Great Books from 2015 - Published by Children's Book Academy Course Contributors

Wowee zowie!! Awesome contributing authors and illustrators to Children's Book Academy courses have been bizzee creating and releasing fabulous books in 2015. In my last post, I shared books published in 2015 from former students right here. If you are up for it, please buy their books to support our contributors who go above and beyond in making our courses one of the most powerful (not to mention fun) ways of building children’s book creatives' careers. If you can, I'd love you to help support another course contributor, Luann Stauss of Laurel Books by ordering directly from her store: http://www.laurelbookstore.com/ She does a ton for kid's book writers and illustrators and is the loveliest person.

So here goes with apologies for not including pictures but this already took 6 hours and I am pooped! In the coming months, I look forward to doing video reviews of some of these great books. A quickie FYI - I’m doing these alphabetically by first name (because I’m just that kind of gal) and linking to their websites. Many of these websites have resources and words of wisdom.

Annie Barrows of Ivy + Bean fame had a new chapter book out - Magic in the Mix, which is a sequel to the Magic Half, along with an adult novel and Spanish language versions of Ivy + Bean books. Way to go Annie!

We got to see another beautifully illustrated book, In the Canyon, from the great Ashley Wolff. Can’t wait to see what she has in store for us this year.

Pretty much everything Barbara Bottner does is golden and Feet, Go to Sleep is no exception for this NYT best selling kid lit treasure.

Brilliant Caldecott winner Bryan Collier’s best-selling new book, Trombone Shorty, received starred reviews from both Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly.

Candice Ransom, who has written a ton of chapter books, had Pumpkin Day! - a Step into Reading book come out in 2015, and 3 nonfiction picture books- Parts of a Flower, What's Great about Indiana? and Investigating the Water Cycle!

Caroline Arnold has a new nonfiction out in her distinctive picture book style - A Day and Night on the Prairie.

Deborah Hopkinson published more literary (beautifully written) nonfiction with The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel, and Courage & Defiance: Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark.

Awesome illustrator, Eliza Wheeler, had illustrated chapter book/early middle grade novel Cody and the Fountain of Happiness come out as well as the lovely picture book Wherever You Go.

Gianna Marino’s picture book, Night Animals, received starred reviews from all the major reviewers – Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus, and School Library Journal. It's gorgeous. Yay Gianna!

Jannie Ho also got a shout out in my last post, but she sure is one delightful illustrator.

Jennifer Swanson had two new books out last year - National Geographic Kids Brain Games: The Mind-Blowing Science of Your Amazing Brain and What They See: How to stand out and shine in your new job - with a whole slew scheduled for 2016! Yay Jen!

Super smart Jim Averbeck had both a picture book - One Word from Sophia, and a middle grade novel - A Hitch at the Fairmont came out last year, both were awesome!

Lovely John Hendrix published a drawing book, Drawing Is Magic: Discovering Yourself in a Sketchbook, as well as illustrating the fun picture book McToad Mows Tiny Island.

John Steven Gurney had 2 new chapter books out- A to Z Mysteries Super Edition #8: Secret Admirer and A to Z Mysteries Super Edition #7: Operation Orca, both of which he illustrated :)

Kathryn Otoshi got a shout out in my last post of former student’s 2015 published books as well. She’s pretty special to put it mildly.

The wonderful Lane Smith published Return to Augie Hobble, a terrific illustrated middle grade novel.

Lea Lyon also received a shout out in my last post here for illustrating Laila’s Lunch. Yay Lea!

Lee Wardlaw had a wonderful sequel come out to her original Won Ton – A Cat Tale Told in Haiku. This one, Won Ton and Chopstick: A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku, is just as good.

Lovely uber talented Lisa Brown’s book, with friend Marcus Ewert, Mummy Cat made many best of 2015 picture book lists with good reason.

Marsha Diane Arnold had a banner year with her superb picture book Lost. Found., receiving a prestigious starred review from Publisher’s Weekly and becoming a children’s favorite.

Maya Gonzalez published the picture /chapter book Whaleheart: The Heart of It Anthology #1 with many former Academy students who Maya mentored in this innovative anthology.

Miranda Paul got a shout out in my last post of former student’s 2015 published books as well. Click here to see those.

Patricia Newman published the middle grade nonfiction title Ebola: Fears and Facts, while last years Plastic, Ahoy!: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch racked up lots of awards.

The great Paul O. Zelinksy’s (another Caldecott winner) illustrated Toys Meet Snow: Being the Wintertime Adventures of a Curious Stuffed Buffalo, a Sensitive Plush Stingray, and a Book-loving Rubber Ball came out as well as an updated reissue of The Wheels on the Bus. See a review of that here.

Big hearted Salina Yoon had Stormy Night come out while her latest picture book (January 5th) Be a Friend is already winning acclaim. Yay Salina!!!

Hardworking super fun Tara Lazar had two picture books in 2015 - Little Red Gliding Hood and I Thought This Was a Bear Book. Both of these were clever mash-ups with deeper meanings.

If you've read any of these or are up for letting us know some of your favorite children's books from 2015, please leave a comment in the comments section below. It means a lot to get responses.

Before I forget, I wanted to give a little shout out for our fabulous Chapter Book Alchemist course starting February 1st for those who want to learn how to write series, or give more depth to slightly longer stories for that magical age when kids are just starting to read on their own, or learn how to illustrate chapter books or middle grade. This will be the last time that award-winning author Hillary Homzie and I co-teach it live so if you’re up for stretching a little and learning to do something completely magical click this link to find out more.

Blogger bio - Mira Reisberg has helped MANY authors and illustrators get published. She has worn just about every hat in the industry including art director, editor, award-winning illustrator and author, kid lit university professor, and literary agent. Mira holds a PhD in Education and Cultural Studies with a focus on children's literature. You can receive a rare live one-hour critique with her (or her co-teacher Hillary Homzie) in the upcoming Chapter Book Alchemist highly interactive e-Course!

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