There are only seven U.S. publishers of children's literature.
No, not really. There are dozens. Hundreds. But, as a bookbuyer for an independent store, it sometimes it feels like there are just seven. Why? For several reasons.
First, (as you might expect) the big companies have bought the little companies. Little, Brown was bought by Time Warner. Time Warner was bought by Hachette. So, when I want to order a book by Little, Brown, I call Hachette.
Second, the big companies have tons of imprints. Arthur A. Levine Books (the U.S. publisher of Harry Potter) is an imprint of Scholastic. When I want to order an Arthur A. Levine book, I call Scholastic (except that HarperCollins does the distribution for Scholastic... see the next point... so actually I call HarperCollins.)
Third, a few of the really large publishers handle the ordering and distribution for publishing houses other than their own. For example, Random House handles the sales for National Geographic Books. Random House doesn't own National Geographic, they just take the phone calls, place the orders and ship the books. By contracting with Random House, National Geographic doesn't have to hire their own distribution staff.
If a customer asks if we have a book in our store, my first mental question is always: who's the publisher? And not just who is listed on the dust jacket. The copyright may say Dutton, but I know that Dutton is owned by Penguin. What I really want to know is: who do I call? You can't go by who the author is. Lots of authors have more than one publisher. For example, half of Sandra Boynton's books are published by Simon and Schuster, and the other half are published by Workman.
And even once you know who the publisher is, it's never straightforward. For Candlewick, you have to call Random House. For Scholastic, call HarperCollins. For First Second (which is an imprint of Roaring Brook) call Macmillan (which used to be called VHPS). And on and on and on. You get used to it after a while, but it's tough remembering who owns and distributes who. I've got a long spreadsheet with all this information on it and it's filled with cross-outs and additions.
Houghton Mifflin just bought Harcourt. Kingfisher moved from Houghton Mifflin to Macmillan. It never stops.
And, obviously, this situation exists outside of children's books. In a previous job, I worked with scientific and technical books and we dealt with hundreds of publishers. Still, there were about seven gigantic companies we were always calling. Interestingly, the major publishers in that field are completely different than the major publishers of children's books, so I had to learn a whole new set of imprints and distributors when I changed jobs.
So, to me, it feels like there are only seven children's publishers. Even though I know that's not true.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Poll results
I'm going to clean up the sidebar a bit, and post the results from a few recent polls.
Question: Have you seen the movie Cars?
Answers:
Question: My reaction to the Thursday, March 14 for Better or For Worse strip is:
Answers:
Question: Harry Potter 7 is being released as two movies. What do you think?
Answers:
There are two polls up now. One is based on this post about the ALA conference and the BookExpo. And I just added a new poll. I feel like I read a lot of books... but am always awed by how many books other librarians, booksellers and bloggers read. So, I'm curious. Taking this past week as an example of a typical week, how many new books (including picture books) have you read? They don't have to be newly published, just new to you.
Question: Have you seen the movie Cars?
Answers:
- A few times (9 votes)
- Nope (9 votes)
- Once (6 votes)
- Approximately 8 million times. I've lost count. (4 votes)
Question: My reaction to the Thursday, March 14 for Better or For Worse strip is:
Answers:
- Bleah (14 votes)
- Finally (7 votes)
- Mixed (3 votes)
- Yay (2 votes)
Question: Harry Potter 7 is being released as two movies. What do you think?
Answers:
- I love it. They'll have time to do it justice. (14 votes)
- I'm reserving judgment until I see it. (9 votes)
- I don't like it. Seems like an odd choice. (8 votes)
- I don't care either way. (5 votes)
There are two polls up now. One is based on this post about the ALA conference and the BookExpo. And I just added a new poll. I feel like I read a lot of books... but am always awed by how many books other librarians, booksellers and bloggers read. So, I'm curious. Taking this past week as an example of a typical week, how many new books (including picture books) have you read? They don't have to be newly published, just new to you.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Should you go to BookExpo America or ALA?
There are two huge conventions coming up for people in the book industry:
The biggest question I have for you is: what's your reason for going?
To get free books.
