I’m sitting down at the breakfast table this morning with author/illustrator Jill McElmurry. Rather, I’m handing the 7-Imp mic over to her. And I’m happy to be doing so; I’ve enjoyed many of her picture books and her expressive, detailed gouache artwork over the years. And, as you can see at her site, she has illustrated nearly twenty books in her career. This month, she sees the release of two new picture book titles — on the same day, actually, which she discusses below. She both wrote and illustrated Mario Makes a Move (Schwartz & Wade), which I…
Children's Literature
-
Most Topular Stories
-
Jill McElmurry’s Tale of Two Books Before Breakfast
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast15 May 2012 | 1:01 am -
Beach towel reads
The Horn Book15 May 2012 | 11:32 amNeed suggestions for beach reading or books to bring to summer camp? Our annual summer reading list is full of our favorites from the last year—perfect for the long Memorial Day weekend coming up. (Road trip? We’ve got audiobook recommendations too!) What books are you saving for your poolside lounging this summer? Let us know in the comments! -
Potter, Alicia. MRS. HARKNESS AND THE PANDA
Booktalks Quick and Simple15 May 2012 | 5:20 amPotter, Alicia. MRS. HARKNESS AND THE PANDA -
Tragedy of the traveling pants—no spoilers
The Horn Book16 May 2012 | 1:47 pmI recently started reading Ann Brashares’s Sisterhood Everlasting (Random House, 2011) a ten-years-later installment of the popular YA Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series (Sisterhood is shelved in the grown-up section at my library). The story picks up with the girls (women) pushing thirty, successful in life and love (for the most part) but wistful for their teenage closeness. Everyone is beyond thrilled when Tibby, who lives in Australia, organizes a reunion vacay in Santorini. I just got to the part where Carmen, Lena, and Bridget arrive in Greece. I was not prepared for what… -
Monday Links and Musings: Be a Book Person!
Finding Wonderland: The WritingYA Weblog14 May 2012 | 5:33 pmWhy am I a "book person"? Of course that goes beyond just being a reader, or a writer. What is it about books? One amazing thing about books, to me, is that they aren't just ink on paper, words and pictures sitting there statically. Books GIVE. They give entertainment, they give adventure, they give escape and amusement and reassurance and information and wisdom and beauty and everything that we as humans need to feed our souls. When we give a book, then, we're giving so much more than just an object. Think about that the next time you're wondering whether it's worthwhile to donate books. And…
-
The Horn Book
-
Tragedy of the traveling pants—no spoilers
16 May 2012 | 1:47 pmI recently started reading Ann Brashares’s Sisterhood Everlasting (Random House, 2011) a ten-years-later installment of the popular YA Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series (Sisterhood is shelved in the grown-up section at my library). The story picks up with the girls (women) pushing thirty, successful in life and love (for the most part) but wistful for their teenage closeness. Everyone is beyond thrilled when Tibby, who lives in Australia, organizes a reunion vacay in Santorini. I just got to the part where Carmen, Lena, and Bridget arrive in Greece. I was not prepared for what… -
The fun kind of summer reading
16 May 2012 | 10:49 amWe’ve posted our selections, compiled by Katie Bircher, for summer reading–the fun kind, not for school. You can see my at-home mostly-unread piles above: some are as yet untouched and saved for true leisure (The End of the Wasp Season, by Denise Mina, a Scottish crime writer I love) and some half-read and unlikely to be finished, at least by me–Richard is the kind of guy who plows on to the bitter end even when it’s Saul Bellow. I have finished Simon Mawer’s The Glass Room, one of the best novels I’ve read in several years. I’m trying to get into his… -
Review of Summer in the City
16 May 2012 | 8:31 amSummer in the City by Marie-Louise Gay and David Homel; illus. by Marie-Louise Gay Intermediate Groundwood 151 pp. 4/12 978-1-55498-177-9 $15.95 g e-book ed. 978-1-55498-200-4 $15.95 Sixth grade is almost over, summer’s approaching, and Charlie’s parents haven’t revealed the family’s summer plans yet. What great adventure is in store? In the past, they’ve been caught in a revolution in Mexico, gotten sandblasted in the desert, ridden out hurricanes on the coast, and faced down hungry alligators in a swamp. As it turns out, times are a little… -
Beach towel reads
15 May 2012 | 11:32 amNeed suggestions for beach reading or books to bring to summer camp? Our annual summer reading list is full of our favorites from the last year—perfect for the long Memorial Day weekend coming up. (Road trip? We’ve got audiobook recommendations too!) What books are you saving for your poolside lounging this summer? Let us know in the comments! -
Summer reading recommendations
15 May 2012 | 11:04 amNeed suggestions for beach reading or books to bring to summer camp? We’ve hand-picked some new favorites, all published within the last year, that are ideal for the season. Picture books (Fiction and Nonfiction) Suggested grade level listed with each entry. No Dogs Allowed! written by Linda Ashman; illus. by Kristin Sorra (Sterling) Faced with a restaurant’s “NO DOGS ALLOWED” sign, a boy and his dog sit at a fountain. Soon there’s a crowd of people with pets enjoying the hospitality of a nearby lemonade and ice cream stand. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages. Z…
-
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
-
Jill McElmurry’s Tale of Two Books Before Breakfast
15 May 2012 | 1:01 amI’m sitting down at the breakfast table this morning with author/illustrator Jill McElmurry. Rather, I’m handing the 7-Imp mic over to her. And I’m happy to be doing so; I’ve enjoyed many of her picture books and her expressive, detailed gouache artwork over the years. And, as you can see at her site, she has illustrated nearly twenty books in her career. This month, she sees the release of two new picture book titles — on the same day, actually, which she discusses below. She both wrote and illustrated Mario Makes a Move (Schwartz & Wade), which I… -
7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #280 (Mother’s Day 2012 Edition):Featuring Gianna Marino
13 May 2012 | 1:01 amWork-in-progress illustration from Gianna Marino’s Meet Me at the Moon(Click to enlarge) It’s Mother’s Day, the day we celebrate all the mamas and mama-like people in our lives. I thought the best way I could celebrate today here at 7-Imp would be to highlight the latest picture book from Gianna Marino, Meet Me at the Moon, released by Viking in late March. And Gianna is visiting today to share a collection of early dummies, early sketches, work-in-progress images, and final spreads from the book. She also has the loveliest true tale about her own mother and the creation of… -
What I’m Doing at Kirkus Today,Plus What I Did Last Week, Featuringa Handful of International Children’s Book Art
11 May 2012 | 1:01 am“Just then Kakatua, the scarlet macaw flew down onto a nearby branch. ‘Kakatua, will you please let the whole jungle know that I challenge any animals to a race? We will see who is the fastest animal in the forest.’ ‘Kaaa kaaa a race a RACE,’ cried Kakatua. ‘Kanchil challenges any animal to a race.’ And with that, she took off flying low through the forest. ‘A race, A RACE. Come see The Great Race. Kaaa, KAAA.’”(Click to enlarge) This morning at Kirkus, I take a look at the new picture book offering from the very talented… -
Stories Breathing
9 May 2012 | 9:28 am(Click to enlarge) I was hoping to wake up this morning and find that yesterday’s news about Sendak’s passing was only a dream. Not surprisingly, some wonderful tributes have been written. Before I get to the beautiful and intriguing image above, I’ll note that below (at the bottom of this post) I share a few worthwhile tributes and links related to Sendak’s death — other than the three I mentioned yesterday morning at the New York Times, the Rosenbach Museum & Library, and Roger Sutton’s blog. (Roger’s post has been updated with a beautiful… -
Be Still
8 May 2012 | 8:18 am“[O]ne of Sendak’s most lovingly rendered pages, one of his most graphically succinct and nonetheless articulate expressions of deep meaning.”– From Gregory Maguire’s “A Sendak Appreciation,”The Horn Book, November/December 2003 I am so sad to hear about the passing of Maurice Sendak. What a loss for us all. I have been sitting in shock for a while, while I sit back and watch the news explode at places like Twitter and Facebook. I wish right about now I were a poet. But the New York Times did well with this: In book after book, Mr. Sendak upended the…
-
Finding Wonderland: The WritingYA Weblog
-
Monday Links and Musings: Be a Book Person!
14 May 2012 | 5:33 pmWhy am I a "book person"? Of course that goes beyond just being a reader, or a writer. What is it about books? One amazing thing about books, to me, is that they aren't just ink on paper, words and pictures sitting there statically. Books GIVE. They give entertainment, they give adventure, they give escape and amusement and reassurance and information and wisdom and beauty and everything that we as humans need to feed our souls. When we give a book, then, we're giving so much more than just an object. Think about that the next time you're wondering whether it's worthwhile to donate books. And… -
Thursday Review: TRY NOT TO BREATHE by Jennifer R. Hubbard
10 May 2012 | 10:00 amIn the interests of full disclosure, Try Not to Breathe author Jenn Hubbard is a writing pal and blog bud—we reviewed her first novel, The Secret Year, right here.Reader Gut Reaction: This is another powerful book from Jenn Hubbard that brings a guy's perspective to what might ordinarily be termed an "issue novel" or problem novel—and, in my opinion, there still aren't quite enough novels that deal with serious issues of mental health from a guy's viewpoint, that encourage guys to look for help with their problems rather than stigmatizing mental health problems, letting them fester… -
An Intersection of Points: Fiction, Faith, and Public Discourse
8 May 2012 | 8:15 amI'm grateful to the people who comment at Wonderland; often we come up with some really, really good discussions in the comment thread. In the past week, comments have been trickling back regarding the blog post responding to Brittany Melson's piece on YA CRUSH, about what she saw as the disappearance of YA novels which included serious discussions on faith. Several of us have decided that we don't feel that faith is missing, yet both bloggers and book-writers have suggested that at times there's an unspoken, We Don't Talk About This in effect, both stifling us as writers, and making readers… -
Monday Flashback Review: A TALE OF TIME CITY by Diana Wynne Jones
7 May 2012 | 10:00 amRecently, Tanita and I participated in the Diana Wynne Jones blog tour organized by the amazing Sharyn November. Looking back at our respective memories of the inimitable DWJ inspired us both to think about going back to re-read old favorites and discover new ones, and what better place to start, I thought, than the book which captivated me in the first place? Reader Gut Reaction: My expectations for this one started pretty high. After all, this was the first DWJ book I'd ever read, at age 10 (approximately), and as such, it occupies a rather lofty pedestal in my mind and my memory. My… -
TURNING PAGES: Pricilla the Great: The Time Traveling Bullet, by Sybil Nelson
5 May 2012 | 6:45 amWhen I read The Enchanted Inkpot's piece on Sybil Nelson this past February, I was, to put it mildly, GOBSMACKED. Okay, it's not as if there aren't people of color writing comic book style novels - but my interest here piqued because the character of Priscilla is kind of Kim Possible meets X-Men - two of my favorite supernatural concepts. Plus, the original novel came from -- well, you'll need to read The Enchanted Inkpot's interview with her. But, seriously, the premise is kind of horrific-yet-amusing, which is as good as any reason to start writing a book. The author herself intrigued me…
-
educating alice
-
Michael Patrick Hearn on Maurice Sendak
16 May 2012 | 8:59 amIt was at one of the wonderful Children’s Literature New England conferences that I saw Gregory Maguire in conversation with Maurice Sendak, someone who had been so incredibly important to me growing up as a reader (my iconic Sendak childhood works are the Little Bear books), as an aspiring children’s book illustrator (I studied and studied his masterful use of crosshatching), and as a lifelong member of this world of children and their literature (I followed all his work and commentary and learned more every time even if I didn’t always agree with him). It was at another… -
Debut Children’s Book Author Stephen Colbert’s Book Signing
13 May 2012 | 5:43 amEven the most famous artists and writers have to cope with those who shamelessly demand that they weigh in on their own feeble creative efforts. Say the late great Maurice Sendak who, this past January in a wonderful two-part interview (available here and here), said of Stephen Colbert’s attempt to write a children’s book, I Am A Pole (And So Can You!), ”The sad thing is, I like it.” It being Stephen Colbert, the book was snapped up by a publisher (no doubt causing much envy among those still trying to get their first effort noticed) and a scant few months later I… -
Chaplin Broadway Bound
11 May 2012 | 6:45 amTramp bio-tuner “Chaplin” has lined up its Broadway theater and dates, skedding a Gotham stint that opens in September at the Barrymore Theater. Formerly titled “Becoming Chaplin,” the musical about the life of silent film star Charlie Chaplin has songs by Christopher Curtis and book by Thomas Meehan (“Hairspray,” “The Producers”). Show world preemed at La Jolla Playhouse in a 2010 staging, when the musical was called “Limelight.” From Variety. I have read about this before and will hold my opinions to myself for now other than to… -
Chaplin Admirers in India
7 May 2012 | 4:38 amAfter an excruciatingly long 15-hour journey from Mumbai, I stepped out of the car outside Adipur train station and found two children waiting to welcome me with flowers. Both were wearing bowler hats and had t-shirts depicting the silent film star Charlie Chaplin. Of course, I was yet to meet the town’s biggest Chaplin fan. The image and quote are from Danish Siddiqui’s Charlie’s Angel, a charming story about a Chaplin admirer in rural India and how he managed to engaged everyone around him. And then there is this Bollywood tribute: -
In the Classroom: Making Old Movie Associations
6 May 2012 | 4:54 amThis week we will be filming our Charlie Chaplin parody (did this for the first time last year) after a year-long study and also finish watching Chaplin’s final Little Tramp film, “Modern Times.” As we started it last week I was delighted when the kids immediately referenced “I Love Lucy” because it means they are watching other older videos. For those who don’t know them or just want to see them again, here are the two sequences: Charlie on the assembly line in Modern Times. Lucy and Ethel on the assembly line in I Love Lucy.
-
Chicken Spaghetti
-
Audiobooking May 2012
10 May 2012 | 4:11 pmThis week J. (my 12-year-old son) and I finished the audiobook version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book in J.K. Rowling's epic series. We started listening to the first one in September 2010. J. was just starting sixth grade at a new school, and, until then, J. would have nothing to do with the series whatsoever. (Occasionally, and unfortunately, people become competitive about who has read what, and the same holds true even in elementary school.) I had read only the first book, and was neither here nor there about it. But the audiobooks! We became complete… -
Farewell, Maurice Sendak (1928-2012)
8 May 2012 | 8:23 amI was so sorry to hear this news this morning. The New York Times and other news outlets are reporting the death of Maurice Sendak, "widely considered the most important children’s book artist of the 20th century," as Margalit Fox writes in an obituary. NPR's "Fresh Air" will be devoting today's show to him. What's your favorite Sendak book? Mine is Swine Lake, a collaboration with James Marshall, about a wolf and a pig ballet and the power of art. -
Advice from Emily Post, 1951: Hats
16 Apr 2012 | 4:43 pmShall I Wear a Hat? Notwithstanding the continued practice of certain younger women to go hatless on all occasions, best taste exacts that in a city a hat be worn with street clothes in the daytime. In fact it is impossible for a hatless woman to be chic. With an evening dress a hat is incorrect—except on the stage in a musical review. from Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage, by Emily Post. Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1951. Reading excerpts from Emily Post's 1951 guide made three of us laugh til we cried. Hatless! Horrors. Image digitised by the State Library of Queensland,… -
Transcendence
13 Apr 2012 | 10:40 amI've been to Graceland a couple of times, and even wrote a little gift book about Elvis for a book packager years ago. The following passage, though, which comes from Darcey Steinke's memoir, Easter Everywhere, strikes me as about the truest thing I've ever read about E.P. In Graceland light seems to come at you from all directions, as if the sun has liquefied and flowed into the floor, walls, and ceiling. I recognized in the glittery decor a longing for transcendence that is often labeled as tacky. "A longing for transcendence." Beautiful. -
Educational Bonus
3 Apr 2012 | 8:48 amShe [Rosamond Vincy] was admitted to be the flower of Mrs. Lemon's school, the chief school in the county, where the teaching included all that was demanded in the accomplished female—even to extras, such as the getting and and out of a carriage. I laughed when I came across that passage in Middlemarch; "the getting in and out of a carriage" was just too delightful. I've recently begun George Eliot's novel for the fifth or sixth time, but this go-round feels like I'll read all the way through. My copy, a Bantam Classic paperback, features an introduction by…
-
Chasing Ray
-
An Innocent Man
16 May 2012 | 3:56 am1. A devastating and important account of a definitely innocent man executed in Texas. This is the reason why I struggle with the death penalty - because our justice system just is not good enough to handle it. (I cheered when Ted Bundy was put to death in Florida and I will never doubt that he deserved it but we make too many mistakes to justify those moments.) From The Atlantic: Reading through the manuscript last weekend, jarred by what I was seeing, I began to jot down a list of things that went terribly wrong in the DeLuna case -- issues of fact, of evidence, of testimony, of motives, of… -
Catalogging Chronicle Books
14 May 2012 | 3:41 amFall titles from Chronicle that caught my eye: Sketchtravel by Gerald Guerlais and Daisuke Tsutsumi - Passed between 72 artists over five years and 35,000 miles the sketchbook showcases the creativity of artists of all kinds from around the world. Talk about inspiration - this one should take readers in all sorts of unique directions. (192 full color illustrations throughout) The Where, the Why and How: 75 Artists Illustrate Wondrous Mysteries of Science by Jenny Volvovsky, Julia Rothman and Matt Lamothe - A collection of essays by scientists and accompanying illustrations by all kinds of… -
When you hear "Alcatraz" do you think of pelicans?
