News of the World - and the 48 Hour Book Challenge!

Time, ladies and gentlemen, does not stand still. This has never been more apparent to me than in the past 2 years, when we've gone from couplehood to parenthood, and suddenly we have a three-year-old on our hands. Crazy! And crazier still, my little ol' blog here is just about to celebrate its one-year blogoversary. Yes indeed, that's a full year of sharing news and insights and lots and lots of scrumptious kidlit. Oh boy, and there's so many more books I want to share with you!

To that end, I'm starting a couple of new features on the blog. First up is "Wayback Wednesday". Every Wednesday I will share a classic favorite kidlit title. Some will be picture books, some novels, and there may even be a classic collection or two thrown in. I expect that it won't be tough for me to come up with titles for this feature, as there are so many fantastic oldies-but-goodies that I want to experience all over again with Sprout. But I'd love input from you, dear reader - if you have a classic kid's book that you'd like us to share our thoughts on, please email me (sproutsbookshelf *at* gmail *dot* com) or leave the title in the comments. I'm going to keep the definition of classic pretty loose here, but I'd say it has to be published at least 15 years ago or longer to qualify. And if you have a book blog of your own, we'd love it if you'd join in with a Wayback Wednesday choice of your own. If you do, and you send me the link, I'll share it here as well. This should be a fun one!

The next is a reboot - I'm aiming to bring back my periodic "Link Love" posts, in which I share a plethora of kidlit news from around the globe. This was one of the most popular features when I started it several months ago, but alas, it fell by the wayside with the advent of a hectic couple of semesters there. But I'm chin up and determined to give it another go. So if you come across a juicy tidbit of kidlit loveliness, please send that on to me post-haste. I promise to share with the class.

And the last bit of news is my idea of total self-indulgence - my intention to join in the fun of the 48 Hour Book Challenge. Sponsored by MotherReader, this event is in its seventh year, but this will be my first time to join in. I'm SO excited to be a part of this annual readathon, particularly since this year participants will be donating to Book People Unite, a project of Reading is Fundamental. I'm starting at the shallow end of this challenge, committing right here and now to 12-23 hours of reading and blogging in a 48 hour period this coming weekend, June 8-10. Wow, and even that is going to be a challenge of its own, with a three-year-old Sprout demanding more than a little attention. But I'm determined to get some major reading done, and am building up the TBR Pile even as we speak!

Stay tuned for more blogoversary news, and don't forget to check back tomorrow for the big reveal of our first-ever Wayback Wednesday title!

Link Love: Kid World Citizen

Looking to raise your kids to be global citizens? Want to add new elements of multiculturalism to your classroom or homeschool curriculum? Check out Kid World Citizen, a newly developed website that contains a host of ideas to "help young minds go global".

Started by an adoptive mom with a beautiful, truly multicultural family, Kid World Citizen aims to be a destination site for activities, games, educational items, art projects and other sites that help bring global concerns into a child's everyday life. Plenty of pictures and lots of great links are included. And, of course, there's some terrific books mentioned here too -- including the Runaway Rice Cake, a really fun twist on the familiar Gingerbread Man story that sets the tale in China. Love it!

Studies show that multiculturalism is most effective when it's integrated into the overall curriculum, not made into a special theme unit or focus week. As parents, we want Sprout to recognize his place as a citizen of the world, and what better way to do that than to introduce him to different cultures through music, food, literature, and games? Bookmark Kid World Citizen, or follow them on Facebook, and grow your global consciousness along with us!

Link Love - Reading Rainbow, Award Predictions, & Kadir Nelson

Wow, links aplenty this time! Jumping right in --

~ First, since I'm in a scholarly mood (writing papers will do that to you), here's a study that shows that reading fiction makes you a better person! OK, maybe not a better person, but possibly a more empathetic one, and therefore better at getting along with others. So novels can, theoretically, make the world a better place -- as I always suspected.

