The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson. Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. 2013. Conclusion of The Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy: The Girl of Fire and Thorns (book one) and The Crown of Embers (book two). The Plot: Elisa, Godstone Bearer and Queen of Joya d’Arena, is running into the hand of her greatest enemy, the Invierne. In [...]
Review: Pain, Parties, Work
By on August 29, 2013
Pain, Parties, Work: Sylvia Plath in New York, Summer 1953 by Elizabeth Winder. HarperCollins. 2013. Personal Copy. Vacation reads — when I review not-teen books that people may be interested in reading! It’s About: In June, 1953, Sylvia Plath was a guest editor for the fashion magazine, Mademoiselle. The guest editor program was prestigious. The [...]
The Missing File
By on August 23, 2013
I’ve been meaning to post about D.A. Mishani’s The Missing File for several months now, but hadn’t quite figured out what to say. At first, I was looking around for another book to pair it with, in particular another mystery in translation because except for Sweden we don’t seem to get many mysteries from other [...]
Toon Review: The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
By on August 9, 2013
The Year of Billy Miller By Kevin Henkes Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins) ISBN: 9780062268150 $16.99 Grades 2-4 In Stores September 17, 2013 Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library *Best New Book* (click on comics to enlarge) Digital review copy from Edelweiss. Also reviewed by For Those About to Mock, A Fuse #8 Production, Waking Brain [...]
Damaged Young Women
By on July 25, 2013
I’m very excited to introduce today’s novels, all three centered on emotionally damaged young women, and two of which are debuts that earn starred reviews from us. I read the two debuts–Panopticon and Lotería–in short succession, about a month ago, and I’m hard pressed to say which I’m more excited about–both introduce readers to ferocious new talents [...]
Marc Simont, Beloved Caldecott Medalist, Dies at 97
By on July 17, 2013 Leave a Comment
Acclaimed children’s book creator Marc Simont, who illustrated nearly 100 children’s books, died on Saturday, July 13. He was 97. His many honors include a Caldecott Medal for the art in Janice May Udry’s A Tree is Nice, and Caldecott Honors for illustrating Ruth Krauss’s The Happy Day, and his own The Stray Dog.
Review: Wait For You
By on July 9, 2013
Wait For You by J. Lynn (who also writes as Jennifer L. Armentrout). William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins. 2013. Personal copy. The Plot: Avery Morgansten is starting college away from home, away from family. Not just away; she’s also chosen a college in West Virginia that she knows will have no one from [...]
Librarian, Blogger, Author: Betsy Bird Talks About ‘Giant Dance Party’
By on June 24, 2013 Leave a Comment
Longtime School Library Journal blogger Elizabeth Bird, the New York Public Library’s youth materials collections specialist, can add published author to her name this year. Her festive debut picture book, Giant Dance Party, is about a girl who overcomes her stage fright by teaching blue fuzzy giants how to dance. SLJ caught up with Bird recently to discuss her unique path to publication, how her work as a children’s librarian informed her experience as a first-time author, and whether Lexy and the giants will be making a repeat performance.
Pick of the Day: The One and Only Ivan (Audiobook)
By on June 11, 2013 Leave a Comment
Katherine Applegate’s Newbery winner, The One and Only Ivan,, is a heart-wrenching tale that reminds us that every animal has the right to a safe place called home. Be sure to read the starred review of the audiobook from Recorded Books.
HarperCollins Fall Kids | Preview Peek
By on May 30, 2013 Leave a Comment
Even though it was hot and muggy on May 22 in New York City, it was crisp and autumnal inside the HarperCollins Children’s Books fall 2013 preview event, where librarians and reviewers were treated to a delicious spread of breakfast and books that were laid out in tempting piles of frosting, nuts, and glittery covers. From brightly colored picture books to edgy YA, there was something for every age, type, and stripe of reader. Here are some of the highlights.
Two Books, Two Stars
By on May 1, 2013
Two magical books topped off our April reading, both earning starred reviews. The Golem and the Jinni is a mash-up of Jewish and Arab folklore, historical fiction and fantasy, new and old world sensibilities. Helene Wecker’s debut seems destined to be among the best of the year. The publisher has certainly gone all-out. The physical package is richly [...]
Weekly Reviews: Magic
By on April 29, 2013
Today’s three reviewed novels share elements of the supernatural and magical realism. What teenager doesn’t wish for a superpower, if only to imagine themselves less under the control of the adults in their lives? In a series of connected vignettes, What the Family Needed introduces seven members of one family who grapple with special abilities. [...]
Weekly Reviews: Debut Novels
By on April 3, 2013
Today’s reviews are all notable debut novels by women. I spent part of my spring break tearing through Kimberly McCreight’s Reconstructing Amelia, and let me tell you — teens are going to eat this up. It came out just yesterday, so go order a couple copies now. There are several appeal elements here. First, the [...]
Pick of the Day: Merry Christmas, Splat
By on March 22, 2013 Leave a Comment
Children will identify with Splat the cat’s quest for Christmas presents in the animated version of Rob Scotton’s Merry Christmas, Splat. Be sure to check out this starred review.
Omnibus Mystery Review Post
By on February 18, 2013
Pick of the Day: The Great Unexpected (Audiobook)
By on February 14, 2013 Leave a Comment
“Rich symbolism abounds, and many common threads are woven together” in Sharon Creech’s The Great Unexpected. Read SLJ’s starred review of the audiobook version.
10 to Note: Spring Preview 2013
By on February 12, 2013
It’s time to once again to look at the season before us and say “that looks good”. What follows are books coming out in March, April, and May that appear to have promise. Picture Book Giant Dance Party by Betsy Bird; illustrated by Brandon Dorman April 23 | Greenwillow | Grades K-2 Ever heard of [...]
Pick of the Day: We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart (Audiobook)
By on February 5, 2013 Leave a Comment
We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart. By Walter Dean Myers. CD. 33:51 min. with hardcover book. Live Oak Media. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4301-1112-2. $29.95.
Gr 3 Up–The sweeping scope of Myers’s free verse poems (HarperCollins, 2011) is captured beautifully and interpreted dramatically on this CD by a diverse cast of narrators. This eminently patriotic book celebrates free expression and attempts to paint with word pictures the depth and breadth of the varied American experience. Rarely are all ethnicities given voice [...]
On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: New Releases for Your Nonfiction Shelves
By on January 28, 2013 1 Comment
Good nonfiction titles rise to the top as librarians focus their content needs to meet the Common Core State Standards. New releases by our favorite authors and illustrators include an environmental bilingual poem, a picture-book biography, a fact-filled science title, and a narrative account of a bird’s 7,200 mile migration.
News Bites: Apply for ALSC Día Mini-Grants by February 1
By on January 16, 2013 Leave a Comment
Check out this week’s News Bites for the latest information on library grants, writing contest for young adults, and more.
