Sorry I made you wait. By now you may have read a few posts about Who Was There. This is my experience, in tiresome detail, of a very cool kidlit drink night.
Arriving at Bar 9, I made my way to the back room, and met Betsy — or Fuse#8 — right away. She was wearing her “I Am Kiki Strike” T-shirt as promised, and we exchanged our so-glad-to-meet-you-at-lasts. We chatted briefly and went up to the bar. I released her to host her party, and ordered a chicken sandwich. Hey — I said tiresome detail, and I meant it, people.
Ordering at the bar at the same time was the only other person I had planned to meet at the drink night. Tim Bush, illustrator and gentleman, had offered me practical assistance for my visit to the Big City, and had agreed to make sure I made it home safely to my friend’s apartment. But we hadn’t met in person either. Well, he was very nice and fun to talk to. We talked for a while at the front of the bar instead of returning to the party already in progress. After fortifying myself with a chicken sandwich, one beer consumed, one beer in my hand, and some good conversation, I was ready to mingle.
Or so I thought...
See the rest “below the fold”!
When I walked into the back room, I realized that everyone was already in little clusters of people that they knew. I did the best thing I could: scurried to the quietest, least populated corner of the room. Now, who would have guessed what a wise decision this would be. Because it seemed that I met many people in my quiet corner. People who were dropping off their coats on the couches. People who were using the well-lit area to reapply lipstick. People who needed elbow room for a few minutes.
I quickly met all of the Longstockings. Actually, one was missing — as it is Longstocking policy to always have one member not in attendence in case the bar is attacked. Or maybe that’s Congress and the State of the Union Address. Anyway, I spoke with Lisa Graff, who gave me a copy of her book. Important, given that I will interview her on Saturday. I talked with Caroline Hickey, who will send her book shortly. And I talked with Jenny Han, whose book, Shug, I read, loved, and praised. We talked for a while about her book and her thoughts in writing it. She’s working on something for younger readers now, and I made her pinky swear to get me a copy.
In my quiet corner, I met Ron from Galleycat, and we talked about blogging for fun and profit. I met J.L. Bell from Oz and Ends, and we talked about blogging, writing in general, Newbery awards, and world peace. Though I may be wrong about the world peace one. He was a very interesting guy, very nice, and also quite attached to our corner.
Alvina from the Blue Rose Girls (A picture of Alvina, J.L. and me is on her site) made it back our way, bringing along Barbara Johansen Newman, who deserves particular mention for being one person who was specifically looking to meet me during the evening. So bless you, BJN. (A picture of me and Alvina is on her site.) Then some class of 2k7er’s entered my territory, which meant business cards for everyone. Huzzah! Yi Shun Lai told us about her book featuring a man-eating cabbage called, I believe, Cole’s Law.
Then, another kismet encounter in the quiet corner. A woman walked up holding a book — and this book was the one book in the whole Bloomsbury catalog that I was interested in reviewing. I told her as much, she gave me the book (or I wrestled it out of her hands), and sketched me in her notebook. We talked, along with J.L. Bell, about illustrations in middle-grade books. The author’s name is Ruth McNally Barshaw, and I’m sure I’ll be writing about her book, Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel, soon.
Time for a bathroom break and another beer (only three so far — don’t judge me). On the way back to the room, I ran into Betsy. We talked a bit, and she introduced me to Laini Taylor. She and her husband have the most beautiful art on their business cards. She has written a novel that Betsy just raved about, and I hope I’ll get to see it myself someday.
The back room had cleared out some now, and I just inserted myself in a conversation with two women. One was 2k7er Rebecca Stead, and we shared some kid stories and some laughs. One was Michelle Knudson, who’s the author of Library Lion, plus also the editor of the Junie B. Jones books. I LOVE Junie B. Jones. We talked about J.B.J. for a while, and I believe she said she would forward my J.B.J. article to Barbara Park. And I believe that was before I gave her my wallet.
With the party winding down about 11:00 p.m., and the host leaving (we had made plans to talk the next day), I was ready to head out. Seeing my new friend Tim on the far side of the couch engaged in conversation, I climbed behind Barry Goldblatt (at the time it seemed less rude then walking in front of him, but in retrospect may have been more rude) and sat between him and Tim. And found myself sitting across from Linda Sue Park.
Well, I wasn’t going home now. I was glad to meet her, and she reads my blog (yeah, baby!), so of course I like her. She was very nice and very charming. She’s putting out a book of poetry soon, which we talked about, in between the times that Barry Goldblatt was telling her which 2006 books were total crap (apparently many popular YA titles).
When she got up to leave, I did too. I was able to collect the promotion card from Tracie Zimmer for her new book Reaching for Sun. I mention her card because it was actually a packet of daisy seeds, which may be the cutest thing ever. In going to close out my tab, the wonderful Blue Rose Girl Alvina introduced me to David Diaz. Whom I did not know as a Caldecott-winning illustrator. But he did not seem the least bit offended by my ignorance, and was very charming. And a little hot, by the way.
Okay, now I was ready to leave, and Tim and I had a real chatfest as he escorted me across town to the door of my friend’s apartment. It was closing in on 1:00 a.m. by the time I got home. I had two ARCs, a number of business cards, and (at least) one new friend. Not bad for one night. Not bad at all.
[NOTE: Edited on 2/14/07 to add author links]
So, Mo sent me a little something. Signed sketchbooks — including the famous Pigeon one — and an original Monster in Underpants picture! It’s a perfect way to introduce my interview with the man himself. On this site is one part, a little teaser. At The Edge of the Forest, you’ll find the rest of the interview, along with other reviews, articles, and features. Teaser question: How did the sketchbooks get started? Who do they go to? And how, exactly, did the Pigeon go from being the sketchbook to a picture book?
That’s three teaser questions and consequentially requires dull exposition about the early 1990s.
Ahem. Back in the early 1990s (yawn!), I was part of a very young, very dissolute literary scene centered around a guy by the name of S. Pratt. Pratt had two things going for him: he put out a monthly ’Zine1 that older, less dissolute literary types apparently read, and he lived in a big loft where you could really party.2
Being dissolute, my friend quickly ran out of stuff to fill his ’Zine,3 so I suggested hijacking one issue with New Yorker-style cartoons that I’d doodled over the previous year.
The issue was a success, as it filled all the required pages and doubled as an xmas card for my clients and friends. So, the next year we made another. After a few years, Ersatz dissolutely dissoluted and Curious Pictures4 started to “publish” them annually. Staples were replaced with binding, the covers had two (count ’em, two) colors, and things generally appeared semi-professional.5
Some of the books are collections of cartoons, others short stories, or more serious illustration. Essentially, the sketchbooks are an outlet for me to play and experiment with things that otherwise no one in their right minds would publish.
This January I shipped out my 14th edition of the Mo Willems Sketchbook, entitled Mr. Willems’ Essential Reference Guide to MONSTERS IN UNDERPANTS [Abridged and Incomplete]. It is, as you might guess, a guide to various Monsters and their undergarments.
The most “famous” of these sketchbooks, I suppose, is the original version of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, which fell into the hands of an agent who was amused, who in turn showed it to multiple publishers, who were not.
Two years later my agent stumbled across an editor silly enough to be enthusiastic about the Pigeon and before I knew it, I was glamorously doing internet interviews.6
- Remember, this was before hipsters spent all their time on the internet. ↩
- Remember, this was before hipsters spent all their time on the internet. ↩
- Which appropriately enough was named Ersatz. ↩
- Where I worked as an animation director. ↩
- Now that I’ve taken over printing them again, it’s back to the staples… ↩
- “Interneterviews”? ↩
I really wanted to give you the full scoop on the kidlit drink night and my whole New York City experience, but I don’t think it’s going to be today. I’m very sorry, but I’m soooo tired. I got back about 6:00 p.m. last night. My mother, brother, and baby niece were in north Jersey for a visit with relatives while I was in New York City, so I rode home with them. They stayed over last night and were here this morning. I visited with them and got ready for my Girl Scout troop’s meeting. Then I had the meeting and now it’s 4:00 and I’m pooped.
I’ll tell you this: I had a great time. A really great time. I promise I’ll tell my story tomorrow (looks like it might be a snow day!), but for now get the scoop from Fuse#8, Galleycat, and Blue Rose Girls. Alvina was particularly nice, introducing me to everyone — including David Diaz. The Caldecott winner. I didn’t know he was a Caldecott winner. Or what he did at all, for that matter. Oh, and I’m in one of the pictures on her site. Recognize the shirt?
If you check back tonight, I may have a Very Special Post related to the newest Edge of the Forest edition. You won’t want to miss it.
I’ll tell you this: I had a great time. A really great time. I promise I’ll tell my story tomorrow (looks like it might be a snow day!), but for now get the scoop from Fuse#8, Galleycat, and Blue Rose Girls. Alvina was particularly nice, introducing me to everyone — including David Diaz. The Caldecott winner. I didn’t know he was a Caldecott winner. Or what he did at all, for that matter. Oh, and I’m in one of the pictures on her site. Recognize the shirt?
If you check back tonight, I may have a Very Special Post related to the newest Edge of the Forest edition. You won’t want to miss it.
It’s not too late to take part in the book discussion of King of Shadows. So if, like me, you forgot about it yesterday, you can still go and add your two cents in the comments.
I’ll also remind you that I will be hosting the next Carnival here in February. I’ll shoot for a submission date of February 15th and upload on February 20th. You may submit a post to my email (click the button at the bottom of my blogroll) or at the Carnival site. I’m not going to set a theme, as February is full of them without my picking just one. So, send your posts on love, Black History Month, presidents, and groundhogs. Or cold weather. Or snow. You get the picture.
Today is the blog birthday of A Fuse #8 Production, and I wanted to get Fusie something special — besides writing out her whole blog name. But what to get for the blogger who has everything?
So I give the gift of debate. She liked The Road to Paris — and as it turns out, I didn’t. It is rare that I don’t agree with Fuse on books. In this case, I’m also going against just about everybody who read this book, given that it won a Coretta Scott King Honor Award.
My feeling is that Nikki Grimes wrote a fictionalized account of her own experience as a foster child who finds a good placement in a caring home. It’s probably a good story. But if you’re going to write about something that happened in the sixties/seventies, say that. Fuse mentioned how the lack of current slang made it feel like it could have happened yesterday or years ago. But I felt like the book was firmly placed in the past, which is fine, but then just say that.
Several things didn’t ring true for me for this time. When the teacher has the kids exchange Valentine cards, she doesn’t make the kids give one to everyone. Generally, schools don’t do that anymore. The street in a suburb of NYC has only three black families in neighborhood of white families. Really, in Ossining, a suburb of NYC? The kids seem completely thrown by Paris’s skin color. Again, really? In a metropolitan area? Who brings milk money? Waxed paper wrapped around her sandwich? Hello, plastic baggies. Nat King Cole came on the radio enough that it’s her mother’s favorite song. The photographs that were taken at Easter are black and white.
But here’s the kicker: When the dad of her friend sees her hanging outside the door, he calls her the n-word. That seems like something out of the sixties, especially when the mom shoos Paris away seeming scared of the dad. I’m not saying that there isn’t racism and that people don’t still use the n-word. But the scene doesn’t play right for this era. Then Paris gets mad at her friend for not sticking up for her in front of her dad. But it’s obvious that the mom is even afraid of the dad; why wouldn’t her friend also be afraid of being hit by the dad? You’d think that Paris would know what it’s like to be stuck in that situation, but she writes her friend off completely.
