Fiona's Luck
In the award-winning Fiona's Luck, a greedy leprechaun king gets his comeuppance at the hands of a clever lass in a plucky Irish folktale. Distressed that free-roaming leprechaun luck was being soaked up by all the "big folk" who had arrived in Ireland, the king of the leprechauns ordered all his people's luck to be gathered and locked in a hidden treasure chest. Alas, they went too far and Ireland suffered its worst luck ever in the form of the potato famine. In short order, a sharp young woman named Fiona hatches a plan to retrieve Irish luck from the leprechauns, a plan that involves outsmarting the wee king with inventive reasoning and a bit of playacting. Bateman's (The Ring of Truth) original story brims with the entertaining hallmarks of folklore and fairytales (e.g., magic, a test of wits, a wish granted).
Select Awards + Recognition2008 - Storytelling Award
2008 - Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book
2007 - Bookamania "Terrific Tales"
2008 - Bank Street College of Education's Best Books of the Year
Masterpiece
Masterpiece is a 2008 novel written by Elise Broach, illustrated by Kelly Murphy, and published by Christy Ottaviano Books. It won a 2008 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year in Children’s Fiction, the 2009 E.B. White Read Aloud Award, a 2009 ALA Notable Children's Book, and is a New York Times Best Seller.
Masterpiece has been translated in Catalan, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, and Turkish.
Select Awards + Recognition2010-11 - Children's Crown Award, National Christian School Association
2009 - New York Times bestseller
2009 - American Library Association Notable Children's Books
2009 - Chicago Public Library Best of the Best
2009 - E.B. White Read Aloud Award
2009 - Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
2009 - Kansas State Reading Circle
2009 - Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award
2008 - Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, Children's Fiction
Faraway Things
Stunningly illustrated with evocative art by Kelly Murphy and written by award-winning and bestselling writer Dave Eggers, Faraway Things is a profound and resonant tale about the reward of letting go.
“A beautiful story about adventure and honoring a father's memory.”—School Library Journal (starred review)
“Sweeping multimedia art by Murphy gives the galleon, its crew, and the ocean grandeur.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“An evocative picture-book bildungsroman with equally atmospheric illustrations.”—Kirkus (starred review)
Select Awards + Recognition2021 - STARRED REVIEW Publishers Weekly
2021 - STARRED REVIEW Kirkus Reviews
2021 - STARRED REVIEW School Library Journal
2021 - Society of Illustrators Original Art Show
Together We Grow
Kelly Murphy's acclaimed latest book, written by Susan Vaught. Together We Grow is a poignant picture book that celebrates inclusivity, acceptance, and the importance of rebuilding a community in the wake of disaster.
“A truly inspiring picture book that will resonate with both children and adults.”—School Library Journal (starred review)
“Emotionally charged and eloquently rendered in words and art, this picture book is worth owning and cherishing.”—Kirkus (starred review)
Select Awards + Recognition2020 - STARRED REVIEW Publishers Weekly
2020 - STARRED REVIEW Kirkus Reviews
2020 - STARRED REVIEW Booklist
2020 - STARRED REVIEW School Library Journal
2020 - Society of Illustrators Original Art Show
Secrets at Sea
The celebrated chapter book Secrets at Sea, created by Newbery medalist Richard Peck and Kelly Murphy. "In the beloved tradition of The Borrowers, The Tale of Desperaux, and The Cricket in Times Square, here is an irresistible adventure story of the tiny individuals who secretly live among us humans." This award-winning story was followed by a companion novel with further acclaim, The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail, in 2013.
Select Awards + Recognition2013 - Society of Illustrators Original Art
2012 - Gold Award, Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles
2012 - Bank Street College of Education's Best Books of the Year
2011 - ≪Notable Children's Books of 2011≫, The New York Times
2011 - Best Books for Children, Kirkus
2011 - Starred Review by Kirkus
2011 - Starred Review by The Horn Book
2011 - Starred Review by Publishers Weekly
The Boll Weevil Ball
Kelly Murphy's debut picture book, telling the tale of a plucky boll weevil who is the smallest member of his family.
"Making her children's book debut, Murphy's text and paintings work in tandem to convey the action and emotion leading up to the ball. In a family portrait, for example, only Redd's eyes and antennae appear. A lovely understated humor animates the spot illustrations (in one, Redd nearly drowns in a punch cup), while full-page and full-spread paintings highlight a variety of perspectives (Redd being left behind by his siblings; a view of the dance floor from above). The hero's expressions and body language convey a winning vulnerability and quiet resolve, and the night scenes at the lantern-lit ball, rendered in deep blues and greens with splashes of yellow, evoke a painterly, romantic beauty."—Publishers Weekly"Splendidly done in watercolor, gel medium, and acrylic, each picture has a textured finish that encourages children to reach out and feel the pictures. The warm blues and greens and muted reds create the perfect ambience. Young children will identify with Redd's predicament and will laugh aloud as the little beetle tries to fit in at the dance."—School Library Journal
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