~ Remember Reading Rainbow? So many excellent picture books gained attention via this PBS show. In an effort to transfer this success to another platform, LeVar Burton is launching RRKidz, a digital library that is subscription-based and will feature plenty of opportunities for interaction. Great news for backlist titles that might just reach a whole new audience!

~ Early literacy is crucial, which is why shows like Reading Rainbow are important. This piece from School Library Journal takes a look at another early intervention program, Raising a Reader, and the amazing effect their bright red bags have had. And from the Seattle Times, a piece about the tireless work of all the dedicated folks at Reading is Fundamental. In the face of insurmountable challenges, the staff of this organizations soldier on. Heroes, every one.

~ I can't figure out what I think about this essay. On the one hand, anything to get kids reading, right? On the other -- and maybe this is just me -- doesn't that backlit display kind of suck all the romance out of curling up with a book??

~ Shifting gears a bit, the last couple of weeks have seen announcements of big names releasing kids books. Here's one that I'm kind of surprised didn't happen sooner. And here's one that makes me kind of sad -- when will publishers decide to leave well enough alone? Which brings up another question: can celebrities write good children's books?

~ It's no secret that I completely love Kadir Nelson, and just the cover of his new book, Heart and Soul, has me drooling. Add this one to your library queue now, and plan some time to share it with the kiddos in your life. It's guaranteed to be a must-see.

~ Taunting me from my TBR stack is the new Jack Gantos novel, Dead End in Norvelt. I'm pouncing on that one just as soon as I get a handle on all this reading for school, trust me. And it looks like I'm not the only one who considers Gantos a rock star -- check out this homage to Jack from Seven Impossible Things.

~ National Hispanic Heritage month runs from September 15 to October 15. If you're in search of titles for your classroom, library, or just want to get in the spirit of things, Diversity in YA has a terrific list. I especially love that this is a mix of titles old and new. Thanks to Kim Baccellia for this list.

~ Kinda late with this one, but the 2011 winner of Nerds Heart YA has been announced. Here's more about the verdict and the book that won, What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson. Such fun to watch the tournament results unfold -- and I can't wait to read the winner, too!

~ Speaking of awards season, it's heating up. Here's Fuse #8 on her 2012 predictions. Some great titles here -- yay for Okay for Now! And, for another take, the PW Shelftalker blog considers illustrators that have been overlooked by the Caldecott. You may just be surprised (I was!).

~ And finally, let's close with a perfect match -- Read Aloud Dad on Winnie the Pooh. It's already a struggle to wait until I can share the silly old bear with Sprout. This review has me thinking I might just have to break down and reread them myself first. For research purposes, of course (wink).

Link Love - William Joyce, Mock Newberys and Ian Falconer's New Yorker

Another week gone by and more links to be had. Start clicking!

~ First up, William Joyce's new picture book The Man in the Moon released this week. I haven't read it yet but took a minute to flip through, and as expected the art is amazing. Seriously, this is a feast for the eyes and is the kind of thing curious kids (and adults) will pore over. For more info about Joyce and the Guardians of Childhood, check out this issue of Shelf Awareness's Maximum Shelf.

~ Celebrate Roald Dahl this month! It's hard to imagine a world without Roald Dahl's characters -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and of course James and the Giant Peach. (or my personal fave, the underappreciated Danny the Champion of the World). You can honor Dahl's creations by sending a virtual peach -- or, see Dahl illustrator Quentin Blake virtually live on September 28. Scrumptious!

~ Last week I posted about ways you can help hurricane-damaged libraries. Check out Kate Messner's blog for an update -- and thanks to all who are participating.

~ If there's one thing I'm passionate about, it's reading aloud to Sprout. Seriously, it's a rare night that we miss it, and I'm determined to keep that up as long as possible. I firmly believe that reading aloud is the kind of project that's more marathon than sprint, and Read Aloud Dad has a little something to say about that this week too.

