Downloads and Playlists from Middle-grade Author Lisa Fipps

Happy 1st Birthday, STARFISH! March 9, 2022

Downloads

Bullying Is NEVER Okay brochure: No one — including the grownups in your life — has the right to make you feel small.

Common core-aligned discussion guide for Starfish

#DitchingDietCultureAtSchool Digital Resources Library for students, teachers, parents, and communities by Cait O’Connor

Anti-Defamation League Book of the Month Parent-Family Discussion Guide for STARFISH

Starfish 8.5 x 11 poster RGB

Starfish 8.5 x 11 poster CMYK

Starfish 11 x 17 poster RGB

Starfish 11 x 17 poster CMYK

I Deserve 8.5 x 11 poster RGB

I Deserve 8.5 x 11 poster CMYK

I Deserve 11 x 17 poster RGB

I Deserve 11 x 17 poster CMYK

I Deserve 8.5 x 11 poster RGB – with serif I

I Deserve 8.5 x 11 poster CMYK – with serif I

I Deserve 11 x 17 poster RGB – with serif I

I Deserve 11 x 17 CMYK – with serif I

Starfish playlist

These are the songs I think Ellie would listen to, that help define her. I listened to them over and over when writing Starfish:

Brave by Sara Bareilles
Fight Song by Rachel Platten
Bigger Than My Body by John Mayer
Be Kind by Zak Abel
Firework by Katy Perry
Roar by Katy Perry
Shine by Jaslyn Edgar

These are the songs that reminded me of Catalina and Viv’s friendship with Ellie:

Count on Me by Bruno Mars
My Best Friend by Weezer

Find the entire playlist, click here.

Best Books Lists

The Nerdy Book Club The 2021 Nerdies: Poetry and Novels in Verse (12.30.21)
Connecticut State Library Division of Library Development 2022 All CT Reads Short List (12.23.21)
School Library Journal 100 Scope Notes – Top 20 Books of 2021: 5-1 (12.17.21)
Denver Public Library Staff Favorites 2021: Children’s Books (12.10.21)
The Boston Globe Best Books of 2021 (12.9.21)
King County Library System Best Children’s Books of 2021 (12.9.21)
New York Public Library NYPL Best Books 2021: Best Books for Kids (11.23.21)
Chicago Public Library CPL Best of the Best Books 2021 (11.23.21)
School Library Journal SLJ Best Books: Best Middle Grade Books 2021 (11.22.21)
The Washington Post – KidsPost: Best children’s books of 2021 (11.18.21)
BookPal – Longlist for the middle grade 2021 Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award (11.18.21)
Amazon – Best children’s books of 2021 (11.16.21)
What do We Do All Day? Best Middle Grade Books of 2021 (11.15.21)
Publisher’s Weekly Best Books of 2021 (10.22.21)

Starfish on book lists/reading lists

2022 National Council for the Social Studies-Children’s Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Books List (2.3.22)

2021 Project LIT Book Club Selection (12.7.21)

Evanston Public Library’s 101 Great Books for Kids List of 2021! (10.18.21)

Hub teen collections blog for the Young Adult Library Services Association: Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2022) Featured Review of Starfish by Lisa Fipps (7.8.21)

Required Summer Reading List for incoming eighth-graders. Ashland, Massachusetts (6.11.21)

Amazon Best Books of the Year So Far (6.9.21)

Amazon Best Children’s Books of 2021 So Far (6.9.21)

Amazon Best Children’s Books of 2021 So Far: Ages 9 to 12 (6.9.21)

The Horn Book 2021 Summer Reading List (5.12.21)

Virginia Association of School Libraries: VA Reads Middle Grade Selections 21-22 (5.11.21)

Barnes & Noble: Best Novels in Verse to Read Right Now (3.31.21)

Amazon EDITORS’ PICKS Body-positive kids’ books from the author of “Starfish” (3.11.21)

Starfish/Lisa in the news

Edutopia – Weight Bias Hurts Kids, and We’re Not Talking About It (2.25.22)

The Children’s Book Council – Notable Social Studies List (2.3.22)

School Library Journal – Goodbye for Now (2.2.22)

Truthout – As the Right Censors Public Libraries, Families Are Forming Banned Book Clubs (2.1.22)

Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Blog – #ALAYMA Announcements Oh My! (1.24.22)

School Library Journal – Heavy Medal Award Committee Live Zoom Results (1.21.22)