BookExpo, hands down. There are certainly free books at ALA, but nothing compares to the sheer quantity of books you'll stumble away with from BookExpo. Someone once told me that they associate Book Expo with physical pain because of how many books you end up carrying around. To give you an idea of what they're talking about: at ALA, I walked away with bags of books. At BookExpo I walked (and dragged) away boxes of books.
To attend sessions, workshops and programs.
ALA definitely wins out on this one. BookExpo is a trade show and the exhibits are the main event. ALA is an enormous convention, and the exhibits are only one part of it. ALA has every kind of program, awards ceremony, discussion group and meeting on the topic of libraries and books you can imagine. There are programs at BookExpo too, but they take up only a few rooms in the conference center. The programs at ALA take up the meeting rooms of nearly every major hotel within five blocks.
To network with colleagues.
It depends on who your colleagues are. Booksellers? Go to BookExpo. Librarians? Go to ALA. For everyone else... such as bloggers, teachers, authors, the answer to this question is a little more fuzzy. If you want to talk with people about literature, then ALA is the place for you. BookExpo tends be more focused on the business aspect of things.
To meet authors.
This one is a tough call, but I think that BookExpo wins out in terms of sheer quantity. Here's a sampling of authors I met, spoke to and got autographed copies of their new books in ONE DAY at BookExpo. They include: Marc Brown, Tomie DePaola, Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson, Eoin Colfer, Lane Smith, Andrew Clements, Marc Teague, David McPhail, Mo Willems, Sandra Boynton, Ann M. Martin, Jon Muth, and Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket). The scary thing? That's only about half of the authors and illustrators I talked to that day.
In all fairness to ALA, there are an enormous number of authors there, too. If you're looking to hear authors talk, ALA is the place because of the plethora of fantastic and unforgettable speakers. They appear in workshops, give keynote addresses and beautiful award acceptance speeches. Plus, they're signing books all over the exhibit hall. You certainly won't lack for authors to meet at either conference.
To see every publisher in the known universe.
BookExpo. People who have only attended ALA may find this hard to believe, but there are even more exhibits at Book Expo than at ALA. How do I know? Both conferences were held at the D.C. Convention Center within the last two years. The ALA exhibits took up three ENORMOUS exhibit halls. The BookExpo exhibits took up all five exhibit halls.
On the other hand, I don't think that this really matters. Just about every major and minor publisher has a booth at both conferences. You'll see all the same publishers no matter which one you go to.
Are these conferences worth going to?
Absolutely. They're both wonderful, enriching and exhausting experiences. You'll meet more people (including famous authors) then you could have dreamed possible. You'll talk with countless people who love books as much as you do. You'll walk away with a ridiculous number of free books, pens and totebags. You'll get a terrific preview of the upcoming year in the book world and you'll feel prepared and on top of things as new books get released.
Which one should you go to?
That's a question you have to answer for yourself. It depends a great deal on where the conferences are located (in relation to where you live) and what your goals are. If you are a book lover, and in the book industry (or write reviews)... I'd recommend going to one per year, budget permitting. Alternate which one you go to each year, if you can. And if you're a librarian who has never been to the BookExpo, or a bookseller who has never been to ALA, give those conferences a try. You won't regret it and you may start looking at your industry from a different perspective.
Unfortunately, this year, both ALA and the BookExpo are in Los Angeles, only a few weeks apart from each other. This is great for people who live on the West Coast, but pretty depressing for the rest of us.
Plan ahead
If you can't go this year, go next year. Here are the upcoming locations for both conferences:
2009: BookExpo in New York City, ALA in Chicago.
2010: BookExpo in Washington DC, ALA in Washington D.C.
2011: BookExpo in Las Vegas, ALA in New Orleans.
ALA actually has all their convention dates planned between now and 2014, but even I can't think that far ahead.
In the next few weeks, I'll post specific advice for each conference.
- BookExpo America: May 29-June 1 in Los Angeles, California.
- The American Library Association's (ALA) Annual Conference: June 26-July 2 in Anaheim, California.
The biggest question I have for you is: what's your reason for going?
