105 Ways to Give a Book

November Carnival of Children’s Literature: Tips Edition

For the upcoming holidays, I give you the gift of knowledge. Which is better than a S’more maker any day, I think we’d all agree. For the November Carnival of Children’s Literature I asked bloggers to share tips, suggestions, advice, and lessons learned from all areas of kids’ lit. I’ve pulled together those submissions, and went out searching for even more. I’ve grouped the tips in primary categories, but there is lots of overlap for everyone involved in children’s literature. Authors may find helpful advice for school visits in the Teachers/Librarians sections. Reviewers can benefit from tips in the Writers section. So dig in and grow wiser.

Reviewers/Bloggers

Jules asks, “Can my submission/tip for the Carnival be that I think it’s a great idea for bloggers who review books to have a policy on reviewing?” And I say, “Oh yeah.” Here are the review policies from Seven Impossible Things.

Just starting out in the wonderful world of blogging? Well, Advice for Beginning Bloggers awaits you at Wizards Wireless.

Kid Lit Blogging tips are at hand in a Behind-the-Scenes look at Becky’s Book Reviews.

From the October Kidlitosphere conference comes a summary of the Advanced Reviewing Course done by Anne at Book Buds.

Learn about Reading as a Writer and Reviewer with reader, writer, and reviewer Cheryl Rainfield.

Having trouble keeping track of all those books, oh all of those wonderful books? Maybe a solution awaits you over at Semicolon.

Parents

Here’s a wonderful contribution of Ten Tips for Growing Bookworms over at Jen Robinson’s Book Page.

It never hurts to listen to a parent who is also a teacher, especially when she’s sharing thoughts on Learning to Read and Learning to Love It at The Miss Rumphius Effect.

With the holiday season approaching, maybe you could use some clever ideas on giving books to babies and more info on the benefit of reading from Young Readers.

For another neat gift-giving idea, think bookplates to make that book extra special. Better yet, they’re lovely and they’re free. FREE. Read all about it at Chicken Spaghetti.

For a special activity any time of year, make a book with a kid as suggested by Books Together.

Okay, so we’re going to stretch the Children’s Literature aspect, ’cause why not? Here’s some helpful information for parents looking at video games for the holidays and who may be concerned about ratings. Check out A Wrung Sponge for the scoop.

And while we’re stretching the limits of kids’ lit, how about the Top 10 Things I have Learned as a Parent, stolen shamelessly from BurBur and Friends Blog while they were submitting another post.

Oh, and what the hell, a fantastic post on raising girls today, with some suggestions at the end and in the comments at the original post, all thanks to HipWriterMama.

Teachers/Librarians

Thoughts about teaching children to be authors are ready for perusal at Children’s BookJoy.

If you’re feeling like it’s all coming at you too fast these days, then spare some time for thoughts on A Balanced Life — Is It Possible for Teachers? and then look at books in a new way for use in the classroom with On Second Thought at A Year of Reading.

How to teach about biography books is up at Library Stew. (As it turns out, kids can read about people other than Columbus, Lincoln, Washington, and Pocahontas. Who knew?)

Teaching the six traits of writing using picture books. An example and more links are available at Picture Book of the Day.

Suggestions for scoring writing in the classroom are over at Read, Read, Read. (Wow, how do you think I’d do?)

Bringing authors into the classroom so students can become the editors seems like a Win-Win for author and students. Learn about one author’s experience from Chris Rettstatt.

She didn’t even submit this entry, but I remembered it as being quite choice and included it anyway. (Can I do that? I think I can do that. I’m doing it.) Here’s Advice for School Librarians from Book Moot.

Don’t miss Seven Tips for Satisfying Library Preschool Programs at Saints and Spinners, because she knows what she’s talking about, people.

Writers

Thinking about the next great Newbery winner or Captain Underpants? Maybe you’re ready for Ten Tips for New Writers from Perspectives on Writing.

Who else could make the thoughts on Writing a Poem so poetic but Sara at Read Write Believe.

After your basic training in poems, look to suggestions for writing a double dactyl poem at Writing and Ruminating.

Don’t miss a whole round-up of writer tips on making space for writing at Big A, little a.

Writing about setting, it’s all Location, Location, Location at Through the Tollbooth.

Playing with plots is easy over at Susan Writes. Make sure you have your index cards ready.

If you’re having writer’s block, maybe you just don’t have enough pretty rocks. Huh? Read this wonderful post about overcoming the block by author Lynne Jonell.

Need to make your writing a little funnier? Try the MotherReader suggestions.

Book Auctions? Questions? Find out from One Who Knows at Blue Rose Girls.

