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WORK TITLE: Scarecited on the First Day of School
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PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.alliahagostini.com
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 404
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL EDUCATION:
Harvard University, A.B., M.B.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author and speaker; marketing.
AVOCATIONS:Dance parties, museums, and summer festivals.
MEMBER:KidLit in Color, Black Creators HQ, the Picture Book Sunrays, and SCBWI.
AWARDS:Junior Library Guild Selection, for Big Tune.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Alliah L. Agostini is an African American children’s book writer who tours as an author and speaker at schools, libraries, and on podcasts talking about Black culture and historical events. Her work has been featured on such outlets as the Today Show, CNN, WashingtonPost.com, and Good Housekeeping.
Agostini’s debut novel, The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud, presents an introductory history of the date June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned they were free. This was more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery in America. The book explains that although slavery was outlawed, African Americans were subjected to Jim Crow laws in the South that took away many of the rights of citizenship they had gained. Over more decades, they fought for their rights during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and Black Lives Matter movement of the 2000s. In 2021 President Joe Biden made Emancipation Day, June 19, known as Juneteenth, a federal holiday.
In an interview online at Black Children’s Books and Authors, Agostini remarked that writing about Juneteenth struck a chord because of her own family’s history celebrating the holiday: “My grandfather was part of a group that helped found Buffalo, New York’s Juneteenth celebration in 1976. It has become one of the largest running celebrations in the country.” Illustrations by Cloud “capture the jubilation of the newly free in a spectrum of brown faces,” according to a Publishers Weekly writer.
Agostini’s exuberant picture book Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince celebrates Jamaican American culture with Shane, a young Black boy who loves to dance. Shane cashes in recyclable cans that he collects because he is saving money for high-top sneakers. Although Shane practices his cool dance moves alone in his room, he is too shy to dance in front of others. When the Big Tune Saturday neighborhood dance party is canceled because the speakers break down, Shane offers up his savings to keep the party going. He realizes he is not shy anymore and shows his community how good he is at dancing. In their thanks, the partygoers take up a collection for Shane’s sneakers.
A Publishers Weekly reviewer observed how the illustrations “layer bold patterns and textures with typewritten text, sheet music, and images of the Jamaican flag.” “Themes of joy, solidarity, and artistic expression are effortlessly woven throughout the words and images. … An exuberant celebration of community that leaps off the page,” noted a writer in Kirkus Reviews. Myiesha Speight remarked in School Library Journal: “This unique picture book’s celebration of Jamaican culture and community is a great addition to every library.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, January 1, 2023, review of Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince.
School Library Journal, June 1, 2022, review of The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States; March, 2023, Myiesha Speight, review of Big Tune, p. 74.
ONLINE
Alliah L. Agostini website, https://www.alliahagostini.com (September 1, 2023).
Black Children’s Books and Authors, https://bcbooksandauthors.com/ (April 26, 2022), “Debut You: A 2022 Debut Author Series: Alliah L. Agostini.”
Publishers Weekly, https://www.publishersweekly.com/ (May, 2022), review of The Juneteenth Story; (March, 2023), review of Big Tune.*
Meet Alliah
Buffalo, NY native Alliah (uh-lee-uh) L. Agostini (ah-go-stin-E) has marketed everything from iconic brands to scrappy start-ups, but motherhood helped her return to her first love: children's literature. She writes to spread joy, truth, and to help more children see themselves reflected on the page.
Alliah is the author of many picture books and easy readers for children including Junior Library Guild Selection BIG TUNE: Rise of the Dancehall Prince (starred reviews, Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly, NYPL and Chicago Public Library Best Picture Book of 2023), Black KidLit Award-winning The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States, Oprah Winfrey: A Little Golden Book Biography, The Juneteenth Cookbook, Great Idea Malia, Blexi, Play!, the upcoming Scarecited on the First Day of School, No Cat Like Tac, Art's Art, and more.