To get free books.
BookExpo, hands down. There are certainly free books at ALA, but nothing compares to the sheer quantity of books you'll stumble away with from BookExpo. Someone once told me that they associate Book Expo with physical pain because of how many books you end up carrying around. To give you an idea of what they're talking about: at ALA, I walked away with bags of books. At BookExpo I walked (and dragged) away boxes of books.
To attend sessions, workshops and programs.
ALA definitely wins out on this one. BookExpo is a trade show and the exhibits are the main event. ALA is an enormous convention, and the exhibits are only one part of it. ALA has every kind of program, awards ceremony, discussion group and meeting on the topic of libraries and books you can imagine. There are programs at BookExpo too, but they take up only a few rooms in the conference center. The programs at ALA take up the meeting rooms of nearly every major hotel within five blocks.
To network with colleagues.
It depends on who your colleagues are. Booksellers? Go to BookExpo. Librarians? Go to ALA. For everyone else... such as bloggers, teachers, authors, the answer to this question is a little more fuzzy. If you want to talk with people about literature, then ALA is the place for you. BookExpo tends be more focused on the business aspect of things.
To meet authors.
This one is a tough call, but I think that BookExpo wins out in terms of sheer quantity. Here's a sampling of authors I met, spoke to and got autographed copies of their new books in ONE DAY at BookExpo. They include: Marc Brown, Tomie DePaola, Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson, Eoin Colfer, Lane Smith, Andrew Clements, Marc Teague, David McPhail, Mo Willems, Sandra Boynton, Ann M. Martin, Jon Muth, and Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket). The scary thing? That's only about half of the authors and illustrators I talked to that day.
In all fairness to ALA, there are an enormous number of authors there, too. If you're looking to hear authors talk, ALA is the place because of the plethora of fantastic and unforgettable speakers. They appear in workshops, give keynote addresses and beautiful award acceptance speeches. Plus, they're signing books all over the exhibit hall. You certainly won't lack for authors to meet at either conference.
To see every publisher in the known universe.
BookExpo. People who have only attended ALA may find this hard to believe, but there are even more exhibits at Book Expo than at ALA. How do I know? Both conferences were held at the D.C. Convention Center within the last two years. The ALA exhibits took up three ENORMOUS exhibit halls. The BookExpo exhibits took up all five exhibit halls.
On the other hand, I don't think that this really matters. Just about every major and minor publisher has a booth at both conferences. You'll see all the same publishers no matter which one you go to.
Are these conferences worth going to?
Absolutely. They're both wonderful, enriching and exhausting experiences. You'll meet more people (including famous authors) then you could have dreamed possible. You'll talk with countless people who love books as much as you do. You'll walk away with a ridiculous number of free books, pens and totebags. You'll get a terrific preview of the upcoming year in the book world and you'll feel prepared and on top of things as new books get released.
Which one should you go to?
That's a question you have to answer for yourself. It depends a great deal on where the conferences are located (in relation to where you live) and what your goals are. If you are a book lover, and in the book industry (or write reviews)... I'd recommend going to one per year, budget permitting. Alternate which one you go to each year, if you can. And if you're a librarian who has never been to the BookExpo, or a bookseller who has never been to ALA, give those conferences a try. You won't regret it and you may start looking at your industry from a different perspective.
Unfortunately, this year, both ALA and the BookExpo are in Los Angeles, only a few weeks apart from each other. This is great for people who live on the West Coast, but pretty depressing for the rest of us.
Plan ahead
If you can't go this year, go next year. Here are the upcoming locations for both conferences:
2009: BookExpo in New York City, ALA in Chicago.
2010: BookExpo in Washington DC, ALA in Washington D.C.
2011: BookExpo in Las Vegas, ALA in New Orleans.
ALA actually has all their convention dates planned between now and 2014, but even I can't think that far ahead.
In the next few weeks, I'll post specific advice for each conference.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Poll results: Harry Potter books
I tallied up the results of this poll a while ago but keep forgetting to post them.
The question: Which books mentioned in the Harry Potter series would you like to read?
