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Children’s book classics such as Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat and the Hat will be available in ebook format for the first time beginning on September 24. Fifteen of author/illustrator Dr. Seuss’s (aka Theodor Geisel) beloved titles will make their digital debut on that date, keeping the original layouts and iconic illustrations from their print editions, says publisher Random House Children’s. By November 2013, a total of 41 ebooks will be available for children, parents, and educators.
Sophie’s Squash By Pat Zietlow Miller Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf Schwartz & Wade (Random House) ISBN: 9780307978967 $18.99 Grades PreK-1 In Stores *Best New Book* Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library Children are masters of personification. Rock, stick, spoon – they can turn just about anything into a sentient being. In terms of [...]
Filmmaker Hannah Weyer based her novel on a true story and uses an authentic “urban vernacular” to keep it real. Teen readers will be rooting for her young protagonist from start to finish. Adult Books 4 Teens blogger Angela Carstensen speaks with the author about On the Come Up and the real teen that inspired the book.
Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman. Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House. 2012. Review copy from publisher. Guest post about this book at this blog by Beth Ann Bauman. The Plot: It’s the summer before Angel Cassonetti’s senior year of high school. “Summer has begun, and I am filled with hope.” Angel just wants [...]
Early on the morning of May 23 in the Louis L’Amour Room of the Random House building on Broadway in New York City, there was a magical gathering of librarians, reviewers, and publishers. Attendees consumed a delicious breakfast as editors from each imprint shared upcoming titles. Here are some of the highlights.
Yellowcake by Margo Lanagan. Random House Children’s Books. 2013. Reviewed from ARC from publisher. The Plot: A short story collection from Margo Lanagan. Which means two things: each story is incredibly unique; each is amazingly good. The Good: Here’s the problem: each Margo Lanagan short story is so unique that it’s impossible to easily sum [...]
Bean Dog and Nugget: The Ball By Charise Mericle Harper Alfred A. Knopf (Random House) ISBN: 9780307977076 $4.99 Grades K-3 In stores May 14, 2013 Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library “I am a former child, and I haven’t forgotten a thing.” -Ursula Nordstrom, Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom Getting into [...]
Scowler by Daniel Kraus. Delacorte Press, Random House. 2013. Review copy from publisher. The Plot: August, 1981. Changes are coming; Ry Burke, 19, knows this. The family farm is dying and he, his mother, Jo Beth, and his eleven year old sister Sarah, will have to leave. Sarah hunts the sky for changes of a [...]
Peanut Written by Ayun Halliday; Drawn by Paul Hoppe Schwartz & Wade; $15.99 There’s a panel in Ayun Halliday and Paul Hoppe’s Peanut that could also serve as a log line for the book. “The hardest thing about a peanut allergy,” says the main character, Sadie Wildhack, “is remembering to stay vigilant. Especially if you [...]
Although Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s immensely popular “Lunch Lady” series of graphic novels will come to an end this year, the women and men who work in our nation’s school cafeterias will not be forgotten. Krosoczka recently announced that May 3 will now be known as “School Lunch Superhero Day,” a day for kids to show their appreciation for all of their cafeteria workers.
Navigating Early By Clare Vanderpool Delacorte Press (Random House) ISBN: 9780385742092 $16.99 Grades 5-8 In Stores *Best New Book* Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library When Moon Over Manifest won the 2011 Newbery Medal, it took everyone off guard. Any time a debut novel receives that sort of recognition, the followup isn’t just [...]
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 [...]
Random House authors N.D. Wilson, Jeanne Birdsall, and Rebecca Stead have lunch with librarians to discuss writing for middle school students; Meg Rosoff and Sophie Blackall attend the 14th Annual Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Conference in NYC.
All things Seuss were in the air Monday at the 42nd branch of the New York Public Library as Random House Children’s Books and Dr. Seuss Enterprises launched its “Hats Off to Dr. Seuss!” campaign, a yearlong celebration of the famed children’s book author.
HALLIDAY, Ayun. Peanut. illus. by Paul Hoppe. 216p. Random/Schwartz and Wade. Jan. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86590-9; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96590-6.
Gr 7 Up–Worried about transferring to a new school, Sadie comes up with the idea of faking a peanut allergy. She thinks that pretending to have a life-threatening condition will draw attention to her and generate sympathy. Her predictions come true, and she makes several new friends and even attracts a boyfriend. But as time passes, Sadie finds it harder [...]
Check out this week’s News Bites for information on a business-related competition for students and teachers, minigrants offered to teachers and librarians by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, and the latest publishing news.
Another (and last for the year) guest post from pinch-hitter Joy Piedmont. This time, Joy raves about a book that made the contenda list with three stars but mostly deserves recognition as a serious buzz book. I’m a long time fan of Adele Griffin’s, and this is, I think, a stronger candidate than her last [...]
“School libraries, I believe, will be the coming focal point for ebook licensing,” write Chris Harris. “We have strong relationships with our K–12 publishing partners, but now we must reach out to the trade houses. As the print market weakens, the time is right for schools to present a new business proposal.”
Crush: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Love. By Gary Paulsen. 2 CDs. 2:28 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4692-0311-9. $39.97.
Gr 5-8–Once again, Kevin Spencer (Liar, Liar and Flat Broke) tackles the problems of his world, this time with careful, scientific logic, and no lies. Kevin still has a crush on Tina Zabinski,. He’s sure that he is her perfect match, but he won’t approach her until he’s 100 percent positive that he can win her heart. This doesn’t [...]
Seraphina, Rachel Hartman
Random House, July 2012
Reviewed from ARC
Gosh golly, but I love rereading.
Book change upon acquaintance. They get deeper (or, sometimes, shallower, but let’s not go there); different aspects bubble to the top; when the reader is no longer at the mercy of the plot’s momentum there is time to really savor all the different [...]
