Howdy, folks. As you may have heard a hurricane recently decided to take an extreme weather-sized bite out of the Big Apple. Because I live in a blessed bit of high ground in Harlem, my family and I are safe and sound with ample food, electricity, and internet. Many are not as lucky. I’ll resume [...]
Newbery / Caldecott 2013: The Fall Prediction Edition
October 29, 2012 By 38 Comments
For the final prediction edition of the 2013 Newbery/Caldecott Awards be sure to see my latest post here. A little late but still got it out before the end of October and the imminent arrival of Frankenstorm. I spent a goodly part of yesterday preparing for the hurricane by baking pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Now [...]
Video Sunday: “I’ve promised it to Publishers’ Monthly”
October 28, 2012 By 4 Comments
See now, this is what I get for waiting when I see a good video. I’ve been doing my Video Sundays a little less frequently since I like to do them when the content is primo. The flipside is that sometimes I get scooped. Such is the case with today’s video. It is a delight [...]
Fusenews: Paddington V. Pooh (supporters could call themselves marmalites and hunnies)
October 25, 2012 By 5 Comments
You folks have been awfully good about my recent shoddy blogging, so I tip my hat in your general direction. Jules of 7-Imp and I are putting the final touches on our book for Candlewick editing-wise and, as you might imagine, it eats up large swaths of time like an irate and hungry badger. There [...]
Children’s Literary Salon: Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss
October 24, 2012 By 4 Comments
I am serious as death when I state that if you see no other Children’s Literary Salon at NYPL, see this one: The Children’s Literary Salon is pleased to announce our next event this Saturday, October 27th at 2:00 p.m. Children’s Literary Salon Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss: How an Unlikely Couple Found Love, Dodged [...]
Review of the Day: Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters by K.G. Campbell
October 22, 2012 By 9 Comments
Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters By K.G. Campbell Kids Can Press $16.95 ISBN: 978-1-55453-770-9 Ages 4-8 On shelves now When writing a picture book it can sometimes be a good idea to take a universal childhood annoyance and then build upon it in a satisfyingly ridiculous manner. And kids, let’s face it, are often annoyed. They have [...]
Press Release Fun: The Wolves of Willoughby Chase Hits 50 so It’s Time to Party!
October 20, 2012 By 9 Comments
More stuff I’m up to. This time, it’s all about the Aiken: 610 West 112th Street, New York, NY 10025 www.bankstreetbooks.com For Immediate Release CELEBRATE THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE AND THE LIFE AND WORK OF AUTHOR JOAN AIKEN October 15, 2012, New York City–Lizza Aiken will appear at Bank Street [...]
Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2013
October 19, 2012 By 25 Comments
Because it’s never too early to start with the drooling. Knowing as I do that I should probably be working on my third Newbery/Caldecott prediction list, I’m temporary eschewing that bit of fun to mention some of the titles that I am both seeing and hoping to see in the coming 2013 season. There’s a [...]
Press Release Fun – The Making of a Young Adult Bestseller: From Acquisition to Reader
October 18, 2012 By 1 Comment
Radio Silence Explained: It’s J.K. Rowling’s Fault
October 17, 2012 By 5 Comments
In brief – I was a matron of honor at my sister’s wedding and then, after I returned to New York, I met J.K. Rowling. You want proof? Fuzzy lady with brown hair on the left is me. Fuzzy lady with the blond hair on the right is Ms. Rowling. And so you may have [...]
Two heads are better than one: Duplicate Biographies for Kids in 2012
October 11, 2012 By 9 Comments
When asked to cite the most popular up-and-coming trend in books for children and teens my answer for 2012 is always the same: Keep an eye on the twins and clones. Walk into any children’s room this year, throw a dart, and you’ll hit about twenty new books for kids that feature boy/girl twins, girl/girl [...]
The 2012 Carle Honors: The Sweet and Low Down
October 9, 2012 By 4 Comments
I’m sure that by now you’ve already ready the PW recap of the 2012 Carle Honors called, so fittingly, Wit, Wisdom and One Very Drunk Puppet. Steeped as I am in edits for a book, I have not been as timely with my posts as I would like. As a result, the darn “drunk puppet” [...]
Video Sunday: That cake’s my most bestest creation
October 7, 2012 By 4 Comments
Who says you need to be Ed Emerley to make fingerprints dance? A canny bit of book promotion, this title is out this year but I certainly hadn’t heard of it until now (Laurence King Publishers, anyone?). Now I’ll need to see it for myself. It’s Let’s Make Some Great Fingerprint Art by Marion Deuchars. [...]
Art in the Children’s Room: Elisha Cooper Style
October 6, 2012 By 5 Comments
In that alternate universe where I am independently wealthy and spend all my days reporting on children’s literature (isn’t that what you would do if you were independently wealthy?) I spend certain days of the year traveling to different children’s rooms in libraries throughout the country to check out their original art by fantastic children’s [...]
Review of the Day: National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry, edited by J. Patrick Lewis
October 3, 2012 By 1 Comment
National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs That Squeak, Soar, and Roar! Edited by J. Patrick Lewis National Geographic $24.95 ISBN: 978-1-4263-1009-6 Ages 7-12 On shelves now Animals make for good poetry. That’s just common sense. When humans get misty eyed and start thinking their great grand thoughts, they tend to be [...]
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