Transatlantic is so excited to announce that three of our authors have been given the Best Book of The Year 2022 Award by School Library Journal!
Compiled by a hardworking team of reviewers, publishers, designers and twenty-two educator committee members who read every book starred by the SLJ, the Best Book of The Year awards are deliberately thoughtful and present a list that can be both useful and inspirational, as well as timely and timeless. Among this year’s 155 titles are three of Transatlantic’s talented authors.
TWIN CITIES by Jose Pimienta
Growing up in Mexicali, Mexico, twins Luis Fernando and Luisa Teresa attend seventh grade on opposite sides of the border and learn to navigate the trials of middle school—peer pressure, friendships, and identity-searching. A nuanced look at family dynamics and connecting with culture with realistic tween dialogue and bright, hand-drawn illustrations.
Jose Pimienta resides in Glendale, California where they draw comics, storyboards and sketches for visual development. They have worked with Random House Graphic, Iron Circus Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Disney Digital Network, and more. During their upbringing in the city of Mexicali, Mexico Joe was heavily influenced by animation, music and short stories. After high school, they ventured towards the state of Georgia where they studied at Savannah College of Art and Design.
Jose Pimienta is represented by Elizabeth Bennett.
YOSHI AND THE OCEAN by Lindsay Moore
Yoshi and the Ocean chronicles the remarkable true story of Yoshi, a loggerhead sea turtle who traveled an astounding 25,000 miles after being released from the aquarium that rehabilitated her. Informational and awe-inspiring, Yoshi and the Ocean is a gorgeous picture book about patience, perseverance, the ocean, and finding your way home. A transformative story about the incredible journeys animals make and the interconnectedness of the natural world.
An artist and writer with roots in Northern Michigan, Lindsay Moore studied marine biology and fine art at Southampton College on Long Island and figure drawing at the Art Students League of New York, and earned her master of science in medical and scientific illustration from Medical College of Georgia, now Augusta University.
Lindsay Moore is represented by Fiona Kenshole.
THE GHOST TREE by Natasha Deen, illustrated by Lissy Marlin
Is it science…or strange and ghostly? Asim’s new town is freaking him out! There are weird noises at night, eerie lights, and now an evil tree that is growing way faster than it should. He’s sure there’s something supernatural going on. His friend Rokshar believes that everything can be explained by science. But even she’s worried when the tree takes control of their teacher! It’s starting to look like an evil spirit straight out of Guyanese folklore is to blame. Can Asim and his friends save their teacher–and the town–from the ghost tree?
Natasha Deen has written more than a dozen books for young readers. After spending her early childhood in Guyana, she moved to Calgary in Alberta, Canada, as a child. She found this terribly exciting until she met her first minus-forty-degree winter day, at which point she began to question the sanity of the grown-ups around her. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta, and keeps warm with tea and cupcakes.
Natasha Deen is represented by Amy Tompkins.
To learn more, check out: https://www.slj.com/story/booklists/sljs-2022-best-books-are-live-download-a-pdf-of-the-complete-list