10 May 2012 | 12:03 amI have just finished Winged Wonders by Peter Watkins & Jonathan Stockland and find myself deeply impressed by how the authors managed to pack so much information about their subject into such a compact, perfectly sized package. There are chapters here on sixteen different birds (from owls to ravens to wrens) and along with a look at state birds, bird illustrators and birdsong the whole book is just barely 200 pages. It is the perfect title for those with curiosity but not a lot of time (the chapters lend themselves to easy bathroom reading) but I'll be recommending it in my June column as an… -
Polar Wives by Kari Herbert
7 May 2012 | 5:31 amIn grad school, one of my most memorable courses was "Polar Exploration and its Literature." Over the course of the semester we immersed ourselves in the words of Pierre Berton and Barry Lopez and a host of biographers who wrote of Peary, Scott, Shackleton, and others. What we did not read was much about the women who married those men, an oversight finally rectified by Kari Herbert's delightful collective biography Polar Wives: The Remarkable Women behind the World's Most Daring Explorers. In a period spanning Lady Jane Franklin's efforts to find her missing husband in the mid-nineteenth… -
YA Column: We Can't Choose Our Families.....
7 May 2012 | 5:29 amI would be hard pressed to think of two characters more different than Luna in Stewart Lewis's You Have Seven Messages and Chris in Jason Skipper's Hustle. Both teens are trying to achieve some level of normalcy in lives torn apart by circumstance and must deal with issues of parental loss and lies as they look to the future. The fact that every time something goes wrong for Chris the reader quickly learns it will only get worse and that every time something goes well for Luna it will only get better, are plot issues that do, in both cases get tedious. But the teen characters are so strongly…
-
Booktalks Quick and Simple
-
Rubel, David. THE CARPENTER'S GIFT : A CHRISTMAS TALE ABOUT THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER TREE
16 May 2012 | 5:25 amRubel, David. THE CARPENTER'S GIFT : A CHRISTMAS TALE ABOUT THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER TREE -
Potter, Alicia. MRS. HARKNESS AND THE PANDA
15 May 2012 | 5:20 amPotter, Alicia. MRS. HARKNESS AND THE PANDA -
Primavera, Elise. THE HOUSE AT THE END OF LADYBUG LANE
14 May 2012 | 5:17 amPrimavera, Elise. THE HOUSE AT THE END OF LADYBUG LANE -
Perro, Bryan. THE KEY OF BRAHA
13 May 2012 | 11:46 amPerro, Bryan. THE KEY OF BRAHA -
Patterson, James. THE FIRE
12 May 2012 | 5:57 amPatterson, James. THE FIRE
-
Books for Boys - Children's Adventure & Mystery Author Max Elliot Anderson
-
Books You Can Trust For Kids
9 May 2012 | 7:26 amBooks you can trust for readers 8 and up...Great for Summer Reading!The Sam Cooper Adventure SeriesLOST ISLAND SMUGGLERS - Book #1 in the Sam Cooper Adventure SeriesSam Cooper had just moved to Harper's Inlet when he met Tony. Tony's father owned a marina. Sam, Tony, and Tyler took scuba lessons together. After they completed the course, the boys decided to try out their new skills in the real world...the ocean. The only problem was, no one had permission. Everything went well until the biggest storm Tony had ever seen blew up from out of nowhere, and the boys found themselves stranded… -
New Video for RIVER RAMPAGE
3 May 2012 | 7:51 amRiver Rampage will release in June. This is book #3 in the Sam Cooper Adventure Series.River RampageSam Cooper and his friends have the chance of a lifetime to go rafting down the mighty Colorado River. The rains have been heavy this season, turning the raging river even more treacherous. The boys’ become separated from the main group, their rubber raft is going flat, and now they’re on their own. They have their hands full with a crusty prospector, his gold mine, a gang of outlaw bikers, and a desperate river escape on their makeshift wooden raft. Think that’s the worst that could… -
ARTICLE - Reading Sparks Young Readers' Imaginations .
1 May 2012 | 2:51 pmThis article shows how the imagination is like a muscle. Use it or lose it. Included is a report from an important study concerning children and reading. For example, did you know that 75% of children realize they should read more? See how many think texting is reading.Find my new article at: http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/middle_anderson.htmlThank you,Max -
VIDEO - Reading Sparks Kids' Imagination
21 Apr 2012 | 10:02 amNEWS! Watch for the NEW video this week for River Rampage, a book to be released in June, 2012. River Rampage is book #3 in the Sam Cooper Adventure Series!The following video will help to excite an interest in reading for the kids in your family or circle of influence.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOAa_eu30Xc&feature Feel free to share this link in any way you choose. -
Library Visit
18 Apr 2012 | 9:22 amRecently I participated in an event, at a library near Chicago, with 30 other authors. This was about an hour before the event startedA woman came to my table who works as a reading specialist in their public school system. After she saw the way that the interior of my books were laid out, making them easier to read, she purchased several because she already knew that they would help her students. We talked for a long time.If you have children or grandchildren in your family or circle of friends - especially boys - who aren't excited about reading, I'd encourage you to do what this…
-
Black Threads in Kid's LIt
-
Free Kindle eBook - The Day No One Played Together - For Limited Time
12 May 2012 | 6:55 pmFor a limited time only, you can download "The Day No One Played Together: A Story of Compromise" for free for Kindle users. Note: Though free at the time of posting, prices may change at any time. Please verify that the “Kindle Price” is $0.00. Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or you can download a Kindle Reading App for free for your computer or smartphone! -
Free Kindle eBook - Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria
27 Apr 2012 | 6:39 amFor a limited time only - April 27 - 29, 2012 - you can download a free eBook copy of Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria to your Kindle. Note: Though free at the time of posting, prices may change at any time. Please verify that the “Kindle Price” is $0.00. If you see a price for “Prime Members” or “read for free,” then the book is NOT free any longer. Click here to download from -
2012 List of Black Owned Bookstores
25 Apr 2012 | 8:28 pmThanks to AALBC for publishing a database of Black-owned bookstores in the USA.. As of today, there are 93 bookstores listed here: http://aalbc.com/writers/bookstores.html Thanks to Troy - the founder of AALBC - for sharing this information! -
It's Your Birthday, Shiann! by Cassandra Hill
14 Aug 2011 | 6:19 pmWanted to take a moment to introduce you to a children's book author I met yesterday at a Marita Golden writers workshop - Cassandra Hill. She has written and illustrated "It's Your Birthday, Shiann!", the story of a a mystical Egyptian cat celebrating its birthday. This multi-cultural adventure shares birthday traditions, food and dances from around the world. You'll also get to say "Happy -
Marcus and the Amazons on Kindle
18 Jun 2011 | 9:36 amCongratulations to poet and author Geoffrey Philip on his latest children's book Marcus and the Amazons, available on the Kindle! It's a story of friendship, loyalty, and rivalry. The retail price is $2.99. I've enjoyed the story and love that it is the first in a series! Enjoy!
-
About.com Children's Books
-
Gardens, Gardening and Eating What You Grow
13 May 2012 | 7:01 pmOur pansies and butterfly weeds are in bloom and the sunflower seeds we planted have grown into foot-tall plants already. Share the joys of gardening with your kids with ...Read Full Post -
Children's Books for Mother's Day Gifts
9 May 2012 | 7:01 pmIf you are looking for special Mother's Day gifts for a mother or grandmother who enjoys children's books, see my list of children's books that make good Mother's Day gifts. ...Read Full Post -
Children's Books = Great Graduation Gifts
8 May 2012 | 7:01 pmWhile I still think the children's picture book Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss makes a great graduation gift for a high school or college graduate, ...Read Full Post -
In Memory of Maurice Sendak: 1928-2012
8 May 2012 | 7:27 amI was sorry to hear about the death of artist and illustrator Maurice Sendak. His picture books not only brought joy to generations of children, but they also had a ...Read Full Post -
It's Children's Book Week!
7 May 2012 | 7:01 pmIt's Children's Book Week (May 7-13). Here are some ways to celebrate: Take your kids to one or more of the Children's Book Week children's programs at your local public library. Learn about all of the ways you can save money at your public library....Read Full Post
-
Wands and Worlds
-
A plea to indie authors and publishers
8 May 2012 | 10:16 pmI've long been an advocate for indie authors and indie publishers. As a former president and current member of the MidAtlantic Book Publishers Association, I have worked to help improve both the quality of indie publishing and the recognition for those involved. As an organizer of the Cybils awards, I argue vehemently each year to continue to allow self-published books to be eligible. There are excellent self-published books, I argue, and we need to continue to allow them to be eligible to find the hidden gems. And indeed books like Angelfall, an excellent self-published ebook which was one… -
Book Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns
3 May 2012 | 9:15 amThe Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson Once every generation, God chooses someone to bear the Godstone, a mark which indicates that person is selected to perform an act of service sometime in his or her lifetime. Lucero-Elisa de Riqueza, the younger daughter of the King of Oraville, is the current bearer of the Godstone, but she doesn't feel worthy. She's not thin, beautiful, or adept at court politics like her older sister, and she worries that when the time comes, she won't have the courage to perform her act of service. When Elisa is wed to Alejandro de Vega, the King of… -
Charlie Kaufman to adapt The Knife of Never Letting Go
24 Apr 2012 | 4:25 pmCharlie Kaufman to adapt The Knife of Never Letting Go Lionsgate has selected Charlie Kaufman to adapt the first book in Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking trilogy for film. Whenever I hear that a favorite book is being made into a film, I am simultaneously excited for the film, and worried that it won't do the book justice, or worse, will ruin my vision of it. I'm more worried than usual for this one, because according to the article, Kaufman is known for taking adaptations into "all kinds of imaginative directions not found in the pages of those books." Now, I'm not a person that believes that… -
Book Review: Ship of Souls
19 Apr 2012 | 6:26 pmShip of Souls by Zetta Elliott Dmitri, or D for short, never knew his father, so when he loses his mother to cancer, he is put into foster care. His new foster mother, Mrs. Martin, is nice enough, but she has her hands full with a crack -addicted baby and doesn't have much time for D. One day in the park, D finds a wounded bird, and discovers it can talk. The bird tells him she is there to gather the dead from the African Burial Ground, who have been waiting for years to find peace. The bird, whose name is Nuru, has been held prisoner and prevented from accomplishing her mission, and she… -
Book People Unite: Take the Pledge and help RIF put books into the hands of kids in underserved communities
17 Apr 2012 | 9:47 am"...there’s only one book for every 300 kids living in underserved communities in the U.S." RIF has been putting books into the hands of kids for decades. Now, they've teamed up with some top recording artists and actors to create this music video to raise awareness and encourage people to join the cause. After you watch the video, please go to http://www.bookpeopleunite.org/ to learn more about the video and sign the pledge. It doesn't cost you anything. RIF recently lost its federal funding, which represented 80% of its operating budget. But rather than give up, this loss seems…
-
American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL)
-
New book: THE INDIAN SCHOOL ON MAGNOLIA AVENUE
15 May 2012 | 7:49 amAt his blog, Matt Sakiestewa Gilbert offered a sneak peak at the cover of his new book The Indian School on Magnolia Avenue, due out in the fall of 2012.The Indian School on Magnolia Avenue is not a children's book, but books like it are a must-read for people who work in children's literature. Given the growing body of children's and young adult books about boarding schools for American Indian children, critics of children's literature must know what the schools were like in order to accurately review books set in boarding schools.In those schools, the goal was to "Christianize and civilize"… -
Jim Blasingame: "Ethnic Studies Ban Hits Tucson Hard: YA and Canon Alike Take a Hit"
7 May 2012 | 6:39 pm[Editor's Note: A chronological list of AICL's coverage of the shut-down of the Mexican American Studies classes at Tucson Unified School District is here. ___________________________________________With permission of Jim Blasingame, I'm republishing his article from the Assembly on Literature for Adolescent's April 2012 online newsletter. Jim and Simon Ortiz have done some excellent work together with high school students in Arizona. I wrote about their work two years ago in "I come to school for this class. I deal with the other ones." Here's Jim's article from the ALAN… -
Is "Queen Chief Warhorse" Native? And who gets to decide?