A proud member of KidLit in Color, Black Creators HQ, the Picture Book Sunrays, and SCBWI, she and her work have been featured on Oprah Daily, Essence.com, TODAY with Hoda + Jenna, Morning in America, Good Housekeeping, CNN, and NPR.
Alliah resides in New Jersey with her husband and two children. She has an A.B. and an M.B.A. from Harvard
Alliah L. Agostini grew up an avid reader in a cross-cultural African-American and Guyanese household in Buffalo, NY. After pursuing a career marketing everything from beauty and personal care to home decor, motherhood helped her return to her first love: children's literature.
Now an author and speaker, Alliah has spoken at schools, libraries, corporations, and on several podcasts. She is also the author of the acclaimed The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States, Junior Library Guild Selection Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince, Oprah Winfrey: A Little Golden Book Biography, The Juneteenth Cookbook, and more. Alliah and her work have been highlighted on outlets including the TODAY Show with Hoda + Jenna, Essence, CNN, and Good Housekeeping.
Alliah writes to spread joy, truth, and to help more children see themselves reflected on the page. She and her family live in the suburbs of New York City, where she enjoys impromptu dance parties, museum hopping, and summer festival season.
Meet Alliah L. Agostini
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Stories & Insights
September 12, 2024
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We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alliah L. Agostini a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alliah L., thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later?
I published my first book when I was 39. I didn’t give writing books a serious thought until about a couple of years prior, because I didn’t identify myself as a writer, and I knew nothing about the process of getting published. But I enjoyed writing, and it came naturally to me, I had ideas for books, and I finally had one book idea that wouldn’t leave me alone. So I decided to fumble in the dark and start doing research about how to bring this book, and some others to life.
I came to this point a bit before the pandemic, after a point in time where our family had experienced a few significant losses. Shortly after, the pandemic began. There was nothing like being faced with epic loss to remind me I have one life to live, and I should spend as much of that time doing what truly counts and brings me fulfillment and joy.
However romantic this notion, publishing is not for the faint of heart. You face a *lot* of no’s before (or IF) you get to yes, and it requires a pretty thick skin. Frankly, I didn’t have that earlier in my life. I didn’t respond well to perceived failure and rejection. But I was so compelled to figure out this publishing journey that I persisted- I’ve learned that a no isn’t a dead-end. I’ve developed a stronger sense of confidence and resilience. I’ve also been much more receptive to feedback- whether I implement it or not (that too, is a choice!). I also have a clearer sense of what I want out of this journey.
So, no- I don’t wish I started at a different time. I started exactly when I needed to.
Alliah L., love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am the author of a dozen books for children. As of this interview, four are out in the world, six are releasing over the next nine months, and two others are under contract! My work focuses on elevating the stories of Black children and families, and is a mixture of fiction, non-fiction, rhyming verse, and prose. I am a mother of young children, and of both African-American and Caribbean (Guyanese) descent, so many of my books focus on modern families (hopefully with some relatable insights!) and center both truth and joy.
My best known books are likely my non-fiction books about Juneteenth – The Juneteenth Story and The Juneteenth Cookbook, written to tell the story about the Juneteenth holiday and to share a resource of activities for families and educators to share to learn and celebrate the holiday. These books were featured in Oprah Daily (Unrelated, I also wrote a Little Golden Book about Ms. Winfrey!), Essence.com, the Washington Post, on TODAY with Hoda + Jenna, and more.
However, much of my work is fiction, and I especially love telling rhythmic, relatable stories about children being children. As a mom, a Black mom, I believe it is vital that people see Black children as *children*- not threats. Whether they are shy but talented like Shane, the Jamaican-American protagonist of Junior Library Guild Selection book, BIG TUNE, ambitious with slightly misplaced energy, like Malia, the sparkling protagonist of Great Idea Malia!, or filled with mixed emotions and quiet courage like Afua, of one of my Spring ‘25 books, Scarecited on the First Day of School, my heart and intention is directed at humanizing and elevating our children’s experiences so they see themselves and so others truly see them, too.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I often tell people who follow me on social media that they are only seeing the highlight reel of my journey. While they may see I have a slew of books coming out now, or may know that I had a two-book deal as my first deal, they don’t realize that it took several manuscript submissions and a year and a half to finally approve the second book in that deal. It was difficult – and I was filled with imposter syndrome – was that first book just a flash in the pan?
