Excerpts from some reviews are shared on social media and at our awards ceremony in the spring. 'It's a real collaboration that way because how it then appears is completely Qin,' says Lawson. For the new book, Lawson gave Leng a short manuscript basically a one-page movie script of what he was picturing. It's the second wordless picture book for Lawson and Leng since 2021's Over The Shop. A busload of beachgoers spills out onto the sand for a day of fun and frolic. A Day For Sandcastles is illustrated by Qin Leng.

Reviews are shared with committee members at weekly meetings and, at the end of the year, the CBC will consider many criteria when compiling the Best Children’s Books of the Year List, including the thoughts of our Young Reviewers. The creators of the acclaimed Over the Shop evoke a perfect summer beach day - and themes of creativity, cooperation, flexibility, and persistence - all without a word in this sun-warmed, salt-stained delight of a story. Members of the CBC have a wide range of experience in the world of education, writing, and book publishing, but the voices of children through the Young Reviewers Program provide the committee with valuable insights into the literature we read throughout each year. Started more than 20 years ago, the program supports the CBC’s longstanding mission to evaluate books for children, parents, librarians, and educators by focusing on how books can affect young readers. Some Young Reviewers have been in the program for years and many have highlighted their experience on school and scholarship résumés. The Young Reviewers Program includes children-from toddlers through high school students-who read and review books that are currently being considered by the Children’s Book Committee (CBC) for our Best Children’s Books of the Year list and Children’s Book Awards.

A Day for Sandcastles by JonArno Lawson