The story was fine, as a sixties story, but I thought that having the end of the story as the first chapter added a strangely false conflict. Would Paris feel bad about leaving this new, nice foster family to take a chance on her mom? Sure. Would she really have a serious debate about it or for that matter, a choice? I don’t know about that. I would rather have seen a more straightforward approach, more year-in-the-life, than building tension about what Paris was going to do next. I feel like the author — who everyone knows as a good writer — was too close to the subject. Or maybe she needed a stronger editor who could have mentioned that if you’re going to write a book that takes place in the sixties, you might want put the time period in the book and not make your readers guess.
Unfortunately, Fuse#8’s review was taken off her site in the whole Newbery Committee vs. Bloggers episode, but it lives on at the bottom of the Amazon review. She enjoyed the book, and the ambiguity of the resolution. She saw the book as more timeless since there weren’t references to current slang or technology. Anyone else have an opinion about the book? Or more specifically, can a book be timeless or is it always set in some time period by intention or design?
I’ll also remind you that I will be hosting the next Carnival here in February. I’ll shoot for a submission date of February 15th and upload on February 20th. You may submit a post to my email (click the button at the bottom of my blogroll) or at the Carnival site. I’m not going to set a theme, as February is full of them without my picking just one. So, send your posts on love, Black History Month, presidents, and groundhogs. Or cold weather. Or snow. You get the picture.
Today is the blog birthday of A Fuse #8 Production, and I wanted to get Fusie something special — besides writing out her whole blog name. But what to get for the blogger who has everything?
So I give the gift of debate. She liked The Road to Paris — and as it turns out, I didn’t. It is rare that I don’t agree with Fuse on books. In this case, I’m also going against just about everybody who read this book, given that it won a Coretta Scott King Honor Award. My feeling is that Nikki Grimes wrote a fictionalized account of her own experience as a foster child who finds a good placement in a caring home. It’s probably a good story. But if you’re going to write about something that happened in the sixties/seventies, say that. Fuse mentioned how the lack of current slang made it feel like it could have happened yesterday or years ago. But I felt like the book was firmly placed in the past, which is fine, but then just say that.
Several things didn’t ring true for me for this time. When the teacher has the kids exchange Valentine cards, she doesn’t make the kids give one to everyone. Generally, schools don’t do that anymore. The street in a suburb of NYC has only three black families in neighborhood of white families. Really, in Ossining, a suburb of NYC? The kids seem completely thrown by Paris’s skin color. Again, really? In a metropolitan area? Who brings milk money? Waxed paper wrapped around her sandwich? Hello, plastic baggies. Nat King Cole came on the radio enough that it’s her mother’s favorite song. The photographs that were taken at Easter are black and white.
But here’s the kicker: When the dad of her friend sees her hanging outside the door, he calls her the n-word. That seems like something out of the sixties, especially when the mom shoos Paris away seeming scared of the dad. I’m not saying that there isn’t racism and that people don’t still use the n-word. But the scene doesn’t play right for this era. Then Paris gets mad at her friend for not sticking up for her in front of her dad. But it’s obvious that the mom is even afraid of the dad; why wouldn’t her friend also be afraid of being hit by the dad? You’d think that Paris would know what it’s like to be stuck in that situation, but she writes her friend off completely.
The story was fine, as a sixties story, but I thought that having the end of the story as the first chapter added a strangely false conflict. Would Paris feel bad about leaving this new, nice foster family to take a chance on her mom? Sure. Would she really have a serious debate about it or for that matter, a choice? I don’t know about that. I would rather have seen a more straightforward approach, more year-in-the-life, than building tension about what Paris was going to do next. I feel like the author — who everyone knows as a good writer — was too close to the subject. Or maybe she needed a stronger editor who could have mentioned that if you’re going to write a book that takes place in the sixties, you might want put the time period in the book and not make your readers guess.
Unfortunately, Fuse#8’s review was taken off her site in the whole Newbery Committee vs. Bloggers episode, but it lives on at the bottom of the Amazon review. She enjoyed the book, and the ambiguity of the resolution. She saw the book as more timeless since there weren’t references to current slang or technology. Anyone else have an opinion about the book? Or more specifically, can a book be timeless or is it always set in some time period by intention or design?
Yes, folks it’s true. I will wrap up MotherReader week with a trip to New York City for kid lit drink night, as brought to you by Fuse#8. There I will lift a glass and toast all of you for your encouragement and suggestions.
As a mom, it’s hard to do something that’s just for me. It’s always about the kids, the husband, the extended family, the job, the Girl Scouts, the house... on and on. So, thanks to everyone who told me to take the trip. It really helped. Special thanks to Chris who sent a link to a bus company that goes directly from DC to NYC for twenty bucks. I’m going to give it a try. And also a special thanks to an illustrator who’s going to make sure I get back safely to my friend’s house in the Village.
For today’s MotherReader week celebration... um, post... I point you to the article in School Library Journal by Liz from A.C.A.F.A.A.T.C. (I know she doesn’t use that acronym, but it tickles me anyway). I am mentioned as one of the blogs to visit. I was glad to find myself a frequent visitor of the other blogs on the list. Except for one, and that is totally my fault and I will correct it immediately.
If you haven’t read my favorite curse word yet, there’s still time to go to my interview and... y’know, make a comment of some sort. Because comments are like little virtual Mother(Reader)’s day cards.
Just to top off the day, there are new pictures from Mo’s site. I like the Pigeon and Leonardo, but Knuffle Bunny looks like he needs some serious snuggling to soften him up. Or maybe a spin in the washer.
As a mom, it’s hard to do something that’s just for me. It’s always about the kids, the husband, the extended family, the job, the Girl Scouts, the house... on and on. So, thanks to everyone who told me to take the trip. It really helped. Special thanks to Chris who sent a link to a bus company that goes directly from DC to NYC for twenty bucks. I’m going to give it a try. And also a special thanks to an illustrator who’s going to make sure I get back safely to my friend’s house in the Village.
For today’s MotherReader week celebration... um, post... I point you to the article in School Library Journal by Liz from A.C.A.F.A.A.T.C. (I know she doesn’t use that acronym, but it tickles me anyway). I am mentioned as one of the blogs to visit. I was glad to find myself a frequent visitor of the other blogs on the list. Except for one, and that is totally my fault and I will correct it immediately.
If you haven’t read my favorite curse word yet, there’s still time to go to my interview and... y’know, make a comment of some sort. Because comments are like little virtual Mother(Reader)’s day cards.
Just to top off the day, there are new pictures from Mo’s site. I like the Pigeon and Leonardo, but Knuffle Bunny looks like he needs some serious snuggling to soften him up. Or maybe a spin in the washer.
I imagine that every day all over the Internet, people are saying, “Enough with these famous authors with their pretty words and their great stories. Where, oh where, are the interviews with MotherReader?”
Well, as it turns out, there are not one but two interviews with yours truly. Today I’m featured in the Seven Impossible Interviews Before Breakfast. These cool ladies of 7ITBB have been setting out over the kidlitosphere to get to know us. They’ve profiled Liz, Betsy, and Robert. Who knows when they’ll be coming for you. For extra interview fun, see if you can guess my favorite curse word before you get to that part. And please comment there, so it looks like people like me.
As a Cybils judge for picture books, my profile was also on their page on Friday. I missed it completely then because I was having a Bad Day, but now I’m happy to point it out as part of MotherReader week. (Hey, it was 7ITBB’s idea.) I could use a celebration, because I missed my own blog birthday in January. I’m a terrible blog mother.
Oh, and Sunday counts in MotherReader week because I broke the news about stuffed animals for the Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and Leonardo the Terrible Monster. That was awesome. In the same post, I also opened up discussion as to whether I should go to New York City on Friday, February 9th — which actually, would make a spectacular conclusion to MotherReader week as I share time with my listed blog I would take to the prom, Fuse#8. And then we can celebrate her blog birthday in the proper way — with alcohol.
Well, as it turns out, there are not one but two interviews with yours truly. Today I’m featured in the Seven Impossible Interviews Before Breakfast. These cool ladies of 7ITBB have been setting out over the kidlitosphere to get to know us. They’ve profiled Liz, Betsy, and Robert. Who knows when they’ll be coming for you. For extra interview fun, see if you can guess my favorite curse word before you get to that part. And please comment there, so it looks like people like me.
As a Cybils judge for picture books, my profile was also on their page on Friday. I missed it completely then because I was having a Bad Day, but now I’m happy to point it out as part of MotherReader week. (Hey, it was 7ITBB’s idea.) I could use a celebration, because I missed my own blog birthday in January. I’m a terrible blog mother.
Oh, and Sunday counts in MotherReader week because I broke the news about stuffed animals for the Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and Leonardo the Terrible Monster. That was awesome. In the same post, I also opened up discussion as to whether I should go to New York City on Friday, February 9th — which actually, would make a spectacular conclusion to MotherReader week as I share time with my listed blog I would take to the prom, Fuse#8. And then we can celebrate her blog birthday in the proper way — with alcohol.
What do they all have in common?
They’d all make great stuffed animals, that’s what!
In exceedingly cool news for a boring Sunday (well, boring if you don’t have a Superbowl party to attend), Mo announces that toys will be produced for all three of these great characters. They should be available to the general public in April. (Do you think I count as the “general public”?)
Mo will be at a toy trade show on Monday, February 12th, in New York City, signing books and bestowing his Mo-ness upon fans. (His Mo-ness is also now available in aerosol form.) The actual, useful information is available on his blog, and presumably will be posted on his website.
It’s funny that there should be this NYC-centered news on a day I’m deciding on a trip to NYC for the same weekend. I would love to go to Fuse#8’s kid lit drink night on Friday, Feb 9th. But there are quite a few obstacles. The cost of round-trip train tickets. A place to stay Friday night. Or how to safely get back to my place to stay on Friday night. Switching my work on Friday. What to do all day Saturday. It’s a lot to think about, so maybe my readers can help me out.
The round-trip train ticket would be about $200. I can afford it, but I generally don’t drop 200 bucks on a trip to go to a party. I have a friend in NYC, but she’s pregnant and really tired, so she could definitely host me Saturday night, but I’d be on my own to go to the party in the Midtown area (that part I’m okay with) and get back to her place in the Village on Friday night (which concerns me). Plus, she’s not crazy about me coming in, on my own, late at night on Friday. But she’ll do it. I think. I also promised I’d be out of her way for most of the day Saturday, because she has a class she needs to study for. I definitely can stay there Saturday night, and take the train back to D.C. on Sunday morning. I might — might — even have a ride to the Princeton Amtrak station on Friday, which would reduce my expense by $70. Which would certainly be helpful.
So help me out, people. Weigh in on my decision. Offer solutions. Tempt me further. Honestly, I could use some input.
(By the way, don’t forget what’s really important here: MotherReader broke the story of the Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and Leonardo toys.)
They’d all make great stuffed animals, that’s what!
In exceedingly cool news for a boring Sunday (well, boring if you don’t have a Superbowl party to attend), Mo announces that toys will be produced for all three of these great characters. They should be available to the general public in April. (Do you think I count as the “general public”?)
Mo will be at a toy trade show on Monday, February 12th, in New York City, signing books and bestowing his Mo-ness upon fans. (His Mo-ness is also now available in aerosol form.) The actual, useful information is available on his blog, and presumably will be posted on his website.
It’s funny that there should be this NYC-centered news on a day I’m deciding on a trip to NYC for the same weekend. I would love to go to Fuse#8’s kid lit drink night on Friday, Feb 9th. But there are quite a few obstacles. The cost of round-trip train tickets. A place to stay Friday night. Or how to safely get back to my place to stay on Friday night. Switching my work on Friday. What to do all day Saturday. It’s a lot to think about, so maybe my readers can help me out.
