SLJ Day of Dialogue: the Books

Last week I attended School Library Journal’s Day of Dialogue during Book Expo America. It's a one day free event where librarians, authors, and publishers meet to discuss current issues and trends in children's and young adult literature.

Panels were offered on the steampunk trend among teens, the particularities of tweens and their reading habits, and picture books as compared to graphic novels. Additionally fall previews were presented from numerous publishing houses.

Some of the titles I’m most looking forward to reading are:



A Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Becker
September 2010
Candlewick Press

That particular Bear is back and now that he enjoys visitors, he's ready for a sleepover. Or IS he?



Knuffle Bunny Free! An Unexpected Diversion by Mo Willems
September 2010
Balzer + Bray

The final installment of Knuffle Bunny! I heard there's traveling involved.



Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
September 2010
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

A funny twist on the traditional pet story. A bear finds a small child and begs to keep it even though his mom warns him that, "children make terrible pets."

Art & Max by David Wiesner
October 2010
Clarion Books

Sadly the cover image isn't yet available. The three time Caldecott Medal winner is back with more of his signature hyper-realistic, detailed style. Two lizard friends with an interest in painting explore various mediums.



Piggie Pie Po by Audrey & Don Wood
September 2010
Harcourt Children's Books

Another rhyming picture book from this team who are one of my storytime favorites.



The Little Prince Graphic Novel illustrated by Joann Sfar
October 2010
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

A graphic novel adaptation of this classic book by one of my favorite illustrators. It is being released along with The Little Prince Deluxe Pop-Up Book as well.



Reckless by Cornelia Funke
September 2010
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Listening to Cornelia Funke read aloud from her upcoming book was completely mesmerizing and only partially due to her charming German accent. Prepare your fantasy readers to enter the world behind the mirror as inspired by the Brothers Grimm.



Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
October 2010
Random House Children's Books

Two girls, two centuries apart. Yet somehow the story of a modern day Brooklyn teenager becomes linked to another living in France many years past when she finds her old diary.



Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
October 2010
Harpercollins

From the author of the Luxe books, this new series is set in 1920's New York City and was described as The Great Gatsy meets Gossip Girls (how’s that for alliteration?) Flappers could very well be a new trend, as Vixen by Lila Fine is being released as part of a young adult trilogy in December by Random House.

One last notable mention: browsing the publisher's tables, I ran into my elementary school librarian Mrs. Burkey! She is still working as a school media specialist and drove all the way from Ohio to attend. How amazingly dedicated is that?

I'm From Ohio

Two of my favorite authors (and coincidentially ex-Ohioans) are releasing new books!

First is Louis Sachar, my go to author for reluctant readers and good books in general. In The Cardturner, seventeen year old Alton is forced to accompany his blind great-uncle to bridge four times a week. If anyone can pull off an engaging book on the premise of bridge, for teens no less, it would be him.



It was just reviewed in the Times by author Ned Vizzini. Recently I read an interview with Mr. Sachar and was surprised to learn he briefly attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, as did I.

I must say I prefer the graphic UK cover over the understated US edition.



Another author with Ohio ties is Dav Pilkey. Born in Cleveland, he is FINALLY releasing a new book after a notable four year absence since the last Captain Underpants title. This spin-off series, The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future, is coming August 10, 2010!



With a title like that, what more really needs to be said?

This is scary

Funding in NYC libraries is looking quite grim. Released this week, the City's proposed budget for next fiscal year calls for a further reduction of $16.9 million in Queens alone. This would bring the total cut to $28.3 million -- a 30% cut sustained since 2008. Service levels would be reduced to their lowest ever, with 14 libraries closing and layoffs of over 400 staff.

The budget situation is similarly dire in Brooklyn and New York Public. You can help by signing the various petitions in support of New York libraries, Queens Library, Brooklyn Library and New York Public Library. Write to your elected officials to tell them that library funding is important to you.

New Storytime Book Alert

Jump!
by Scott Fischer
Simon & Schuster
$14.99
ISBN: 9781416978848

Repetitive phrases? Check!
Active movements? Check!
Humorous illustrations? Check!
Rhyming text? Check! (Disclaimer: This can also work against a book unless it's well done.)

This week I read Jump! by Scott Fischer in Preschool Storytime and Family Storytime to a great response. Short rhymes involving one creature sleeping until a larger predator comes by... at which point it’s necessary to JUMP! Witness the lively scene below:



As I tend to be a fan of controlled chaos I found it most successful to have all the children stand up at the same time and take one big jump together, after which I would say, "Phew, we got away!" Otherwise, once little ones start jumping it can take some time for everyone to finish (hey, jumping IS fun!) and regroup to sit back down.

Yay Earth!

So I may have temporarily neglected this blog. Oops. I blame vacation brain. But I am back now and more focused than ever! At least until the weather turns warmer. And summer reading club starts to kill me. But I digress...

Last week, freshly back from some time off, I lead an "Earth Day Everyday" activity for school age kids. I shared the books 10 Things I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh and We Planted A Tree by Diane Muldrow.

Next we played eco games; in Recycling Relay, teams had to sort items into their proper bins (don't be fooled by the yogurt containers!) while Go Green Hangman involved guessing green phrases such as "Take shorter showers" or "Bring your own bags to the grocery store."

We concluded with setting an environmentally friendly pledge, written on construction paper cut in the shape of a leaf and posted on a tree drawn by yours truly.



Here's a more detailed view. Recley meaning recycle, of course.


I still haven't visited the recently opened Battery City Park Library -- NYPL's first green library in Manhattan. I found the most eye candy here as well as a guided tour. I love the bright orange!

Little House Rules

So many books, so little time. Considering all the books I've yet to read, it's not often I indulge in comfort reading of my childhood favorites. I may just have to make an exception this time, as I've been wanting to revisit the Little House series for months, and finding encouragement in various places.



First there was an article by Judith Thurman in the New Yorker last year, "Wilder Woman", about Laura Ingalls Wilder's daughter Rose, a writer herself, who influenced the series while typing up manuscript pages. Thurman states Rose "reshaped and heightened the dramatic structure... rewrote the prose so drastically that Laura sometimes felt usurped." However there's no denying the expertise Laura provided on such matters as how to mold bullets, dig a well, press cheese, make a rag doll, smoke a ham and so on.

And last Sunday in the New York Times magazine was an article titled, "Little House in the Hood" by Pete Wells. I always look forward to reading this particular column, "Cooking with Dexter", about a father's exploits in the kitchen with his five year old. He begins perplexed that his wife is reading aloud the assumedly girly, therefore boring, Little House books to Dexter, but soon realizes the appeal: the book begins with Pa Ingalls killing a pig, and otherwise describes in fascinating minutiae daily pioneer life. He draws a parallel to the series and its inspired Little House Cookbook to the local DIY food movement in Brooklyn.

In fact, the foodie book club at the Brooklyn Kitchen will be discussing Little House in the Big Woods later this month. Perhaps now is the perfect time for a rereading!

Wikki Stix like woah

A follow up to my last post about programming over school break. For the Wikki Stix Workshop yesterday nearly fifty children, plus their parents and caregivers, crowded the children's room to make all sorts of lovely things.

The youngest children used coloring sheet templates to fill in butterfly or kite designs. Others made their own "drawing" on white paper.



Jewelry and tiaras were quite popular among the young ladies. Check out these rings.



Food was also an inspiration. Go carrot salad!



And my favorite (oops, probably not supposed to admit that I have one) were the many detailed miniature cupcakes created by our resident artist Margaret, age ten.