Delighted to share a warm and bright review for Brown Is Warm, Black Is Bright. School Library Journal says:
Read More“This book is a joyous celebration of the bucolic life of a Black child and her father….The book makes for a beautiful read-aloud for a group setting with its detailed full-color vibrant imagery and for individual sharing. VERDICT File this under Black joy, childhood, autumn reveries, or pair with other celebrations of Black strength and beauty, such as Tami Charles’s All Because You Matter and Useni Eugene Perkins’s Hey Black Child.“
Ever wonder how a book is made? Not how the author gets ideas and sorts out a plot and makes sure a character is engaging…but how ink gets on the paper? How pages get glued into the binding?
Wonder no more–the New York Times explains. With pictures. Lots and lots of pictures!
Read MoreVisually arresting illustrations of the Australian wilderness capture the story of a wombat and four other animals as they face the predicament of a wildfire in their habitat…. This title could be useful in multiple areas of the curriculum including environmental units as well as units on animal habitats and cooperation. VERDICT Bringing the impact of wildfires to a young audience through this angle, this title does an admirable job of capturing realistic details along with a “hero saves the day” story. Recommended.
And from Booklist:
Read MoreThomson’s spare text is lyrical and elegant [why, thank you, Booklist, that is so kind of you to say] and Santoso’s gorgeous illustrations enhance the story, capturing detailed textures while providing an emotional sense of the scenes, from the terror of the all-encompassing fire to the silence of a surprising safe haven…. A gentle and compassionate introduction to an extraordinary group of animals and an increasingly relevant topic.
I’m thrilled to say that Wombat has gotten reviewed in Outside Magazine! Long ago, it was a dream of mine to one day write for Outside. Since then I’ve realized that I’m in no way athletic enough for that to ever happen. So my grumpy Wombat has made it inside the pages of Outside instead of me–and I could not be happier!
Read More“With a solid dose of drama and danger, as well as explanations at the end of the book about fires and Australian wildlife, this story presents a real-life example of how communities, both wild and human, are more resilient when they work together.”
Hello all! Just a quick note that B&N is offering a 25% discount on all preorders, starting today and ending Friday 4/27. (Use code PREORDER25.) If you were so inclined, it’s a great time to put in an order for Brown Is Warm, Black Is Bright!
An update here about a new series launched by Chelsea Clinton that I’m a proud part of. It will be called the “Save the…” series and will cover endangered animals and efforts to safe them. Elephants, Frogs, and Lions will be my contributions…and here’s a glimpse of the fabulous covers!
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Wombat Underground is on sale this week! And as a book birthday present, a stunning STARRED review from Shelf Awareness:
In an emotionally strong picture book based on natural science, a wombat generously opens his home to other Australian creatures fleeing from a bushfire. Thomson’s dramatic, terse language quickly communicates the serious situation. Santoso’s digital illustrations are striking and tense, making the life-or-death situation the animals face painfully clear. . . .Wombat Underground will likely engender discussion about animals in such precarious situations, but also about how people can protect others (human and animal) in times of danger.
They also called me “prolific” (thanks! I think? One could be a prolific writer of bad prose, I guess, but I am choosing to take it as a compliment) so overall this review thrills me to my toes.
So glad to know what Wombat is out in the world and finding his way to the readers who love him!
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