Reviews and media
It’s always thrilling to see one of our books get reviewed. I guess it’s like watching your best friend hit a home run or get a standing ovation or something. It’s especially thrilling when a book gets reviewed years after its release date.
Read MoreOur first two books are still feeling the love with two great reviews recently. Check them out:
The Pirate Tree's Lyn Miller-Lachmann writes in "Remembering the Struggles of the Elders: A Review of A Gift from Greensboro," "This brief but powerful book, by the young small press Penny Candy Books, is truly a gift – a gorgeous poem and a story for readers young and old to ponder."
On her blog, Much Ado About Adoption, Merrisa writes, "This sweet book does a wonderful job of breaking down adoption after infertility into an easy-to-tell story. My kudos and gratitude to author Tracey Zeeck and Penny Candy Books for bringing to life a highly relatable, important story that adoptive parents like me can use in this wonderful, challenging journey of adoption."
And, finally, Quraysh Ali Lansana found himself (with yours truly) in Yulee, Florida, last week, where he read and discussed A Gift from Greensboro with 300 third through fifth graders through the Authors in Schools program sponsored by the Amelia Island Book Festival. This was an amazingly attentive and insightful group of kids! Here's a photo of Q signing some books in the school library after the talk:
Cheers,
Check out the great article in the Worcester, MA, Telegram & Gazette about Chuck Young and The Day We Lost Pet.
I recently lost two pets, Pikey and Calvin, and this book has been such a balm for me. Not only are Chuck's words so poignant, comforting, and poetic, but Aniela Sobieski's illustrations are masterful, inviting, and other-worldly. Yeah, I know I'm the publisher, and I'm supposed to say nice things, but I can also say that Chad and I don't publish books we're not in love with, and this one has been extra impactful to me as a human. —Alexis
Some interior spreads:
Penny Candy Books has embarked on a new series of micro-reviews of children’s books. We’ll post reviews on Twitter several times a week under the hashtag #TinyTakes. There are so many great kids’ books out there deserving time and attention; we hope #TinyTakes helps introduce people to titles they’ll enjoy with their children and loved ones. A big thank you to the Downtown Oklahoma City branch of the Metropolitan Library System and to Live Oak Public Libraries where we discover most of the titles we decide to review.
Quraysh Ali Lansana at Scuppernong Books in Greensboro. A Gift from Greensboro is peeking out from behind him.
What a whirlwind week road tripping with our indefatigable author, Quraysh Ali Lansana and his book, A Gift from Greensboro. Long drives, teaching sessions, presentations, unscheduled appearances, small crowds, big crowds—the man doesn't stop! It was so fun to watch Quraysh in his element, talking to young people—from kindergartners to high school students—about the impacts of the Civil Rights Movement as well as the journey still ahead of us.
We did a lot of driving through the South: Richmond to Farmville, VA to Greensboro, NC to Raleigh. In each city, we learned another unique piece of Civil Rights history, from Farmville's 5-year shut down of public schools to avoid integration and the Black students who initiated boycotts of substandard replacement schools (we met one of them!) to a day-by-day timeline of the sit-ins in Greensboro led by 4 college students who'd had enough. The Greensboro sit-ins weren't the first of their kind, but they were the catalyst for the Movement that swept the South and resulted in lunch counter integration.
Speaking of lunch counters, we saw the original counter in the International Civil Rights Museum, which used to be the Woolworth store featured so amazingly by Skip Hill in A Gift from Greensboro. The energy of disruption and victory hovers in that room.
This trip, more than a publicity or book sale opportunity, was simply an honor to be a part of. We're not just making books. We might just be creating community too.
Quraysh at the Greensboro International Civil Rights Museum discussing the book with students and parents.
Quraysh at the Virginia Children's Book Festival with a group of high school creative writers (and Chad taking a photo from the other direction).
Finally, we woke up this morning after lots of driving and flying, and we discovered this unbelievable post about Penny Candy Books on Sarah James's Whoorl. If you get a chance, give it a read! So great to see that readers—kids and grown ups alike—are digging our mission and our books!!
Take a look at this great review we just got from blogger Sarah at Books Before Bandaids! Click here for full review.
Here's an excerpt:
"These layered images, allow for many conversations about Civil Rights and current events. Throughout the passionate book doves fly from page to page, bringing the idea of peace and hope full circle. This is a moving book that I would recommend to anyone, a must read in light of current events. Lansana and Hill bring history alive and make it modern and real for readers struggling to understand the what and the why of current events."
