Book News!
2024 Crystal Kite Award Winner
SCBWI offers a hearty congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Crystal Kite Awards. Thanks to voters from the SCBWI community, winners and honor winners were selected from 15 divisions from around the world. Every book published is a reason to celebrate, so we would like to thank everyone who submitted a book this year, as well as every reader who placed a vote. Midwest Region Winner: Willow and Bunny by Anitra Schulte, illustrated by Christopher Denise.
(June 26, 2024)
2024 Bank Street Best Children’s Books
This list includes more than 600 titles chosen by the Children’s Book Committee as the best of the best published in 2023. In choosing books for the annual list, committee members consider literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes. Bank Street Books 2024 Best Children’s Books of the Year list includes Willow and Bunny by Anitra Rowe Schulte, illustrated by Christopher Denise.
(May 8, 2024)
2024 Children’s Book Council Favorites Award
Willow and Bunny by Anitra Rowe Schulte, and illustrated by Christopher Denise (Two Lions) has been named a 2024 Children’s Book Council Librarian Favorite. The books on the annual “Favorites” lists are new books read and rated by thousands of children, teachers, and librarians in rural, suburban, and urban schools and libraries across the U.S. every year.
(April 22, 2024)
The 75th Annual Christopher Awards
Author Anitra Rowe Schulte and illustrator Christopher Denise earn their second Christopher Awards for Willow and Bunny (Kindergarten and up, Two Lions), about a sheltering willow tree, a bunny in need, and the power of love and friendship to bring healing after life’s storms.
(April 10, 2024)
Bold Journey
We recently connected with Anitra Rowe Schulte and have shared our conversation: Anitra, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from? (…)
(March 5, 2024)
Writers’ Rumpus
#Kidlit interview with author Anitra Rowe Schulte: I love the #kidlit community on social media. Anitra reached out to me in a message and when I checked her out, I loved her work and couldn’t wait to interview her for Writers’ Rumpus. I know you’ll be inspired! Anitra, you come from a background in Journalism. Please tell us how you found your way into the #kidlit world of picture books…
(February 13, 2024)
Midwest Book Review
Willow and Bunny is a very special and beautifully told picture book tale by the Christopher Award winning author/storyteller Anitra Rowe Schulte and Caldecott Honor artist/illustrator Christopher Denise offering children ages 4-8 a message of friendship, community, and hope after a difficult experience. With its museum quality artwork and its timeless message of hope and responsibility, "Willow and Bunny" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children.
(January 22, 2024)
The Backstory
Today's guest Anitra Rowe Schulte is here to share her stunning book, WILLOW AND BUNNY (Two Lions, 2023). This book is equal parts gorgeous lyrical language and breathtaking illustrations. Anitra and Caldecott honor artist Christopher Denise partnered for this book and the result is pure magic.
(October 18, 2023)
Publishers Weekly
Emotionally cued text by Rowe Schulte (Dancing with Daddy) and light-filled hyperrealistic landscapes by Denise (Knight Owl) tell the story of Bunny, who responds to an inner message—“Go. Find a safe place to grow”—and finds Willow, “tall, strong, soft, and steady.” Bunny takes refuge under the tree’s branches, where there is clover to eat and a den to shelter in. They’re together always, “just Bunny and Willow. Willow and Bunny.”
(August 31, 2023)
The Children’s Book Council
Willow and Bunny, by Christopher Award winner Anitra Rowe Schulte and 2023 Caldecott Honor winner Christopher Denise … an affecting tale that can be read on a number of levels, as a story of friendship or about coming through a difficult experience that leaves you forever changed.
(April 15, 2023)
2022 Bank Street Best Children’s Books
This list includes more than 600 titles chosen by the Children’s Book Committee as the best of the best published in 2021. In choosing books for the annual list, committee members consider literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes. Bank Street Books 2022 Best Children’s Books of the Year list includes Dancing with Daddy by Anitra Rowe Schulte, illustrated by Ziyue Chen. “A father and his daughter, a wheelchair user, joyfully enjoy a school dance.”
(April 26, 2022)
2022 Christopher Award Winner
The Christopher Awards celebrate writers, producers, directors, authors, and illustrators whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit.” In the Books for Young People category: Elsie feels excitement at attending her first father-daughter dance and is bolstered by the love of her family in Dancing with Daddy by Anitra Rowe Schulte, illustrated by Ziyue Chen.
(April 26, 2022)
Books Honored For Disability Storylines
New children’s books about kids with autism, visual impairment and other disabilities are being recognized alongside top honors like the Newbery and Caldecott Medals. (T)he Dolly Gray Award, which goes to books for children or young adults that authentically portray autism and developmental disabilities, was also handed out this week by the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities.
(January 28, 2022)
2022 Dolly Gray Award Winner
Congratulations to Anitra Rowe Schulte and Ziyue Chen for their picture book, Dancing with Daddy, a beautifully depicted story of Elsie, a young girl who is looking forward to a daddy-daughter dance when a storm threatens to dash her dreams.
(January 7, 2022)
TODAY Parenting: But can she talk?
Anitra Rowe Schulte shares a column with TODAY’s Parenting Team about a question that she often hears on the playground, and the true crux of childrens’ query. Anitra is the author of new picture book Dancing with Daddy, illustrated by Ziyue Chen (Two Lions)
(December 16, 2021)
2021 Kirkus Best Picture Books
Kirkus Reviews’ round up the Best Picture Books of 2021 features Dancing with Daddy by Anitra Rowe Schulte, illustrated by Ziyue Chen
(November 29, 2021)
Booklist Review
TODAY Show Gift Guide
44 gifts that every 6-year-old wants to unwrap this year / Dancing with Daddy: “This sweet story is a great addition to any diverse and inclusive library.”
(October 25, 2021)
Cover Reveal with Mr. Schu
Watch. Connect. Read. interview with Dancing with Daddy author Anitra Rowe Schulte and illustrator Ziyue Chen.
(April 16, 2021)
Picturebooking Podcast with Nick Patton
Author Anitra Rowe Schulte shares her journey into picture books and how she found the right story for her character. Today’s featured book, DANCING WITH DADDY, is about the excitement of a first father-daughter dance told from the point of view of a character with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome.
(July 28, 2021)
Kirkus Reviews
“A heartwarming portrayal of a family embracing disability.” — Starred review
SCBWI Disability Awareness Reading List
October’s list celebrates people with disabilities. On this list, you will find a range of inspiring fiction and nonfiction stories about people who are blind, autistic, deaf, physically disabled, learning disabled and more.
(October 2021)