3 May 2012 | 10:05 amYesterday (May 2nd, 2012), Latoya Paterson of Racialicious published my post about "Queen Chief Warhorse" at her site. In it I questioned the use of "Queen." Latoya also posted an essay by Gyasi Ross, and one of her own. The three generated many comments. Some people question the import of federal recognition. Some people see the discussion as racist. This is my response to that conversation.In Part One (below), I return to the remarks made by "Queen Chief Warhorse" that night in New Orleans. Here's the video, and beneath it are her remarks, followed by my thoughts (then and now) about what… -
American Indians in Common Core, Appendix B, K-1 Text Exemplars
2 May 2012 | 1:53 pmDear K-1 Teachers,I am writing to let you know about the ways that American Indians are presented in Appendix B of the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts. There are 54 items listed on Appendix B. Some of them are terrific. I vividly remember, for example, my daughter giggling when we read "Strange Bumps" in Arnold Lobel's Owl at Home. Though the Common Core booklets say that the items on the list are only meant to serve as "useful guideposts in helping educators select texts of similar complexity, quality, and range" for your own classroom, I know many of you will use the items… -
Jacqueline Joseph Pata, Exec Dir of National Congress of American Indians, on Curriculum/American Indian Students
27 Apr 2012 | 8:26 am[Editor's Note: A chronological list of AICL's coverage of the shut-down of the Mexican American Studies classes at Tucson Unified School District is here.___________________________________________Jacqueline Joseph Pata (Tlingit)Jacqueline Johnson Pata, Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians, was on the lunchtime plenary panel yesterday at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's America Healing conference. Among her remarks was one that stood out to me.We (American Indians) don't need, Pata said, state departments of education telling us what is, or is not, acceptable…
-
Archimedes Forgets
-
Chapter 21: Happy endings
16 May 2012 | 11:04 amJohn Holbrook's quest has done its thing, and he has attained actual maturity."All his uncertainty had disappeared, and his steady eye and voice plainly revealed the core of strength that Kit had always sensed beneath his gentleness. In the days of his captivity, of which he never spoke, in the waiting for a chance to escape, and in the weary hunted trail down the Connecticut River, John had found his answers."And as long as he's not mooning after Kit, William Ashby isn't really so bad."She and William spent their evenings in happy planning, and their contentment was good to see. Kit had… -
Chapter 20: Things get sorted out (mostly)
15 May 2012 | 10:55 amAnd by "things," we're mostly talking about the romantic polygon.William was notably absent during Kit's trial, but now that everyone's healthy he's returned to the house. Kit does not respond with joy."Kit would not have risen from her place at all, but Rachel, with a meaningful nudge, handed her a candle, and she had perforce to see her suitor to the door."This gives them a moment for a quick tete-a-tete, in which William makes his opinion of the whole witch business clear:"You'll find, when you come back, I promise you, Kit, that everyone is willing to let bygones be bygones, and that you… -
Chapter 19: Kit on trial
14 May 2012 | 10:49 amThe constable's wife continues to be a font of supportive statements as she brings Kit breakfasts after the night in the shed. "'You're no treat to look at, that's sure,' the woman admitted. 'If they took you for a witch right now I'd scarce blame them.'" To be fair, she also supplies a comb.Kit has to pretty herself up because it turns out that Wethersfield wants to put its justice system to work right away, so she's due to appear before the selectmen -- well, immediately.Most of the complaints against her are given anonymously in the text, with only a couple being attributed to individual… -
Chapter 18: Kit under arrest
13 May 2012 | 10:45 amKit decided duty beat passion when she decided not to join Hannah in escaping Wethersfield (even if she probably didn't stop to think about it in those terms), so she figures she's stuck with that now."That should be enough, and surely if she worked hard enough she could forget this strange feeling of emptiness, the haunting regret that a secret and lovely thing was gone forever."But this is not the moment to settle into ennui. Because the witch-hunt mob, realizing it's lost its chance with Hannah, has chosen a new target.There's a brief touch of foreshadowing: "They were not alarmed this… -
Chapter 17: In which we appreciate the modern world
12 May 2012 | 10:39 amBecause it means this stays firmly in the realm of historical fiction: "A young surgeon was summoned from Hartford to bleed her, and a nauseous brew of ground roasted toads was forced between her cracked lips, to no avail."The Wood household is sick, Mercy most of all. This means Kit's hard at work, but this time she's got more than self-pity to worry about."The meals fell to Kit, and she did the best she could with them, measuring out the corn meal, stirring up the pudding, spooning it into a bag to boil, and cursing the clumsiness that she had never taken the pains to overcome."Actually,…
-
Bildungsroman
-
The Secret Journeys of Jack London: The Sea Wolves by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon
13 May 2012 | 7:59 pmJack London was best known for his novels, such as Call of the Wild, White Fang, and The Sea-Wolf, just to name a few. But what if his real-life adventures were even more mind-blowing than his fiction? That question prompted authors Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon to create a series with a supernatural twist, using a young and daring Jack London as the main character.The Secret Journeys of Jack London began last year, when the first book, The Wild, was released. The Sea Wolves, the second volume in the series, is just as action-packed as the first, if not moreso. When Jack is taken captive… -
Poetry Friday: Ulysses by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
11 May 2012 | 9:00 amTo strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.- the closing line of Ulysses by Alfred, Lord TennysonClick here to read the entire poem.I recently saw One Week, a film written and directed by Michael McGowan, starring Joshua Jackson. That movie inspired me to post this quote this week.My favorite Tennyson poem is The Lady of Shalott, which I first heard in Kevin Sullivan's film adaptation of Anne of Green Gables.View all posts tagged as Poetry Friday at Bildungsroman.View the roundup schedule at A Year of Reading.Learn more about Poetry Friday. -
Just 1 Book
7 May 2012 | 10:51 pmAs reported by Melissa Walker at I Heart Daily and readergirlz:When Sarah Dewitz, 12, from Orlando, Florida, learned about a town next to hers that was facing a lot of hardship and poverty, she immediately thought about the kids and what they had to do without. She wondered if they had access to books.Then she had an idea: If every child at her school donated "just one book," it would amount to 763 books that could go to the neighboring town! In her proposal to her school principal, she wrote, "I want to do this because if I was a child who did not have any books to read I would not be as… -
Best Books of April 2012
6 May 2012 | 8:47 pmApril 2012: 20 books and scripts readYA RecommendationsDreamland Social Club by Tara AltebrandoReplay by Robin BrandeSpell Bound by Rachel Hawkins (conclusion to the Hex Hall trilogy)Belles by Jen CalonitaHappy Families by Tanita S. DavisFor Kids and FamiliesHair Today, Gone Tomorrow by Courtney Sheinmel, illustrated by Jennifer Bell (second in the Stella Batts series)Must-Have AnthologyThe Letter Q edited by Sarah Moon (highlight: the piece by Jasika Nicole)The Play's the ThingA Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams -
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
5 May 2012 | 2:30 pmIf Hermione had been American, she might have enrolled in Hex Hall. In Rachel Hawkins' wonderfully absorbing supernatural trilogy, we learn that Hex Hall is not your typical boarding school. Three years after learning she was a witch, Sophie Mercer performs a spell that lands her in Hex Hall, a reform school for Prodigium: witches, fairies, and shape-shifters. She makes both friends and enemies almost immediately as she encounters vampires, ghosts, warlocks, and strict teachers. As the series progresses, Sophie discovers secrets her family has been keeping from her and truths about her…
-
bookshelves of doom
-
Children's Book Week through the ages.
15 May 2012 | 5:57 pmThere's a Pinterest page devoted to Children's Book Week posters. It is, as you'd expect, full of awesome. (via Dewey Divas/Dudes) -
The Loch Ness Monster's Song.
15 May 2012 | 5:33 pmIf you've never heard it performed, click on through for a treat. (via reddit) -
unglue.it
15 May 2012 | 5:10 pmNo, that's not a typo. Anyway, I think I understand what the site is all about: they're looking to raise enough money to make books free-and-clear to the public (in the form of a Creative Commons ebook), one title at a time. -
"I can do a really good scared face."
15 May 2012 | 3:26 pm -
And more YA film adaptation news.
15 May 2012 | 3:00 pmThe producers of the Ender's Game movie have a Tumblr.
-
the excelsior file
-
More
7 May 2012 | 8:24 amby I. C. Springman illustrated by Brian Lies Houghton Mifflin, 2012 It's Hoarders for the picture book set! A thieving magpie collects and collects until... well, as they say, less is more. One of the oddest thing about reviewing picture books is that it often takes more words to describe them than it does to read them. Quite simply we have the story of a bird with a propensity for -
The Golden Ass of Lucius Apuleius
4 May 2012 | 8:27 amAdapted from the Latin by M. D. Usher Illustrations by T. Motley David R. Godine 2011 Ah, the good old days of Ancient Rome, where a a reckless traveler manages to turn himself into an ass – literally, a donkey – and survive to tell the unbelievable tale to his traveling companions. First, for those who know the original tale and might have some concerns, Usher's adaptation is cleaned up -
The Hero of Little Street
25 Apr 2012 | 10:41 amby Gregory Rogers Allen & Unwin, Austrailia 2009 Roaring Brook, US 2012 The Boy, who previously met the Bard and the Bear and battled a Midsummer Knight, takes "readers" on another adventure, this time through the world of Vermeer. The Boy, out titular hero, is kicking around when a soccer ball appears. One swift kick and the ball lands in a fountain, and the bully boys who were previously -
how supporting ballou sr high school library will make you a magician
21 Apr 2012 | 11:57 amYou may be thinking that magic is an illusion, a slight of hand, a trick. That's not the kind of magic I have in mind though. I'm talking about a type of magic that you see when a face lights up. It's a magic I used to live for as a teacher and one I continue to relish as a parent. It's a magic of a moment when someone receives a gift that transcends the physical. It's the Ah-ha!, the joy of -
Stickman Odyssey
18 Apr 2012 | 4:03 pmBook One: An Epic Doodle (2011) Book Two: The Wrath of Zozimos (2012) by Christopher Ford Philomel Homer's epic tale reduced to stick figures and plenty of diversions from the classic poem, not that contemporary readers will mind (if they even notice). If you are a deep and reverent reader of The Odyssey, you should probably just leave now. This graphic novel retelling simply isn't for you.
-
Jen Robinson's Book Page
-
Bitterblue: Kristin Cashore
14 May 2012 | 10:45 amBook: BitterblueAuthor: Kristin CashorePages: 576Age Range: 14 and up Bitterblue is the long-awaited sequel to Kristin Cashore's Graceling (reviewed here), a companion novel to Fire (reviewed here). Bitterblue takes place 8 years after the events of Graceling (and close to 50 years after the events of Fire). We find Queen Bitterblue, now 18, struggling to run her kingdom, Monsea. Her advisers, and the general public, remain scarred (literally and metaphorically) by the actions of Bitterblue's father, King Leck. Bitterblue's quest to restore and heal her kingdom is further… -
The Sixty-Eight Rooms: Marianne Malone
10 May 2012 | 10:45 amBook: The Sixty-Eight RoomsAuthor: Marianne MaloneIllustrator: Greg CallPages: 288Age Range: 8-12 The Sixty-Eight Rooms, by Marianne Malone, has an irresistible premise and a fabulous, eye-catching cover. Two sixth graders, best friends Ruthie and Jack, find a special key while on a field trip to visit the Art Institute in Chicago. When Ruthie holds the key, it allows her to shrink down and enter the fabulous Thorne Rooms, incredibly detailed miniature rooms on display at the museum. In the Thorne Rooms, Ruthie discovers even more magic. My 9-year-old inner self was captivated by the idea… -
2012 Children's Choice Book Award Winners Announced
7 May 2012 | 7:56 pmKids Vote Jeff Kinney Author of the Year and Brian Selznick Illustrator of the Year -- Another Record Breaking Year with More Than 900,000 Votes Cast! NEW YORK, NY — May 7, 2012 — The Children’s Book Council (CBC) in association with Every Child a Reader (ECAR), announced the winners of the fifth annual Children’s Choice Book Awards at a charity gala in New York City this evening as part of Children’s Book Week (May 7-13, 2012). Children across the country voted in record numbers for their favorite books, author, and illustrator at bookstores, school libraries, and at… -
Here Lies Linc: Delia Ray
7 May 2012 | 10:45 amBook: Here Lies LincAuthor: Delia RayPages: 320Age Range: 8-12 Here Lies Linc is a middle grade novel by Delia Ray that is set, more or less, in a cemetery. 12-year-old Lincoln Crenshaw lives with his mother, a "history professor who studies burial customs" in a run-down house that backs up to Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Linc's "first best friend" is the groundskeeper at the cemetery. He keeps a journal of interesting epitaphs. As the story begins, Linc is about to start public school for the first time. And while he is dying to fit in with regular kids, a school… -
Children's Literacy and Reading News Roundup: April in Review
3 May 2012 | 5:32 pmThe end of April Children’s Literacy and Reading News Roundup brought to you by Carol Rasco at Quietly (her new blog), Terry Doherty at Family Bookshelf and me, Jen Robinson, is now available at Quietly. I don't know how Carol managed to pull things together this month, with everything going on at RIF (Book People Unite, the RIF Gift of Reading Gala, new RIF blog, etc.). But she's got plenty of tidbits for us in literacy and reading events, literacy and reading programs and research, and suggestions for growing bookworms. [And if you haven't taken the Book People Unite pledge…
-
Writing and Ruminating
-
George R.R. Martin's Rolling Stone interview
14 May 2012 | 3:13 pmI was just reading the Rolling Stone interview of George R.R. Martin, "The Hand Behind the Throne", from the May 24, 2012 issue of the magazine, and I was much taken with a lot of what Martin had to say. (You will note that I opted to put the cover photo up here, instead of a photo of Martin, but that is because I think Peter Dinklage is smokin' hot, and - no offense intended - I prefer him to a photo of George R.R. Martin. But I digress.)Here's a bit of what Martin had to say in the interview:Q: Some authors carefully plot out every page, while others improvise the whole thing. Where to you… -
Sonnet 55 by William Shakespeare
9 May 2012 | 6:22 pmCome this Friday, The Omnibus of Doctor Bill Shakes and the Magnificent Ionic Pentatetrameter will be launched into the world, containing (among other things, including short fiction based on his plays and takes on poems by other people) my steampunk riff on today's poem choice, Sonnet 55 ("Not marble, nor the gilded monuments").My poem, which keeps the Shakespearean rhyme scheme and, I might add, the general sentiment of the poem (whilst using steampunkery), is entitled "Nor iron, nor the Difference Engine". I am quite excited to be part of this collection, and hope that those of you with a… -
TAKE TWO! A Celebration of Twins
8 May 2012 | 11:53 amToday, a review of TAKE TWO! A Celebration of Twins by J. Patrick Lewis and Jane Yolen, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. The book is a collection of poems - from formal forms like the sonnet and villanelle to songs to various rhymes. The book is split into four sections: "Twins in the Waiting Womb", "Twinfants", "How to Be One", and "Famous Twins", and includes, in places, some poems that overlap a bit in content (especially in the "How to Be One" section, where several poems cover the "twins are individuals" notion, albeit in differing ways). One of my favorite formal poems in the book is the… -
Haiku with friends
4 May 2012 | 10:10 pmI haven't been writing much lately. Not just here, but in general.I did, however, write a haiku as part of a group project with my sisters from other misters: Andi Sibley, Laura Purdie Salas, Tanita Davis, Sara Lewis Holmes, Liz Garton Scanlon and Tricia Stohr-Hunt. All seven of us wrote a haiku, inspired in part by whosever haiku came before us, then Andi suggested turning the project into a renku, which is explained much better at other people's blogs today, but which involves a two-line bridge between haiku.I hope you'll read the entire renku over at Sara's blog. In the meantime, here's my… -
"MADAM You are a Phoenix."
