SDSU Children's Literature

Indian Conference on the Power of Reading to Heal Trauma, The Deccan Herald, reprint

2012-02-14T14:47:00.000-08:00

The power of reading

Feb 14, 2012,DHNS :

HEALING FACTOR

Sometimes a story told in an appealing way can do wonders. Experts from India and abroad came under one roof to discuss the use of books in soothing grief of the children under trauma.

The three-day conference ‘Reading is Healing’ was organised by Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC) and Indian section of International Board on Books for Young People (Ind.BBY) with an aim to spread the use of books and reading as means to heal people, especially children affected by trauma in various forms. Eminent international and Indian speakers from 15 countries shared their views on therapeutic role and effects of books on children to facilitate emotional growth and healing.

Ira Saxena, convener of the conference, said that the concept of reading and telling stories for healing children who have gone through trauma is very new, but has a lot of potential in it. “We have firm conviction in the potential of storytelling and reading to revive hopes among children who have undergone trauma, be it due to man-made disaster or natural calamity,” she said.

The causes of trauma can be different kinds of fears, complexes and adjustment problems as a result of natural calamities, man-made disasters and psycho-social traumas, both at schools and at home.

Various speakers from Pakistan, US, Uganda, Africa, Japan, Italy and Greece discussed the global importance of literature as a tool for therapy, presented details of some successful projects based on this concept and introduced techniques to calm traumatised minds through reading.

JOB: Department Head, Children's Services, Waterford Public Library, Connecticut

2012-02-14T14:44:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Department Head, Children’s Services - Waterford Public Library

Department Head, Children’s Services - The Waterford Public Library seeks a proven leader for the position of Children’s Services department head. The successful candidate will have overall responsibility for the management and administration of the collections, programs and services for children and young adults. S/he will be responsible for the training, supervision and evaluation of department staff and planning, presenting and evaluating all library programs for young people. Additionally, the children’s department head is part of the library’s management team. S/he must demonstrate knowledge of the mission of the public library in the 21st century, and have experience with and knowledge of children’s literature, programming and storytelling and creating community partnerships. Masters in Library Science plus 3 years library experience including one year of supervisory experience and a leadership role in children’s services. Starting salary $58,000 - $63,000. Excellent benefits. To apply, please send application (available at www.waterfordct.org or by calling 860-444-5832), with letter expressing interest by March 2, 2012 @ 3:00 p.m. to Director of Human Resources, Town of Waterford, 15 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, CT 06385. EOE.

Questioning Commodification? See below--

2012-02-14T14:41:00.000-08:00

Scholastic Corporation [SCHL] and Clifford the Big Red Dog(R) to Ring The NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell in Celebration of Valentine's Day

ADVISORY, Feb 13, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- What:

In honor of Valentine's Day, Clifford(R) will visit NASDAQ with Deborah Forte, President of Scholastic Media and Executive Vice President of Scholastic Inc., to ring the closing bell. Representatives of Scholastic, friends and family will join the celebration.

Scholastic Corporation [SCHL], the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology and services and children's media, will visit the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City's Times Square.

Message from Brock University's Prof. Sandra Beckett-- New Book!

2012-02-13T13:58:00.000-08:00

Dear Colleagues,

My book “Crossover Picturebooks: A Genre for All Ages” was released by Routledge in December. I am attaching a PDF of a flyer that offers a discount of 20%. There is a PDF file for North America and South America and a second PDF for the rest of the world.

The cover is an original piece of artwork by Dorte Karrebæk, who did a beautiful job.

I would like to thank the many IRSCL members who contributed in some way to the book.

I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Best wishes,

Sandra

Sandra L. Beckett

Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Brock University

St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1

8th Semi-Annual Children's/YA Book Review Marathon

2012-02-13T08:15:00.000-08:00

What's a Book Review Marathon?

It's producing at least 26 new reviews in one afternoon for us to post on our book review site (see the icon above right).

Who?

Current and former MA students in SDSU's Children's Literature Program; librarian and school teacher friends; professors; parents

When?

March 10, Saturday, 12:30-3:30, SDSU

Email childlit@mail.sdsu.edu for details

***** RSVP Required!

Dr. Seuss' Birthday is March 2

2012-02-13T08:14:00.000-08:00

Stay tuned for announcements of events in the San Diego Area----

send us event news!

CLICK ON LINK TO TOUR WORLDS OF FANTASY

2012-02-12T18:51:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Maps We Wandered Into As Kids

By Victoria Johnson | February 7, 2012

http://www.theawl.com/2012/02/maps-of-fictional-places

Author Honored at UC Davis, Feb. 23

2012-02-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

Words Take Wing: Honoring Diversity in Children's Literature

Ying Chang Compestine

Peter J. Shields Library
Winter Quarter 2012

In honor of the Eighth Annual UC Davis Children's Literature Lecture, the UC Davis General Library presents an exhibit of selected works of noted author, public speaker, educator, and television host Ying Chang Compestine. Ms. Compestine will give two lectures at UC Davis on February 23, 2012. The morning lecture will be held at Freeborn Hall at 10:30 a.m. and the evening lecture will held at the Buehler Alumni and Visitor Center at 7:30 p.m. A book sale will be held after each lecture. Ms. Compestine will sign books after the evening lecture. This event is presented by the UC Davis School of Education. For more information, please go to Words Take Wing Presentations: Ying Chang Compestine

Jerry Griswold's Review in L.A. Times, excerpt

2012-02-12T08:46:00.000-08:00

'Arrietty,' 'The Borrowers' and the appeal of all things small

The childhood fascination with the littlest of things comes to life in the animated Japanese film 'Arrietty,' which takes on Mary Norton's classic book 'The Borrowers.'

Tiny but tenacious Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler) comes face to whiskers with the menacing household cat but won't allow herself to be intimidated in Disney's release of the Studio Ghibli animated feature "The Secret World of Arrietty." (Disney, Disney / February 7, 2012)

By Jerry Griswold, Special to the Los Angeles Times

February 12, 2012

Kids — tykes, urchins, tots, moppets, bambinos, waifs, ragamuffins, cherubs and small fry — are fascinated by smallness. Consider their films: "Antz," "A Bug's Life," "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," "Toy Story," "The Rescuers," "The Secret of NIMH," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Stuart Little" and countless others. Indeed, a nod to the diminutive seems nearly obligatory if titles of children's stories are any measure: "Little Red Riding Hood," "Little Women," "Little House on the Prairie," "The Little Prince," "The Little Engine That Could," and so on. Now comes "The Secret World of Arrietty," a tale of the tiny.

Here's the link to the entire article:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-tiny-people-20120212,0,4379468.story

Importance of Multi-cultural Books, reprint

2012-02-10T19:37:00.000-08:00

'Reading Is Fundamental' Offers Expansive Multicultural Book Collection Aiming to Help Close Achievement Gap

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation's largest children's literacy nonprofit, has released the 2011-12 Multicultural Book Collection, featuring high-quality books for children grades K-4. RIF has distributed the collection to RIF programs across the country since 2007 as part of its Multicultural Literacy Campaign, a multi-year initiative to promote and support early childhood literacy in African American, Hispanic and American Indian communities. In honor of the organization's 45th anniversary, this year's collection features 45 children's books highlighting the theme "celebration." Each book in the collection was carefully reviewed and selected by RIF's Literacy Services team with guidelines provided by RIF's Literature Advisory Board and Multicultural Advisory Committee, national panels of educators and experts in children's literature.

Literature that features diverse characters, themes, and situations is more important than ever as reading scores among African-American, Hispanic and Native American students continue to lag significantly behind those of White and Asian students. According to the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress, of fourth-grade students scoring in the highest percentile on reading assessments, 71 percent were White while only 7 percent were Black and 11 percent were Hispanic.

"When children see themselves in the books they read at a young age, they are motivated to read more books and read more often. Books are powerful mirrors and windows for all of us," said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of RIF. "This collection and its accompanying resources are critical keys to closing the achievement gap."

A full list of the new collection's selected titles is available on RIF's website along with complementary educational resources for parents and educators to expand on the topics and themes found in the books.

This year's list includes celebrated and award-winning titles such as:

Amazing Faces by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
Hush! by Minfong Ho
I Love Saturdays y Domingos by Alma Flor Ada
Lin Yi's Lantern by Brenda Williams
More Than Anything Else by Marie Bradby
Nobody Owns the Sky by Reeve Lindbergh
One of Us by Peggy Moss
Wings by Christopher Myers

Lemony Snicket "Autobiography" due out in October

2012-02-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

Lemony Snicket returns with autobiographical kids' series

By Bob Minzesheimer, USA TODAY

CAPTION

More than five years after the end of A Series of Unfortunate Events, which sold more than 60 million copies, Lemony Snicket (the pen name for Daniel Handler) is writing a new series for kids. Who Could That Be at This Hour?, to be released Oct. 23, is the first in a four-volume series, "All the Wrong Questions," to be published by Little Brown.

It will be illustrated by Seth, pen name for cartoonist Gregory Gallant (Palookaville). Little Brown says the first printing will be 1 million copies. The series imagines Snicket's childhood in what the publisher describes as a "fading town, far from anyone he knew or trusted," and chronicles his experiences as "an apprentice in an organization nobody knows about." Snicket himself warns: "These books are questionable and contain questions. I, for one, question why anyone would be interested in reading them."

CFP: New Journal Announced

2012-02-10T19:16:00.000-08:00

Call for papers for Volume 1, Issue 1 (November 2012)

Editors: Janice Bland, Christiane Lütge and Sandie Mourão

CLELEjournal is a new, bi-annual, comprehensively peer-reviewed on-line journal for scholars, teacher educators and practitioners involved in using and researching children's literature in the field of English learning as a second, additional or foreign language. The journal investigates children’s literature as an art form, and as a framework with which to connect L2 literature teaching across the school years. The scope covers the affordances of children’s literature for L2 acquisition with pre-school infants through to young adults.

CLELEjournal will consider contributions on all forms of children's literature: fiction and non-fiction, oral storytelling and picturebooks, fairytales and poetry, comics and graphic novels, educational drama and plays for children and young adults, children’s films and language learner literature. Contributions are solicited that cover the theory or practice of children's literature in the English language classroom, encompassing the sharing of research projects and results, in-depth textual analysis and interpretation, teaching ideas as well as writing and adapting literature for second language education on any of the following topics:

visual literacy
critical literacy
reader-response theory
intercultural competence and ideology issues
gender and diversity issues
the construction of childhood in children’s literature
the canon of literary texts for TEFL
teacher education, methodologies and materials design

Submission guidelines:

Short papers of 2000 words or longer papers of up to 6000 words (excluding references);
Double-spaced, conforming to APA formatting and referencing style, see http://flash1r.apa.org/apastyle/basics/ for further information;
Title page to include the author’s name, institution, e-mail address, 50-word bio-data and a statement that the manuscript has not been previously published.
Images should be integrated into the body of the text. Authors are required to secure permission for any illustrations or figures once their paper has been accepted.
Manuscripts will be blind peer reviewed.

Submissions should be sent to clelejournal@gmail.com

Deadline April 30th 2012

Frick Center, Children's Book Illustration Exhibit, February-May, reprint

2012-02-10T18:59:00.000-08:00

The Frick Pittsburgh Presents Draw Me a Story: A Century of Children's Book Illustration

By Frick Art & Historical Center

Feb. 9, 2012

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 9, 2012 -- Family-friendly exhibition on view through May 20, 2012 features wonderful art created for children's books

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Saturday, February 11, Draw Me a Story: A Century of Children's Book Illustration opens at the Frick Art & Historical Center. This charming exhibition composed of 40 illustrations and 13 books provides an appealing survey of drawing styles and techniques from Randolph Caldecott (1846–1886) in the 19th century to Chris Van Allsburg (b. 1949) in the 20thand 21st—with many delightful and familiar artists in between, including Ernest Shepard (1879–1976), Maurice Sendak (b. 1928), Tomie dePaola (b. 1934), and Jules Feiffer (b. 1929). The exhibition will remain on view through May 20, 2012. Admission is free.

Draw Me a Story presents a unique opportunity for the Frick to connect the interests of parents and children across time, beginning with the period of the Fricks and moving to the present day. The charm and universality of childhood are explored through pictures intended to be juxtaposed with the simplest of children's books, nursery rhymes, and ABCs, to those intended for more complex adventures and allegories designed to delight older children—such as Gulliver's Travels and The Phantom Tollbooth.

This family-friendly exhibition will be complemented by Childhood at Clayton, an adjacent exhibition drawn from the Frick's permanent collection related to growing up during the Gilded Age. Books, toys, games, clothing, and period photographs on display will inform visitors about the play time, work time, and reading interests of the Frick children—Childs, Martha and Helen, while connecting their experience to larger cultural shifts—like new attitudes towards child development, the importance of education and the emphasis on play as important to a child's growth.

Draw Me a Story is staged with artworks hung slightly lower than usual, step stools available, and reading nooks located in the galleries for visitors young and old. The illustrations include detailed watercolors, expressive pen drawings, and experimental combinations of media. Viewers will get a sense of how an artist's vision can tell a story with a single image or bring a familiar story to life in a new way.

The Frick invites families to attend a day-long opening celebration for Draw Me a Story: A Century of Children's Book Illustration and Childhood at Clayton on Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. This event is open to the public, and admission is free. More information regarding these exhibitions and related programs is available at www.TheFrickPittsburgh.org.

Draw Me a Story: A Century of Children's Book Illustrations was organized by the Cartoon Museum, San Francisco.

Draw Me a Story: A Century of Children's Book Illustration is a program of ExhibitsUSA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance and the National Endowment for the Arts.

New Play for Children onstage in Costa Mesa, CA, February

2012-02-10T18:52:00.000-08:00

"The Borrowers'

An enchanting new play based on an award-winning classic of children's literature. Various times. Friday through Feb. 26. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $20-$32. 714-708-5500.

CFP, Conference Reminder, CSU Monterey Bay June 8-10

2012-02-10T18:43:00.000-08:00

Dear colleagues--

Just a quick reminder that the deadline for proposals to our June 8-10
conference is approaching. The conference will showcase approaches to supporting student success as they transition from high school to
college, from 2-year to 4-year, with special attention on
developmental education, transfer of learning and habits of mind.
Please consider submitting a proposal and attending the
conference--and please share this announcement on your campus.

The conference is the culmination of a 3-year Lumina Foundation project that has brought CSUMB together with two community college partners (Cabrillo and Hartnell) and we're very excited to have the opportunity to share what we've learned and to learn from all of you.

For info on proposals and the conference: tla.csumb.edu/caps-conference

Short Fiction Requested by Berkeley Fiction Review

2012-02-10T18:40:00.000-08:00

We at the Berkeley Fiction Review are hoping you can spread the word to students—both undergraduate and graduate—and faculty in your department asking for short fiction submissions. Berkeley Fiction Review is an undergraduate, student-run publication currently looking for innovative fiction that plays with form and content as well as traditionally constructed stories with fresh voices and original ideas.

The criteria for short story submissions are:

- 8,000 words or less (nothing over 25 pages)
- Typed, 12 point font, double-spaced and single-sided
- Cover letter should include address, phone, email, and title of story
- Must note if story is simultaneously submitted
- Must submit electronically to bfictionreview@yahoo.com

Further questions or concerns may be answered at our website: http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~bfr or our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/berkeleyfictionreview.

Thank you very much, and we look forward to hearing from members of SDSU!

Jules Wood

Associate Editor of Community Outreach

Berkeley Fiction Review

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~bfr/

8th Semi-Annual Children's/YA Book Review Marathon

2012-02-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

Join us for an afternoon of book reviewing, reading, noshing on good food, networking, and enjoying each others' company:

Arts & Letters Bldg., 2nd floor, San Diego State, March 10 (Saturday), 12:30-??

