Lauren Castillo – författare

A Caldecott Honor Book * A Huffington Post Best Picture Book about Family  * An NYPL 100 Books for Reading and Sharing  * A 100 Scope Notes Top 20 Book of the YearIn this magical picture book, a young boy spends an overnight visit with his nana and is frightened to find that the city where she lives is filled with noise and crowds and scary things.But then Nana makes him a special cape to help him be brave, and soon the everyday sights, sounds, and smells of the city are not scary—but wonderful. The succinct text is paired with watercolor illustrations that capture all the vitality, energy, and beauty of the city.

From a Caldecott Honor-winning artist comes a cozy classic-in-the-making about finding your friends and sticking together through thick and thin. The perfect read-aloud for fans of Mercy Watson or Winnie-the-Pooh.Sometimes you make a friend, and it feels like you have known that friend your entire life. . . .Hedgehog lives on a teeny-tiny island with only her stuffed dog, Mutty, for company. When a great storm carries Mutty away, she embarks on a quest to find her friend. Following the trail of clues Mutty left behind, brave Hedgehog meets a wiggly Mole, a wordy Owl, a curmudgeonly Beaver, a scatterbrained Hen and Chicks, and a girl who''s new to the neighborhood, Annika May. With bravery and teamwork, there''s nothing that can stop these seven from finding Mutty, but along the way they discover something even more important: each other.The first book in a new series from Caldecott Honor winner Lauren Castillo, Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us has the feel of a timeless classic, introducing an unforgettable cast of characters who will star in many more adventures to come.

In a gentle story from Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo, a shy young girl finds exploring her new city and making friends overwhelming – until a rescue dog helps her uncover the bravery that was always in her.A young girl and her mother move to an apartment in a new city. Despite her mum's efforts to take her out, the girl would rather play by herself in their cosy home – she feels just fine on her own. Meeting any children her age has her hiding behind her mother’s legs, and invitations to group activities has her in tears. That is, until she meets Millie, a rescue dog who is not too big, not too small, and kisses her arm when the girl nervously reaches out. With Millie, saying hello to new people isn’t so scary, and maybe making a friend isn’t either.Through emotionally honest prose and soft, expressive illustrations, Lauren Castillo explores one girl’s shyness and anxiety – and how one dog’s love helps her open up – in a warm picture book that reminds readers of how the right companion can make the world feel like a less frightening place.