Moultrie News – Middle grade books are written especially for tweens (1.11.22)

School Library Journal – Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Finalist: STARFISH by Lisa Fipps (1.10.22)

New York Post – Shop the best books of 2021, according to the Goodreads Choice Awards (12.15.21)

School Library Journal – It’s the FINAL BOOKLIST: Heavy Medal Mock Newbery List of 15 (12.13.21)

Romper – 9 Kids Books that Center & Celebrate Fat Characters (12.8.21)

School Library Journal – Authors Share Readers’ Letters to Show Impact of Books (12.6.21)

NY Metro Parents magazine – NYPL Announces Best Books of 2021 for Kids and Teens (11.29.21)

Utah Public Library – Our fall 2021 community booklist on Thursday’s Access Utah (11.19.21)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Bestselling books for the week that ended Nov. 7

TODAY Show – 40 best gifts for 8-year-old boys and girls in 2021 (10.26.21)

The Irish Independent – The best children’s books this autumn – from Halloween picture books to spine-tingling novels for young adults (10.23.21)

Publishers Weekly – Best Books of 2021 (10.22.21)

Anti-Defamation League – Anti-bias Education Book of the Month: STARFISH (10.20.21)

Internationale Jugendbibliothek – The White Ravens 2021 (10.15.21)

Outside Online – How to Fight Diet Culture at Your Family Dinner Table (10.9.21)

SCBWI – A Closer Look at Novels in Verse (10.6.21)

School Library Journal – Standing Up to Bullies and Racism: three possible Newbery contenders (9.20.21)

School Library Journal – Award Worthy? : Heavy Medal’s Mock Newbery Suggestions through August (8.9.21)

BookRiot – Where are the fat children in picture books? (8.6.21)

cafemom – 17 Middle Grade Books Every Young Girl Should Read (7.29.21)

New York Times – Body and Soul: Two novels and a graphic memoir take on weight (7.22.21)

Borneo Bulletin, Brunei Darussalam – Novel inspired by author’s past as a bullied kid (6.15.21)

YALSA The Hub – Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2022) Featured Review of Starfish by Lisa Fipps

News Tribune From the Stacks: Children’s book showcases finding comfort in own skin (5.30.21)

Post Bulletin Toss these books in your beach bag (5.21.21)

The Goshen News – Ready to hit the beach, and the books (5.16.21)

School Library Journal – Twice as Many Titles: The Updated Mock Newbery List (5.10.21)

The Horn Book Inc. – Lisa Fipps Talks With Roger (5.6.21)

The Horn Book Inc. – Review of Starfish (5.4.21)

School Library Journal – Growing the Mock Newbery Reading List: May suggestions are now open (5.3.21)

Houston Chronicle – Oprah Winfrey is among the authors appearing at book events this week (5.2.21)

National Council of Teachers of English – Build Your Stack (4.30.21)

AudioFile Reviews: Starfish (4.30.21)

Kidspot As a fat kid, my deepest wounds came from words my mother said; Lisa was bullied throughout her entire childhood, but it was words spoken by her own mother that hurt the most

WAMC/Northeast Public Radio – Book Picks: Northshire Bookstore (4.27.21)

Reading Eagle Read books that explore courage (4.25.21)

The Keene Sentinel – Novel inspired by author’s past as a bullied kid (4.24.21)

Kids’ Next List (Indie Next List) Top Pick Spring 2021: Starfish (4.22.21)

Longview News-Journal – Novel inspired by author’s past as a bullied kid (4.18.21)

ALA Booklist – Spotlight on Middle Grade Fiction (cover feature) (4.15.21)

The Horn Book – New for National Poetry Month 2021 (4.14.21)

The Spokesman-Review Starfish is inspired by Lisa Fipps’ past as a bullied kid (4.11.21)

ALA Booklist – Books and Authors: Poetry Tackles Tough Topics (4.9.21)

The Washington Post: Starfish character is bullied about her weight. So was author Lisa Fipps. Middle-grade novel in verse explores how a girl deals with critism from other kids and her own mother. (4.7.21)

School Library Journal Eleven Diverse Audiobooks in Verse (4.2.21)

Baker and Taylor CATS Meow Author Interview (4.1.21)

B&N Reads: The Best Novels in Verse to Read Right Now

Buzzfeed: If You Liked These 20 Young Adult Books, Read These 20 Middle Grade Books (3.30.21)

What to Read to Your Kids – Spring Break Beckons: Middle-Grade Round Up for Ages 7-14 (3.25.21)

