“Who is the ‘Best Friend in the Whole World’? After reading this sweet, sensitive tale, children can decide for themselves.” —New York Times

“The simplified forms, curving lines, and muted colors in the watercolor illustrations suit this gentle, rather melancholy story well…. An engaging picture book with craft-project potential.” —Booklist

“Salsbury never allows the tale to become maudlin or cloying, as Roland selflessly deals with disappointment, remaining a kind and compassionate friend. Watercolor illustrations, appearing as vignettes and both single- and double-page spreads, enhance the tale with lively, detailed depictions of Roland’s woodsy home, his expressions of sadness and joy, the sweet-natured Lucy, and, of course, the incredible Milton/Popkin. Young readers will sympathize with Roland and strive to emulate his kindness to his friends, whether real or imaginary. Life lessons gently told. Lovely.” —Kirkus Reviews

Sandra Salsbury received the 2018 SCBWI Don Freeman Illustration Grant. She has a BFA and MFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and lives in Berkeley, California, where she cares for numerous house plants and a software engineer. She enjoys hiking, snooping at open houses, and telling people what to do on the internet.

“Farook’s debut is a perfect example of how to keep a novel action-packed while simultaneously developing characters and coloring the world…. Inspired by Farook’s own early roots in Sri Lanka, the vibrant island-country setting is so lush you can practically picture the greenery and taste the tropical breadfruit….lovers of animals and adventure are in for an entertaining ride.” —Booklist

“The lush descriptions of the dense, beautiful jungle and a South Asian–inspired kingdom that evokes Sri Lanka shine through. The elephant, in particular, is a delight…. A lush wilderness adventure story.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Filled with lush descriptions of the South Asia–inspired landscape and delicious food, debut author Farook weaves a fast-paced…adventure against a backdrop of political upheaval.” —Publishers Weekly

“One of the many delights of this novel is the sparkling description of Chaya’s rural Sri Lankan village, including the many references to colorful fruits and trees. More rewarding is Chaya’s growth…. A rich and joyful adventure story for those who enjoy daring escapades in a fairy-tale setting.” —School Library Journal

“The setting of jungle island Serendib, a multicultural trade hub closely based on historical Sri Lanka, adds interest and will be useful for collections seeking to broaden #ownvoices South Asian representation.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Nizrana Farook was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the beautiful landscapes of her home country find their way into the stories she writes. She has a master’s degree in writing for young people, and lives in Hertfordshire, England with her husband and two daughters.

“The plot is so engrossing that the book is almost impossible to put down. Yes, Rosie loves Jack, and readers are going to love Rosie.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

Mel Darbon spent a large part of her childhood inventing stories to keep her autistic brother happy on car journeys. She won’t mention the time spent with him standing by level crossings waiting for the InterCity 125 to go past, as she wouldn’t want to be labelled a train spotter. Life took her in many different directions working as a theatre designer and freelance artist, as well as teaching young adults with learning disabilities and running creative workshops for teenage mums. She moved to Bath in 2014 with her husband and their dog, Alfie. Rosie Loves Jack is her debut book.

“Plenty of early 2000s rom-com vibes and lighthearted mishaps… Guillaume’s cinematic story weaves together beloved romantic comedy tropes touched with magic—or is it science?—and drops them into a fresh, contemporary setting. Despite the playful tone, this isn’t without nuance, taking on serious topics such as male body image, friendship, and asexuality.” —Booklist

“An enjoyable rom-com.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[Katie’s] friendship with Libby is heartwarming and relatable, and her character grows throughout the story.…a quick escape of a story that emphasizes the lesson that our idea of ‘perfection’ isn’t always what we’re looking for…. Younger teens will likely enjoy Katie’s shenanigans.” —School Library Journal

Jenna Guillaume was the editor-at-large for BuzzFeed Australia, where she wrote about very important things like pop culture, identity, feminism, social media, and Chris Hemsworth’s biceps. Previously, she spent more than half a decade in the features department of Girlfriend magazine, editing the sealed section (yes, all those questions are real), and writing about everything from bullying and body image to bad kisses and boy bands. She was also a contributor to Girlfriend Life Hacks, an essential guide to navigating a girl’s completely-awkward-but-totally-awesome teen years. You can visit her website here.

“Vivid, imaginative storytelling…a relatable tale for children of adopted, blended, and LGBTQ+ families…. Accompanied by Parsons’ bright, energetic illustrations, Peter’s rhyming text reminds young readers that all types of family structures are valid and that different kinds of families are capable of kindness, education, protection, and, most important, fun.” —Booklist

“A heartfelt celebration of family love…. Educators and library workers will enjoy the book’s easy read-aloud prose while caregivers will value the important message of family bonds. The illustrations are bright and friendly, packed with details that will especially reward lap readers; the family dog that’s included in every scene makes for a delightful seek-and-find element…. Those with pajama storytime programs and families looking for their next great bedtime read will find this book particularly useful. A sweet adventure.”—Kirkus Reviews

Gareth Peter has had a career as a composer and lyricist for theater, with his songs performed on stage by West End and Broadway voices across the UK and internationally. He founded the Broadway School of Performing Arts, a part-time theater school, in 2004. He was also a top-ten Penguin Random House Write Now finalist. Gareth lives in Nottingham with his partner, two huskies, and two beautiful adopted children. He is a debut author.

Garry Parsons has worked as an artist for publishing and commercial illustration, with clients that include Vanity Fair, The Guardian, The Times, Men’s Health, Marie Claire, Hellman’s Mayonnaise, Proctor & Gamble, Penguin Random House, Egmont, Hodder, and Andersen Press. He illustrated the best-selling The Dinosaur That Pooped series.  Gary studied Fine Art at Canterbury and received his MA in Sequential Illustration at University of Brighton. He lives in South London with his family.

