The Weekly 411 (3/8/24)
© Maru Vargas |
March 8, 2024 vol. 10
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. This week's illustration is by Maru Vargas.
About the Book: Kindly Cecil has a broken heart, but when the kids in his neighborhood start asking him to fix their valuables—a music box, a watch, a stuffed elephant—he gradually finds that he knows just how to do this mending. And in return, his circle of new friends offers the mending that his own heart needs.
This gentle, kindhearted story brings the generations of a community together to sustain and enrich one another, and it beautifully showcases the value of fixing things―and loving their history―rather than quickly discarding them.
About the Author: Casey W. Robinson grew up in Maine and used to keep a shoe box of favorite words and phrases under her bed. She now lives with her family just west of Boston, in a house overflowing with books. When she’s not writing, Casey is managing book events for her local independent bookstore. Her debut picture book, Iver & Ellsworth, was a Crystal Kite Award Finalist.
About the Illustrator: Nancy Whitesides is an author and self-taught illustrator born and raised in the Philippines, and later moved to the US. Her picture book debut, Grief Is an Elephant, was accepted into the prestigious Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators in New York.
Buy a signed copy here!
About the Book: Based on the real-life Lights Out movement, this inspirational picture book shows how even the smallest of actions, like flipping a switch, can make a big difference in helping migrating birds.
When the seasons change and it’s time for a flock of sparrows to move on, a map made of stars guides their way. But when they reach the city, light pollution masks the map and confuses the birds. One sparrow becomes separated from the flock. A girl rescues the lost sparrow and decides to take action so this doesn’t happen again. She rallies a group of friends, and together they encourage people all over the city to help the sparrows by turning off their lights at night. But will the city be ready by the time the flock return?
About the Author: Jessica Stremer is an award-winning children’s author who combines her love of science and writing to create books that inspire kids to explore and think critically about the world around them. Her titles include Great Carrier Reef (a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection), Lights Out: A Movement to Help Migrating Birds, Fire Escape: How Animals and Plants Survive Wildfires (a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection), and Plight of the Pelicans: How Science Saved a Species. Jessica obtained a B.S. in Biology, with an emphasis in Ecology, from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. When not writing, Jessica loves spending time outdoors with her family and rewilding her yard in Wisconsin.
About the Illustrator: Bonnie Pang used to dream about becoming an archaeologist, artist, or flying unicorn. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Bonnie has been drawing ever since she learned to wield a crayon. She loves making others happy and spreading positive messages through art. Her work is textured, colorful, and cozy like her family. She is also a regular donor to environment related NGOs. She recycles whenever possible, and always tries to live a greener lifestyle by bringing reusable shopping bags and boxes, shopping only necessities, choosing sustainable and ethical products, switching to an electric car, consuming less meat etc.
The book Lights Out is so important! Look forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read both of these books!
ReplyDeleteI have been waiting for Casey's new book for a long time! Delighted to see it featured here!
ReplyDeleteBoth of these are going to be fun to read!
ReplyDeleteI love Iver and Ellsworth! Looking forward to both books!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. Lots of good information. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteJust requested small things mended from the library - can't wait to read it
ReplyDeleteThese books look great!
ReplyDeleteGiveaways for Small Things Mended and Lights Out in the same week! Bonus!! They're on my library list.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the opportunity for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading these two books.
Both of these books looks quite interesting! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous covers!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see another book by Casey. Loved Iver and Ellsworth! And Lights Out is such an important topic. Two great new pbs.
ReplyDeleteHappy to see these two books being featured.
ReplyDeleteThese look super cute! I can't wait to read them!
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