The round-trip train ticket would be about $200. I can afford it, but I generally don’t drop 200 bucks on a trip to go to a party. I have a friend in NYC, but she’s pregnant and really tired, so she could definitely host me Saturday night, but I’d be on my own to go to the party in the Midtown area (that part I’m okay with) and get back to her place in the Village on Friday night (which concerns me). Plus, she’s not crazy about me coming in, on my own, late at night on Friday. But she’ll do it. I think. I also promised I’d be out of her way for most of the day Saturday, because she has a class she needs to study for. I definitely can stay there Saturday night, and take the train back to D.C. on Sunday morning. I might — might — even have a ride to the Princeton Amtrak station on Friday, which would reduce my expense by $70. Which would certainly be helpful.
So help me out, people. Weigh in on my decision. Offer solutions. Tempt me further. Honestly, I could use some input.
(By the way, don’t forget what’s really important here: MotherReader broke the story of the Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and Leonardo toys.)
First the poem by Shel Silverstein, then the story.
My husband woke me up at 6:45 a.m. this morning to ask where he might find the camera to bring on his trip. While a phrase went through my mind as to where he might find the camera, I mumbled a reply and staggered to the kitchen to look for the rechargeable batteries. When he woke me, I was in the middle of a dream where a friend was telling me that I must know that we really weren’t friends and I should get over it. In the dream, I felt like I was punched in the stomach. And then I woke up, and I still felt emotionally jarred from the dream, because it was probably pretty accurate. There’s not a lot of hope for a day in which you’ve been rejected before you even woke up.
In this half-awake, emotionally raw state I said goodbye to my husband, who is going to Seattle for our film’s inclusion in a Sci-Fi short film festival. Then I convinced the girls to snuggle in bed for a few minutes (like twenty) before really starting our morning. We were all disappointed by the lack of snow, which had been predicted for overnight. My oldest told me a near equivalent of the snowball poem above, which did amuse us. Then the girls “phypnotized” each other to change their behaviors — one to stop picking her nose, the other to start eating corn. Too soon, we dragged ourselves out of the warm bed, dressed, ate breakfast, and I drove them to school.
As we approached the school, I realized that no one was walking to school. As we got to the school, we found the parking lot was nearly empty. Is it possible that the start of school was delayed due to light rain? As it turns out, yes it is possible, because this is the suburbs of D.C., where even the threat of sleet or snow is enough to cancel school.
We confirmed our guess on the Internet, and I went back to bed in an attempt to start the day all over again. but the forced sleep didn’t take, so here I am.
At least the groundhog didn’t see his shadow, so maybe spring will come early this year. At this moment, it’s all I can hope for. Unless... I look at the groundhog’s prediction as another sign of global warming, in which case the day is back to totally sucking.
I made myself a snowballThanks for coming to Poetry Friday. Round-up available at Big A, little a. Interested parties may stay for the story; all others may file out quietly.
As perfect as could be.
I thought I’d keep it as a pet
And let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas
And a pillow for its head.
Then last night it ran away,
But first — it wet the bed.
My husband woke me up at 6:45 a.m. this morning to ask where he might find the camera to bring on his trip. While a phrase went through my mind as to where he might find the camera, I mumbled a reply and staggered to the kitchen to look for the rechargeable batteries. When he woke me, I was in the middle of a dream where a friend was telling me that I must know that we really weren’t friends and I should get over it. In the dream, I felt like I was punched in the stomach. And then I woke up, and I still felt emotionally jarred from the dream, because it was probably pretty accurate. There’s not a lot of hope for a day in which you’ve been rejected before you even woke up.
In this half-awake, emotionally raw state I said goodbye to my husband, who is going to Seattle for our film’s inclusion in a Sci-Fi short film festival. Then I convinced the girls to snuggle in bed for a few minutes (like twenty) before really starting our morning. We were all disappointed by the lack of snow, which had been predicted for overnight. My oldest told me a near equivalent of the snowball poem above, which did amuse us. Then the girls “phypnotized” each other to change their behaviors — one to stop picking her nose, the other to start eating corn. Too soon, we dragged ourselves out of the warm bed, dressed, ate breakfast, and I drove them to school.
As we approached the school, I realized that no one was walking to school. As we got to the school, we found the parking lot was nearly empty. Is it possible that the start of school was delayed due to light rain? As it turns out, yes it is possible, because this is the suburbs of D.C., where even the threat of sleet or snow is enough to cancel school.
We confirmed our guess on the Internet, and I went back to bed in an attempt to start the day all over again. but the forced sleep didn’t take, so here I am.
At least the groundhog didn’t see his shadow, so maybe spring will come early this year. At this moment, it’s all I can hope for. Unless... I look at the groundhog’s prediction as another sign of global warming, in which case the day is back to totally sucking.
The Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors (BACA) really struck a chord out there. I’m being asked for a logo, guidelines, and a bumper sticker. Who knew?
The logo is in the works. I hope. I’ll say no more at this juncture.
Guidelines for celebrity author exceptions is tricky. I mean, first you’re letting in Lithgow, then Julie Andrews, and next thing you know Pamela Anderson’s got a book deal (title: Who’s Your Daddy?). It’s a slippery slope. The librarian host of The Magic of Books suggested allowing no exceptions for trading on name recognition, but allowing celebrities to write a book under another name. Yeah, like that’s going to happen. But I’m signing off on that rule, because it sounds good in theory.
However, I know we probably all have our personal exception, and that will be worked into the secret handshake. So, at the June membership meeting, I’ll shake your hand, wink, and say “Lithgow.” You’ll wink, and say “Julie Andrews,” or your preferred exception. Then we’ll both smile and nod knowingly. If you don’t have a preferred exception, then you can say “Carrot Top,” because that would be the funniest exception ever. (“I don’t like the work of Jamie Lee Curtis, but that Carrot Top is going places in children’s literature.”)
Fuse#8 wondered about the benefits of membership, considering the possibility that members would have free rein to whack an offending author on the head with his or her own work. While that would be lovely, it might lead to unfortunate arrests and unnecessary back strain from having to carry around all the relevant books on the off chance that one might run into Billy Joel at the corner Starbucks. So, I’m afraid I cannot endorse such actions, even though I might enjoy them.
Benefits of membership will include opportunities to display the logo on your page, to be particularly smug about celebrity authors, and to receive free soda refills at participating Wendy’s.
As BACA members, we will strive to shun celebrity authors in the blogging world. When a non-celebrity illustrator deserves to be recognized, the BACA member may wish to consider the “Spike Lee Who?” option. For instance, a blogger might note the exceptional work of Kadir Nelson by pointing out the availability of the book Please, Puppy, Please “as illustrated by Kadir Nelson and written by some guy.” We will, as members, avoid giving undue publicity to celebrity authors, with the possible allowance of subjecting said celebrity authors to scorn and ridicule.
Our slogan: BACA off kids’ lit! It will look great on a bumper sticker.
The logo is in the works. I hope. I’ll say no more at this juncture.
Guidelines for celebrity author exceptions is tricky. I mean, first you’re letting in Lithgow, then Julie Andrews, and next thing you know Pamela Anderson’s got a book deal (title: Who’s Your Daddy?). It’s a slippery slope. The librarian host of The Magic of Books suggested allowing no exceptions for trading on name recognition, but allowing celebrities to write a book under another name. Yeah, like that’s going to happen. But I’m signing off on that rule, because it sounds good in theory.
However, I know we probably all have our personal exception, and that will be worked into the secret handshake. So, at the June membership meeting, I’ll shake your hand, wink, and say “Lithgow.” You’ll wink, and say “Julie Andrews,” or your preferred exception. Then we’ll both smile and nod knowingly. If you don’t have a preferred exception, then you can say “Carrot Top,” because that would be the funniest exception ever. (“I don’t like the work of Jamie Lee Curtis, but that Carrot Top is going places in children’s literature.”)
Fuse#8 wondered about the benefits of membership, considering the possibility that members would have free rein to whack an offending author on the head with his or her own work. While that would be lovely, it might lead to unfortunate arrests and unnecessary back strain from having to carry around all the relevant books on the off chance that one might run into Billy Joel at the corner Starbucks. So, I’m afraid I cannot endorse such actions, even though I might enjoy them.
Benefits of membership will include opportunities to display the logo on your page, to be particularly smug about celebrity authors, and to receive free soda refills at participating Wendy’s.
As BACA members, we will strive to shun celebrity authors in the blogging world. When a non-celebrity illustrator deserves to be recognized, the BACA member may wish to consider the “Spike Lee Who?” option. For instance, a blogger might note the exceptional work of Kadir Nelson by pointing out the availability of the book Please, Puppy, Please “as illustrated by Kadir Nelson and written by some guy.” We will, as members, avoid giving undue publicity to celebrity authors, with the possible allowance of subjecting said celebrity authors to scorn and ridicule.
Our slogan: BACA off kids’ lit! It will look great on a bumper sticker.
Here are the two other books that I didn’t finish writing about yesterday.
The Boyfriend List, by E. Lockhart
In this book we meet Ruby, or Roo, through her list of “boyfriends.” As she tells us, most of the boys on the list weren’t boys she kissed. Some she didn’t even talk to. But somehow they played a factor in her life. She is going to a counselor to help with the panic attacks that started coming after her boyfriend broke up with her, started dating her best friend, and ten other things in one week. The story captures the frenzied life of a teenager for whom boys and friends are of the utmost importance.
The Boy Book, also by E. Lockhart (duh), continues Ruby’s story as she realizes important things about her ex-boyfriend, her friend, and herself. She goes on a week-long field trip with a mix of people, including her kind-of friend, her almost-friend, and her almost-boyfriend. As you can guess, it’s a sticky situation.
What I enjoyed about these books were how realistic they felt. Everything doesn’t just work out. Dramatic things can cause things to turn on a dime. And when a boy breaks up with you in high school, it is absolute torture. Oh, and the footnotes were really cool.
One question though: Do teens in Seattle use the word shattered for exhausted? I thought that was a British thing.
The Boyfriend List, by E. LockhartIn this book we meet Ruby, or Roo, through her list of “boyfriends.” As she tells us, most of the boys on the list weren’t boys she kissed. Some she didn’t even talk to. But somehow they played a factor in her life. She is going to a counselor to help with the panic attacks that started coming after her boyfriend broke up with her, started dating her best friend, and ten other things in one week. The story captures the frenzied life of a teenager for whom boys and friends are of the utmost importance.
The Boy Book, also by E. Lockhart (duh), continues Ruby’s story as she realizes important things about her ex-boyfriend, her friend, and herself. She goes on a week-long field trip with a mix of people, including her kind-of friend, her almost-friend, and her almost-boyfriend. As you can guess, it’s a sticky situation.What I enjoyed about these books were how realistic they felt. Everything doesn’t just work out. Dramatic things can cause things to turn on a dime. And when a boy breaks up with you in high school, it is absolute torture. Oh, and the footnotes were really cool.
One question though: Do teens in Seattle use the word shattered for exhausted? I thought that was a British thing.
Last weekend I drove home to see my niece. My husband took off a day of work. My youngest skipped a friend’s birthday party. I gave up the chance to do any of the forty-two projects that needed doing. We drove three hours down and three hours back. Over the three days, we saw my niece for about four hours. Some of the problem was in scheduling. Some of the problem was in someone else not making a whole lot of effort to see us. It was a big disappointment for me and my family, and I may have ended up causing another family incident similar to the Christmas Debacle of 2006. Not that I yelled, or said mean things. We’re just a very sensitive family.
So, that happened.
My mother doesn’t have a computer, much less Internet. I did some helpful daughter stuff and then I read. Over the three days, including driving time, I read five young adult books.
Upon my return, it hit me how little of an accomplishment that was. There was no parade. No raise in my salary. No feeling of higher enlightenment. Why isn’t there some kind of Pizza Hut Book It program for adults? I want a personal pan pizza too, and I deserve it!
I can’t even write about five books in one post. Or can I?