~ Along the same lines, a writer reflects on her time working with struggling readers as a parent volunteer. Her conclusions, and the reality of what she experienced, may be somewhat surprising. From School Library Journal.

~ On to fun stuff: It's Book Blogger Appreciation Week! Book blogs abound, in all subject categories and possible permutations. Events like this give us a chance to step back and examine what's happening on other blogs and what trends other bloggers are embracing. Plus, you can find some new favorite reads -- win win! Check out the site and vote for your faves in various categories.

~ Speaking of voting, it's also just about time for the Mock Newberys to start up. Got any personal picks or secret hopes for serious contenders? I'm always fascinated to see not only who's nominated but what great reads don't make the cut -- and how close the Mock Newberys come to the real thing. Bookmark Heavy Medal now.

~ I really, truly love Ian Falconer. Olivia is the kind of book that works on several levels, both for kids and for adults. Best of all, the illustrations give a cheeky nod to old masters and are a great way to introduce kids to some spectacular artwork (although I find the TV adaptation books just unfortunate). Fuse #8 takes a look at Falconer's New Yorker covers, and as expected there's more here than meets the eye. I especially love the ESOL -- heh heh.

~ And finally, I'd be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the anniversary that's on all our minds today. Ten years ago the world changed for America. And we will never be the same again. For Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers, 9/11 sparked a desire to examine what patriotism meant to them. The result, We Are America, is simply breathtaking, inspiring, and unifying.

Link Love -- Boys and Books, Neil Gaiman, and Tigger, No Less!

Took the week off from links last week, not because I planned to but because life just got away from me. Back on schedule this week though, and lots of linky goodness to share!

~ First up, a link from the New York times on boys and reading. Much is made of the need for books that appeal to boys, and whether that is the issue or if there are other factors at work. I tend to think there are lots of factors at work, not least is the need for kids to see adults modeling the behavior. BTW, if you're looking for great reads for boys, there are many options out there -- check out blogs like Guys Lit Wire, Boys Rock Boys Read, and Guys Read, for a start. (Thanks to Aubri K. for the NYT link.)

~ While we're on the topic of authors guys want to read, the Guardian has this interview with Neil Gaiman from the Edinburgh Book Festival. Enough said.

~ A little late, but still, here's a link to Publisher's Weekly's Fall 2011 Children's Books Preview. Make your wish lists now, folks! So much good stuff in one really long link. I might just have to buy this issue, for ease of having the whole list in one place. Oh, and I love that the cover art for that issue is by the illustrator of one of Sprout's current most requested bedtime reads. (Which I am, I fear, slowly in the process of memorizing. But whatever.)

~ Classes start up for me again in two weeks (though papers have already been assigned -- how unfair is that?). If your summer went waaaaay too fast too, how about a rundown of chapter books and picture books from MotherReader? Add a few of these to your library queue and extend the summer love well into the fall. We will be.

~  One of the bad things about balancing work, school and family is that it all cuts into my precious reading time. But I still work hard to fit in some pleasure reading, and Apothecary by Maile Meloy, due out in October, is one I'll make time for. Check out the Publisher's Weekly interview with Meloy. If that's not enough to peak your interest, the book trailer is sure to do the trick.

~ Now that I've whetted your appetite for interviews, how about this conversation with illustrator Jon Klassen from the blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. If Klassen's work looks familiar, you might have seen it in the Incorrigibles books by MaryRose Wood (which, if you haven't read, just get them. Now. You'll thank me later). Sprout and I recently brought home Cats Night Out by Caroline Stutson, which Klassen illustrated. The story itself went completely over Sprout's head, but we both loved the pictures. So there.

~ That last is just another case of a phenomenon that is simply unavoidable: kids and adults view the same material in different ways. Unfortunately it's not always possible for us, as literary professionals and as parents, to understand how and why that difference occurs. Sometimes when I read and rave about something, I wonder: is this a book that kids would actually read and love, or is this the kind of kidlit that is more appreciated by adults than the target audience? Along those lines, Fuse #8 was in a speculative mood this week. What's your opinion?