The answers:
I'd also love to get a copy of all the cookbooks in Mrs. Weasley's kitchen. Enchantment in Baking and One Minute Feasts: It's Magic! would both be a real asset in my ridiculously busy life.
I'd like to read all the Gilderoy Lockhart books (although it appears that no one else would)... simply because I need a good laugh. Think of the humor value of those books!
I'm surprised that Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard got any votes... it was the assigned book in Professor Umbridge's class and sounds very boring.
I'm curious about the rest of The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, particularly the chapter about Harry and Dumbledore. But I also think this book would drive me crazy and I'd end up flinging it across the room before long.
If I lived in the wizarding world, I think I'd be the only person (other than Hermione) who would have read Hogwarts, a History from cover to cover.
For those who voted for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander and Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp you're in luck. J.K. Rowling has published these books and they're very funny (and useful when reading the Harry Potter series). I highly recommend them for die-hard Harry Potter fans.
The question: Which books mentioned in the Harry Potter series would you like to read?
The answers:
- Tales of Beedle the Bard (11 votes)
- Enchantment in Baking (10 votes)
- Hogwarts: A History (10 votes)
- Curses and Counter-curses (Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle Your Enemies with the Latest Revenges: Hair Loss, Jelly-Legs, Tongue-Tying, and Much, Much More) by Professor Vindictus Viridian (9 votes)
- Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed (6 votes)
- History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot (6 votes)
- Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore by Rita Skeeter (6 votes)
- Rune Dictionary (6 votes)
- Adventures of Martin Miggs, the Mad Muggle (5 votes)
- Charm Your Own Cheese (5 votes)
- Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles by Wilhelm Wigworthy (5 votes)
- Powers You Never Knew You Had and What To Do With Them Now You've Wised Up (5 votes)
- Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts (5 votes)
- Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts (5 votes)
- Weird Wizarding Dilemmas and Their Solutions (5 votes)
- Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage (4 votes)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander (4 votes)
- One Minute Feasts: It's Magic! (4 votes)
- Practical Defensive Magic and Its Use Against the Dark Arts (4 votes)
- Standard Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk (4 votes)
- Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires by Eldred Worple (3 votes)
- Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble (3 votes)
- Invisible Book of Invisibility (3 votes)
- Men Who Love Dragons Too Much (3 votes)
- Numerology and Gramatica (3 votes)
- Ancient Runes Made Easy (2 votes)
- Death Omens: What To Do When You Know The Worst Is Coming (2 votes)
- Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard (2 votes)
- Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit (2 votes)
- Flying With the Cannons (2 votes)
- Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger (2 votes)
- Moste Potente Potions (2 votes)
- One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore (2 votes)
- Sonnets of a Sorcerer (2 votes)
- Unfogging the Future by Cassandra Vablatsky (2 votes)
- Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch (1 vote)
- From Egg to Inferno, A Dragon Keeper's Guide (1 vote)
- Intermediate Transfiguration (1 vote)
- Jinxes for the Jinxed (1 vote)
- Magical Me by Gilderoy Lockhart (1 vote)
- Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling (1 vote)
- Monster Book of Monsters (1 vote)
- Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp (1 vote)
- Voyages With Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart (1 vote)
- Wanderings With Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart (1 vote)
- Appraisal of Magical Education in
- Break With a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart (0 votes)
- Flesh-Eating Trees of the World (0 votes)
- Fowl or Foul? A Study of Hippogriff Brutality (0 votes)
- Gadding With Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart (0 votes)
- Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household Pests (0 votes)
- Handbook of Do-It-Yourself Broom Care (0 votes)
- Holidays With Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart (0 votes)
- Magical Water Plants of the
- Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy (0 votes)
- Prefects Who Gained Power (0 votes)
- Spellman's Syllabary (0 votes)
- Travels With Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart (0 votes)
- Year With The Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart (0 votes)
I'd also love to get a copy of all the cookbooks in Mrs. Weasley's kitchen. Enchantment in Baking and One Minute Feasts: It's Magic! would both be a real asset in my ridiculously busy life.
I'd like to read all the Gilderoy Lockhart books (although it appears that no one else would)... simply because I need a good laugh. Think of the humor value of those books!
