Diverse Books for all Ages | Gold Sponsor Candlewick Press
Candlewick Press is one of the fastest-growing children’s book publishers in the United States. Established in 1991, they are a progressive and creative company, with a steadfast commitment to the best, which is due in part to their rare independence–being 100 percent employee-owned gives them the freedom to publish only the books they believe in.
This vibrant company has a strong reputation for excellence in creating beautiful, high-quality children’s books is accomplished through a staff of dedicated, focused, and energetic individuals who enjoy an innovative, team-oriented work environment.
In 1992, Candlewick Press opened its doors as an independent children’s publisher, and they remain an independent publisher today. What does that mean? They are 100 percent owned and operated by their employees; a team of 85 staff members in Somerville and more than 155 authors and illustrators.
Candlewick Press arrived on the scene with some of the highest-quality picture books anywhere. And in the years since then, their offerings have grown to encompass all ages, from board books to e-books, high-end novelty to cutting-edge fiction. What hasn’t changed is their goal of excellence, their model of independence, and their commitment to the authors and illustrators who create their books and the readers who love them.
Two decades and more than 2,000 awards and accolades later, they are as committed as ever to independent thinking and primed for a future that looks brighter than ever.
Their vast line-up of diverse books for all ages include notable titles like Baby Goes to Market, Martin Luther King: The Peaceful Warrior, 42 is Not Just a Number: The Odyssey of Jackie Robinson, American Hero, Pattan’s Pumpkin: An Indian Flood Story and Escalera a La Luna by Maya Soetoro-Ng and Yuyi Morales
Author: Atinuke Illustrator: Angela Brooksbank
When Baby and Mama go to the market, Baby is so adorable that the banana seller gives him six bananas. Baby eats one and puts five in the basket, but Mama doesn’t notice. As Mama and Baby wend their way through the stalls, cheeky Baby collects five oranges, four biscuits, three ears of sweet corn, two pieces of coconut . . . until Mama notices that her basket is getting very heavy! Poor Baby, she thinks, he must be very hungry by now! Rhythmic language, visual humor, and a bounty of delectable food make this a tale that is sure to whet little appetites for storytime.
Martin Luther King: The Peaceful Warrior,
Author: Ed Clayton Illustrator: Donald Bermudez
Martin Luther King Jr. devoted his life to helping people, first as a Baptist minister and scholar and later as the foremost leader in the African-American civil rights movement. An organizer of the Montgomery bus boycott and cofounder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. As a result of his actions, the United States Congress passed the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964. This book’s powerful story and important message, originally published in 1964, remain as relevant today as they were more than fifty years ago. With a new foreword by the author’s widow, Xernona Clayton, the text has been reviewed and updated for a new generation and features striking new illustrations by Donald Bermudez.
42 is Not Just a Number: The Odyssey of Jackie Robinson, American Hero
Author: Doreen Rappaport
Baseball, basketball, football — no matter the game, Jackie Robinson excelled. His talents would have easily landed another man a career in pro sports, but such opportunities were closed to athletes like Jackie for one reason: his skin was the wrong color. Settling for playing baseball in the Negro Leagues, Jackie chafed at the inability to prove himself where it mattered most: the major leagues. Then in 1946, Branch Rickey, manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, recruited Jackie Robinson. Jackie faced cruel and sometimes violent hatred and discrimination, but he proved himself again and again, exhibiting courage, determination, restraint, and a phenomenal ability to play the game. In this compelling biography, award-winning author Doreen Rappaport chronicles the extraordinary life of Jackie Robinson and how his achievements won over — and changed — a segregated nation.
Pattan’s Pumpkin: An Indian Flood Story
Author: Chitra Soundar Illustrator: Frané Lessac
When Pattan finds a yellow-flower vine wilting in his valley, he replants and cares for it, watching as a pumpkin appears and grows taller than the goats, taller than the elephants, as tall as the very mountains. When a terrible storm rages across the valley, Pattan wonders if perhaps his pumpkin can save the seeds and grains and saplings, the goats and birds and bison, and protect them all as the storm clouds burst and the waters rise. Frané Lessac’s brilliantly hued artwork is a feast for the eyes, while Chitra Soundar’s thoughtful retelling is a fascinating example of the kinds of stories told the world over — and the differences that make each version unique.
Authors: Maya Soetoro-Ng and Yuyi Morales Illustator: Yuyi Morales
En una noche adornada de estrellas, Suhaila ve realizado el sueño de conocer a su abuela cuando una escalera dorada aparece en su ventana y Abuela Annie, tendiéndole sus brazos, invita a Suhaila a una maravillosa aventura.
De la mano de Maya Soetoro-Ng, hermana del Presidente Obama, nos llega una lírica historia inspirada en la vida y en el espíritu de su madre, Ann Dunham. Esta mágica aventura, de fantasía y folclore, evoca sucesos que han afectado a personas a través del mundo, y reafirma nuestra humanidad común. El asombroso arte de Yuyi Morales ilumina el camino, recordándonos que nuestros seres queridos están siempre junto a nosotros, y que a veces solo es necesario mirar a la Luna para comprobarlo.
Little Suhaila wishes she could have known her grandma, who would wrap her arms around the whole world if she could, Mama says. And one night, Suhaila gets her wish when a golden ladder appears at her window and Grandma Annie invites the girl to come along with her on a magical journey. Renowned translator Teresa Mlawer has translated this dreamlike tale into Spanish, reminding us that loved ones lost are always with us, and that sometimes we need only look at the moon to remember.
Candlewick Press
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