The Weekly 411 (5/30/25)
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| © Paula Piechna |
May 30, 2025 vol. 22
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, The Air We Share: A Pollution Problem and Finding Ways to Fix It, by Dee Romito, illustrated by Mariona Cabassa (Holiday House) out now! Enter to win a copy via the Rafflecopter below.
About the Book: What goes up there ends up here! That’s because air travels around the earth and carries lots of stuff in it! Air carries mostly good stuff like seeds, scents, and sounds. And it carries bad stuff like ash, dust and smog. Read about . . . the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa that sent ash into the air and around the earth, The Black Sunday Dust Storm that traveled from Oklahoma to the East Coast, and The Great Smog of London that killed thousands of people. Then learn about what people can do to protect the air we share.
About the Author: Dee Romito is an award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction books for young readers from picture books to middle grade. Her books have received starred reviews and have been featured in book fairs, museum bookstores, and Literati boxes. Dee lives in her hometown of Buffalo, New York where you’ll likely find her sipping from stainless steel straws as she researches strong women in history and ways to protect our planet. She’s certain each one of us can make a difference in the world and writes books to prove it. You can visit her website at deeromito.com.
About the Illustrator: Mariona Cabassa is a curious person, a tireless explorer devoted to creative life who, during the last two decades, has published almost 100 children’s books in different languages and countries around the world. Mariona has received numerous awards for her work, both for her books published in Spain as well as abroad.
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India's Woven Trees, by Sandhya Acharya, illustrated by Avani Dwivedi (Beach Lane Books) out on June 3. Enter to win a copy via the Rafflecopter below.
About the Book: In the mountains of Meghalaya, India, a living bridge stands tall, connecting the land and its people with the interwoven roots of tall, wide ficus trees. The bridge is called Jingkieng Jri, and it’s alive. A little boy can’t wait to learn to weave the roots together just like the generations before him.
But when he notices litter on the bridge and scars on the roots from people stealing sap, he knows Jinkieng Jri doesn’t just need shaping, it needs love. By rallying his community and even visiting tourists, the boy protects the living bridge and shares his message of care.
About the Author: Sandhya Acharya grew up in India and now lives in California, with her husband and two sons. After working as a finance professional for many years, she traded spreadsheets for words. When not writing, she’s training for the next marathon, climbing a mountain, learning a form of Indian classical dance, or volunteering. She can be reached at SandhyaAcharya.com.
About the Illustrator: Avani Dwivedi is an author and illustrator of picture books including her debut, My Bollywood Dream. A graduate of Maryland Institute College of Arts, Avani grew up in Navi Mumbai, India, and later moved to the states to pursue her passion of becoming an artist. Even when away from home, she held on to her most precious gems—memories of her sweet childhood, the lived experience of being a South-Asian woman, and her love for creating whimsical art. Currently, she lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The Power of Connotations in Picture Books
Heart First, Brain Later: Why Your Character's Emotional Arc Matters More than the Perfect Plot
How to Tell if Criticism is Valid (And What to Do About Valid Criticism)
7 Easy Ideas for Authors to Grow an Instagram Audience
What to Write if You Want to be Published
15 Things a Writer Should Never Do
These are two lovely educational books.
ReplyDeleteBoth of these will help readers see their world in a new way and maybe even start important discussions.
ReplyDeleteI like the concepts in The Air We Share and how it covers both the good and the bad, histories of what has been in the air, and how we can help for the future. Excited to check it out!
ReplyDeleteI just learned that tree roots could form bridges--how cool! Looking forward to Living Bridges!
ReplyDeleteThe Air We Share sounds great for our kids!
ReplyDeleteGreat articles and giveaways!
ReplyDeleteExcellent articles linked here this week. Thanks!
ReplyDelete