Lisa Fipps interview with the Kokomo Post (3.25.21)

My Best Friends Are Books: Starfish by Lisa Fipps (3.23.21)

Publisher’s Weekly New and Noteworthy Kids’ and YA Books: March 2021 (3.22.21)

NJ.com Library system looks to spread body positivity among youth with ‘mindfully-curated’ collection (3.18.21)

All4Women: “Girls’ self-esteem plummets at age 9” – How moms can build confidence (3.17.21)

Amazon’s Editors’ Picks Body-positive kids’ books from the author of Starfish (3.11.21)

For Every Mom: As a Fat Kid, My Deepest Wounds Came From Words My Mother Said (3.10.21)

Book Riot: The Kids Are All Right (3.9.21)

Arkansas Democrat Gazette OPINION | READ TO ME: A bullied girl learns to like herself (3.8.21)

Buffalo News Books in Brief: The Elephant in the Room, Starfish (3.5.21)

Starfish is on The Children’s Book Council’s Hot Off the Press reading list of anticipated bestsellers. (3.2.21)

Kirkus Reviews With a Little Help From Your Friends (and Family) (3.2.21)

Amazon’s Editors’ Picks (Hand-picked Reads from the Amazon Book Editors) makes Starfish a Best of the Month title. (3.1.21)

Imagination Soup 13 Brilliant New Middle Grade Books, March 2021 (3.1.21)

Lone Star Literary Life March Texas Books Review (2.28.21)

Story Monsters Ink March 2021 issue – Lisa Fipps Writes a Must-Read for Kids (And Adults) by Melissa Fales pages 22-24. (2.27.21)

School Library Journal Starred Reviews February 2021 (2.25.21)

School Library Journal Middle Grade Titles to Get Excited About (2.22.21)

Publishers Weekly Starred Review (2.20.21)

Publishers Weekly Spring 2021 Children’s Announcements: Publishers M-Q (2.12.21)

American Booksellers Association BTW The Spring 2021 Kids’ Indie Next List Preview (2.9.21)

TODAY Show Parenting Team: As a Fat Kid, My Deepest Wounds Came From Words My Mother Said (2.7.21)

Publishers Weekly New and Forthcoming Titles on Women, Girls and Empowerment (1.29.21)

Kokomo native’s middle-grade novel tackles fatphobia (Kokomo Tribune 1.22.21)

Kirkus Review (Starred) Make room in your heart for this cathartic novel (1.19.21)

Brightly The Most Exciting Middle Grade & Chapter Books Hitting Shelves in 2021 (1.13.21)

PopSugar: 65 Picture, Middle-Grade, and YA Books Coming Out in 2021 to Add to Your Kid’s TBR List (1.8.21)

Publishers Weekly For Every Body: Children’s Books on Body Acceptance (10.30.20)

Starfish/Lisa on video or audio

Tar Heel Teachers Book Club: Starfish by Lisa Fipps (2.25.22)

Barrett Laurie: Livestream Author Interview w/ Lisa Fipps (1.20.22)

All Aboard the E Train: My book review for “Starfish” by Lisa Fipps!

KidLit TV Creativity Corner with Terry Shay & Lisa Fipps (9.2.21)

Indiana State Library – Toucan Tuesdays from the Indiana Young Readers Center: Lisa Fipps, Indiana Author (7.6.21)

Read with Val: Starfish by Lisa Fipps (5.20.21)

Book Joy Live with John Schu (5.6.21)

First Chapter Friday with the Word Nerd: An Interview with Lisa Fipps (4.16.21)

Colby Sharp: Starfish by Lisa Fipps (4.12.21)

TeachingBooks: Starfish by Lisa Fipps (3.15.21)

Mrs. Palin, K-5 Librarian, Starfish by Lisa Fipps (3.10.21)

Starfish Virtual Launch Party (3.9.21)

North Texas Teen Book Festival When the Going Gets Tough: The Tough Get Going (3.5.21)

Why did I include therapy in Starfish? (3.2.21)

Thanks to Ginette Garrity, you can find me on Flipgrid. (2.23.21)

Kristin @mommylovesbooks had me as a guest on Instagram live. (2.23.21)

Booklist and Penguin Young Readers’ Feminist Reads: Spotlight on Body Positivity webinar with Olivia Abtahi, Shelly Anand, Tyler Feder, and Lisa Fipps (2.18.21)