Our goal: at least 26 new reviews done on Saturday (our "marathon").

Take more books home to review later.

We will have a dedicated sdsubookreview. blogspot shortly-- .

*****RSVP-- very important. Email me to reserve a spot and so I know how many cookies to buy....

Alida

New Children's Lit Journal

2012-02-10T08:55:00.000-08:00

Call for papers for Volume 1, Issue 1 (November 2012)

visual literacy
critical literacy
reader-response theory
intercultural competence and ideology issues
gender and diversity issues
the construction of childhood in children’s literature
the canon of literary texts for TEFL
teacher education, methodologies and materials design

Submission guidelines:

Short papers of 2000 words or longer papers of up to 6000 words (excluding references);
Double-spaced, conforming to APA formatting and referencing style, see http://flash1r.apa.org/apastyle/basics/ for further information;
Title page to include the author’s name, institution, e-mail address, 50-word bio-data and a statement that the manuscript has not been previously published.
Images should be integrated into the body of the text. Authors are required to secure permission for any illustrations or figures once their paper has been accepted.
Manuscripts will be blind peer reviewed.

Submissions should be sent to clelejournal@gmail.com

Deadline April 30th 2012

One-Year Children's Studies Job at York University

2012-02-09T16:32:00.000-08:00

CHILDREN’S STUDIES One-Year Contractually Limited Appointment – July 1, 2012

(York University, Toronto, Canada)

Position Rank: Contractually Limited Appointment
Discipline/Field: Children's Studies (1 position)
Home Faculty: Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
Home Department/Area/Division: Humanities
Affiliation/Union: YUFA
Position Start Date: July 1, 2012
Position End Date: June 30, 2013

Department of Humanities
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies
York University, Toronto, Canada

The Department of Humanities invites applications from qualified candidates for a one-year Sessional Assistant Professor position in Children's Studies. Applicants must have a completed PhD in a discipline in the Humanities and an active research program in an area of Children's Studies. Applicants should possess a critical, international, comparative perspective, grounded in contemporary theory. Preference will be given to applicants with evidence of successful teaching at the university level in Children's Studies.

This position carries a teaching load of three full courses or the equivalent. The start date is July 1, 2012. All York University positions are subject to budgetary approval.

York University is an Affirmative Action Employer. The Affirmative Action Program can be found on York's website at www.yorku.ca/acadjobs or a copy can be obtained by calling the affirmative action office at 416-736-5713. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents will be given priority. Temporary entry for citizens of the U.S.A. and Mexico may apply per the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The deadline for applications is March 23, 2012. Applicants should submit a letter of application outlining their professional experience and research interests, an up-to-date curriculum vitae, and a teaching dossier, and arrange for three confidential letters of recommendation to be sent to Professor Doug Freake, Acting Chair, Department of Humanities, 206 Vanier College, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3. Please specify that you are applying for the Children’s Studies position.

Posting End Date: March 23, 2012

http://webapps.yorku.ca/academichiringviewer/viewposition.jsp?positionnumber=1294

***********************************************************************

Dr. Peter E. Cumming
Associate Professor, Department of Humanities
Coordinator - Children's Studies Program
Vanier College 212, 416-736-2100 ext. 60498
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies
York University, Toronto, Canada M3J 1P3

President, Association for Research in Cultures of Young People (ARCYP)
ARCYP WEBSITE: http://arcyp.ca

cummingp@yorku.ca

Newcastle UniversityResearch Fellowship

2012-02-09T16:24:00.000-08:00

David Almond Fellowship for Research in Children's Literature announced

9 Feb 2012

DAVID ALMOND FELLOWSHIPS FOR RESEARCH IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE 2012

Newcastle University’s School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics and Seven Stories, the national centre for children’s books proudly announce the creation of David Almond Fellowships. The awards recognise both David Almond’s contribution to children’s literature and his connections with these partner institutions: he is a patron of Seven Stories and an honorary graduate of Newcastle University.

Further particulars
The Fellowships aim to promote high-quality research in the Seven Stories collections that will call attention to their breadth and scholarly potential. The two awards of £300 each are to facilitate a research visit to the Seven Stories collections in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK of at least three days by a bona fide researcher working on a relevant project. Applications will be considered from candidates in any academic discipline. The successful applicants will have a clearly defined project that will benefit from having access to the Seven Stories collections. All applicants should consult the Seven Stories catalogue as part of preparing their applications: http://www.sevenstories.org.uk/collection/.

A well-developed dissemination strategy will be an advantage. Priority will be given to the importance of the project and best use of the Seven Stories collections as judged by a senior member of the Children’s Literature Unit in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics at Newcastle University and a senior member of the Collections team at Seven Stories.

Eligibility for the award
Applicants must hold a first degree or higher from a recognised institution of higher education. Note: non-EEA applicants are reminded that to take up a Fellowship they must hold an appropriate visa. Neither Newcastle University nor Seven Stories can help with this process. Please see the UK visas website for more information: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply

Responsibilities
Fellowships must be taken up before the end of December 2012. Recipients are expected to spend at least three days in Newcastle and are encouraged to time their visits to enable them to participate in events organised jointly or separately by the Children’s Literature Unit and Seven Stories. (Please note: successful applicants must contact Seven Stories and agree a date for the visit prior to making travel arrangements; normally a minimum of two weeks notice is required before any research visit.)

Acknowledgement of the Fellowships must accompany all dissemination activities arising from the research.

Application process
Applicants are asked to submit the following items by 1 June, 2012

• an application form which can be downloaded here.

• a curriculum vitae • a brief proposal (of 1,000 words maximum)

• one confidential letter of recommendation (sealed and signed; confidential letters may be included in your application packet or recommenders may send them directly)

Applications may be submitted by email or post.
Email: Kim.Reynolds@ncl.ac.uk

Post:
David Almond Fellowships
School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
UK

NYC, 50 Years for A Wrinkle in Time, from Wired

2012-02-07T19:26:00.000-08:00

Children’s Book Authors Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of A Wrinkle in Time

If you can't watch a scene of a spaceship flying into a wormhole without thinking of an ant walking along the folded hem of a dress, then you are probably as excited as I am that this is the 50th anniversary of the Newbery Medal-winning classic A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle.

When I read the book in elementary school, there was no science fiction to speak of aimed specifically at kids — and certainly none that featured a smart (if awkward) girl as the protagonist. The story of three children who set out (with a little extra-terrestrial help) to rescue the tesseracting scientist-father who has been captured by an evil force primed many young readers for a lifetime of space adventures.

On Saturday February 11th at 4 pm fans in the New York City area can attend the official national event celebrating the anniversary at Symphony Space. Writers and actors including Goosebumps author R.L. Stine and Jane Curtin from the scifi sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun will read and discuss the book, led by New York Public Library Children’s Librarian and Fuse #8 blogger Betsy Bird. Children’s book historian Leonard Marcus will introduce the afternoon.

The event takes place at Symphony Space’s appropriately-named Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater. All tickets are just $15 — but if you can’t make it there in person, it will also be simulcast to select bookstores around the country.

Dickens in India, excerpt from the Times of India

2012-02-07T19:19:00.000-08:00

India celebrates, and debates on Dickens

IANS Feb 6, 2012

He gave us Uriah Heep in "David Copperfield", the Artful Dodger in " Oliver Twist", Ebenezer Scrooge in "The Christmas Carol"...characters who live on not just in books but also in the English language itself.

As the world celebrates 200 years of Charles Dickens, so does India despite the intense debate on the relevance of Dickensian pedagogy in the 21st century.

The pictures he painted of Victorian England were often bleak, his characters an unfashionable black or white in their evil or goodness and his books sometimes dismissed as too long. But Dickens, born Feb 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, England, is the prolific author whose contribution has seeped into the contemporary -- Uriah Heep, for instance, is the byword for insincerity, Scrooge for miserliness and these are just a few.

Dickens' lasting contribution to modern English literature was a depiction of grim social reality in details, a style many Indo-Anglian writers have emulated in their contemporary, post-colonial and diaspora canvas of the day.

To promote the Dickensian style, the British Council in collaboration with Penguin-India is hosting an all-India creative writing competition, "After Dickens", to encourage young writers between 16-21 years to write a "small creative treatise on Dickens in either poetry, prose, short stories and reportage".

The brood of emerging celebrity writers are also on the radar.

The council has invited contemporary Indian writers in English - "especially those whose writing dwells around cities and urban landscapes" - to contribute pieces on what they feel Dickens would have been writing today. Some who have agreed to contribute include novelists Amit Chaudhuri, Neel Mukherjee and Anita Nair.

There are other programmes planned, including a film programme in major cities offering cinematic milestones like "Great Expectations", "Pickwick Papers", "Nicholas Nickleby" and "Oliver Twist", as well as a series of talks by author Craig Taylor discussing creative ways of teaching Dickens.

According to Mitra Mukherjee-Parikh, head of the university department of English, SNDT Women's University in Mumbai, "Dickens had a fascination for the new idea of the city".

Dickens as a classical literary legacy lives on the Indian campus.

"Dickens remains important to us. The orphan figure and the figures of childhood move every reader. He deals with England getting industrialised and how man gets caught in it the trap which is not of his making. His books marks a shift into the urban world with its unemployment, poverty and wronged women who lose property," Sherina Joshi, associate professor in Delhi University's Deshbandhu College said.

Interview with Artist Jerry Pinkney, excerpt, Detroit Free Press

2012-02-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

5 questions with artist Jerry Pinkney

February 5, 2012 |

"Escape from Slavery: Underground Railroad" (National Geographic, July 1984) is part of the exhibit "Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney." / JERRY PINKNEY

By Nancy Chipman Powers

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Zoom

THOMAS KRISTICH

Q: You've been illustrating children's books since 1964. You've won numerous awards, including the 2010 Caldecott Medal for "The Lion and the Mouse." However, growing up, you struggled to overcome dyslexia. Tell me how your gift for drawing helped you cope.

A: I think it gives a balance to my self-esteem, even though I have struggled, and still struggle, in certain areas. It gave me a sense that I was unique and I could do something differently than what other people were doing. Of course in that time -- the 1940s -- the word dyslexia didn't exist. I always got the feeling from my parents that I could achieve in spite (of it). They certainly understood their child was having some struggles within school, but I got more of a sense of encouragement, that if you believed in a dream you could certainly achieve that dream. The driving force was always to feel OK with myself. Not only was I supported by my parents, but also my teachers.

Q: In addition to children's books, you have also illustrated novels. What drives your interest in a story, and what is your process?

A: The biggest part of that is finding the kind of material that in some way connects to an interest or passion or concern that I have about this world we live in. I start out with what I call thumbnail sketches, which are very small, just a quick and direct way to get ideas on paper, and then it grows from there. The bulk of the work is fiction, so there's a tremendous amount of research that supports the visual interpretation. I have 3,000 books in my library. In terms of nature or African-American history studies, my library is much larger than you might find in a small local library. I also use film, toys, whatever can give me a platform to work from.

Q: Do you have a favorite artist?

A: No, I don't. There are just so many. Right now I'm interested in the Ashcan School of painting and (artist) John Sloan simply because that's where I am at this point in my career. But who knows, it might be a point where red becomes important in a work, and then I might look at Matisse. I let all of that sort of help fuel what I'm working on.

From The Telegraph, for Dickens' 200th Birthday, a Question about Contemporary Readers

2012-02-05T09:01:00.000-08:00

Modern children 'lack the attention to read Dickens'

A generation of schoolchildren lack the skills needed to read Dickens after being “reared on dreadful television programmes”, a leading author has warned.

Many children have such a poor attention span that they struggle to get through a Charles Dickens novel, it is claimed.

By Graeme Paton, Education Editor

05 Feb 2012

Claire Tomalin, the acclaimed biographer, said many pupils had such poor attention spans that they were unable to access books such as Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities.

Speaking as the country prepares to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens' birth, she said his works were still “amazingly relevant” to young people but most struggled to read whole texts.

The comments come amid continuing concerns over children's attitudes towards reading in school and the home.

According to figures, the number of pupils taking a GCSE in English literature has dropped by 12 per cent in the last four years – dipping below 500,000 for the first time.

Ministers have warned that the demands placed on schoolchildren have been “too low for too long”, with fewer than one in 100 teenagers who sat the most popular English exam last year basing their answers on novels published prior to 1900.

Russell Hoban Birthday Quotation Roundup Report, from The Kraken

2012-02-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

http://sa4qe.blogspot.com/2012/02/sa4qe-2012-10-years-of-russell-hoban.html

*Today the Slickman A4 Quotation Event (SA4QE) celebrates 10 years of
sharing quotes from the much-loved writer Russell Hoban.*

We can't quite believe it's been a decade since our friend from Chicago,
Diana Slickman, came up with the wonderful idea of celebrating Russell
Hoban's birthday each 4th February by writing our favourite quotes from his
work on pieces of paper and leaving them in public places. Since then SA4QE
has grown every year, with over 350 quotes distributed by nearly 100
recorded participants from Argyll to Ypsilanti, who these days also share
their quotes on social networking sites as well as in the real world.

Russell Hoban of course sadly passed away last December, but fans are
continuing the tradition in his honour. Today we'll be watching the web for
quotes shared across various media and this site will be updated as quotes
are found or sent direct. You can do this by emailing details of your quote
(and the book it comes from), your name, location and any photos etc to
sa4qemail (at) gmail (dot) com or by leaving those details on the comments
box of this post, below. If you are tweeting your quotes, use the hashtag
#sa4qe or mention the @sa4qe account. If you're posting your quotes to
Facebook and you're a fan of the official Russell Hoban or SA4QE pages
there, you can tag your post with "Russell Hoban" or "SA4QE" and the post
should appear on the walls of those pages. We can't promise to post here
all quotes sent or found today, but will be adding more in the coming days.

Meanwhile, we have two new things for you to enjoy - firstly, Olaf
Schneider's brand new animation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_xroCgts3s

This features a never-before-heard recording of Russell Hoban reciting one
of his own poems,* Rivers In Your Mind* from *The Last of the Wallendas*,
which he made expressly in 2002 for Olaf to turn into an animation.

Secondly we are publishing today the results of our December/January
Russell Hoban reader survey to which scores of fans responded with their
favourite books, quotes and characters here:

http://sa4qe.blogspot.com/p/russell-hoban-reader-survey-2012.html

Enjoy!

Richard pp Gombert
SA4QE Admincer

Yale Environment 360, excerpt

2012-02-04T18:29:00.000-08:00

e360 digest

31 Jan 2012: Depictions of Natural World

Declining in Children’s Books, Study Says

A new study finds a significant decline in the depiction of the natural world and animals in U.S. children’s books in recent decades, a trend researchers say may reflect society’s increasing isolation from nature. In an analysis of 296 Caldecott Medal-winning books from 1938 to 2008, a team of researchers led by University of Nebraska-Lincoln sociologist J. Allen Williams Jr. found that images of natural environments and interactions with wild animals have declined steadily. Meanwhile, depictions of built environments, such as houses and buildings, have become increasingly prevalent since the late 1960s, according to the study published in the journal Sociological Inquiry. “These findings suggest that today’s generation of children are not being socialized, at least through this source, toward an understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the place of humans within it,” the authors wrote.

The Washington Post Recommended Books for Black History month, excerpt

2012-02-04T18:24:00.000-08:00

For Black History Month, children’s books can be enlightening

DEB LINDSEY/FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

By — Tracy Grant, Published: January 31

February is Black History Month, but you probably already knew that....

.... If you want to learn more about the experiences of African Americans in this country, here are some great books to explore — this month or any month.

“Just as Good: How Larry Doby Changed America’s Game” by Chris Crowe. $16.99. Age 6 and older.