~ Literary dirty secrets: everyone has one. It's the book (or series) that everyone else in the known universe has read but you. For me, until recently, it was The Hunger Games, but I can now hold my head up high and say that I've read at least the first book, and loved it. At this link, one author comes clean on her hold-out. Fair warning, it's a doozy!

~ And finally, Flavorwire has a recurring feature in which they speculate on various literary characters' playlists. This time around is Tigger, and -- no surprise here -- it's all about fun!

More next week -- and as always, if you have a link to share, pass it on to me at sproutsbookshelf *at*gmail*dot*com.

Link Love - Brit Lit, Africa, and Screening Out the Baddies

Another week gone by (where, exactly, I don't know). But here's a look at links that popped up on my radar this week:

~  First, The Guardian commemorates the 100th anniversary of one of my favorite novels: Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden. Do kids still read this one? I remember being so enchanted by the idea of stumbling on a whole secret place where you could hide away from the rest of the world. Still am, truth be told.

~ Another childhood favorite was Peter Pan, and it was recently announced that there are plans to turn the house that was JM Barrie's inspiration into center for children's literature. I can hardly stand it. How old do you think Sprout has to be before we can visit?? Maybe we'll make a world tour out of it -- Flavorwire has other locations that inspired literary classics.

~  Also from The Guardian, test out your knowledge of kidlit villains. Bonus points if you know the one about Cruella de Vil, one of my all-time favorite baddies (even if they spelled Dalmatians wrong).

~ And while we're talking about villains, do you dial down the badness factor when you read to your kids? Lots of parents do, but Kate Tuttle wonders who we're really trying to protect when we edit out the scary stuff. Screwy Decimal poses a similar question, albeit a whole lot funnier.

~ Things that scare me: newly discovered works by beloved authors. Because really, lots of times the lost should just stay lost. Since they were previously published, this new Random House collection of "lost" Dr. Seuss stories might be different -- but I'll be looking with one eye closed, just in case.

~ Many of you know that my heart belongs to Africa, mostly because of my darling Sprout. And so I get more than a little overly enthusiastic about things like Africa Access Review, a group that aims to help librarians and teachers curate and develop their collection of materials about Africa. Reviews, book clubs, awards -- if you want quality in your library, this is the place to find it. Thanks for Fuse #8 for the link.

~ Alphabet books are tricky -- the ultra-creative ones can sometimes stray too far from the point, the straightforward ones can be DULL. Sprout loved the recent Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray, for its clever plotline and graphic, retro illustrations. And I think this one looks right up our alley too (plus, how can you not love that title??). Thanks to Rasco from RIF for the review.

~  I'm a little late to the party, but I finished The Hunger Games this week and of course LOVED it and can't wait for the movie. According to this I have my deadline for finishing Catching Fire before the movie release. Might just take me that long to move up the library queue!

~ And finally, here's one for the hubs. Jake's ongoing project is seeking out African American characters in comic books, with the goal of hooking Sprout at a very young age. I suspect he's secretly yearning for a ComicCon buddy, but anything that keeps Sprout reading is fine by me. Check out this glimpse at African American superheroes from The Network Journal.

If you come across a kidlit link that you'd like to see featured here, please shoot it my way! Contact me at sproutsbookshelf *at* gmail *dot* com. Thanks!

Link Love -- Children's Classics, Summer Camp, and a Bevy of New Releases!

A quick rundown of some kidlit links of interest from the past week:

~  First up: a peek inside the home of the fantastic Tomie dePaola, author/illustrator of the classic Strega Nona series and my personal fave, 26 Fairmont Avenue. For wit and whimsy and all the things that make kidlit wonderful, Tomie dePaola's books are the best of the best. Check out this amazing behind-the-scenes tour from Shelftalker blogger Elizabeth Bluemle.

