If you like your children’s lit history lessons in four minute installments, this video’s for you. Michael Slicker of Lighthouse Books provides a quickie history of the origins of children’s lit, in the process shouting out Randolp…
Singing Kumbaya at Nerdcamp
By on July 12, 2013
I regret that I had but one set of eyes and ears at Nerdcamp. – Nathan Hale¹ ¹Loosely paraphrasing here. Nerdcamp is one of those things that, when taken out of context, can make for an entertaining interaction. I know this because about a month ago my wife Allison noticed it on my calendar and [...]
The Wildest Children’s Books of 2013
By on July 10, 2013
I tend to think we are in the midst of a great period of creativity in children’s books. In many ways, there seems to be a loosening of the tie, with unexpected combinations of illustration, text, and design popping up all over the place. Below are a few 2013 books that had me saying “huh?!” [...]
Morning Notes: Ascot Signing Bonus Edition
By on July 9, 2013
SO WHO’S BUYING THE BOOKS? Infographics – there are a ton of the things out there. I rank them using a handy Internal “Hm” Meter. The more internal “hm”s I inaudibly “say”, the better the infographic. This one, from the folks at Random House, received a number of “hm”s. Trends in Consumer Book Buying is [...]
One Star Review Guess Who? (#8)
By on July 6, 2013
Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on GoodReads or Amazon? This book should be called Gorilla Interrupted because it’s as depressing as Girl Interrupted but told from a gorilla’s perspective. Why this is recommended as a top summer reading book is beyond me. And it won a Newbery Award! [...]
Instagramming ALA Annual 2013: Part III
By on July 6, 2013
Click here for Part I Click here for Part II Here’s how Sunday went: Caldecott committee meeting, website advisory committee meeting, Newbery Caldecott Wilder Banquet time. This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the Caldecott, so folks were encouraged to incorporate their favorite Caldecott winner into their clothing choices. For me, that meant opening my [...]
Instagramming ALA Annual 2013: Part II
By on July 4, 2013
Click here for Part I Heck of a way to start a post that promises images, huh? The reason is that Saturday began with my Caldecott Committee meeting. Mum’s the word on the whole process. I will say this: after some initial nerves, it was about as interesting and enjoyable a discussion as a picture [...]
Instagramming ALA Annual 2013: Part I
By on July 3, 2013
How did we end up here, with me sticking my head out of a hole to pay tribute to Randolph Caldecott? Let’s start at the beginning. This past weekend I aggressively underpacked, saddled up my trusty metal steed and lit out for the bustling metropolis of Chicago and the American Library Association Annual Conference. For me [...]
Books on Film: Maurice Sendak on Childhood
By on June 27, 2013
How do you prevent being eaten whole by a monster? PBS has a video series called Blank on Blank with a mission to “curate and transform journalists’ unheard interviews with icons, bringing them to life on radio, mobile apps, YouTube, and beyond.” They recently gave the video treatment to a 2009 Newsweek interview with Maurice [...]
Morning Notes: Mock Turtleneck Edition
By on June 26, 2013
TAKING A BACKSEAT TO NO BOOK LIST The fine folks at the NPR Backseat Book Club are sounding the alarm (or, more likely given the NPR affiliation, sounding the mellow jazz interlude) for the best children’s books of all time. The “ultimate kids bookshelf” for ages 9-14. You’ve got your favorites – click here to [...]
What’s in the Secret Inbox of Mystery?
By on June 25, 2013
What’s this? Better open it… American Library Association Annual Conference here I come! This one has the makings of the best ever for the following reasons. 1. It’s close to home. A mere hop and skip around Lake Michigan for me. 2. There will be Nerds. A large contingent of Michigan Nerdy Book Club blog [...]
Books on Film: Far Out with Tomi Ungerer
By on June 24, 2013
Tomi Ungerer documentary Far Out Isn’t Far Enough is billed as “One man’s wild, lifelong adventure of testing society’s boundaries through his subversive art”. Based on the first line in this trailer I’d say … pretty accurate. A film about the life and times of a children’s literature legend that isn’t for children. Click the image [...]
Summer Scope Notes
By on June 20, 2013
Due to summer, 100 Scope Notes will be up on the shelf until Monday – see you back here then.
Cue Drumroll: The Great Summer Graphic Novel Giveaway Winners
By on June 20, 2013
Roll the drums… The winners of the Great Summer Graphic Novel Giveaway are: The Big Wet Balloon by Liniers goes to murphyj Bluffton: My Summer with Buster Keaton by Matt Phelan is awarded to Dana J. ChickenHare by Chris Grine is bestowed upon Lauralou92 Tommysaurus Rex by Doug Tennapel will soon be sent to slowah [...]
The Great Summer Graphic Novel Giveaway
By on June 19, 2013
Link Du Jour: 2014 Newbery Hopefuls (According to Goodreads)
By on June 16, 2013
June is the time of year when the Mock Newbery favorites on Goodreads start taking shape. Let’s pull up the top five, and you can click here to see the entire list. While it’s far from a lock, the Goodreads list can be a good indicator of books that might end up in the Newbery discussion. [...]
One Star Review Guess Who? (#7)
By on June 14, 2013
Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on GoodReads or Amazon? I came to this book with a relatively open mind, but I must say, this book wastes ink–literally. The pages are all framed with black, and at the end of each chapter, there is a blank, black page. The [...]
Morning Notes: The Vapors Edition
By on June 11, 2013
SAVE THE SCHOOL LIBRARY What to do when school library funding dries up? How about a fundraiser auction featuring original artwork from some of the best illustrators children’s literature has to offer? This is exactly what New York’s P.S. 363 (A.K.A. The Neighborhood School) is doing. Godspeed. Click here to check out the auction WHERE’S [...]
Review: The Big Wet Balloon by Liniers
By on June 10, 2013
The Big Wet Balloon By Liniers TOON Books ISBN: 9781935179320 $12.95 Grades 1-2 In Stores September 10, 2013 Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library Not every sibling relationship is fraught with resentment. Scanning the children’s literature landscape, however, you might forget this is the case. Lately, at least, the reluctant brother or sister [...]
Link Du Jour: BEA Buzz
By on June 9, 2013
“So children’s publishing, how’s your upcoming season?” “I’d say strong … to quite strong.”¹ Publishers (no apostrophe, please) Weekly tells tales of all the high-buzz books coming in this summer and fall. DiCamillo, Willems, Henkes – lots of familiar faces here. Click here to read. *UPDATE* PW also has an excellent gallery of all the [...]
