Omnivoracious

When Julie Andrews Came to Tea

Earlier this week, Julie Andrews--yes, that Julie Andrews--paid a visit to the Amazon Books team (see photo below) and left everyone who met her giddy for the rest of the day.  I'm not even being overly dramatic, Andrews' really does have that effect on people--even just going from the car to the Books floor in our building, everyone recognizes her and she leaves people staring, whispering, and smiling in her wake.

Touring for her latest children's book, The Very Fairy Princess: Here Comes the Flower Girl, and on the heels of her first Princess Week festivities, Andrews found time to join us for a cup of tea and was as funny, interesting, and gracious as I suspected she would be.  We talked about Broadway shows and children's books, and Andrews' shared stories about playing a practical joke with her friend Carol Burnett and her recent appearance on Steven Colbert. 

I think it's safe to say that many small children listened to The Very Fairy Princess: Here Comes the Flower Girl at bedtime this week, and I defnitely heard a lot of humming (or flat out singing) from The Sound of Music around the office.  If Julie Andrews comes to your town for her next book tour, go see her, she's fabulous.

Last Chance to Vote for the Children's Choice Awards

Only one week left to vote for the Children's Choice Book Awards and over 500,000 votes are in but some of the finalists are neck and neck.   If you haven't voted yet, there is still have time to finish that last nominee on the nightstand and help pick the winnners of 2012--just get your vote in by May 3rd. 

Check back after the awards gala on May 7th, the kick off to Children's Book Week,  to find out who won.  Below is a refresher on the categories and finalists--which book will you vote for?

Kindergarten - Grade 2:

• Three Hens and a Peacock
• Bailey
• Zombie in Love
• Dot
• Pirates Don't Take Baths

Grade 3 - Grade 4:

• Bad Kitty Meets the Baby
• Squish #1: Super Amoeba
• Sidekicks
• The Monstrous Book of Monsters
• A Funeral in the Bathroom: and Other School Bathroom Poems

Grade 5 - Grade 6:

• Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog
• Okay for Now
• Bad Island
• Lost and Found: Three by Shaun Tan
• How to Survive Anything: Shark Attack, Lightning, Embarrassing Parents, Pop Quizzes, and Other Perilous Situations

Teen:

• Divergent
• Clockwork Prince
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone
• Passion
• Perfect

And don't forget to vote on the best author of the year and best illustrator of the year from the list of bestselling finalists.

10 Top-Secret Personal Facts About Junie B. Jones

Twenty years ago, a feisty kindergartner named Junie B. Jones stepped onto the book scene via a smelly school bus.  Since that day, Junie B.'s funny, tell-it-like-it-is style hasn't changed, nor has her popularity with young readers (maybe you were one of them?).  With kindergarten in the rearview mirror, there are now 27 books in the series (a brand new book, Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten, comes out in August) and Junie B. has gone on to adventures with tropical birds, missing teeth, and everything in between. 

To celebrate the 20th anniversary, there is a new full-color edition of Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus that includes special features like an interview with author Barbara Park (conducted by guess who?).  Lucky for us, Junie B. found time in her busy schedule to tell us a few unknown facts about herself in this Amazon exclusive:

10 Top-Secret Personal Facts about Me, Junie B.

By Junie B. Jones

 1. My birthday is Junie the 1st!

2. My mother's name is Susan, Susie, Suz, Mommy, and Mother. Plus sometimes Daddy calls her Buttercup. That is ridiculous I think.

3. My favorite food is yummy, delicious lemon pie. Plus also I like 'pasketti and meatballs and whipped cream in a can, and sugar cookies! I do not like peas. Or Tuna Noodle Stinkle  (that dish does not smell delightful). 

4.  When I grow up I would like to be the janitor of my school. The janitor saves people from danger. And paints litter cans. And carry keys that unlock the bathroom. Without the janitor we couldn't even go to the toilet. I would also  enjoy being Beauty Shop guy, I think.  

5. My grandma, Helen Miller has a pet bird named Twitter. (Only I hate that dumb bird).

6.  I am not actually a fan of roosters either. One time, a boy named meanie Jim said that roosters can peck your head into a nub. And that is not pleasant, I tell you.

7. The name of my school is Clarence somebody or other Elementary School. 

8. I usually take the stupid smelly bus to school.  Only some mornings I accidentally spill cereal down the front of me at breakfast. And then I accidentally dance with Teddy instead of changing clothes. And so I accidentally miss the bus. Then Mother has to drive me. She is not pleasant when that happens.

9. When I am scared in the dark, I grab my bestest stuffed animal named Philip Johnny Bob. And then both of us sing, "The sun will come out tomorrow" from the hit musical ANNIE.

10.  My favorite fruits are fruit loops, cherry jello, grape Kool-aid, orange popsicles, strawberry shortcake, blueberry pancakes and chocolate covered raisins.