Larry Doby was the second black man to play professional baseball in the major leagues. The first was the legendary Jackie Robinson. But in 1948 Doby, who played for the Cleveland Indians, became the first black man to hit a home run in a World Series game. This wonderful picture book tells the simple story of a boy and his dad listening to that game on the radio in their kitchen and realizing that they were listening to history being made.

“What Color Is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors” by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld. $17.99. Ages 8-12.

Get ready to have your mind blown with this fun book. It tells the story of twins who discover the amazing stories of African American inventors whose creations changed your world. Don’t believe it? Do you know who George Crum, Alfred Cralle and Lonnie Johnson are? We’re sure you’ve used their products. Crum invented potato chips in 1853; Alfred Cralle invented the ice cream scoop in 1897, and Johnson invented the Super Soaker and got a patent on it in 1991. In the course of reading this book you’ll also discover that Charles Drew came up with the idea for blood banks, which have saved millions of lives, and that Frederick McKinley Jones came up with the idea for refrigerated trucks that allow food to be moved across country without spoiling. The book has lift flaps and fast facts that makes learning so quick and easy that you can’t help but have fun.

“When Grandmama Sings” by
Margaree King Mitchell. $16.99. Ages 5-9.

This is another picture book that tells a powerful story from a time before you were born. Belle is a young girl who loves her grandmother and knows that Grandmama has a beautiful singing voice. One summer Belle and her grandmother go on a tour with a jazz band. Belle sees how unfair it is that blacks and whites are separated. But she also learns that the beauty of her grandmother’s voice can help overcome those prejudices.

“Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans” by Kadir Nelson. $19.99. Age 9 and older.

Kadir Nelson is an incredibly talented illustrator, and simply looking at the beautiful artwork in this book will give you a new understanding of American history.

— Tracy Grant

National Latino Children's Literature Conference, March in Alabama

2012-02-04T18:19:00.000-08:00

National Latino Children’s Literature Conference

Alma Flor Ada

Conference Description

On March 29th and 30th, 2012 celebrate the rich traditions and diversity within the Latino cultures at the National Latino Children’s Literature Conference. Discover how to meet the informational and literacy needs of Latino children via high quality, culturally relevant literature and the latest educational strategies.

Engage in unique networking opportunities with librarians, teachers, educators, and researchers from across the nation as we explore how to make intercultural connections and serve this rapidly growing, uniquely diverse population.

As the number of Latino children and their families continues to increase, so does the need for understanding these diverse cultures. This exclusive conference provides a forum for sharing current research and practice addressing the cultural, educational, and informational needs of Latino children and their families. At the same time, the conference also examines the many social influences that Latino children’s and young adult literature have upon the developing child and adolescent.

Beginning Thursday March 29th at 9 a.m. on the historical University of Alabama campus, nationally-recognized, award-winning Latina author and professor Dr. Monica Brown will launch the recurring conference theme “Connecting Cultures and Celebrating Cuentos” with a powerful keynote address.

Participants will then have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions related to Latino children’s and young adult literature, library services to Latinos, and literacy education for Spanish-speaking and Latino children. Following these small group sessions, award-winning Latino author René Colato Laínez and award-winning Latino artist Joe Cepeda will discuss the collaborative synergy behind their work. Latina author Meg Medina will then present a rousing keynote about the milagros found in her books.

Thursday evening, all the Latino children's book creators will celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), Latino children’s literature, and cultural literacy with a free community event at the Tuscaloosa Public Library. This Noche de Cuentos (Evening of Stories) begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes storytelling and story readings, refreshments, and free books for the niños.

On Friday March 30th, award-winning, internationally renown authors Dr. Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy will energize participants and open the day’s events with a keynote address about transformative multicultural education. Breakout sessions for both practitioners and researchers as well as graduate and undergraduate students will follow and include a variety of topics related to Latino children’s literature and literacy. Research posters will also be on display throughout the conference.

A buffet lunch will be served in the beautiful Gorgas Library and followed by an engaging collaborative keynote by award-winning Latino artist Joe Cepeda and Latina author Monica Brown. Afterwards breakout sessions will include topics related to education, literacy, storytelling, and library services for Latino children. The day will end with small group sessions with all the authors and illustrators.

By attending the National Latino Children's Literature Conference, participants have the chance to meet award-winning Latino authors and illustrators, attend exciting break-out sessions, engage in exclusive networking opportunities, and celebrate cultural literacy in a Día community event. Come deepen your understanding of the Latino cultures and celebrate their rich diversity within our classrooms and libraries.

For more info, go here.
posted by Contributing Bloguistas

Kids' Lit Quiz Winners, 10-13 year-olds from Connecticut, reprint

2012-02-04T18:04:00.000-08:00

Students Compete In The Sport Of Reading At Kids' Lit Quiz Finals

Team From Squadron Line School In Simsbury Wins U.S. Finals; Heading to New Zealand In July

Twenty-one teams of Connecticut Middle School students competed in the first U.S. finals of the Kids Lit Quiz, a literature competition for kids age 10 to 13, Friday evening at CCSU in New Britain. The winning team, Squadron Line School, is going on to the international finals in New Zealand. From left, Andrew Donshik, 11, Elyse Kassa, 11, and Alyssa Lehman, 11, back to the camera, celebrate when their team was announced as the winner. Not pictured but on the team was Eva Kaplinski, 11. (Richard Messina, Hartford Courant / February 3, 2012)

By ABIGAIL FERRUCCI, The Hartford Courant

February 4, 2012

NEW BRITAIN—

When Simsbury sixth-grader Andrew Donshik was asked Friday night how he planned to celebrate his team's victory at the U.S. finals of the Kids' Lit Quiz, he said he would probably "go read more."

His passion for reading helped put Andrew on the winning team from Squadron Line School in Simsbury. Andrew's team will head to New Zealand in July for the international finals. His school also hosted a team that came in third place overall.

Twenty-eight teams of students age 10 to 13 from schools around Connecticut met Friday night at Central Connecticut State University to compete in the literature event.[

Created in 1991 by Wayne Mills, a professor at the University of Aucklund in New Zealand, the Kids' Lit Quiz is held in several countries around the world.

Mills, who moderated, quipped that the quiz is the "toughest in the world because you have to read every book written for kids in the past 2,000 years."

He said he started the program because he "never saw children being rewarded for being readers" or being recognized the way rugby and hockey stars get national attention in New Zealand. Mills, who funds 90 percent of the competition himself, said he envisioned the Kids' Lit Quiz as a "Trivial Pursuit, where all the wedges were literary."

'Little Women' And Marge Simpson

Ten categories made up the quiz, with 10 questions per category. They ranged from the last name of the family in "Little Women" (March) to more pop culture questions like the color of Marge Simpson's hair (blue).

A few others: What is the last word of Humpty Dumpty? (Again). Who lives somewhere over the rainbow? (Munchkins). What are the two cities in Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities"? (London and Paris).

The categories — which the students did not know in advance — were Cats, Cetaceans, Cities, Clothes, Colors, Folktales, Myth Beings, Powers, Rodents and Finally. When the 10 categories were announced, each team placed a bet in one category, in which their team would receive double points. Most teams bet on the Myth Beings category.

Some questions were a little lost in translation. In the Myth Beings category, students were stumped at being asked to identify the "large blue beast with a voracious appetite for biscuits."

When Cathy Kurkjian, the professor at CCSU who arranged the event with Mills, suggested replacing the word "biscuit" with "cookies," the kids started laughing and cheering. Of course, the answer was Cookie Monster.

One of the toughest questions was about Sherlock Holmes in the Colors category. Students were asked to fill in the blank of "A Study in ____." (Scarlet).

Some questions aimed at U.S. students proved to be trickier than expected. In a sudden death round, when neither team knew why Wilbur from "Charlotte's Web" asked Charlotte for help, Mills jokingly said: "I can't believe it! You American kids are letting me down!"

A book was awarded to each team member who won in each of the categories.

Reading is what brought together every kid in the room on Friday.

Mr. Dickens at 200, sources from Library Journal

2012-02-04T09:26:00.001-08:00

Charles Dickens at 200: A Dozen New Books on “the Inimitable”

February 1, 2012 By Margaret Heilbrun

Charles Dickens’s bicentenary—he was born on February 7, 1812—is the occasion for the release of a feast of books relating to the writer whom so many consider the emblem of Victorian England. Indeed, each work of new historical fiction blurbed as “Dickensian” simply reminds Dickens purists that he was truly the Inimitable—a nickname that Dickens enjoyed.

The most recent full biography, Claire Tomalin’s Charles Dickens, was published last October and already reviewed in LJ, as was Robert Douglas-Fairhurst’s Becoming Dickens (one of LJ’s Best Books of 2011). The previous biography is Michael Slater’s Charles Dickens (2009), which explores Dickens’s writings in greater depth than does Tomalin’s. Peter Ackroyd’s Dickens (1991) seeks a Dickensian approach to its subject. Jane Smiley’s short 2002 study, Charles Dickens, has been reissued as a Penguin paperback, and frustratingly lacks an index.

In April, PBS will import new UK presentations of Great Expectations and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Ralph Fiennes is set to direct a film version of Tomalin’s The Invisible Woman: The Story of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens for release in late 2012 or early 2013.

For a broader “Collection Building” piece extending from elementary school through adult reading, see “Happy Birthday, Mr. Dickens“ from School Library Journal. Additionally, Dickens aficionados should check the “Dickens at 200” site set up by the Guardian, with an ever-evolving array of Dickens features, tours, videos, and discussions. They may also want to follow @Dickens2012 on Twitter. See also Media Editor Mike Rogers’s roundup of Dickens audio releases.

School Library Journal Announces 2012 Book Battle

2012-02-04T09:15:00.000-08:00

SLJ’s Battle of the Books Is Back

By SLJ Staff

February 1, 2012

Are you ready to see Brian Selznick duke it out with Gary Schmidt? Or Kadir Nelson rumble with Thanhha Lai? It’s time for SLJ’s Battle of the Kids’ Books (BOB) again, and this year we’ve got another impressive lineup of titles and judges that is sure to get your heart pumping as we pit 16 of 2011’s best books for young people against one another in a competition to determine the baddest of them all.

How exactly does it work, you ask? Think of a smackdown of books, where fiction competes against nonfiction, fantasy with historical fiction, and dystopias with romance in a winner-take-all battle. Over the course of three intense weeks, our star-studded panel of 15 judges—including Lauren Myracle, Matt Phelan, and Maggie Stiefvater—each read two books, consider them carefully, then decide which deserve to advance to the next round. Jonathan Stroud, last year’s BOB winner for The Ring of Solomon (Hyperion), is the final judge—our big Kahuna decision-maker. He’ll choose the grand prizewinner April 2.

Whether this is your fourth—or first—year joining us, this year’s brawl, which kicks off on March 13, is guaranteed to bring lots of fun to your classrooms, and to your tween and teen library patrons. As Lauren Downey and Summer Ogata—two of BOB’s most devoted fans—tell it, half of the excitement is watching the weekly dustup unfold and the other half is reading the judges’ smart, witty, and insightful decisions.

Downey and Ogata call themselves the Everdeen sisters, after Katniss Everdeen, the main character in Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games (Scholastic)—winner of the first BOB in 2009. The two are so enthusiastic about BOB that each year they’ve created three hugely entertaining YouTube videos about their favorite books and how they hope the feud unfolds. Ask your readers to do the same and we’ll be sure to promote their creations on our website. In fact, schools and libraries around the country love to incorporate the contest into their lessons and programming. A media specialist at Connecticut’s Greenwich Country Day School last year put together a laminated poster-size version of the brackets, complete with book covers, and taped it to the wall of her library’s entrance, along with a table display of all of the books. And an Atlanta-based, second-grade teacher ran a contest on his blog that allowed participants to accumulate points for predicting each correct match-up. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage your readers in some fun with their favorite authors and books. We can even boast having had Jon Scieszka, Katherine Paterson, and Walter Dean Myers—all of the National Ambassadors for Young People’s Literature—as judges in previous years.

BOB is the brainchild of three educators: Monica Edinger and Roxanne Feldman of the Dalton School in New York City, and Jonathan Hunt, a school librarian in Modesto, CA, and was inspired by the Morning News’s Tournament of Books, a similar competition featuring the previous year’s best novels for adults.—SLJ staff

The Guardian reports on the BBC's Poll of Best Kids' Book of the Decade, reprint, excerpt

2012-02-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

Blue Peter asks children to choose 'the best book of the decade'

As a BBC poll is launched to find the best children's book of the decade, who would you vote for? Email us at childrens.books@guardian.co.uk and we'll print your responses below

Michelle Pauli
guardian.co.uk, 2 February 2012

Read with caution: Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler). Photograph: Martin Godwin for the Guardian

An unusual children's books poll is pitching the bestselling authors of last 10 years, from JK Rowling and Michael Morpurgo to Lemony Snicket and Charlie Higson, against each other to find the "best children's book of the decade".

The Blue Peter-run prize will be determined by an online poll based on a shortlist made up of the 10 bestselling fiction books of the last 10 years for 5─11 year olds with a first publication date between January 2002 and December 2011. Only the top-selling book per individual, named author is included.

The shortlist will be featured on Blue Peter's website bbc.co.uk/bluepeter for three weeks, during which time children under the age of 16 can log on with their BBC iD and vote for their favourite. The vote will close at 4pm on Thursday 23 February.

In the running are three children's laureates – Jacqueline Wilson (Candyfloss), Michael Morpurgo (Private Peaceful) and Quentin Blake (for his illustrations of Mr Stink by David Walliams) – and three American authors – John Grisham, Lemony Snicket and Jeff Kinney. Boys' adventure stories are well represented by volumes from Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series and Charlie Higson's Young Bond. Younger readers have their place with Francesca Simon's Horrid Henry. Britain's richest author shows up with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Many of the authors expressed their delight at being on the list by referring to the BBC TV show's most famous honour.

"I'm utterly delighted that Candyfloss is on this Blue Peter shortlist for the best children's book of the last 10 years. I love Blue Peter and my most treasured piece of jewellery is my special gold Blue Peter badge," said Jacqueline Wilson. Charlie Higson asked, "Will James Bond get his own Blue Peter badge?"

However, Lemony Snicket commented, "I was shocked and dismayed to learn the Blue Peter is encouraging its viewers to read my book The Austere Academy. As with all of the volumes of A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Austere Academy is a distressing and depressing story, and anyone foolhardy enough to take Blue Peter's suggestion and read The Austere Academy will find themselves even more miserable and lonely than the citizens of the UK already are."

The winning book will be announced on Blue Peter on 1 March alongside the winner of the annual Blue Peter Book of the Year award on a special show for World Book Day.

The 10 books in full

Alex Rider Mission 3: Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz (Walker Books, 2002)
The Series of Unfortunate Events: Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket (Egmont Books, 2002)
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo (HarperCollins Children's Books, 2003)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling (Bloomsbury, 2003)
Young Bond: SilverFin ─ A James Bond Adventure by Charlie Higson (Puffin, 2005)
Candyfloss by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt (Random House Children's Books, 2006)
Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend by Francesca Simon, illustrated by Tony Ross (Orion Children's Books, 2006)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Puffin, 2008)
Mr Stink by David Walliams, illustrated by Quentin Blake (HarperCollins Children's Books, 2009)
Theodore Boone by John Grisham (Hodder & Stoughton, 2010)

Blog Summary for January-- CFPs, Jobs, and More-- New Book Review Link on Top Right , click on the marquee

2012-02-04T08:25:00.000-08:00

▼ January (81)

New World of e-books, reprint, excerpt

2012-02-04T08:21:00.000-08:00

Library directors debate merits of books that speak, offer video

VICKI ROCK Daily American Staff Writer

SOMERSET —

Although most people know what electronic books are, they may not be as familiar with enhanced electronic books.

