Welcome to Publisher Spotlight, your discovery spot for children’s books from international and independent publishers!
Recent Starred Reviews
Check It Out Now on NetGalley!
LET’S TALK CLIMATE CHANGE: Take Action, Be Positive, Love Our Planet is yours to preview this week on NetGalley. Packed with science, author Ruth Owen’s chatty, engaging style explains to middle grade readers exactly what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what we can all do to help protect our planet for the future. From Ruby Tuesday Books you’ll see why this antidote to climate change anxiety is understanding what’s going on (without the drama and fear) and being empowered to take daily positive actions to help care for our world, and why you need it for your kids’ nonfiction collection.
Read It Now: Our Latest Article
- Spotlight on Beaming Books
Beaming Books, an imprint of Augsburg Fortress Publishers, launched in 2018, and publishes high-quality children’s books that help kids thrive in every part of who they are–emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
Their beautifully illustrated children’s books center on self-esteem, mental health, spirituality, progressive Christianity, and diverse childhood experiences. Beaming Books’ titles take children seriously—while still embracing humor—and engage the big questions they face, from identity and emotions to purpose, wonder, and faith.
To further enhance the reading experience, Beaming Books’ website features a multitude of content-rich parent and educator guides, in addition to resources tailored for church settings, like Bible reading plans. A notable feature of Beaming Books’ website is the organization of their titles into easy to navigate categories and special interest collections, like Pride, Grief and Loss, and Faith. Their website also provides a wide variety of fun extras that pair with their books. These include coloring sheets, craft ideas, games, sheet music, activity kits, science experiments, recipes, language flash cards, and more! One of my favorites is the “Make Your Own Origami Boat” activity associated with YUNA’S CARDBOARD CASTLES written by Marie Tang and illustrated by Jieting Chen. The boat actually floats! Make your own Origami Boat.
Here are some special titles to explore from the Beaming Books catalog that are shining examples of their publishing mission:
THE RAINBOW SHEEP
by David HaywardRicky lives with a flock of sheep that prizes conformity. When one sleeps, they all sleep. When one eats, they all eat. When one baa-a-a-s, they all baa-a-a. And they all dress the same, too. Every single day.
Until a rainbow sheep joins the flock and everything changes! Rainbow is so fun and so free! Ricky becomes friends with Rainbow and starts showing her true color too. How will the rest of the flock react?
THE RAINBOW SHEEP is a whimsical story about inclusion, self-acceptance, and the joy of being different, written and illustrated by former pastor and now-cartoonist David Hayward.
MOTHER GOD
by Teresa Kim Pecinovsky
Illustrated by Khoa LeWith lyrical, rhyming text and exquisite illustrations, MOTHER GOD introduces readers to a dozen images of God inspired by feminine descriptions from Scripture. Children and adults alike will be in awe of the God who made them as they come to know her as a creative seamstress, generous baker, fierce mother bear, protective mother hen, strong woman in labor, nurturing nursing mother, wise grandmother, and comforting singer of lullabies.
This gorgeous picture book welcomes children into a fuller, more diverse understanding of what it means to be made in the image of God.
Beaming Books was born out of a desire to meet children, caregivers, and educators where they are, opening windows to new possibilities. The amount of thought and care poured into each book is evident when browsing through their visually appealing digital resources and with every turn of the physical page. It’s rare to find a publisher making beautiful, diverse, and inclusive books that also tackle the challenging questions in life and hold space for faith and spirituality. Beaming Books does just that, with grace, humor, and fresh perspectives!