Children's Lit Newsletter 12/12/25

Hey all!

So, at this time of year I try to highlight Children's Literature Non-Profits for End of Year Giving. For example, The Children's Book Project, Room to Read, etc.

If you have a non-profit you'd like to see included (should have a literature link and supports kids/teens), please send it to me with a short description and a link. I'll get it out by the end of next week (yes, I promise)

Join us for a Fairy Winterland Book Celebration full of mythical creatures, magical moves, and one determined dancer.

Author/illustrator Steph Lau brings her delightful debut picture book “The Abominable Snow Dancer” to Fairyland for a live read-aloud, an intimate Q&A, art demo, and a book signing following the fun.

Follow Otto the yeti as he stomps, spins, and twirls his way toward his dreams of becoming a graceful dancer, even if no one else believes yetis can be light on their feet. Your little ones will fall in love with this touching celebration of movement, imagination, and believing in yourself no matter what!

Don’t miss this chance to meet the creator of Otto’s whimsical world during the first day of Fairy Winterland and get your own copy of the book signed to bring the magic home!

Date: December 13
Location: Emerald City Stage
Time: 3:00 p.m.

Link to his store here (but, my apologies, too late for holiday orders, but you can order for birthdays, etc.)

https://gareth-hinds.square.site/

Hicklebee's Books of the Year

Each year our staff falls in love with lots of new children's books. From among them, we anoint two Books of the Year--one each for younger and older kid readers. The 2025 picks are Don't Trust Fish, an absurd nature guide, and The Butterfly's Sting, a YA novel with fight club suspense.

Irish playwright and comics expert Neil Sharpson and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat created Don't Trust Fish. This picture book hilariously portrays the villainy of fish--or at least the villainy proclaimed by its untrustworthy narrator. What opens as a taxonomy lesson quickly turns into a boatload of absurd scenarios and groan-inducing jokes. ("Ships always sink at sea. They never sink on land." Ergo, " Don't trust fish.") If this book leaves you wondering about the reliability of local fish, there's this.

Set on the fictional island of La Salida in the San Francisco Bay, The Butterfly's Sting is about a teen girl's advancement in an illegal boxing tournament. Bonnie "Bo" Clark and her younger sister and brother have fallen into the custody of their uncle Jack, who initially seems to be the children's rescuer but who increasingly becomes abusive. Jack is grooming Bo for a lucrative-for-him career in the ring.

However, Bo, on the cusp of 18, fights because her winnings might allow her to escape and then petition for custody of her siblings. Boxing also brings her into a supportive romance with a classmate, Liam, who becomes her cutman. An intense look at a brutal sport, this debut novel provides a touching story about a girl's struggle not only to achieve independence, but also to learn the limits of self-reliance. Author Abbie Harlow works at a high school in Alameda.

Readers’ Survey: 21st Century Canon

by Kara Yorio

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The 21st century has brought children’s literature more diversity and a willingness to explore difficult and complex topics. In addition, in the last five years, the publishing world—and the young readers it serves—have dealt with a global pandemic and a new, orchestrated censorship campaign seeking to remove books, particularly those that include the LGBTQIA+ community or discuss race and identity.

Through it all, children’s authors and illustrators have created titles that teach empathy, reflect the lives of the most marginalized, and share everyone’s story. They have created books that change and save lives, along with those that entertain, connect, and create lifelong readers. And we wanted to know what our readers thought were the most influential titles of the last 25 years

Hey all!!

Recently I have given Book Talks to students and parents that can focus on Engaging Reluctant Readers, Diversify Your (home or school) Bookshelves, and Great and Engaging Books (for various ages/grades). They've been well received and participants leave with TONS of information (and quite a few win prizes). I do these in schools or libraries, but would love to be hired by companies as a 'Perk' for their employees who have children in their lives. So, using my 'Social Capital' (that's you all) to spread the word.

I also work with teachers to help find great books that fit (and expand) the curriculum (otherwise known as my idea of a good time).

Please feel free to spread the word and send people my way: sharonlevin @ mindspring.com

We now return to our regular programming.

I try (when I have time/energy/spoons) to visit store websites and pull event information. However, the best way to get your events in is to e-mail me directly with FOR THE NEWSLETTER as the subject line. There are over 2000 subscribers to this newsletter - plus it gets posted on Facebook, Twitter (I said what I said), BlueSky and my local NextDoor. I am happy to spread the word, it's just easier if 'the word' (not the religious one) comes directly to my inbox

I'm only as good as my sources, so please do feel free to share events, good news, etc.! Please e-mail me at sharonlevin at mindspring dot com and put For the Newsletter as your subject line.

I'm always happy to feature giveaways. There is NO paid advertising in this newsletter - I do not require anything to feature a giveaway. I'm just happy to do it.