I'm surprised that Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard got any votes... it was the assigned book in Professor Umbridge's class and sounds very boring.
I'm curious about the rest of The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, particularly the chapter about Harry and Dumbledore. But I also think this book would drive me crazy and I'd end up flinging it across the room before long.
If I lived in the wizarding world, I think I'd be the only person (other than Hermione) who would have read Hogwarts, a History from cover to cover.
For those who voted for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander and Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp you're in luck. J.K. Rowling has published these books and they're very funny (and useful when reading the Harry Potter series). I highly recommend them for die-hard Harry Potter fans.
Friday, March 21, 2008
A question for bloggers
What aspects of blogging have surprised you the most?
I'll go first.
The rich community of children's literature bloggers.
When I started, I had no idea how many blogs there were about children's books. I've been delighted to find such a bright, talented and generous community. I've learned so much about children's books and blogging from all of you.
How many people read my blog.
I thought that maybe a couple of people would read my blog occasionally. I've been overwhelmed (in a very nice way) with the number of people who read, comment and subscribe to Wizards Wireless. There have also been far more links to Wizards Wireless from other blogs than I would have dreamed possible, and I consider each one a huge compliment.
Who reads my blog.
Friends and family members from all over the country. People who have never met me. Librarians. Parents. Teachers. Authors. My brother. More people than I could have imagined.
That I still have something to say.
My main concern about starting a blog was that I'd run out of things to say after about a week. It's been nine months (and over 200 posts) later... and there's so many things I still want to talk about. Looks like I should keep writing.
Your turn. What's surprised you about blogging?
I'll go first.
The rich community of children's literature bloggers.
When I started, I had no idea how many blogs there were about children's books. I've been delighted to find such a bright, talented and generous community. I've learned so much about children's books and blogging from all of you.
How many people read my blog.
I thought that maybe a couple of people would read my blog occasionally. I've been overwhelmed (in a very nice way) with the number of people who read, comment and subscribe to Wizards Wireless. There have also been far more links to Wizards Wireless from other blogs than I would have dreamed possible, and I consider each one a huge compliment.
Who reads my blog.
Friends and family members from all over the country. People who have never met me. Librarians. Parents. Teachers. Authors. My brother. More people than I could have imagined.
That I still have something to say.
My main concern about starting a blog was that I'd run out of things to say after about a week. It's been nine months (and over 200 posts) later... and there's so many things I still want to talk about. Looks like I should keep writing.
Your turn. What's surprised you about blogging?
Monday, March 17, 2008
Paper, please!
Successful books are usually released in paperback roughly a year or two from their original publication in hardcover. Sometimes, it takes longer. And sometimes, paperback editions are never released.
Paperback books are important for several reasons. They’re lighter (makes a difference when you’re lugging tons of books around). They travel better. And, they’re cheaper… usually a third the price of a hardcover book. Quality paperbacks last longer than you’d think. I have some well-loved ones from my childhood that I’m currently reading with my son.
Here are several popular children's books and series that are currently available only in hardcover with no plans (that I know of) for paperback versions. As a children’s bookseller at an independent store, I get asked for one of the books below in paperback at least once a day.
Paperback books are important for several reasons. They’re lighter (makes a difference when you’re lugging tons of books around). They travel better. And, they’re cheaper… usually a third the price of a hardcover book. Quality paperbacks last longer than you’d think. I have some well-loved ones from my childhood that I’m currently reading with my son.
Here are several popular children's books and series that are currently available only in hardcover with no plans (that I know of) for paperback versions. As a children’s bookseller at an independent store, I get asked for one of the books below in paperback at least once a day.
The Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. Published by Candlewick Press.
This is an early reader series… and books in this genre usually sell for $4 to $6. The Mercy Watson books sell for $13 each. As beautifully produced as the books are, most people aren’t willing to pay that much for early readers. Books in this series include:
- Mercy Watson to the Rescue
- Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride
- Mercy Watson Fights Crime
- Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise
- Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig (being released in July 2008).
The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Sal Murdocca. Published by Random House.
