Kids Lit
Books and More for Children and Teens

Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan (0-06-073024-2)

Sigh. This is one of my favorite books of the year so far. It is the sort of book that teachers can read to their classes, parents can read to their children, and everyone can rejoice in.

Ida B. is a girl who speaks to trees and rivers. She is homeschooled and loves it. But then her mother gets sick and she is forced to return to public school and some of the land that her precious apple-tree friends are on is sold. The trees on that land are torn up and destroyed. Ida B. feels her entire life has been torn up and her heart hardens.

Ida B. herself is a wonderful character who captures a certain sort of person who is more at home by themselves than with others. She is a nature-girl through and through, and each and every one of us can see ourselves in her.

This amazing book should be given to teachers to share, or to read for themselves. It should be handed to kids who read above grade level, because there is nothing objectionable in it. It should be given to parents who want a book to read aloud to kids of a wide range of ages. It is a book to be shared.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Authors & Illustrators for Children

Over 300 authors and illustrators of children's books have lent their names to a campaign for John Kerry with posters that list their names and say "We create children's books because we care about children. That's why we're voting for John Kerry."

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

DesMoinesRegister

Meredith publishing (publisher of the Better Homes and Gardens books among others) has signed a deal with Marvel to create books for children featuring Marvel characters such as Spider-Man.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

The Carnegie Pulse: Art & Culture > The next JK Rowling

Carnegie Mellon sophomore, Colin Liotta, is being hailed as the next JK Rowling with his new series Boy Werewolf. The first book in the children's fantasy series is Curse of the Golden Statue.

Via ACHOCKABLOG.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Entertainment - canada.com network

Canada.com has this article that contains an AP interview with author Jamie Lee Curtis about her writing and her latest book.

The following is my fave from the article:

AP: Was becoming an author a conscious career change?

Curtis: I sat down and wrote something that I didn't know was a book until I finished it. As soon as I finished it I knew it was a book because it made me cry. I thought 'Wow!' . . . I had no delusions or illusions that I was an author - I'm a well-educated uneducated person or an uneducated well-educated person, one of the two. And, it was not my intention when I started this 12 years ago that this was a career path. It was not an attempt for attention, it was not an attempt for money, it was the first pure expression that I've ever been able to tap into.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Wisconsin Kids Vote

State-based project that offers a curriculum for classrooms to have a mock election. Sponsored by League of Women Voters, Wisconsin Public Television, DPI, and others.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

In graphic detail

This article from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review talks about the fact that comics are finally being considered as more than just superheroes in tights.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

TheStar.com - Farting dog plots world domination

The phenomenon of Walter the Farting Dog has led to a potential movie and books with rude noises from a built-in sound chip.

Via places for writers.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Graphic Novels Anime Comic Books

About Children's Books offers this collection of links and articles about graphic novels, comics and manga. Very nice!

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Author trades factory work for top honors

A piece on author Christopher Paul Curtis, whose new book, Bucking the Sarge is garnering a lot of praise and positive reviews.

Here is what Curtis has to say about the writing process:

"How does author Curtis come up with ideas? "The problem is not getting ideas. They're everywhere. The problem is throwing out the ones you can't use," he says.

"A writer has to have an attuned ear. I listen to a conversation and keep snatches of it. I write them down. I use dialogue as a seed. A snippet of conversation will stick. That starts to grow.

"The voice will come. Use your imagination. It will happen."

Writing is rewarding, but Curtis the factory worker also knows it's work. "Write every day. The more you do it, the better you get at it."

His second rule is to have fun with writing. An author, like a god, can control everything that happens in the story.

"The third rule is, ignore all rules," he says. "By that, I mean once you learn how to write, develop your own style. The point is to tell a story. There are so many ways to do that.""

• Permalink

'Life' delivers nuanced view of high school, teenage libido

I have now read a couple of favorable reviews of Life As We Know It, the new TV show based on the teen novel, Doing It by Melvin Burgess. Something to set the TIVO for.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Center for South Asia Outreach: International Children's Literature Celebration

This workshop for teachers, librarians, and students aims to work international literature into the reading curriculum. The program is Saturday, November 20th in Madison, WI.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

ICv2 News - Scary Godmother on Cartoon Network

Scary Godmother Halloween Spooktakular will be shown twice on Cartoon Network, on Friday, October 1st and Saturday, October 30th. This special is based on the Scary Godmother graphic novels.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Compiled Lists of Eleven

Compiled lists of the top eleven graphic novels that libraries should have. They are divided into categories like mature readers, superheroes, art comics, and manga.

• Permalink

TIME.com: Saving the Smart Kids

A new report from Iowa shows that gifted kids are in trouble and makes the case for accelerating children to meet their intellectual needs rather than continuing to group them with their same-age peers. Some of the statistics in the report are startling. This is definitely required reading for educators and will be of interest to librarians as well, since we see many of these gifted kids spending lots of time in the library.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

TheStar.com - A series of most fortunate events

A piece on Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, author of the immensely popular series of books. The latest of the series is being released today and the movie version of the first book is coming out soon.

• Permalink
• | Comments (3)

TheStar.com - No kids' book? And you call yourself a celeb?

Very funny piece lampooning the new wave of celebrities writing children's books.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Boys, & Rainbow High Home Page

Official site for Alex Sanchez, author of books about gay teens. The site offers information on coming out, resources for gay teens, and a great list of gay teen books.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Jules Older, Writer, Editor, Author.

Official homepage for this author of the new book, Pig, which has received several positive reviews.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

NYS Library, Division of Library Development: Youth Services Program -- Internet Resources

The New York State Library offers an impressive collection of resources for librarians who work with children and teens. They include book lists, homework help, grants, email lists, and continuing education.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Truesight by David Stahler Jr. (0-06-052285-2)

This is a science fiction novel with an inventive and captivating setting. Harmony is a colony populated only by the blind. The people who live there are blind by choice, since blindness is curable. But the people of Harmony believe that the added discipline and inner life that blindness brings make them stronger and more honest.

