The Weekly 411 (5/23/25)
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| © Michele Katz |
May 23, 2025 vol. 21
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 Michele Katz.
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, Grandpa's Barn by Debra Daugherty and illustrated by Victoria Marble (
About the Book: As a young girl explores her grandpa’s barn, she marvels at the sights, sounds and smells that greet her. Grandpa has a surprise for her, but what is it? Is it the licorice he shares with her? The cat on the bale of hay? Milking the cow? When she discovers her surprise, she declares, "Best surprise ever!”
About the Author: Debra Daugherty is a children's book author from central Illinois. She is a member of SCBWI, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the SCBWI-Illinois representative for the Springfield area network. Debra's publishing credits include four picture books, a young adult novel, and two short stories in a children's online magazine. When not writing or reading, Debra enjoys flea markets, visiting local museums and historical sights, and playing ball with pup nephew Elmer, her brother’s dachshund. Debra and her brothers loved exploring their Grandpa Reiser's barn and playing in the hayloft.
About the Illustrator: Victoria Marble is an illustrator specializing in character and narrative design, with a particular emphasis on children, animals, insects, and floral designs. Victoria lives in Southern California with her husband and daughter, and three little dogs. When not drawing, reading, or writing, Victoria enjoys watching movies with her daughter, eating dessert, and drinking coffee or tea. She is a fan of classical animation, the Great Gatsby and the roaring twenties, and Audrey Hepburn films.
We are excited to host a giveaway of two books, the English and Spanish versions of Julieta and the Diamond Enigma (Julieta y El Enigma del Diamante), written (and translated) by Luisana Duarte Armendáriz (Tu Books/ Lee & Low Books). Enter to win a copy via the Rafflecopter below.
About the Book: Nine-year-old Julieta is finally about to put a purple pin in her family’s world traveling map! She’s off to Paris to help her art-handler dad collect pieces for a new exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Sadly, they must leave Julieta’s very pregnant mother behind, but they’re sure they’ll be back before the baby is born.
Julieta sees the best of Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Sacré-Cœur, and plenty of great art. But things go awry when she and Dad walk in on a thief stealing the Louvre’s most prized piece, the Regent Diamond–a priceless cursed diamond with a shady history. When Julieta runs for help, she accidentally frees the thief instead! Now Dad’s job is in danger and he’s become a suspect. Can Julieta determine who the thief really is before it’s too late? Winner of the Tu Books 2018 New Visions Award!
About the Author: Luisana Duarte Armendáriz is a children’s book author and translator that hails from Ciudad Juárez, México, the most fabulous and beautiful border city in the world (Juan Gabriel’s words, not hers). She holds a dual master’s degree in Children’s Literature and Writing for Children from Simmons College. She currently lives in Connecticut, working towards an English Ph.D. at UConn.
Luisana has had a love affair with literature since she was a little girl. She loved going to the libraries in El Paso, TX, even though her library card read ‘Lupsana’ (her mom claims the typo was through no fault of her own). Her childhood—filled by Leo Lionni, Amelia Bedelia, and Hogwarts—inspired her to create books for children so that they may also fall in love with stories.
Love the Barn book - pair with Jill Osborn's new It's Corn Picking Time
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading the Diamond Enigma. I live in the Boston area and visit the MFA all the time. I love the premise of the story!
ReplyDeleteLooks super adorable. Love the vivid artwork.
ReplyDeleteI can’t wait to read this barn book. Such rich colors in the cover, too!
ReplyDeleteFrom barnyard to France…Love the diversity in this week’s books, kidlit411!
ReplyDeleteLove the gorgeous illustrations in Grandpa’s Barn and it reminds me of the many times I visited my aunt and uncle’s farm when I was young.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great links!
ReplyDeleteBoth of these look lovely! Congratulations to all of you!
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