FEB
4
I was delighted to learn that Mary Seacole: Bound for the Battlefield is on a list of Notable Social Studies Trade Books from the Children's Book Council.
JAN
13
I was delighted to be a guest on John Mariani's live radio show from New York, "Almost Golden," featuring guests like me who grew up in the Bronx.
JAN
12
I was delighted that Karina Yan Glaser at Book Riot Kids included The Quilts of Gee's Bend on a list of her favorite picture books with quilting themes.
OCT
13
I received this lovely letter from Trevor Sterling at the Mary Seacole Trust. This is his daughter reading my book!
SEP
30
I received a Starred review from School Library Journal for my book Mary Seacole: Bound for the Battlefield!
SEP
30
I gave an interview to Roxanna Coldiron of Martha Stewart.com, which is now available online
AUG
24
Here is a preview of the cover of my new book Mary Seacole: Bound for the Battlefield due out on October 13, 2020.
MAY
19
I did an interview with Elizabeth Gard on my book The Quilts of Gee's Bend for her podcast program on quilting in Sept. 2019.
MAY
12
Congratulations to Barry Blitt, winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. Barry contributed two witty cartoons for the chapter "Voting From the Grave" in my book Give Us the Vote! Over 200 Years of Fighting for the Ballot."
MAY
8
I was thrilled to receive my first hardcover copies of Sing and Shout: The Mighty Voice of Paul Robeson from Diesel, A Bookstore. Books can now be ordered! Harry Belafonte wrote a moving preface which begins, "Paul Robeson was an artist and activist whose voice could not be ignored."
MAY
7
Sing and Shout has been selected for the Children's Book Council's Hot Off the Press May 2020 showcase. The online display features new releases and is a resource for educators, parents and readers.
APR
23
Feb, 2020: Release of Give Us the Vote! Over 200 Years of Fighting for the Ballot.
APR
23
April 7, 2020: Publication of Sing and Shout: The Mighty Voice of Paul Robeson. Due to the pandemic shipping of books has been delayed. But pre-order your copy!
NOV
7
I had so much fun at Mount Notre Dame High School in Cincinnati. Thank you for choosing "Maya Lin: Thinking with Her Hands" as a common school read. Here are a few photos from my visit, and I greatly look forward to coming back soon.
AUG
6
One of my writer friends recommended me for this feature, and here it is. I hope you like the images I chose and the story I told.
JULY
22
Happy to have received this 5-star review for my Degas book!
JUN
6
My friend Amy's daughter Emily and grandson Felix enjoying my Magritte book!
APR
25
Henriette Chardak has made a documentary film about Terezin concentration camp, "The Kids and the Monster with Moustache," inspired by the book Ela Weissberger and I wrote, The Cat With the Yellow Star. The French film is available in English. The password is ENFANTSfest.
Click here to check it outAPR
19
Here is the cover of my new book, Degas, Painter of Ballerinas, that I did in conjunction with the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
APR
18
Here is an interview that I did with Deborah Kalb
Click here to check it outAPR
12
On Saturday, April 13th, I will be at the Los Angeles Festival of Books at USC, speaking about Degas, Painter of Ballerinas on a panel, "This Is How It Happened: Young Adult Nonfiction" at 11:30 am at Mudd Hall 203.
MAR
1
My book Degas, Painter of Ballerinas, done in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will be released by Abrams on April 16, 2019. I'll be appearing at the Los Angeles Festival of Books to sign copies on April 13-14th.
FEB
14
Here are photos of Larry Brimner, Isabel Quintero and me participating in a panel discussion on nonfiction -- fake news and alternate facts-- with our moderator, Madeline Bryant, at the Los Angeles Public Library's Central Library.
The event was an annual gathering of Teacher Librarians from LAUSD high schools and Young Adult Librarians from the various branches. A full house!
NOV
8
I am so pleased that Jane Tanner has chosen The Quilts of Gee's Bend as one of the picture books recommended on her blog. Click here to check it out
NOV
1
Love a sale? Me too! This month only, my ebook Maya Lin: Thinking With Her Hands is on sale for just $1.99 across a variety of ebook retailers. Click here to check it out
OCT
17
I was thrilled and honored to see this article about me and my children's books In the fall 2018 issue of the Oberlin Alumni magazine. The editor featured the covers of my three latest titles: Maya Lin, The Quilts of Gee's Bend, and Coco Chanel. Click here to view article
JUN
20
I am delighted to announce that the 2018 Children's Literature Council of Southern California is giving me an award for Notable Contribution to the Field of Non-Fiction for my books Maya Lin: Thinking With Her Hands and The Quilts of Gee's Bend.
