End-o'-the-Week Kid-Lit Roundup
Tournament of the (Kids') Books! Heidi and I were actually there for this conversation--when we were lucky enough to meet up with Monica and Betsy in New York--and we're so excited to see that the battle is taking place! (The inspiration, of course, is the Morning News' genius Tournament of Books, which hopefully you've been following in the Omni Daily News.)
Newbery and Caldecott predictions for 2010. Speaking of Fuse #8, check out these very early predictions for next year's winners. Even if you can't handle the idea of award picks when we're not even 0.25 through 2009, they make for some excellent springtime reading recommendations. (And yes, agreed, the new Chicken Little has *got* to be in the Caldecott running.)
New WTWTA movie poster. Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for pointing us to this "hot-off-the-press" poster! If you haven't already heard all about the new Where the Wild Things Are movie, Kira over on Armchair Commentary gives you the rundown.
Also on 100 Scope Notes this week, a review of the previously noted (and Nikki McClure-illustrated) All in a Day.
New "Horse Crazy" series. Publishers Weekly lets us know about a new chapter book series, originally published in Australia, with horse-riding heroines that are "sensible, have lots of gumption and are not princesses in any sense of the word." The first two books are the Silver Horse Switch and the Circus Horse.
It's Women's History Month, comics-style. Speaking of heroines: Katherine over at Good Comics for Kids hosts an entertaining, wide-ranging, and (for me, at least) edifying roundtable discussion on favorite heroines in comics. Stops along the way include Kitty Pryde, Fray, Barbara Gordon, Catwoman, and Comrade Sorceress Maya Antares.
Retro RIF videos. Sorry, I can't embed any of them, but you should check out these classic commercials promoting RIF--the "Reading Is Fundamental" program--from the '70s, '80s, and '90s, with the likes of Carol Burnett, Ed Asner, and Shaquille O'Neal. The one I remember best is the cheesy '80s spot on the beach, with Michael Warren and Charles Haid from Hill Street Blues. (via GottaBook)
Cheerios sponsors another new author contest. Cheerios is looking for first-time kids' book authors. Send them a read-aloud story for kids 5 to 8, and you might get $5,000, consideration from Simon & Schuster, and 1.5 million copies of your book distributed in boxes of Cheerios.
Interview with illustrator Clara Vulliamy. The Times Online interviews the illustrator behind The Bear with Sticky Paws and The Big Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook--primarily on being the daughter of likewise renowned kid-lit author and illustrator Shirley Hughes. ("Her mother did not push a career in illustration upon Vulliamy. In fact, once, casting around for an alternative, she said: 'Have a shoe shop!' But, says Vulliamy, 'I think it was just to make sure illustration was what I wanted to do.'") (via achokablog)
Updated covers for Judy Blume books. Loving these reissues of Judy Blume classics, although I can't tell whether they're already available or not:
Gaiman on Colbert. Heidi mentioned in YA Wednesday that Neil Gaiman--author of the Newbery-winning YA novel The Graveyard Book--was on the Colbert Report this week. I can't resist letting you know that Neil Gaiman--author of the Hugo-winning kids' book Coraline--was also on the Colbert Report this week. Didn't want you to miss it! Or to miss Gaiman's funny, behind-the-scenes follow-up blog post ("Before the show, Stephen Colbert said hello, shook hands and told me what I am sure he tells every guest, that his character is an idiot, and to be passionate and make my points regardless").
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Neil Gaiman | ||||
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--Paul
Layla Wright-Contreras on March 23, 2009 at 09:25 AM
Thank you for linking to the Reading Is Fundamental Retro videos!
You can view more of RIF's PSA's and videos (old and new) on our You Tube channel: http://www.youtube.com/rifweb
You can view one of our latest PSA's "Ambitious Mom" and learn about a special reading challenge that begins on April 1. Go to http://www.RIF.org/readwithkids
Hope this information is useful, and thanks again for pointing to the 'Retro RIF' page!
Layla
Paul on March 23, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Thanks for the tip, Layla! I didn't even think to look for a YouTube channel. Lots of good stuff there. I love the Eric Carle "Brown Bear" read-along! And good to know about the reading challenge.