I kept writing and submitting because I knew something would eventually hit – besides, contractually I needed it to! But it was during this point that I felt the value of being a prolific writer, something which had occasionally felt distracting. I have dozens of manuscripts floating around in the cloud.
Recently I heard someone say ‘creativity is not a finite resource’ – and it’s true. It’s like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it becomes. When we settled on the second book, I knew it was special – it integrates elements of the manuscript that nagged me to pursue kidlit (but I never put on submission- it wasn’t ready) and speaks to something that my inner child and so many others will (hopefully) relate to.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I love creating art that imitates life – it heals and it fortifies people. It’s powerful. There’s nothing like going from that a-ha moment, when I think of a relatable concept or insight or character, and evolving it from a rough few sentences into a beautifully illustrated book that makes kids nod in recognition and has parents, teachers, and grandparents say – I wish I had that book growing up, but I’m glad this generation has it now.
Contact Info:
Website: https://alliahagostini.com
Instagram: @alliago
MacKids Spotlight: Alliah L. Agostini – MacKids School & Library
July 14, 2025
AS: Alliah L. Agostini
This month’s Author Spotlight is Alliah L. Agostini, author of Scarecited on the First Day of School, a picture book about a young girl who is feeling mixed emotions about her first day of school.
Scarecited on the First Day of School follows Afua’s first day at school and the mix of emotions she experiences simultaneously. How did you decide what feelings to combine to describe Afua’s experience, and how does this convey the complexity of emotions that children may feel in new situations?
Alliah L. Agostini: As I wrote SCARECITED, I thought about the most pressing feelings that have been relatable to me from the first day of kindergarten to the first day of new things I’ve pursued as an adult! Somehow the variables change, but the feelings are relatively consistent – from feeling scared about the unknown but also excited about those same unknown possibilities of learning and friendships, to embracing the sometimes inconvenient nerves that accompany feats of bravery. I wanted to call these out to give kids language and make sure they knew that they weren’t alone with this experience.
I also wanted to insert a couple of fun new words like ‘FLUTE’ (not the instrument – fly + cute – unlike the word fetch, it is so going to happen – excuse the Mean Girls reference) SLICKY (slippery + icky), and SLUFFED (sleepy and stuffed – also known as ‘the itis’ or a ‘food coma’) to give the book to have some levity – and they’re relevant and fun to say!
What inspired you to write this book?
Alliah L. Agostini: I was inspired to write SCARECITED for a number of reasons, the biggest one being rooted in my own experiences being ‘scarecited’ on my first day of school! I liked school and looked forward to seeing my friends, but roll call brought me serious anxiety. With a less common first and last name (not to mention both started with ‘A’!) – I could almost anticipate the pause and eye squint the teacher would do before calling out, and nine times out of ten, butchering my first and/or last name. In middle school a teacher even had the audacity to tell me I had ‘one of those made up names’.
At the same time, I’ve always enjoyed being creative with language and making up words (I’m not very good at Scrabble, but if you play me, have a dictionary on hand – I can be very convincing, haha). Sometimes there isn’t a perfect single word to describe something, but a good portmanteau can hit the spot.
With SCARECITED, I thought it could be fun for a protagonist to use her own creativity to make up her own very valid names for her emotional arc (or rollercoaster) on the first day of school, with a key conflict being getting the confidence to advocate for herself and the pronunciation of her name – something I struggled with, and I’m sure a number of other kids (and adults) struggle with, too.
What message do you hope young readers take away from Afua’s experience?