JUNE
14
On June 11 I was thrilled and honored to receive a gold award for Maya Lin: Thinking With Her Hands from the California Commonwealth Club. All of the winners were asked to give a short speech that was filmed and recorded in a video.
Click here to view video
MAY
10
I've been named a Gold Winner in the Juvenile category of The Commonwealth Club's 87th Annual California Book Awards for Maya Lin: Thinking With Her Hands. This is truly a great honor.
APR
24
Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb has just posted a new interview with me for my book Coco Chanel!
Please use the following link to view the article: Click here
APR
20
The Bank Street College of education has named The Quilts of Gee's Bend as a Best Children's Book of the Year, 2018, and has selected the title for Outstanding Merit in its category!
APR
20
Here are some pictures of my book launch for Coco Chanel at the Brentwood Country Mart
MAR
18
Here are some pictures of my book launch for Coco Chanel at Children's Book World in Los Angeles.
MAR
14
Here are some pictures of me at the Tucson Festival of Books.
MAR
13
My book COCO CHANEL: Pearls, Perfume, and the Little Black Dress was just reviewed in Time Magazine.
Please use the following link to view the article: Click here
MAR
11
My book COCO CHANEL: Pearls, Perfume, and the Little Black Dress was just reviewed in the Wall Street Journal.
Please use the following link to view the article: Click here
FEB
23
A reporter from the California Apparel News interviewed me this week about COCO CHANEL: Pearls, Perfume, and the Little Black Dress.
Please use the following link to view the article: Click here
FEB
10
I'm pleased to announce that the PJ Library edition of Music Was IT: Young Leonard Bernstein has been released.
DEC
20
My book "Delicious" was just posted on: 7 Books To Binge If You've Just Seen Lady Bird
NOV
30
The New York Public Library included The Quilts of Gee's Bend and Maya Lin: Thinking With Her Hands on their list of Best Books for Kids and Teens 2017.
The NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children named The Quilts of Gee's Bend as an Honor Book and Maya Lin: Thinking With Her Hands as a Recommended Book.
School Library Journal named The Quilts of Gee's Bend and Maya Lin: Thinking With Her Hands on their list of Best Books of 2017.
NOV
29
The Chicago Public Library recommends The Quilts of Gee's Bend for their Best of the Best 2017 list! And School Library Journal includes Maya Lin: Thinking With Her Hands as one of 25 titles and resources to explore the Vietnam War.
NOV
14
My newest book "Maya Lin: Thinking With Her Hands" was released by Chronicle Books on November 7th.
NOV
13
I'm pleased to announce that The Quilts of Gee's Bend is a 2017 Junior Library Guild selection.
JUNE
26
Kevin O'Connor's author saw copies of The Quilts of Gee's Bend at the Museum of African American Culture
JUNE
19
Here is a link to the Q&A that Deborah Kalb did with me on The Quilts of Gee's Bend
MAY
8
Here are two photos from my recent trip to Iowa. I was talking to students at Danville School about the pen pal letters between the Wagner sisters of Iowa and Anne and Margot Frank.
APR
24
The Quilts of Gee's Bend is due out in June from Abrams. Here is the cover!
APR
20
On May 1 and 2 I will be attending the Meet the Masters Art Show at the Art Center of Burlington in Iowa. All of the 5th grade students in Burlington have studied various masters of art. This year they focussed on Roy Lichtenstein and invited me to give a presentation. I'll also speak about other artists I have written about: Degas, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and Georgia O'Keeffe.
MAR
1
Kirkus has just reviewed my book The Quilts of Gee's Bend and gave it a starred review!
FEB
1
Brown v. Board of Education is an ALA Notable book for 2016!
DEC
17
I was so happy to read to my grandson Ethan Rubin's school in Marin County last week. Some pictures are below.
DEC
17
Deborah Kalb interviewed me about Brown v. Board of Education and the interview is now available on her blog.
DEC
9
A podcast I did with Aaron Barnhart on his "Q Review" is now available to stream! The interview was about Brown v. Board of Education, and the interviewer was calling from Topeka, KS! (home of Linda and Cheryl Brown and site of their elementary school, Monroe, which is now a museum.)
SEP
21
I am thrilled to announce that Brown v. Board of Education: A Fight for Simple Justice has been given a starred review from School Library Journal in the October, 2016 issue. This is the third so far for this book!
AUG
30
Brown v. Board of Education: A Fight for Simple Justice has been awarded the designation, "A Junior Library Guild Selection" for fall 2016.
AUG
22
Here is the cover for my new book "Brown v. Board of Education: A Fight for Simple Justice" due out in October!
JULY
14
Cheryl Rattner Price's documentary film "NOT The Last Butterfly" will have a special screening at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park, San Diego, on Tuesday, September 20 at 7:00 pm. I was privileged to be included in the film to talk about Friedl Dicker-Brandeis and the art she guided children into creating at Terezin Concentration Camp.
