December 2005 Archives

TheNarniaForums is a discussion board for all things Narnia. It includes the movies and the books, as well as games, the TV series, fan art, fan fiction, and Christianity and the stories.

If you are a parent or a librarian who works with teens and preteens, then you have probably heard of Runescape, a multi-player role playing game that is available free online.  Runescape Boards is a site that will be useful for players, because they can ask questions, get answers, and browse previous conversations for ideas on how to improve their game. 

In My Heart by Molly Bang is close to my heart.  I have a four-year-old son who is always worried about us being apart.  I have told him for years that he is always in my heart.  Then along came this picture book, and it really created a magical moment at first reading.  Bang has created a colorful, joyous book that celebrates the fact that even when parents and children are apart they are still in each other's hearts. 

Recommend this to working parents or families with children heading off to preschool or daycare.  It is a symbol that has worked well for us, and I know that it will ease other little folks' fears. 

British researchers have found that there is a side effect of the release of a new Harry Potter book: empty emergency rooms.  Children visiting emergency rooms in Britain dropped by HALF on summer weekends when the books were released.  The article has a nice sense of humor combined with the results, though I would quibble with their assumption that if kids read more they will be less active.  I think that if kids read more they will watch less TV, and that is always a positive tradeoff.

Margaret Hodges is dead at age 94.  She is the author of books like St. George and the Dragon, winner of the Caldecott Medal.  Fans of her writing can expect two more of her books to be published posthumously.

The Salisbury Post has an article from the Rowan Public Library with a group of recommended snow books to share with children.  And the list is completely wonderful with some old favorites, some new surprises and my son's favorite snow book in recent years, Martin MacGregor's Snowman by Lisa Brodie Cook.

Here are a pair of easy reader books from the I Am Reading series.  Both will appeal to kids who like monsters, witches, and other semi-scary beasties.

Creepy Customers by Samantha Hay, illustrated by Sarah Warburton is the story of Steve who is forced to help out his dad in the pharmacy during the first day of his school vacation.  He expects it to be dull, but then a parade of strange customers arrive.  Kids will enjoy seeing who is coming into the shop next.  This is a book that will get even kids who don't enjoy reading started.

The Perfect Monster by Sally Grindley, illustrated by Erica-Jane Waters features Mungus Bigfoot, a monster who is the loudest, rudest, smelliest, and worst monster in his class.  Because he is so good at being a monster, he is asked to help Emily Twinkletoes become more monsterlike.  But Emily is more like a human child.  She tries to be nice, worries about how others feel, and sings instead of growling.  As Mungus starts to teach Emily, he realizes that it is nice to have a kind friend.  But how are they going to have her become the perfect monster then?  This is a light, sweet story where the monster theme will draw kids in. 

The Bonemender by Holly Bennett is a great read.  It is the story of Gabrielle, the daughter of a king, who was born with a unique power of healing with her hands.  No one has ever seen anything like it, but she trains with the local healer and uses her talent to heal those around her.  Then two strange men arrive, one of them bearing an awful wound to his thigh.  Gabrielle heals the man, and in the process learns that they are elves and gradually falls in love with one of them.  But the elves come bearing terrible news of an invasion of their peaceful kingdom by dark forces.  The elves and humans must join together to fight off this foe. 

The story is a mix of romance, fantasy and war story.  It is a fast read, told from both Gabrielle's point of view and Feolan, the elf she loves.  Give this to fantasy lovers as well as romance readers.  It is a perfect stepping stone for teens who will enjoy paranormal romances. 

I have started yet another blog.  As the director of a small town library for the last ten years, I have found my niche in libraries.  I want to share my love of small libraries with others.  So I have started Small Town Librarian.  It only has a couple of posts so far, but I have plenty to share.  Please feel free to share comments, experiences and more.  Even those running big libraries may enjoy learning about their little siblings. 

Even better, being an administrator at a little library has let me continue my love affair with children's books and teen literature. 

The Stars Will Still Shine by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke is a picture book set to a poem.  It reassures readers that nothing will change in the new year: "The sky will still be there, the stars will still shine."  While the verse by Rylant is lovely, the illustrations really make this book special.  They capture the warmth, joy and vibrant color of life, showing us that there is a beauty in what will never change.

Share this one with a child in the new year.  It is a quiet story, perfect for bedtime snuggles and lap reading. 

A Gift of Gracias: The Legend of Altagracia by Julia Alvarez and illustrated by Beatriz Vidal is a picture book based on the Dominican legend of Altagracia.  Our Lady of Altagracia, Our Lady of Thanks, is known for the wonders she worked.  In this book, she gives dreams to a young girl named Maria instructing her to plant oranges on their failing farm.  She burns her image into a blanket that gives light when the family needs it most. 

