I'm beyond excited!! Our book, Dressing Up the Stars - The Story of Movie Costume Designer, releases NEXT week! We've received SO many wonderful reviews. My heart overflows.
TRADE REVIEWS
JUL 1, 2022 Booklist / *STARRED review / LINK
AUG 29, 2022 Publishers Weekly / LINK
★ “Hollywood costume designer Edith Head may not seem like an obvious choice for a children’s biography, but she quickly proves herself an ideal subject, largely due to how well Harvey anchors the story in Edith’s childhood … Pattern, texture, and design are key in Toledano’s mixed-media artwork, which often uses white backgrounds to emphasize Head’s passion for these very elements, and the charming, childlike quality of the illustrations will appeal greatly to young readers. Together, the art and storytelling capture Head’s belief in the transformative magic of costumes, which will certainly strike a chord with dress-up enthusiasts.” – BOOKLIST, starred review “Celebratory … Combined with starry-eyed prose, the result is a glamorous life story with a Hollywood ending.” – PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Lovers of classic mid twentieth century cinema will be enthralled with this coverage of Head's challenging and interesting life.” – YOUNG ADULT BOOKS CENTRAL “Focusing on Edith Head’s headstrong desire to succeed at costumes, Dressing Up the Stars offers a glimpse into the creativity and sheer determination of a famous costume designer. The illustrations by Diana Toledano are colorful and whimsical, showing Edith Head at work and daydreaming of success. Some illustrations are sketched so that they almost pop off the page in a 3D style, and hold some interesting details that children will appreciate.” – THIS BLISS LIFE “Dressing Up the Stars is a beautifully illustrated inspirational children's book that is great for kids who like fashion design and movies. It's so nice to discover nonfiction books that contain factual information presented in a way that even little ones will enjoy.” – MAMA LIKES THIS
Publicity
NATIONAL ONLINE
MAY 9, 2022 Mr. Schu Reads / Cover Reveal and Interview / LINK
JUN 23, 2022 WhatWasOn... / Author interview and book mention / LINK
AUG 6, 2022 Hitchcock Master / Author interview / LINK
AUG 30, 2022 Mama Likes This / Book Review / LINK
SEP 1, 2022 Jael's Just Reading / Blog Tour / Book Review / LINK
SEP 1, 2022 BookHounds YA / Blog Tour / Excerpt / LINK
SEP 1, 2022 The Children's Book Council / Round-up with book mention / Hot Off the Press: September 2022 / LINK
SEP 3, 2022 Young Adult Books Central / Blog Tour / Excerpt / LINK
SEP 4, 2022 Just Another Teen Reading Books / Blog Tour / Book Review / LINK
SEP 5, 2022 Books Are Magic Too / Blog Tour / Book Feature / LINK
SEP 5, 2022 One More Exclamation / Blog Tour / Book Review / LINK
SEP 7, 2022 Young Adult Books Central / Book Review / LINK
SEP 7, 2022 Little Red Reads / Blog Tour / Book Feature / LINK
SEP 8, 2022 Two Points of Interest / Blog Tour / Book Review / LINK
SEP 9, 2022 This Bliss Life / Book Review / LINK
SEP 9, 2022 Nerdophiles / Blog Tour / Book Feature / LINK
SEP 9, 2022 The TeachingBooks Blog / Giveaway / Contest / LINK
SEP 10, 2022 Two Chicks On Books / Blog Tour / Excerpt / LINK
SEP 12, 2022 Pick A Good Book / Blog Tour / Book Review / LINK
SEP 13, 2022 Write. Read. Live. / Blog Tour / Book Review / LINK
SEP 14, 2022 A Backwards Story / Blog Tour / Book Review / LINK
SEP 14, 2022 Geek Vibes Nation / Author interview / LINK
SEP 15, 2022 Nonbinary Knight Reads and Reviews / Blog Tour / Book Review / LINK
SEP 16, 2022 For The Love of the Page / Blog Tour / Book Review / LINK
SEP 19, 2022 Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb / Author interview
SEP 19, 2022 Young Adult Books Central / Author interview
SEP 19, 2022 Mutually Inclusive / Author interview
OCT 4, 2022 Unleashing Readers / Book Review
JUN 14, 2023 LitLinks / Guest Post
DATE TK Picture Book Look Podcast / Author, illustrator, and editor interview
DATE TK Geeks Out / Author interview
BOOKSTAGRAM
SEP 1, 2022 @jael_and_jenessa_reads / Blog Tour / LINK
SEP 2, 2022 @bookhounds / Blog Tour / LINK
SEP 4, 2022 @bookgeek2872 / Blog Tour / LINK
SEP 5, 2022 @booksaremagictoo / Blog Tour / LINK
SEP 5, 2022 @Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf / Bookstagram Tour / LINK
SEP 5, 2022 @oliviathelibrarian / Bookstagram Review / LINK