24 Apr 2012 | 8:35 pmJane Austen started writing stories at a very young age - at least as young as 8 or 9 - many of which she kept and copied into notebooks. Even though many of her "novels" contained in the juvenilia are extremely short (some only a few paragraphs in total), one can see her sense of fun and sense of humor coming through. She also loved to skewer the conventions of the time, taking widely-used story elements that one step further into absurdity. Many of her novels are dedicated to family members, including "The Beautifull Cassandra", which was dedicated to Austen's sister, whose name was also…
-
The Miss Rumphius Effect
-
Monday Poetry Stretch - Kyrielle
15 May 2012 | 2:34 pmYes, I know it's Tuesday, but it's been so long since I've been here that I wanted to get this out. I hope a few of you are still out there and will stretch with me.Back in 2008 and again in 2010 we wrote poems in the form of kyrielle. I'd like to do this again, but think we should try a different definition of the form. This one comes from the book Fly With Poetry: An ABC of Poetry, written and illustrated by Avis Harley.Kyrielle - a kyrielle is divided into couplets, each pair of lines ending with the same word which acts as the refrain.Here is her example.BirthstonesHow is… -
Poetry Friday - Undivided Attention
11 May 2012 | 8:12 amNormally on Poetry Friday I peruse my bookshelves and find something I want to share. Here's what my office looks like right now. Our building is being renovated this summer, so this means I must pack up so that carpet and windows can be replaced, walls can be painted, and much more. WHAT A PAIN!I am in serious withdrawl without my books! What you are looking at is 26 boxes of books, and my office is only about 60% packed! Since I'm teaching math this summer, I have stubbornly refused to touch these materials. I'll need to find a home for them since I will need them for class. But… -
Poetry Friday - Part of the Chain
4 May 2012 | 1:05 pmSo, I've been silent for a while, dealing with family, life, and work. Graduation is this weekend, so now that my grades are done, I'm thrilled to be back with a little something my poetry sisters put together.It started on April 24th with this nudge.Anyone want to go for six days straight of haiku with me -- post yours on blog or facebook and I'll mention you or link to you??? OR, anyone just want to aim for a haiku Friday this Friday -- final Friday of April? Or linked haiku for Friday? One of you guys starts, like right now, and sends it to us. Then someone else uses it as a… -
Stepping Away For a Bit
29 Mar 2012 | 8:47 pmWe had an unexpected death in the immediate family today. All my big plans for poetry month are now on hold, as I'll be stepping away for a while. Please keep my family, and especially my husband, in your prayers. -
Monday Poetry Stretch - I Left My Heart
19 Mar 2012 | 2:45 pmLast week's prompt was titled "I Left My Head." Folks wrote some really wonderful poems about faulty memories and absent-mindedness. This week I want to write about where we've left our hearts, and the unusual things or places that have captured them. A few years ago I lost my heart to Tibet. Watching the news and reading about events there makes me realize I've lost my heart to a place I may never return. As a child I lost my heart to books. Each fall I lose my heart to school supplies. Yes, I love bouquets of sharpened pencils. And don't get me started on chocolate ...So, to who, what, or…
-
MotherReader
-
Working MotherReader
16 May 2012 | 10:40 amLast Wednesday, I covered a lot of good stuff happening in my family. My husband made a great movie for the 48 Hour Film Project. My teen daughter had three of her Cappies reviews published and was a beautiful lead in the school's Shakespeare scene for Text Alive. My also-teen daughter did a brilliant solo number in a musical revue and landed a part in a community theatre production of 13: The Musical. Seems like we're on an upswing... and... I got my job back! The back is the key word here, because I can't find any other way to say it. While I was getting antsy at home, I wasn't looking for… -
48 Hour Book Challenge Update
14 May 2012 | 11:31 amAll right, I may have put up the challenge and then disappeared. It's been a bit crazy and I've never been good at managing more than one big thing at a time. It's why I'll never be president. Well,that and the incident in Reno. But with three weeks to go until the Seventh Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge, it is time to get serious. Certainly, Carol Rasco is setting the tone. Excited that the 48HBC will contribute as a readathon for Reading Is Fundamental, she's throwing in a wonderful prize: Three Multicultural Book Collections for the winners in each of the three Challenge categories (or… -
Debriefing of a Weekend
9 May 2012 | 9:14 amSee the exciting update at the bottom of this post! I try to save my personal news and stories for Wednesdays, but so much has been going on that I haven’t been able to share — and now have too much to share. I’m going to work backwards with this past weekend, which I mentioned would be a bit insane. First of all, Tohubohu was participating in the 48 Hour Film Project. On Friday night, we got our random genre: drama. The required elements for Washington, D.C., didn't give us much to go on either: a prop of keys, a character that was a recruiter named Denny or Denise Murray, and the line… -
Thursday Three: Moms
3 May 2012 | 9:08 amThe past two weeks have been crazy, and it's not over yet. Teen finished her high school production of Arabian Nights, but isn't done with a dozen other obligations. Also-teen is in the middle of her community theatre production, which involves a lot of driving on my part, and is getting ready for her next audition. And tomorrow it all comes together in the perfect storm when we add in the 48 Hour Film Project. When I come up for air, I'll be back with news and announcements and perhaps a debriefing or two. For now here is repost of books about mommies to find for Mother's Day. Before… -
Seventh Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge
30 Apr 2012 | 9:15 amHere we go with the official announcement of the Seventh Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge — that weekend readathon of legend. Sign up in the comments today, and talk it up. It’s go time! The weekend is June 8–10, 2012. Read and blog for any 48-hour period within the Friday-to-Monday-morning window. Start no sooner than 7:00 a.m. on Friday the eighth and end no later than 7:00 a.m. Monday the eleventh. So, go from 7:00 p.m. Friday to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday... or maybe 7:00 a.m. Saturday to 7:00 a.m. Monday works better for you. But once begun, the 48 hours do need to be in a row. That…
-
Pinot and Prose
-
NYC weather...
7 May 2012 | 2:29 pmGood lord, guys. I'll be back as soon as my Seasonal Affective Disorder has been addressed. Eat, drink, and consider moving back to Arizona... -
California was great...
23 Apr 2012 | 2:40 pm...but something in my DNA prevents me from enjoying it too much, now that it's over. I'm all about Looking Ahead. For better or for worse and, occasionally, to my detriment... We are planning a European Vacation this August ("Holiday Road" playing in your head yet? If so, we could be best friends), and I am in full-blown Planning Mode. It'll be Dublin...then Zurich...then Hamburg. Why those cities? Well, they all have Goog offices there so Adam's going to put in a day of work in each city so that he can 1) check out their cool offices, 2) network, and 3)… -
California Love
18 Apr 2012 | 9:29 pmAfter my botched trip to California back in February, Bug and I finally made it to my native West Coast last week. And it was fabulous... There was wine tasting at Boeger Winery... ...and kids riding in the back of convertibles... ...and Lillet in plastic cups because I like to keep it classy. We had such a wonderful time - even the three days of rain couldn't dampen our spirits! I can't wait to tell you more about it - stay tuned! XO,Laura -
Tagliatelle with Prosciutto and Orange
17 Apr 2012 | 9:24 pmI'll just cut to the chase and let you know that this might be my absolute favorite pasta recipe. Ever. Ever. I think I'd eat damn-near anything that had prosciutto in it so I was already hooked when I first read this recipe...but pairing it with orange just makes it sublime. The orange adds sweetness to counterbalance the saltiness of the prosciutto, and it also adds a brightness that you really need when making pasta. The combination is just so, so perfect. Gush, gush, gush... So just promise me you'll try this one, okay? It's really that amazing. TAGLIATELLE… -
Spring!
23 Mar 2012 | 4:51 pmHi everyone! Thanks so much for sticking with me while I was taking a short break! Everything's fine with me - don't worry! Now I'm back and better than ever. New York has been experiencing record high temperatures lately, and the California Girl in me is just swooning with delight and heart-bursting joy. Last night was "Girls' Night", which meant that Adam had a work thing to go to so it was just me and Bug for dinner. Naturally, with temps in the high 70s, we decided that dinner on the rooftop deck was de rigueur. I put together our favorites on a cutting board: smoky…
-
Poetry for Children
-
TLA Videos: Dana Jensen
16 May 2012 | 12:42 amMore video nuggets from the 8th annual TLA Poetry Round Up.Next, Dana Jensen. You may remember that I reviewed his new book-- his first book for young readers, A Meal of the Stars, during April and he read from it at TLA.Dana Jensen both writes poetry and teaches it to children and has been involved in the Twin Cities' COMPAS Writers and Artists in the School's program for many years. It was fellow Minnesotan Joyce Sidman who connected him with her editor who worked with him on A Meal of the Stars, his first book for young readers.Joyce Sidman said this about Dana and his new book: Dana… -
TLA Videos: Douglas Florian
15 May 2012 | 12:11 amIt's catch up time and I'd like to share a few video snippets that I created for each of the poets who came to Houston for my 8th annual Poetry Round Up at the Texas Library Association conference last month. It was another wonderful event with such a range of voices-- "old" and new-- and our audience was completely engaged, even volunteering to do yoga poses to accompany Janet's yoga poems! It was the perfect way to end the conference. The panel of poets included:Douglas Florian(courtesy of Houghton Mifflin)Dana Jensen(courtesy of Houghton Mifflin)Stasia Kehoe(courtesy of Penguin)Guadalupe… -
Let's Write: This Week with David Harrison
14 May 2012 | 12:33 amToday I'm featuring a guest, poet David Harrison who has developed a new video series to help in teaching children the writing process. It sounds terrific. He shares the details below.LET’S WRITE: THIS WEEK WITH DAVID HARRISON by David L. HarrisonWhen I visit classrooms I like to give students tips on how they can enjoy their own writing more and improve the results of their efforts. Over the years I’ve developed a number of these tips, all of which are based on methods that real writers really use. I’ve used the same techniques myself so I know they work. Some are tricks of the trade,… -
What's up in BOOK LINKS
11 May 2012 | 12:32 amAlthough April is over and we're almost halfway through May, I'm catching up on loose ends now that my semester is almost done. Phew!April Book LinksI wanted to be sure to plug BOOK LINKS, the magazine supplement to BOOKLIST which includes a regular "Everyday Poetry" column written by yours truly. The April issue was particularly poetry-rich with an article about "Poetry Writing with Novels in Verse" by Dean Schneider, my article providing 100 poems/poetry books for the 30 days of April tied to various events throughout the month, plus my column featuring four of the biggest awards for… -
IRA Symposium: Using Humor to Engage Students in Poetry
1 May 2012 | 7:54 amToday I have the honor of presenting a poetry symposium at the annual convention of the International Reading Association in Chicago-- along with J. Patrick Lewis, Marilyn Singer, and Jane Yolen.(Thanks to Lili DeSisto and Charlesbridge Publishing for their support in making this happen.) Here's the lowdown.In our session entitled, "Using Humor to Engage Students in Poetry," we are discussing the use of humor and constructing humorous poems to introduce students to this often intimidating form of writing. Using a bibliography of humorous poetry, we hope to illustrate how a poem can…
-
Cynsations
-
Guest Post: Eric Pinder on The X Files: Why Alphabet Books Are Not as Easy as ABC
16 May 2012 | 8:45 amPhotograph by Katie KosterBy Eric Pinderfor Cynthia Leitich Smith's CynsationsA teacher once learned the hard way not to tell his college class to write a children’s book without specifying a genre and topic. He anticipated a wonderful mix of fractured fairy tales, rhyming romps, and heroes’ journeys.A week later, almost the entire the class turned in alphabet books instead.“It looked easy,” they explained.The teacher, of course, was me, and I shouldn’t have been so surprised. Alphabet books do appear as easy as ABC. A constant cast of 26 characters and a familiar, orderly structure… -
Book Video: Twice as Good by Richard Michelson
16 May 2012 | 8:29 amBy Cynthia Leitich Smithfor Cynsations Check out this video celebrating Twice as Good: The Story of William Powell and Clearview, the Only Golf Course Designed, Built, and Owned by an African-American by Richard Michelson, illustrated by Eric Velasquez (Sleeping Bear). -
Guest Post: Laurisa White Reyes on What Once Upon a Time Means to Me
15 May 2012 | 9:08 amBy Laurisa White Reyesfor Cynthia Leitich Smith's Cynsations Once Upon A Time in Montrose, California (est. 1966) is the oldest children’s bookshop in America.I had the privilege of working there just out of high school back in – er, never mind.Founder and then owner, Jane Humphrey, graciously hired me – a naïve, inexperienced 18-year-old – and put me to work alongside several more mature and much more knowledgeable women, each of whom became a mentor and friend to me over the year that I worked there.Falling in Love with BooksWhat I remember most about Once Upon A Time is the smell… -
Book Trailer: Goddess Interrupted by Aimée Carter
15 May 2012 | 8:44 amCompiled by Cynthia Leitich Smithfor CynsationsInterview with Executive Editor Mary-Theresa Hussey of Harlequin Teen, editor of Goddess Interrupted by Aimée Carter, & Giveaway from Jen Bigheart from I Read Banned Books. Peek: "I found out that Aimée was so young! Still in college! And that amazed and impressed me even more. And once we started talking about aspects of the story and the structure and what her intentions were, I grew even more excited by her potential."Giveaway features "a copy of The Goddess Test, a copy of Goddess Interrupted, Goddess French tote bag, Goddess… -
New Voice: Elisa Ludwig on Pretty Crooked
14 May 2012 | 8:05 amBy Cynthia Leitich Smithfor CynsationsElisa Ludwig is the first-time author of Pretty Crooked (Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins, 2012). From the promotional copy:Willa’s secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones.Yet Willa’s turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her “friends”—known to everyone as the Glitterati—without them suspecting a thing is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she’d thought it’d be. Delivering care packages to the…
-
BookMoot
-
SYNC YA Audiobooks Summer Schedule
14 May 2012 | 2:18 pmGenerous audiobook publishers are partnering with SYNC again to offer a terrific schedule of FREE audiobooks to download and enjoy this summer 2012. Mark your calendar so you will not miss a week. As usual, their pairings are thoughtful and interesting. Go to SYNC for more information. June 14-20: The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch (Scholastic Audiobooks) and The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, adapt. by Frank Galati (L.A. Theatre Works) June 21- 27: Irises by Francisco X. Stork (Listening Library) and Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Tantor Media) June 28-July 4:… -
Chronal Engine
24 Mar 2012 | 7:31 amChronal Engine by Greg Leitch Smith. Clarion Books, March 2012 UPDATE: Since publishing this review Chronal Engine has been named as a Junior Library Guild selection!! Congratulations to Greg! It is always a joy to have a new book that no one knows about yet to share with the students and librarians. I've been in that happy position this week as I've subbed in my district's libraries. The short version of my book talk is: teens are forced back to the Cretaceous era on a rescue mission. This is no Land Before Time with cuddly, roly-poly baby dinos. These dinosaurs are… -
Midnight in Austenland
15 Mar 2012 | 12:09 pmMidnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale. Bloomsbury, 2012 I'm afraid I am a sure-sell when all things Jane Austen. Hale's first book Austenland which I reviewed (here) in 2007 was entertaining Jane Austen fanfiction. I savored the concept of a place like Disneyland for Austen lovers, hence the name Austenland. The story was picked up by Twilight's Stephanie Meyer who is producing Austenland -- the movie which is in post-production according to IMDB. If you wander back to July 2011 on author Shannon Hale's blog, squeetusblog, you will find her posting a bit about being… -
The Great Spring Break Read-a-thon
14 Mar 2012 | 3:08 pmI have decided to see how many books I can enjoy over Spring Break. It will be productive and edifying to devote a swath of time or maybe at least a small corner of time to reading this week. We are enjoying local entertainments instead of traveling so I will enjoy a vacation of reading. As Emily Dickinson described it so well: There Is No Frigate Like a Book There is no frigate like a bookTo take us lands away,Nor any coursers like a pageOf prancing poetry.This traverse may the poorest takeWithout oppress of toll;How frugal is the chariotThat bears a human soul! -
On the Blue Comet
10 Mar 2012 | 4:41 pmOn the Blue Comet by Rosemary Wells. Candlewick, 2010. On the Blue Comet was a pure joy to read. My childhood memory of pressing my cheek against the train board to gain a eye/ground level view of the trains was echoed in this story. The story's main character, eleven year old, Oscar Ogilvie is a kindred spirit as he performs the same ritual. We both were trying to imagine ourselves into the small world of the trains. When I was a child, we had a model train set up. We did not have a basement but my father designed a over-sized folding platform for our HO model trains…
-
Read alert
-
Book Review: The FitzOsbornes at War by Michelle Cooper
16 May 2012 | 2:21 amLast month the third and final instalment of the Montmaray Journals was published. If the blizzard of comments on sites such as Goodreads is anything to go by, readers are loving it even more than its predecessors, which is praise indeed. ‘Saving the best for last’, said one excited reviewer. ‘I can’t believe there won’t be any more,’ wailed another. The FitzOsbornes at War takes up Sophie’s story at the beginning of World War II. To recap a little, their island kingdom of Montmaray is now occupied by the Nazis and Sophie has now moved from her aunt’s country home to live in… -
Event: Jeff Kinney (Melbourne)
14 May 2012 | 6:23 pmYou would have to be living in a dungeon for the past few years to not recognise the Wimpy Kid series. Jeff Kinney’s creation, a novel told in cartoons, tells the story of middle child Greg Heffley and it has become a favourite with kids the world wide. Jeff Kinney will be appearing at Melbourne Town Hall this Sunday – 20th May – at 2pm. Over an hour Jeff will talk about the origins of Greg Heffley, the Wimpy Kid films, his lifelong love of cartooning – and his latest book, Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever. Tickets are on sale at the Wheeler Centre ($20 and $12 concession). -
‘Net News: 14th May 2012
14 May 2012 | 12:48 am1. Inside A Dog 2.5 Inky has been a little bit busy over the last month; cat chasing, bone chewing and improvements to his blog. He listened to your feedback about his usability, gathered his pack and went to work. He’s easier to use and navigate, with an emphasis on the commenting features, and is now integrated with goodreads. Usability and community were key features in the upgrades. I know Inky would love to see you, so feel free to pop by. 2. Race and YA I stumbled upon this article, The Ongoing Problem of Race in YA. It has a great combination of past and present YA books and… -
Book List: Gender and Identity in Young Adult Books
10 May 2012 | 11:59 pm‘I’ve just concluded that for me personally, it is important to go ahead and confirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.’ This week, US President Obama finally said what so many people around the world are saying: that it’s time for equality across the board when it comes to marriage. And one of the things that made him change his thinking? The fact that his daughters couldn’t see why their friends’ parents shouldn’t get married simply because they are same-sex couples. It just didn’t make sense to them. Given the… -
Book Review: The Children of the King by Sonya Hartnett
8 May 2012 | 8:29 pmSonya Hartnett is an author who needs no introduction. If she wasn’t already firmly established as the Australian YA writer before winning the Astrid Lingren Memorial Award for The Ghost’s Child, she certainly was afterwards. Her latest book – The Children of the King (not to be confused with Princes) is targeted towards a younger audience, much like The Silver Donkey and The Midnight Zoo. Also like these titles, war is a primary theme - The Children of the King is set in World War II England. Cecily and Jeremy Lockwood, along with their mother Heloise, are being…
-
childrens-book « WordPress.com Tag Feed
-
Wild Rumpus!
