Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for January 27, 2026

 Some parents might have punished their young daughter for fibbing as she told the neighbors about her 3-legged cat named Spot, the ghost in the attic, the family's trip to Paris, and more. But this Indiana author's parents called her "imaginative" and encouraged her to write her stories down. She went on to have over 50 published books, ranging from fun picture books like Muncha, Muncha, Muncha and Penny & Pip to children's biographies of Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Buffalo Bill Cody and Eleanor Roosevelt. The American Library Association gave her the 2026 Children's Literature Legacy Award for demonstrating "integrity for all children's lives and experiences." I heard her speak many years ago on the importance of writing "a shitty first draft." This is the funny and still imaginative author Candace Fleming.

Nighty Night, Dinos reviewed by School Library Journal (Coming out in June of this year!)

 Nighty Night, Dinos received a very nice review from School Library Journal (see below). 

Deborah and Anna, feel free to share this with your friends, family, followers, and fans. Familius will do the same. We will also add a portion of this review to your book's metadata. 

Williams, Deborah Holt. Nighty Night, Dinos. ­illus. by Anna Doherty. 32p. Familius. Jun. 2026. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9798893960501.

Toddler-Gr 2–Dinosaurs have a busy day full of noisy activities, engaging all day long, stomping, swimming, flying, and creeping. The simple, rhyming verse quickly transitions from the excitement of playtime to the quiet routine of bedtime. The story succeeds by detailing gentle rituals performed by diverse prehistoric creatures. Readers watch as T-Rex pulls a blankie tight, sleepy Stegosaurus plops next to tired Triceratops, and ­Brontosaurus hugs a toy bear. Even Ankylosaurus curls up snug, and Parasaurolophus is ready for a pillow. The writing effectively uses action words alongside soothing bedtime cues, making it an excellent read-aloud choice for winding down, concluding with the warning to “Whisper now, don’t make a peep!” so the dinos can sleep and grow “healthy, big and strong.” The accompanying visuals are essential to the book’s success, creating vivid, warm, and comforting scenarios in the transformation of large, potentially scary dinosaurs into relatable, sleepy friends. The illustrations beautifully highlight the necessary contrast in emotions: moving from the high-energy, noisy action of day to the quiet routines of night. By depicting these massive animals engaging in soft, humanlike domestic acts, the artwork successfully grounds the imaginative scenario in blankets of comfort for children. VERDICT The rhythmic text of this charming and effective story, along with its imaginative depiction of large creatures engaging in gentle rituals, will make this a great addition to anyone seeking soothing read-alouds for the young.–Richard Winters

Congratulations again!

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for January 20, 2026

 This artist's gentle illustrations are perfect with the humble, respectful text in 2013's The Cart that Carried Martin, by Eve Bunting, about the wooden cart and two mules that carried the body of Martin Luther King through the streets of Atlanta. The artist began writing books of his own in 2012, often biographies of lesser-known Blacks of note, such as Jerry Lawson, who revolutionized video games, poet George Moses Horton, and football-player-turned-artist Ernie Barnes. I met him at a Highlights workshop before his writing was published, and I'm so pleased with his success. As kind as he is talented, this is Don Tate.

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for January 13, 2026

 This Glenwood Springs CO award-winning author attended many rodeos during her years on the Navajo Nation, and they often opened with A Cowboy's Prayer. The poem's author was listed as "anonymous," but was later found to be a cowboy poet from Deadwood, South Dakota named Badger Clark. The writer learned more about him and wrote the perfect non-fiction picture book about Badger's life. The South Dakota Historical Society Press only prints one book a year, and the book they released in 2025 is Badger Clark, Poetry Wrangler. The illustrations perfectly compliment the text, the backmatter is engaging, and includes photographs of the real Badger Clark. Non-fiction picture books are such important additions to libraries, classrooms and homes, and this new one is a shining example. The author is Nancy Bo Flood.

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for January 6, 2026

 New Mexico became a state on this date in 1912. Not every resident was pleased with this author's description of his rural New Mexico childhood in Bless Me, Ultima, but his children's books are beloved, including The Farolitos of Christmas, The First Tortilla and Roadrunner's Dance. He had a home in Jemez Springs NM where I worked at the library, and he was a kind and generous man. This is Rudolfo Anaya.