From Treehugger comes the news that the chestnut tree that was outside Anne Frank’s attic window has fallen. It is the tree that she mentioned often in her diary.  The tree was 152 years old and has been dying for some time.  There was a support structure holding it up.

It says so much about the power of books and the connections they build that I have tears standing in my eyes.  I haven’t read this book for years and years, but I remember it deep inside. 

Others obviously do too, since there are six genetically identical species being nurtured which are already 7 feet tall.  One will be planted to replace the mother tree.  Others are headed to Holocaust museums around the world.

The power and connection of literature continues just as this tree will.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Author Stephanie Meyer has stopped her work on the next installment of the Twilight saga, Midnight Sun. 

According to an article in Digital Spy, she says she is “burnt out on vampires” and will take a break for awhile before completing the book, hoping that it will come more naturally with some time off.

Our local book festival is in full swing and today I got to listen to Chris Crutcher talk about book banning and censorship.  The audience was entirely librarians and the event wasn’t open to the public though Crutcher will be appearing in local schools too.

We got to hear about the inspiration for Running Loose and Chinese Handcuffs, both based on real-life incidents.  His talk was filled with humor and good vibes as well as little sympathy for people who want books censored in schools. 

My favorite quote of the presentation was towards the end when he spoke about teens who are not part of the in-crowd needing the books he writes:  “If you ban that book, you ban him.”  Lovely stuff and a wonderful way to spend a morning.

Image via Wikipedia

Hilary Duff has signed a multi-book deal with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 

The first novel, Elixir, will be published in October of this year. 

There is also a nonfiction title in the deal which will be about divorce.  It is due to be published in 2012.

Once again we can hope that a celebrity can actually write.

Penguin Young Readers will be publishing a new series for children by John Grisham.  The series is entitled Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer and features a 13-year-old protagonist who is the son of two attorneys.  The new series is for ages 8-12.

This first book in the series is due out in June.

Grisham has a forthcoming legal thriller for adults due out in October.

As a librarian, we are hearing lots of people shouting that with the Kindle and now the iPad publishing and libraries are dead.  So it is wonderful and warming to read Katherine Paterson’s response to the iPad being called a “book-killer.” 

I’m storing this one away for those cloudy, bleak days when I tire of arguing that libraries and books will live on.  I consider it a battery charger for advocates.

Wow, I did not see that coming!  I am very pleasantly surprised.  What a lovely choice!

Katherine Paterson has written some of my favorite children’s books.  Note to self: must include at least one in my list for Fuse #8’s Top 100 Children’s Fiction. 

I adore two of her books in particular.  One from the 1980s, Jacob Have I Loved has so much going for it.  Rivalry, drama, tension, complex family relationships and beautiful writing that can carry such a strong story with ease.

The other is Paterson’s latest, The Day of the Pelican, which speaks to the plight of modern refugees.  It is a thin volume with such an important story.  You can see my review here.

Congratulations to Ms. Paterson may she reign with the same heroism and strength we see in her novels. 

First, let’s all be pronouncing his name correctly, which I hadn’t been for years and years until I listened to this. 

Jon brings such a manic glee and joy to children’s literature.  As a children’s librarian many years ago, I loved putting his books into the hands of skeptical older children and seeing their faces light up when they read the first pages.  There was an instant kinship, a connection, a silliness.  His books are infectious in the very best way.   Ideally shared with others, they spread viral laughter everywhere.

Better than handing the books to children was to get the opportunity to read them aloud to third through fifth graders.  Those grades where pulling a picture book out of your bad draws groans and an assumption that you don’t understand them.  A misapprehension that disappears as it is replaced with delight.

They are part of my never-fail pile, my go-to books that speak to everyone and light up the room.

So Bravo Jon Scieszka.  Bravo!

Image by theunquietlibrarian via Flickr

Syracuse.com has an interview with YA author, Laurie Halse Anderson who has had a year filled with censorship challenges to her novels. 

She speaks about teens and their needs, honesty in writing, and much more.

If that doesn’t tempt you, then follow the link to see the incredible window she has in her new writing space.  GORGEOUS! 

Very sad news that the incredible author Norma Fox Mazer has lost her battle with brain cancer.

Thank you to Julie Larios at Jacket Knack.