End-o'-the-Week Kid-Lit Roundup

Quick links from around the kid-lit blogosphere:

A 1942 Christmas miracle. School Library Journal just reviewed some of this year's notable holiday reprints and new releases, including an inarguably darling 1942 classic, A Christmas Manger, by H.A. Rey. ("Featuring Rey’s original artwork, the book has been cleverly redesigned in “Punch-Out and Play” format, with paper dolls that can be removed, folded over, manipulated against the stable backdrop, and then stored away in the pockets provided.")

"To Infinity and Beyond." Speaking of School Library Journal: they also recently featured an interview with Buzz Aldrin, on his new kids' book Look to the Stars, "a story by a guy--me--who became a celebrity who was placed on a pedestal. It all happened because I was in the right place at the right time and was fortunate to have a good education. I was also fortunate to come from a family who knew major names in space and air travel. Today, any kid leading an ordinary life will be able to experience space travel."

Boing Boing's best books for kids. Boing Boing has been pulling together their annual gift guide, and they recently featured their best books for kids. The list is great, including some favorites from our house like The Donut Chef.

"Why young readers keep turning to Alex Rider." The Washington Post had a funny, informative profile of Anthony Horowitz, the guy behind the Alex Rider series. ("No wonder that Horowitz--television writer, novelist and author, most famously, of the Alex Rider series, about a boy spy for Britain's MI6 intelligence service--is seen as a special sort of national treasure, a secret weapon to deploy on behalf of boys and reading.")

Flash cards with a story. Seattle-based InsideStory is "creatively changing the way children learn and remember words." Go to the InsideStory site to check out these fun new cards. E.g.:

"Feminist books for five-year-olds." The Guardian has some good book suggestions for crossing the "pink-and-blue divide," like Cornelia Funke's Pirate Girl. ("It all started with my son, Will, stamping his feet and saying he didn't want any girls invited to his sixth birthday party. Girls, he declared, are boring. At the same time I noticed my daughter, Vera, who is three, carrying a handbag and lip gloss. Will was demanding his first football kit, Vera was swooning over princess paraphernalia, and I suddenly realised that it was time for a gender stereotyping intervention.") (via Bookninja)

Very Hungry Caterpillar teaching resources. Carson-Dellosa Publishing has a new site with "Ideas, Teaching Tips, Tools, and Content for Your Classroom," all based on the Eric Carle classic.

Olivia on display. Thanks to Children's Illustration for pointing out this impressive animated holiday display in the window of the Myer department store in Melbourne, Australia (apparently part of a 54-year-old tradition at the store):

--Paul