Accidents of Nature, by Harriet McBryde Johnson
Jean has cerebral palsy and attends a summer camp with kids who have many different kinds of disabilities. She meets Sara, who opens her eyes with her sharp look at the world of normals and Crips. I found the book to be interesting and insightful, but I wondered how different the book would be if it were set in the present time instead of in 1970.
The Fighter, by Jean-Jacques Greif
When you’re feeling sorry for yourself, there’s nothing like fiction about the Holocaust to make you feel like a whiner. This is a powerful, harsh, and graphic book. The story follows a young man, who gets taken from his home in France (after immigrating from Poland) and sent to the camps. The book is based on a survivor’s story and takes its title from the fact that Moshe was a boxer. But, of course, since he made it through such a horrible thing, he’s also a fighter. Oh, I get it. The common-word title also makes it a pain to look up when you don’t remember the author.
Saint Iggy, by K.L. Going
In keeping with the dark theme of the day, I choose this well-written book about a kid who’s down on his luck. Iggy’s drug-addict mother has taken off, his father’s a drunk, and he’s facing expulsion from school. He turns to an older kid who is not much better off than Iggy, but at least he has a mom to turn to. It was an interesting book, but generally it’s not a good sign if the guy on the cover is wearing angel wings. I’m just sayin’.
As it turns out, I can’t write about five books in one post. The rest tomorrow.
So, that happened.
My mother doesn’t have a computer, much less Internet. I did some helpful daughter stuff and then I read. Over the three days, including driving time, I read five young adult books.
Upon my return, it hit me how little of an accomplishment that was. There was no parade. No raise in my salary. No feeling of higher enlightenment. Why isn’t there some kind of Pizza Hut Book It program for adults? I want a personal pan pizza too, and I deserve it!
I can’t even write about five books in one post. Or can I?
Accidents of Nature, by Harriet McBryde JohnsonJean has cerebral palsy and attends a summer camp with kids who have many different kinds of disabilities. She meets Sara, who opens her eyes with her sharp look at the world of normals and Crips. I found the book to be interesting and insightful, but I wondered how different the book would be if it were set in the present time instead of in 1970.
The Fighter, by Jean-Jacques GreifWhen you’re feeling sorry for yourself, there’s nothing like fiction about the Holocaust to make you feel like a whiner. This is a powerful, harsh, and graphic book. The story follows a young man, who gets taken from his home in France (after immigrating from Poland) and sent to the camps. The book is based on a survivor’s story and takes its title from the fact that Moshe was a boxer. But, of course, since he made it through such a horrible thing, he’s also a fighter. Oh, I get it. The common-word title also makes it a pain to look up when you don’t remember the author.
Saint Iggy, by K.L. GoingIn keeping with the dark theme of the day, I choose this well-written book about a kid who’s down on his luck. Iggy’s drug-addict mother has taken off, his father’s a drunk, and he’s facing expulsion from school. He turns to an older kid who is not much better off than Iggy, but at least he has a mom to turn to. It was an interesting book, but generally it’s not a good sign if the guy on the cover is wearing angel wings. I’m just sayin’.
As it turns out, I can’t write about five books in one post. The rest tomorrow.
From a post at Big A, little a, I find that Madonna has a line of children’s clothes based on her book The English Roses. That the line has been available for some time does not change the fact that I just heard about it now. And now is when I am reacting. I’m officially sick of celebrity authors.
I could complain about the quality of the work. Oh boy, could I complain. But what’s sticking in my craw is the greed. Come on, leave us our little bit of turf. If you can be famous (and usually rich) in your field of acting or music or global domination, leave the world of children’s literature for other people to become a tiny bit famous. Because you can imagine, for every book deal these celebrities strike, that’s less of the kid-lit pie for another author trying to get a break. Do celebrities have to be so greedy to take every aspect of everything because they can? Is that a good enough reason? It’s not... it’s just not... fair.
Now, I really don’t think that actors and musicians and global dominators will stay away from this tiny territory I’d like to carve off, fence in, and defend with a shotgun. But I can dream. And to that end, I initiate Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors, or BACA, and I state today, “BACA Off Kids’ Lit!”
Join if you like, if not for me, than for poor Kadir Nelson. The man deserves an author worthy of his work, and as long as the Spike Lees of the world are around, it ain’t gonna happen.
I could complain about the quality of the work. Oh boy, could I complain. But what’s sticking in my craw is the greed. Come on, leave us our little bit of turf. If you can be famous (and usually rich) in your field of acting or music or global domination, leave the world of children’s literature for other people to become a tiny bit famous. Because you can imagine, for every book deal these celebrities strike, that’s less of the kid-lit pie for another author trying to get a break. Do celebrities have to be so greedy to take every aspect of everything because they can? Is that a good enough reason? It’s not... it’s just not... fair.
Now, I really don’t think that actors and musicians and global dominators will stay away from this tiny territory I’d like to carve off, fence in, and defend with a shotgun. But I can dream. And to that end, I initiate Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors, or BACA, and I state today, “BACA Off Kids’ Lit!”
Join if you like, if not for me, than for poor Kadir Nelson. The man deserves an author worthy of his work, and as long as the Spike Lees of the world are around, it ain’t gonna happen.
Today, Seven Impossible Things posts their interview with Roger Sutton, Horn Book editor and blogger at Read Roger.
Uber-blogger Defective Yeti is still accepting new, updated cliches to replace the old, worn out ones. I know there are some writers out there who could go to town on this idea, so go forth and submit.
Fuse#8 scoops me with her reviews of the new Mo Willems early reader books. They sound good, naturally.
I thought I’d be discussing the picture books for the Cybils awards, but there have been no emails from the other members of the group. Maybe there is some group posting problem. Maybe I’m wrong about when we were discussing the books. In any case, I have interview questions to both write and answer (but not answer the same questions I wrote), and I need to lend my assistance to another blog where I thought I’d be doing some posting.
Or maybe I’ll just take a nap.
Uber-blogger Defective Yeti is still accepting new, updated cliches to replace the old, worn out ones. I know there are some writers out there who could go to town on this idea, so go forth and submit.
Fuse#8 scoops me with her reviews of the new Mo Willems early reader books. They sound good, naturally.
I thought I’d be discussing the picture books for the Cybils awards, but there have been no emails from the other members of the group. Maybe there is some group posting problem. Maybe I’m wrong about when we were discussing the books. In any case, I have interview questions to both write and answer (but not answer the same questions I wrote), and I need to lend my assistance to another blog where I thought I’d be doing some posting.
Or maybe I’ll just take a nap.
The weekend is a great time for a carnival, don’t you agree? I held off on plugging the wonderful Carnival of Children’s Literature hosted in January by Big A, little a until I figured everybody had forgotten about it. And then BAM!, I send out this reminder, and you realize that you never finished getting through all of those posts, one of which is my post on Hattie Big Sky featuring a lengthy comment from the author. I mean, the Newbery Honor Award-Winning author, Kirby Larson.
I can also safely announce that I will host the next Carnival here in February. I’ll shoot for a submission date of February 15th and upload on February 20th. I just have to figure out how to actually do it. You may submit a stellar post to my email (click the button at the bottom of my blogroll) or at the Carnival site. But give Melissa from Here in the Bonny Glen a little time to set that up.
I’m not going to set a theme, as February is full of them without my picking just one. So, send your posts on love, Black History month, presidents, or groundhogs. I’ll take them all.
I can also safely announce that I will host the next Carnival here in February. I’ll shoot for a submission date of February 15th and upload on February 20th. I just have to figure out how to actually do it. You may submit a stellar post to my email (click the button at the bottom of my blogroll) or at the Carnival site. But give Melissa from Here in the Bonny Glen a little time to set that up.
I’m not going to set a theme, as February is full of them without my picking just one. So, send your posts on love, Black History month, presidents, or groundhogs. I’ll take them all.
Today’s two-word weather forecast in the Washington Post was snow squall. Okaaay. I had no idea how to prepare for that. I wasn’t even sure what it meant. Was there truly going to be something different about the possibility of snow such that the word snow alone was not sufficient? Or even snow showers?
I am now given to understand that this is fairly common for the Northeast, but here in Virginia we don’t get snow squalls. When I told my husband, he was surprised by the forecast description as well. He thought it sounded like some kind of small Arctic mammal. “Oh, look, a snow squall.” I was more inclined to think of as a band name — as I think of everything, my current favorite being Cosmetic Puffs — or even a disease. “I can’t shake your hand. I’ve got squalls.”
As it turns out, I drove through the snow squall on my way home from work. It’s a whirling dervish of snow. Now why didn’t they just say that in the Post? Which brings me to my point. Kind of. Over at Defective Yeti is a little challenge to take an old cliché and make it fresh. For instance ready and willing becomes on it like a bonnet. Did I perk the interest of any wordplay-type folk? Check it out here. He said that he would post them on Friday, but there still may be time to submit something special. Oh, he has a link to an abundance of clichés if you should need some inspiration.
I am now given to understand that this is fairly common for the Northeast, but here in Virginia we don’t get snow squalls. When I told my husband, he was surprised by the forecast description as well. He thought it sounded like some kind of small Arctic mammal. “Oh, look, a snow squall.” I was more inclined to think of as a band name — as I think of everything, my current favorite being Cosmetic Puffs — or even a disease. “I can’t shake your hand. I’ve got squalls.”
As it turns out, I drove through the snow squall on my way home from work. It’s a whirling dervish of snow. Now why didn’t they just say that in the Post? Which brings me to my point. Kind of. Over at Defective Yeti is a little challenge to take an old cliché and make it fresh. For instance ready and willing becomes on it like a bonnet. Did I perk the interest of any wordplay-type folk? Check it out here. He said that he would post them on Friday, but there still may be time to submit something special. Oh, he has a link to an abundance of clichés if you should need some inspiration.
The Newbery and Caldecott Awards are great, but I really enjoy the ALSC Notable Children’s Books List. While the awards are limited to a few titles, this list brings together a diversity of culture and style. There are funny books as well as serious books. There are books set in Africa and books set in New York City. There are books with toddler appeal and books with teenage appeal (though there is a separate Young Adult list that I’ll talk about later). Best of all, I’ve often read a fair number of the titles. I’m also proud that many of my Top Picks for 2006 are on the list. So, yeah me. The highlights of this year’s list for me, personally, are:
Younger Readers:
Once Upon a Banana, by Jennifer Armstrong
I Lost My Tooth in Africa, by Penda Diakite
Wolves, by Emily Gravett
Lilly’s Big Day, by Kevin Henkes
Duck and Goose, by Tad Hills
Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding, by Lenore Look
Adele and Simon, by Barbara McClintock
Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis
Black? White! Day? Night! by Laura Seeger
Scaredy Squirrel, by Melanie Watt
Middle Readers:
Hugging the Rock, by Susan Taylor Brown
Toys Go Out, by Emily Jenkins
The Year of the Dog, by Grace Lin
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything, by Lenore Look
Rules, by Cynthia Lord
Clementine, by Sara Pennypacker
Team Moon, by Catherine Thimmesh
Older Readers:
Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson
Gossamer, by Lois Lowry
All of the Above, by Shelley Pearsall
Yellow Star, by Jennifer Roy
Counting on Grace, by Elizbeth Winthrop
Hmm. Seems like there’s a book missing from the list. I can’t quite put my finger on it...
I’ll also use this list to help me fill in the gaps of last year’s reading — since it will be a while before my library starts getting the 2007 books. I’m already noticing quite a shortage of boy books in my favorites, though it seems the Newbery committee had the same problem this year, so maybe it’s not just me.
