April 2009 Archives

Tomorrow, April 30, is Dia, a day to celebrate children's books.

El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), known as Día, is a celebration EVERY DAY of children, families, and reading that culminates every year on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

In honor of the day, all of our multicultural books are on sale at 50% off the retail price! This is a one-day only sale, so don't miss out on this great deal. Among the books on sale are Am I a Color Too? and We Share One World.

Once more proving its enduring message, The Tree has been named the winner of the 2009 Green Book Festival Children's Book Award. The awards honor books that "contribute to greater understanding, respect and positive action on the changing worldwide environment."

Check out the list of winners for more great books that promote environmental awareness.

And if all those books aren't enough for you, a blog called Exploring Iowa's Natural Resources has a terrific list of children's books about trees, broken down by reading level.

We love getting the chance to interact with teachers and parents at the trade shows we attend. You all have such great stories to share about our books!

One teacher who attended the International Reading Association show came to our booth specifically to buy the multicultural book We Share One World, written by Jane Hoffelt and illustrated by Marty Husted. She had purchased the book two years earlier when the IRA conference was in New York City. Immediately after visiting our booth, she caught a cab for the airport and found herself with an unhappy, frustrated taxi driver who had come to the US from another country. When they were stopped at a light, a small inner voice prompted her to give the man her book. When he looked through the book and saw children and animals in countries around the world celebrating all the things we have in common, his anger seemed to instantly melt away. The rest of her cab ride was much less stressful, but she never forgot about her desire to share this special book with her students.

Did you know that Eric Carle, creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other classic children's books, has a blog? He does indeed! It includes some news on The Very Hungry Caterpillar's 40th Anniversary celebrations as well as a fascinating look at his creative process. I'd call it required reading for children's book fans!

[Via the ever-fabulous Miss Bird of Fuse #8]

Now through the end of the April, two of Illumination Arts' greenest titles are on sale for $12 each! The Tree, written by Dana Lyons and illustrated by the incredibly talented David Danioth, is the song of an ancient Douglas fir tree, celebrating the cycle of life and the importance of preserving nature. Little Yellow Pear Tomatoes, written by Demian Elaine Yumei and illustrated by Nicole Tamarin, teaches children about the collaboration that goes into growing a single yellow pear tomato. Earth Day is April 22, and both of books would make a splendid addition to your discussions about the environment.

If you're already familiar with these books, look for this year's winners of the Green Earth Book Award: Planting the Trees of Kenya and Varmints. The winners will receive their awards at the Environmental Literature Festival on April 15.