Jen Bryant Flying Tidings Fall 2020




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January 2021

Welcome to the first issue of the New Year. Despite the challenges of the last ten months, there is MUCH to be thankful for. Here are a few recent book highlights and some things to look forward to:

Above the Rim

Artist Frank Morrison and I were jumping up and down in our respective kitchens when we learned that our book had garnered this top award from the National Council of Teachers of English. It’s an honor and a true pleasure to have that OP seal on the cover! But the best thing about this award is that many more kids will see the book and learn about the courage of an early NBA player who sat down to stand up against racial injustice.

Frank and I are also delighted and honored to have Above the Rim included in the New York Public Library’s Best Kids Books 2020 list, the Chicago Public Library’s Best Informational Books 2020 List and the Booklist Editors’ Choice 2020 list.

Want more? Here are some links to videos, interviews and podcasts for and about our book:

Mr. Colby Sharp’s video.

RISE Champions of Change podcast with Jen and Frank.

MN Public Radio interview with M. Christensen

Curious about the story behind the art? Know anyone who wants to be an illustrator? Check out Frank Morrison’s video, in which he shares his process for Above the Rim.

Current and Past Issues

August Wilson Lives On

… in our hearts, on the stage, on the screen, in our book, and now ALSO on a U.S.P.S. Forever Stamp! In case you missed it, here’s a link to the interview on 60 Minutes with actress Viola Davis. In it, Davis talks about her childhood, her love of acting and her roles in August Wilson’s plays.

Are you listening to books a lot more these days? We certainly are! And we are delighted to share this link to the award-winning audio version of Feed Your Mind: A Story of August Wilson, narrated by David Sadzin.

Biography Birthdays in January

Happy birthday this month to Louis Braille (born January 4, 1809 in Coupvray, France) and to Peter Mark Roget (born January 18, 1779 in London, England). The 2016 picture book Six Dots has been translated into Japanese, Chinese, and Hebrew and is also available in a print/ braille version from National Braille Press.

And the 2014 picture book The Right Word has been translated into Spanish, Chinese and Korean, and has sold well over 100,000 copies!

Looking Forward

Spring weather, the COVID vaccine, and a bushel of great books are just a few things I’m looking forward to in the coming months. As a tree-hugger, bird-watcher, and art-lover, I recommend these titles from the past—and some that are due out soon—for readers of all ages!

Be a Tree, by Maria Gianferrari

Hello, Earth! by Joyce Sidman

The Nest that Wren Built, by Randi Sonenshine

Look Up! by Annette LeBlanc Cate

How to Find a Bird, by Jennifer Ward

Mornings with Monet, by Barb Rosenstock

We Are Artists, by Kari Herbert

The Story of Frida Kahlo, by Susan B. Katz

As a thank you for reading all the way to the end, send your full name and mailing address to: jen@jenbryant.com and you’ll be entered to win a signed copy of Above the Rim—How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball.

Be safe and well, and keep in touch via Facebook, Instagram or email.