Kids Lit
Books and More for Children and Teens

Coloring-Page.net

Yippee! Another coloring page website. I love to have a bunch of these on my Bookmarks list so that if I need a coloring sheet for storytime, I don't have to search very long for it.

• Permalink

Nothing to Lose by Alex Flinn (0-06-051750-6)

This novel is being lauded as one of the top ones this year, and I can certainly see why. Through a series of flashbacks, readers discover Michael's story, the story behind his stepfather's murder. The flashbacks reveal the beatings his mother took, the helplessness Michael felt, and the reason why he ran away to work at a carnival. But now Michael is back in his home town where his mother is on trial for his stepfather's murder. He has the choice to run again or to stay.

Michael is a very believable and vivid character. The abuse is portrayed through his eyes, and readers understand his powerlessness and fear. Very well done and real.

Recommend this one to teenage boys. They will enjoy that Michael is a football player who faces a lot more than quarterback issues.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

BBC NEWS -- Author reveals sixth Potter title

JK Rowling revealed today that the title of the 6th Harry Potter book is Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. In her announcement on her website, she took aim at those "hoaxers" who started the Storge rumor. She also tells fans that the Half Blood Prince in the title is neither Harry nor Voldemort!

• Permalink

Elementary School Blog

A blog from school librarian Norma Jean Smith that offers recommended websites and articles.

• Permalink

avengingsybil

A thought-provoking blog on YA literature and more specifically the lack of positive sexual experiences in YA literature. Definitely one to have on your aggregator, especially since the quality of writing is so high.

• Permalink

ACHOCKABLOG: Harry Potter and the Pillar of Storgé?

Achockablog has a very cool news item for all those Harry Potter fans out there! A fan claims to have accessed a hidden area on JK Rowling's website that revealed the name of the sixth book in the series. The claim has yet to be confirmed or denied.

• Permalink
• | Comments (1)

A page-turning guide to kids' books for summer

A collection of great new summer reads for kids from picture books to teen novels.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Joseph Bruchac Home Page

Official site for this author of over 70 books for children.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

The Official Jean Craighead George Website

Information on all of her books, inspiration for young writers, and a what's new section that features her newest book Charlie's Raven.

• Permalink
• | Comments (1)

The Official Eric Carle Web Site

This month Eric Carle celebrates his 75th birthday and The Very Hungry Caterpillar turns 35! What a year! And enjoy his newest book Mister Seahorse that is bound to become as beloved as all of his other books.

• Permalink
• | Comments (1)

St. Louis Today -- Children's book publisher will pay $90,000 settlement

"Scholastic At Home, a publisher of children's books, has agreed to pay $90,000 to the state of Missouri to settle allegations that it sent books to consumers who hadn't ordered them and then demanded payment.

Attorney General Jay Nixon said 242 consumers across the country had complained of getting billed for unordered merchandise.

Scholastic sells Disney Book Club, Winnie the Pooh and Scooby Doo books."

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

USATODAY.com - There's too much Madonna in preachy 'Seven Thieves'

Unbelievably, it seems that Madonna's third book is even worse than her first two!

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Walden Media

Information from Walden Media on their films which include Holes and Around the World in 80 Days. The site offers not just information on upcoming movies, but also has a special section for teachers that connect books to movies.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

New York Daily News - Kids face third try in 3rd grade

"A whopping 20% of third-graders who already had been held back flunked crucial exams this year, which may mean they have to sit through the grade a third time, the Daily News has learned.

Of the 5,000 third-graders repeating the grade this year, nearly 1,000 failed city English and math exams this April, according to Education Department statistics obtained by The News."

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

BBC -- Pupils 'not taught to love books'

According to author Michael Morpurgo, "We are giving teachers really an impossible brief: we say you have to teach the children literacy, but what we are not doing is teaching the teachers to love reading in the first place." A list of ten recommended books to inspire kids to love books is appended to the end of the article.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Time Stops for No Mouse

The official Hermux Tantamoq website with information on the author, Michael Hoeye, and online games. Very nice for Hermux fans. The third book in the series, No Time Like Show Time, is coming out soon.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

CJAD 800 : News

CLA announced the winners of the 2004 Book of the Year for Children and also for young adults.

Winner for Children is Boy O'Boy by Brian Doyle.
Winner for YA is The Canning Season by Polly Horvath.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Sonya Sones official website home page

Site for the author of the new book, One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Basilisk by N. M. Browne (1-58234-876-6)

This is one of THOSE books. One that grabs you and won't let you go. One that reminds you why you read books. One that takes you to another world and lets you live there for awhile. One that you can't put down and yet don't want to end.