Younger Readers:
Once Upon a Banana, by Jennifer Armstrong
I Lost My Tooth in Africa, by Penda Diakite
Wolves, by Emily Gravett
Lilly’s Big Day, by Kevin Henkes
Duck and Goose, by Tad Hills
Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding, by Lenore Look
Adele and Simon, by Barbara McClintock
Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis
Black? White! Day? Night! by Laura Seeger
Scaredy Squirrel, by Melanie Watt
Middle Readers:
Hugging the Rock, by Susan Taylor Brown
Toys Go Out, by Emily Jenkins
The Year of the Dog, by Grace Lin
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything, by Lenore Look
Rules, by Cynthia Lord
Clementine, by Sara Pennypacker
Team Moon, by Catherine Thimmesh
Older Readers:
Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson
Gossamer, by Lois Lowry
All of the Above, by Shelley Pearsall
Yellow Star, by Jennifer Roy
Counting on Grace, by Elizbeth Winthrop
Hmm. Seems like there’s a book missing from the list. I can’t quite put my finger on it...
I’ll also use this list to help me fill in the gaps of last year’s reading — since it will be a while before my library starts getting the 2007 books. I’m already noticing quite a shortage of boy books in my favorites, though it seems the Newbery committee had the same problem this year, so maybe it’s not just me.
Yes, yet another day wherein I review no books at all. Not a one. Kinda makes you wonder what I’m doing here. I ask myself that every day.
Out and about, Wonderful Things are going on. The results are in for Lisa Yee’s contest. Funny stuff. I was highly in favor of Green Eggs and ’Nam, especially because the name itself was the main joke (as opposed to the description). I liked Mr. Brown Can Poo, Can You? for the same reason, so it’s not like I’ve got some sort of intellectual bent.
My BFF Fuse#8 is back in town with excellent posts on her Newbery Experience (good band name) and her take on the awards that are not Newbery. She is also profiled on the Seven Impossible Things blog with a fabulouso interview. I’ve mentioned that S.I.T. is doing interviews of bloggers and authors, right? Well they are, and the first two — of themselves and of Liz from A.C.A.F.A.A.T.C. (that is the worst acronym ever) — were very interesting. I’m on the list to be interviewed also, and not because I begged... Not only because I begged.
While you’re over at post of the Newbery Experience (or maybe a drink name), check out the comments. KT (whoever that is) has questioned the authority of the Cybils judges and the judging criteria themselves. She mentioned checking out blogs where she “found some mean spiritedness and some inarticulate criticism,” and that can mean only one thing. She read Tulane Readers Theatre.
Anyway, mean-spirited is so ten years ago. I’d prefer snarky, because it’s hip to be snarky (possible new Huey Lewis song). I also wonder about her comment, “If we are to take your awards seriously, we must know that you are serious persons with a serious way of evaluating the books.” This sentiment concerns me — being that I am not a serious person — so we might want to keep my judging role on the down-low.
And worrying about a serious way of evaluating the books is totally going to put a dent in my Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo strategy.
Out and about, Wonderful Things are going on. The results are in for Lisa Yee’s contest. Funny stuff. I was highly in favor of Green Eggs and ’Nam, especially because the name itself was the main joke (as opposed to the description). I liked Mr. Brown Can Poo, Can You? for the same reason, so it’s not like I’ve got some sort of intellectual bent.
My BFF Fuse#8 is back in town with excellent posts on her Newbery Experience (good band name) and her take on the awards that are not Newbery. She is also profiled on the Seven Impossible Things blog with a fabulouso interview. I’ve mentioned that S.I.T. is doing interviews of bloggers and authors, right? Well they are, and the first two — of themselves and of Liz from A.C.A.F.A.A.T.C. (that is the worst acronym ever) — were very interesting. I’m on the list to be interviewed also, and not because I begged... Not only because I begged.
While you’re over at post of the Newbery Experience (or maybe a drink name), check out the comments. KT (whoever that is) has questioned the authority of the Cybils judges and the judging criteria themselves. She mentioned checking out blogs where she “found some mean spiritedness and some inarticulate criticism,” and that can mean only one thing. She read Tulane Readers Theatre.
Anyway, mean-spirited is so ten years ago. I’d prefer snarky, because it’s hip to be snarky (possible new Huey Lewis song). I also wonder about her comment, “If we are to take your awards seriously, we must know that you are serious persons with a serious way of evaluating the books.” This sentiment concerns me — being that I am not a serious person — so we might want to keep my judging role on the down-low.
And worrying about a serious way of evaluating the books is totally going to put a dent in my Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo strategy.
All right. There’s an award I shouldn’t have missed. I shouldn’t have missed it because one of the books receiving the award was a book that was given to me by the author. And was a book specifically recommended to me by a blogfriend. So...Theodor Seuss Geisel Beginning Reader Award Winner:
Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways, written and illustrated by Laura McGee Kvasnosky
(No, not this one.)
Three Geisel Honor Books:
- Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride, written by Kate DiCamillo
(No, not this one either — though I think it is funny that the lighter side of DiCamillo won and the darker side did not.) - Move Over, Rover! written by Karen Beaumont
(Nope.) - Not a Box, written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis
(Yes! Many of the kids’ lit blogs reviewed it and liked it, but it seems that we missed her award — including the blogger who suggested the book to me.)
While I’m here, let me also mention the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children, which went to Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon, written by Catherine Thimmesh. Great book, and also much talked about in the kid-lit world, including here.
Of course, it’s well known that more important than the Newbery, the Caldecott, the Pulitzer is the Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children’s video. Or at least it is now, because...
Check out the new books here, and his post on the video (the winner of the Carnegie Medal) here.
Somewhat related — in that this is another author I am crushing on, and with whom I have shared at least limited dialogue — John Green’s book An Abundance of Katherines won a Printz honor award. Ever wonder what the reaction is when you’ve won a Printz honor award? Well, here it is. Total bonus: He is wearing the T-shirt that I showed on my blog. Total total bonus: He says it’s his new favorite shirt. Guess what? It’s my new favorite shirt too! We are so meant to be friends. The link is to his video blog with his brother. I’ve been enjoying the videos immensely — very funny stuff.
Author/illustrator Mo Willems and Weston Woods Studios, producers of “Knuffle Bunny,” are the 2007 Carnegie Medal winners. The DVD is based on Willems’ book “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale” and is performed by Willems, his wife Cheryl and their daughter Trixie. It is directed and animated by MaGiK Studio, with music by Scotty Huff and Robert Reynolds.And now I can condense my Mo-related news in one blog post (whew) by also announcing that he has created a new set of beginning-reader books. They feature new characters — not the Pigeon — and are due out in the spring. I’m sure Mo will send my copies along sooner, though he didn’t really respond to that inquiry of mine...
Check out the new books here, and his post on the video (the winner of the Carnegie Medal) here.
Somewhat related — in that this is another author I am crushing on, and with whom I have shared at least limited dialogue — John Green’s book An Abundance of Katherines won a Printz honor award. Ever wonder what the reaction is when you’ve won a Printz honor award? Well, here it is. Total bonus: He is wearing the T-shirt that I showed on my blog. Total total bonus: He says it’s his new favorite shirt. Guess what? It’s my new favorite shirt too! We are so meant to be friends. The link is to his video blog with his brother. I’ve been enjoying the videos immensely — very funny stuff.
A graphic novel wins the Printz award. It’s a new day in Young Adult literature. The 2007 Printz Award winner is:American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang
(read it, didn’t love it, but lots of good buzz about it)
2007 Honor Books:
- The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation; v. 1: The Pox Party, by M. T. Anderson
(haven’t read it, everyone raves about it, no surprise it’s on the list) - An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green
(read it, loved it, kinda interviewed the author) - Surrender, by Sonya Hartnett
(heard of it, haven’t read it) - The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
(haven’t read it because it’s so long, but I give up already — I’ll read it. Happy now?)
King Author Book winner:Copper Sun, written by Sharon Draper
(read it, liked it, very powerful)
King Author Honor Book:
- The Road to Paris, written by Nikki Grimes
(never heard of it)
King Illustrator Book winner:Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Carole Boston Weatherford
(no surprise)
King Illustrator Honor Books:
- Jazz, illustrated by Christopher Myers, written by Walter Dean Myers
(sure, why not?) - Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes, illustrated by Benny Andrews
(never heard of it — gotta read more poetry)
Really no surprise here, given how much buzz there has been about this book. It’s on every “Best of 2006” list I’ve seen, and for good reason. The illustrations and the concept are amazing. The winner is:Flotsam, by David Wiesner
Honor Books are:
- Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet, written and illustrated by David McLimans
(never heard of it or seen it) - Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Carole Boston Weatherford
(another frequent title on best of 2006 lists, stunning)
The 2007 Newbery Award has been announced, and it is The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron.That sound you hear is a number of children’s librarians and kid-lit-loving people all saying at the same time...
Huh???
I’ve never heard of it. Like, at all. I don’t recall seeing it on anyone’s predictions. I don’t even remember seeing a review of it. So I suppose reading it will be a nice surprise.
I do know of the Honor books. They are:
- Penny from Heaven, written by Jennifer L. Holm
(haven’t read it, but heard great things about it) - Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson
(read it, loved it, reviewed it, author commented in my discussion) - Rules, by Cynthia Lord
(read it, liked it, reviewed it, little surprised it won)
Be back soon with more awards.
Yesterday started off bleak. My younger daughter had lost a ring at school and was sad about it. My older daughter was having some friend problems. I’d been sucked into a situation helping a neighbor that was turning out to be quite involved. American Idol turned out to be quite depressing. (Did they always focus so much on the people crying as they left the audition? Brutal.) I was on my sixth day of a hacking cough, and I did not complete my winter clothes transfer.
But then this little search string lifted my spirits, and its name was “readers theatre the miraculous journey of edward tulane.”
If you read my blog at all, you’ll know how very, very wrong it was for this search to lead to MotherReader. I couldn’t dislike a book more than that bunny book, so the very idea of me having a readers theatre version of it was just funny.
But then I thought, what if I did have a readers theatre version of it? Especially with the possibility that the book will turn up on the Newbery awards list. At that point, I couldn’t stop myself, even if I had wanted to. So, I present:
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane: Readers Theatre
(But not really, because Kate DiCamillo would never sanction this version given that she probably likes her own book and might object to the satirical quality and occasional — but necessary — profanity)
Girl: Oh, I love you so much, pretty china rabbit!
Edward: I am much too vain to respond to your feelings of love.
Girl: Yeah, only I can’t hear your thoughts, so I believe that you love me too.
Grandmother: I think I shall tell you and your bunny a horrifying tale. It’s about a princess who was beautiful, but didn’t love anyone. She was turned into a warthog, killed, sliced open, and eaten. The end.
Girl: Wow, Grandmother, that story sucked. At least I love you, Edward, and I always will — meaning that if anything happens to you I will feel awful, really really awful.
Edward: Whatever.
Boys: Can we see your china rabbit? And perhaps inadvertently throw him overboard?
Girl: Noooooooooo!
Edward: Shit.
Girl: I’m heartbroken. I feel really, really awful.
See the rest “below the fold”!
Edward: I’m underwater. I am fully conscious and afraid, but unable to help myself in any way at all. I just wait for fate to toss me around. Curse that Winnie-the-Pooh, Raggedy Ann, and all those other toys who could actually move themselves. Not me, I just sit here on the bottom of the ocean scared and alone waiting, waiting, waiting. Oh, look — I am being scooped up.
Fisherman: What the…? I’ll take this toy bunny home to my crazy wife.
Wife: I’ll dress the bunny up in girl clothes, and fawn over it like a baby. I’ll tell it stories about my poor dead son who died in front of me and I couldn’t do anything about it.
Edward: I actually care about these stories. I guess when you’ve been on the bottom of the sea, anything seems better. Even continuing this book…
Daughter: I’ve come to take you away from the Fisherman and his Wife, because I’ve got nothing better to do then torment my mom. To the dump you go.