8 May 2012 | 9:48 amMaurice Sendak, children’s book author and illustrator, best known for his work “Where the Wild Things Are” has died at age 83. Sendak was also known for several other books, including “In the Night Kitchen” and as a theater set designer. His books have become a staple of childhood reading for nearly 50 years. “Where the Wild Things Are” was published in 1963. Since then, children across the world have read the handful of sentences that tell the story of Max and the Wild Things and a wild rumpus and the trauma of being sent to bed without supper. The… -
The Lonely Parrot is Worthy!
8 May 2012 | 9:31 am~ By Julie Breedlove, Marketing Manager Being a newly published author can feel a lot like being an abandoned pet. Intimidation, insecurities, and a hunger for affection run rampant. During the lead up to publication, you probably had people cheering you on and encouraging you to write a book. Now that it’s released, it seems a bit too quiet. Like an orphaned pet, you’re desperate for someone to pay attention, to encourage you, to give you some love. When the initial response isn’t what you were hoping for and your heart and soul on paper leaves you feeling a bit vulnerable, it can be… -
RIP Maurice Sendak
8 May 2012 | 9:23 amThis last picture is from a book that my kids used to LOVE. Called “A Very Special House,” it was very special indeed. Would quite often pass it on as a house warming gift. RIP Maurice Sendak. -
where the wild things are
8 May 2012 | 9:06 amone. two. three. four. five. RIP Maurice Sendak -
Sad News Today - Death of Maurice Sendak - Portraitist of the Wild and Wistful, Disconsolate and Redeemed.
8 May 2012 | 8:59 amSad news today – the death of Maurice Sendak (1928-2012), incomparable illustrator and children’s book author. I hope to write more about Sendak – but just wanted to mark the loss that I’m pretty sure must be felt by anyone who loves the fierce, the wistful, the ashamed, the lonely, the disconsolate, the proud, the wild, the adventurer, the kind, the redeemed, the joyful, and wants to know just what they look like. Here’s the link to the NY Times Obit. Hard to imagine anyone who grew up in this country over the last several decades who can truly say “I…
-
A Fuse #8 Production
-
Top 100 Picture Books #91: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith
15 May 2012 | 11:10 pm#91 The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith (1992) 21 points I found this when I was in high school (I have much younger siblings, which was probably how I was getting access to picture books in those days) and laughed so much I took it in to share with my friends at school. There we were, a bunch of high schoolers backstage at musical rehearsals, reading a picture book aloud to each other and snorfling a lot. My favorite Scieszka. – Amy M. Weir Never met a kid who didn’t love this book. – Becky Fyolek And the man of… -
Top 100 Picture Books #92: The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small
15 May 2012 | 11:09 pm#92 The Gardener by Sarah Steward, illustrated by David Small (1997) 21 points Written as a series of letters, this book shows the beauty of nature and the importance of hard work. Also a great read for adults, especially those who remember and were effected by the Great Depression. – Gina Detate Previously the book was #94 on the list and like Where Is the Green Sheep? it hasn’t deviated much from its original spot. This is one of those books that have lasted as long as they have thanks to their superior husband and wife teamwork. I am therefore very pleased to announce that… -
Top 100 Picture Books #93: Traction Man is Here! by Mini Grey
15 May 2012 | 11:08 pm#93 Traction Man is Here! by Mini Grey (2005) 21 points Finally there was a REAL BOY BOOK. Hilarious and all the boys raved. - Cheryl Phillips What a great boy book for boys and girls. In a world where my students are expected to write small moments and personal narrative stories ad nauseum, this is a fantastic mentor text on how to let your imagination run wild. It shows the make-believe world that kids often live in and tells them that it is okay to dwell there. As I wish I could tell the authors of all of these new writing curriculums sometimes, writing imaginative fiction works too. - Amy… -
Top 100 Picture Books #94: The Mitten by Jan Brett
15 May 2012 | 11:07 pm#94 The Mitten by Jan Brett (1989) 21 points A lovely retelling of this old folktale with Brett’s truly lovely illustrations. – Barbara Thompson As insane as it sounds, this is Ms. Brett’s first appearance on one of our polls. Prolific and still going strong she first came to my attention due to her knitting. Some authors just throw stuff together and clearly don’t care to show every stitch in a sweater. Brett isn’t like them. The whole reason this book works as well as it does is that you can see the stitches in that beloved mitten stretching and growing… -
Top 100 Picture Books #95: The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
15 May 2012 | 11:06 pm#95 The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn (2007) 21 points Sometimes also known as The Book We Cannot Keep In Stock. How funny that this should be paired right next to Ira Sleeps Over on the list. Apparently the mid-90s constitute the anxiety block on our poll’s list. While Ira feared aspects of sleeping over, The Kissing Hand is most frequently cited as the book you use to send your child off to kindergarten. The description from SLJ reads, “Chester Raccoon is going to school for the first time and he’s nervous. His mother reassures him, and places a kiss in the palm of his…
-
Michael Gerson: Most Recent Articles and Archives
-
Romney at Liberty: The case for conservatism
14 May 2012 | 1:14 pmMitt Romney did not rise on the power of his rhetoric. At the Detroit Economic Club in February, his speech was swallowed by its stadium venue, overshadowed by a gaffe (his wife’s “couple of Cadillacs”) and weighed down by leaden language. Early in the primaries, Romney’s attempts to wax poetic on the virtues of America — often by quoting patriotic hymns — were waxen. Read full article >> -
A generational shift in cultural attitudes
10 May 2012 | 6:05 pmPrincipled or calculating or a bit of both, President Obama’s choice on gay marriage is a bet on the political future — a wager on the views and values of the millennial generation making its long march through American institutions. Read full article >> -
Obama’s lost cause
7 May 2012 | 3:14 pm“We’re not going back. We’re going forward,” President Obama said during his formal campaign kickoff in Ohio. This rallying cry was pedestrian, and appropriately so. Obama is no longer a leader on horseback. His campaign — on the evidence of its first day — will be a long, unimaginative, partisan march to the sea. Read full article >> -
America’s remote-controlled war on terror
3 May 2012 | 7:03 pmScrolling through the headlines in the Long War Journal — a Web site dedicated to terrorism-related news — is an education in the global drone war. Mohammed Saeed al-Umda, one of Osama bin Laden’s bodyguards, confirmed killed by a drone strike in Yemen. German jihadist Samir H. killed in South Waziristan. Egyptian militant Abu Musab al-Masri killed in the Shabwa province of Yemen. The list goes on. Read full article >> -
Why Reform Conservatism deserves a chance
30 Apr 2012 | 6:57 pmIn a recent column, I described two forms of conservatism that coalesced in opposition to President Obama’s polarizing expansion in the size and role of government. Rejectionist Conservatism, which comes in tea party and libertarian variants, would use current political controversies to fundamentally reorder the role of the federal government. At least in theory, it would repeal not just Obamaism but also the Great Society, the New Deal and much else in pursuit of a minimal state. Read full article >>
-
Semicolon
-
Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood St. by Peter Abrahams
16 May 2012 | 6:03 amIn most books, Magic always follows rules. You can only get into Narnia under certain circumstances, with Aslan’s permission. In Half Magic by Edward Eager, you always get exactly half of what you wish for. The One Ring (Tolkien) works in a specific way to do specific things and can only be destroyed in one, very specific place. Harry Potter has to go to school to learn the rules of Magic in his world. In Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood St., Magic shows up, but it’s an unpredictable, capricious sort of Magic that only seems to have rules. The children involved in this… -
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
15 May 2012 | 7:27 amMr. Eugenides, Pulitzer prize-winning author of Middlesex, has given us a novel about the demise of the novel. It’s also a story that’s mostly about sex and its various permutations, but not really much about marriage, and equally about religion and its sundry incarnations, but not much about God. And I think the emphasis on sex and religion rather than on the core spiritual relationships of man and woman (marriage) and God and man (the core of religion) is an emphasis that is intended to say something about our culture and what we’ve lost in the twentieth century. Perhaps… -
Advanced Reading Survey: Eugenie Grandet by Honore de Balzac
14 May 2012 | 8:10 amI’ve decided that on Mondays I’m going to revisit the books I read for a course in college called Advanced Reading Survey, taught by the eminent scholar and lovable professor, Dr. Huff. I’m not going to re-read all the books and poems I read for that course, probably more than fifty, but I am going to post to Semicolon the entries in the reading journal that I was required to keep for that class because I think that my entries on these works of literature may be of interest to readers here and because I’m afraid that the thirty year old spiral notebook in which I wrote… -
The Heart of Texas, the Movie
11 May 2012 | 11:31 pmWow! I just checked out this documentary movie from the library the other day, and I put it in my computer and watched it tonight. I had no idea that I would be watching such a powerful story of suffering, redemption, and forgiveness. The events chronicled in the movie happened in 2000; the movie came out a couple of years ago in 2009. The tragedy/miracle happened not far from where I live, in a little town called Simonton and nearby Wallis, Texas. I hadn’t heard of the movie, nor had I heard the story of Grover and Jill Norwood and their neighbors, Ulice and Carrie Parker. I… -
Saturday Review of Books: May 12, 2012
11 May 2012 | 8:00 pm“It happens to us once or twice in a lifetime to be drunk with some book which probably has some extraordinary relative power to intoxicate us and none other; and having exhausted that cup of enchantment we go groping in libraries all our years afterwards in the hope of being in Paradise again.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson in a letter to Sam Ward Welcome to the Saturday Review of Books at Semicolon. Here’s how it usually works. Find a book review on your blog posted sometime during the previous week. The review doesn’t have to be a formal sort of thing. You can link to your thoughts on a…
-
Holly Black
-
Happy Moms' Day!
13 May 2012 | 12:05 pm(Picture totally stolen fron Jon Skovron's Tumblr) -
In Which I Finally Reveal My Other Secret
19 Apr 2012 | 1:54 pmRemember when I implied I had one more secret thing coming? Well here it is! I am so excited to finally reveal it:New York, NY — April 19, 2012 — Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, has acquired North American rights to a five-book middle grade fantasy series by bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare; the first full-length collaboration between the authors. The first book in the series, The Iron Tria, is planned for release in 2014.We are going to have so much fun! -
Final day to enter the “Bring a Friend to Bordertown” contest!
16 Apr 2012 | 8:10 pmThe “Bring a Friend to Bordertown” contest, sponsored by the editors of the new Welcome to Bordertown trade paperback anthology, ends at one minute to midnight (E.S.T.) on Tuesday, April 17th.See the contest rules, plus links to entries by fans who have already created passionate, funny, and moving letters, songs, and artwork, inviting a friend to join them on the Border city between Elfland and our World, at:http://bordertownseries.com/contest.php?news=bring-a-friend-to-bordertownVisit the newly redesigned Bordertown series website for a chance to… -
"BRING A FRIEND TO BORDERTOWN" CONTEST
10 Apr 2012 | 11:57 amMore addictive than Mad River water! Lighter than a Spell Box! Cheaper than a round of drinks at the Dancing Ferret....It's the:WELCOME TO BORDERTOWN paperback,now available from Bluefire Books!(Check out that pretty new cover!)And in honor of the paperback, we're running a CONTEST:"BRING A FRIEND TO BORDERTOWN!"Here's how:So you've already found your way to Bordertown. It wasn't easy, but you did it. You've found a place to live, and maybe a friend or two. Maybe you're in a band, or selling your sketches on the street, or just… -
PUB DAY FOR BLACK HEART!
3 Apr 2012 | 10:53 amToday marks the end of the series! Got anything you want to know? Anything you want to talk about? Come over to my LJ.Spoilers welcome!I just want to thank all of you who talked up these books, made art for them, and cared about them. It meant more to me than I can say. I read the tor.com review of BLACK HEART with tears in my eyes this morning. Sometimes someone writes a review that makes you feel like you did the exact thing that you hoped you'd be able to do -- and this did exactly that. It was a great pub day present.
-
Ally Carter
-
Pop Quiz: What is your favorite line from the Heist series?
9 May 2012 | 9:55 amOkay, gang, Crazy busy. Or maybe just crazy. But in any case, no time to share a lot of my thoughts, so I’ll just ask for YOUR thoughts. What’s your favorite line from Heist Society OR Uncommon Criminals? Happy Wednesday, Ally -
Pop Quiz: favorite lines
29 Apr 2012 | 8:55 amHi everybody, Pop quiz for today: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM ANY GALLAGHER GIRLS BOOK? Go! –Ally ps: just one line only, please. -
Retro throw-back post: How Movies Happen
28 Apr 2012 | 1:27 pmHi everyone! It is the nature of life, I guess, that there will just be some questions a person (especially an author) hears more than others. For me, the two biggies are about books and movies. As many of you know, I have talked about the subject of movies a lot throughout the years, but new readers often miss those posts. For that reason, I’ve been wanting to try something for several months now, and I think today is the day. So instead of me writing a whole new entry on a subject I’ve covered before, I’m going to post it anew. Let’s call it a retro throw-back… -
Long time no blog
24 Apr 2012 | 11:02 amHello, everyone! I’m sorry if it’s been quieter than usual around here. There has been a lot going on, none of which is in itself particularly blogable. Like my washing machine broke. My taxes were due. I’ve been doing a lot of reading for a new project I can’t talk about yet. Allergy season finally caught up with me and I’ve been coughing and sneezing my head off. Heist 3 was due. Heist 3 still needs a title. Heist 3 is kicking my butt. So, you know…the usual. But there has been one huge, exciting change over the past few months. And that has been the… -
Chicago!
10 Apr 2012 | 10:26 pmHi everybody! Climbing out of my deadline hole for just a minute (Heist Society 3, draft 2 is due tomorrow) to remind everyone in the Chicago area that I WILL BE IN CHICAGO THIS SATURDAY! (Sorry for the all caps. It’s just that if I’ve learned one thing it is that sometime this week someone will tell me “You should come to Chicago!”) So, yes, Chicago, I’m coming to see YOU at the RT Convention. Have questions about the RT Convention? Check out www.rtconvention.com. And please try to come see me (and DOZENS of other authors) there. -Ally
-
Justine Larbalestier
-
You don’t have to read my books
9 May 2012 | 9:40 pmTo my friends, acquaintances & family: you do not have to read my books! Truly. My being a writer is not meant to oppress you in any way! Read what you want or don’t want. Forget I write books at all! Be free! Okay, scratch that, family, you do have to! But everyone else is in the clear. Reading an entire book is a big time commitment. And the older you get the more painfully aware you become that you are not going to be able to read all the books you want to before you die. It’s a very long time since I finished a book I wasn’t enjoying. If it’s not grabbing me… -
Team Human Fanart
28 Apr 2012 | 6:10 pmTeam Human has its first piece of fan art and it hasn’t even been published yet! I am beside myself with excitement. Seriously, I screamed when Sarah Rees Brennan tweeted it. Unlike many of my YA author friends, my books do not attract a lot of fan art. It would be more accurate to say that they attract almost no fan art at all. Seriously click on the fan art category for this blog and see how little there is. Now go over to Scott’s blog and check out his Fan Art Fridays. Or check out the paucity on deviantART.1 I’ve put it below the cut because it’s spoilery and if… -
A Story What I Wrote in My Late Teens! Avert Thine Eyes! Run for the Hills!
25 Apr 2012 | 5:08 pmBelow is a story that I wrote in my late teens. I remember the day I finished it. I was so full of joy and pride in my genius. It was the best story I had ever written. (True fact. I was rubbish back then.) Maybe even the best story anyone had ever written! Or, so, I thought on the day I finished it. I don’t remember whether I sent it anywhere to be published. I do remember that at some point, not that long after finishing it, I decided it was, in fact, the worst story ever written and consigned it to the “this is crap” file. It is pretty awful. But more in a bad-boring than… -
I’ll Know I’ve Made it as a Writer When . . .
