be prepared

Verusik (aka Vera) is excited to go to Russian summer camp, where she feels she’ll finally fit in.  But nothing prepares her for the fact that her tentmates are five years older than her, and there’s no electricity and...no plumbing.  It’s going to be a long two weeks.  Brilliant writing, incredible art and very real moments of trying to fit in and figure things out.  This is our first book by Vera Brosgol and we’re blown away — she’s truly a master of her craft.

Be Prepared was written and illustrated by Vera Brosgol and published by First Second Books.

los angeles is...

LOS ANGELES IS… is one of our favorite books published this spring and it’s out today!  We took it along on a recent trip to the Getty, and here it is totally in its element — LA’s blue skies.  Sharing our original post of it below.

A board book with a clever rhyming narrative that captures LA’s sensibilities, sunny climate, culture, history, iconic locales and the unique attributes that make it the city that it is.  Its palette is like a summer day (which LA gets a lot of) and exudes a beautiful warmth.  Its mellow salmons, corals and blues paired with stylized shapes and lines exude a modern, laid-back Los Angeles.  It’s a stylish new classic about the City of Angels.  We love this one, and we love LA.  

Los Angeles Is… was written by Elisa Parhad, illustrated by Alexander Vidal and published by Cameron Books.

barcelona tile designs

Feliç Diada de Sant Jordi, un dels millors dies de l’any!

St. George’s Day is one of the most beautiful holidays of the year and if you have Barcelona in mind for future travel plans, April 23 is an amazing day to be there.  Search #SantJordi2018 for a look at how the city is transformed into a sea of books and roses today.

Barcelona Tile Designs was published by Pepin Press.

the brilliant deep

The world will stand still for a moment while you fall deep into the pages of this one.  Kate Messner has written a biography about scuba diver Ken Nedimyer that’s brilliant, informative and inspiring.  His life’s work is devoted to restoring the world’s endangered coral reefs.  Matt Forsythe’s underwater scenes are captivating and immersive, and his unspeakably rich, nuanced color is a marvel.  It’s a story whose words and pictures both sing.  One of the most sublime books published this year.

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs: The Story of Ken Nedimyer and the Coral Restoration Foundation was written by Kate Messner, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe and published by Chronicle Books.  It’ll be out on May 8!

the house that lou built + giveaway

One of our favorite middle grade books this year!!! 🔨

Twelve-year-old Lou Bulosan-Nelson has a dream — to build a house of her own.  Not just any house — a 100-square-foot tiny house.  A “just right” space to get away to when she’s in need of some peace and quiet.  Lou’s hopeful plans are to build her house on some land inherited from her dad.  It’s not long, though, before she and her carefully-drafted blueprints run into a couple of obstacles.  It’s time to “seize the day” (one of Lou’s favorite mottos) and make things happen!

This book means so much to me.  It means so much to welcome another Filipino American voice to kidlit, and a character whose experiences are similar to my own — the language, culture, hospitality, community and loud, boisterous togetherness — it’s all there.  Mae Respicio’s writing is fresh and funny with beautiful moments that will resonate with all readers about family, friends, and the intangible things that make a house a home.  I hope you’ll welcome this story into your heart as I have and I hope you’ll love getting to know creative, resourceful, observant and lovable Lou.  You can read an excerpt from The House That Lou Built here.

The House That Lou Built was written by Mae Respicio and published by Wendy Lamb Books (Random House Children's Books).  It’ll be out on June 12 and is available for pre-order now.  And, we’re giving away an ARC of The House That Lou Built!  This giveaway is open to US residents and ends Sunday, April 22, at 11:00 PM PDT.  Head over to this Instagram post to enter.