason R Lady and his middle grade novels, Monster Problems and Super Problems (Black Rose Writing; Illustrated edition, 2020). Enter to win a copy of both!

Middle-Grade Giveaway

We are pleased to host a giveaway of the middle grade anthology, Mightier than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World through Writing, by Rochelle Melander, illustrated by Melina Ontiveros (Beaming Books, July 2021). Enter to win a copy in the Rafflecopter below.

About the book: Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World through Writing is a middle grade social justice book pairing life changing writing exercises with the stories of a diverse group of people who changed lives and communities throughout history. The book features people from a variety of disciplines who used their words to educate people about the stars, gain women’s rights, end slavery, save the environment, protest injustice, and more.

About the Author: Rochelle Melander wrote her first book at seven and has published 11 books for adults. Mightier Than the Sword is her debut book for children. She’s a professional certified coach, an artist educator and the founder of Dream Keepers, a writing workshop for young people. She lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her husband, children, and two dogs. She blogs at writenowcoach.com or rochellemelander.com

Order your copy now!

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Picture Book Giveaway

We are also excited to feature a giveaway for the picture book, Dancing in Thata's Footsteps, by Srividhya Venkat, illustrated by Kavita Ramchandran (Yali Books 2021). Enter to win a copy in the Rafflecopter below!

About the Book: Varun is fascinated by the rhythm and grace of bharatanatyam, a dance from India that his sister, Varsha, is learning to perfect. He tries a few moves at home in secret because...well, boys don't dance, do they? His thatha thinks otherwise. Will Thatha be able to convince Varun to dance in his footsteps? A heartwarming picture book about an intergenerational Indian-American family discovering a shared love for bharatanatyam, an ancient classical dance form that continues to fascinate young dancers across the globe.

About the Author: Srividhya hopped, skipped and jumped careers until she came upon her most cherished one - writing for children. She has been published in India, where she was born and raised. Her picture book, The Clever Tailor, is a 2020 South Asia Book Award (SABA) Highly Commended Book. With Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps, Srividhya makes her U.S. debut. She now lives in sunny Singapore with her family.

About the Illustrator: Kavita Ramchandran is a graphic designer and self-taught illustrator with more than 14 years experience in the children's educational and entertainment spaces. She has art directed magazines, designed kids text books, illustrated apps and created animated shorts for Nick Jr. Originally from Bombay, she moved to New York City, to pursue an MFA in Design from the School of Visual Arts. Growing up, she’s always loved children's books, but never knew it could be ‘real job’, and is so excited to make her debut as a picture book illustrator with Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps.

Buy the book now! Bookshop. Yalibooks.

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For Writers

Privileging Texture Over Plot

What Makes a Great Setting in a Novel

How to Raise the Stakes in a Novel

What are Pinch Points and Where Do They Go?

Middle Grade

Spooky Middle Grade

Renegades of Middle Grade

Middle Grade Book Village (runs weekly #MGBookChat on Monday evenings 9 p.m. ET)

Picture Books