The illustrations fully capture the magic and traditional feel of the tale.  The entire book has a wonder and faith about it that pays homage to the original legend.  This is all done with a minimal amount of text, allowing even small preschool children to enjoy the story.  Simply wonderful.

J.K. Rowling has updated her website with an note saying that she is dedicating the next year to the writing of the final Harry Potter book. 


"For 2006 will be the year when I write the final book in the Harry
Potter series," she says. "I contemplate the task with mingled feelings
of excitement and dread, because I can't wait to get started, to tell
the final part of the story and, at last, to answer all the questions
(will I ever answer all of the questions? Let's aim for most of the
questions); and yet it will all be over at last and I can't quite
imagine life without Harry."

Sigh.  Readers feel exactly the same mix of yearning to know how it ends and dread of the ending of the Harry Potter series. 

Dona Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart by Pat Mora, illustrated by Raul Colon is a magical Southwestern tall tale.  Flor is an enormous woman as tall as the mountains.  She uses her size and strength to help the people who live near her. She grows  huge flowers that she lets the children play with.  She makes enormous tortillas that can be used as roofs and rafts.  She searches out a fearsome animal whose growls have been terrorizing the villagers.  And throughout it all, she demonstrates kindness and a very big heart.

The marriage of text and illustration is wonderfully done, with neither leaning on the other but both contributing to the story and making it better than it could have been.  This exquisitely done story is one that is perfect to share when studying tall tales at school.  We finally have a woman large enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Paul Bunyan. 

Carson Kressley, star of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, has written a children's book about being different and being true to yourself.  The article focuses more on Carson and his own past rather than the book itself, but I loved a similar book, The Sissy Duckling, written by Harvey Fierstein.  I will hold out hope that if this is really based on his experiences as a child, it will reach farther than other celebrity books.

Happy Happy Holidays! I won't be posting over the next couple of days as I celebrate with my two little boys and extended family.

Blessings to all.

Take a quick Which Winnie-the-Pooh character are you quiz.  I am Kanga.  According to the results, I always worry about things.  But I am very loving and friendly and mean no harm to anyone.  I don't always worry about things, do I?  Golly, do I? 

Blue Ball Machine is a fascinating Rube Goldberg type online machine that has a broad sense of humor.  Kids from preschool to late elementary school who enjoy this type of thing will sit for a long time enjoying following the blue balls from one gizmo to the next. 

King County Library System--Kidspage has a Books to Grow On section that offers a wide variety of themes for storytimes complete with fingerplays, activities, and even snack ideas. Sweet!

ALA's BookLinks has an article on Series Nonfiction in the Classroom. The article speaks to what you should look for in good nonfiction series and also offers a collection of recommended series.

WORD is a blog filled with information on writing and books. It is the official blog of READ and WRITING magazines. You can read student writing, learn about getting published, get writing tips, and find related web links.

WORD is a blog filled with information on writing and books. It is the official blog of READ and WRITING magazines. You can read student writing, learn about getting published, get writing tips, and find related web links.

If you work with teens and technology, you will be interested in: YALSA to offer online course “New Technologies & New Literacies for Teens”. It is a four-week online course running from February 6th to March 6th where you will learn about what teens are using to communicate and collaborate online. Registration is open until the end of January.

Esme has her picks for best books of 2005 on her website: PlanetEsme. She does really well with picture books and books for younger readers, so don't miss her list. It often contains books that are great for classroom use but that you don't see on other lists.

This is a quirky but interesting site to visit. The Best Word Book Ever has changed over the years, as this Flickr slideshow demonstrates. It compares the 1963 version of the book side-by-side with the 1991 edition. Funny comments accompany the photos.

Wright 3 is the new book by Blue Balliett that follows Chasing Vermeer. It continues the story of Petra and Calder as they get caught up in a new mystery filled with coincidences and findings. But this time, Calder's old friend Tommy has returned, and the threesome just doesn't click. Both Petra and Tommy are jealous of the other's time with Calder, and Calder feels trapped in the middle. The mystery in this book centers on Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, the Robie House filled with strange angles, changing lights, and perhaps a ghost?

Balliett's writing once again soars and carries the story effortlessly along. Readers will be captivated not just by the mystery but by the three main characters. The author has managed to create three characters each with individual quirks that make them even more real and perspectives that make the mystery itself work. As much as I loved Chasing Vermeer, I liked this sequel even more. Balliett has created a work of art once again.

Wright 3 will be released in April.

The New York Public Library presents their favorite Children's Books 2005. I always love the multicultural aspect of this list. And the fact that it includes books that I have never read and now must try.

The New York Public Library presents their favorite Children's Books 2005. I always love the multicultural aspect of this list. And the fact that it includes books that I have never read and now must try.