26 Mar 2012 | 7:57 pm. . . I finish a whole manuscript. . . . I learn how to rewrite that whole manuscript. . . . I get five/ten/fifteen/one hundred/etc rejection letters from real-life agents. . . . I knuckle down and rewrite the book again. And again. And again. Etc. . . . I get a request for the whole manuscript from a real-life agent. . . . I get an agent. . . . I get five rejections from publishers. . . . I get ten rejections from publishers. (Would you believe twenty rejections? How about thirty? One hundred? One thousand? One million?) . . . I start writing my second/third/fourth/fifth/etc book despite the… -
Why I Cannot Write a Novel With Voice Recognition Software (Updated x 3)
16 Feb 2012 | 3:42 pmEvery time I mention my RSI people suggest that I use voice recognition software. I do use it. And though I hate it I know that it has transformed gazillions of people’s lives. There are people who literally could not write without it. For them VRS is a wonderful transformative thing. Bless, voice recognition software! I am well aware that what VRS is trying to do is unbelievably complicated. Recognising spoken language and reproducing it as written language is crazy hard.1 The way we make sense of what someone says is not just about recognising sounds. We humans (and other sentient…
-
westerblog
-
First Aeronautics Art Reveal—A Vote!
15 May 2012 | 8:55 pmOkay, the Manual of Aeronautics comes out August 21, a mere three months and a bit from now, so it’s time to start the art reveals! In keeping with tradition, let’s have us a vote. I’ve chosen three possible pieces of art to reveal, so choose wisely. Which would you rather see in glorious color? 1) The bridge of the Leviathan 2) A Sultan’s elephant walker 3) A fléchette bat! Use the comments thread below to vote (by number makes it easier), or simply to cajole, convince and coerce your fellow commenters about how they should vote. Sydneysiders! Don’t forget that… -
FAF (Mostly Monochromatic Edition)
11 May 2012 | 7:50 pmHere’s a round up of fan art from the last two weeks, mostly in a black and white mode, with some BONUS NEWS at the end. Let’s start with the art that was handed to me at my Free Comic Book Day event at Kinokuniya in Sydney. Thanks again to everyone who came and said nice things to me on my birthday, and especially to those who handed me art and cake. First there was some Midnighters art from (appropriately) Melissa: Yes, that’s Rex looking pretty cool, and I like how Melissa seems a bit annoyed at having to pose for the drawing. And from Christina, a triptych of Tallys: The… -
More Sydney Appearances
5 May 2012 | 9:25 pmThanks to everyone for a fantastic time at Kinokuniya’s Free Comic Book Day. There was cake. I have proof: Lots of people brought me cool fan art, which I’ll be sharing with you next Friday. For you Sydneysiders who missed me, I’ll be appearing twice more in the next two weeks. The first one: The Aurealis Awards Saturday, May 12 7:30 for an 8PM start Independent Theatre 269 Miller Street North Sydney NSW 2060 The Aurealis Awards celebrate the achievements of Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror writers every year. Kate Forsyth with be mistress of ceremonies, and… -
Fan Art Friday (Loris/Moggle Edition)
27 Apr 2012 | 8:10 pmHello, and welcome to FAF, or perhaps I should say FAFF, as in Fan Art Friday Fortnightly. Indeed, I haven’t been posting much of anything lately, but that’s only because I’ve been working on a New S3krit Project! It’s a new novel with all new characters and stuff, and I’ve finally found my stride. IT IS GETTING WRITTEN. “When will this novel be out?” you may ask. Indeed, you may. But I don’t know yet. Maybe autumn of 2013, maybe a year after that. I know, that’s a long time. But novels are long things, and publishing timelines are even… -
Free Comic Book Day
19 Apr 2012 | 10:38 pmI’ll be celebrating Free Comic Book Day here in Australia, so I hope to see some of you Sydneysiders at Kinokuniya on May 5. (Also known as MY BIRTHDAY.) This is the first time I’ll be a guest at an FCBD, thanks to my first ever graphic novel, Shay’s Story. I’ll be at Kinokuniya from 11AM to 4PM, in the Artists’ Alley. Here’s the FaceBook page for the event, and here are the details: Kinokuniya Bookstore Lvl 2, The Galeries, 500 George Street Sydney, NSW 2000 Saturday, May 5, 2012 10AM-7PM ARTISTS’ ALLEY, 11am – 4pm A great opportunity to meet some…
-
ACHOCKABLOG
-
Not Too Late To Book
16 May 2012 | 1:13 pmEnglish Association Conferences - Dickens and Childhood Dickens and Childhood Conference and Symposium Monday 18 June It is not too late to book for this one-day conference, which will include walks, lectures, readings, and parallel sessions on topics that will appeal to students, teachers, Dickens experts, and the 'interested reader'. The event will include an evening symposium of contemporary children's authors speaking on how reading Dickens has influenced their work. The venue is V&A Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green, London. Click the link for booking information... -
The Siobhan Dowd Trust Campaign
15 May 2012 | 1:22 pmSiobhan Dowd Trust Campaign To Help Encourage A Love Of Reading TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS: HELP NEEDED Tell The Siobhan Dowd Trust how you spread the Joy of Reading and win £1000 worth of books for your school! The Siobhan Dowd Trust is proud to announce that Michael Rosen, Poet and ex-Childrens' Laureate will be on the judging panel of a schools campaign, which is asking teachers and librarians for their ideas about how they encourage a love of books in their schools. The Trust will use the entries to build up a database of ideas which can be shared and swapped... and the ten best or most… -
Secret Kingdom - Foreign Rights Sold
15 May 2012 | 1:11 pmOrchard Books have announced significant sales of foreign rights for their new chapter book series, Secret Kingdom! Ahead of publication in the UK in July, the Rights team at orchard have already secured sales in seven languages: Afrikaans (launching books 1-3 in November 2012 / books 4-6 in March 2013), Catalan & Spanish (launching the series in early 2013), Dutch (launching the series in Spring 2013), Polish (launching the series in August 2012), and Turkish (launching the series in 2013 (tbc)). The rights in France were sold following "a fierce auction" and will be launched by a major… -
A mini illustrated book for inspiring young story tellers, by Clara Vulliamy | Playing by the book
15 May 2012 | 1:08 amA MINI ILLUSTRATED BOOK FOR INSPIRING YOUNG STORY TELLERS, BY CLARA VULLIAMY available for download from Zoe Toft's Playing By The Book blog.... -
Bon Appetit!: The Delicious Life of Julia Child: A Children's Book Celebrates the Life of Julia Child - Los Angeles Restaurants and Dining - Squid Ink
15 May 2012 | 12:53 amThe Delicious Life Of Julia Child New children's book about a celebrated cookbook author, pioneering television chef and champion of French cuisine....
-
Bookwitch
-
The Murderous Maths of Everything
16 May 2012 | 12:23 amBelow you will learn about at least one interesting thing you can do with a publisher’s press release. I had no inkling they were so versatile, but let the Resident IT Consultant loose on a maths book and allow him the use of scissors and the previously mentioned press release, and… I gave up at the Sieve of Eratosthenes. So you will forgive me (or maybe you won’t) for having handed Kjartan Poskitt’s book over to the man with the scissors. Although, having said that, I do feel The Murderous Maths of Everything looks interesting. Actually. It has come too late for me,… -
Vampire Dawn
15 May 2012 | 12:36 amI know you felt safe from vampires over here, but there is no such thing as safe. And this new vampire series by Anne Rooney is no safe, pale, veggie kind of vampire series. Anne might count herself veggie, but it’s been a long time since I encountered so much blood in books. I’d recommend not reading and eating at the same time. Intelligently written, with humour – and blood – and exciting and dangerous, this is a series of easy to read books for older readers. Seven books in total. You have to start with Die Now or Live Forever. It’s where the five teenagers… -
The Messenger Bird
14 May 2012 | 12:31 amFor our code-crazy family, Ruth Eastham’s new novel The Messenger Bird fits in perfectly. Now, it’s not me who is into code. I can barely do crossword puzzles, but some of the others are a lot more competent. So I grabbed this book with both hands when it was offered. And it will come as no surprise that a book about code features an aspie character. Josh is Nathan’s friend, and he turns out to be very useful when Nathan’s father is arrested for breaking the Official Secrets Act, and the only way to prove his innocence is to solve the trail of clues that his dad… -
Hat Cottage
13 May 2012 | 12:10 amIt’s odd, but I’m sure the Elsa Beskow classic The Children of Hat Cottage wasn’t quite like this. I mean, I know it was, now that I have re-acquainted myself with the book. But for the life of me, I could not remember it well at all. And that’s despite it being an old favourite. Looking at it with 21st century eyes, it is not terribly pc. And wondering to myself what it was I loved so much, I have to say it was probably the idea that you could have a nice house in a hat. Even that early I was into houses and interior decorating. Elsa Beskow’s illustrations are… -
Bookwitch bites #80
12 May 2012 | 12:22 amI borrowed this as it seemed just right for a week full of tributes to Maurice Sendak. The Top 10 UK Child Literature Blogs published its new list this week, and I appear to be on it again. Not sure what I’m doing there. Not much, probably. But the recognition is nice, whether or not they are accurate in the way they measure whatever it is they measure. Some very worthy blogs are not on the list, whereas I wonder a little whether the penguin blog belongs to this category. New-ish blogs I have been meaning to mention for ages are UKYA and the Demention blog. UKYA want to make British YA…
-
Collecting Children's Books
-
Sunday Brunch for Mothers and Maurice
13 May 2012 | 6:08 pmWelcome to Sunday Brunch where, among other topics, we're celebrating Mother's Day and the legacy of Maurice Sendak.SENDAKThe children's book world is still reeling from the death of Maurice Sendak earlier this week. There have been some wonderful tributes online, such as these illustrations from noted artists in today's New York Times. Author Amy Goldman Koss shares her thoughts in an LA Times opinion piece. And my co-authors Julie Walker Danielson and Elizabeth Bird offered typically thoughtful remarks. Since the focus of this blog is book collecting, I guess I should add some remarks about… -
Maurice Sendak, 1928-2012
9 May 2012 | 7:58 amSailing home.His supper will still be waiting for him.And it will still be hot. -
Maurice Sendak : How It All Began
8 May 2012 | 2:52 pmIn honor of Maurice Sendak, here is a repost of a blog from three years ago, telling about the first book he ever illustrated:Most old science textbooks are virtually worthless, yet 1947's ATOMICS FOR THE MILLIONS is highly valued by children's book collectors. A true first edition (identified by its herringbone-patterned endpapers, price of $3.50 on both front and back flaps of the dustjacket, and notice on the copyright page stating “The quality of the materials used in the manufacture of this book is governed by continued postwar shortages") of ATOMICS FOR THE MILLIONS can be sold FOR… -
April 29 Sunday Brunch
29 Apr 2012 | 4:49 pmInformation and opinions on children's books old and new, delivered Sunday Brunch style.I'M OKAY, MY BOOKS ARE OKAYA few years ago, soon after the publication of Gary Schmidt's THE WEDNESDAY WARS (his second Newbery Honor, after LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY) the Michigan-based author had a speaking engagement/booksigning at a local library. As I've frequently mentioned on this blog, I am in awe of all my favorite writers -- and very much starstruck. Couple this with my natural shyness and you are not going to see me asking questions from the audience or making smalltalk with an… -
A Big Crunchy Sunday Brunch
22 Apr 2012 | 12:51 pmToday's Sunday brunch focuses on Pete Hautman, Dick Clark, Little Golden Books, and other random children's book info.THE BIG REVEALThis was my second and (sad sigh) last year serving as a judge for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the category of Young Adult Literature. It was a blast. A couple months ago, fellow judges Cindy Dobrez, Angelina Benedetti, and I spent a spirited Saturday morning narrowing a long list of possible finalists down to five books: BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray; THE BIG CRUNCH by Pete Hautman; A MONSTER CALLS by Patrick Ness; LIFE : AN EXPLODED DIAGRAM by Mal Peet,…
-
Confessions of a Bibliovore
-
Plans for the 48-Hour Book Challenge
15 May 2012 | 12:39 pmSo, MotherReader announced the official date and rules for the Seventh Annual 48-Hour Book Challenge about two weeks ago. If you've never heard of such a thing, here's the lowdown on one of the Kidlitosphere's tentpole events. Basically, we pick a span of 48 hours within the selected weekend and read. Yep. That's it in a nutshell. We read for 48 hours, or as close to it as we can get without suffering hallucinations. We also blog about it. So, we read and we blog for 48 hours. If you read that description and went, "Ooo!", think about joining us. If you read that and went, "Wow, these… -
Book Review: Keeper by Kathi Appelt
12 May 2012 | 12:53 pmBook: Keeper Author: Kathi Appelt Published: 2010 Source: Local Library On Texas's Gulf Coast, a motley little family has assembled itself out of broken flotsam. But ten-year-old Keeper has never stopped yearning for her real mother, Meggie Marie, who swam away to be a mermaid when she was three. After her own carelessness and impulsive actions destroy a special day, Keeper feels as if she has likewise destroyed her makeshift family forever. But she just knows her mermaid mother will be able to fix everything. Armed with offerings for the Sea Queen, Yemaya, she takes her beloved dog and sets… -
Book Review: Dani Noir by Nova Ren Suma
5 May 2012 | 12:41 pmBook: Dani Noir Author: Nova Ren Suma Published: 2009 Source: Purchased Dani wishes that life were like the old movies she watches in the town art house. The good guys would be good, the bad guys would be bad, and she, Dani, would be Rita Hayworth, sexy, confident, and untouchable. In the movies, your dad never dumps your mom for a new girlfriend. Or if he does, you're not expected to make nice with them. No self-respecting femme fatale would make nice with the other woman. That's why she's not about to take it lying down when she realizes that her adored babysitter's boyfriend may be… -
Reading Roundup: April 2012
1 May 2012 | 11:26 amBy the Numbers Teen: 15 Tween: 11 Children: 6 Sources Review Copies: 5 Purchased: 6 Library: 19 Standouts Teen: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger Hey, did you know teens handle sex about like adults do? They get with the wrong partners, they do it for the wrong reasons, it's all tangled up with their inner lives, and sometimes love (or serious like) comes as a total revelation. You didn't? Kody Keplinger does. Tween: Dani Noir by Nova Ren Suma Maybe if she had credits to refer to, Dani would know who she's supposed to hate and who she's supposed to like, and all the good guys would ride off into the… -
Post-Apocalyptic Double Feature: Nomansland by Lesley Hauge and After the Snow by S.D. Crockett
14 Apr 2012 | 12:37 pmBook: Nomansland Author: Leslie Hague Published: 2010 Source: Purchased They spend their lives in training, constantly preparing against the enemy that could destroy their peaceful society. They're told the dangers of being soft, of being unprepared. If they succumb to the enemy, their lives will be taken from them and they will be subject to torture, rape, and the loss of their own will. They must be ever-vigilant against the enemy. Men. But one girl has discovered a secret treasure trove of items from before, when girls were soft and weak. Intoxicated by this mysterious new world, a small…
-
We Heart Books
-
Rebekka Seale
9 May 2012 | 12:54 amOur stunning new blog header was drawn for us by artist Rebekka Seale. Rebekka is an artist and illustrator from Nashville, Tennessee. She writes a beautiful blog and does the most amazing commission work, including stunning house portraits. Rebekka is just so talented and we feel so very privileged to have been able to work with her. As a little treat for this our first post back here is a little interview… -
It’s good to be back!
