News & Media
We’re seeing stars!
2023 was a dazzling year for Astra Books for Young Readers, with 18 starred books across our children’s imprints!
Here’s to celebrating our constellation of titles that released this past year:
FICTION
★”Ideal for reading aloud, this title should be a hit.” —SLJ, starred review
★”A perfect suggestion for read-alouds or one-on-one reading. . . A kid-friendly early reader graphic novel that hits all the right notes. You Gotta Go purchase for early elementary shelves.” —SLJ, starred review
Also available in Spanish!
★ “A lovely tribute to El Día de los Reyes (Three Kings’ Day)…A beautiful package, this special book belongs on all Spanish-language and holiday shelves.” —SLJ, starred review
Also available in Spanish!
★ “A marvelous portrait of a working-class Latine family…Gleefully fun.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ Publishers Weekly
★ SLJ
★ “If the Platonic ideal of the young children’s comic both helps them interpret their world and introduces new ideas for them to explore and expand on, then Brunetti has brought that conceptual model into actual existence.” —Booklist, starred review
★ “A strikingly illustrated, innovative story of human evolution at the intersections of science and art.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ Publishers Weekly
NONFICTION
★ “Coretta Scott King gets her due recognition in this comprehensive, creative, and radiant picture book biography.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review
★ Kirkus Reviews
★ The Horn Book
★ SLJ
★ “Woelfle’s dynamic approach results in a personal, probing portrait of the Founding Father. In O’Brien’s tongue-in-cheek ink drawings, small period figures with paper-white skin gesticulate, scurry about busily…A superb tribute to a foresighted patriot in peace and war.” —Kirkus Reviews
★ “Accessible nature writing at its best… a wondrous investigation into the sleep habits of birds….A rich offering for all.” —SLJ, starred review
★ “The clarity of the narrative, complemented by the artwork, makes this complicated and contradictory reality accessible to young readers and will spark many important conversations about who we are as a people, as well as who we should strive to be. A necessary addition to all classrooms and libraries.” —Booklist, starred review
★ “These narratives will also give young people a new understanding of how the subjects became exceptional forces for racial freedom…A must purchase.” —SLJ, starred review
★ Kirkus Reviews
★ Booklist
★ “Other hues will turn green with envy at the visually stunning and factually thorough attention given indigo blue in this vibrant and informative picture-book debut…. should find quick use in both scientific and artistic circles.”—Booklist, starred review
★ “A profile of the early life of a 19th-century musical prodigy… carefully chosen details paint a portrait of a remarkable young person.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “Sandler finds the hook in the story surrounding each wreck, and the stories build upon one another to create a more complete understanding of the field.” —The Horn Book, starred review
★ SLJ
★ “This lively biography showcases one tireless activist, Jeannette Rankin from Montana, who became the first U.S. congresswoman in 1916 and whose fight for all women to have the right to vote was key in ratifying the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920.” —Booklist, starred review
★ “An excellent resource for teachers looking to inspire students in an array of topics, from science and nature studies to creative writing.” —SLJ, starred review
★ Kirkus Reviews
GRAPHIC NOVELS
★ “Evocative of greats like Judy Blume and Sharon Creech….raw, sweet, relatable, and realistic, this modern classic has a timelessness that will leave a lasting impact.” — Booklist, starred review
★ “This format will attract new readers to a poetic, powerful story of growth. Highly recommended.” —SLJ, starred review
★ The Horn Book
★ “The Paul Bunyan tall tale gets felled….A heightened sense of scale makes Bunyan practically leap of the page in grandeur. An accessible and important reminder of how easily the truth can be coopted.” —Booklist, starred review