~ Also from Shelftalker, blogger Josie Leavitt on parents who claim "she's not a strong reader". What we say affects our kids, no doubt, and when we expect that they won't be interested in something, especially reading, that often proves to be true. Positive talk and attitudes go a long way!

~  TBR list alert! From the Diversity In YA blog, a roundup of August releases that feature diversity in a main character or plotline.

~ Speaking of new releases, one I'm pretty excited to read is Vanished by debut author Sheela Chari, a middle-grade mystery with a protagonist who happens to be Indian-American. Cynthia Leitich Smith profiled Sheela Chari over at her blog Cynsations. Check back later for my review!

~ And here's another must-read: the new release by Brian Selznick, Wonderstruck. Check out this interview from Publisher's Weekly. So many cool threads in this one novel, and the illustrations are sure to be amazing, of course. References to From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler? Swoon!

~ All of us have a few children's titles we consider classics, the kind of timeless works that we return to again and again, and can't wait to share with the young readers in our lives. For me the list is pretty long, and I'm pleased to note that a few (The Snowy Day, Harry the Dirty Dog, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel) are hits with Sprout already. The Lemuria Bookstore Blog asks "what do children's classics mean to you?", and gets some intriguing answers.

~ If you're passionate about sharing books with others, this is the link for you. The Little Free Library is a movement that started small but is spreading to communities all across the country. I'd love to do this where we live -- what a fun way to spread some literary love!

~ Summer is just not the same for grown-ups -- no long vacations, lazy days reading library books, and definitely no summer camp. Which is a complete bummer, because this camp for bookish kids is one I would love to attend, even now. Can you even believe that author list! Seriously, adulthood is soooo not fair.

~ I'm a recent convert to audiobooks but I LOVE them, mainly because the format allows me to sneak in a whole lot more reading than I'd otherwise be able to do. If you love audios too, you'll want to take a peek at the AudioSynced July Roundup over at Abby the Librarian's blog. (Why yes, there are a couple of reviews from yours truly on the list. What do you know!)

~ And finally, librarians as superheroes? Oh yeah. Check out this list of 10 Action Librarians from The Mary Sue.

Link Love - Sendak, Tintin and Potter, Oh My!

Loads of juicy stuff in the link roundup for this week!

~  On my fall radar already is Cedella Marley’s picture book One Love, based on her father’s song of the same name. The illustrations by Vanessa Brantley-Newton are crazy cute and features a great theme, that we can all do incredible things if we work together. Check out the trailer and feel the love.

~  Also due in September is Maurice Sendak’s Bumble-Ardy, the first book in 30 years that Sendak has both written and illustrated. Dave Eggers interviewed Sendak for Vanity Fair, and the author is, as always, nothing if not unpredictable.

~  The 2011 Bulwer-Lytton Awards were announced this week. Not familiar? The award is named for Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, the playwright who penned what is widely considered the worst opening sentence in literary history. The more florid the sentence, the better in this case. This year’s winner, Sue Fondrie, had the shortest sentence yet, but it is wonderfully awful: “Cheryl’s mind turned like the vanes of a wind-powered turbine, chopping her sparrow-like thoughts into bloody pieces that fell onto a growing pile of forgotten memories”. Eeeuuuwwww. . .

~  Harry Potter mania is beginning to wane. I haven’t seen the new movie yet, but then I haven’t seen the last movie yet either – such is life when you have a small child. Maybe on DVD? Anyway, if you are mourning the end of an era like so many Potter devotees, perhaps you can try to recapture the magic as one couple did, with a (pretty amazing) Potter-themed wedding. Capes optional.

~  Tintin fans, rejoice! According to The Guardian, the new movie looks to have “the most impressive use of motion capture yet” (and with Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson involved, are we at all surprised?). Read the full story here and check out the trailer too.

~  Flavorwire has a new take at artwork for some classic fairy tales, that might be more at home in the living room than in the kid’s bedrooms. Personal fave? Little Red Riding Hood. Deliciously Grimm!