VOYA has an article on Islam: A World Religions Resource List for Teens which provides a collection of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry that offers insight into Islam.

Wired 13.12: The Neopets Addiction speaks about the craze that is Neopets. Neopets are little computer pets that you raise and care for. The site has 25 million users around the world, so it is definitely something that you want to be aware of. Even better, it is a nonviolent craze!

The Sacrifice by Kathleen Benner Duble is set in seventeenth century Andover, Massachusetts during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. Abigail Faulkner lives with her two sisters, baby brother, father and mother, surrounded by extended family. The book starts with her in the stocks for having raised her skirts to run. She has to go to church the next day, and expects her grandfather, the preacher, to spend the entire time lecturing her from the pulpit. But instead he speaks about bearing false witness and lying. This is the first that 10-year-old Abigail learns about the Salem Witch hysteria. When it is announced that the girls involved in the Salem Trials will come to Andover to seek for witches, Abigail is immediately worried about her father who suffers from mental illness. But no one in Abigail's family is accused at first, until her grandfather continues to speak out against the accusations of others in the community. Then her beloved aunt is accused and jailed in Salem. And finally both Abigail and her older sister are accused by their former servant. Then the book becomes one of horror as readers are brought face-to-face with the conditions of the people held after being accused. The filth, lack of light, hunger, rats, and much more work to break spirits and ruin health.

The title of The Sacrifice has many meanings in the story. It is a gripping tale that is impossible to put down. Those looking for a book that truly portrays the way it was in Puritan Massachusetts will fiind a great book here. Recommend to children who like historical fiction and teachers who are covering this historical period.

Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree by Jan Peck, illustrated by Valeria Petrone, is a picture book that cries out to be read aloud and shared with a group. It is the story of a little girl climbing a huge tree and finding all sorts of animals. In the end, it turns out she has been climbing her bunkbeds and visiting her stuffed animals. The text is rhythmic, rhyming and repetitive. It is perfect to put gestures to and have antsy toddlers and preschoolers act it out. The large, bright illustrations are also perfectly sized for sharing. Add this one to your storytime collection, especially with the animal-themed Summer Reading Program in 2006.

Variety.com - Fox locks up classic kid tomes is an article about Fox 2000 developing a movie version of the Ramona series.

"So many kids have asked me, 'When's a Ramona movie coming out?' " Cleary said in a statement. "I'm so glad there's finally going to be one! I look forward to seeing it."

Susan Katz, prexyprexy of HarperCollins kid division, said, "As Beverly Cleary turns 90, it's the ideal time to reintroduce Ramona Quimby -- and all of Mrs. Cleary's other memorable characters -- to a new generation of young people."

Guardian Unlimited Books -- Dyslexic writer savours Nestle victory

Sally Gardner, author of I, Coriander has won the Nestle children's boo prize. Hurrah! One of my favorites of the year!

SLJ has a short article:Gaming, Learning, and Libraries on efforts to get gaming used in libraries.

In a recent library system meeting on Summer Reading programs, I was shocked to be the only one in the room who had even heard of gaming programs in libraries, much less the only one actually doing them. I am now considering installing Civilization and other strategy games on some of our computers, maybe the laptops.

Are you gaming in your library? How do you do it? What games do you play?

NPR : Children's Fantasy Lit in the Modern World is a full-length program of Talk of the Nation dedicated to discussing children's fantasy. Neil Gaiman, Christopher Paolini and Tamora Pierce are guests.

The Online Independent has the story that "Snowman" is named top story for Christmas. A survey shows that English children's favorite Christmas tale is Raymond Briggs' Snowman. I must say, they have great taste!

The Christian Science Monitor has an article Hollywood turns a page on Micheal Flaherty, the president of Walden Media and his desire to create films that get kids reading.

VOYA is offering an article, Clueless 2005: Adult Mysteries with Young Adult Appeal, free online. It offers great ideas for school librarians in high schools as well as recommendations for public librarians serving older teens.

The Boston Globe has an article: A storybook beginning on the recent winner of the National Book Award, Jeanne Birdsall. Her first novel, The Penderwicks, is an old-fashioned tale set on Cape Cod. The article tells about Birdsall's personal story. A series of installments following The Penderwicks are in the works.

Guardian newspaper from the UK reports Poorer children 'less likely' to read for pleasure. The study results are fascinating, especially with the report sayiing that researches believe that the enjoyment of reading is central to learning. Yes! You must enjoy reading in order to perfect it and to understand its power. If it is just drudgery, you will never understand the joy and insight that reading offers.