Enhanced e-books feature the traditional text, and in a children's book, pictures, but they have much more. Some have video clips, others have music. Children's books may have interactive, animated features that allow a child to play a game. Every children's e-book offers a read-aloud feature in which a recorded voice recites the text. Most offer the ability to tap a word to hear it spoken aloud, an aid for a child learning to read.

The most talked about children's enhanced e-book at the moment is "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore," an app created by Moonbot Studios in Louisiana, which has been nominated for best animated short in the 2012 Academy Awards.

One of the newest is "Chopsticks" released on Thursday for a teenage market as both a traditional book and as an app for the iPad and iPhone. Readers can enlarge images, flip through photo albums, watch video clips, listen to the characters' favorite songs and read their instant messages. Readers can also shuffle the pages, re-creating the story as a custom version.

Of course, enhanced e-books are much more expensive to produce and more expensive to buy. Publishers are watching to see if these enhanced e-books become literary trailblazers or elaborate flops. Librarians are also monitoring the new art closely.

Eve Kline, director of the Somerset County Library, said enhanced e-books would be useful for adults and teenagers who do not or cannot read, as well as for children who are learning to read.

"Enhanced e-books do not replace reading as DVDs and the theater sometimes do, but rather extend the art of reading so that it can be appreciated and enjoyed," she said.

Amy Hanley, director of the Meyersdale Public Library, said her children love the e-books that allow the reader to record their own voice reading the book.

"My older daughter likes recording her voice and listening to herself read and when my younger daughter hears the book read to her, she starts to memorize the story. Even though she can't pick out the individual words yet, she has a basic idea of what happens on each page," Hanley said. "It's probably a nice change for them not to have mommy read to them all the time."

She thinks if the book is more fun and attractive, so to speak, that kids who may have had no interest in reading may become interested.

"I think it really boils down to the individual child and how they learn — if they learn better by listening, seeing or interacting," she said.

RUSSELL HOBAN'S BIRTHDAY--The Quotation Tradition

2012-02-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

February 4 is Russell Hoban's birthday.

Although he passed away recently, his global fan club, The Kraken, will continue its years-old tradition of posting quotations from his scores of books hither and yon in places like libraries, trolley stations, universities, parks, wherever someone might pick up some Hoban writing and be as entranced as those of us in The Kraken.

Russ wrote his drafts on A4 yellow paper, and we scatter his words on yellow paper as well.

So, if you come across a sheet of yellow printed with some beautiful language, take a look. It might be quotations from Riddley Walker, The Mouse and His Child, The Medusa Frequency, How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen, or Bread and Jam for Frances.

Much information about Hoban can be found at The Head of Orpheus web site.

We miss Russ very much-- glad we still have the words and stacks of yellow paper....

A.A.

Wisconsin Students' Record

2012-02-02T19:40:00.000-08:00

Racine students read 1 million books

Feb. 2, 2012 |

RACINE, Wis. (WTW) — Local children have read 1 million books so far this school year, beating a goal to do so by May.

The new Racine Reads program challenged kindergarten through fifth-grade students at public and private schools east of Interstate 94 to read 1 million books between October and May. Wednesday, students met that goal, reaching the 1 million mark about four months ahead of schedule, according to the Racine Reads online tracker.

"Did we ever think we would hit it by February? Absolutely not," said Jane Barbian, Racine Unified's elementary reading and language arts coordinator. "It has been amazing how many kids engaged in this and how many are enjoying doing the reading. They are just reading up a storm."

More than 10,000 students in nearly 500 classrooms have participated in Racine Reads, according to SC Johnson, which is solely funding the reading program's over $200,000 cost. SC Johnson is a program organizer along with schools, the City of Racine, the Racine Public Library and others.

Racine Reads organizers were initially "frightened" by the 1 million goal and even considered not setting a numerical goal at all. In the end they went ahead with 1 million, hoping it would be achievable, Barbian said.

"When we first were talking about Racine Reads and what our goal should be, 1 million just seemed such an out-of-reach number. I think it averages 100 books per child," she said. "At the kindergarten and first-grade level where they read picture books it might not be that many but when fourth- and fifth-graders are reading Harry Potter books that takes some time."

But students managed to do it.

Conference, Qingdao China, June 1-4

2012-02-01T09:56:00.000-08:00

First China-U.S. Children’s Literature Symposium：

The Image of the Child in Chinese and American Children’s Literature

1-4 June 2012

Qingdao, China

We are pleased to announce the first China-U.S. Children’s Literature Symposium to be held on 1-4 June 2012 at the Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China. Information about the symposium follows:

Title: The Image of the Child in Chinese and American Children’s Literature

Co-sponsors: Ocean University of China (http://www.ouc.edu.cn/english/)

Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu/)

Organizer: College of Liberal Arts, Journalism and Communication, Ocean University of China

Co-chairs: Professor Zhu Ziqiang, Ocean University of China

Professor Claudia Nelson, Texas A&M University

Symposium Coordinator: Professor Luo Yirong, Ocean University of China

Date: 1-4 June 2012

Invited Speakers:

Dennis Berthold, Texas A&M University

Robert Boenig, Texas A&M University

Kenneth Kidd, University of Florida

Michelle H. Martin, University of South Carolina

Pamela Matthews, Texas A&M University

Claudia Mills, University of Colorado

Claudia Nelson, Texas A&M University

Katharine Capshaw Smith, University of Connecticut

Roberta Seelinger Trites, Illinois State University

Lynne Vallone, Rutgers University Camden

Cao Wenxuan, Beijing University

Wang Quangen, Beijing Normal University

Mei Zihan, Shanghai Normal University

Fang Weiping, Zhejiang Normal University

Ban Ma, Guangzhou University

Tang Sulan, Hunan Normal University

Chen Hui, Beijing Normal University

Tan Fengxia, Nanjing Normal University

Zhu Ziqiang, Ocean University of China

Xu Yan, Ocean University of China

Self-supporting attendees: The symposium is also open to attendees who are self-supporting; at their desire, these attendees may submit papers for circulation (though not oral presentation).

Application: self-supporting attendees, please provide information including your name, title, affiliation, contact (email address and telephone), and brief biography.

Visa tips: Citizens of countries other than China generally need visas to travel to China. See information on visas available at http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ywzn/lsyw/vpna/rap/t710627.htm and similar websites aimed at your country of origin if other than the U.S. (Many nations also maintain websites for their citizens traveling to China; an example for U.S. citizens is http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1089.html.) Official letters of invitation to attend the symposium, needed as supporting documentation for a business visa, can be provided to those who submit accommodation requests and to other attendees as desired.

Contact: Professor Claudia Nelson: claudia_nelson@tamu.edu

Professor Luo Yirong: luoyun999@hotmail.com

Venue：Academic Exchange Center (International Conference Hotel), Ocean University of China (Yushan campus), No. 5 Yushan Rd, Qingdao 266003, China. For more information about the Academic Exchange Center of OUC, visit http://www.ouc.edu.cn/english/aboutouc/acadecenter.html or http://222.195.158.131/acouc/

Location map:

Dolly Gray Awards Announced

2012-01-31T18:45:00.000-08:00

Monday, January 30, 2012

Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award Winners (For Portrayals of "Individuals with Developmental Disabilities")

Source: Tina Taylor Dyches, Ed.D.
Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award Chair
Brigham Young University

The Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award was presented Jan. 19 at the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD) international conference in Miami Beach, Florida.

The intermediate/young adult award was presented to Kathryn Erskine, author of Mockingbird (Philomel, 2010) and Beverley Brenna, author of Waiting for No One (Red Deer, 2011).

In the picture book category, the awards went to Rebecca Elliott, author/illustrator of Just Because (Lion, 2011), and Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete (authors) and Shane W. Evans (illustrator) for My Brother Charlie (Scholastic, 2010).

The Dolly Gray Award recognizes high quality fiction/biographical books for children, adolescents, and young adults that authentically portray individuals with developmental disabilities. Special Needs Project, a worldwide leader in the distribution of books related to disabilities, co-sponsors this award.

Fran Prezant, disability consultant, author, presenter, and Dolly Gray Award panelist notes, “Engaging books that feature people with disabilities as individuals with personalities, strengths and talents as part of the story line, have the exponential power to change attitudes and promote inclusion in education, jobs and community life. These are important, not only for young readers with and without disabilities, but for parents and teachers who read books to them and model societal attitudes through words and actions.

"This year, it is wonderful to see so many positive contributions to the literature choices compared to a decade ago when people with disabilities were rarely featured in positive ways if at all, in children's books. The Dolly Gray Award has been a positive vehicle to call attention to this and authors and progressive publishers should be commended and encouraged to put more of these books into the hands of readers.”

Children's Writers Meeting on Cape Cod in March

2012-01-31T18:39:00.000-08:00

Cape Cod Children’s Writers Retreat on Saturday, March 31

by web editor on January 31, 2012

Cape Cod Children’s Writers Retreat is set for Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Riverview School, 551 route 6A, East Sandwich, MA 02537.

Interested writers may contact Joan Walsh at irishseaside2@aol.com for more information.

NYTimes Review of Royal Shakespeare Company's "Matilda," excerpt

2012-01-31T18:31:00.000-08:00

Theater Review | 'Matilda'

Sugar and Spice, and Something Sinister

Manuel Harlan

The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Roald Dahl's "Matilda" at the Cambridge Theater in London

By BEN BRANTLEY

Published: January 31, 2012

LONDON — Smells like pre-teen spirit at the Cambridge Theater, where a throng of irresistibly fed-up boys and girls are storming the barricades of adult oppression. “Revolting children” they call themselves in the rousing final number of the musical “Matilda,” the fattest, sassiest hit of the season here. And the words have special savor for these kids because they’ve been used before, in another way.

Manuel Harlan.

From left, Paul Kaye, Josie Walker and Peter Howe in "Matilda" at the Cambridge Theater in London. The Royal Shakespeare Company production is based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s novel.

“Revolting children” is what their sadistic headmistress had been calling them. And now, led by a polysyllabic little girl with the gift of telekinesis, they’ve turned an insult into a battle cry. These newly armed, formerly downtrodden creatures have learned one of the first lessons of revolution: who owns the language has the power.

This dictum is one of the morals of “Matilda,” which is based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s novel. A Royal Shakespeare Company production, with a book by Dennis Kelly and songs by Tim Minchin, “Matilda” is a sweet and sharp-witted work of translation, which — like its story-spinning title character — turns dark and sodden anxieties into bright and buoyant fantasies.

And not just the anxieties of being a little kid who knows monsters are lurking under the bed. If you think about it (not that you will while you’re watching this show), “Matilda” addresses many of the national worries that dominate the daily news here: an enfeebled and ineffective education system, corrupt business practices, abuses of power, organized crime, the mind-rotting effects of bad television, the imperilment of public libraries and the popularity of those tacky dance competitions.

Directed by Matthew Warchus (with such inventiveness that I forgive him for “Ghost: The Musical”), “Matilda” is hardly a sugar fest. It stays true to the tartness of Dahl, who reveled in the sinister and knew that children do too.

Thank You to Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana

2012-01-28T19:13:00.000-08:00

My SDSU colleague Jerry Griswold and I want to thank the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana for inviting us to the 18th Annual Leadership Awards Gala January 26 at the Marriott Del Mar. As the past and current directors of SDSU's Center for the Study of Children's Literature, Jerry and I were privileged to see children's author/ illustrator and Caldecott Medal-winner Allen Say on stage to receive the Society's Reischauer International Education Award, and we got to talk with him before sitting down for a fine dinner at SDSU's table with other colleagues from the President's Office, KPBS, Japanese Studies, Women's Studies, and Psychology.

Thanks especially to SDSU alumna Katherine Nakamura for including us and our spouses.

And very best wishes to Mr. Say on the publication of his moving autobiographical 2011 picture book, Drawing from Memory. It fits in so well with his Grandfather's Journey of 1994.

(SDSU reviews of Mr. Say's books can be found by clicking on the marquee icon on the top right.)

A.A.

32nd Annual Northern Illinois Univ. Children's Lit Conference March 16, 1 unit credit, open to publishers

2012-01-27T12:13:00.000-08:00

Children’s Literature Conference will explore ‘Right Book for the Right Reader’ March 16

NIU’s College of Education will host its 32nd annual Children’s Literature Conference Friday, March 16. This year’s theme is “The Right Book for the Right Reader.”

All sessions take place in the Holmes Student Center, beginning with the 8:15 a.m. welcome. Registration and a continental breakfast are scheduled for 7:30 a.m.

Featured speakers are author/illustrator Nic Bishop; non-fiction author Sneed Collard III; illustrator Floyd Cooper; and science fiction author Greg van Eekhout.

Breakout sessions are planned on:

reaching reluctant readers;
the best new books for children and young adults;
a discussion on e-book readers; and
how award-winning books are chosen.

An autograph session will complete the activities for the conference, and a bookstore also will be available that features children’s books by these and other authors.

Teachers and librarians will be able to listen to and interact with the authors, network and learn tips for helping reluctant readers connect with books.

Participants who would like to eat lunch with an author or illustrator should indicate their preference on the registration form. Seating is limited; tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

CPDUs also will be available.

NIU also offers the opportunity to earn one hour of graduate credit. Registration for the conference is required to enroll for the graduate credit course. For complete information on registering for graduate credit, call (815) 753-3005.

Meanwhile, local authors and illustrators also are invited to purchase table to display their books and meet with participants from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 16.

The cost for the full conference is $125 (if paid no later than Thursday, Feb. 16) or $135. The NIU alumni rate is $115 (early bird) and $125. Registration includes handbook, breakfast and lunch, and all sessions. Meals cannot be guaranteed for those who register after Monday, March 5.

To cancel a registration, contact Outreach Registration in writing no later than Monday, March 12, by email at Outreachregistration@niu.edu or fax at (815) 753-6900. A $25 processing fee will be assessed. After March 12, no refund is available. Substitutions are permitted.

For more information, contact Marti Jernberg at (815) 753-3005 or mjernber@niu.edu.

Bi-lingual Book Publishers for kids, reprint

2012-01-27T12:06:00.001-08:00

from Spanglishbaby.com

If you visit your local major bookstore or library you will probably believe there are very few children’s books being published in Spanish and/or bilingually.

Well, that’s just not the case. Here’s a list of publishing houses that are gathering the best in Spanish language and bilingual authors of children’s books.

Arcoiris-Books in Spanish by Lee & Low.

Arte Público Press–”the nation’s largest and most established publisher of contemporary and recovery literature by U.S. Hispanic authors.” Their imprint for children and young adults is Piñata Books.

Barefoot Books–children’s books dedicated to culture, diversity and the global community.

Bilingual Readers–brand new publishing company providing bilingual resources for families and communities.

BrickHouse Education–”an educational publisher designed to meet the needs of teachers seeking high-quality, creative, and affordable materials.” Their titles are available in English and Spanish.

Candlewick Press–Publishers Weekly called them “the fastest growing children’s publisher in the U.S.”

Cinco Puntos Press–With roots on the U.S./Mexico border, Cinco Puntos publishes great books which make a difference in the way you see the world.

Charlesbridge Publishing–books for children, including bilingual titles

Children’s Book Press–nonprofit publisher of multicultural and bilingual literature for children.

Groundwood Books–publishing works by people of Latin American origin living in the Americas both in English and in Spanish.

Lectorum–Biggest distributor in US of books in Spanish for adults, teens and children.

Lorito Books–bilingual English/Spanish audio books.

me+mi publishing–producing dual language products that allow children to function at a high level equally well in English and Spanish.

