Astra Books for Young Readers News

About My Tatita

A guest post by author/illustrator Imapla Imapla is an award-winning picture book creator and graphic designer from Barcelona whose books are published throughout the Spanish-speaking world. In her picture book Come Closer, Tatita (also available as a Spanish edition), a young girl’s five senses take her on a journey through sweet memories of her tatita, her... Read More

Go Back to School with These Titles from Kane Press!

Written by Kerry McManus, Marketing Director As a children’s book publisher, we naturally have LOTS of books that are terrific for young readers during this time of year. This blog post will focus on titles from our imprint Kane Press. With topics ranging from STEM to where our food comes from to financial literacy, these books... Read More

A note from Hannah Chung, the creator of THE MOST PERFECT PERSIMMON

Dear Reader, I’m so thrilled to connect with you through my book! Persimmons hold a specialplace in my heart. They can be enjoyed in various forms—fresh, dried, frozen, andripened. My favorite is the most ripened persimmon, called hongshi. My grandmother makes the best hongshis with the freshest persimmons. When Iwas little, whenever I visited her... Read More

Have you seen the Broadway musical SUFFS? Then you’ll love these books!

In Suffs, the suffragist movement is taking Broadway by storm – or should we say, by song! Suffs, the Tony award-winning musical, explores the friendships and heartbreak that united the women of the suffragist movement. While Suffs acts as a reminder that the battle for women’s rights is ongoing, it allows viewers to learn about... Read More

Celebrating 20 Years of Calkins Creek

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Calkins Creek, the ABFYR imprint which introduces children to the many people, places, and events that shaped our country’s history. Calkins Creek’s picture books, chapter books, and novels—nonfiction and historical fiction for ages seven and up—combine original and extensive research with creative, energetic writing. History is key at Calkins Creek—front and... Read More

LIKE NO OTHER Q&A with author Sneed B. Collard III 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 Kane Press executive editor Harold Underdown and author Sneed B. Collard III as they talk about the beginnings and inspiration behind Like No Other: Earth’s... Read More

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 Day—at a Monster School? From this original, humorous concept emergeda tiny blob with the soul of a dreamer. Itty Bitty Betty Blob is a blob... 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 an activist? What is the history of activism in the United States? How is activism alive today?  These books for young readers from Calkins Creek,... 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 Kane Press executive editor Harold Underdown and author Jennifer Berne (Manfish, On a Beam of Light, and How the Sea Came to Be). They reveal... 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 crayon, all of which come to vibrant life in her picture book This Is a Window, where the power of children’s imaginations takes center stage.... Read More