Alliah L. Agostini: I want young readers to understand their emotions are complex and valid – and it’s okay! But I also want them to feel empowered to advocate for themselves when necessary. With the power dynamic of teacher vs. student it can be difficult to speak up. I think kids in this generation may feel a bit more empowered, but when I was in elementary school in the 80s and 90s, deference to authority was the norm, although there are times when adults get it wrong. Just as much as I wanted to model Afua’s courage, I also made sure to model for teachers, through her teacher’s response, that they should be supportive when students advocate for themselves, not because this is a sign they are disrespecting the teacher, rather it is a sign of the student respecting themselves.
How does Afua deal with her mixed emotions? What do you think helps her to be brave on her first day?
Alliah L. Agostini: Afua deals with her mixed emotions by naming them various portmanteaux (I had to lean into my francophile proclivities with the ‘x’) a beautiful mashup of two independent words that Afua uses to identify her mixed emotions and also fun adjectives. From newer words like ‘SHURIOUS’ (shy + curious) to ‘BRAVOUS’ (brave + nervous) to the more common ‘HANGRY’ (hungry + angry) they sound a little funny and silly but are actually very real – and relevant!
She feels SADBARASSED (I’ll let you guess this one) after her teacher mispronounces her name during roll call, but she makes a new friend who pronounces her name correctly. Paired with a surge of STRONFIDENCE (strength + confidence) after winning a race, she musters up the courage to say something to her teacher.
Let’s talk about the art. Lala Watkins is so talented! Do you have a favorite spread?
Alliah L. Agostini: There are so many fun spreads in the book – Lala’s illustrations remind me of an ice cream sundae with rainbow sprinkles, and were perfect for the playfulness I envisioned for a sing-songy book like Scarecited.
My favorite spread is the one where Afua phonetically pronounces her name – it’s simple, but one page is filled with Afua, and the other page is mostly her name, decorated with flowers. I wanted this to be a moment where this could be the physical manifestation of her taking up space, something that can be complicated for girls, especially girls of color. I selfishly claim this for little Alliah (and similarly, the title page, which has the pronunciation of both my and Lala’s names – I didn’t want readers to mispronounce our names!)
scarecited image
What role do the illustrations play in portraying Afua’s emotions? For example, the different colors for Afua’s feelings.
Alliah L. Agostini: I’m so glad Lala signed on to illustrate, I’ve been a fan of her adorable work! She does such a great job with lettering, which was part of what I was hoping for in an illustrator. The words Afua makes up are so important, so each word’s typography and color were deliberately selected to emphasize her feeling or its meaning – from the dissonant colors and two different font faces used for BRA(VE + NER)VOUS to the bold block red lettering for HANGRY.
Tell us about a librarian or educator who made an impact on you.
Alliah L. Agostini: I am fortunate to have had a number of educators in my family, including three out of my four grandparents. They always impressed on me the importance of prioritizing education, cultivating a love of reading, and the importance of using my voice. My maternal grandfather, a former teacher and guidance counselor is now 94, and he couldn’t be prouder of my literary path. Whenever I talk to him, he says, “Keep writing, girl!” and I do.
What was your favorite book when you were a young reader?
Alliah L. Agostini: So many. My mother always talks about how much I loved books and couldn’t wait to learn how to read when I finally got to kindergarten. I had a special fondness for terrible joke books (still do), but I really loved Matilda. I loved her brilliance and loathed her comically terrible family, but was happy she found a safe space with a teacher who inspired her and valued her potential!
I do have to say, one of my favorite books for young readers I didn’t come across until I was an adult is Rita Williams-Garcia’s ONE CRAZY SUMMER. I named Afua after the youngest sister, Afua ‘Fern’ Gaither, as a tribute to her given name.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alliah L. Agostini
Alliah L. Agostini is the author of Junior Library Guild Selection Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince, Scarecited on the First Day of School, The Juneteenth Story, The Juneteenth Cookbook, Great Idea Malia!, and more joyful books for children. Alliah and her work have been featured on Essence.com, TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, and more. She lives with her family in New Jersey.
