I loved biographies. I wanted to read about great people and what made them great so that maybe I could be great like them.” Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.
Children’s Book Awards Newbery Medal: Tinyurl.com/Newbery-Medal-Award Caldecott Medal: Tinyurl.com/Caldecott-Medal-Award American Indian Youth Literature Awards: Tinyurl.com/American-Indian-Award Pura Belpré Award, celebrating Latino culture: Tinyurl.com/Pura-Belpre-Book-Award Coretta Scott King Awards, showcasing African American values: Tinyurl.com/Coretta-Scott-King-Awards Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature: Tinyurl.com/Asian-PacificAmerican-Award Sydney Taylor Book Award, portraying the Jewish experience: Tinyurl.com/Sydney-Taylor-Award
Children’s Book Lists Rainbow Book List, presenting LGBTQIA+ viewpoints: glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks Best Books by the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature: csmcl.org/best-books-2020 Cooperative Children’s Book Center Booklists, various topics: Tinyurl.com/ccbcBookList Association for Library Service to Children Book Lists, various genres and topics: Tinyurl.com/alscBookList Notable Children’s Books by the Association for Library Service to Children, identifying the best of the best in children’s books: Tinyurl.com/alscNotableBooks
LOCAL CONNECTION Books for Children and Teens by Charlotte Area Authors My Big Notebook
Roly-Poly and the Light
My Big Notebook (SPARK Publications) is a fun, private, guided way for elementary school-aged children to express their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences as an ongoing form of self-expression while coping with life and daily stressors. JC is your child’s buddy in a composition-style book. My Big Notebook includes evidence-based coping mechanisms packaged into fun journaling and coloring pages along with meaningful stories from JC’s life. Carla is a TEDx speaker and child and mental health advocate.
This story is for anyone who has ever felt different. It is an uplifting and inspirational reflection of a child’s friendship with an unusual roly‑poly, Ayla, who shares wisdom of valuing self, differences and connecting with others. Whether young or old, this story enlightens us on how to appreciate our uniqueness, similarities, and differences. We see how this creates a more beautiful world, both within ourselves and with our connection to others. Leigh is an East Coast author and artist.
by Carla Carlisle
by L. Leigh Love
Ages 5-10. For more information or to purchase, visit www.CarlaaCarlisle.com/my-big-notebook.
Ages 1-8. For more information or to purchase, visit www.Amazon.com or www.BarnesandNoble.com. Also visit www.BrightStarStudio.net.
B3 Goes to the Playground
The Year of the Buttered Cat
B3 is a flying superhero, and she gets you moving! The Better Bodies Buddy (aka B3) meets EJ, a little frog who doesn’t like exercise. She teaches him that exercise is fun. EJ makes new friends in the process.
Susan and Lexi Haas look back on the year Lexi discovered she would be disabled and the five gifts that gave her a path forward. Reviewers call the middle grade story “Laugh-out loud funny” (Booklist) and “Amusing and compelling” (Kirkus Reviews).
Ages 5-8. For more information or to purchase, visit www.BetterBodies4Us.com/products.
Ages 9-13. For more information or to purchase, visit Main Street Books, Davidson, That’s Novel in Camp North End, Charlotte, www.Amazon.com and www.BarnesandNoble.com.
by Charleszetta Smith Ford
by Susan Haas with Lexi Haas
December 2021/Early January 2022
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