Inexcusable by Christopher Lynch has proven to be the type of book you either love or hate. I happen to love it, as much as one can love a dark character study. It is the story of Keir, a teenage boy, who rapes a girl but cannot come to terms with how he as a "good guy" did it. The majority of the book is flashbacks to the previous year as he tries to demonstrate what a good person he really is. But through all of the glimpses into his life, darkness shines rather than goodness. It is an incredible achievement that Lynch has been able to create a character so in denial but allow the reader to realize how damaged the character, his family, and his life truly is.

This type of book is really why I read. Getting into the head of a violent teen boy is something I could never have done without this book. Keir is such a complex character and by the end, the reader feels slightly sickened about the fact that they understand this boy to such an extent having lived in his skin.

Glorious achievement. This is one that I am rooting for to win the Printz or Printz honor this year. I am hoping that the darkness and fearsomeness of the topic does not turn people away, because in the end, it is not a book about rape but a book about what families and society can do to a weak boy.

Living with Harry Potter is an interview on BBC Radio 4 with J K Rowling. The interview is wonderfully conducted by Stephen Fry, who reads the books on the audio versions in the UK. Rowling speaks about the value of scaring children in books, how the audio books have affected her writing, the secret ending, and much more. Wonderful stuff!

And I must admit I am very jealous that the radio in England plays Harry Potter books as treats around Christmas time. What a wonderful gift for children.

Guardian Unlimited Books -- Book deal for spare-time writer

A Belfast mom has won The Wow Factor, a writing competition lookin gto find the next JK Rowling. Her book, The Forbidden Room, will be released in fall of 2006 in the UK.

YALSA has created a great list of Narnia Read-A-Likes for teens and tweens. I see so many of my favorite fantasy novels, that this is a wonderful list to share with fantasy lovers in general.

NPR : Hollywood Ratings Getting Looser is an important piece on the changes in Hollywood ratings and the way that ratings are creeping over the last few years so that what would have been PG-13 are now PG. Very important for not just parents but for professionals working with children to understand.

Wausau Daily Herald - Kids' book illustrator creates books that pop is an article on Robert Sabuda, one of the great artists of pop-up books. My favorite part of the article is the end where he says:

"Parents are busy. They want time with their kids to be well spent. ... There's greater attention to children's books now as a backlash to the technology in kids' lives. Parents feel the need to give an alternative to all the media saturation."

Pew Internet & American Life Project did a study on Teen Content Creators and Consumers that speaks to the patterns that teens are showing in creating online content and using online services. This is a great study to glance at even if you don't have a lot of time. The format makes it very browsable, allowing you to read only the sections you are most interested in. Important information for those of us who work with teens, especially those who work with teens and technology.

Brad's Bookmarks is a blog that offers very brief reviews of books and movies. Each review is follwed by a letter grade. The movies range across all sorts of genres, but the books are primarily teen and children's titles.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has this article: Graphic novels catch eyes and minds of students which contains the following section:

"Max Yela, head of special collections at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee libraries, said he'd like to start collecting more graphic novels. On Wednesday, the school is slated to host a talk by graphic novelist Art Spiegelman, who won a Special Citation for Letters from the Pulitzer Board in 1992 for his book "Maus" that depicted Jews as mice and Nazis as cats.

Yela said his collection documents changes in books and communications, particularly since the advent of computers. Graphic novels, he said, are a big part of that.

"I think it's inevitable in many ways that graphic literacy will have a greater weight," he said. "Do you let go of the traditional ways of educating students, in terms of text-literacy? No. But I do think teachers will have to come to grips with the fact that graphic-based communication is going to become more prevalent.""

Teen Book Lovers is a LiveJournal community that reads and discusses teen literature. Click on user info to learn more about their rules and how they select their book of the month.

This is a handy list for librarians to have: Titles available both as anime and manga in the United States. It is nice because the titles of the anime and manga often differ, so someone not familiar with the films and books may not even realize that they are the same story and characters.

Reading Kids' Books Without the Kids from the New York Times is supposed to be an article on the newly released Norton's Anthology of Children's Literature which is a book designed to be used in children's literature classes. Rothstein argues that removing the child from the literature is damaging to it, because there is power in sharing books with children. Of course! But there is also power in having adults aware of what great children's books are and what qualities they share. That way we can lead children to them.

An additional problem I have with the article is the potshots it takes at teen literature along the way. I suppose the target is just so easy that it is hard to pass up. But in this article on children's literature it is strange to see newly published teen fiction compared to Heidi and Anne of Green Gables. The classics are lovely, but we need to have space beside them on our shelves for the new fiction, even the "teen pulp" that will have kids looking at the books in the first place.

bookshelves of doom is a blog that reviews books with a focus on juvenile and teen literature mixed in with all sorts of other genres. It is obviously the work of a book lover and I am so glad to see the children's and teen books mixed in and shared.