Jacob is about to turn thirteen and find out what his life assignment is going to be. We see the glory of his blind life, the joys that he has discovered, and the remarkable technology that the colony uses to keep their people safe. But then Jacob regains his sight. He begins to see what the truth is, and as his sight slowly returns he realizes that his blindness has covered many lies.

This is the reason I enjoy science fiction. The ability to enter such a vivid and remarkable world is a treasure. Recommend this one to kids interested in science fiction and those who like to think long after the book is done.

• Permalink
• | Comments (1)

Here are the Summer Reading themes for Wisconsin in next couple years.

Theme for Summer 2005: "Dragons, Dreams & Daring Deeds" Teen Theme:: "Joust
Read"

Theme for Summer 2006: "Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales" Teen Theme:
"Creature Features"

2007 has not been chosen yet, but it will involve puzzles and mysteries.

• Permalink
• | Comments (1)

The National Book Foundation

"The National Book Foundation will bestow its 2004 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters upon Judy Blume, one of the country’s most beloved and widely read children’s authors as well as one of our most vigorous activists against censorship. She is the first author of young-adult literature and the fifth woman to receive the Medal in the sixteen-year history of the award."

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

CILIP | Haunted by Grace

An interview with Jennifer Donnelly, author of A Northern Light. The interview offers a glimpse into what drove Donnelly to write her award-winning novel.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Museum

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre has just opened online.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Lerner Publishing

Publisher of K-12 books.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Marshall Cavendish

Publisher of reference books for libraries and children's books.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

August House

Site for this book publisher that specializes in folktales, stories and children's books in print and audio formats.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

A Crack in the Line by Michael Lawrence (0-06-072477-3)

Alaric's life has completely changed since his mother's death two years ago. His father has let the house decline, Alaric has become depressed and angry, and now his father was bringing home his new girlfriend. When he rests his hands on a replica of his house that his mother made encased in a glass dome, he is transported to an alternate reality almost identical to his own. But in this new reality his mother hasn't died and a girl named Naia is living in his place.

Alaric and Naia begin to travel to one another's dimensions through the house replica. Both affecting and changing what is happening in the other's place.

This is an amazing book that leaves readers thinking about what dimensions may be right next to them and what choices or events may have spawned alternate dimensions. Teens of both sexes will enjoy this one. Readers leave this book looking at life a little askew, what more could you ask of a book!

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

EDUCAUSE REVIEW | New Tools for Back-to-School

Articles on blogs, wikis, mobile learning and games. Perfect for my upcoming program on blogging for a local public school consortium. I love it when I find items that mesh so beautifully with what I am working on (or should be working on.)

Via It's all good.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Gross (But Fun) Recipes

24 kid-friendly recipes that are perfect for Halloween.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Yahoo! News - Seventeen magazine, the girls' fashion bible, adds religion coverage

"But under editor-in-chief Atoosa Rubenstein, the venerable girls' publication Seventeen has added a faith section that includes inspirational messages, personal stories of spiritual struggle and testimonials on issues ranging from prayer to gay teens who attend church."

I find it most interesting that there is an effort to include a myriad of religions, rather than just the Christian perspective.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Abarat

The gorgeous website for Clive Barker's Arabat series tells about the second book in the series that will be released soon and the new deal with Disney to release the first book as a feature film.

• Permalink
• | Comments (1)

IASL: Weblogs and School Libraries

Information for school librarians on blogs, with a short list of sample blogs.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Kidzdom

Kids can learn how to do animation through online tutorials. The site also offers a collection of cartoons for kids to watch.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Leslea Newman

Author of both adult and children's books with children's books ranging from picture books to middle grade novels to teen books.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Guardian Unlimited Books -- 2m advance for new children's author

Michelle Paver's first children's book has earned her a 2 million pound advance. The book, Wolf Brother, is the first in a series of six books set in the Stone Age.

• Permalink

Guardian Unlimited Books -- Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2004

Four novels are on the Guardian shortlist this year.

Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
No Shame, No Fear by Anne Turnbull
Last Train from Kummersdorf by Leslie Wilson

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Long Beach Public Library - Back to School Booklist

List of great back-to-school books from Long Beach Public Library.

• Permalink

Mostly Ghostly

R. L. Stine returns with a new series, Mostly Ghostly and a cool site filled with news, activities and information on the author.

• Permalink

Global Schoolhouse Choice Page

The sharing of projects across the world was one of the first things I found fascinating online back in the early 90s. This site continues to flourish and grow as it connects classrooms across the world in shared efforts. Find a partnership to participate in!

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Copper by Rebecca Lisle (0-399-24211-2)

An engaging fantasy novel for elementary-level readers, this is a wonderful introduction to the genre. Copper has been raised by her Aunt Ruby until her aunt sends her away to the Marble Mountains because Copper is in danger. Copper arrives at the Marble Mountains and is received by a warm group of people in a house built in an enormous tree. Copper feels immediately at home there, and finds herself in the middle of an old battle between two families as she discovers her own personal history.

This tale is filled with lots of magic, though it can be confusing at times. Most of the story is very charming and makes the reader want to enter Spindle House and discover it for themselves. The charm of the book and the accessibility of the writing will have readers happily entering this fantasy world.

• Permalink
• | Comments (0)

Read On Wisconsin!

Wisconsin debuts its new children's and teen statewide book club. The book club extends from infants through high school.

• Permalink

Juvilib

Reviews of books for Juvenile Justice librarians where the reviews are specifically written with for use with youth in juvenile delinquency programs.

• Permalink