Eerdmans Books for Young Readers has won the prestigious Mildred L. Batchelder Award for its English-language edition of Soldier Bear. The Batchelder is awarded each year by the American Library Association to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.

We offer hearty congratulations to author Bibi Dumon Tak, illustrator Philip Hopman, and translator Laura Watkinson, as well as to the editorial staff of Eerdmans Books for Young Readers for this stunning achievement.

Cynthia Grady and Michele Wood's I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery has been receiving critical appreciation from several notable sources.

Kirkus Reviews has awarded the book a starred review, calling it "a powerful grouping of thought-provoking poems and brilliantly designed paintings."

It has also received a starred review from the School Library Journal, which says, "This ambitious work offers a bit of poetry, history, folk art, quilting, religion and more. It will definitely fill a niche in libraries."

Even the Horn Book magazine has chimed in, calling the book "a stunning achievement for both author and artist."

September 13, 2011
Illustrator Carll Cneut has been honored by inclusion in the 2011 Original Art exhibition of the Society of Illustrators. "The Original Art: Celebrating the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration," will be on display at the Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators in New York City from October 26 through December 29, 2011. Cneut's Willy is one of 150 books to be featured in the show, which were chosen from 590 entries submitted nationwide. Two Silver Medals and one Gold Medal will be awarded by the jury for outstanding achievement in children's book illustration. For more information, visit the Society of Illustrators website.

September 1, 2011
The work of illustrator Michele Wood will be on display at the Jeffrey R. Krull Gallery at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, September 1–October 23, 2011. "Not to Be Forgotten: Paintings, Original Illustrations, & Textiles of One Artist's Journey" features original artwork from three of Wood's children's books, including her forthcoming I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery. The Gallery will host an artist's reception and book signing Saturday, October 22, 2–4 p.m.; Wood will also be a featured speaker at the National Black Genealogy Summit, held October 22 at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne. Visit the Gallery website for more information.

March 1, 2011
We've made a few changes to our submission guidelines. Please see our submissions page for details.

January 18, 2011
Spoken Arts has produced an audiobook version of Pat Sherman and Floyd Cooper's Ben and the Emancipation Proclamation, read by the famous actor LeVar Burton. Visit SpokenArtsMedia.com to order your copy.

November, 11, 2010
Tim Ladwig's beautiful book, The Beatitudes: From Slavery to Civil Rights, has been named one of the Top 10 Religion Books for Youth by Booklist magazine. See the full list of award winners at BooklistOnline.com.