“Told in the first person, the boy’s narrative features evocative language that conveys his experiences as he takes in the sights, smells, and temptations of the shops…. Simple illustrations brimming with eye-catching details are stylistically reminiscent of Uri Shulevitz with a dash of Tomie dePaola. The classic, subdued palette perfectly complements the boy’s journey… A satisfyingly—and deceptively—simple tale about sincere pleasures in hectic times.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“[A] wonderful story… The busy illustrations…feature fine but imprecise line work that give a childlike quality to scenes sure to resonate with young readers…. A lovely reflection on happiness.” —Booklist

Satoshi Kitamura is an award-winning children’s picture book author and illustrator. As a child, he drew constantly and devoured comics. A self-taught artist, his career began in advertising and magazines before he moved to London, where he debuted as a picture book illustrator with Hiawyn Oram’s Angry Arthur, a 1983 Mother Goose Award-winner for the Most Exciting Newcomer to British Illustration. Since then, he has illustrated over twenty of his own books, plus collaborated on many others.

“Doherty’s joyous, inventive, action-packed language begs to be shouted out loud. The moonlit night sparkles in town and city as Litten’s fanciful illustrations fill in the details of the tale and showcase Bear’s inventiveness. Little readers might want to create their own Thingity-Jigs. A delightful, rollicking, joyous romp.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“[An] intricately illustrated picture book that rejoices in creative play—and in imaginative takes on ordinary objects.” —Foreword Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Making the most of Bear’s wacky, ingenious contraptions, the appealing artwork rewards curious viewers with visual details that reappear in different contexts as the story unfolds. The well-constructed text rolls along in a satisfying way, enhanced by the devices’ inventive names, which are uniquely fitting and great fun to read aloud. A dynamic, enjoyable picture book.” —Booklist

“With text as energetic and playful as Bear himself, the story builds a delightful anticipation for each new Rube Goldberg-ian invention. Atmospheric illustrations are washed in softly textured nighttime blues and are chock-a-block full of endearing detail…. With language that trips off the tongue and pictures filled with charming ingenuity, this is a read-aloud that will endure.” —School Library Connection

“Illuminating nightscapes, enveloped in rich purple shadows that contrast beautifully with the shining yellow light from windows. As the sun rises, the scenes masterfully transition to the warm orange morning…. Doherty’s text is at its most playful, with all manner of funny words, when Bear constructs his inventions. Her rhyming text on those pages is bouncy and fun…. A celebration of inventiveness, in both ­contraption and language, this book is a lovely addition to larger collections.” —School Library Journal

Kathleen Doherty is a Reading Specialist and holds an Ed.S. Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She’s written standardized test items for Pearson Inc. and her love of learning has led her to graduate from four different universities. A former teacher of elementary school for over 30 years, Kathy’s work has appeared in numerous magazines. She lives in Indiana.

Kristyna Litten studied Illustration at the Edinburg College of Art. Having been raised with illustrative and animated influences from Eastern Europe, Kristyna often references Josef Sasek and Marc Boutayant in her work. Exercising a sophisticated color palette, she prefers to draw quickly to give an energetic line to her work and his heavily reliant on a good old pencil and a great big cup of tea to keep her going. She lives in a beautiful village in Yorkshire.

“Henrichs uses spare, repetitive language and perfectly coordinated, simply rendered cartoon illustrations to highlight Rabbit’s initial reluctance to comply followed by joy in the activities…. A thoroughly delightful, warmhearted bedtime story.”—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Will certainly strike chords of familiarity in parents and younger children. More, even not-so-young audiences will delightedly join in the loud chorus—and also enjoy Henrichs’ scribbly cartoon illustrations.” —Booklist Online

“The varied text size—large for each and every ‘NO!’—and the story’s comical repetition encourage engagement and maybe even silly participation during shared readings. Young readers will take delight in the playful and fiercely independent Rabbit, and the sweet surprise ending will remind parents and other adults that sometimes the answer will be a wholehearted ‘Yes!’” —Horn Book Magazine

Marjoke Henrichs is a theater designer and a debut author-illustrator. She received her MA in Children’s Book Illustrustration at the Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University. Originally from the Netherlands, she lives in the UK.

“Stunning… Although cataloged in the natural sciences, Stockdale’s mellifluous prose deserves to be classified as literature and her vibrant acrylic illustrations are art…. Wonderful for reading aloud and sharing; recommended for every ­library to introduce art, poetry, and glorious birds to young readers and lucky listeners.” —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

“With a brief text and clearly delineated, vibrant artwork that shows up well from a distance, this book is a natural for reading aloud during preschool or primary-grade bird units.” —Booklist

“The clever comparisons suggest a new way to see and remember these species….smoothly written couplets… A posh performance to read aloud or alone.” —Kirkus Reviews

Susan Stockdale has written and illustrated a number of children’s picture books, including Stripes of All Types,Bring On the Birds, Fabulous Fishes, and Carry Me. Her books celebrate nature with exuberance and charm and have won awards from the American Library Association, Parents’ Choice, and the National Science Teachers Association. Stockdale lives in Maryland and speaks frequently at schools and conferences. You can visit her website here.

Cathryn Sill, a graduate of Western Carolina University, was an elementary school teacher for thirty years. She lives in North Carolina.

John Sill holds a BS in wildlife biology from North Carolina State University. Combining his knowledge of wildlife and artistic skill, John has achieved an impressive reputation as a wildlife artist and received several awards. He lives in North Carolina. You can visit his website here.