How to use this Page

Our favorite books this August are sure to capture imaginations with beautiful illustrations, unconventional characters, and fascinating true stories. Read on to see the titles that hooked our book experts this month!

For Pre-K –K (Ages 3-6):

Who’s That?: Arctic Animals (Board Book) by Tad Carpenter

We love all the vibrant and entertaining titles in the Who’s That? board book series – this one especially. Kids will love opening the sturdy flaps to meet creatures like a walrus and a polar bear. A cool read for a hot day!

For 1st and 2nd Grade (Ages 6-8):

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex

It’s the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone’s just a little bit nervous, especially the school! What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him? Find out what happens to the school on its first day! With charming illustrations, this delightful read-aloud picture book will have young readers reaching for it every day of the year!

For 3rd & 4th grade (Ages 8-10):

Tiny Stitches: The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas by Gwendolyn Hooks

During the mid-twentieth century, Vivien Thomas overcame racism from his colleagues and developed a procedure that was used for the first successful open-heart surgery on a child. This is a fascinating biography of how one innovative doctor ushered in a new era of medicine.

For 5th & 6th grade (Ages 10-12):

Raymie Nightengale by Kate DiCamillo

Raymie Clarke is convinced that winning the 1975 Little Miss Central Florida Tire contest would inspire her father to come home. To win, not only does Raymie have to do good deeds and learn how to twirl a baton; she also has to contend with the wispy, frequently fainting Louisiana Elefante, who has a show-business background, and the fiery, stubborn Beverly Tapinski, who’s determined to sabotage the contest. We couldn’t put down this coming-of-age novel as it beautifully explored the subjects of loneliness, loss, and friendship.

Grades 7 & up (Ages 13+):

Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling by Lucy Frank

This novel-in-verse follows the unfolding friendship between two very different teenage girls who share a hospital room and an illness.

Chess, the narrator, is sick, but with what exactly, she isn’t sure. And to make matters worse, she must share a hospital room with Shannon, her polar opposite. How these teenagers become friends, helping each other come to terms with their illness, makes for a dramatic and deeply moving read.

The post Monthly Book List: Our Five Favorite Books for August appeared first on First Book Blog.

Cloudy Collection is excited to announce our latest special edition print set, honoring and including the inimitable Ed Emberley. There are two “Monster Parade”-themed prints available: one 8”x10” four-color letterpress made exclusively for Cloudy Collection by Ed Emberley, and the other is a set of fifteen (plus one!) 4”x6” four-color screen prints by Ed Emberley, his daughter Rebecca Emberley, S. Britt, Tad Carpenter, Maura Cluthe, Becky Dreistadt, Bob Flynn, Meg Hunt, David Huyck, John Martz, Caleb Neelon, ;Heather Ross, Souther Salazar, Bwana Spoons, and Nate Wragg.

A portion of the sales of these prints will go to Heifer International, providing reliable sources of food to women and families in developing nations, and to the Central Asia Institute, which provides books and literacy and educational opportunities to girls and women in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Get one or the other or both sets right now at Cloudy Collection!

Tad Carpenter sells screen prints silkscreened onto pieces of wood. Some, like this big 2’ x 4’ whale would look pretty great hanging in a kids’ bedroom.

Cloudy Collection’s brand new release, Simple, includes art by Blanca Gómez, Jennifer Daniel, David Huyck (pictured above), Lauren Nassef, Graham Annable, Tad Carpenter, and Tom Gauld. A portion of sales will support Susan G. Komen for the Cure, in honor of my mother’s successful treatment for breast cancer this fall. Way to go, Mom!

By Molly Smith
Illustrated by Tad Carpenter

Earth Day's 40th anniversary is April 22, 2010
(thanks to Nate Williams )|

You may remember Luc Latulippe’s Free Twitter Birds, and now even more illustrators are getting in on the act. Inspired Magazine has posted their Social Bird Icon Set featuring free Twitter bird icons from some great illustrators, including my favourite from Tad Carpenter, shown above.

And as luck would have it, Brian “Etherbrian” Brasher tweeted a link to Tweetle today, which is an icon set of the very same.

See also:
Free Twitter Birds from Luc Latulippe
Drawn! on Twitter

This swell wooden robot prints sits in my studio overlooking my drawing table. It’s the work of Tad Carpenter who has a brand new website full of more just like it.