Scholastic–Scholastic is the largest publisher and distributor of Spanish-language books in the United States. The Scholastic en español imprint publishes over 100 Spanish-language and bilingual titles each year with a variety of books for children of all ages including original Spanish language works and translations of the newest bestsellers.

Raven Tree Press–independent publisher committed to providing high-quality picture books in a variety of formats.

Santillana USA–bilingual and Spanish language educational resources and materials.

****(Also see our SDSU children's program book reviews--click on the marquee on the top right. A.A.)

Kids' Book Favs in Britain, reprint

2012-01-27T12:03:00.000-08:00

Very Hungry Caterpillar is most read children’s book in Britain

Millions of school kids read the classic children’s book nine times a year, new study reveals

Posted: 26 January 2012
by Jemelyn Yadao

Is this hungry caterpillar your child's favourite book character?

Eric Carle’s 1969 classic about a caterpillar that becomes a butterfly has been named the most popular children’s book in Britain. A study has revealed that ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ is read an average of nine times a year by 5.5 million primary school children.

Cinderella was named the second most popular book with each family found to read the fairytale around 8.7 times a year.

The Mr Men series, Peppa Pig, Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat also made the top 20 most read children’s books list, compiled by 2,000 parents with children under 10.

With many old classics making the list, the study also revealed that more parents are encouraging their children to read books they read when they were young themselves.

“A huge amount of parents are familiar with the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and it’s a book that has obviously been passed down through the generations,” said Nicki Tracey, Head of Brand Communications for Early Learning Centre who commissioned the study.

The study also found many children are keen little readers, with ninety per cent of parents saying their kids read or were read to at least three times a week.

For others, getting their kids to read isn’t so easy, with one in five parents admitting they had bribed their children to read by offering pocket money. However, two thirds said that their children loved reading and little encouragement is needed.

Nominations Open for Next Irish Children's Lit Laureate, reprint

2012-01-27T09:57:00.000-08:00

irishtimes.com - January 26, 2012

Nominate your next Laureate na nÓg

Laurence Mackin

Nominations are now open for the next Laureate na nÓg. Siobhan Parkinson, whose books include Sisters No Way!, Amelia and Kate, recently finished her tenure and now the search is on for the next author to hold the position.

Nominees must be Irish and they should be an “internationally recognised author or illustrator who has made a significant contribution to the field of children’s literature in Ireland”. Sure we’ve heaps of those. Individuals or organisations can make nominations, and the deadline is February 24th 2012.

For details click here. Laureate na nÓg is an Arts Council initiative with the support of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Children’s Books Ireland and Poetry Ireland.

Oscar Buzz for Children's Book Movie Adaptations, Publisher's Weekly excerpt

2012-01-27T09:51:00.000-08:00

Children's Books Get 21 Oscar Nominations
By Liz Hartman
Jan 26, 2012

Who woulda thunk that big, bad Hollywood needs humble children’s book publishing to bring some razzle-dazzle to the 2012 Oscars? But included in Tuesday morning’s announcement of the 84th annual Academy Award nominations were a whopping 21 nods for films based on kids’ books, demonstrating that children’s books rule in Hollywood – for this year at least.

Hugo, based on The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, leads the pack with the most – 11– nominations, including Best Picture. War Horse, based on Michael Murpurgo’s 1982 novel, is not far behind, with six nominations (also including Best Picture). Both books were published by Scholastic. Only The Artist garnered more nominations than War Horse, with 10, while Moneyball is tied with it at six.

In addition to the Best Picture category, Hugo and War Horse will compete head to hoof for awards in Art Direction, Cinematography, Music (Original Score), Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing. Hugo also nabbed nominations for Costume Design, Visual Effects, and Writing (adapted screenplay).

Although both had powerhouse directors (Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg respectively), only Scorsese received a directing nomination. Nor did Spielberg get the nod for his other movie based on a children’s book: The Adventures of Tin Tin, which was pretty much snubbed, getting only one nomination – for Music (Original Score).

Though Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 was the highest-grossing movie of the year, with more than $1.3 billion in worldwide ticket sales, it got only three nominations, all of the not-so-glamorous I think-I’ll-grab-a-snack-while-they-announce-them variety: Art Direction, Make-up and Visual Effects. Still, Harry was one of very few sequels that the Academy deigned to notice at all.

Apparently children’s books provide such great movie fodder that it doesn’t matter who the actors are. Of the four films based on children’s books that were nominated, not one captured a nomination for best actress, best actor, best supporting actor, or best supporting actress. And now with children’s books snagging so many nominations, perhaps we’ll soon see a new award: Best Children’s Book Author Whose Book Was Adapted to Film. Here’s hoping...

NPR Adolescent Book Picks for February, reprint, excerpt

2012-01-27T09:47:00.000-08:00

February Book Picks: 'Shooting Kabul' And 'The Hundred Dresses'

by Michele Norris

January 26, 2012

America is full of families who originally moved to the country from somewhere else, and our next reading adventure for NPR's Backseat Book Club explores this theme in two books. These books, published more than 60 years apart, both explore what it's like to try to create a new home while still yearning for the home you've left behind. We selected two stories that teach important lessons about accepting others, and going against the crowd when classmates are teasing or making harsh judgments.

Each month, we ask young people and their parents to read along with us and then join in the conversation with that month's featured author. In this case, readers can read one or both books and then send in questions and observations.

The Hundred Dresses

by Eleanor Estes and Louis Slobodkin

Paperback, 80 pages

Shooting Kabul

by N. H. Senzai

Paperback, 273 pages |

Info about Joining YALSA

2012-01-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

About YALSA

Our Mission

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is a national association of librarians, library workers and advocates whose mission is to expand and strengthen library services for teens, aged 12-18. Through its member-driven advocacy, research, and professional development initiatives, YALSA builds the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens.

YALSA Facts

Current membership is more than 5,400 members
Founded in 1957 and headquartered in Chicago, YALSA is a division of the American Library Association, a financially stable 501(c)3 charitable association.

Mission Statement

Find out more about YALSA's mission.

Vision Statement

Read our vision for teens and libraries.

Bylaws (PDF)

The governing rules for YALSA

Strategic Plan

Updated every five years, the strategic plan outlines the current goals of YALSA

Handbook

Find volunteer forms, committee information, governing documents, and more information about YALSA in the handbook.

Lee and Low Books Expands

2012-01-27T09:34:00.000-08:00

Lee & Low Books Acquires Children’s Book Press Assets

–Foresees Increasing Demand for Diversity Texts–

–Two Latina Books Win Top Library Awards–

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2012 /NEWS.GNOM.ES/ – Continuing to expand despite a difficult economy, Lee & Low Books, an independent publisher of high quality books for children and young adults with a focus on diversity, announced today that it has acquired the assets of San Francisco-based Children’s Book Press, the first specialty publisher of multicultural children’s books in the United States. With this addition Lee & Low Books becomes one of the largest independent multicultural children’s publishers in the country, with over 650-titles in print.

Terms of the cash transaction include the acquisition of tangible assets such as books in inventory and intangible assets such as copyrights and trademarks, including the Children’s Book Press name. Lee & Low will assume Children’s Book Press contracts with authors, illustrators, customers and suppliers. The sale price was not disclosed.

“This acquisition is a tremendous honor for us– to keep the prestigious collection of Children’s Book Press alive and to have the opportunity to build on its 36-year history,” said Jason Low, publisher of Lee & Low Books.

Lee & Low Books also announced that two of its titles were recipients Monday, Jan. 23, of top American Library Association-sponsored children’s book publishing awards. Under the Mesquite, by Guadalupe Garcia McCall won the 2012 Pura Belpre Award Author Medal. Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/Marisol McDonald no combinia, by author Monica Brown and illustrator Sara Palacios won the 2012 Pura Belpre Award Illustrator Honor. Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match is one of the titles acquired from Children’s Book Press.

CFP, Conference, June, Monterey Bay CA.

2012-01-27T09:28:00.000-08:00

CFP: June conference in Monterey Bay!
Inbox
x

from

Becky Rosenberg brosenberg@csumb.edu via calstate.edu

As the culminating event in a project funded by Lumina Foundation for
Education, we are hosting a conference in June 2012 on "Teaching 21st Century
Students: Fostering Postsecondary Success for All Learners," with an
emphasis on transitions--including transitions from
high school to college (for example, through developmental and GE
courses, stretch programs and FY Seminars) and from 2-year to 4-year
colleges. We welcome session proposals, due by Feb. 29. The
conference will be June 8-10 on the Monterey Peninsula. It's a lovely
time to visit and we've been able to hold the registration rate low
and negotiate a very modest hotel rate, which is in effect for 3 days
before and 3 days after the conference, for anyone who wants to turn
it into a vacation.

Please review the link to our website and consider making a proposal
or simply attending the conference:

http://tla.csumb.edu/caps-conference

American Library Assoc. Announces Major Awards: Gantos Wins Newbery; Raschka Wins Caldecott

2012-01-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

ALA Press Release

NEWS
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2012

Contact: Macey Morales

American Library Association announces 2012 youth media award winners

DALLAS - The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting in Dallas.

A list of all the 2012 award winners follows:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:

“Dead End in Norvelt,” written by Jack Gantos, is the 2012 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Farrar Straus Giroux.

Two Newbery Honor Books also were named: "Inside Out & Back Again," written by Thanhha Lai and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers; and "Breaking Stalin’s Nose,” written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin, and published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC.

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

“A Ball for Daisy," illustrated and written by Chris Raschka, is the 2012 Caldecott Medal winner. The book is published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Three Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Blackout,” illustrated and written by John Rocco, and published by Disney · Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group; "Grandpa Green" illustrated and written by Lane Smith, and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; and “Me … Jane,” illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell, and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

“Where Things Come Back,” written by John Corey Whaley, is the 2012 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

“Why We Broke Up,” written by Daniel Handler, art by Maira Kalman and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group; “The Returning,” written by Christine Hinwood and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group Young Readers Group USA; “Jasper Jones,” written by Craig Silvey and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.; and “The Scorpio Races,” written by Maggie Stiefvater and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

Kadir Nelson, author and illustrator of “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans,” is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Two King Author Honor Book recipients were selected: Eloise Greenfield, author of “The Great Migration: Journey to the North,” illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and Patricia C. McKissack, author of “Never Forgotten,” illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon and published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:

Shane W. Evans, illustrator and author of “Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom,” is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book is a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership.

One King Illustrator Honor Book recipient was selected: Kadir Nelson, illustrator and author of “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans,” published by Balzar + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement:

Ashley Bryan is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime achievement. The award, which pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton.

Storyteller, artist, author, poet and musician, Bryan created his first children’s book in first grade. He grew up in the Bronx and in 1962, he became the first African American to both write and illustrate a children’s book. After a successful teaching career, Bryan left academia to pursue creation of his own artwork. He has since garnered numerous awards for his significant and lasting literary contribution of poetry, spirituals and story.

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:

The Jury chose not to award a book in the category for children ages 0 – 8 because no submissions were deemed worthy of the award.

Two books were selected for the middle school award (ages 9 – 13): “close to famous,” written byJoan Bauer and published by Viking, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group; and “Wonderstruck: A Novel in Words and Pictures,” written by Brian Selznick and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic.

The teen (ages 14-18) award winner is “The Running Dream,” written by Wendelin Van Draanen and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:

“Big Girl Small,” by Rachel DeWoskin, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
“In Zanesville,” by Jo Ann Beard, published by Little, Brown & Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
“The Lover’s Dictionary,” by David Levithan, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
“The New Kids: Big Dreams and Brave Journeys at a High School for Immigrant Teens,” by Brooke Hauser, published by Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
“The Night Circus,” by Erin Morgenstern, published by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
“Ready Player One,” by Ernest Cline, published by Crown Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.(ISBN: 9780307887436)
“Robopocalypse: A Novel,” by Daniel H. Wilson, published by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
“Salvage the Bones,” by Jesmyn Ward, published by Bloomsbury USA
“The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures,” by Caroline Preston, published by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
“The Talk-Funny Girl,” by Roland Merullo, published by Crown Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.

Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children's video:

Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly Ellard of Weston Woods Studios, Inc., producers of “Children Make Terrible Pets,” are the Carnegie Medal winners.

The video is based on the book written by Peter Brown, and is narrated by Emily Eiden, with music by Jack Sundrud and Rusty Young, and animation by Soup2Nuts.

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults:

Susan Cooper is the 2012 Edwards Award winner. Her books include: The Dark Is Rising Sequence: “Over Sea, Under Stone”; “The Dark Is Rising”; “Greenwitch”; “The Grey King”; and “Silver on the Tree.”

May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children's literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site:

Michael Morpurgowill deliver the 2013 lecture.

Born in England, Morpurgo was teaching when he discovered the magic of storytelling and began writing. His books are noted for their imagination, power and grace. In 1976, he and his wife established the charity Farms for City Children. He is an officer of the Order of the British Empire and served as Britain’s third Children’s Laureate. His novel, “War Horse,” has wowed theater audiences in London and New York and movie audiences all over.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children's book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States:

“Soldier Bear” is the 2012 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Dutch in 2008 as “Soldaat Wojtek,” written by Bibi Dumon Tak, illustrated by Philip Hopman, translated by Laura Watkinson and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

One Batchelder Honor Book also was selected: “The Lily Pond,” published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., written by Annika Thor, and translated by Linda Schenck.

Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States:

“Rotters,” produced Listening Library,an imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group, Random House, Inc., is the 2012 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by Daniel Kraus and narrated by Kirby Heyborne.

Four Odyssey Honor audiobooks also were selected: “Ghetto Cowboy,” produced by Brilliance Audio, written by G. Neri and narrated by JD Jackson; “Okay for Now,” produced by Listening Library, an imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group, Random House, Inc., written by Gary D. Schmidt and narrated by Lincoln Hoppe; “The Scorpio Races,” produced by Scholastic Inc., Scholastic Audiobooks, written by Maggie Stiefvaterandnarrated by Steve Westand Fiona Hardingham;and “Young Fredle,” produced by Listening Library, an imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group, Random House, Inc., written by Cynthia Voigt and narrated by Wendy Carter.

Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:

“Diego Rivera: His World and Ours,” illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

Two Belpré Illustrator Honor Books were selected: “The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred,” illustrated by Rafael López, written by Samantha R. Vamos and published by Charlesbridge; and “Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match /Marisol McDonald no combina,” illustrated by Sara Palacios, written by Monica Brown and published by Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee and Low Books Inc.

Pura Belpré (Author) Award:

“Under the Mesquite,” written by Guadalupe Garcia McCall, is the Belpré Author Award winner. The book is published by Lee and Low Books Inc.

Two Belpré Author Honor Books were named: “Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck,” written by Margarita Engle and published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC.; and “Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller,” written by Xavier Garza and published by Cinco Puntos Press.

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:

“Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade,” written by Melissa Sweet, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Four Sibert Honor Books were named: "Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene ‘Bull’ Connor," written by Larry Dane Brimnerand published by Calkins Creek, an imprint of Boyds Mills Press, Inc.; "Drawing from Memory," written and illustrated by Allen Sayand published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.; "The Elephant Scientist," written by Caitlin O’Connell and Donna M. Jackson, photographs byCaitlin O’Connell and Timothy Rodwelland published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company; and "Witches!: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem" written and illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzerand published by the National Geographic Society.

Stonewall Book Award -Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:

“Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy,” written by Bil Wright and published by Simon & Schuster BFYR, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division,is the winner of the 2012 Stonewall Award. The award is given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered experience.