MAY
31
A young reader loves "Roy's House," especially the page featuring the fish.
MAY
9
My stepson and his family found Delicious:The Life & Art of Wayne Thiebaud, a painter of gum ball machines and lollipops, displayed in this Portland, Oregon candy store.
APRIL
8
My 7-year-old grandson Ethan reading an advance copy of "Roy's House" instead of watching TV! For me that's a starred review.
APRIL
4
Please look for my new picture book Roy's House with art by Roy Lichtenstein due out from Chronicle on June 7, 2016. The house-themed book for children will have "an instant appeal for a range of readers," wrote Kirkus Reviews. "The tone is fun and friendly, and readers will feel welcome in Roy's house."
JANUARY
16
OCTOBER
29
HOT PINK won a Eureka Honor Award from the California Reading Association!
OCTOBER
29
This was the event on Oct. 10th when I won an Honor award for Freedom Summer.
OCTOBER
21
I've been featured in Booklist Online - a publication of ALA - on an interview I gave of Freedom Summer.
Click here to read the full interview
SEPTEMBER
30
I'm pleased to announce that Freedom Summer: The 1964 Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi has been selected as a 2015 Carter G. Woodson Honor Book.
SEPTEMBER
23
I am happy to be participating in the 20th Reunion of the Tomas Rivera Award for Mexican-American children's literature in San Marcos Texas.
SEPTEMBER
22
My friend April Wayland saw this lovely book display on Montana in Santa Monica
SEPTEMBER
15
Today, The New York Times.Com (UVM: 15,427,936) included HOT PINK in an article about children's biographies on fashion icons!
"In an inspired stroke, Susan Goldman Rubin, an experienced author of biographies for young readers, makes the central motif Schiaparelli's "invention" of the shade she called "shocking pink," which had never been used in Western women's clothes, and which cemented Schiaparelli's place as the herald of a modern, witty, confident way of living"
Click here to read the full review
AUGUST
6
Publication of Sondheim: The Man Who Changed Musical Theater has been postponed. There are things we have to correct. However, we've already received this starred review from Kirkus:
*With a deft hand and unbridled admiration for her subject, Rubin presents the career of a musical theater giant. . . Musical-theater lovers, whether front-of-curtain, backstage, or audience, will revel in this journey in which "Every moment makes a contribution/Every little detail plays a part."
-------Kirkus Reviews, starred review
JULY
16
The Children's Literature Council of Southern California has named me the recipient of an award for Notable Work of non-fiction for Freedom Summer: The 1964 Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi. I will receive the award on Saturday, October 10, 2015, at the gala held at the Skirball Cultural Center.
JUNE
16
A fellow author, Karen Blumenthal, saw my book Fireflies for sale at a bookshop in Terezin.
APRIL
15
I am pleased to join the Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency as a client. For representation contact Kevin O'Connor. (kevin@sheeydylit.com)
MARCH
31
I had a most wonderful week at Carolyn Yoder's writers' workshop at the Highlights Foundation campsite in the Pennsylvania woods. Here I am with Carolyn, her mother Kay, a poet and artist who celebrated her 94th birthday with us, and a group of terrific and talented new friends.
MARCH
4
I am honored to announce that Freedom Summer; The 1964 Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi is the recipient of the 2015 Honor Book Award for Nonfiction from SCBWI!
CLICK HERE
FEBRUARY
5
In memory of my beloved friend, mentor and agent, George Nicholson. I am grateful to have known him and worked with him.
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
FEBRUARY
4
Freedom Summer is an ALA Notable Book for Children.
Also, Freedom Summer is a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for 2015.
And Stand There! She Shouted is a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for 2015.
Diego Rivera is a Notable Book for a Global Society.
JANUARY
13
Here is the flyer for my upcoming talk on January 31st
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
JANUARY
7
Here's a wonderful review of "Stand There! She Shouted" from the Wall Street Journal
CLICK HERE
JANUARY
7
I am very excited to announce that my book Everybody Paints was included in Betsy Bird's list of 100 Magnificent Children's Books
CLICK HERE
DECEMBER
17
Everybody Paints! is on the New York Public Library's list of 100 children's books for reading and sharing 2014.
CLICK HERE
OCTOBER
30
Here are two of the pictures my host Jesse Gainer sent from Texas State University and the presentation we did last Thursday for the Tomas Rivera Award. The first shows me speaking to the 700 school children in the audience. The second shows me posing with the kids who portrayed Jose Posada and Frida Kahlo in a tableau of Diego Rivera's mural "Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park."
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
SEPTEMBER
25
Finally had a chance to post some pictures from my book signing in Rockland, Maine with Jamie Wyeth!
