Greeting and salutations to you all! I know that some of you have been holding off on registering for KidLitCon 2012, the annual meeting of children’s and YA bloggers which is open to anyone (blogger or not) with an interest in the changing sphere of book discussions, online and off. Though the Saturday conference (held [...]
Review of the Day: Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
August 30, 2012 By 9 Comments
Liar & Spy By Rebecca Stead $15.99 ISBN: 978-0-385-73743-2 Ages 9-12 On shelves now. Rebecca Stead is the M. Night Shyamalan of children’s literature, and I mean that in a good Sixth Sense way, not a lame The Happening one. It’s funny, but when I try to compare her other authors I find myself tongue-tied. [...]
Press Release Fun: Thalia Kids’ Book Club, 90-Second Newbery, and More!
August 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Well, this is just delightful. The 90-Second Newbery returns and it needs YOUR new videos if you have them on hand. Check out the press release below if you don’t believe me. There are also some big big names coming to town, as you can see: Thalia Kids’ Book Club Announces 2012-13 Season Kids (mostly [...]
Fusenews: Coals to Newcastle, Pearls Before Swine, and So On and Such
August 27, 2012 By 11 Comments
I must apologize to you for falling down on my regular Video Sundays. Saturday night I made the executive decision to rewatch Ghostbusters so as best to ascertain its relative awesomeness. Conclusion: The movie continues to rock. I was surprised to hear that the shots of the Ghostbusters in the stacks of my library were [...]
Review of the Day: Cat Tale by Michael Hall
August 25, 2012 By 6 Comments
Cat Tale By Michael Hall Greenwillow (an imprint of Harper Collins) $16.99 ISBN: 978-0-06-191516-1 Ages 6-10 On shelves August 28th When we are old and gray and the stars gleam a little less brightly in the wide firmament above our heads, I have no doubt that there will STILL be children’s librarians out there debating [...]
Children’s Literary Salon – Acts of Mischief: Editor Patti Lee Gauch and the State of the Picture Book
August 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Children’s Literary Salon is back in full swing and is delighted to invite you to our free program at NYPL on Saturday, September 15th at 2:00 p.m. Editor Patti Lee Gauch and the State of the Picture Book The picture book has long been a favorite of both children and adults. But why do some [...]
An Unbiased Plug for My Mother
August 22, 2012 By 3 Comments
Okay. That’s an outright lie, I suppose. Who can be unbiased about their mom? Particularly when their mom writes awesome poetry? Particularly particularly when she has been published by The University of Nebraska Press and her book is out on shelves now. You can’t trust me (obviously). So I’ll just casually put these quotes from [...]
Fusenews: To lose one author may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose dozens looks like carelessness.
August 21, 2012 By 9 Comments
At this point you just have to start throwing your hands up in the air. Then you have to start eyeing some of the older children’s authors and illustrators who are still around with great trepidation. We’ve been host to a SLEW of deaths already this year, but August is making May look like it [...]
Review of the Day: Wisdom, the Midway Albatross by Darcy Pattison
August 20, 2012 By 2 Comments
Wisdom the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and Other Disasters for Over 60 Years By Darcy Pattison Illustrated by Kitty Harvill Mims House $11.99 ISBN: 978-0-9798621-7-5 Ages 4-8 On shelves now If I had a better knowledge of my nonfiction children’s history then I might be able to tell you the exact moment that [...]
Review of the Day: Robin Hood by David Calcutt
August 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Robin Hood By David Calcutt Illustrated by Grahame Baker-Smith Barefoot Books $12.99 ISBN 978-1-84686-799-6 Ages 6 and up On shelves October 1st Robin Hood has, for years now, been the bane of my existence. And yes, I’m well aware that this statement makes me sound like nothing so much as the Sheriff of Nottingham. That [...]
The Top 100 Lists Are Nigh. Nigh, I Say! Nigh!
August 15, 2012 By 12 Comments
Remember when we were young and I conducted these craaaazy polls asking you guys to vote on your Top 10 Picture Books and Top 10 Children’s Novels? Remember when I enlisted the help of some talented survey monkeys and we calculated the results, coming up with some top 100 lists? And remember when I promised [...]
Review of the Day: The Swing by Robert Louis Stevenson
August 14, 2012 By 8 Comments
The Swing By Robert Louis Stevenson Illustrated By Julie Morstad Simply Read Books $8.95 ISBN: 978-1897476482 Ages 0-3 On shelves October 20th There comes a moment in a new parent’s life when they realize that they have become their own parents. It’s different for everyone. For some folks it won’t happen until they’re berating their [...]
Review of the Day: Step Gently Out by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder
August 11, 2012 By 1 Comment
Step Gently Out By Helen Frost Photographs by Rick Lieder Candlewick Press $15.99 ISBN: 978-0-7636-5601-0 Ages 3-8 On shelves now I have lots of little soapboxes scattered around my home that I like to pounce on in idle moments. Big soapboxes. Little soapboxes. Anyone who knows me is forced to hear me expound from one [...]
Fusenews: Look for the Girl with the Caterpillar Tattoo and She’s Gone
August 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I apologize for the recent radio silence, folks. There’s something goofy in the state of Fuse 8. For one thing, I can’t seem to comment on my own posts. Most peculiar. I will assume that this is just a passing fancy of the blog and that all will be well and good from this day [...]
Review of the Day: Freaky Fast Frankie Joe by Lutricia Clifton
August 7, 2012 By 2 Comments
Freaky Fast Frankie Joe By Lutricia Clifton Holiday House $16.95 ISBN: 978-0-8234-2367-5 Ages 9-12 On shelves now Realistic fiction for kids has more baggage than other fictional genres for that age group. Fantasies and comedies and science fiction get to rely on the extraordinary to weave their tales. Historical fiction, meanwhile, has the nice veil [...]
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