8 May 2012 | 11:05 pmIt has been a long time between posts for us but we are really HAPPY to say that we are back. We have had a little hiatus from blogging while having more bubbas and all the other happenings that life throws at you. We are so passionate about our blog and we really want to start sharing with you all again the books that we love and our multiplying children love! As you can see, we have a brand new header design – by the awesome Rebekka Seale. More on that later. We can’t wait to get blogging again and to hear from you all again. Did you know we are also on Facebook? We post lots of… -
A Golden Age
17 Aug 2011 | 12:09 amGolden Books have had such a well deserved resurgence in the market over the last couple of years. As a series they have been around for 65 years – can you believe it and we all have our favourites don’t we? What are yours? Created as books for children that were to be low cost and high quality so as to make literature accessible to children of poorer parts of the US. Random House US have a great website devoted to Little Golden Books where you can find some great printables and activities as well as more history of the series. SO you all know how much Katie and I LOVE Golden… -
Story Bear
12 Aug 2011 | 6:14 amSuch a beautiful new print in the Petit Collage range by Lorena Siminovich. He is called Story Bear and he is a print on Maple veneer. Petit Collage will ship Internationally. Lorena also illustrates the ‘In My‘ series of board books. -
Magnolia Square Ivanhoe – A Hit of Colour
11 Aug 2011 | 4:49 pmWe are thrilled to be ‘popping up’ with Magnolia Square in a new location – The Centre in Ivanhoe, which looks amazing. The theme of the event is COLOUR and so we have chosen lots of beautiful, colourful books to take along. All our favourite people will be attending, we have been saving up for weeks so we can splurge! Pop over to the Magnolia Square website for a full list of all the gorgeous retailers. You can also join Magnolia Square on Facebook for all the latest. We hope to see lots of you there, for what promises to be a spectacular shopping experience.
-
ReadPlus Review Blog
-
The Fitzosbornes at war by Michelle Cooper
16 May 2012 | 10:18 amMontmaray Journals, Book 3. Random House, 2012. ISBN 9781742750323. (Age: 15+) Highly recommended. The third and last book in the Montmaray Journals, Sophie continues to write in her journal, this time with accounts of what is happening in Great Britain and particularly London during the devastating Blitz. Life is filled with evading falling bombs, sheltering in bomb basements and dancing in nightclubs with young soldiers. Her brother Toby is in the airforce and Henry decides to join up as well. As the war comes to an end, it may be possible that their beloved Montmaray will be liberated. -
Girl, stolen by April Henry
16 May 2012 | 10:17 amWalker Books, 2012. ISBN 9781406334852. (Age: 13+) Recommended. Reluctant readers. YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011). Sixteen-year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of the car while her stepmother fills a prescription for antibiotics for Cheyenne's pneumonia. Before she realises what's happening, the car is being stolen. Griffin is shocked when he sees that Cheyenne is in the back of the car and doesn't know what to do when he discovers that not only is she sick, she is blind as well. From here on Cheyenne is a terrifying journey until she is finally tied up in a bedroom… -
An unexpected arrival by Jess Black
16 May 2012 | 10:14 amRSPCA animal tales ; 4. Random House, 2012. ISBN 9781742753324. (Age: 8+) Cassie Bannerman's mum and dad own a deli that she spends a lot of time hanging around. So when the class teacher tells them they have to spend a day watching their parents at work, Cassie is disappointed. Fortunately her friend Ben comes to the rescue. His dad is a vet and Cassie is invited to join them for the day. Dr Joe, as Ben's dad is called is on official RSPCA business when Ben and Cassie spend the day with him. The RSPCA want to encourage farming practices that allow animals to lead comfortable and happy lives. -
The carousel by Ursula Dubosarsky
16 May 2012 | 10:12 amIll. by Walter Di Qual. Penguin, 2012. ISBN 978 0 670 07462 4. (Ages 6+) Picture book. Journeys. In rhyming stanzas, Dubosarsky tells the story of a young girl, and her relationship with the horse she rides on the carousel. When circling, the girl can hear the beating heart of the horse, and knows that he is sad. He is confined to the rhythm of the carousel, going up and down, around and around, and longs to be free. Her father's voice takes her away from her wishes for the horse, but that night, staring out of her bedroom window, she sees the little horses breaking away from their… -
In the Beech Forest by Gary Crew
15 May 2012 | 2:37 pmIll. by Den Scheer. Ford Street, 2012. Hbk., RRP $29.99. 9781921665578. "He was an ordinary boy, nothing special, and he went into the forest alone. He had no particular purpose other than to look, as adventurers do, or to slay imaginary monsters, as children do, so he held his head high, and gripped his toy sword, just in case. But as withered leaves shifted, and grey shadows lengthened, he hesitated, remembering his computer games, the fearful quests he encountered there, the dreadful heroes, the beasts unconquered and he wondered if such wild fantasies might threaten here." Is truth,…
-
YA Books Central Blog
-
The YABC Blog is Moving!
15 May 2012 | 10:33 amThat's right, the YABC Blog is moving from this blogspot location to a new home on YABooksCentral.com. This way, all the latest YABC info will be located in one handy place, so you won't have to check two different sites to get all the latest reviews and updates. We'll be posting giveaway news, updates, press releases, author interviews, event notifications, and more on the new blog here: http://www.yabookscentral.com/blog/. To make things easy, you can now subscribe to the blog, to individual posts, and even comment threads to keep up-to-date. How awesome is that? So get… -
Review: Gilt by Katherine Longshore
15 May 2012 | 7:00 amEnter the world of King Henry VIII, encountered through the eyes of 15-year-old Katherine Tylney, best friend of the soon-to-be famous Catherine Howard. Gossip, lust, manipulation, and flattery are the keys to the top in this dazzling glimpse into the 15th-century Tudor Court. Click here to read my full review. -
From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer & Valerie Thomas
15 May 2012 | 7:00 amThis book is "The Hangover" for teens and it made me laugh, cry and swoon; sometimes all at once. Kylie and Will are BFF's while Max and Lily are the "beautiful couple". To say these two pairings don't like each other is an understatement of epic proportions, but when Kylie and Max are forced to work together on a final Senior project, a split second decision thrusts them into the adventure of their lives! After an insane 24 hours of drinking, carjacking a vehicle of stolen goods, Kylie and Max wake up in bed, donning matching wedding bands. Wait... WHAT?! They haven't even… -
Thumped by Megan McCafferty
13 May 2012 | 9:23 pmIn the eight and a half months since we left them in Bumped, Harmony and Melody have become the most famous teens in the world, known as The Hotties. As twins who are pregnant with twins, they are swamped with endorsement deals for perfumes and energy bars, hounded by paparazzi, and copied by everyone who follows them on the MiVu. Yet they both are hiding secrets and stand to lose everything if they face up to their lies. Megan McCafferty's sequel, Thumped, will satisfy fans of the series. Click here to read my full review. -
Confectionately Yours #1: Save the Cupcake! by Lisa Papademetriou
13 May 2012 | 8:00 amIn this new series, life for seventh grader Hayley, is not as sweet as the cupcakes she bakes. Her parents are newly divorced, Mom is out of a job, her BFF is pulling away from her and her 8 year old sister is a few sprinkles shy of a funfetti cupcake. To top it all off, one of the parents at school wants to ban cupcakes, forever! (clearly, this woman is an alien). Together with an unexpected ally, Hayley will fight with all the fondant she can roll out to "Save the Cupcake!". She'll discover that life may not always happen the way we expect it too but that doesn't mean it's wrong,…
-
There's a Botticelli Angel Inside, Snapping Beans:
-
A few things to think about when reading fiction about American Indians
15 May 2012 | 10:32 pmNote, this is by no means a complete list, and I'm not even capable of that; this is merely a list of some things on my mind right now, that are useful to ask when reading fiction about American Indians.- Are the people in the book noted as having a specific tribe/nation?- Are the facts of their lives consistent with the real lives of that specific tribe/nation?- Whether or not a specific tribe/nation is named, does the book use details from various parts of Indian Country all at once, for example clothing from one tribe and religion from another, as if it were pick-and-choose by the author's… -
Happy Families by Tanita S. Davis
4 May 2012 | 1:30 pmIt's rare for me to post about a book I've not yet read myself, but here's one in case you have a chance to read it before I do: Happy Families by Tanita S. Davis (link goes to Kirkus review) is about two kids and their trans parent. The family is African-American. I hope I have a chance to read it this summer. -
Must read:
2 May 2012 | 8:37 pmRacialicious: A Historical Guide To Hipster Racism. -
Can We ReName CFIDS Already? My Proposal For Our New Name.
1 May 2012 | 2:27 amIn the USA, the offical name for my disability is CFS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Everyone even tangentially connected to this illness knows the name is ludicrous. This name has done us vast material harm in layperson comprehension, medical acknowledgment, research interest, research funding, and patient care -- all because the name sounds like "Hey man, I'm tired." People hear the name and think we're not really SICK. I promise you, we are. We are sick as a dog. I can't tell you how many people over the years have said to me, "I'm tired too!" So, patients (myself included) and advocates often… -
Hello, Blogging Against Disablism Day!
1 May 2012 | 1:31 amIt's Blogging Against Disablism Day! That link instructs you how to join in if you want; it also archives the event, which means it links you to all the disablism posts that people send in to Diary of a Goldfish. They're divided into categories. Goldfish will update as posts keep rolling in, so I recommend wandering over there more than once. Go at your own pace; you don't need to read everything today or even this week. If you read BADD things that you like or that make you think, consider leaving some love behind in comment form.
-
I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell do I read?
-
Lambda Literary Foundation's New LGBTQ Book Club for Teens!
16 May 2012 | 5:03 amI'm very excited about the My Story Book Club!Check out this interview I did with Monica Carter, who is founding the program for Lambda Literary Foundation...For more info on the My Story Book Club, and to see all their selections for the year ahead (some great reads!) check out this info on Lambda Literary's website.And you can join in on Goodreads here!Namaste,Leeps- my apologies for the sound quality issues. -
All Of Us - a Bisexual teen and young adult novel
15 May 2012 | 5:02 am"All of Us" by Mary RawsonAt age 13, Jenny tries to make sense of her desire for a boy and a girl.We follow Jenny and her friends and lovers from Kaikoura, New Zealand to Melbourne, Australia as she grows up though her teen and young adult years. She tries to be heterosexual. She tries to be a lesbian. But ultimately, while negotiating friendship, love and grief, Jenny must claim her true identity as a bisexual woman. Add your review of "All of Us" in comments! -
HUGE News: President Obama Supports Gay Marriage
14 May 2012 | 5:00 amHe's evolved!Barack Obama promised to be a "fierce advocate" for the GLBTQ community while running for office.Once in office, that advocacy has felt, at times, tepid. Hesitant. More concerned with political expediency than with doing what was right. What we believed he felt was right. And yet progress was made. Slow progress, but progress.But on Wednesday May 9, 2012, President Obama finally stated, (you can watch the video here or here at the Obama campaign site) video platform video management video solutions video player "I have to tell you that over the… -
PFLAG Mom Marsha Aizumi is Changing the World "One Heart At A Time"
11 May 2012 | 5:05 amI spoke with Marsha last fall, and have been saving this interview for now since Sunday is Mother's Day here in the USA, and talking to Marsha - a PFLAG mom - made me so happy.Marsha's book, "Two Spirits One Heart: A Mother, Her Transgender Son, And Their Journey to Love and Acceptance" will be coming out in September, and I'll blog more about it then, but I had to share this discussion with you all now.PFLAG is a great organization, and you can find out more about them here.Thanks Marsha! Aiden is certainly fortunate to have you as his mother.Namaste,Lee -
My Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer - A Middle Grade Novel with a Lesbian Mom
10 May 2012 | 5:04 amMy Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer by Jennifer Gennari"The best pies are all about finding the right mix of berries. Meet June, a sweet 12-year-old, whose summer pie-making plans get muddled when her mother decides to marry her girlfriend now that Vermont has made Civil Unions legal. My Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer is about one girl learning how to be herself and stand up for her new family."Add your review of "My Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer" in comments!
-
WordPress.com News
-
Stay In The Conversation
15 May 2012 | 6:01 pmIt’s now much easier for you and your commenters to keep track of the conversations you’re involved in across WordPress.com. Some recent tests have shown that by subscribing commenters to new comments by default, they are more likely to stay engaged and come back and comment more on your blog. With that knowledge, we’ve changed the default comment following behavior to help you get more conversations going on your blog. We made the initial changes last week and after great feedback from you we just launched an update. Here’s how it works: By default, posting a comment… -
Look at These Gorgeous Blogs
15 May 2012 | 1:05 pmWe’ve added a user showcase where you can view stunning customizations made by people just like you. From complete redesigns with CSS to adding pizzazz with Custom Fonts to clever use of options like background and header, this showcase will spark your imagination and inspire creativity. Discover details about what each showcase blog is doing with WordPress.com themes and customizations by clicking a thumbnail to see a colophon-style list of credits on the left. We’ve also updated footer links so blog owners can show off the types of customizations they’ve made and visitors can… -
Photo Blogging 101, Part 1
14 May 2012 | 10:00 amSpring is in the air. With the weather warming up, now is a great time to get started on a photo blog. Creating a photo blog is a wonderful introduction to blogging on WordPress.com or an opportunity to refresh your current site. Ready to get started? You can sign up for a new blog right over here. Getting started Photo blogs, sometimes called phlogs, use pictures instead of words. While many photo bloggers choose a type of photo that they want to focus on, such as portraits, others use their photo blog to document their life’s events. Photo blogs come in a variety of styles, including… -
New Themes: Just Desserts and Oxygen
10 May 2012 | 8:11 amHappy Thursday! We’ve added some exciting new themes to our ever-growing collection, and we’re happy to tell you all about them. First out of the oven is…Just Desserts. Yep, that’s a theme! Designed by Andy Rutledge, Just Desserts is a deliciously stylish premium theme that’s perfect for blogs centered on food. With its responsive, single-column layout and unique presentation of images and posts on the front page, Just Desserts gives you a delectable canvas on which your mouthwatering photos and text can really shine — even when viewed on smaller mobile devices… -
Find Friends Who Use WordPress
1 May 2012 | 2:32 pmAre you curious to see how your friends are using WordPress? Give the new and improved Friend Finder a try to connect with your Twitter, Facebook, and Google contacts who have WordPress sites! After authorizing WordPress.com to use your Twitter, Facebook, or Google account to find your friends (don’t worry — none of this account information is saved!) you’ll see a list of people you know who have WordPress sites. Click Follow and each time your friend publishes a new post it will show up in your Reader under Blogs I Follow. If you have multiple blogs, make sure to set the…
-
Practically Paradise
-
Fundraisers and School Libraries
7 May 2012 | 9:01 amAre fundraisers worth it anymore for school libraries? In Tennessee we can only have two tax-free fundraisers a year in a school. After that all fundraisers – even those occurring earlier in the year are taxable. If I have a bookfair and charge tax as I’m legally supposed to do then the PTO can only hold one more fundraiser in the year. That means one taxed fundraiser and one untaxed fundraiser. If I tried to hold two untaxed and the bookfair, both of the others would be taxed. It just doesn’t make sense anymore. My Book Fairs do not earn much over $1000 cash profit. The PTO… -
Limitless Libraries and Weeding lists
7 May 2012 | 4:01 amThe day has arrived. It looks like Nashville’s budget is going to include the elementary school libraries in the Limitless Library program next year. This will add tremendous access to the Nashville Public Libraries to our collections. It has been a wonderful program at the high school and middle school level. I am very supportive and excited to be part of this. At the same time the program is geared towards cleaning up collections to weed out older materials and create gaps or opportunities for the public library to help the school library. One of the first steps involves the public… -
The Only Good Part of Testing
30 Apr 2012 | 2:32 pmis that students cannot wait for the testing to end so they can read. Imagine a 55 minute test that has 95% of the students finished in 20. What will they do after testing? Nothing. They cannot read a book. They cannot turn their tests in early. They cannot write. They cannot draw. They must simply sit there. If they put their head down on the desk, fall asleep and drool – the teacher is in trouble for ruining the answer sheet. Even during their ten minute break between parts 1 & 2 (AKA Parts A & B), they are not allowed to read. The inhumanity! Today was our fourth and final… -
Planning an event “they” say will fail
30 Apr 2012 | 5:54 amHave you ever planned something and been so excited about it, but all along the way there are “those” who just shake their heads and say “This is going to be a disaster!” Fortunately, I am good at pretending to never hear the naysayer’s so I can continue on to do what I think will help promote reading. Here are some examples: our bookfair. My school hadn’t had one in over ten years. With over 99% poverty rates, “everyone” told me not to be disappointed if it flopped and was a waste of my time. Instead we sold over $4000 worth of books at reduced… -
Spring Board Books
28 Apr 2012 | 10:49 amWhile I appreciate so many of my friends and colleagues getting pregnant just so I can prepare board book baskets for them, I’m always struggling to find new titles that are just right. Betsy Bird pointed out that board books must be good “Cause when you read something 500 times, you’re either going to go insane or you’ll internalize it to the point where it’s the most fascinating thing you’ve ever read.” Here are a trio of titles for spring board books: In the Garden by Elizabeth Spurr illustrated by Manelle Oliphant – a board book. Peachtree Publishers, 2012.
