Best Children’s Books of the Year and More

Early summer has been a busy time for our members: busy collecting awards, that is. Bank Street has listed several of our members’ books among the Best Children’s Books of the Year, including:

• Kerry McQuaide for her picture book, BIGGEST, HIGHEST WAVE (Peter Pauper Press)

• Nancy Castaldo and Chuck Groenink for their nonfiction picture book WHALES IN THE CITY (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)

• Giselle Potter for her picture book, BEFORE SHE WAS MY GRANDMOTHER (Enchanted Lion)

• David Soman and Jacky Davis for their picture book ELVIS & ROMEO (Aladdin)

• Julie Winterbottom for her nonfiction picture book MAGIC IN A DROP OF WATER: HOW RUTH PATRICK TAUGHT THE WORLD ABOUT WATER POLLUTION (Rocky Pond Books)

Fortunately, it doesn’t end there for our Eastern NY SCBWI members. James Ransome had a memorable trip to Chicago's ALA Conference at the end of June when his A PLACE FOR US: A STORY IN PICTURES (Nancy Paulsen Books) was named a Jane Addams Honor Book for asking children to think about the struggles faced by unhoused families. He also won the top award in children's fiction from the Black Caucus American Library Association. James, the 2023 Children's Legacy Award winner, was inspired to create his wordless picture book after years of donating illustrations to the Eastern Farm Workers Association/National Labor Federation to address issues faced by the working poor.

Congratulations to all our Eastern Up! members. We can’t wait to see what you’re working on next, and we wish this year’s crop of authors and illustrators the same level of success!