Four Honor Books were selected: “a + e 4ever,” drawn and written by Ilike Merey and published by Lethe Press, Inc.; “Money Boy,” written by Paul Yee and published by Groundwood Books, an imprint of House of Anansi Press; “Pink,” written by Lili Wilkinson and published by HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins; and “with or without you,” written by Brian Farrey and published by Simon Pulse, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:

"Tales for Very Picky Eaters," written and illustrated by Josh Schneider, is the Geisel Award winner. The book is published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Three Geisel Honor Books were named: "I Broke My Trunk,” written and illustrated by Mo Willems, and published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group; "I Want My Hat Back," written and illustrated by Jon Klassen, and published by Candlewick Press; and "See Me Run," written and illustrated by Paul Meisel, and published by Holiday House.

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:

“Where Things Come Back,” written by John Corey Whaley is the 2012 Morris Award winner. The book is published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Four other books were finalists for the award: “Girl of Fire and Thorns,” written by Rae Carson, published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; “Paper Covers Rock,” written by Jenny Hubbard, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books; “Under the Mesquite,” written by Guadalupe Garcia McCall, published by Lee and Low Books; and “Between Shades of Gray,” written by Ruta Sepetys, published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group USA.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults, ages 12 – 18, each year:

“The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery” written by Steve Sheinkin, is the 2012 Excellence winner. The book is published by Flash Point/Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.

Four other books were finalists for the award: “Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom and Science,” written by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos, published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; “Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition,” written by Karen Blumenthal, published by Flash Point/Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; “Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way),” written by Sue Macy, published by National Geographic Children’s Books; and “Music Was It: Young Leonard Bernstein,” written by Susan Goldman Rubin, published by Charlesbridge.

Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit the ALA Web site at www.ala.org.

43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards Nominations, Children's/Teens Books, reprint from Reuters

2012-01-22T09:20:00.000-08:00

Outstanding Literary Work - Children

• "Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band" - Kwame Alexander (Author), Tim Bowers

(Illustrator) (Sleeping Bear Press)

• "Before There Was Mozart" - Lesa Cline-Ransome (Author), James Ransome (Illustrator) (Schwartz & Wade Books / Random House Children's Books)

• "Heart and Soul" - Kadir Nelson (Author/Illustrator) (Balzer + Bray, an imprint of

HarperCollins Children's Books)

• "White Water" - Michael S. Bandy (Author), Shadra Strickland (Illustrator) (Candlewick

Press)

• "You Can Be A Friend" - Tony Dungy (Author), Ron Mazellan (Illustrator) (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing - Little Simon)

Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens

• "Camo Girl" - Kekla Magoon (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing - Aladdin)

• "Eliza's Freedom Road: An Underground Railroad Diary" - Jerdine Nolan (Author), Sadra

Strickland (Illustrator) (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing - Paula Wiseman Books)

• "Jesse Owens: "I Always Loved Running"" - Jeff Burlingame (Enslow Publishers, Inc.)

• "Kick" - Walter Dean (HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Children's Books)

• "Planet Middle School" - Nikki Grimes (Bloomsbury Children's Books)

Julia Mickenberg on Inside Higher Education Link, reprint

2012-01-22T09:13:00.000-08:00

Politics of Children’s Books

January 17, 2012

In today’s Academic Minute, the University of Texas at Austin's Julia Mickenberg discusses how the political climate of the 20th century influenced children’s literature. Mickenberg is an associate professor in the American studies department at UT-Austin and co-editor of Tales for Little Rebels: A Collection of Radical Children's Literature and The Oxford Handbook of Children's Literature. Find out more about her here. A transcript of this podcast can be found here.

File:

1-17-12 Texas Austin - Bedtime Stories.mp3

The Atlantic, reprint

2012-01-21T21:07:00.000-08:00

The Unexpected Inspirations Behind Beloved Children's Books

By Tom Hawking

Jan 19 2012

The acid trips, war wounds, and survival stories that led to your treasured childhood fantasies

If he were still alive, Alan Alexander Milne—you may know him as A. A. Milne—would have turned 130 years old yesterday. If you're a fan of Milne's books, you probably know that you can go and see the original teddy bear that inspired the character of Winnie-the-Pooh if you visit the New York Public Library—it's on display there along with a selection of other similar stuffed toys that inspired Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet.

The fact that the books were based on Milne's son's toys is just one of a number of fascinating stories behind beloved children's classics, and we've related a few more such tales below.

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

Inspiration: Stuffed toys

Milne’s inspiration for the anthropomorphic protagonists of his stories came from a collection of stuffed toys owned by his son (whose name was, yes, Christopher Robin Milne) — Winnie-the-Pooh himself was a teddy bear that Christopher received for his first birthday. There seems to be some debate as to to what extent Christopher came to resent the attention that the books brought him — his biography describes being taunted by his schoolmates about them, and also claims that “my father had got to where he was by climbing upon my infant shoulders, that he had filched from me my good name and had left me with nothing but the empty fame of being his son,” although the book also seemed to suggest that by his later years he’d reconciled himself to his father’s legacy. There’s more information here, if you’re interested.

Full Screen click here for slide show

CFP, Conference: Ethics and Children's Literature

2012-01-21T20:31:00.000-08:00

Ethics and Children’s Literature: A Symposium

September 13-15, 2012

Hosted by The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics
DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana

Deadline for 500-word Abstracts: April 15, 2012

Organized by:
Claudia Mills, Robert and Carolyn Frederick Distinguished Visiting Professor of Ethics, DePauw University

Keynote Speakers:

Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Newbery Honor author of Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow and They Called Themselves the KKK: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group

Claudia Nelson
Author of Family Ties in Victorian England; Little Strangers: Portrayals of Adoption in America, 1850-192;, and Boys Will Be Girls: The Feminine Ethic and British Children’s Fiction, 1857-1917

Symposium Theme:

Even as children’s literature has evolved from its origins in didactic Sunday School tracts and moralizing fables, authors, parents, librarians, and scholars remain sensitive to the values conveyed to children through the texts we choose to share with them. No field of human endeavor is exempt from some form of moral scrutiny, so ethical criticism of literature is in principle a viable approach, despite the worries it raises about censorship. Children’s texts often explore value questions, depict moral development of their characters, and call into attention shared moral assumptions. This conference brings together children’s authors, philosophers, and scholars of children’s literature to explore ethical questions posed by children’s literature and posed about children’s literature, understood in the broadest possible sense.

Call for Papers:

Possible topics for papers include, but are not limited to:

Ethics in fantasy versus ethics in “realistic” stories
Values – concerning personal morality, social justice, or gender, race, and class – conveyed by any particular work or series
How children’s literature both reflects and shapes moral development
The role of moral emotions in children’s books (anger, resentment, forgiveness, etc.)
Children’s books in which generally admirable characters behave in arguably immoral ways (lying, cheating, stealing)
Moral dilemmas faced by characters in children’s literature
Ethical criticism of children’s literature
Recent controversies over whether young adult literature is “too dark”
How moralizing is handled in children’s literature in different historical periods

Papers should be twenty minutes reading time (10 pages).

Send to claudiamills@depauw.edu

For more information, please visit eclconference.org

American Library Assoc. Newbery, Caldecott, and More Awards Announced Monday morning, Jan. 23

2012-01-21T20:26:00.000-08:00

2012 ALA Youth Media Awards

The eyes of the publishing world will turn to Dallas at 7:45 a.m. CT on Jan.23, 2012, when the American Library Association (ALA) announces the top awards in children’s and young adult literature as part of the ALA Midwinter Meeting, January 20 - 24.

The ALA Youth Media Awards honor children’s and young adult authors and illustrators, as well as producers of children’s audio and video materials. Known worldwide for the high quality they represent, the ALA Youth Media Awards are selected under a cloak of secrecy by national judging committees composed of librarians and other children’s literature experts.

The ALA will announce 18 awards, including the renowned Caldecott and Newbery Medals, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards and Printz award. The books honored serve as a guide for parents, educators, librarians and those interested in providing children and teens with the very best reading and viewing materials.

Webcast

The ALA will host a live Webcast from the Dallas Convention Center begining at 7:30 a.m. CT, Jan. 23. Virtual seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

ALA Youth Media Awards Videos

For the lastest ALA Youth Media Awards video please visit our YouTube Channel .

New AmbassadorWalter Dean Myers on Kids' Reading

2012-01-21T20:19:00.000-08:00

Literacy Leader: Reading Is Not Optional

Walter Dean Myers says that equality of opportunity is meaningless if black kids aren't literate.

By: Jenée Desmond-Harris | Posted: January 21, 2012

Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers, the award-winning author of more than 100 books, including the New York Times bestseller Monster, was sworn in this week as the national ambassador for young people's literature.

The position is designed to raise national awareness of the importance of an appreciation for books to the betterment of children's lives. In other words, Myers will be leading the charge to get kids to understand that reading, as he says in the slogan he's chosen for his campaign, "is not optional."

The setting for many of Myers' books is New York City's Harlem neighborhood, which is where he grew up, a high school dropout who hid his books so he wouldn't be teased. His characters recall that experience -- they're often black teenagers grappling with tough issues, unsugarcoated: drug addiction, gangs and war.

Myers' message isn't sugarcoated, either: He's adamant that you cannot be successful if you don't read well. He wants parents to expose their babies to books from the age of 2 months. He calls the black illiteracy rate a national disaster.

The Root talked to Myers about his message that reading can help all kids be successful, his advice to black parents and his insistence that those who miss out on literacy will be lost.

The Root: You've said, "To do well in life, you have to read well," and "Reading is not optional." How do you plan to communicate that to kids who see athletes and reality-TV stars doing pretty well, with no mention of reading or literacy?

Walter Dean Myers: Right, but they [athletes and TV stars] actually represent such a tiny, tiny percentage of the population. Like when I was working with the NBA ... Take all the players in the NBA, and their grade schools have more people than everyone in the NBA. These people are such exceptions that it's meaningless. If you look at 99 percent of all people in America, you will find that the ones who are successful are the ones who read well.

You can even throw in the celebrities and the NBA guys and the footballers. I work with the NBA, and I know a lot of [former] NBA players who, if they didn't hang on to that money when they were in the NBA, are not doing very well. It’s the people who read well who are going to have a good life.

Last Chance for Survey on Russell Hoban's Books, from The Kraken, reprint

2012-01-21T20:10:00.000-08:00

The survey I started on 28th December has had an excellent response, so
much so that I've had to create a duplicate....

I will be closing the survey in one week's time (28th January) so if you
haven't already taken it, don't miss out - go here pronto:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BKDRJXG

Here also is the link to the duplicate survey should you be unable to
access the original link:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NS63CHQ

As I say, the second survey is exactly the same as the first one, so
there's no need to take it again. In fact please don't, as that would just
be cheating :)

Also, I hope you're all busy thinking up quotes to share and fun ways of celebrating SA4QE's 10th birthday on the 4th February!

[Febuary 4th is Russell Hoban's birthday, when his readers place their favorite Hoban quotes from any of his writings in spontaneous places around the globe, for other readers to chance upon.]

Yours...,

Richard

Bookbird/IBBY CFP

2012-01-21T15:16:00.000-08:00

We invite submissions for a Special Issue of IBBY's journal, Bookbird, in conjunction with the Commonwealth Education Trust (CET) in January 2013.

The full call for papers is attached or can be read below.

Lydia Kokkola

Call for Papers: 'Children's Literature from the Commonwealth of Nations'

We invite submissions for a Special Issue of Bookbird in conjunction with the Commonwealth Education Trust (CET). The CET has promoted education, literacy and literature throughout the member states of the Commonwealth of Nations for 125 years. Their work has much in common with IBBY. Papers are invited on the literatures of Commonwealth countries, as well as on literacy education, the development of the imagination and critical thinking through reading, and other practical uses of literature. Papers of 4000 words are invited on, but not limited to, the following topics:

* National identity in literature for children and teens
* Literacy programmes which incorporate children's literature
* Thematic developments in national literatures
* Indigenous and diasporic literatures for children
* Multilingual children's literature
* The impact of colonization and/or Empire on national literatures for children
* The oral tradition and/or literary retellings
* Trends in illustration techniques
* Prizes for children's literature
* Non-fiction publishing for children and teens

Titles and abstracts of 250 words should be sent to both editors by 15th May 2012.
Roxanne Harde (rharde@augustana.ca) and Lydia Kokkola (lydia.kokkola@utu.fi). The full papers will be expected by 30th June 2012. Please see Bookbird's website at www.ibby.org/bookbird for full submission details.
In addition, short reviews of recently published children's literature (c.a. 300 words) or of research on children's literature (c.a. 750 words) are warmly welcomed.
Papers which are not accepted for this issue will be considered for later issues of Bookbird.

Bookbird Jan 2013 CFP.doc
28K View Download

Children's Book Reviews by Jerry Griswold, click on the icon to the right to read our special review section.

2012-01-20T19:38:00.000-08:00

University of Redlands, CA. Festival, March 2-3

2012-01-20T19:34:00.000-08:00

Children's literature festival draws award-winning authors

Kristina Hernandez, Staff Writer

Posted: 01/19/2012 Redlands Daily Facts, reprint

16th Annual Charlotte S. Huck Children's Literature Festival

Brian Pinkney, Eric Kimmel and other authors

Where: University of Redlands, 1200 E. Colton Ave.

When: 8 a.m. March 2 and 3

Cost: Tickets start at $125

Information: 909-748-8791, redlands.edu.

REDLANDS - Tickets are now available for the 16th annual Charlotte S. Huck Children's Literature Festival planned for March 2 and 3 at the University of Redlands.

The two-day event will feature the best in children's literature today and their creators, along with award-winning speakers, including Brian Pinkney, Eric Kimmel, George Ella Lyon and Caroline Arnold.

The event was designed to bring authors and the people who have a passion for reading into one place, said Charlotte G. Burgess, vice president and dean of student life at U of R. She is also a co-organizer of the event.

"I think people miss the fact that the event is not just for teachers and librarians, but for people who might be grandparents or childcare workers or anyone who enjoys children's books or someone who thinks about writing one," she said. "As a person who is not in the field, I find it immensely inspiring. You just get all kinds of new ideas from incredibly creative authors and illustrators."

The event is inspired by Burgess' aunt Dr. Charlotte S. Huck, a internationally-known author and children's literature expert.

Her many works include "Princess Furball" and "Secret Places."

Huck died April 7, 2005 at her home in Redlands.

She moved to the area after retiring from teaching at Ohio State.

Huck was also known for organizing the first course in children's literature at Ohio State in 1955, where she built a nationally respected program that offered both a master's and doctorate in the subject.

In Redlands, she helped found the evening read aloud program and annual Family Day at Smiley Library, the annual Children's Literature Festival and various discussion groups in the area.

She also served on the board of the YWCA and Redlands Day Nursery.

Last year's festival brought close to 165 to the area with the farthest traveling from the Chicago-area.

Burgess hopes to see more Redlanders attend this year's festival, as the event is held right in their very own backyard.

"It's a real jewel in this town that more people should take advantage of," she said.

Tickets are $150 per person until Feb. 24. The price will increase to $175 after.

The festival is also offering a deal for those who register a party of three or more. Tickets will be $125 per person under that special offer, Burgess said.

Events start at 8 a.m. on both days for registration, with events kicking off officially around 9 a.m.

For more information, visit redlands.edu or call Colleen Quesada at 909-748-8791.

Reach Kristina via email, or call her at 909-793-3221.

Link to The Horn Book's Recommended Mythology Books, reprint

2012-01-20T19:30:00.001-08:00

Reading recommendations for mythology buffs

January 20, 2012 By Katie Bircher

We’ve just put up a list of recommended mythology-related books, published and reviewed in the Magazine in the last few years. Enjoy!

NY Times reprint, excerpt, Maria Tatar quoted

2012-01-20T19:24:00.000-08:00

Do Tablet Apps and Ebooks Spell the End of Pop-Up Books?