Edward: I think I feel something in my heart. After being loved, dumped in the ocean, and being loved again. I think… I’m starting to — No, it’s just gas. Oh, now I’m being buried alive under the trash, fully aware of what it means to be dead but not being able to die. Why hasn’t someone written a children’s book about this feeling?
Dog: Woof. I’m going to grab you and shake you.
Hobo: Hey, what’s this? A lost toy. You and your little girl must be very sad, just like everyone reading this book. I’ll take you with me for the next seven years.
Train Man: You shouldn’t be in here. But rather than kick you out with the china rabbit, I’ll throw the rabbit off first, for no real reason at all.
Edward: I want to cry, but then I’d be allowed some release from this purgatory to which I’ve been damned for my crime of… hold it, what was my crime?
Old Lady: Interesting rabbit. I need a scarecrow. I think I’ll nail him to a cross. Not like that means anything.
Boy: Jeez, what is that rabbit doing up there? I’ll take him home to my dying sister and my drunk, abusive father.
Sister: Cough. Cough. Rabbit. Baby. Pretty.
Boy: Okaaaaay. You are four years old — you can talk.
Father: Let me hit you across the mouth, boy.
Boy: Sarah loves that bunny. Too bad she’s going to die.
Father: She did die, while you were begging her to keep breathing. I’m going to bury her.
Edward: I’m so fucking depressed.
Boy: I’m leaving with the rabbit, and I’ll earn money by making him dance.
Edward: I’ve learned how to love and now I’m broken. Man, this sucks.
Boy: Let’s get something to eat. Oops, I can’t pay.
Café Owner: You can’t pay, so I’ll break your china rabbit, not because it will help me get any money, but because all adults are mean and/or useless.
Edward: True dat. Isn’t it ironic what I said back there about being broken? Because I meant it figuratively, but apparently that didn’t drive the point home so you’re going to actually break — Oh, that hurts.
Salesman: I fixed you, rabbit. You were dead and apparently on your way to china rabbit heaven, when I fixed you. I took you from the boy in a grave sacrifice on his part whereby I would fix you if I could keep you. No adult would make that kind of shitty deal, but he’s just a stupid kid.
Boy: Please let me see him one last time. It breaks my heart to leave, but you said I can’t have him.
Salesman: No you can’t, and you can never come back.
Edward: Heartbreak again. Big surprise. How long is this story?
Doll: You have to open your heart to be loved. That’s a lesson that all kids need since they are such cynical creatures. Oh, wait, no. That’s adults who are hardened and cynical. Kids don’t need lessons in opening their hearts to love. Remind me, why is this a kids’ book again?
Edward: All right! My heart is open already! I’ve been thrown in the ocean, tossed in the garbage, chucked off a train, nailed to a cross, watched a little girl die, been broken into pieces, taken from the last person who loved me, and stuffed on a shelf for years! And may I remind you that I am fully conscious of this entire experience but helpless to change my course of action one tiny bit. My God, enough already!!!!
Girl, Grown Up: Edward, I found you.
Edward: I love you. I just wish I could have said it in the beginning of the book so we wouldn’t have had to go through all this crap.
Girl, Grown Up: Yeah, only I still can’t hear your thoughts so I always thought you loved me back anyway and never had any problems with it. So I don’t even know what the point was of all that torture.
Edward: Neither do I, kid. Neither do I.
But then this little search string lifted my spirits, and its name was “readers theatre the miraculous journey of edward tulane.”
If you read my blog at all, you’ll know how very, very wrong it was for this search to lead to MotherReader. I couldn’t dislike a book more than that bunny book, so the very idea of me having a readers theatre version of it was just funny.
But then I thought, what if I did have a readers theatre version of it? Especially with the possibility that the book will turn up on the Newbery awards list. At that point, I couldn’t stop myself, even if I had wanted to. So, I present:
(But not really, because Kate DiCamillo would never sanction this version given that she probably likes her own book and might object to the satirical quality and occasional — but necessary — profanity)
Girl: Oh, I love you so much, pretty china rabbit!
Edward: I am much too vain to respond to your feelings of love.
Girl: Yeah, only I can’t hear your thoughts, so I believe that you love me too.
Grandmother: I think I shall tell you and your bunny a horrifying tale. It’s about a princess who was beautiful, but didn’t love anyone. She was turned into a warthog, killed, sliced open, and eaten. The end.
Girl: Wow, Grandmother, that story sucked. At least I love you, Edward, and I always will — meaning that if anything happens to you I will feel awful, really really awful.
Edward: Whatever.
Boys: Can we see your china rabbit? And perhaps inadvertently throw him overboard?
Girl: Noooooooooo!
Edward: Shit.
Girl: I’m heartbroken. I feel really, really awful.
See the rest “below the fold”!
Edward: I’m underwater. I am fully conscious and afraid, but unable to help myself in any way at all. I just wait for fate to toss me around. Curse that Winnie-the-Pooh, Raggedy Ann, and all those other toys who could actually move themselves. Not me, I just sit here on the bottom of the ocean scared and alone waiting, waiting, waiting. Oh, look — I am being scooped up.
Fisherman: What the…? I’ll take this toy bunny home to my crazy wife.
Wife: I’ll dress the bunny up in girl clothes, and fawn over it like a baby. I’ll tell it stories about my poor dead son who died in front of me and I couldn’t do anything about it.
Edward: I actually care about these stories. I guess when you’ve been on the bottom of the sea, anything seems better. Even continuing this book…
Daughter: I’ve come to take you away from the Fisherman and his Wife, because I’ve got nothing better to do then torment my mom. To the dump you go.
Edward: I think I feel something in my heart. After being loved, dumped in the ocean, and being loved again. I think… I’m starting to — No, it’s just gas. Oh, now I’m being buried alive under the trash, fully aware of what it means to be dead but not being able to die. Why hasn’t someone written a children’s book about this feeling?
Dog: Woof. I’m going to grab you and shake you.
Hobo: Hey, what’s this? A lost toy. You and your little girl must be very sad, just like everyone reading this book. I’ll take you with me for the next seven years.
Train Man: You shouldn’t be in here. But rather than kick you out with the china rabbit, I’ll throw the rabbit off first, for no real reason at all.
Edward: I want to cry, but then I’d be allowed some release from this purgatory to which I’ve been damned for my crime of… hold it, what was my crime?
Old Lady: Interesting rabbit. I need a scarecrow. I think I’ll nail him to a cross. Not like that means anything.
Boy: Jeez, what is that rabbit doing up there? I’ll take him home to my dying sister and my drunk, abusive father.
Sister: Cough. Cough. Rabbit. Baby. Pretty.
Boy: Okaaaaay. You are four years old — you can talk.
Father: Let me hit you across the mouth, boy.
Boy: Sarah loves that bunny. Too bad she’s going to die.
Father: She did die, while you were begging her to keep breathing. I’m going to bury her.
Edward: I’m so fucking depressed.
Boy: I’m leaving with the rabbit, and I’ll earn money by making him dance.
Edward: I’ve learned how to love and now I’m broken. Man, this sucks.
Boy: Let’s get something to eat. Oops, I can’t pay.
Café Owner: You can’t pay, so I’ll break your china rabbit, not because it will help me get any money, but because all adults are mean and/or useless.
Edward: True dat. Isn’t it ironic what I said back there about being broken? Because I meant it figuratively, but apparently that didn’t drive the point home so you’re going to actually break — Oh, that hurts.
Salesman: I fixed you, rabbit. You were dead and apparently on your way to china rabbit heaven, when I fixed you. I took you from the boy in a grave sacrifice on his part whereby I would fix you if I could keep you. No adult would make that kind of shitty deal, but he’s just a stupid kid.
Boy: Please let me see him one last time. It breaks my heart to leave, but you said I can’t have him.
Salesman: No you can’t, and you can never come back.
Edward: Heartbreak again. Big surprise. How long is this story?
Doll: You have to open your heart to be loved. That’s a lesson that all kids need since they are such cynical creatures. Oh, wait, no. That’s adults who are hardened and cynical. Kids don’t need lessons in opening their hearts to love. Remind me, why is this a kids’ book again?
Edward: All right! My heart is open already! I’ve been thrown in the ocean, tossed in the garbage, chucked off a train, nailed to a cross, watched a little girl die, been broken into pieces, taken from the last person who loved me, and stuffed on a shelf for years! And may I remind you that I am fully conscious of this entire experience but helpless to change my course of action one tiny bit. My God, enough already!!!!
Girl, Grown Up: Edward, I found you.
Edward: I love you. I just wish I could have said it in the beginning of the book so we wouldn’t have had to go through all this crap.
Girl, Grown Up: Yeah, only I still can’t hear your thoughts so I always thought you loved me back anyway and never had any problems with it. So I don’t even know what the point was of all that torture.
Edward: Neither do I, kid. Neither do I.
I have today off work. I usually work on Wednesday, so this is actually an extra day of freedom in my week. I should be using this time to clean up my so very messy house. And I did a little bit of cleaning. But mostly... not.
I read a book. Desperate Journey. I liked it. I’ll talk about it later.
I puttered around the Internet. Found this great riff on the new iPhone. (Thanks Daily Nooz).
I ordered two shirts from One Horse Shy, the TEAM PLUTO shirt and the Stewart/Colbert 2008. I debated on the Orange is the New Tan shirt, but went with the others.
I laughed at the Chickens to the Rescue Stage Performance and promptly wondered how I could steal — I mean use — the idea. I enjoyed a review of Toys Go Out over at Seven Impossible Things, and not just for the subtle, anti-Tulane references.
I checked on another kidlitosphere friend to see if we can still help her win a photo contest and we can.
I threw in a load of wash. And then another. And there will probably be at least one more. I’ll fold the clothes and match the socks — oh so many socks — during the American Idol show I recorded. Don’t scoff, it’s the perfect laundry-folding show.
I need to put my sweaters in my dresser drawers, because apparently it is no longer going to be a balmy seventy degrees, but actually winter. And it’s January, so probably about time I got around to putting the cold weather clothes in my room rather then pulling sweatshirts out of the boxes one at a time.
But in the book world, a post in Finding Wonderland started me thinking about how I organize my thoughts about books. As I am done with a book, I make notes. Sometimes its just little reminders, a quote from the book, or a thought I had while reading. Sometimes I basically write the whole post. I tried writing in a notebook, but I kept misplacing it. I tried writing in a word document, but I found I would want to add to it at work. Now I send my notes in an email to myself and file the message in a reviews folder until I want to use it. Some, I suspect, will never be used. Some I use the next day; it just depends what I feel inspired to write about it.
So while I winterize my wardrobe, only three months behind schedule, comment and discuss your own system for remembering, recording, and reviewing books.
I read a book. Desperate Journey. I liked it. I’ll talk about it later.
I puttered around the Internet. Found this great riff on the new iPhone. (Thanks Daily Nooz).
I ordered two shirts from One Horse Shy, the TEAM PLUTO shirt and the Stewart/Colbert 2008. I debated on the Orange is the New Tan shirt, but went with the others.
I laughed at the Chickens to the Rescue Stage Performance and promptly wondered how I could steal — I mean use — the idea. I enjoyed a review of Toys Go Out over at Seven Impossible Things, and not just for the subtle, anti-Tulane references.
I checked on another kidlitosphere friend to see if we can still help her win a photo contest and we can.
I threw in a load of wash. And then another. And there will probably be at least one more. I’ll fold the clothes and match the socks — oh so many socks — during the American Idol show I recorded. Don’t scoff, it’s the perfect laundry-folding show.
I need to put my sweaters in my dresser drawers, because apparently it is no longer going to be a balmy seventy degrees, but actually winter. And it’s January, so probably about time I got around to putting the cold weather clothes in my room rather then pulling sweatshirts out of the boxes one at a time.
