Astra Books for Young Readers News

ITTY BITTY BETTY BLOB Creator Q&A

Tell us about the story’s  blobby beginnings. Constance: When my son was little, Picture Day was a time for rigorous hair brushing and fancy, stiff outfits. How fun was it to reimagine that national rite—Picture... Read More

Books on Activism

With stories of protests dominating the news these days, parents, teachers, and librarians may be struggling with how to talk to kids about activism.  What does it mean to be... Read More

A TOUR OF THE HUMAN BODY Q&A with author Jennifer Berne and editor Harold Underdown

Do you ever wonder how a book or a series came to be – the “story behind the story”? Take a glimpse behind the curtain with this fascinating chat between... Read More

Creators’ Corner: Lauren Paige Conrad

Meet Lauren! Lauren Paige Conrad, who is based in Asheville, North Carolina, has a background in fashion, textiles, and illustrations. She works in cut paper, gouache, colored pencil, and Neocolor... Read More

SHACKLED Q&A WITH AUTHOR CANDY J. COOPER

Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away is the explosive story of the Kids for Cash scandal in Pennsylvania, a judicial justice miscarriage... Read More

8 Poetry Picture Books with “Elementary Energy” (updated 3/2024)

Perfect for elementary school age readers... readers of all ages will enjoy the whimsical artwork and rhymes. Wordsong, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, has picture books for kids at every age & every stage! Read More

7 Moving MG/YA Poetry Picks

This collection is perfect for more sophisticated young readers who love to dive deeply into beautiful, touching, sometimes painful, sometimes joyful stories. Wordsong, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, has picture books for kids at every age & every stage! Read More

4 Perfect Poetry Picture Books for Preschool & Kindergarten! (updated 3/2024)

These picture books are perfect for independent reading or classroom and storytime read-alouds. Wordsong, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, has picture books for kids at every age & every stage! Read More

TRUE COLORS Q&A

True Colors is a new and spellbinding middle grade novel about a girl whose emotions manifest in a colorful haze. Kirkus Reviews calls the book “(I)ntriguing… an absorbing treatise on... Read More

Build an Easter Basket Your Toddler Will Love (and You’ll Feel Great About) in 30 Minutes or Less

Skip all the plastic and junk this year and help the Easter Bunny out by building a basket your kids will love and you'll feel great about. Read More

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