SEP 6, 2022 @djreadsbooks / Bookstagram Tour / LINK
SEP 6, 2022 @onemoreexclamation / Blog Tour / LINK
SEP 7, 2022 @celiamcmahonreads / Bookstagram Tour / LINK
SEP 7, 2022 @littleredreadz / Blog Tour / LINK
SEP 8, 2022 @ecocraftkids / Bookstagram / LINK
SEP 8, 2022 @readingonfordearlife / Bookstagram Tour / LINK
SEP 9, 2022 @sheafandink / Bookstagram Tour / LINK
SEP 9, 2022 @thisblisslife / Bookstagram / LINK
SEP 12, 2022 @pickagoodbook / Blog Tour / LINK
SEP 12, 2022 @bookish_sbe / Bookstagram Tour / LINK
SEP 13, 2022 @onemused / Bookstagram Tour / LINK
SEP 13, 2022 @ohthebookswelove / Bookstagram / LINK
SEP 13, 2022 @thesmilelines_lauren / Bookstagram / LINK
SEP 14, 2022 @just_another_mother_with_books / Bookstagram Tour / LINK
SEP 15, 2022 @agingerlyreview / Bookstagram Tour / LINK
SEP 15, 2022 @alwaysastorybook / Bookstagram / LINK
SEP 16, 2022 @beachesandreads / Bookstagram Tour / LINK
Updated: Sep 16
Gaby Gonzalez and the Search
for Einstein's Ripples
in Space-Time
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Alfred A. Knopf
(pub 3.8.22) 40 pages
Author: Patricia Valdez
Illustrator: Sara Palacios
Character: Gabriela Gonzalez
Overview:
"In 1916, Albert Einstein had a theory. He thought that somewhere out in the universe, there were collisions in space. These collisions could cause little sound waves in the fabric of space-time that might carry many secrets of the distant universe. But it was only a theory. He could not prove it in his lifetime.
Many years later, an immigrant scientist named Gabriela Gonzalez asked the same questions. Armed with modern technology, she joined a team of physicists who set out to prove Einstein's theory. At first, there was nothing. But then... they heard a sound. Gabriela and her team examined, and measured, and re-measured until they were sure."
Tantalizing taste:
" About 50 years later,
on a warm night in Argentina,
beneath the moon, the stars, and the sky,
a young girl named Gaby Gonzalez looked up.
She, two, wondered what secrets lay beyond the stars."
And something more: Patricia Valdez, in the Author's Note, wrote that "I watched the livestream of the LIGO news conference on February 11, 2016, anticipating the announcement of the discovery of gravitational waves. My excitement doubled when Gabby Gonzalez stepped up to the podium to speak. I was truly inspired to see a Latina scientist announcing this monumental discovery. Since that day, Gabby has been one of my role models. I hope she inspires others as well."
Updated: Sep 16
Fatima al-Fihri
and the World's Oldest University
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
HarperCollins
(pub.3.1.22) 40 pages
Author: M. O. Yuksel
Illustrator: Mariam Quraishi
Character: Fatima al-Fihri
Overview:
"Fatima had one wish . . .Fatima al-Fihri loved to learn. She wanted to know everything, like how birds flew, why the sky was blue, and how flowers grew. But more than anything, she wanted a school for all, where anyone could study and become whatever they wanted, like teachers, scientists, and doctors.
As she grew older, Fatima carried her one wish inside her, through good times and bad. Fueled by her faith and her determination, she worked hard to make her one wish come true. For over a thousand years, Fatima’s one wish—her school—served students and scholars from around the globe, and it continues to do so today!."
Tantalizing taste:
"Fatima's faith taught her that charity – sadaqah jariyah – was like planting a single seed from which thousands of wildflowers continuously bloomed. She wondered how she could use the fortune left to her by her father and husband to honor them and to serve the community she so loved.
As she watched more people arrive daily in Fez, she knew what to do. Fez had opened its arms to her, and she wanted to do the same for those in need.
Fatima's wish burned brightly inside her."
And something more: M. O. Yuksel, in the Author's Note, explains that "Fatima al-Fihri played an important role in the advancement education and civilization. She is admired by many for her perseverance, wisdom, and generosity. Almost one 1,200 years have passed, and Al-Qarawiyyin University continues to share the gift of knowledge. Fatima is an inspiration to all, and her rich legacy lives on in the excellence the institution she founded."