This is the story of Donna, who lives in a decaying society where all people must be plain and humble and no one has enough to eat or stay warm. It is the story of Rej, who lives in the combes below the ground, and dreams of seeing the sun. And it is the story of the dreams of flying as golden dragons that they share. But it is also the story of darkness, torture, hatred, and the basilisk.

This is a dark story that should not be given to little children. It has sexuality, evil and death. But for teens of the right age, it will be a gripping read that they will long remember.

Now I am off to find more of N. M. Browne's books!

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Boston Globe -- Childish things

An article on Phillip Pullman and his books from a writer that really gets it!

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

VH1.com : Mariah Carey Plans To Pen Series Of Children's Books

"The book series would focus on a biracial orphan girl who goes on a journey of "self-discovery, navigating difficulties and misunderstandings, making the world a better place," a source close to the singer said."

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Why we adore Harry

"Harry Potter steals the soul of most people who pick up one of the books. Rowling's novels are terrific page-turners and, like the Sherlock Holmes stories, they proved themselves to be an extraordinary captivation long before the first one was made into a film."

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

MediaDailyNews 06-11-04

"The N announced Tuesday that it would begin production on Miracle's Boys. It's a teen drama centered around three orphaned brothers coming-of-age in Harlem, the premiere episode of which will be directed by Spike Lee. The six episode miniseries is based on a novel by Jacqueline Woodson. It will be shot entirely in Harlem and will premiere in February 2005."

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Children’s Book Buyers Spending More, Buying Less

Consumer spending on children's books reached a seven-year high in 2003. However, fewer books were actually purchased, meaning that buyers are purchasing more hardcover book like Harry Potter.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

PBS KIDS Share a Story

PBS Kids kicks off a national literacy program encouraging families to Share a Story. The website has information for grownups including local events, resources, and tips for book choices and reading aloud effectively. The section for kids encourages them to write stories, act them out, use artwork, and much more.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Boing Boing: Lemony Snicket trailer online

Woo hoo! The trailer for the upcoming Lemony Snicket movie is now online! Very cool.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

The Globe and Mail

In this article on children's books, four books are highlighted. Three of them cover World War II, including the well-received B for Buster.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, illustrated by Brett Helquist (0-439-37294-1)

Three mysterious letters are sent to three different people and the art mystery begins. How are these people connected? Why have they been contacted? And how will almost-twelve-year-olds, Petra and Calder figure into the entire thing?

This book is filled with coincidence, mystery, wonder, and codes. It would be the perfect classroom read-aloud for 2nd through 4th grades and should inspire kids to look beyong the surface and find the coincidences and patterns in their own lives.

• Permalink
• | Comments (1)

Katie Davis, Author/Illustrator

Official site for this author/illustrator of Who Hops?, which is one of my favorite read-alouds for toddlers. It works every time! Her site is filled with information on her art, reader's theater scripts for her books, special sections for teachers and librarians filled with activities, and much more.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith (0-316-98894-4)

This is my favorite new read-aloud for little ones. I have shared it with 3 year olds through first graders with great success! There aren't many books that have that kind of range.

Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum is about a group of animals that get stuck on a lump of bubble gum melting in the road. The rollicking rhymes (one first grader I read it to said "This book sings!") and the frenetic pace keep kids riveted waiting to see what will happen. The illustrations add to the humor, and are big and bright enough to convey easily to a fairly large group, like a classroom.

This is one that begs to be read aloud and kids will beg for it again and again.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Coming Soon! - Latest News

A new movie version of Charlotte's Web is being planned. This one will be a live action/CG combo.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Welcome to The Sugar Quill

An archive of Harry Potter fan fiction! The site also offers art based on the Harry Potter books, technical editing help for writers, and an online forum.

• Permalink
• | Comments (1)

The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty (0-439-49881-3)

Cassie, Emily and Lydia are best friends who attend a private school, then their English teacher gives them an assignment to write to a student at the local school. All three girls get boys as penpals and relationships start to build as letters are exchanged.

This book is entirely captured in letters, emails and the girls' private writings. Their voices stay unique and interesting throughout as do the voices of the three boys. The story is continually morphing and changing as it goes on.

This one was definitely worthy of the multiple starred reviews it received. With its multiple male and female protagonists, both boys and girls should enjoy it.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Children's Writing - Suite101.com

This is a very nice section of the Suite101 site. It offers recommended books as well as links to great sites on children's lit. The top feature of the site is that on the first of every month, a children's book author is interviewed. June's author is Jeanne DuPrau, author of The City of Ember and The People of Sparks.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Jennifer Donnelly

Here is Jennifer Donnelly's official website. It has the really nice feature of a special page for each of her books, including the award-winning A Northern Light.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)