-
Literacy, families and learning
-
Literature as a means to understand people different from yourself
10 May 2012 | 4:36 pmAs I have argued in previous posts (here & here), we learn a great deal from literature. Literature brings great pleasure but it also teaches us and can impact on us emotionally. It passes on aspects of our cultural traditions, it introduces us to other cultures and it teaches us about our world, its history, its people and what it is to be human. A piece of literature is more than just a good story. I wrote in one of my books (Pathways to Literacy, Cairney 1995, p.77-78) that literature can act as: A mirror to enable readers to reflect on life problems and circumstancesA source of… -
Helping Preschoolers to Become Writers
2 May 2012 | 6:56 amI get many questions from concerned parents on this blog worrying about how fast they should push their preschool children as writers (see the comments on a previous post on writing HERE). Some worry about their four year old children reversing letters like 'd', 's' and 'b'. Others wonder why their children can't write their name by age three. Others want their children writing words from memory before they start school. While such concerns are well motivated, they miss the point that real writing is more than just correct letter formation, accurate spelling and neat handwriting. While all… -
14 Great Educational Apps for Children
24 Apr 2012 | 5:29 pmRegular readers of this blog will know that I've reviewed apps for iPad and android devices a number of times. My posts have included reviews of picture book apps (here), story apps of varied kinds (here) and apps that stimulate literacy, learning and creativity (here). In this post I review a number of educational apps that support children's learning in varied ways. I have grouped them into 5 categories for convenience. Some could well fit into more than one of these categories. Because the apps are so varied I have used a simpler rating scale than I typically use. In this post I attribute… -
Great Science & Technology Books for Boys Revisited
17 Apr 2012 | 7:46 am'Science and technology' is an important book category for children interested in understanding the natural and man-made world. In this post I thought that I'd focus on a variety of good books in this category for children aged 3-12 years. There are a number of good reasons for this:a) Some children are fascinated by science and find it more engaging than literature.b) Boys have a particularly strong interest in books that show how things work, or which offer a different angle on understanding the world.c) Through such books children are introduced to new written genres and new language.d)… -
Australia's best children's books
9 Apr 2012 | 4:20 pmThe Children's Book Council (Australia) has just announced its short list for all five categories within its annual awards. The winners and honour books will be announced in Children's Book Week (18-24 August). The theme for Bookweek this year is 'Champions Read'. As always the standard is high. There are some very familiar names and previously honoured authors and illustrators like Nadia Wheatley, Jackie French, Bill Condon, Emily Rodda, Ron Brooks, Alison Lester and Bob Graham. But there are also some good writers who have just missed the cut in previous years and, we have some new names in…
-
The Graphic Classroom
-
AMERICUS
28 Apr 2012 | 6:25 amBy Adrian NeibauerStaff WriterSTORY REVIEWNeil Barton is your typical thirteen-year-old: he’s unsure of himself, awkward, shy, and spends most of his time alone with his nose in a book. AMERICUS, written by MK Reed and illustrated by Jonathan Hill, is a coming of age story set in a small town in Anytown, USA. Neil, our main character, uses the local library in his small home town of Americus as a safe-haven to the discomfort of junior high school. There, he and the young librarian introduce us to the fantasy world of Chronicles of Apathea Ravenchilde, the Huntress Witch, a… -
V FOR VENDETTA
22 Apr 2012 | 8:33 amBy Ellen MaStaff WriterREVIEWV FOR VENDETTA takes place in a dystopian England when everything has collapsed from war. The government has become “Big Brother” and the entire system is corrupt. However, on the historical day of Nov. 5, 1997, a mysterious man named V blows up Parliament. The reader is taken through V’s mission –– to take down the fascist rulers of England, as well as coming to know Eve, a young girl who is saved by V and taken under his wing.Eve becomes a major role to the reader, as she is the most relatable character and goes through the most changes. Alan Moore is… -
HOW THE LEOPARD GOT HIS SPOTS
22 Apr 2012 | 8:11 amBy Kevin HodgsonStaff WriterSTORY SUMMARYRudyard Kipling’s Just So stories have long held a hallowed place in literature in lower elementary classrooms. The stories of how animals came to be often give way to students’ own creative explanations of the world. A new series of graphic versions of the Kipling classics by Stone Arch Press revives that tradition in wonderful style, full of humor and insights. HOW THE LEOPARD GOT HIS SPOTS is just one of the series, and this adaptation by writer Sean Tulien tells the story of the leopard on the African plains, and seeks to explain in a creative… -
COMICS BAN SPARKS SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
7 Apr 2012 | 10:11 amSam's first place ribbon at the Alaska State Science Fair for comics-in-education science fair project. By Chris WilsonEditor-in-GeekWARNING: If you tell Alaskan third grader, Sam, that he cannot do something educational you may find yourself the subject of a science fair project. Such was the case with his teacher this year.Sam wanted to read. He wanted to read comics, but his third grade teacher banned comics in class and refused to count them on his daily reading log. It is a common practice in elementary school across the nation to assign reading homework. Students… -
JRR TOLKIEN: TRUE LORD OF THE RINGS
7 Apr 2012 | 9:29 amBy Chris WilsonEditor-in-GeekWhy did it take so long? I have no idea, but thank goodness we have a comics publisher who had the foresight to publish a biography about the grandfather of fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien. The comic will explore Tolkien's background and seek out those writers, mythologies and experiences which influenced him. Michael Lent and Brian McCarthy (Stephen King and Keith Richards bio comics) will pen the issue with pencils by Luis Chichon. “... we wanted to make sure readers get full measure of the man. That beyond his work in fantasy he was a fragile World War I…
-
The Book Chook
-
A Book Chook Announcement
13 May 2012 | 2:21 pmOver the next couple of months, I'll be travelling. I expect to have intermittent access to the internet, so if you leave a comment, I may be late replying. If you wish to ask me a question, suggest a product for review, or propose an idea for a guest post at The Book Chook, you can email me thebookchook AT gmail DOT com. I will reply if I'm interested. Discover what I look for in guest posts, or check out my Review Policy. Posts will be fewer here at The Book Chook. In May/June/some of July, expect to see one post per week rather than the usual three. I'm very pleased to say… -
Let's Celebrate Mothers!
10 May 2012 | 2:58 pmSunday May 13 is Mother's Day in Australia. I thought it might be timely to ponder what mums have taught us down through the ages. If your kids are old enough, you might like to share this with them, and ask them what they've learnt from you! WHAT I OWE MY MOTHER: 1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. 'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.' 2. My mother taught me RELIGION . 'You better pray that this will come out of the carpet.' 3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. 'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle… -
Children's Book Review, How Machines Work
8 May 2012 | 2:47 pmChildren's Book Review by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com If your youngster has evolved from "Truck! Truck!" to "But how does it work? I want to know!" then I have a great non-fiction book suggestion for you. How Machines Work is a brilliant children's hardback book by Nick Arnold and Allan Sanders, produced by Quarto Children's Books and published by Walker Books (2011). It's more than a children's nonfiction book. It's also an interactive guide to simple machines and mechanisms, and provides parts and instructions for children to make their own 12 working models of the machines… -
Review, Orijinz
6 May 2012 | 2:48 pmOne of my Christmas presents two years ago was the word game Orijinz. (Why do so many manufacturers and websites feel impelled to misspell words? Should I change the blog name to Da BuKChuK?) I'm sorry it's taken me so long to tell you about Orijinz, which I really like. Orijinz is aimed more at adults and teens than under-12s. If you have teens who like word play, I think they'll enjoy it. I know my family and friends do. Basically, Orijinz involves one person reading aloud the origin of a word or phrase, and the others must guess the way we use it now. So for instance, I might read aloud:… -
Make Comics with UK Disney Comic Creator
3 May 2012 | 2:49 pmHere's another wonderful place where kids can have fun while creating and practising literacy skills. The UK Disney Comic Creator, once loaded, offers a range of templates with varying layouts of between one and six panels. Choose a background, choose characters, props, speech bubbles. Add text and special effects and you're on the way to telling a story with images and words. I think the UK Disney Comic Creator will appeal to kids who know the characters (I'm sure I recognised Mickey as the Sorcerer's Apprentice from Fantasia!) The controls seemed a bit touchy. Re-sizing the background for…
-
Reading Rumpus
-
The world is a little less wild - RIP Mr. Sendak
8 May 2012 | 9:57 amJust a few resources for an author study or just to celebrate this amazing man's life:Great NPR audio interview!Hilarious Colbert Nation interview with Mr. SendakRosenbach Museum & Library - holds majority of Sendak's work with many resources available :-)Lots of PBS past interviews and articles Lesson Planet lesson plans for various Sendak booksPBS lesson on art and imagination@ Web English Teacher lessons- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad -
Reading Competitions, Accelerated Reader and Extrinsic Motivations
29 Feb 2012 | 6:00 amDon't know where I stand on the issue of using competition to encourage reading. All five of our reading teachers use Accelerated Reader and I argue how much I hate the low-level complexity and extrinsic motivation involved with it, but they are unyielding and it is still in use at my school.... What do you guys think? From BBC: Reading: Competition to encourage love of books © 2007-2012 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com -
Serendipity: education stuff, book love stuff and stuffs I need to read
28 Feb 2012 | 5:00 amBook Love Stuffs: I am always honored to be invited to work with the excellent folks who are involved with the CYBILS and I sure hope everyone has had a chance to look at the nominees and winners. If not, here's the winner's link! Another, in case you missed it, note on awards: The Newbery. Yeah, I read the Gantos book a few months back..... Eh, tried too hard for my taste, but here is a good link from The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance showcasing some links in case you want them. Talk about ridiculous pressure: J.K. Rowling has written an "adult" novel. I would like to… -
Read Across America is coming March 2nd - Get ready!
26 Feb 2012 | 6:04 pmReading Rockets has all sorts of Read Across America links and ideas..... Here is the link to their LOAD of links! P.S. Reading Rockets is one of the best reading education sites on the web. Go there. Regularly. -------------------- That's all folks! -------------------- © 2007-2012 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com -
On being a bibliophile: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
5 Feb 2012 | 7:28 amWhenever your back is aching from moving all those books, when the stacks seem to overwhelm your space, when your TBR pile is stressing you out.... take a look at this amazing Academy Award nominated short film and remember why you are a bibliophile: © 2007-2012 Cheryl Vanatti for www.ReadingRumpus.com
-
Brimful Curiosities
-
Cheerios Spoonful of Stories Book Giveaway - Mostly Monsterly by Tammi Sauer Review
4 May 2012 | 8:00 amMornings would be so much brighter if every box of cereal contained a book to read! That's why I always look forward to the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories® program every year. The Spoonful of Stories program recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary with the distribution of more than six million children books! This year's books could be found free inside specially marked Cheerios boxes starting in March 2012. However, if your area is anything like ours, the boxes flew off the shelves! But don't worry if you missed all the new stories this year -- read on for a giveaway you won't want to… -
May Day Baskets
2 May 2012 | 8:00 amMy kids spread some spring cheer yesterday by hanging May Baskets on our neighbor's doors. We made 12 baskets total and placed a marigold plant inside each one. We usually use cut flowers from around the yard but this year, due to the early spring, all of our spring flowers are already finished blooming! It only takes 3 pieces of 12" x 12" scrapbook paper to make 12 holders. Cut each piece of scrapbook paper into four - 6 inch square sections. Fold the squares into cones using the guide below. Staple the cone flaps together, punch holes on the sides and add a piece of ribbon for a handle. We… -
Full to the Brim - Kid's Book Giveaway List (4/27/12)
27 Apr 2012 | 8:00 amFull to the Brim is a list I compile by hand of children's book giveaway online contests. Please check out my other "Full to the Brim" posts as well. Many contests are still underway. I *try to* publish "Full to the Brim" every Friday, though this month my postings have been few and far between. If I missed your book giveaway, feel free to mention it in the comment section or send me an email. Book Giveaways: Mommy of Two Little Monkeys - Ends 5/15 Little Learner Children's Books from Parragon Publishing Simply Stacie - Ends 5/10 Take Two and Bug Off by Jane Yolen Mommies with Cents - Ends… -
Wordless Wednesday - when the world is mud-luscious
18 Apr 2012 | 8:00 amFind more of this week's Wordless Wednesday (or Wordful) posts at 5 Minutes for Mom. -
Ultimate Blog Party 2012
14 Apr 2012 | 8:00 amWelcome to the 2012 Ultimate Blog Party at Brimful Curiosities! Please grab a wood stump chair, put up your feet, make yourself at home and stay awhile. We like to keep things whimsical and relaxed here. My name is Janelle -- I'm the hostess and blog proprietor here at Brimful Curiosities. I'm a stay-at-home mom to two young children. And, in case you didn't guess by the subtitle, I like to read children's books with my kids and blog about our reading experiences. We also spend time crafting, exploring the outdoors and doing all the normal things families do together like building Christmas…
-
Gail Carson Levine
-
Open-ended
16 May 2012 | 7:00 amFor anyone in the area and able to come, on Saturday I’ll be at the Children’s Festival of Reading in Knoxville, Tennessee. Here’s a link to the event: http://knoxrooms.sirsi.net/rooms/html/KCPL/calendar.html#/?i=2. I’m speaking at 10:45 am and 12:45 pm and signing books after each presentation. If you come, please let me know you heard about it here.On to the post topic, on November 27, 2011, Jenna Royal wrote, Does anyone have any thoughts on open or unresolved endings? I've been fascinated with endings lately that don't end up where you think they do, or that don't really end at… -
Pop!
9 May 2012 | 7:46 amOn November 14, 2011, writeforfun wrote, ...I've already read your extremely helpful section in Writing Magic about developing characters and I've filled out a character questionnaire for each of my characters, but they still seem sort of flat and Mary-Sue like, especially compared to the ones in my last book. I think part of my problem may be that they don't have lots of quirks and faults, despite my efforts to think up some and apply them. Any ideas on how to make these characters pop? Despite the troubles I’ve been having with Beloved Elodie, which I’ve written a little… -
Villainy
2 May 2012 | 7:36 amOn November 2, 2011, Rina wrote, I need motivations for my villains, you see. If anyone has any good motivations for villains...?This is a perfect companion question for last week’s post about backstories. Motivation can be backstory, or front story. Let’s put front story up front and take it first.Here's an example:Training in alien communication at the Starship Academy begins with a placement exam, part of which is a chess game. First-year student Anthea intuits the meaning behind the game and intentionally loses to her opponent, Bennett, whose triumph twists into rage when she’s… -
Backstory story
25 Apr 2012 | 7:04 amOn October 31, 2011, writeforfun wrote, ...how do you know where to put those important backstories, the ones that are pivotal to a character? Is there any way to know, or do you just put it where it seems “right”?There are lots of ways and places and times to work in a backstory, and I think where it seems right is a good guide.You can do it in dialogue. For example, Elizabeth and Pamela are sleeping over at Marianne’s house. They’re in their pajamas in Marianne’s room. They’ve been friends since they were in kindergarten. Pamela starts a conversation about the first time she was… -
Tensing
18 Apr 2012 | 7:22 amFirst off, welliewalks’ comment last week about setting a goal to get something published before the next school year gave me an idea: how nice if you would post your publishing triumphs here so we can all bask in the reflected glory. Please do!Now for the post. On October 20, 2011, Charlotte wrote, I've been thinking lately about tense, as in past or present. I've read some fantastic stuff in the present tense (read: THE HUNGER GAMES and other less fantastic things) and I've been wondering what everyone thinks about which tense a story should be written in, and how to…