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
SEPTEMBER
24
On September 9th Candlewick Press announced publication of "Stand There!" She Shouted: The Invincible Photographer Julia Margaret Cameron.
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
AUGUST
4
A thank you to my niece Peggy who sent me this picture of my book at the National Gallery in Washington, DC
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
JUNE
24
Great News! Everybody Paints! The Lives and Art of the Wyeth Family is an Amazon Best Book of the Year So Far!
CLICK HERE
JUNE
19
JUNE
13
Booklist Online has selected Everybody Paints! The Lives and Art of the Wyeth Family as one of the top 10 biographies for youth. The feature was first published June 1, 2014 (Booklist)
The Chicago Public Library as chosen me as their author of the month for July. We will soon post an online interview and video greeting.
MAY
8
Freedom Summer: The 1964 Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi, is now available from Holiday House.
BUY ON AMAZON
APRIL
30
My lovely new friend Lisa, manager of 192 Books in NYC, took this picture of my board books in her window!
APRIL
9
The 2014 Americas Award Committee has selected Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People as one of two Honorable Mention titles.
MARCH
6
Jean Laffite has been nominated for the 2015 Beacon of Freedom Award -- this is an annual children's literature award that focuses on early American history. The award is sponsored by the Williamsburg Library in Virginia. The winner will be announced in January 2015.
FEBRUARY
18
It is with great pleasure that I am writing to announce that Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People, was selected as the 2014 winner of the Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award in the category of "Works for Older Children."
The Rivera Book Award was established in 1995 to honor the legacy of Dr. Tomas Rivera and to celebrate and promote outstanding work for young people that reflects the Mexican American experience.
VISIT WEBSITE
FEBRUARY
13
"They Call Me A Hero" is now available in paperback!
FEBRUARY
11
Today Diego Rivera was named to the Notable Books for A Global Society Book Award sponsored by the International Reading Association (IRA)
JANUARY
31
Everybody Paints!: The Lives and Art of the Wyeth Family has received a starred review in the March, 2014 issue of booklist!. Also, Amazon is designating Everybody Paints as one its Best Books of the month for February!
VISIT WEBSITE
JANUARY
30
JANUARY
24
Great news! DIEGO RIVERA has made the 2014 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, sponsored by the Children's Book Council and the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS).
JANUARY
14
Today I received my first bound copy of Freedom Summer: The 1964 Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi. Books will be available in eight weeks.
DECEMBER
19
Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People is on a list of "100 Magnificent Children's Books for 2013" compiled by Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library's Youth Material Collections Specialist, for her blog.
VISIT WEBSITE
DECEMBER
17
Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People is on the list of Best Multicultural Books of 2013, compiled by the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature.
NOVEMBER
1
Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People made the Booklist list of the Top 10 Arts Books for Youth: 2013
VISIT WEBSITE
OCTOBER
30
Freedom Summer: The 1964 Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi is a Junior Library Guild Selection.
OCTOBER
25
Watch for my new book Freedom Summer: The 1964 Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi, due out from Holiday House in February, 2014.
SEPTEMBER
23
California Teachers Association has a California Reads program and on their fall recommended reading list is MUSIC WAS IT!
VISIT WEBSITE
SEPTEMBER
6
Everybody Paints! The Lives and Art of the Wyeth Family has been named a Junior Library Guild Selection.
VISIT WEBSITE
APRIL
22
I am pleased that an interview I did with Connie Martinson about my book "Searching for Anne Frank: Letters from Amsterdam to Iowa" will be shown on SHALOM TV from April 21 -27.
VISIT WEBSITE
APRIL
22
DIEGO RIVERA will be featured in Booklist's ALA Issue, as one of the Top 10 Biographies for Youth.
VISIT WEBSITE
APRIL
4
My Cousin Nancy at the National Museum in Washington, D.C. The book is dedicated to her.
MARCH
27
MARCH
21
They Call Me A Hero: A Memoir Of My Youth is a Junior Library Guild selection for 2013.
VISIT WEBSITE
MARCH
21
Jean Laffite: The Pirate Who Saved America has been selected to be included in the 2013 edition of Best Children's Books of the Year, selected by the Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College.
VISIT WEBSITE
MARCH
14
Jean Laffite: The Pirate Who Saved America has received a Special Award Citation from The Colonial Dames of America.
VISIT WEBSITE
JANUARY
23
My friend Karen took this photo in the National Gallery in
Washington, D.C. Thanks Karen!
CLICK OR TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE
DECEMBER
12
DECEMBER
05
UPCOMING EVENTS
An in person or virtual launch of Sing and Shout: The Mighty Voice of Paul Robeson at Diesel, a Bookstore in Brentwood, CA, on Sunday, May 17, 2020.
VIDEO CORNER
Each month I'll post a video I love!