Cicada Books

interior image from Migrants

Seeing Migration Experiences in Recent Picture Books

For most of humanity’s existence on Earth, people have migrated from one place to another as individuals, as family groups, and as entire cultures. Today’s humans can find themselves migrating out of need—escaping war, poverty, and danger to seek a place to call home–or moving in search of better jobs, or to help care for […]

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Covers for Look Up High! from Pajama Press, Kind Crocodile from Gecko Press, History FACTopia from What On Earth

It’s the Most List-i-ful Time of the Year!

From late November onward toward the year’s end, everyone’s making and/or following lists: what to gift, what to put on your own wish list, or gift yourself right now and add to your growing to-be-read pile. Because we work with so many international kids’ book publishers, our interests in lists is definitely global. We’ve found

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Book covers of Ancient Egyptians for Kids, Mummies Unwrapped, The Unofficial Guide to the Egyptian Afterlife, Hide and Seek Ancient Egypt

Unwrapping the Secrets of Ancient Egypt

This article is by Publisher Spotlight intern Lauren Neely. Happy King Tut Day! 101 years ago as of November 4, 2023, King Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered by British archaeologist, Howard Carter, in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, where 63 pharaohs were buried from 1539 BC to 1075 BC. In celebration of this day, here are

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Big (and Little) Books for Big Feelings

There are whole months and days dedicated to raising mental health awareness, but this is a topic that deserves to be addressed all year long. Kids may be tiny people, but they have BIG feelings, and it’s important to support them through their emotions and experiences. From anxiety and sadness to excitement and anger, this

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Dearest One, It's Time for Berries, Grandma's House of Rules, and Supergran! books lined up on white shelf

Generations of Love: Grandparents and Grandchildren in Books

This article is by Josalyn Moran, Publisher Spotlight consultant When President Jimmy Carter signed a presidential proclamation in 1978 declaring the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day, he was already a grandfather.  He knew the unanticipated joy and unconditional love that being a grandparent can provide.  He may not have known about

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cover image for Twice as Many Friends

Making Friends through Books  

This article is by Publisher Spotlight intern Tricia LaMorte. International Day of Friendship is celebrated every year on July 30th. What a great day to show some extra love to your friends, and to teach children to do the same! Whether the kids in your life are trying to make new friends or just want

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Pavla Fortelna speaks with Rutgers professors Marc Aronson & Doris Gebel & their students

Publisher Spotlight at the Bologna International Children’s Book Fair

by Ellen Myrick, Publisher Spotlight Founder In 2023, the Bologna International Children’s Book Fair felt alive with crowds of authors, artists, publishers, and other book-adjacent professionals surging through the halls of Bologna’s business district, its famous fiere. Each region of the world displays in its own fair pavilion, giving the five halls a loose order.

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Ziggy Hanaor

Q & A with Author and Cicada Books Founder Ziggy Hanaor

We are delighted that Ziggy Hanaor took time with us to talk about her upcoming graphic novel Alte Zachen / Old Things. With its softly designed sequential art panels by Benjamin Phillips, the story is set in a contemporary New York City–with memories of War-era Germany and then to mid-20th century Brooklyn and Manhattan’s Lower East

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Office cats Sasha and Bruno

Purrrfect Books for National Kitten Day

Here in the office, we are gearing up for July 10th, more happily known as National Kitten Day. While our office cats are technically no longer kittens, Bruno and Sasha will always be called kitties by some of us. Curious about the history of National Kitten Day? So were we! It turns out that Colleen

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