Send your pictures of the week to sdiaz@mediasourceinc.com

An SLJ reader’s daughter peruses our Early Learning-focused July issue, which featured the iconic Sesame Street character, Big Bird, on the cover.

From the librarian: “Thank you so much for the article on Sesame Street and mobile devices in SLJ’s July 2013 issue. My two-year-old was just as excited about receiving SLJ this month as her mommy was! We’ll make her a librarian yet!”

A swarm of teen zombies invades Beloit (WI) Public Library for Library Card Sign-Up Month.

Beloit (WI) Public Library is celebrating September’s Library Card Sign-Up Month with a campaign that showcases staff members and patrons. Head of Adult Services Tina Kakuske helmed the project; Jeni Schomber, Matthew Ruddle, and Nicole Ballok helped brainstorm themes and design. The eight downloadable posters and bookmarks highlight the community’s needs and interests. Teen zombies and a Star Wars-baby make memorable appearances.

Even the youngest of patrons join in on the Library Card Sign-up fun. Photos by Tina Kakuske. Design by Martha Gammons.

On July 31, 2013 (Harry Potter and author  J. K . Rowling’s birthday), Scholastic unveiled a new look for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Author/illustrator Kazu Kibuishi created new covers  for each of the titles in beloved series. The book covers were revamped in time for the 15th anniversary of the U.S. publication of Rowling’s series opener.

Kazu Kibuishi in front of the newly revealed cover that he illustrated for the new edition of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Photos by Mark Tuchman.

For more photos of the Harry Potter birthday/cover reveal celebration, check out the slideshow below.

Acclaimed author/illustrator Ashley Bryan celebrated his 90th birthday at the Simon & Schuster Children’s fall preview on July 25. The winner of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, and the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton and Coretta Scott King Awards was joined by librarians, publishing professionals, and fellow children’s books artists.

Author/illustrator Ashley Bryan, Donna Isaacs, and author/illustrator Paul O. Zelinksy hold a copy of Bryan’s next book, Can’t Scare Me. (l. to r.)  Photo by Rocco Staino

Santa Clarita Public Library‘s (CA) summer reading program is in full swing at their Canyon Country branch.

The Magic of Food and More program with Lincoln Bond.

Michael McCarty storyteller extraordinaire

 

Jewelry created by teens at the Trash to Trinkets program. Photos courtesy of the Santa Clarita Library Tumblr.

 

Arne Duncan, Michelle Kwan, Sam Kass, and Rep. John Kline at the first Let’s Read! Let’s Move! event. (l. to r.). Photo by Leslie Williams

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hosted the first Let’s Read! Let’s Move! event of 2013 on Wednesday, July 10, at the U.S. Department of Education headquarters in Washington, D.C.  Along with Rep. John Kline of Minnesota, chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce; Sam Kass, executive director of Let’s Move! and senior policy advisor on nutrition, and Michelle Kwan, member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition and Olympic figure skater, the celebrity guests read to a group of students. Kwan then led the children in a session of fun, physical activities.

Send your pictures of the week to sdiaz@mediasourceinc.com

In celebration of its 25th Anniversary of children’s publishing, Chronicle Books hosted a cocktail reception at the American Library Association Annual conference that included a raffle of original artwork inspired by the company’s spectacles logo. The pieces were created by many award-winning and bestselling illustrators, including Tom Lichtenheld, Sophie Blackall, Taro Gomi, and more. The artists presented the prizes to the raffle winners.

Illustrator Tom Lichtenheld and children’s literature professor Susannah Richards. Photos courtesy of Chronicle Books.

Illustrator Vladimir Radunsky presented original art  to Susan Faust, librarian at San Francisco’s Katherine Delmar Burke School.

Send your pictures of the week to sdiaz@mediasourceinc.com

On June 24, the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City kicked off its first annual National Pajama Party Week with the book launch of Bedtime Math: A Fun Excuse to Stay Up Late (Fiewel and Friends) by Laura Overdeck, author and founder of the Bedtime Math nonprofit, an organization whose mission is to make nightly the math problem as common as the bedtime story. The event included math focused games for families and a book giveaway and signing by the author.

Bedtime Math author Laura Overdeck signs books for awaiting fans. Photos courtesy of Bedtime Math

Families read and worked together to solve math games.

Director and co-writer Lawrence Blume, author and co-writer Judy Blume, and actress Amy Jo Johnson (Gwen Wexler) answer questions after screening of Tiger Eyes, the first motion picture adaptation of one of the author’s novels. Photos by Chelsey Philpot.

On June 7,  Tiger Eyes (PG-13) premiered in select theaters nationwide and was also released simultaneously on Video On Demand and iTunes. Co-written by Judy and Lawrence, who also directed, this film is the first adaptation of one of the iconic author’s novels. Actress Amy Jo Johnson, who plays the main character’s mother in the film, joined the Blumes in a panel discussion and Q & A session with the audience at the movie’s premiere at the AMC Theaters in Times Square, New York City.

For more information, read Betsy Bird’s interview with the mother/son team.

See also: Tiger Eyes and Transliteracy: Confessions of Someone Who Hasn’t Read the Novel

Please send your pictures of the week to sdiaz@mediasourceinc.com.

The Mystery Writers of America celebrated Edgar Allan Poe’s 204th birthday with the announcement of the Edgar Awards on May 2.

(l. to r.) Art Corriveau 13 Hangmen (Abrams), Jack D. Ferraiolo The Quick Fix (Abrams), Sheila Turnage, Three Times Lucky (Dial), Tom Angleberger, Fake Mustache (Abrams), and Stuart Gibbs, Spy School (S & S). Ferraiolo took the top prize in the Juvenile Fiction category. Photo by Rocco Staino

Author Michael Dahl helped give away hundreds of copies of his new picture book Goodnight Baseball (Capstone, 2013) on “Educators Day” at a Saint Paul Saints baseball game on May 9. The day is exclusively for teachers and students, and was the first exhibition game of the minor league baseball team this season. Photo provided by Capstone Publishing.

 Please send your pictures of the week to sdiaz@mediasourceinc.com.

The Minnesota Youth Reading Awards (MYRA) executive board announced the winners of the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award on April 25. It selected Wendy Mass’s 11 Birthdays (Scholastic, 2009) and Ally Condie’s Matched (Dutton, 2010). The nominees for next year’s first-ever Star of the North Picture Book Award were also announced. These children’s choice book awards were created to foster Minnesota’s school-age children to read.

Minnesota Author David LaRochelle was the featured guest at the Star of the North Picture Book Award reception held April 17 at Mackin Educational Resources in Burnsville, MN. LaRochelle signs his nominated book, It’s a Tiger!  (Chronicle, 2012). Photo by Katherine Warde.