This week, Candlewick President and Publisher Karen Lotz and Editorial Director and Associate Publisher Liz Bicknell talk about their favorite picks for fall. Gorgeous full-color excerpts of Our White House and Sword are available for download for one week.

“Our White House: Looking in, Looking Out, created by 108 renowned authors and illustrators and the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, is one of the most exceptional projects I’ve ever been involved in,” said Karen Lotz, President and Publisher of Candlewick Press. “A treasury of personal essays, nonfiction, short stories, poetry, humor, primary source materials, and an extraordinary range of illustration, it is an entirely fresh and engaging presentation that serves as a gateway for looking at two hundred years of American history with new eyes. The subtitle of the book captures its essence; it is designed to explore the dwelling at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue through multiple perspectives, including the views of those who built it, of those who have lived and made history there, and of those who keep its integrity as the center of our democracy by electing the leaders who will serve in it every four years.”

“We believe this is the most exceptional roster of authors in any fundraising collection of its kind. Their dedication to the book has been profound, with all contributing not only their writing and artwork, but also significant original research, and, most importantly, their personal thoughts and philosophies on our democracy: why it works, and how it could work even better. All agree on one important principle: the engagement of young people in learning about history and participating in the political process is vital to our collective future.”

“Swords: An Artist’s Devotion is a 96-page, full-color celebration of swordsmanship,” said Liz Bicknell, Editorial Director and Associate Publisher of Candlewick Press.

“Agent Rosemary Stimola sent me three sample spreads of the chapter “Kings” back in July 2005 and I immediately took them home to my two sons, Rowan and Corin, who at the time were 14 and 11 and big into things medieval. Rowan said reverently, ‘Mom, you have to get this book!’ and that pretty much convinced me there was going to be a market.”

“Ben Boos is an incredible artist, as you can see from the sample, and his detailed illustrations took two years to complete, a true ‘artist’s devotion.’ Before this book, he worked as an illustrator on the Diablo computer game franchise. I think we’ve successfully lured him away, though, as we are signed up for another book, which Ben is working on now.”