The Juneteenth Cookbook
Alliah L. Agostini, author
Chef Taffy Elrod, author
Elrod Sawyer Cloud, illustrator
becker&mayer! kids
c/o Quarto Group Children's Books
www.quartoknows.com
9780760385791, $19.99, HC, 72pp
https://www.amazon.com/Juneteenth-Cookbook-Activities-Families-Celebrate/dp/0760385793
Synopsis: A commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, the Juneteenth holiday has been observed in the Black community for over 150 years. With the publication of "The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate", Alliah L. Agostini (the author of the popular children's book The Juneteenth Story which won the 2022 Black Kid Lit Award for Best Historical title) brings the culinary tradition of Juneteenth to a child's home through historically accurate recipes and educational family activities.
With captivating illustrations of 18 quick and easy recipes, young readers ages 8-11 will enjoy following along with little Alliah and her grandparents as they explore the historical origins of the holiday through food. Make, share, and enjoy kid-friendly takes on some of the most popular Juneteenth celebration dishes ranging from Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwiches; Frances Price's Calico Potato Salad; Saucy Pulled Chicken Sliders with Bangin' Barbeque Sauce; and Freedom Fizz (homemade red pop); Hot Links & Chow Chow Relish; Corn Muffins with Hot Honey Butter; Mac 'n' Please; Sweet Potato Pie Bars--and more!
All the recipes comprising The Juneteenth Cookbook" use simple and accessible ingredients, which can be easily substituted for a variety of diets and preferences. Each recipe can also easily be multiplied for larger groups, and the instructions are written with families in mind so everyone from toddler to grandparent can participate in crafting the ultimate Juneteenth celebration spread! Alongside all the delicious recipes, children will also learn a brief history of barbeque and it's importance to the Juneteenth holiday and Black culture in America.
Comprised of 90 percent cooking and 10 percent family and community engagement, "The Juneteenth Cookbook" brings kids and families a sensory-rich, hands-on exploration of this important and historic American holiday.
Critique: This large format (8.9 x 0.5 x 11.4 inches, 1.25 pounds) hardcover edition of "The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate" is nicely illustrated and thoroughly 'kid friendly' in organization and presentation--making it a prized and unreservedly recommended addition to family and community library cookbook collections for children. Of special note is that "The Juneteenth Cookbook" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note #1: Alliah L. Agostini (www.alliahagostini.com) is the award-winning author of a number of books for young readers including: The Juneteenth Story, BIG TUNE, Oprah Winfrey: A Little Golden Book Biography, A Juneteenth Celebration Cookbook, and more.
Editorial Note #2: Taffy Elrod (www.cheftaffyelrod.com) is a professional chef, cooking instructor, recipe developer, food writer, and former restaurant owner with over 20 years experience in the food industry. Chef Elrod is also a Culinary Instructor at the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center in Troy, NY, a freelance recipe developer, and food writer. Her work has been featured on TheSpruceEats.com and in Plate magazine and The Washington Post.
Editorial Note #3: Sawyer Cloud (https://www.sawyer.cloud) is a Madagascar based artist who has illustrated a number of books including Jade Braves the Dark, Dear Mama's Loving Arms, Our Favourite Things, Earthbred, and Under the Mango Tree.
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
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"The Juneteenth Cookbook." Children's Bookwatch, Apr. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A793839132/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=eac55965. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
* AGOSTINI, Alliah L. with Taffy Elrod. The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate. illus. by Sawyer Cloud. 72p. becker&mayer! kids. Apr. 2024. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780760385791.
