The Breaking News

“. . . a useful classroom and parental tool in tough times.” – from The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (Starred Review)

“. . . a wise and timely book.” – Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

“An absolute-must for most libraries.” – School Library Journal

THE BREAKING NEWS, Roaring Brook/Macmillan

When devastating news rattles a young girl’s community, her normally attentive parents and neighbors are suddenly exhausted and distracted. At school, her teacher tells the class to look for the helpers—the good people working to make things better in big and small ways. She wants more than anything to help in a BIG way, but maybe she can start with one small act of kindness instead . . . and then another, and another. Small things can compound, after all, to make a world of difference.

Buy at Bookshop.org

ACTIVITIES for kids, families & teachers:

Educator & Family Discussion Guide PDFs from the Anti-Defamation League
Consider creating a project around “one small thing” that you can do for your community: grow flowers to share, set up a Little Free Library, or create a collaborative art project with others.
Printable flowerpot PDF drawing sheet:

flowerpot handout Download

Interested in how I created THE BREAKING NEWS? More info in this Q&A video:

More reviews & press for THE BREAKING NEWS:

“. . . the heavily outlined images are steady and solid, including the closing spreads of the girl and her family planting flowers, which circle back to a scene at the beginning, affirming the resilience that can result when small acts are focused on community.” – The New York Times

“…when she places a revived potted plant in her front window, she spurs her parents to join her in taking action: planting and nurturing flowers for the whole neighborhood. These emerge as tangible symbols of life and growth, hope and comfort amid the bad news of the day.” – Horn Book Review

*Selected as a Best Picture Book of 2018 by the Chicago Public Library*

*A Scholastic Teacher’s magazine summer 2018 reading list pick*

Featured as a Book of The Month by the Anti-Defamation League
- Including Educator & Family Discussion Guide PDFs
Talking to Kids About Bad News: The Inspiration behind THE BREAKING NEWS at The Nerdy Book Club
Cover reveal and process on Tara Lazar’s StoryStorm blog
Link to Goodreads reviews

THE BREAKING NEWS is available for purchase at:

your favorite independent bookstore, or . . .
my local bookstore – Whitelam Books (they usually have signed books available, and I can usually stop by to add inscriptions if requested!)
anywhere else you like to buy books – including Amazon, B&N, & more!