Books 1-28 of this series have been released in paperback. So have books 33-36. But for some reason, the following books are still only available in hardcover. I get asked for the paperback versions of these Magic Tree House titles more than any other books on this list. Books in hardcover only:
- #29: Christmas in Camelot
- #30: Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve
- #31: Summer of the Sea Serpent
- #32: Winter of the Ice Wizard
The Bear series by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman. Published by Simon and Schuster.
This is a wonderful picture book series for the 3-5 year old crowd that I wish were in paperback. A few titles are available as board books, but they’re really too lengthy for babies. Books in this series include:
- Bear Snores On
- Bear Wants More
- Bear’s New Friend
- Bear Feels Sick
- Bear Feels Scared (being released in August 2008)
If You Give A…. series by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond. Published by Laura Geringer Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.
These titles have been released as board books, as books and CD combinations, as collections, as oversized books and in Spanish, but not as paperbacks. The first one was published in 1985. Please, oh, please, the time has come to put these books in paperback. Books in this series include:
- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
- If You Give a Moose a Muffin
- If You Give a Pig a Pancake
- If You Take a Mouse To The Movies
- If You Take a Mouse To School
- If You Give a Pig a Party
The Click Clack, Moo series by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Published by Simon & Schuster.
This is a very funny series of books that unfortunately are only in hardcover. I attended the White House Easter Egg Roll last year, and was impressed to hear Duck for President being read aloud by Lynne Cheney. It's nice to see that Duck has finally made it to the White House. Books in this series include:
Moose and Hildy by Stephanie Greene, illustrated by Joe Mathieu. Published by Marshall Cavendish.
You may have not heard of these, but you should. The Moose and Hildy books are a series of funny early chapter books that are unfortunately only available in hardcover. The first book originally appeared as a picture book, and I applaud the publisher for repackaging it as an early reader. I wish they could go one step further and release these books in paperback. Books in this series include:
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems. Published by Hyperion. Actually, there are currently no Mo Willems books available commercially in paperback. I really wish there were.And here’s some excellent news. As I was making this list, I originally put at the top Toys Go Out, a lovely early chapter book by Emily Jenkins. But I just saw that the book is in fact being released in paperback in September 2008, and there’s also a sequel appearing at the same time.
Wait a second, you say. You’ve seen some of the books listed above in paperback… you’re sure of it. Yes, you’re right. Some of these titles have been produced in cheap paperback editions for Scholastic book fairs. But, these versions are flimsy and not available commercially to bookstores.
I'm sure there a lot of reasons why the books I’ve mentioned haven't appeared in paperback. They probably have to do with budgets, artistic issues, the price of manufacturing the books, and many other things. But, as a bookseller, all I see is the books getting put back on the shelf repeatedly because they’re too expensive. Maybe if the publishers knew how many times this happens with books that would be flying off the shelves otherwise, it might upset them as much as it upsets me.
Of course, if I ruled the world, all books would simultaneously appear in hardcover and paperback. Wouldn't that be lovely?
Friday, March 14, 2008
Poetry Friday: Winnie-The-Pooh
I'm reading an absolutely enchanting book with my son. It's about a bear named Pooh and his friends Piglet, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, Roo and Christopher Robin. (We haven't met Tigger yet. He isn't introduced until the second book.)
You've heard of it, you say?
My son hasn't. It's just wonderful to watch him discover these incredibly famous characters for the very first time. Also, I'm realizing (as countless other parents have realized) what a fantastic book Winnie-the-Pooh is to read aloud. It's filled with poems, songs, creative text arrangements (in a pre-computer era) and short chapters, all of which work well with a young crowd. Also, Ernest Shepard's immortal "decorations" break up the words nicely and keep my son interested.
Since today is Poetry Friday, here's one of my favorites poems from the book. It's a song that Pooh hums to himself as he climbs up the honey tree in chapter one.
"It's a very funny thought that, if Bears were Bees,
They'd build their nests at the bottom of trees.
And that being so (if the Bees were Bears),
We shouldn't have to climb up all these stairs."
