The Weekly 411 (12/27/24)
 |
| © Olga Herrera |
Dec. 27, 2024 vol 52
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 and camaraderie. We can also be found on Bluesky. This week's illustration is by Olga Herrera.
We at Kidlit411 wish you a happy, safe, and peaceful holiday season and a very creative new year! Thank you so much for sharing your creative journey with us. . .you are what makes our community so wonderful.
End of the Year Lists
The New York Times: Best Children's Books of 2024
The NYTimes/ NY Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2024
Kirkus: The Best Indie Picture Books of 2024
Picture Book Giveaway
About the Book: Spend Saturday morning at the barbershop in this upbeat picture book celebration of the spaces and places that bring communities together. It’s Saturday morning. We hop in the car. Mom’s heading to work, and I’m geeked to go spend the day at the ’shop! The barbershop is a sound booth, an art gallery, a playground, a classroom, and so much more. It’s a place for artistry and comradery and, most importantly, community. Come spend the day feeling all the style and wisdom and joy at the ’shop!
About the Author: Keenan Jones is an author and educator based in Plymouth, Minnesota. Keenan worked as an elementary school teacher and is the founder of the educational nonprofit Literacy for Freedom. Saturday Morning at the ’Shop is his debut picture book. Learn more at KeenanJWrites.com.
About the Illustrator: Ken Daley’s art has been featured in children’s books, print publications, and exhibitions across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. He is the illustrator of picture books including Saturday Morning at the ’Shop by Keenan Jones, Granny’s Kitchen by Sadé Smith, and Black Boy, Black Boy by Ali Kamanda and Jorge Redmond. Ken lives in Ontario. Visit him at KenDaleyArt.com.
Middle Grade Graphic Novel Giveaway
We are pleased to host a giveaway of a signed copy of the middle grade graphic novel, Boy vs. Shark, by Paul Gilligan (Tundra Books 2024). Enter to win a signed copy via the Rafflecopter below.
.jpg)
About the Book: A hilarious middle-grade graphic memoir about boyhood, toxic masculinity and a shark named Jaws for fans of Guts and New Kid. In the summer of 1975, 10-year-old Paul Gilligan doesn’t have a whole lot to worry about. And then Jaws comes to town. Suddenly everyone is obsessing over this movie about a shark ripping people to pieces. And if you haven’t seen it, not only are you missing out, you’re also kind of a wimp. Jaws leaves young Paul a cowering mess, and underlines the growing gap between where he stands and the world’s expectations of a boy’s “manliness.” And when Jaws himself becomes a kind of macho Jiminy Cricket for Paul, what is a scared and overwhelmed boy to do?
About the Author-Illustrator: Paul Gilligan writes and draws the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café with Andrews McMeel, which runs in over 250 newspapers around the world and has been twice nominated by the National Cartoonist Society for best strip. He is also the author-illustrator of Pluto Rocket: New in Town, Pluto Rocket: Joe Pidge Flips a Lid, Pluto Rocket: Full Blast!, King of the Mole People and its sequel, Rise of the Slugs, and the graphic memoir Boy vs. Shark. He also has animated shows in development with Guru Animation, the CW Network and the BBC. Paul is based in Toronto, Ontario.
Create Compelling Suspense and Tension No Matter What is Happening in Your Story
Jan. 17 10 a.m.-noon Virtual Mini Writing Retreat: Connect with Your Characters by Laurie Calkhoven Join Write Now! host Shari Becker and award-winning author and meditation instructor Laurie Calkhoven for this mini-retreat, designed to provide you mindful, dedicated writing time. Laurie will open the retreat with a meditation followed by a writing prompt designed to help you build a richer, deeper connection to your characters. We’ll do an additional character meditation in the middle of our time together providing a second opportunity to dig deep into your characters’ wants and needs. For those of you who can stay until the end, we’ll close with a visualization designed to help you achieve your writing goals.
Jan. 27 7 p.m. ET; Jan. 29 7 p.m. ET Revise to Resonate: Your Picture Book Plot, Pacing, and Character Join prolific picture book author Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen for this short course to advance your picture book manuscript. Learn how you can increase emotional resonance and foster connection with your readers by revising elements like plot, pacing, character, and more. ($59/ online)
Want to Write a Young Adult Graphic Novel? Here's How!
Some upcoming contests & awards to be aware of, stay tuned for details (visit our page to see more contests/awards)
- What: award given biennially to an unpublished writer of color or Native/Indigenous writer for a picture book manuscript (fiction, nonfiction, poetry)
- Award: monetary award and potential publication
- What: submit a short illustrated story following a theme prompt and an assignment
- Who: SCBWI member
- Award: all-expenses paid trip to NY SCBWI conference plus inclusion in the NY portfolio showcase
Both of these books sound exciting to read with great messages for all readers.
ReplyDeleteEither book would be a nice addition to my classroom library.
ReplyDeleteEither book would be a great addition to my classroom library.
ReplyDeleteThe book about the barbershop looks so joyful!
ReplyDelete