tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post3654467164138249075..comments2024-03-18T09:53:12.654-04:00Comments on MotherReader: KidLitosphere Public Service AnnouncementsMotherReaderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11274509991340797264noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-29877927596689241602011-02-12T23:46:10.814-05:002011-02-12T23:46:10.814-05:00Oooh, I have to rush to the defense of Al Yancovic...Oooh, I have to rush to the defense of Al Yancovic! I'm the first to admit there have been some incredible stinkers among the volumes of celebrity-penned tomes, but he's actually a *writer*, you know? I mean, his song parodies are incredibly sharp and funny. I think he's tremendously gifted: he works within very tight forms (having to match the rhythm & rhyme scheme of the original songs) and has contributed some deliciously smart and funny commentary on popular culture over the years. "White and Nerdy" is downright genius.<br /><br />So it doesn't seem a stretch at ALL to me that his talents would apply themselves to children's books as well. I too got hold of an F&G at Midwinter and I have to say I think it's quite a charming book and my kids really enjoyed it!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07315947967701781840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-75359025451029320242011-02-03T14:49:36.872-05:002011-02-03T14:49:36.872-05:00Well, as long as BACA is based at least part on re...Well, as long as BACA is based at least part on resentment, then there's nothing to worry about. <br /><br />I sampled Al Yankovic's book in both pages and video before commenting, and I agree that the silent form is better. But the text itself seems okay, in the mode of Dr. Seuss’s <i>If I Ran the Zoo</i>. His experience in lyrics-writing appears to have helped him understand metre. <br /><br />I don’t think it’s up to the level of his movie <i>UHF</i>, but it's not the embarrassment of several other celebrity picture books.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-7844519265175854202011-02-03T09:26:42.312-05:002011-02-03T09:26:42.312-05:00I've seen the Al Yankovik book in f&gs and...I've seen the Al Yankovik book in f&gs and liked it. One of the things I liked was that the author's name did not include the "weird" so it's not quite the celebrity-promotion that is seen with other books. While I sympathize with BACA's concerns, not every book written by someone who is a celebrity is a BACA book.Liz Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-20725848746488111442011-02-02T15:12:56.490-05:002011-02-02T15:12:56.490-05:00JL Bell, It is allowable in BACA policy to be agai...JL Bell, It is allowable in BACA policy to be against books one hasn't read, as people come to BACA with their own reasons for being against celebrity authors. Some hate the large sums of money or media attention that the celebrities receive, esp in contrast with the book quality. Others resent the celebrity "double-dipping" in the mild fame pool that is kid's lit. Others plan for quality control, finding that generally the celebrity books are mediocre at best, cloying at worst. But in this case we have the added advantage of the Weird Al reading: http://www.youtube.com/alyankovicMotherReaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11274509991340797264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-76827773435009452452011-02-02T15:02:48.780-05:002011-02-02T15:02:48.780-05:00Is it BACA policy to be against books one hasn'...Is it BACA policy to be against books one hasn't read?J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-69525069553119667852011-02-02T13:06:16.824-05:002011-02-02T13:06:16.824-05:00Thank you for the info! And I heard about Weird Al...Thank you for the info! And I heard about Weird Al. Seriously? Let's revive BACA Off!Suzanne Casamentohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08306151428658707692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-70713018768420450852011-02-02T11:59:58.440-05:002011-02-02T11:59:58.440-05:00Monica, I KNEW I was forgetting something as I was...Monica, I KNEW I was forgetting something as I was writing. Thanks for the reminder. <br /><br />Tasha, no problem. I've changed my feed and the new site is lookin' good!MotherReaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11274509991340797264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-49286690879062296782011-02-02T11:53:44.112-05:002011-02-02T11:53:44.112-05:00Pam,
Thanks for sharing my blog change. And als...Pam, <br /><br />Thanks for sharing my blog change. And also for the "looooong"!! :)Tashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12808701582504544509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21301089.post-34670909657785415182011-02-02T11:41:54.059-05:002011-02-02T11:41:54.059-05:00Don't forget SLJs Battle of the Kids' Book...Don't forget SLJs Battle of the Kids' Books. This year's contenders were annoucned last week! http://sljbattleofthebooks.com/2011/01/24/the-2011-battle-of-the-kids-books-contenders/Monica Edingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924540264341924291noreply@blogger.com