-A.A. Milne
The Poetry Friday round-up today is at Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup.
And, see this post for more about my face-to-face encounter with Christopher Robin Milne's stuffed bear at the Central Children's Room in the Donnell Library Center.
Christmas is coming
If you did a double take when you saw the title of this post, then you'll know exactly how I feel. I got my first catalog from a publisher today that had Christmas books in it. Yes, in March. Yikes.
If I'm not ready for Halloween, let me tell you, I'm definitely not ready for Christmas.
If I'm not ready for Halloween, let me tell you, I'm definitely not ready for Christmas.
Poll results
Clearly, most of my readership consists of fellow bloggers. That's what I found out from this poll.
Question: Do you have a blog?
Answers:
To the person who voted for "What's a blog?"... you're reading one. Here's a brief description from Blogger, and incidentally, the page also contains a link for you to start your own blog.
Question: Do you have a blog?
Answers:
- I have two or more blogs. (14 votes)
- Yes. (13 votes)
- I contribute to a group blog. (4 votes)
- No. (3 votes)
- I'm thinking of starting a blog. (1 vote)
- What's a blog? (1 vote)
To the person who voted for "What's a blog?"... you're reading one. Here's a brief description from Blogger, and incidentally, the page also contains a link for you to start your own blog.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Harry Potter: In essence divided
I don't usually post about the Harry Potter movies (my main interest is really in the books)... but I thought this piece of news was pretty big.
The Los Angeles Times has just confirmed a longtime rumor that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be split into two movies. The movies will be filmed at the same time, but will be released in theaters six months apart.
You can read more about it here at The Leaky Cauldron.
What do you think? See the new poll.
The Los Angeles Times has just confirmed a longtime rumor that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be split into two movies. The movies will be filmed at the same time, but will be released in theaters six months apart.
You can read more about it here at The Leaky Cauldron.
What do you think? See the new poll.
For Better or For Worse: Finally
The readers of Wizards Wireless are good guessers.
Here's the results from a recent poll I posed for readers of For Better or For Worse.
Question: "When do you think Anthony is going to propose?"
Answers:
And check out the new poll I just added.
Here's the results from a recent poll I posed for readers of For Better or For Worse.
Question: "When do you think Anthony is going to propose?"
Answers:
- In the next two weeks (8 votes)
- Never (I hope), but I'm being realistic, so I voted for one of the other choices too. (6 votes)
- In the next two months (3 votes)
- In the next six months (1 vote)
- In the next year (1 vote)
And check out the new poll I just added.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Comics comments: Doonesbury and For Better or For Worse
There's a great plot twist today in Doonesbury. I'm so impressed how Trudeau took a character that I thought was unimportant and turned the tables. Unfortunately, you'll only get the joke if you've been reading Doonesbury regularly for the last 4 months (and the last 20 years). But if you have, you'll find today's strip very funny.
As for today's For Better or For Worse strip... I think Anthony is about to propose. He just realized that there are other people interested in Liz, and he should act now. I think that's what's going to happen when they meet the next day. What do you think? Leave a comment or see the new poll in the sidebar.
As for today's For Better or For Worse strip... I think Anthony is about to propose. He just realized that there are other people interested in Liz, and he should act now. I think that's what's going to happen when they meet the next day. What do you think? Leave a comment or see the new poll in the sidebar.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Lightning McQueen books
As you read the title of this post, which category did you fall into?
Category 1: Parent or grandparent of a boy between the ages of 2-5. Your first thoughts were probably along the lines of: "there are BOOKS about Lightning McQueen? Really? Where can I get them? Is rush shipping available?"
Category 2: Everyone else. You probably asked yourself: "who is Lightning McQueen?"
For those of you who fall into the first category, yes, there are books about Lightning McQueen. See the specifics below. And for those of you in the second category, he's the main character in the Pixar movie Cars. Here's a picture of him:
I've done some informal observation and have found that just about every little boy I've met is obsessed with this movie. I think it's for two reasons. One, it's about cars. (I guess that's rather obvious from the title). Two, it doesn't have any scary parts. (If you think that's also obvious because it's a movie for kids, then you probably haven't watched a lot of kids' movies lately. Almost all of them have inexplicably scary parts).