Jan 20, 2012

It’s too early to say that pop-up books are dead, but it seems clear that a lot of the fun they presented has been channeled into ebooks and book apps for kids.

Are pop-up books dying? We remember pulling our first paper tab and seeing a book miraculously come to life. But a lot of kids these days are getting that kick on iPads and other fancy tablets. Which makes one wonder if the steady stream of interactive ebooks aimed at kids means that this generation won’t have childhood memories of Pat the Bunny, Where’s Spot, or Peter Rabbit?

Anyone worried about the future can exhale—sort of. Pop -up books aren’t dead, they’ve just turned into book apps. The apps for, say, Peter Rabbit or Alice in Wonderland are the easiest to compare to old fashioned pop-up books, thanks to their traditional stylings and digital pull-tabs. They inhabit a strange middle ground between ebook and app: not strictly text but also not quite Angry Birds. They are what ebooks would look like if their illustrations came to life....

Magazine apps and book apps for kids may be the new pop-ups, but that doesn’t mean we should go all Fahrenheit 451 just yet.

Pop-up books, pretty much anything on paper that has moving parts or appears in 3D, first showed up in the 1300s but didn’t really start catering to kids until about 500 years later. In the 90s, thanks to some improved printing know-how and artistic gumption, things like The Daily Express Children’s Annual sprouted up. Innovators like Vojtech Kubasta in Prague and Waldo Hunt in the U.S. tried to blend high-level paper cutting with charming titles featuring Babar, Sesame Street, and Disney characters.

Despite their popularity, pop-up books have never been an over-populated field. “There aren’t that many people that make pop-up books,” says Maria Tatar, a Harvard professor specializing in childhood literature. “My guess is that there are probably less than 100 [authors] that have done it successfully. So you have a very dangerous ecology. You could imagine that it would disappear overnight.”

It’s too early to say that pop-up books are dead, but it seems clear that a lot of the fun they presented has been channeled into e-books and book apps for kids., Fred Dufour, AFP / Getty Images

Jump forward some decades and the number of ebook designers is comparably small. Tatar is understandably a big fan of the printed page despite owning an Amazon Kindle.

Pop-ups have occupied a strange place in between art and literature.Tatar says pop-ups are largely left out of the children’s literature canon despite general admiration for them as art objects. That art also makes pop-ups more fragile. An expensive iPad usually wins the durability contest.

Now, instead of kids ripping out paper tabs, they can happily bash the Queen of Hearts as her court gleefully wobbles under an iPad screen.

Chicago Tribune reprint, excerpt

2012-01-19T21:23:00.001-08:00

'Houdini Box' is another Brian Selznick story set loose from the page

Illustration from "The Houdini Box," the book, by Brian Selznick. (January 17, 2012)

"I'm not someone who has a lot of my own ideas," the charming children's author Brian Selznick observed last week at Cullen's Bar & Grill on Southport Avenue. "Most of the things I've done have been brought to me."

Well, it's certainly true that Selznick, who is 46, has illustrated, beautifully, more books than he has written. But if you were someone who'd seen the Martin Scorsese movie"Hugo" over the holiday season, wherein former Chicago writer John Logan adapted Selznick's book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," that statement would have been enough to make you choke on your drink.

There are enough ideas in "Hugo Cabret" to satisfy some of us for a lifetime. It was hardly a conventional story. "I really didn't know whether anyone would want to read a book about French silent movies for kids," Selznick admitted. Turns out they did.

The story of a young boy who tends to the clocks of a Parisian railway terminus, "Hugo Cabret" is a huge book, running to some 600 pages. Selznick said it took him 21/2 years to write.

"Off and on," I suggested, scribbling that quote down and barely looking up.

"No," he replied, catching my eye. "On."

The movie has a different ending from the book (in the book, the book is the ending) but is otherwise fairly faithful to the text. Selznick clearly enjoyed the experience. "I got to walk the red carpets," he said, dryly. "Turns out, I love it."

And the movie, he says, was done right.

"People ask me all the time what it was like to have your book made into a Martin Scorsese movie," Selznick said. "I always said I highly recommend it for other authors."

But before "Hugo Cabret," there was "The Houdini Box," which is also getting its first dramatic adaptation — as a stage musical, or at least a play with music, rather than a movie. It's not the work of Logan and Scorsese, but adapter/lyricist Hannah Kohl, composer Mark Messing and director Blair Thomas. "But in terms of a group of artists coming together, the process this time is really not so different," Selznick said.

The live version of "The Houdini Box" opens next weekend at the Mercury Theater. Jackie Russell, the artistic director of the Chicago Children's Theatre, said the production will use puppets and live actors.

"Houdini," published in 1991, actually was the first book Selznick ever wrote. "It started out as a project I did for a college in class in the 1980s," he said, whipping out his laptop and showing me some of the original visual concepts. "And it's about a guy who happened to have been my hero as a kid."

In "The Houdini Box," a kid gets to meet the great escapologist (kids invariably do remarkable things in the Selznick oeuvre). The book has proved popular over the years; at one point, pretty much every schoolkid in Texas was reading it. Selznick has taken it to a lot of classrooms. "I must have read this book aloud, like, 5,000 times," he said.

"Besides knowing that I'm not going to curse and that there will be no sex, I'm really not thinking about kids when I write," he said. "Everything is about the story I am trying to tell."

NewEditorial Director for Hodder Children's Books

2012-01-19T15:22:00.000-08:00

Appleton to head fiction at Hodder Childrens Books

19.01.12 | Caroline Horn

Jon Appleton has been appointed to the newly-created post of editorial director for fiction at Hodder Children’s Books and will be joining the company on lst February.

Appleton joins from Hachette Australia, where he was children’s publisher during 2011. Previously to that he worked as editorial director at Orion under Fiona Kennedy.

Publishing director Anne McNeil said, “Jon Appleton is the ideal person to drive our fiction to its maximum potential. He joins a well established group of fiction editors – Beverley Birch, Rachel Wade and Naomi Pottesman – along with our other newcomer Ellen Holgate, who has come to us from Walker.”

Hachette has also recently appointed Karen Lawler as licensing executive manager across the group imprints.

Hodder’s authors include LJ Smith (Vampire Diaries), Cressida Cowell (How to Train Your Dragon), Robert Muchamore (CHERUB and Henderson’s Boys), David Almond (Skellig) and Hilary McKay (Caddy’s World).

Appleton said, “I am very excited to be taking up this new position. I relish bringing new authors to the list and will enjoy helping to consolidate the careers of the Hodder rising stars. I am delighted to be back in the UK and to be joining Hodder at such an exciting time.”

New Books Series Features Stories of Marginalization, available in English from India's DC Books

2012-01-19T15:16:00.000-08:00

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Different Tales : Stories Addressing Issues of Marginalization

Via Teacher Plus

While the ideal childhood, often depicted in storybooks, maybe more or less true for children from the middle class, it is not so for those children removed from what we may consider the mainstream – for those less privileged or marginalized.

These children also go to school, although a majority of them never make it through school. They also read the same textbooks and some of the same storybooks. While the child from the mainstream can identify with the lessons or stories he is reading (as they largely depict his life), the child from the margins of society cannot. There are few stories about this child, no textbook details his life. It is this gap in children’s literature that Different Tales, a series of 13 children’s books telling the stories of children from the marginalized sections of the society seeks to fill. Anveshi Research Centre for Women’s Studies has brought out the Telugu versions of these books, and the Malayalam and English versions have been published by DC Books.

But the children depicted in the 13 stories are brave, energetic, determined and confident. The stories in Different Tales are not about victimhood but about how these children manage their lives. They work, play and study all at the same time. These stories are not about conforming to the standard but in a way challenging the existing naturalized literature. Khadeer Babu’sHead Curry (one of the books in the series), for instance, is a story about the pleasure of eating meat, in this case a ram’s head. How often have we heard even a mention, let alone an entire story, of non-vegetarianism in Indian children’s books?

While the stories in Different Tales are mainly meant to provide the marginalized children strong and powerful images of their lives, their readership is not restricted. These stories are also meant to educate the mainstream children about the lives of children from different backgrounds.

Read the entire article here.

Amer. Library Assoc. Awards Announced Jan 23-- tune into Live Broadcast

2012-01-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

2012 ALA Youth Media Awards

ALA Youth Media Awards Videos

For the lastest ALA Youth Media Awards video please visit our YouTube Channel .

Follow results live

Webcast

The ALA will host a live Webcast from the Dallas Convention Center begining at 7:30 a.m. CT, Jan. 23. Virtual seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Job: Univ. of Chicago Program Looking for Spanish-language Children's Writers

2012-01-18T17:55:00.000-08:00

Writers Needed for Children’s Books in Spanish

The STEP Literacy Assessment program at the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute is looking for writers for the Spanish language version of the assessment program. Established in the early 1990′s, the STEP assessment system is organized around a developmental trajectory consisting of 13 distinct steps from pre-literacy to Step 12 that provide a comprehensive map of students’ reading skill acquisition. This generally maps on to the skill development expected of students during the period from K to end of grade 3.

Central to the assessment is a set of leveled booklets that increase in difficulty with each “step.” Currently, we are developing a Spanish language version of these leveled booklets. We do not want translations of the English booklets; we are seeking original stories in Spanish that are culturally sensitive to Latino students in grades K-3. Selected writers will be given a set of specific writing
guidelines for each booklet, however the expected length of each booklet is approximately 1,500 words or less. Writers will be paid as independent contractors at a base rate of $600 per booklet, negotiable commensurate to writer experience and level of complexity of the story.

Requirements:
*Must have a Bachelor’s degree or higher
*Must have native, or near native ability in Spanish
*Must have previously published work for children in Spanish

Interested candidates should contact Patricia Garcia at patriciag@uchicago.edu
with:

*Cover letter
*Curriculum vitae
*2 brief writing samples in Spanish

More information about the STEP Literacy Assessment program can be found at
http://uchicagoimpact.org/step/

University of Chicago
Urban Education Institute
1313 E. 60th Street
Chicago, IL 60637

Lemony Snicket Writing YA Book, reprint, excerpt

2012-01-18T17:45:00.000-08:00

Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket, gives young adult fiction a try

By John A. Vitti

|Boston Globe Staff

January 19, 2012

Photo of Lemony Snicket by Meredith Heuer

WHO: Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket)

WHAT: Handler is an author, although one who’s not as well known as his creation, Lemony Snicket, author of the wildly successful children’s books “A Series of Unfortunate Events.’’ Handler’s newest book, “Why We Broke Up,’’ is about a high school girl named Min and her relationship with Ed, a basketball star. The souvenirs from their time together are illustrated by Maira Kalman.... The book is Handler’s first in the young adult category.

Q. How do you decide to write a young adult novel? Does the story lead you there, or do you say, “Geez, I’d like to write a YA book’’?

A. It would definitely be the story. I’m not really sure I understand what young adult literature is. A few years ago, I was on the committee for the National Book Award for children’s literature and most of what we read was marked as YA and it really had nothing in common, as far as I could tell, except that I was reading it all. Though I was interested in a story about people in high school and YA seems to be that distinction. I think that there’s actually quite a bit of speculation and confusion as to who reads books that are set in high school....

Q. Have you ever taken a girl’s point of view before?

A. I have. In fact, my first novel, “The Basic Eight’’ - talk about differing times - is also from the point of view of a girl in high school. That novel was published for adults in 1999, and was even looked at by some editors who were publishing young adult fiction and they said they couldn’t possibly publish that kind of book for young people. And now I think it’s about to be reissued for young people. That’s why I find it more of an elusive category than anything else....

JOB: Penguin Books Graphic Designer

2012-01-18T17:38:00.000-08:00


Category: Design Industry: Publishing Level: Mid-level


	Designer-Young Readers Description: We are seeking a Designer to design and manage all stages of book production (covers, interiors, novelty) for 25-30 children’s books per year. Work collaboratively with all members of the design team and communicate with outside artists and artist agents while maintaining design schedules. The Designer will also be responsible for remaining current on art, design and publishing trends and for taking a creative lead by bringing new ideas and methods of workflow to the design team. This position will work on titles for five Young Readers’ imprints, including Grosset & Dunlap and Price Stern Sloan. The imprints publish in a variety of formats such as paperback series, novelty books, board books and sticker books. Please apply if you meet the following requirements: •Proficiency with Mac platform and Adobe Creative Suite programs (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat) •Minimum of 2 years prior experience in book design •4 year college degree from an accredited art and design school •Strong attention to detail and organizational skills •Effective and positive interpersonal and communication skills •Knowledge of typography, art and proper file management as it relates to quality production •Comic book/graphic novel experience a plus •Enthusiasm for media tie-in and licensing genre preferred •Experience in HTML and CSS coding a plus Please send your resume and cover letter with salary requirement and a link to your portfolio. No phone calls/agencies. Penguin Group (USA) values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Requested Online Materials: Portfolio View our web site: www.penguin.com

SDSU MFA Grad Matt de la Pena's Book Banned by Tucson School District

2012-01-18T17:12:00.000-08:00

Excerpt from American Indian Children's Literature

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Authors banned in Tucson Unified School District respond

MATT DE LA PENA

On January 16th, Matt de la Pena wrote on his blog:

A truly scary situation. Tucson schools have just “shut down” all courses related to Mexican American Studies (in essence, banning Chicano authors). If you’re familiar with Tucson’s racial makeup, you know this means that literally thousands of Chicano students will no longer be allowed to see a reflection of themselves in literature. The teachers literally had to pack up the books and remove them from their classrooms.

Teachers who taught in the Mexican American Studies program that was shut down last week are no longer allowed to teach his book, Mexican WhiteBoy.

He's in good company being banned:

SHERMAN ALEXIE

On January 17th, 2012, Sherman Alexie tweeted:

Teachers who taught in the Mexican American Studies program that was shut down last week are no longer allowed to teach two of his books:

National Latino Childen's Literature Conference, March in Tuscaloosa

2012-01-18T17:03:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, January 18

National Latino Children's Literature Conference

Connecting Cultures & Celebrating Cuentos: National Latino Children's Literature Conference

The Next National Latino Children's Literature Conference will be held on March 29-30, 2012. The conference will be Thursday and Friday all day with a special event at the Tuscaloosa Public Library on the evening of March 29th. We have confirmed the Latino authors and illustrators below. Registration is now open!

On March 29th and 30th, 2012 celebrate the rich traditions and diversity within the Latino cultures at the National Latino Children’s Literature Conference. Discover how to meet the informational and literacy needs of Latino children via high quality, culturally-relevant literature and the latest educational strategies. Engage in unique networking opportunities with librarians, teachers, educators, and researchers from across the nation as we explore how to make intercultural connections and serve this rapidly growing, uniquely diverse population.

As the number of Latino children and their families continues to increase, so does the need for understanding these diverse cultures. This exclusive conference provides a forum for sharing current research and practice addressing the cultural, educational, and informational needs of Latino children and their families. At the same time, the conference also examines the many social influences that Latino children’s and young adult literature have upon the developing child and adolescent.

For more informarion, contact Conference Chair Dr. Jamie Naidoo at jcnaidoo@slis.ua.edu or 205-348-4610. Visit www.latinochildlitconf.org

2012 Newbery/Caldecott Buzz, excerpt

2012-01-18T16:59:00.000-08:00

Corner: Divining the winners of the 2012 Newbery, Caldecott medals

By KAREN MACPHERSON, Scripps Howard News Service

Librarians and other children's-literature lovers across the country are making friendly bets about which books will be chosen for the 2012 Newbery and Caldecott medals.

The winners will be announced on Jan. 23 at the American Library Association's midwinter conference. The Newbery Medal, established in 1921, is given to the best-written children's book published the previous year, while the Caldecott Medal, created in 1937, spotlights the best-illustrated children's book.

