The Weekly 411 (8/16/24)

August 16, 2024 vol. 33

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 Novel Varius.

Middle Grade Giveaway

We are pleased to host a giveaway of The Many Fortunes of Maya, by Nicole Collier (HarperCollins/Versify), coming out in paperback on August 20. Enter to win a copy via the Rafflecopter below!

design by Celeste Knudsen, illustration by Sawyer Cloud

About the Book: Maya J. Jenkins is bursting with questions: Will she get the MVP award at this year’s soccer banquet? Who will win the big grill off between Daddy and Uncle J? When will she pass the swim test and get a green bracelet? For answers and a dose of good luck, 12-year-old Maya turns to her Wheel of Fortunes, a cardboard circle covered with the small slips of wisdom she’s collected from fortune cookies.

But can the fortunes answer her deep-down questions? The ones she’s too scared to ask out loud? Like, where did Mama’s smile go, the real one that lit up everything around her? When will Daddy move back home? And most of all, does she have enough courage to truly listen to the voice in her heart?

About the Author: Nicole D. Collier is a former elementary teacher turned personal development coach and author who writes about learning to be true to yourself. Her debut, Just Right Jillian, was nominated for several state book awards and best of lists. Her sophomore project, The Many Fortunes of Maya, earned starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, and is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Her latest book, The Best Friend Bracelet, is out October 15, 2024.

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Picture Book Giveaway

We are excited to host a giveaway of the picture book, Navya Sings for Navarathri, by Lakshmi Thamizhmani, illustrated by Avani Dwivedi (Harper Collins) out on August 20. Enter to win a copy via the Rafflecopter below!

About the Book: From visiting with family to golu hopping and more, Navya loves everything about Navarathri—except singing in front of a crowd. She's too afraid. Will the support of her female relatives and the goddess Durga help Navya overcome her fear?

About the Author: Lakshmi Thamizhmani is the author of picture books including the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Ganesha Goes Green and Navya Sings for Navarathri. A CBA grad and an SCBWI and 12×12 member, she divides her time between her corporate tech job, daydreaming, and writing. After moving from India to the US, she began writing for newspapers but then discovered a passion for creative writing instead. Lakshmi now writes beautiful, lesser-known stories to bridge cultures and transport children to new worlds to learn and celebrate diversity. Visit her at lakshmithamizhmani.com.

About the Illustrator: Avani Dwivedi is an illustrator and author of picture books, including the School Library Journal Best Book of the Year My Bollywood Dream. She grew up in Mumbai, India, and later moved to the US to pursue her passion of becoming an artist. A graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art with a BFA in illustration, she says that even when away from home, she holds on to her “most precious gems”—memories of her childhood, the lived experience of being a South Asian woman, and her love for creating whimsical art. Avani Dwivedi lives in Jersey City, New Jersey. Visit her at avanidwivedi.com.

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For Writers

10 Ways to Start Your Story Better

How to Publish a Children's Book: 7 Steps for New Authors

Story Pacing: The What, Why, and How for a Fiction Writer

Nonfiction

5 Tips for Researching Photos for Your Nonfiction Book

Platform and Nonfiction for Children

Writing Nonfiction Picture Books

Marketing & Creating a Platform

8 Dos and Don'ts to Prep for a Book Event

Middle Grade