Welcome to a new addition to Baby Librarians! I thought it would be neat to collect some of the most interesting kid lit news and related stuff from the month. From the Caldecott and Newbery Awards to a train car being repurposed as a library to a win for LGBTQ+ books, kid lit news was bustling in January! Let me know what you think of this new addition, and if you’d like to see anything else! More commentary? Post more often? In a newsletter? Let me know!
Kid Lit News
- “Edith Kunhardt Davis, Author of ‘Pat the Bunny’ Sequels, Dies at 82” by Katharine Q. Seelye, from The New York Times. I’ll admit, I haven’t read these.
- “These Are the Most Frequently Checked-Out Books in the History of the New York Public Library” by Charles Passy, from The Wall Street Journal. Surprising no one, more than half are children’s books.
- DRAMA! “Why Goodnight Moon didn’t make New York Public Library’s list of most checked-out books” by John McGill and Samantha Lui, from CBC Radio. I’ll be honest, I’m not a Goodnight Moon fan!
- “Matthew A. Cherry Lands Oscar Nomination For ‘Hair Love'” from Shadow and Act. This short film is based on a picture book!
- “Why Australia’s Children’s Book Sales Are Booming in China” by Michael Smith, from Caixin.
Feel Good Kid Lit News
For the win! “Virginia school board prevents 2 LGBTQ-themed children’s books from being removed from libraries and classrooms” by Muri Assunção, from Daily News.- “‘If You Give A Child A Book’ campaign donates thousands of books to Hillsborough County students” by McKenna King, from ABC Action News. The Scripps Howard Foundation distributed nearly 200,000 books to children across Hillsborough County. How cool! On the weekends I edit for a website owned by Scripps, so it’s nice to know I’m working for a company that gives back to communities.
- “Giving berth to books: How Yellow Train School converted a train bogie into a library” by Pankaja Srinivasan, from The Hindu. How cool! Check out the pictures! #lifegoals
- This book looks really cute! Plenty of Hugs
by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Kate Alizadeh. It releases in April.
- “Literacy foundation brings books behind bars, connects inmates to their children” by Christina Guessferd, from WCAX3. I love this program. “CLiF works to bring parents behind bars closer to their kids by giving inmates the opportunity to send a book home with a recording of themselves reading it. At least every two months, CLiF invites families into the prisons, where they can sit down and dive into a story.”
by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Kate Alizadeh. It releases in April.Kid Lit Lists I Like
- “20 Black Children’s Books By Black Authors” by P.N. Hinton, from Book Riot.
- “Books That Captivate Babies and Toddlers” By Maria Russo, from The New York Times.
- “Check out the upcoming children’s books of 2020” from Indian authors from The Indian Express
Kid Lit Charities
- WAKE Up and Read is currently accepting children’s book donations until February 15. If you live in Wake County, North Caroline, consider donating some books!
Kid Lit Stuff Margaret and Jen Published
- “Baby book review: Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd” by Jen on Baby Librarians
- “In Praise of Dolly Parton and the Imagination Library” by Margaret on Baby Librarians
- “2020 Children’s Board Books From The First Half Of The Year” by Margaret on Baby Librarians
- “Thank goodness for books and bedtime routines” by Jen on Baby Librarians
- “2020 Children’s Picture Books From The First Half Of The Year” by Margaret on Baby Librarians
- “NEWBERY, CALDECOTT, AND PRINTZ WINNERS ANNOUNCED BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION” by Margaret on Book Riot
- “HELP CHILDREN LIVE THEIR BEST BOOKISH LIFE” by Margaret on Book Riot
What news do you have?