But in the book world, a post in Finding Wonderland started me thinking about how I organize my thoughts about books. As I am done with a book, I make notes. Sometimes its just little reminders, a quote from the book, or a thought I had while reading. Sometimes I basically write the whole post. I tried writing in a notebook, but I kept misplacing it. I tried writing in a word document, but I found I would want to add to it at work. Now I send my notes in an email to myself and file the message in a reviews folder until I want to use it. Some, I suspect, will never be used. Some I use the next day; it just depends what I feel inspired to write about it.
So while I winterize my wardrobe, only three months behind schedule, comment and discuss your own system for remembering, recording, and reviewing books.
I’ve made a conscious effort not to draw attention to particular posts at Mo Willems’ new blog. I gave him his own section in my blogroll — Just for Mo — and I visit every day, like a good blogfan should. But today I can’t resist highlighting his post of him and Jon (Jon who, you ask? Read the post.) making a large picture with his daughter. As I commented, it made me feel like I was there — and not in that creepy looking-in-the-window kind of way. Anyway, very cute — give it a look.
The King of the Creeps called to Emil and Karl. “I know that we were Counting on Grace,” he said, “but it looks like that Sweet Thang has failed.”
“You know I will not let you down, your highness,” said Emil, “I see Your Eyes in Stars, I daily sing your praises, Over a Thousand Hills I Walk With You to the ends of the very...”
“Enough already! Your syrupy phrases are enough to make me crave The Loud Silence of Francine Green, and nothing’s worse than a mime,” said the king.
“A Klepto is,” muttered Karl under his breath, as he watched Emil pocket a small sculpture of a Black Duck.
“I’ve called you here to announce to the world at large that the new Edge of the Forest issue has arrived, with reviews of ten books in Twentieth Century YA Style, among other fine interviews, reviews, and articles. The Aftershocks of such marvelous works of writing will be felt far and wide,” said the king. “Let everyone know that the issue is ready for the people!”
“It shall be done,” said Emil, as he and Karl bowed and walked out of the room.
“You know I will not let you down, your highness,” said Emil, “I see Your Eyes in Stars, I daily sing your praises, Over a Thousand Hills I Walk With You to the ends of the very...”
“Enough already! Your syrupy phrases are enough to make me crave The Loud Silence of Francine Green, and nothing’s worse than a mime,” said the king.
“A Klepto is,” muttered Karl under his breath, as he watched Emil pocket a small sculpture of a Black Duck.
“I’ve called you here to announce to the world at large that the new Edge of the Forest issue has arrived, with reviews of ten books in Twentieth Century YA Style, among other fine interviews, reviews, and articles. The Aftershocks of such marvelous works of writing will be felt far and wide,” said the king. “Let everyone know that the issue is ready for the people!”
“It shall be done,” said Emil, as he and Karl bowed and walked out of the room.
Thanks to those who de-lurked already, and let it be known that de-lurking can continue for the rest of the week. I’ve already visited some FoMR (Friends of MotherReader), and it’s been very interesting.
Now, I don’t remember if this particular site was a de-lurker or one that I found through my statistics, but I had to notice — and proclaim to all who would listen — that a homeschool site listed me as one of her favorite child literature blogs for moms looking for reading choices. Sadly, I realized that I have not reviewed any books this week. So, now folks may be coming over here from Throwing Marshmallows thinking that their friendly neighborhood homeschool blog led them astray. Let me assure those moms that I do indeed review books, and I am occasionally amusing about it. In the interest of respecting my audience — all thirteen of you — I’m pulling some reviews from the files covering books for a wide range of ages.
Silly Suzy Goose, by Petr Horzcek
A goose — drawn in the simplest form on white paper and cut out with the pen outline visible — wants to be separate from the crowd. She sees many different animals and wants to imitate them. She wants to slide like a penguin and jump like a kangaroo. (Actually, I’m beginning to wonder where she is in this story. Is it the zoo? Aren’t they concerned that this goose is making herself at home with all of these animals?) When she tries to imitate the lion’s roar, he chases her back to her group — as she flaps, slides, jumps, etc., all the way back. She hides among the group and is glad, sometimes, to look like everyone else. The grammar bothered me a little — “If I was a giraffe, I could STRETCH up high.” Should be “were.” It really bothered other reviewers, but since I mix up my tenses all the time, I wasn’t that miffed. It really is a cute book.
Martin Bridge on the Lookout, by Jessica Kerrin
This early chapter book features three stories. In the first a girl, Laila, comes to his birthday party a day too late. After being angry at having his plans changed, they begin to have fun together. In the second story, Martin forgets his permission slip to go on a field trip. Since his mom is at work and can’t be reached, he has to spend the day with his old teacher. He sees a kid who was left behind and ends up making friends with him. In the third story, Martin and his friends mistakenly let the class parakeet out the window. The kids think they have found her, but it is a parakeet from another school instead. Fortunately, each bird gets to the right place. These are nice, gentle stories for kids moving into chapter books.
The Prophecy, by Hilari Bell
Why oh why did they put the unicorn on the cover of this book? It’s going to make this fantasy adventure tale a hard sell to boys with this girly cover. The prince Perryn has done an awful job learning to be a warrior. However, he loves the library and studies for ways to rid the kingdom of a terrible dragon that has been ravaging the land. He finds a prophecy that appears to solve the problem, but he needs a bard, a unicorn, and a special sword. His father the king won’t believe him, so he takes off on his own quest to save the kingdom. It’s a good book, and a fun adventure that could be enjoyed by both boys and girls. Hand it to a boy with the book open, or in a paper bag.
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon, by Catherine Thimmesh
I don’t generally pick up nonfiction unless it’s in my particular areas of interest. But after hearing all the good things about this book from different reviewers, I made myself start reading it. It was great. And I learned stuff. I didn’t realize that upon the astronauts’ descent to the moon, they were almost out of fuel. They had sixty seconds to make it down or abort the effort. Or keep going and probably crash. Wow. I didn’t know about the rigorous space suit testing or the photography lessons the astronauts took to show the best pictures of the moon. And all this done without the sophistication of today’s computers. Really mind-blowing.
Amazing Grace, by Megan Shull
Grace is a teen tennis superstar. But distracting from her love of the game is the pressure of being famous. It’s not enough that she plays mean tennis, she also has to be perfect all the time to hold up her end in endorsement deals and modeling contracts. It all becomes too much for her and she wants to escape. Her mother arranges for her to go to Alaska for a while and disappear into a small town. Without all the pressures and luxuries that celebrity brings, Grace — now Emily O’Brian — finds herself free for the first time as a teenager. She can go around the town by herself, not worry about her appearance, and maybe even fall in love. It’s a very sweet book. There are some heavy and some cautionary issues, but overall it is very light. Grace does drink in the book at a party, but pays for doing so. Generally a book worth the good buzz.
(Now that I’ve thought this through, let’s just say that I found out about Throwing Marshmallows because she de-lurked. It makes a better story, and encourages folks to say “hi” sometimes.)
Now, I don’t remember if this particular site was a de-lurker or one that I found through my statistics, but I had to notice — and proclaim to all who would listen — that a homeschool site listed me as one of her favorite child literature blogs for moms looking for reading choices. Sadly, I realized that I have not reviewed any books this week. So, now folks may be coming over here from Throwing Marshmallows thinking that their friendly neighborhood homeschool blog led them astray. Let me assure those moms that I do indeed review books, and I am occasionally amusing about it. In the interest of respecting my audience — all thirteen of you — I’m pulling some reviews from the files covering books for a wide range of ages.
Silly Suzy Goose, by Petr HorzcekA goose — drawn in the simplest form on white paper and cut out with the pen outline visible — wants to be separate from the crowd. She sees many different animals and wants to imitate them. She wants to slide like a penguin and jump like a kangaroo. (Actually, I’m beginning to wonder where she is in this story. Is it the zoo? Aren’t they concerned that this goose is making herself at home with all of these animals?) When she tries to imitate the lion’s roar, he chases her back to her group — as she flaps, slides, jumps, etc., all the way back. She hides among the group and is glad, sometimes, to look like everyone else. The grammar bothered me a little — “If I was a giraffe, I could STRETCH up high.” Should be “were.” It really bothered other reviewers, but since I mix up my tenses all the time, I wasn’t that miffed. It really is a cute book.
Martin Bridge on the Lookout, by Jessica KerrinThis early chapter book features three stories. In the first a girl, Laila, comes to his birthday party a day too late. After being angry at having his plans changed, they begin to have fun together. In the second story, Martin forgets his permission slip to go on a field trip. Since his mom is at work and can’t be reached, he has to spend the day with his old teacher. He sees a kid who was left behind and ends up making friends with him. In the third story, Martin and his friends mistakenly let the class parakeet out the window. The kids think they have found her, but it is a parakeet from another school instead. Fortunately, each bird gets to the right place. These are nice, gentle stories for kids moving into chapter books.
The Prophecy, by Hilari BellWhy oh why did they put the unicorn on the cover of this book? It’s going to make this fantasy adventure tale a hard sell to boys with this girly cover. The prince Perryn has done an awful job learning to be a warrior. However, he loves the library and studies for ways to rid the kingdom of a terrible dragon that has been ravaging the land. He finds a prophecy that appears to solve the problem, but he needs a bard, a unicorn, and a special sword. His father the king won’t believe him, so he takes off on his own quest to save the kingdom. It’s a good book, and a fun adventure that could be enjoyed by both boys and girls. Hand it to a boy with the book open, or in a paper bag.
Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon, by Catherine ThimmeshI don’t generally pick up nonfiction unless it’s in my particular areas of interest. But after hearing all the good things about this book from different reviewers, I made myself start reading it. It was great. And I learned stuff. I didn’t realize that upon the astronauts’ descent to the moon, they were almost out of fuel. They had sixty seconds to make it down or abort the effort. Or keep going and probably crash. Wow. I didn’t know about the rigorous space suit testing or the photography lessons the astronauts took to show the best pictures of the moon. And all this done without the sophistication of today’s computers. Really mind-blowing.
Amazing Grace, by Megan ShullGrace is a teen tennis superstar. But distracting from her love of the game is the pressure of being famous. It’s not enough that she plays mean tennis, she also has to be perfect all the time to hold up her end in endorsement deals and modeling contracts. It all becomes too much for her and she wants to escape. Her mother arranges for her to go to Alaska for a while and disappear into a small town. Without all the pressures and luxuries that celebrity brings, Grace — now Emily O’Brian — finds herself free for the first time as a teenager. She can go around the town by herself, not worry about her appearance, and maybe even fall in love. It’s a very sweet book. There are some heavy and some cautionary issues, but overall it is very light. Grace does drink in the book at a party, but pays for doing so. Generally a book worth the good buzz.
(Now that I’ve thought this through, let’s just say that I found out about Throwing Marshmallows because she de-lurked. It makes a better story, and encourages folks to say “hi” sometimes.)
Hey people, apparently it’s official DeLurking Week!!! I’ve seen this a few places, but I got the graphic from Paper Napkin. I was going to save this for next week, and if I don’t get much in the way of responses, I still reserve the right to do it on Monday — even if it won’t be official. However, if you’re a frequent visitor of MotherReader, take the time to say “hi.” My blogroll buddies are excused since I know they come by and comment. And believe me, I do appreciate it.
Special and unrelated thanks to Fuse#8, who made me realize that I could use the labels for comedic value, thus totally solving my lazy labeling issues.
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Today I’d like to take some time to highlight some of the fantastic things going on in the blogs all around me. And not because I’m too lazy to write my own post. Okay, not entirely because I’m too lazy to write my own post.
I’ve always been impressed with the huge number of author interviews that Little Willow has on her site, but I’ve never mentioned it. So, I’m mentioning it now. You can see the whole list here. I also never mentioned how much I liked her book list of Tough Issues for Teens. Particular kudos for the rating system, which I find very helpful with this topic.