Sixty Years of "Charlotte's Web"

This fall it will be exactly 60 years since Charlotte's Web was first published--more on that below--and E.B. White's story of friendship, love, and life is as as important in 2012 as it was in 1952.  As a kid, Charlotte's Web was my first real introduction to the cycle of life and death and while it broke my heart in some places, I would read it again and again.  As an adult, this is a book I think everyone should read, and I always feel good about giving or recommending it to young readers.  To celebrate Charlotte's sixtieth year, Newbery-medalist Kate DiCamillo has written a beautiful foreword that is included in the anniversary editions. DiCamillo also talks about her love for Charlotte's Web in a wonderful new video about the book and author that you can see below or on this page.

Now, about that original publication--books are ordered for store shelves (virtual and otherwise) many months in advance of when they actually go to print, and the previewing is done through catalogs. The catalog page for each book gives a description/summary and basic information like author and price.  HarperCollins still has those old catalogs, and below is a scanned image of the pages that first introduced E.B. White's Charlotte's Web to book store buyers. What do you think? Would you have bought Charlotte's Web for your book store? --Seira

Click the image to see larger view and check out the 60th anniversary video below

 

Very Hungry Caterpillar Day

In honor of Eric Carle’s classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, today is Very Hungry Caterpillar Day.  Each year there is a theme around Very Hungry Caterpillar Day and for 2012 the theme is “inspiring hungry minds to grow.”   Carle’s books have helped generations of children learn basic concepts like colors and counting, encouraged healthy eating, and inspired kids to grow their imagination. In honor of the day, we have some fun downloadable activities including Caterpillar ABC's and Counting Fruit--you can find all the Very Hungry Caterpillar Day activities here, under the heading Activities for Your Hungry Reader. 

For over 40 years, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been a staple on baby's first bookshelf and seems to be universally loved by those who read it as a child, or who have read it to their own kids. Several of us in the office developed a bit of a crush on this remarkable author/illustrator after watching the video of Carle talking about his inspiration for The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse (you can see it here).   It's fortunate that Eric Carle's passion for writing books that teach and excite young readers hasn't waned in the decades since The Very Hungry Caterpillar first arrived on the scene, and I always think it's fun to see what people's favorite titles are. I especially love The Grouchy Ladybug, Mister Seahorse, and The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse.  What are your favorites?

Check out a video for this year's Very Hungry Caterpillar Day below:

 

Voting for the Children's Choice Book Awards

Today the polls are open and kids can begin voting for the 2012 winners of a Children's Choice Book Award (CCBA).  The only national children's book award of its kind, kids across the country can read from the list of finalists in each category (four age groups, plus best illustrator and best author) and vote for the winners.  I think the CCBAs are extra special because they give kids the opportunity to tell us what books they really loved and so far (this is the fifth year) the list of finalists and winners doesn't overlap much, if at all, with the books honored by the American Library Association (Newbery, Caldecott, etc.,) earlier in the year--viva la difference!  Voting ends on May 3, so there is plenty of time to read the books you might not have gotten to yet and still cast your vote for the winners. Without further ado, the nominees for the 2012 Children's Choice Book Awards are (cue the music):

Kindergarten - Grade 2:

• Three Hens and a Peacock
• Bailey
• Zombie in Love
• Dot
• Pirates Don't Take Baths

Grade 3 - Grade 4:

• Bad Kitty Meets the Baby
• Squish #1: Super Amoeba
• Sidekicks
• The Monstrous Book of Monsters
• A Funeral in the Bathroom: and Other School Bathroom Poems

Grade 5 - Grade 6:

• Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog
• Okay for Now
• Bad Island
• Lost and Found: Three by Shaun Tan
• How to Survive Anything: Shark Attack, Lightning, Embarrassing Parents, Pop Quizzes, and Other Perilous Situations

Teen:

• Divergent
• Clockwork Prince
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone
• Passion
• Perfect

And don't forget to vote on the best author of the year and best illustrator of the year from the list of bestselling finalists. In case you are wondering who won these coveted spots last year, the 2011 Author of the Year went to Rick Riordan for The Lost Hero and the 2011 Illustrator of the Year went to David Wiesner for Art & Max.  Check back on May 7 and we'll tell you who won but in the meantime we'd love to hear who you are voting for or if your favorite didn't make the list. --Seira

Dr. Seuss, The Lorax, and Read Across America

It’s a Seuss trifecta today, as we celebrate Dr. Seuss’ 108^th birthday, kick off Read Across America, and The Lorax (one of my all-time favorite Seuss stories) opens on the big screen. 

15 years ago, the National Education Association (NEA) created Read Across America to celebrate reading and provide inspiration for kids of all ages to discover the joys of reading.  What better date than March 2^nd, Dr. Seuss’ birthday, to bring kids and books together. 

Every year Read Across America gives special emphasis to a classic Seuss title and 2012 is going green with The Lorax.  First published in 1971, The Lorax quickly became a classic with an environmental message that was ahead of its time.  Now, the original gets a modern twist with a fun new pop-up edition of the book and, of course, the blockbuster movie adaptation.  At my house, we’ve been reading the book and I’m excited to take my daughter to see The Lorax movie, with its star-studded cast and larger-than-life animation--I'm particularly in love with the Truffula trees, fluffy and bright, just as I'd imagined from Dr. Seuss’ pages. I may even have to spring for 3-D...