~  Cover design is a huge part of a book’s appeal, whether we want to admit it or not. Don’t believe me? Take a peek at the Book Cover Archive. Fair warning: it’s oddly mesmerizing.

~  And finally, for any who doubt the power of books, and librarians, to influence the course of a child's life, Stephen King has words for you.

Link Love - A Clickable Roundup of Kidlit Bits

New feature! This week I'm starting a (hopefully) regular effort to share some of the useful, funny, off-the-wall and oh-so-relevant links I've stumbled upon in the recent past. I wouldn't say this is "news" per se, but rather a gathering of stuff that might peak your curiosity, if you're the kidlit-minded sort -- which presumably you are, unless you just happen to know me in real life and are reading along out of sheer politeness. Either way, thank you. Consider this your reward!

• First up, birthday wishes and all felicitations to Winnie-the-Pooh. The silly old bear turns 90 years old this summer. 90! And he doesn't look a day over five. Send Pooh your own birthday wishes care of the Children's Center at the New York Public Library (sorry, no honey pots accepted).
• While we're talking classics, for me it begins and ends with Ramona Quimby, the precocious kindergartner that I fell in love with many years ago. Author Beverly Cleary celebrated her 95th birthday this past spring, and had a lot to say about writing, balancing a career, and the state of children's books. I love that she didn't see the point behind "refreshing" the illustrations in her books. Apologies to Tracy Dockray, the new illustrator, but to me Ramona will always be as Louis Darling saw her. Guess I'd better start scouring used bookstores now to find the oldies for Sprout.

• Speaking of the little man, he is a hard-core Thomas the Tank Engine devotee right now. We love us some Useful Engines, and all their assorted friends and adventures. Good thing he's still too young to plan our next family vacation -- now that the location of Sodor has been revealed, I have a sneaky hunch that's where we'd end up!
• This next click comes from the UK as well. Kidlit fans, test your knowledge with the Guardian's quiz about beloved kidlit characters in the classroom. And yes, Hogwarts leads the way.
• If you aced that one, test your knowledge with this piece about little-known kidlit by famous writers. Seems like a few things here are better left undiscovered.
• My last post was about the devastatingly brilliant novel One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. Of course you've read that post, right? If not, scroll down first and then read this interview with Williams-Garcia's editor. "As an editor, the smartest thing I can do is leave Rita alone." Whoa!
•  At last! An imprint brings us sci-fi, fantasy and mystery novels WITH DIVERSITY! Tu Books is the product of the ever-fantastic Lee & Low Books, and the brainchild of editorial director Stacy Whitman. I can hardly wait. Check out the Tu Books debut list, pubbing this fall, and then read this awesome interview with Whitman over at the HappyNappy Bookseller. How crazy wonderful is that Tankborn cover??!?
• How did I not know that Jeff Smith's amazing Bone books are finally being made into a movie? Ah well, this is what I get for neglecting my entertainment news in favor of studying. Anyway, the word from Comic Con is that things are coming together for a three-film project. Here's hoping they do those racing cows justice.
• And finally, I can't possibly ignore the biggest publishing news of the week: the total liquidation of the Borders chain, and the loss of jobs for nearly 11,000 booksellers. This news makes me terribly sad, not least because that's 399 fewer outlets for kids to connect with books, and for books like those published by Lee & Low and all the other diversity-minded houses to be discovered. I owe a lot to Borders -- my bookselling roots were planted in a Waldenbooks outlet, grew and flourished at several more, and branched out to an indie and a used bookstore. I met my husband there, made some wonderful friends, and discovered amazing kidlit during all those hours of shelving. Say what you will about Borders, but they were the home base of some incredibly knowledgable and enthusiastic booksellers, and their talents will be missed by everyone whose lives they touched. Here's a great response from one indie, who hopes that the flames kindled within Borders customers can continue to burn at local bookstores everywhere.