On an entirely different note, Lisa Yee is running a contest on her site with some of the most hilarious results. Honestly, you will laugh as you read these entries. The rules are:
Now, you’ll either get this immediately or you’ll have to follow the link to appreciate it. Either way it’s pretty clever. There’s a new ringtone available for download. It’s John Cage’s 4:33. Get it? Follow the link if not and look in awe at the workings of minds more creative than ours. (Thanks to BB Blog for the link.)
Not funny enough? Then read the best Christmas wrap-up I’ve seen so far over at Defective Yeti
Still not enough? Then let me award my new favorite phrase from 2006. The phrase that I believe has the staying power to work its way into our daily lives, if we just give it a chance. The phrase is “kibbles and bits.” The context from Go Fug Yourself:
As it turns out, it would have taken far less time to review a book after all. Who knew?
I’ve always been impressed with the huge number of author interviews that Little Willow has on her site, but I’ve never mentioned it. So, I’m mentioning it now. You can see the whole list here. I also never mentioned how much I liked her book list of Tough Issues for Teens. Particular kudos for the rating system, which I find very helpful with this topic.
On an entirely different note, Lisa Yee is running a contest on her site with some of the most hilarious results. Honestly, you will laugh as you read these entries. The rules are:
- Think of a title from a children’s/middle grade/young adult book.
- Change the FIRST LETTER of ONE of the words to make it into a whole new title.
- Then add a sentence describing the new book.
Little Souse on the PrairieNot sure you’re the funny type? Then hop on over (this would be so much funnier if you realized that the html address is “bunnyplanet”) to a re-post of an old favorite from Blog from the Windowsill and tell her which children’s book you’d like to live in.
Ma, Laura, and Mary finally come to terms with Pa’s drinking problem.
Now, you’ll either get this immediately or you’ll have to follow the link to appreciate it. Either way it’s pretty clever. There’s a new ringtone available for download. It’s John Cage’s 4:33. Get it? Follow the link if not and look in awe at the workings of minds more creative than ours. (Thanks to BB Blog for the link.)
Not funny enough? Then read the best Christmas wrap-up I’ve seen so far over at Defective Yeti
Still not enough? Then let me award my new favorite phrase from 2006. The phrase that I believe has the staying power to work its way into our daily lives, if we just give it a chance. The phrase is “kibbles and bits.” The context from Go Fug Yourself:
It takes a brave woman to expose her kibbles and bits to the elements like this. I would be worried that I might take a drastic case of Nipple Hypothermia, and you know, once one of those falls off, it’s almost impossible to get it back on.If you follow the link, you’ll see the referred-to dress and, if I’m not mistaken, some kibble.
As it turns out, it would have taken far less time to review a book after all. Who knew?
| What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Literate Good Citizen You read to inform or entertain yourself, but you're not nerdy about it. You've read most major classics (in school) and you have a favorite genre or two. | |
| Dedicated Reader | |
| Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm | |
| Book Snob | |
| Fad Reader | |
| Non-Reader | |
| What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz | |
Or even “Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm.” Fun quiz. Thanks to Blog From the Windowsill for the link.
Oh, man. Kirby Larson came by with her comment on Inviting Discussion on Hattie Big Sky... and God and you missed it! Actually, it’s not your fault (as we say in my house, “not reeeeally”) since I didn’t give you the heads-up. Here is part of her response:
My goal in telling Hattie’s story was to tell it as true as I could. And Hattie does believe in God, partly because she’s a product of her time, partly because of her own life experiences, and partly because of my own life experiences. So, because she believes, her faith was part of the story. It was as important to include as was Traft’s complexity, Perilee’s loyalty and Mattie’s chattiness.Since she commented in a different place than the original post, I took the liberty of pasting her comment in at the end of the original discussion. Or is it the end of the discussion? You are certainly welcome to add your input, and I will feature this post again (some would say “even yet again”) during the 10th Carnival of Children’s Literature. If you haven't signed up yet for the Carnival, time is running out. Get over to the site or to Big A, little a and do your duty for the kidlitosphere. Kelly has also just posted her review of Hattie Big Sky today. Coincidence? Actually, yeah.
It’s almost Newbery time again, and A Year of Reading is starting off the predictions round-up. I’m feeling lazy, so I’ll let Franki say it:
[Listed are] our top 5 hopes/predictions along with other chapter books of the year that we’ve loved. Since we started our blog with this Newbery goal, we’d love to do a round-up of everyone’s Newbery predictions/hopes. If you post your Newbery predictions, let us know in the comments and we’ll do a round-up in about a week so we have it up and ready before the Newbery is announced on January 22.I am not even going to hold it against the Year of Reading blog that both of the blogwriters put that Tulane book on their lists. But you won’t see it on mine. My predictions/hopes for the Newbery, with links to my reviews, are:And five other chapter books that I loved, but that don’t seem Newberyish, are:I’m seriously rooting for Yellow Star. It blew me away. Really. Read my review. But the others were also solid, great books. I feel a little bad at the lack of “boy” books in my list. There may be some good contenders, but I didn’t read them.
Over at Scholar’s Blog there will be a Blog Book Discussion Group that will begin in February, with the book King of Shadows. In Michele’s words:
I wish I had more time to wax poetic over Michele’s idea — because I think it’s fantastic — but I have to get ready to talk to my Girl Scout troop about cookie sales and other fun things.
It’s a combination of fantasy and historical novel — and I found it totally gripping. Discussions will be over on the Scholar’s Blog Spoiler Zone and will begin on February 6.She also mentions the less dramatic cover you’ll see through Amazon rather than through her site. Funny story. I had a copy of the book on a shelf behind my desk, but I was sure it wasn’t the right book because the cover was so completely different from the one I saw on Scholar’s Blog. But apparently it is indeed the same book, and I will be participating in the book group.
I wish I had more time to wax poetic over Michele’s idea — because I think it’s fantastic — but I have to get ready to talk to my Girl Scout troop about cookie sales and other fun things.
I took this meme from Journey Woman because I just liked it. It reminds me of one of my favorite jokes:
There are three kinds of people in the world. Those that are good in math, and those that aren’t.
Get it? Well, here’s the meme breaking down everything that is essential about a person into either/or.
Hamburger or hot dog?
Hamburger, no doubt.
A kiss underneath the stars on a clear night, or in the rain?
Stars. I don’t think people who constanly suffer raindrops on their glasses can ever really love the rain.
A snowy morning or a warm afternoon?
Warm afternoon, preferably reading. Though I also love quiet snowy mornings, but in the DC area we get maybe three a year.
Hot chocolate or coffee?
Coffee. I drink one cup — and only one cup — every morning.
Email or a phone call?
Phone call. I LOVE to talk.
A limo or a VW Bug?
VW Bug — or if I could make the slightest change, my 1974 Karmann Ghia back (it’s a VW bug squished down).
A Long Island iced tea or a martini?
Long Island iced tea. Bring on the tipsy!
A book or a movie?
I generally pick a book over watching a movie at home. But, I’d pick watching a decent movie in a theater over a book. I don’t go to the movies as much as I’d like, given babysitting limitations and the price of tickets, but I also LOVE seeing a movie in a theater.
Tea or soda?
Soda. I hate tea.
An axe murderer for a friend, or a clown?
A clown, as I suspect that under the makeup, there’s a darker humor brewing.
A peaceful lake or a restless ocean?
No question, the ocean. In fact, this is how I divide my husband’s family “type” from mine. They’re lake people. We’re beach people.
A singular best friend or many acquaintances?
Many acquaintances, because I like different people for different reasons, so I can’t imagine one person would fill my conversation needs.
A job as a burger-flipper for McDonald’s, or as a stunt woman?
Burger flipper, because I am not very brave and could use the burger-flipping time to write my novel.
A dog or a cat?
Cat. I’m not fond of dogs in general.
I’m not going to tag anybody, as I was not tagged myself, but you’re welcome to do it yourself. Or add on to it in the comments if you want.
There are three kinds of people in the world. Those that are good in math, and those that aren’t.
Get it? Well, here’s the meme breaking down everything that is essential about a person into either/or.
Hamburger or hot dog?
Hamburger, no doubt.
A kiss underneath the stars on a clear night, or in the rain?
Stars. I don’t think people who constanly suffer raindrops on their glasses can ever really love the rain.
A snowy morning or a warm afternoon?
Warm afternoon, preferably reading. Though I also love quiet snowy mornings, but in the DC area we get maybe three a year.
Hot chocolate or coffee?
Coffee. I drink one cup — and only one cup — every morning.
Email or a phone call?
Phone call. I LOVE to talk.
A limo or a VW Bug?
VW Bug — or if I could make the slightest change, my 1974 Karmann Ghia back (it’s a VW bug squished down).
A Long Island iced tea or a martini?
Long Island iced tea. Bring on the tipsy!
A book or a movie?
I generally pick a book over watching a movie at home. But, I’d pick watching a decent movie in a theater over a book. I don’t go to the movies as much as I’d like, given babysitting limitations and the price of tickets, but I also LOVE seeing a movie in a theater.
Tea or soda?
Soda. I hate tea.
An axe murderer for a friend, or a clown?
A clown, as I suspect that under the makeup, there’s a darker humor brewing.
A peaceful lake or a restless ocean?
No question, the ocean. In fact, this is how I divide my husband’s family “type” from mine. They’re lake people. We’re beach people.
A singular best friend or many acquaintances?
Many acquaintances, because I like different people for different reasons, so I can’t imagine one person would fill my conversation needs.
A job as a burger-flipper for McDonald’s, or as a stunt woman?
Burger flipper, because I am not very brave and could use the burger-flipping time to write my novel.
A dog or a cat?
Cat. I’m not fond of dogs in general.
I’m not going to tag anybody, as I was not tagged myself, but you’re welcome to do it yourself. Or add on to it in the comments if you want.
My good friend Liz tagged me with the Five Interesting Things meme. Now I have done this one twice. Once as a biography and once in a series of connections between books and things from my 100 Things About Me List.
But being a meme whore, I’ll do it again — with a twist. I’ll give you five things about me as evidenced by posts from the last year (all of which are among my favorite posts).
I have amazing faith in people to respond to me — whether I propose a kidlitosphere-wide challenge five months after starting a blog, or that a famous, talented author will answer my ridiculous questions.
I am cosmically doomed and irony-prone.
Now, I’ll alter the meme (can I do that?) and send it back out there. The meme is now Five Favorite Posts. Find your own five favorite posts of the past year and link to them. It can be breaking a story, making a story, a nice piece of writing, a review you felt great about, or anything you want to show from the past year. Fuse#8 was already thinking of doing that, so I totally tag her (my favorite line from Fuse#8 is probably “pint-sized Buster Keatons”). Then how about some highlighted posts from Blog from the Windowsill, Chicken Spaghetti, Gotta Book, and Original Content. If anyone else wants to join in with their favorite posts of the year, I highly encourage it. It’s a great way to force you to look back over where you’ve been over the past year, and maybe give you ideas for where you’re going.
But being a meme whore, I’ll do it again — with a twist. I’ll give you five things about me as evidenced by posts from the last year (all of which are among my favorite posts).
- I’m a pretty cool mom (and write a great post title — “The Coolest Mom, The Smallest Weasel, and That Bitch, The Tooth Fairy”)
- I make short films — for like, a hobby.
- I can be quite brazen. (“You’re Mo Willems,” I said cleverly, since famous children’s book authors often forget their own names.)
- No, really.
- But I hope that’s part of what makes me funny...
- ... if indeed, I am funny. (But now the coverage of the [Nobel Peace Price] is just insane, and I can’t even pass a Hallmark without seeing the Pinter tea light holders left over from last year.)
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