And speaking of pages, let’s kick this thing off--grab your kid and a book, tip your hat to a tree, and settle on down to a grand reading spree.  Remember, "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child."

 Here are some of my favorite Dr. Seuss stories--which of his books do you love the most?  --Seira

• The Lorax (of course)

• The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins

• The Sneetches

• Green Eggs and Ham

• What Was I Scared Of?

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas

• Oh, The Places You'll Go

Valentine's Day Kids' Exclusive: R.J. Palacio on "Wonder"

It's Valentine's Day, which I think is fitting for the on-sale date of Wonder, our spotlight pick for February’s Best Books of the Month in Middle Grade and a book that I want to give everyone I know.

Wonder is a perfect Valentine because it has love and heartache, but it's also a story about choosing kindness and having the courage to be our authentic selves--both attributes of the heart, in my opinion.

August “Auggie” Pullman is a 10-year-old boy with extreme facial abnormalities that are the result of a rare genetic mash-up.  Homeschooled all his life, Auggie enters school for the fifth grade and he is not the only one changed by the experience. Author R.J. Palacio has created characters that are incredibly authentic--from Auggie's inner dialogue to the intensely honest perspectives of his sister and new friends. I didn't want the story to end, but of course, it does, in a conclusion that was everything I'd hoped for. It reminds me of a Jerry Spinelli book, like Loser, something I would recommend without hesitation. 

Wonder is R.J. Palacio's first book, and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.  Read more about Wonder in an exclusive interview with author Laurel Snyder, who also writes books for middle graders (Bigger Than a Bread Box, Any Which Wall, Penny Dreadful)--an excerpt of their interview is below along with a trailer for the book.  You can read the whole interview here (under A Best Books of the Month for Kids Exclusive).  Happy Valentine's Day! --Seira

 Snyder: Let’s start at the beginning. Why Auggie? How did you arrive at the idea for this book? Was there a moment, a catalyst, a person who inspired this story?

2012 Children's Book Award Winners Announced

 

This morning I got up at 5 a.m. to see (via webcast) the 2012 winners of the biggest awards in children's publishing--the American Library Association (ALA) awards.  The film industry has their Golden Globes^® and their Oscars^®, and we have the Caldecott and Newbery Medals, the Coretta Scott King Award, and the Michael J. Printz Award.  Unlike most other book awards, the major children's book awards given by the ALA have no lists of finalists or nominees.  It's a surprise every single year (with plenty of speculation beforehand) and I kind of love the secrecy.  This year's announcement had both the unexpected and the "ah, of course" books on the lists (including some 2011 Best of the Month titles)--you just never know who is going to win what. Congratulations to this year's winning and honored authors and illustrators:

 

2012 Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

• Winner!: A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
• Honor: Blackout by John Rocco
• Honor: Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
• Honor: Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

 

2012 Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:

• Winner!: Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
• Honor:  Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
• Honor:  Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

 

 

2012 Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:  

• Winner!: Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
• Honor:  Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman
• Honor:  The Returning by Christine Hinwood
• Honor:  Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
• Honor:  The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

 

2012 Coretta Scott King Author Award recognizing an African American author of outstanding books for children and young adults:

• Winner!: Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
• Honor:  The Great Migration: Journey to the North by Eloise Greenfield
• Honor: Never Forgotten by Patricia McKissack

 

2012 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award:

• Winner!: Underground by Shane W. Evans
• Honor: Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson

 

 

2012 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:

• Winner!:  Tales for Very Picky Eaters  by Josh Schneider
• Honor:  I Broke My Trunk! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems
• Honor:  I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klaussen
• Honor: See Me Run by Paul Meisel

 

 

2012 Pura Belpré Award honoring a Latino writer whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:

• Author Winner!: Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
• Honor: Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck by Margarita Engle
• Honor: Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller by Xavier Garza

 

• Illustrator Winner!: Diego Rivera: His World and Ours by Duncan Tonatiuh
• Honor: The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred illustrated by Rafael Lopez
• Honor:  Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald no combina illustrated by Sara Palacios

 

Quite a list, no?  Did some of your favorites win a medal or honor this year or do you have some that would have made the cut if you were judging?  I'd love to hear your thoughts. --Seira

Best Children's Picture Books of the Year

2011 has been a wealth of riches for children’s picture books, so choosing the top 10 was like choosing among your favorite nieces and nephews. This year is remarkable for the number of iconic, award-winning authors who gave us new books, exemplified by our top two picks--one by Eric Carle, author of the beloved classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the other by William Joyce, who has made his mark as an author/illustrator (George Shrinks), as well as in children’s television and films (Robots, Meet the Robinsons).

Carle’s The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse is all about simplicity--bright colors and subtle detail illustrate the spare text, inviting readers to let their creativity run wild with a purple fox, a polka-dotted donkey, and of course, a blue horse.  William Joyce’s The Man in the Moon, our number two best picture book of the year, is the perfect counterpart with elaborately detailed illustrations and a fantastical story of how the man in the moon came to be there. Press Here, by Herve Tullet, also made our list for it's unique method of making the reader part of the story, pressing dots, and turning the book this way and that.

See all Top 10 Children’s Picture Books and learn more about our 100 Best Books of the Year