Gr 1-5--Agostini has written multiple books about Juneteenth, and her expertise shines in these pages. The book opens with a nice explainer about the holiday, noting that while the celebration of Emancipation had been observed for over 150 years, it only became a federal holiday in 2021. Throughout the book, readers follow a little girl named Alliah and her grandparents as they prepare for their Juneteenth festivities. Chapters focus on drinks, appetizers, mains, sides, and desserts, with interspersed sections about the history and symbolism of certain foods, suggested field trips to areas that have special significance around the holiday, playlists, ? and games. Cloud's artwork is a gorgeous accompaniment to Agostini's recipes, bursting with a summery wholesomeness. Each recipe is given a full-page illustration and portrayed in vibrant, appetizing colors. Ingredients are healthy, inexpensive, and widely available. Of note is Agostini's collaboration with a professional chef, Elrod, ensuring that this is not merely a Juneteenth book that happens to contain a few recipes, but rather a rich and full cookbook honoring a deeply meaningful celebration of freedom. VERDICT A beautiful collection of recipes marking an important national holiday, highly recommended for school and public libraries.--Kate Newcombe
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Newcombe, Kate. "AGOSTINI, Alliah L. with Taffy Elrod. The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate." School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 5, May 2024, p. 83. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A797499905/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f3770e1a. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
AGOSTINI, Alliah. Blexi, Play! illus. by Paige A. Mason. 32p. Paw Prints. Sept. 2024. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9781223188478; pap. $5.99. ISBN 9781223188485.
K-Gr 2--In this early reader, Liam is eager to play with his mom's "new toy," a smart speaker named Blexi. The speaker plays music and tells jokes in response to commands from Liam's parents and older sister, but when Liam orders Blexi to "play the Dino-sawwwr Song!" it responds, "I am sorry. I do not have the Dining Sauce Song" Through repeated attempts, Liam is unable to speak clearly enough for the device to understand him. Liam breaks his sister's doll amid his growing frustration and anger, and then spends the remainder of the story working to make amends. Illustrations show Liam and his family with brown skin and black hair. The text is set in a dyslexia-friendly typeface, with a few short narrative sentences on each page. Additional speech bubbles are printed in a different color for each character to aid readability. This short story includes an extensive emotional vocabulary, naming each of Liam's emotions as he experiences them: confusion, anger, sadness, and, finally, pride. Many readers will identify with the frustration of interacting with new technology, and all will relate to the experience of moving through difficult emotions. VERDICT A strong addition to early reader collections.--Amy Reimann
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Reimann, Amy. "AGOSTINI, Alliah. Blexi, Play!" School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 9, Sept. 2024, p. 94. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A836879041/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=380e26f6. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Agostini, Alliah L. ART'S ART Paw Prints Publishing/Baker & Taylor (Children's None) $15.99 5, 6 ISBN: 9781223188928
A young artist and his dog learn to create together.
Cam makes paintings, drawings, and small buildings that his dad proudly displays, but when Art arrives, the rambunctious dog shakes things up. He leaves paw prints all over Cam's paintings, knocks the boy's buildings down, and, worst of all, makes "his own buildings"--stinky messes that resemble chocolate kisses emanating steamy fumes. Cam and his dad are quite upset until the resourceful boy devises a plan to redirect Art's passion. He moves the art studio outdoors, dips the dog's paws and his own feet in "safe paint," and creates art that Dad is happy to hang on the wall. Art now understands the process of art making. "He fetched the blocks. Cam stacked them high." Cam doesn't even mind when Art continues to follow his instincts and makes "his own building": "It was okay. This time he was outside." The flattened cartoon illustrations emphasize the boy's art; kids will laugh at the scatological humor. Emphasizing shorta sounds, this easy reader features concise and straightforward text and a simple story. Brown-skinned, dark-haired Cam and his father have a loving relationship, and budding artists will appreciate that Cam finds creative solutions that allow his canine pal to explore his artistic side.
An accessible tale that makes clear that anyone--even the four-legged--can be an artist.(Early reader. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Agostini, Alliah L.: ART'S ART." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A830532529/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d9bfdc58. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
* AGOSTINI, Alliah L. We Dig Fossils. illus. by Joelle Murray. 32p. (Step into Reading). Random. May 2025. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780593812532; pap. $5.99. ISBN 9780593812518.