Called the "Academy Awards" of children's literature, the medals bring lasting fame and fortune to the creators of the winning books, as medal winners rarely go out of print....

2012 CALDECOTT MEDAL POSSIBILITIES:

-- Two books are regarded as the top possibilities: "A Ball for Daisy" (Schwartz & Wade/Random House, $16.99, ages 3-6), written and illustrated by Chris Raschka, who won the 2006 Caldecott Medal for "The Hello, Goodbye Window"; and "Grandpa Green" (Roaring Brook, $16.99, ages 4-8), written and illustrated by Lane Smith.

Other Caldecott Medal possibilities include (in alphabetical order by author or author/illustrator):

-- "The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse" (Philomel, $17.99, ages 3-6), written and illustrated by Eric Carle;

-- "A Nation's Hope" (Dial, $17.99, ages 5-10), written by Matt De La Pena and illustrated by Kadir Nelson;

-- "I Want My Hat Back" (Candlewick Press, $15.99, ages 3-6), written and illustrated by Jon Klassen;

-- "All the Water in the World" (Atheneum, $15.99, ages 4-8), written by George Ella Lyon and illustrated by Katherine Tillotson;

-- "Me ... Jane" (Little, Brown, $15.99, ages 3-6), written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell;

-- "Stars" (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, $16.99, ages 3-6), written by Mary Lyn Ray and illustrated by Marla Frazee;

-- "Where's Walrus?" (Scholastic, $16.99, ages 3-6), written and illustrated by Stephen Savage;

-- "Wonderstruck" (Scholastic, $29.99, ages 8 up), written and illustrated by Brian Selznick;

-- Swirl by Swirl" (Houghton Mifflin, $16.99, ages 4-8), written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Beth Krommes.

2012 NEWBERY MEDAL POSSIBILITIES:

-- The front-runner is generally considered "Okay For Now" (Clarion, $16, ages 10-14), by Gary Schmidt, who has won two Newbery Honors (or runner-up awards). Another top contender is "Inside Out & Back Again" (Harper, $15.99, ages 9-12), by Thanhha Lai. This book won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in November.

Other Newbery possibilities include (in alphabetical order by author):

-- "Amelia Lost" (Schwartz & Wade/Random House, $18.99, ages 9-14), by Candace Fleming;

-- "Dead End in Norvelt" (FSG, $15.99, ages 10-14), by Newbery Honor author Jack Gantos;

-- "Junonia" (Greenwillow, $15.99, ages 7-10), by Caldecott Medalist and Newbery Honor author Kevin Henkes;

-- "The Trouble With May Amelia" (Atheneum, $15.99, ages 8-12), by three-time Newbery Honor author Jennifer Holm;

-- "Small As an Elephant" (Candlewick Press, $15.99, ages 9-12), by Jennifer Jacobson;

-- "A Monster Calls" (Candlewick Press, $16.99, ages 12 up), by Patrick Ness;

-- "Wonderstruck" (Scholastic, $29.99, ages 8 up), written and illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Brian Selznick;

-- "Bigger Than a Bread Box" (Random House, $16.99, ages 8-12), by Laurel Snyder.

Asian Children's Lit Festival in Vancouver

2012-01-17T19:13:00.000-08:00

Serendipity 2012: Children’s Literature Conference

16 Jan 2012

by sherylbooks

Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable Presents:

Year of the Dragon: Asian Themes for Young Canadian Readers

Saturday, February 25, 2012; 8:30 am – 3:30 pm (includes lunch & snacks) The University of British Columbia, Neville Scarfe Building; Room 100

***Featuring***

Paul Yee

Lisa Yee

Allen Say

***With Special Guests***

Tanya Kyi, 2011 Information Book Award, winner

Marjorie Coughlan Papertigers.org editor

Corinne Robson Papertigers.org editor

Joseph Wu, origami master and

Shiamak’s Bollywood Dancers

Registration Fees

Early Bird Rates (through January 31, 2012): Members $125 Non‐members $140 Students $75 Regular Rates (beginning February 1, 2012): Members $150 Non‐members $165 Students $100

Visit us at www.vclr.ca for more information or to register

Sandra Beckett's Crossover Fiction Book

2012-01-14T19:54:00.000-08:00

Crossover Fiction: Global and Historical Perspectives (Children’s Literature and Culture)

In this volume, Beckett explores the global trend of crossover literature and explains how it is transforming literary canons, concepts of readerships, the status of authors, the publishing industry, and bookselling practices.In this volume,

American Indians in Children's Lit Golden Book Titles

2012-01-14T16:45:00.000-08:00

Friday, January 13, 2012

Stereotypes of American Indians in Little Golden Books

As comprehensive as I know... if something is missing, let me know! This covers the years from 1948 through 1974.

I have Golden Legacy by Leonard Marcus. I don't think he mentions any of these in his book.
___________________________________

1948, Up in the Attic: A Story A B C, by Hilda K. Williams, illustrated by Corinne Malvern

1949, My Little Golden Dictionary, illustrated by Richard Scarry

1951, Bugs Bunny and the Indians, by Annie North Bedford

1952, Howdy Doody and the Princess, by Edward Kean

1952, Indian Indian, by Charlotte Zolotow

1952, The Little Eskimo, by Kathryn Jackson

1952, Peter Pan and the Indians, by Annie Bedford

1953, Hiawatha, Walt Disney Studios

1954, Little Indian, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Richard Scarry

1956, Buffalo Bill, Jr., by Gladys Wyatt, illustrated by Hamilton Green

1956, Roy Rogers and the Indian Sign, by Gladys Wyatt, illustrated by Mel Crawford

1957, Lone Ranger and Tonto, by Charles Verral

1957, Brave Eagle, by Charles Verral

1957, Broken Arrow, by Charles Verral, illustrated by Mel Crawford

1958, Cowboys and Indians, by Willis Lindquist, illustrated by Richard Scarry

1959, Tonka, by Elizabeth Beecher

1961, I'm An Indian Today, by Katheryn Hitte, illustrated by William Dugan

1974, Little Crow, by Caroline McDermott

Walter Dean Myers' Theme for His Ambassadorship in Children's Literature, from Wis. Dept. of Public Ed, reprint

2012-01-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

YA Literature

“Reading is Not Optional” will be the theme of Walter Dean Myers’ term

Submitted by Steve Sanders

on Tue, 01/10/2012

The Library of Congress selected Walter Dean Myers as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. The theme for his two year tenure is “Reading is Not Optional.”

Find out more about Walter Dean Myers’ books and awards at:

http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2012/12-001.html

There is also a post in one of the Library of Congress blogs at:

http://blogs.loc.gov/teachers/2012/01/introducing-walter-dean-myers-national-ambassador-for-young-people%E2%80%99s-literature/

Fairy Tales: Harvard: February 3-4

2012-01-14T06:53:00.000-08:00

A conference on the Grimm Brothers and Fairy Tales, Feb 3-4 at Harvard University. Free and open to the public but they would like it if you pre-register. Jack Zipes, Maria Tatar, SDSU's Jerry Griswold, et al.

http://web.me.com/folkmyth/Folk_%26_Myth/Grimm_Legacies.html

BYU's Children's New Books on Disabilities Collection

2012-01-13T19:49:00.000-08:00

new collection of books brings awareness to developmental disabilities

Jan 12, 2012 by Angie Hatch

Children’s books dealing with developmental disabilities are not new, but the Harold B. Lee Library has a new collection that will provide greater access to these kinds of books.

A collection of children’s and juvenile books that include individuals with developmental disabilities is available in the HBLL, thanks to the work of BYU staff and individuals involved with the Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award.

Tina Dyches, of BYU’s Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, is the chair of the Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award. The award honors authors and illustrators of books for children, adolescents and young adults that accurately and authentically portray individuals with developmental disabilities.

Dyches said the way individuals with developmental disabilities are portrayed in literature has really evolved and improved over the years.

“Authors are giving much more depth to characters with developmental disabilities than in the past,” Dyches said. “Instead of authors just including a kid with autism to make a story interesting, they include a kid who has wants and needs and desires and passions and interests like any other kid, and he just happens to have autism.”

Dyches said she uses books found through the Dolly Gray Award in her classes, but wanted a broader population to have access to them. Using a monetary stipend from the Alice Louise Reynolds Women-in-Scholarship award she received last year, Dyches said she decided to purchase books that the Dolly Gray Award has recognized and donate them to begin a special collection at BYU.

Rachel Wadham, education and juvenile literature librarian, said she has been involved with the process of acquiring the books within the award to be available through the BYU catalogue.

“I am very pleased with it,” Wadham said. “I think it will add a great depth to our collection.”

Wadham said the collection will eventually have every book that has been nominated for the Dolly Gray Award and will have more than 300 books. They will be available to BYU students as well as libraries with access to interlibrary loan.

From Joseph T. Thomas, Jr., SDSU Children's Lit, just back from the MLA ...

2012-01-13T15:04:00.000-08:00

A wonderful new resource on children's poetry is available from the Poetry Advocates for Children and Young Adults, one that features prominently our own resident poetry guy, Joseph Thomas:

http://poetryadvocates.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/pacya-a-critical-and-historical-resource-for-childrens-poetry/

The list of essays can be found here:

http://poetryadvocates.wordpress.com/essays/

Now dig in!

Atwood on Children's Reading Preferences & the Need for Myth, The Telegraph reprint, excerpt

2012-01-13T13:44:00.000-08:00

In Other Worlds: Science Fiction and the Human Imagination by Margaret Atwood: review

Margaret Atwood’s essays on the origins of science fiction show she is as much a keen reader as she is a creator, says Kevin Barry.

Novelist Margaret Atwood Photo: Marco Secchi/Getty Images

By Kevin Barry

There is something other-worldly about Margaret Atwood – an elfin gleam, a cryogenic iciness. So it’s apt that for decades she has been tiptoeing from the lamplit den of high literature to the ravaged wastelands of speculative fiction. In The Handmaid’s Tale, Oryx and Crake and, most recently, The Year of the Flood, she has done more than any writer – apart, perhaps, from JG Ballard – to show us that the real invention in contemporary literature is found not with the rainy realists but in the wild terrain of the genres.

In this collection of essays, based on a series of lectures delivered in the United States, Atwood explores her lifelong relationship with science fiction and its related zones. A child of the sparse and eerie northern Canadian woodlands, she succumbed to Forties comic strips and their vivid, superhero lore – when you live far out, you make your own entertainment and your own worlds. Atwood, as precocious as you’d expect, became a child-writer as well as a child-reader, conjuring a world populated by flying rabbits: “Very little of what I wrote or drew was in any way naturalistic, and in this I suspect I was like other children. Those under the age of eight gravitate more easily toward talking animals, dinosaurs, giants, flying humanoids of one kind of another… than they do to, say, portrayals of cosy domestic interiors or bucolic landscapes.”

Children are naturally inclined towards the fantastical and Atwood suspects that the appeal of comic books, sci-fi and the hyperreal lies deep in the human psyche. They satisfy our primal need for myth.

SDSU Children's Literature

Indian Conference on the Power of Reading to Heal Trauma, The Deccan Herald, reprint

The power of reading

JOB: Department Head, Children's Services, Waterford Public Library, Connecticut

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Department Head, Children’s Services - Waterford Public Library

Questioning Commodification? See below--

Scholastic Corporation [SCHL] and Clifford the Big Red Dog(R) to Ring The NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell in Celebration of Valentine's Day

Message from Brock University's Prof. Sandra Beckett-- New Book!

8th Semi-Annual Children's/YA Book Review Marathon

Dr. Seuss' Birthday is March 2

CLICK ON LINK TO TOUR WORLDS OF FANTASY

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Author Honored at UC Davis, Feb. 23

Words Take Wing: Honoring Diversity in Children's Literature

Ying Chang Compestine

Peter J. Shields LibraryWinter Quarter 2012

Jerry Griswold's Review in L.A. Times, excerpt

'Arrietty,' 'The Borrowers' and the appeal of all things small

The childhood fascination with the littlest of things comes to life in the animated Japanese film 'Arrietty,' which takes on Mary Norton's classic book 'The Borrowers.'

Importance of Multi-cultural Books, reprint

'Reading Is Fundamental' Offers Expansive Multicultural Book Collection Aiming to Help Close Achievement Gap

Lemony Snicket "Autobiography" due out in October

Lemony Snicket returns with autobiographical kids' series

CFP: New Journal Announced

Call for papers for Volume 1, Issue 1 (November 2012)

Frick Center, Children's Book Illustration Exhibit, February-May, reprint

The Frick Pittsburgh Presents Draw Me a Story: A Century of Children's Book Illustration

New Play for Children onstage in Costa Mesa, CA, February

CFP, Conference Reminder, CSU Monterey Bay June 8-10

Short Fiction Requested by Berkeley Fiction Review

8th Semi-Annual Children's/YA Book Review Marathon

New Children's Lit Journal

Call for papers for Volume 1, Issue 1 (November 2012)

One-Year Children's Studies Job at York University

Newcastle UniversityResearch Fellowship

David Almond Fellowship for Research in Children's Literature announced

NYC, 50 Years for A Wrinkle in Time, from Wired

Children’s Book Authors Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of A Wrinkle in Time

Dickens in India, excerpt from the Times of India

India celebrates, and debates on Dickens

Interview with Artist Jerry Pinkney, excerpt, Detroit Free Press

5 questions with artist Jerry Pinkney

February 5, 2012 |

"Escape from Slavery: Underground Railroad" (National Geographic, July 1984) is part of the exhibit "Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney." / JERRY PINKNEY

By Nancy Chipman PowersDetroit Free Press Staff Writer

THOMAS KRISTICH

From The Telegraph, for Dickens' 200th Birthday, a Question about Contemporary Readers

Modern children 'lack the attention to read Dickens'

A generation of schoolchildren lack the skills needed to read Dickens after being “reared on dreadful television programmes”, a leading author has warned.

Russell Hoban Birthday Quotation Roundup Report, from The Kraken

Yale Environment 360, excerpt

e360 digest

Declining in Children’s Books, Study Says

The Washington Post Recommended Books for Black History month, excerpt

For Black History Month, children’s books can be enlightening

By — Tracy Grant, Published: January 31

National Latino Children's Literature Conference, March in Alabama

Kids' Lit Quiz Winners, 10-13 year-olds from Connecticut, reprint

Students Compete In The Sport Of Reading At Kids' Lit Quiz Finals

Team From Squadron Line School In Simsbury Wins U.S. Finals; Heading to New Zealand In July

Mr. Dickens at 200, sources from Library Journal

Charles Dickens at 200: A Dozen New Books on “the Inimitable”

School Library Journal Announces 2012 Book Battle

The Guardian reports on the BBC's Poll of Best Kids' Book of the Decade, reprint, excerpt

Blue Peter asks children to choose 'the best book of the decade'

Blog Summary for January-- CFPs, Jobs, and More-- New Book Review Link on Top Right , click on the marquee

New World of e-books, reprint, excerpt

Library directors debate merits of books that speak, offer video

RUSSELL HOBAN'S BIRTHDAY--The Quotation Tradition

Wisconsin Students' Record

Racine students read 1 million books

Feb. 2, 2012 |

Conference, Qingdao China, June 1-4

Dolly Gray Awards Announced

Monday, January 30, 2012

Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award Winners (For Portrayals of "Individuals with Developmental Disabilities")

Children's Writers Meeting on Cape Cod in March

Cape Cod Children’s Writers Retreat on Saturday, March 31

NYTimes Review of Royal Shakespeare Company's "Matilda," excerpt

Peter J. Shields Library
Winter Quarter 2012

By Nancy Chipman Powers

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

CFP: June conference in Monterey Bay!
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