Hugs and Hurrahs

 I'm not sure if it's the same across the rest of the state, but here in West Michigan, we are—and have been—deep in the dark days that forge hardy Michiganders. Let's shine a bit of light on some of our incredible colleagues. Welcome to the first Hugs and Hurrahs of 2023! 

Dana VanderLugt is excited to share that her debut middle grade work, Enemies in the Orchard: A World War 2 Novel-in-Verse will be published by ZonderKidz in September 2023.  From 1943 to 1946, over 400,000 German prisoners of war were sent to labor camps in the United States–including the Michigan apple orchard where Dana's  family once lived. Inspired by extensive research into the little-known history of POW labor camps in the United States, Enemies in the Orchard tells the story, in alternating first-person poems, of two young people whose lives intersect and are changed forever. 

Congratulations, Dana!

On February 7th, Lisa Wheeler has two board books making their debut: My First Dino-Wrestling and My First Dino-Racing illustrated by Barry Gott and published by Carolrhoda/Lerner. These are the 6th and 7th titles in the series.

We're excited for you times two, Lisa!

The second book in Ann Dallman's Cady Whirlwind Thunder mystery series, Cady and the Bear Necklace, has been named a UP Notable Book. It was also honored by the State Historical Society of Michigan with its State History Award in the Books/Children & Youth category.

What an honor, Ann!

Karen Elise Finch had three poems accepted by Pomelo Books for three new anthologies: What is a Friend?, Things We Feel, and Things We Wear. What is a Friend? is featured in the Children's Book Council's "Hot Off the Press" section for October 2022.  

We are triply proud of you, Karen!

Lisa Rose is celebrating the January 1 publication of her latest book, Senor Saguaro The King of the Desert illustrated by Emma Graham (Little Fig, 2023)

She would also like to announce the many awards The Singer and The Scientist (Kar-Ben Publishing, 2021) Illustrated by Isabel Munoz has won:

• National Jewish Book Finalist, 2021

• Bank Street Best Book, 2021

• The Singer and the Scientist was chosen by the New Jersey Center for the Book to be included in the “Great Reads from Great Places” list for the 2022 National Book Festival of the Library of Congress. 

Many congratulations, Lisa! 

For the second time in 2022—Jean Alicia Elster was invited to speak at the Detroit Historical Museum. On December 30 and reading from select passages, she described how she included aspects of Detroit’s history into the plots of her historical fiction trilogy Who’s Jim Hines?, The Colored Car and How It Happens.

What an honor, Jean!

Congratulations, Everyone!  Look for the next request for Hugs and Hurrahs in your email, but please feel free to submit all your kidlit publishing news to Alison Hodgson at aewhodgson@gmail.com at any time. Have a wonderful winter, MichKids! I look forward to celebrating your hard work.