How Don Tate and I feel when people say nice things about Whoosh!
The end of the year is list-making time — a fact driven home to me each time I come across yet another Top 10 of 2016’s best music that has heretofore eluded my ears. (I’m trying to get caught up, but would certainly welcome your music suggestions in the comments.)
The past few weeks have brought lots of children’s-book lists of various sorts, and it’s been a happy reminder of how much top-quality work is being done by people in this field. It’s been especially nice to see Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions (written by me, illustrated by Don Tate, and published by Charlesbridge) mentioned here and there.
Below, I’ve rounded up a few instances that have come to my attention. Thank you to all who have taken the time to evaluate and spread the word about the year’s offerings in children’s literature. The rest of you, please follow those links and find some books you think someone would love to receive from you, OK?
The New York Public Library’s list 2016 picks for the Best Books for Kids includes Whoosh!
The Chicago Public Library has included Whoosh! in its list of the Best Informational Books for Younger Readers of 2016.
Kirkus Reviews‘ Best Informational Picture Books of 2016 lists Whoosh! among its picks.
The Horn Book leads off its list of Recommended Picture Books: Picture Book Biographies — a companion to its recent article “What Makes a Good Picture Book?” — with Whoosh!
Kid Lit Frenzy and Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook have included Whoosh! among the 2016 informational titles under consideration for their Mock Sibert units.
The National Science Teachers Association and a few other organizations (the American Society for Engineering Education, the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, the Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees, and the Children’s Book Council) have created an inaugural list of the year’s Best STEM Books, and Whoosh! is among them.
Whoosh! is also among the titles included in Booklist’s Core Collection: Picture-Book Biographies of Scientists.
Finally, Whoosh! is included in the Publishers Weekly ShelfTalker blog’s Joyful Diversity Collection, “an initial list of wonderful nonfiction picture books to introduce children to … accomplished, but often less well known, individuals.”
I also just discovered it thanks to Parents magazine’s “Parents 10 Best Children’s Books” in the December 2016 issue. Our family can’t wait to read it!
I’m so glad to hear that, Andrea — thank you!