Already a published author? Let’s talk about Writers and Money with Robin Brande.

Writers and blogging, blogging and writers. Check out this three-parter: Blogging to Build Readership (Does It Work), Blogging and Why You Do It, and Do You Have to Blog? from Bookseller Chick. (Okay, I tracked this entry down too.)

Writing advice that everyone can benefit from, namely More Elf! Stolen with love from Brotherhood 2.0. (What am I going to do for comic relief when they stop posting in January? I can’t even think about it.)

Readers/Lifelong Learners

A tip for learning another language? In the Children’s Literature Carnival? Sure, when that blogger brings up Harry Potter at Learn a Foreign Language.

Finally, you’ll know what makes comics different from other illustrated books from the ever literary Oz and Ends.

Why we write and why we share books with kids over at BurBur and Friends Blog.

Getting to the heart of it all, no surprise, over at GottaBook.

The next Carnival will be hosted by Big A, little a. The theme is books that make good gifts. So dust off the reviews of your favorites or get ready to make some new suggestions. Thanks to everyone for their contributions.

26 comments:

Cheryl said...

Wow, there is so much good stuff here! I love what you've pulled together, and the way you organized it. Thank you for a wonderful Carnival.

Vivian Mahoney said...

Thanks for organizing this. I love the whole concept of Tips. Now I must soak up some knowledge.

Great Carnival!

Sara said...

Wow! I feel smarter and more capable already. I'm going to treat this carnival like one of those daily wisdom calendars, and read a tip a day. Hey! Can THAT be a tip?

Anonymous said...

This is a really fun carnival, MotherReader. Thank you for all your work.

Saints and Spinners said...

Huzzah! Thanks for putting this together, MR.

Kelly said...

Yay! What a great carnival, MR. I'll post about it now :)

Bkbuds said...

Holy cow, I'd forgotten I'd even sent you a link. Many thanks for including me!

Can't wait to read the other tips too.

Unknown said...

WOW - great thigns here, can't wait to have time to sit and read some of them.

great idea!!!

Jen Robinson said...

What an amazing resource! Thanks for putting this together. I think this post should be required reading for anyone interested in children's books, whether as parent, blogger, teacher, librarian, reader, or writer,

Mary Lee said...

Thanks for a great carnival! The mish-mash kind is fun, but your theme and organization make this one so much better. Better in the same way that a Swiffer Wet Jet is better than a broom.

:-) There, I got one in!

Anonymous said...

This is awesome. Thanks.

jama said...

This is my first carnival, and I'm LOVING it! Thanks so much for pulling all these posts together. Some really great info from some very cool blogs :).

Anonymous said...

Oh thank you so much for doing this wonderful carnival of knowledge! I can't wait to go home, curl up with a cup of tea and read them all.

Andromeda Jazmon said...

This is my favorite carnival EVER. It's going to take me a whole week just to read all these great entries. Thanks!

Susan Kusel said...

This is a fantastic carnival (And like Jama, it's my first one ever). Thanks so much for doing it! I've been having so much fun reading all of the advice.
-Susan

Libby said...

I was too swamped to send you anything, but I'm delighted that you included the Brotherhood 2.0 advice for beginning writers--I was going to leave it in the comments if you hadn't gotten it anyway! Great stuff here!

Maria Fernandez, BA, MSc said...

Thanks for this great carnival, and for including my post in it. Great work!

Anastasia Suen said...

Thanks so much, this looks great!

Kakie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kakie said...

How about a challenge to write from a comedy perspective Top 10 Things I have Learned as a Parent

I would love to see posts like that. Bring it on bloggers!

Anonymous said...

That was a lot of good reading. Thanks for taking this on!

Anonymous said...

MR: This is terrific reading. Thanks for pulling all this information together...and for including the gang at Through the Tollbooth

Megan Germano said...

DUH! I forgot to leave you a message to say what a great Carnival you put on. I was in such a hurry to post that it was up yesterday, I forgot to say:
WAY TO GO!
Megan Germano
Read, Read, Read!

Chris Rettstatt said...

Fantastic Carnival. I love the lessons/tips theme. I've learned a ton!

Chris Rettstatt

Camille said...

OK, this is seriously weird, I thought I HAD either submitted the school librarian post or one on puppets. I must have forgotten to click "ok" or "send" or "done."

I must be done in.
Thank you for remembering that post and including it for me. My mouse skills must be seriously failing.

Kaza Kingsley, http://www.erecrex.com said...

Wow, this is a great collection! Chris Retstatt's school experience was interesting. Thanks for putting this together!
Kaza Kingsley
Author of the Erec Rex series
http://www.erecrex.com