End-o'-the-Week Kid-Lit Roundup
Cool off with "Water Babies." Check out a virtual art show from the Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton, a swimming-themed kid-lit art exhibition. It features illustrations from books as diverse as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Orlando (the Marmalade Cat): A Seaside Holiday--and it was "supposed to lower the temperature a few degrees for our visitors who weren't able to escape to the pool or to the Jersey shore on steamy days."
from The 'Trocious Twins, 1926, illustration by Nancy Parker. (Found via Menasha Kids.)
Summer Fart Watch, Part I. There aren't quite 50,000 fart-related videos on YouTube yet (amazing!), but we're getting there--thanks to a new web promotion for Kevin Bolger's debut children's novel, Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger:
Summer Fart Watch, Part II. Watch the Today Show next Friday to catch the newest title for Al's Book Club--a well-curated list of picks from Al Roker that includes some of my very favorite kid characters, from Molly Moon to the Sisters Grimm. Next Friday, Al will feature Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox.
What does that have to with farts? Check out the bus Eoin Colfer is currently touring the U.S. in:
You can also watch the trailer for Eoin Colfer's one-man show on YouTube.
A librarian defends Uncle Bobby's Wedding. A mom was unhappy her library was carrying Uncle Bobby's Wedding, a beginning reader book that includes a wedding between two gay guinea pigs. The story itself is interesting, but by far the best part is the librarian's long, reasoned response to the mom, which he then posted to his blog to help other librarians. (Found via Bookshelves of Doom, who of course was quick to identify the salient aspect of the story: "Guinea pigs! In tuxedos!")
"Beach Bag Books" podcast. The folks at the Horn Book have put together another excellent podcast, this time making some smart recommendations for kids' vacation reading. If you don't have time to listen to the whole podcast (or want help skipping to the books you're curious about), check out the list of books covered.
Tucking in your kids with an mp3. Seriously? Is this actually a trend?
Nearly a third of children ages 6 to 10 are regular users of digital audio players, according to market research firm the NPD Group. And thanks to entrepreneurs like Katz, they can now use them to listen to bedtime stories.In March, the Audible.com founder launched Audible-Kids.com, where children can download books directly onto their digital audio players.
"I hear lots of people talking, saying that when they put their kids to bed, they put them down with an audiobook," Audio Publishers Association president Michele Cobb said.
Granted, uh, that's the head of a trade organization who's "hearing people talking." But it's intriguing. Although in the article, Susan Linn--whose book my mom just gave us, The Case for Make Believe: Saving Play in Our Commercialized World--calls this "another gadget for outsourcing parenting." But I also know kids that age who love their iPods. So... are any kids and parents out there doing this? (Found via Ypulse Books.) --Paul
FredTownWard on July 27, 2008 at 09:39 AM
The basic problem with that librarian's defense of "Uncle Bobby's Wedding" is that we don't know whether he applies the same defense to NON-PC children's books, and America's librarians have a well-deserved bad reputation on the subject.
What I'd like to check out in this man's library is whether they have any openly Christian children's books. If they have any openly Christian children's books, do they shelve them with the other children's books or in a little Christian ghetto area? Of course no librarian who bans or isolates Christian children's books would even THINK of doing the same with PC advocacy children's books.
And they wonder why their (quite politically limited) defense of free speech keeps falling on deaf ears.
Mark Bryan on July 27, 2008 at 03:47 PM
I ordered a Rick springfield Cd awhile ago,and will never "PERORDER"another thing on amazon agian. Number one, I got a email saying you folks have mailed my cd to me,but it wont be here till aug 1st. (it comes out july 29th at all retail store.Numbertwo with shipping charges my total came out to a savings of 1 dollar over having bought it in the store,with out having to wait for it!Plus the cd in the retail stores,have one song on it thats not on the "PRE PAID" cd from you folks.
Gary Lawson on July 27, 2008 at 07:01 PM
WHERE IS MY STUFF ?? Order ID: 002-7095413-3698616
I have sent 3 emails to Amazon and Devine's Mart but still have not received my order. It was shipped to the wrong location 750 miles from me.
Information about shipment - DETAILS:
-----------------------------------
Ship Carrier: USPS
Tracking Number: 9101150134711284655938
Status: Delivered
Order #: 002-7095413-3698616
Shipment Date: June 26, 2008
Destination: DAVENPORT, IA, United States <<< NOTE <<
------------------------------------
Track your package
Date Time Location Event Details
June 26, 2008 08:44:00 PM HIALEAH FL Shipment has left seller facility and is in transit
June 28, 2008 06:33:00 AM ATLANTA GA Arrival Scan
June 28, 2008 05:32:00 PM ATLANTA GA Delivered
I can find no phone number to call and no way to get results.
CAN SOMEONE HELP ME? - sonoflaw@lycos.com
omnadren on July 27, 2008 at 11:06 PM
hey, amazon sux from a while... never seen my notebook they always making delays:(