PreS-Gr 1--Ava loves rocks. She reads about them in books and studies her collection with her magnifying glass. But she really, really loves fossils. Ava digs ("Scoop, plop. Scoop, plop") in her yard, in the park, and at the beach to no avail. Luckily, Ava has a supportive family who takes her to a fossil park. After a long day of digging, everyone in Ava's family (except Grandpa) has found a fossil, but all Ava found was a smooth, round stone. As they leave the park, Ava checks out a fossil chart and is surprised to discover that her smooth, round stone is actually fossilized shark poop. This early reader is perfectly suited for its audience and manages to be entertaining, too. Agostini's short tale is funny, and Murray's illustrations are charming and detailed. VERDICT A great purchase; this book is more than a one-time read.--Jennifer Miskec
KEY: * Excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or In the same genre | Tr Hardcover trade binding | Board Board book | pap. Paperback | BL Bilingual | SP Spanish
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Miskec, Jennifer. "AGOSTINI, Alliah L.: We Dig Fossils." School Library Journal, vol. 71, no. 4, Apr. 2025, p. 116. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A836879592/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4f754559. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Agostini, Alliah L. SCARECITED ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Children's None) $18.99 6, 3 ISBN: 9780374390020
Afua's first-day jitters can't be conveyed with a single feeling or word.
Feeling "scarecited" (scared and excited), Afua wonders what school will be like. "Will I make a friend?" Afua's outfit is "flute" (fly and cute), and upon entering the classroom, the young narrator is "shurious" (shy and curious). Afua's ready to start the day until the teacher, Ms. Lane, mispronounces Afua's name. "Sadbarrassed" (sad and embarrassed), Afua wonders, "Why is my name so hard?" A classmate named Teal, noticing Afua's distress, invites the protagonist to eat lunch, and as the two race around on the playground, Teal pronounces Afua's name correctly. Inspired--and feeling "bravous" (brave and nervous)--Afua approaches Ms. Lane to correct her pronunciation (phonetic text will help young readers also say Afua's name right). The teacher's kind words leave Afua feeling "prelieved" (proud and relieved). Bold illustrations and word lettering match the high-energy excitement of the first-day-of-school setting. Agostini captures the all-too-familiar feeling of experiencing more than one emotion at a time, encourages both self-advocacy and creative self-expression, and acknowledges the power of being seen. Afua and Teal present Black; their class is diverse. The book opens with pronunciation guides for the author's and illustrator's names.
A simple yet uplifting school story.(Picture book. 4-8)
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"Agostini, Alliah L.: SCARECITED ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A837325517/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=07a75b7c. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Scarecited on the First Day of School. By Alliah L. Agostini. Illus. by Lala Watkins. June 2025. 40p. Farrar, $18.99 (9780374390020). PreS-Gr. 2.
Playing on the idea that people can feel two things at the same time, the author invents a series of portmanteaus: Afua is scared and excited, therefore "scarecited," as she anticipates the new experience of starting school. She is pleased with her "flute" outfit because it's fly and cute. She's "shurious," shy and curious, as she meets her classmates and "sad-barrassed" when the teacher pronounces her name incorrectly. Using bold, flat, saturated colors, digital brushes are employed in a sophisticated, childlike style well-suited to the story. Hand-lettered display type draws attention to Afua's heightened emotions as she embarks on her first day. The class includes children using adaptive devices, a girl wearing a head-covering, and people with a variety of skin colors and hair types. The combined-words device keeps the tone upbeat and entertaining, even as the book shares important messages about sharing feelings, making friends, and standing up for yourself when needed. Beginning-of-school and the-importance-of-names books are always in great demand, and this title is a welcome addition to the collection. --Lucinda Whitehurst
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 American Library Association
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Whitehurst, Lucinda. "Scarecited on the First Day of School." Booklist, vol. 121, no. 19-20, June 2025, p. 92. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A847198146/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3bd25e11. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.