Losing a Legend
William Dufris of Mind’s Eye Productions with Curious City’s Kirsten Cappy As you well know, I work with authors, illustrators, and publishers to lift their stories and their voices. That work was often done with, well, voice. And that Voice was my fierce-hugging-hiya-of-a-friend and beloved studio collaborator William “Bill” Dufris. He is being remembered this week by the book and children’s media industries for his work producing and narrating over a 1000 audiobooks, voicing Bob the Builder, and creating immersive audio...
read moreCurious City Featured on Lifelines Podcast
Curious City was honored to have our projects I’m Your Neighbor Books and the Welcoming Library featured on Ann Braden and Saadia Faruqi’s podcast Lifelines: Books That Bridge the Divide. EXPLORE AND LISTEN. Curious about the engagement tools we mentioned? Have a peek at our: Educators Guide for NOWHERE BOY Readers Theater for I’M NEW HERE and SOMEONE NEW Share...
read morePodcast: Naming Oneself
Friends, it is Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15). If the term “Hispanic” seems dated to you, well, it is. Hispanic Heritage Month was inaugurated by the Gipper himself, Ronald Reagan, 30 years ago. Setting aside the desire for alliteration, should Hispanic Heritage Month become Latinx Heritage Month? “Latinx” was coined in an linguistic revolution to include men and women of all races, but also trans, queer, agender, non-binary, gender non-conforming or gender fluid. Explore more here. The...
read moreClive & Friends: KidLit Transforming Gender
In classrooms and homes across the country, kids and teens are revolutionizing concepts of gender. Their revolution is made all the more more extraordinary by the fact that early childhood in America is filled with gender stereotypes. From toys to talk to television, we reinforce gender roles and the gender binary. The Gender Binary: A system of viewing gender as consisting solely of two, opposite categories, termed “male and female”, in which no other possibilities for gender or anatomy are believed to exist. —Transstudent.org In a...
read moreBeleaguered? Children’s Books for “All of Us”
Every morning we have to wake up in an America that rejects curiosity, empathy, kindness, and welcoming on a federal level. Beleaguered? Purchase and share any of these books for children and adults and reignite your hope (and, yes, your anger) with frequent readings. We need you in this fight. Dismantling walls happens brick by brick. Brick by Brick By Giuliano Ferri Illustrated by Giuliano Ferri Published by minedition ISBN-13: 9789888341184 Age Range: 3 – Adult Discover in a Local Bookstore A little mouse...
read morePodcast: Juneteenth Vs. July 4th in KidLit
Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved Americans, falls on June 19th – just sixteen days before the United States celebrates the Independence Day holiday on July 4th. Explore the history of Juneteenth and children’s books featuring Juneteenth. In between the liberation of the colonies from England (1775) and the liberation of the enslaved (1863-1865) there are close to 90 years. 90 years when “all men are created equal” did not mean men of color. 90 years where the Constitution, written by slave holders, was a...
read moreJune: Marketing Daze
Authors, illustrators, and children’s book programmers are always looking for an excuse to connect children’s literature to kids and communities. Here is a dazzling list of minute holidays (gathered by the fabulous retired librarian Linda DeVore) that might give you ideas for a special market or just an idea for a quirky Tweet. Adopt A Shelter Cat Month African-American Music Appreciation Month Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome Awareness Month (APS) Audio Book Appreciation Month...
read morePodcast: Raising Your Voice in Song Raises Readers
While you may not hear us singing in public, Curious City firmly believes in the joy (and importance) of singing with readers-to-be. This sweet board book series from Child’s Play landed on our desk and we decided to raise our voices – not in song, but about singing. Here is our podcast conversation about the melodious way music creates learners… This slideshow requires JavaScript. MORE ABOUT THESE FABULOUS BOARD BOOKS… Amazing Me! Sing! ISBN-13: 9781846439629 Amazing Me! Music! ISBN-13:...
read morePodcast: You Are Everybody That Came Before
In an interview about her picture book, Alma and How She Got Her Name, Juana Martinez-Neal says… “You are everybody that came before you and then YOU, all together.” —Juana Martinez-Neal We explore the names of three fictional characters and the equation of: Everyone that Came Before You + YOU = This was a podcast conversation with Olga Peters from WKVT’s Green Mountain Mornings. Alma and How She Got Her Name By Juana Martinez-Neal Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal Published by Candlewick Press...
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