Please keep in mind that I'm recommending the books below only for Cars-crazed kids. I'm not endorsing them as good literature, but here are some resources if you're looking for them. I usually hate this kind of commercial stuff, but I also recognize that sometimes a kid just wants to read about something they're interested in. And, the important thing is that they're reading.
Disclaimers aside, here are the (relatively) good books I've found on the subject. And, yes, I'm the parent of a Cars addict.
Old, New, Red, Blue! This is a basic opposites book using the Cars characters, and it's a good choice for the 2-3 year old crowd. There are only a few words per page, which is just right for that age range. It's a small paperback so it travels well. I highly recommend it.
Cars Little Golden Book: This book retells the movie. The paragraphs are a bit too long, but the illustrations of the various cars (which is really all my son is interested in) are pretty good. My main quibble with this book is that it cuts off the story well before the ending and doesn't include the all important final race.
Cars Ultimate Sticker Book: DK has tons of sticker books, and this one is fairly typical. I think it has way too much text and it's a little advanced for the 2-3 year old age range. But, it has 60 stickers of Lightning McQueen and friends, and works well as a travel activity.
Cars Resuable Sticker Book: I like this sticker book better than the DK sticker book, because it has a lot more stickers. Plus, there are tons of activities. My main issue with it is that it's oversized and it's difficult to fit into a diaper bag, purse or backpack. Also, we found the stickers to be reusable only a few times each... after that they stopped working.
The Fast Lane: A basic coloring book featuring Cars characters. The pictures are large and easy to color. It's 64 pages, which is a good size for a coloring book.
Have you come across any other Cars books that you'd recommend or that your kids liked?
Have I lost all my credibility as a reviewer by writing this post?
Category 1: Parent or grandparent of a boy between the ages of 2-5. Your first thoughts were probably along the lines of: "there are BOOKS about Lightning McQueen? Really? Where can I get them? Is rush shipping available?"
Category 2: Everyone else. You probably asked yourself: "who is Lightning McQueen?"
For those of you who fall into the first category, yes, there are books about Lightning McQueen. See the specifics below. And for those of you in the second category, he's the main character in the Pixar movie Cars. Here's a picture of him:
I've done some informal observation and have found that just about every little boy I've met is obsessed with this movie. I think it's for two reasons. One, it's about cars. (I guess that's rather obvious from the title). Two, it doesn't have any scary parts. (If you think that's also obvious because it's a movie for kids, then you probably haven't watched a lot of kids' movies lately. Almost all of them have inexplicably scary parts).
Please keep in mind that I'm recommending the books below only for Cars-crazed kids. I'm not endorsing them as good literature, but here are some resources if you're looking for them. I usually hate this kind of commercial stuff, but I also recognize that sometimes a kid just wants to read about something they're interested in. And, the important thing is that they're reading.
Disclaimers aside, here are the (relatively) good books I've found on the subject. And, yes, I'm the parent of a Cars addict.
Old, New, Red, Blue! This is a basic opposites book using the Cars characters, and it's a good choice for the 2-3 year old crowd. There are only a few words per page, which is just right for that age range. It's a small paperback so it travels well. I highly recommend it.
Cars Little Golden Book: This book retells the movie. The paragraphs are a bit too long, but the illustrations of the various cars (which is really all my son is interested in) are pretty good. My main quibble with this book is that it cuts off the story well before the ending and doesn't include the all important final race.
Cars Ultimate Sticker Book: DK has tons of sticker books, and this one is fairly typical. I think it has way too much text and it's a little advanced for the 2-3 year old age range. But, it has 60 stickers of Lightning McQueen and friends, and works well as a travel activity.
Cars Resuable Sticker Book: I like this sticker book better than the DK sticker book, because it has a lot more stickers. Plus, there are tons of activities. My main issue with it is that it's oversized and it's difficult to fit into a diaper bag, purse or backpack. Also, we found the stickers to be reusable only a few times each... after that they stopped working.
The Fast Lane: A basic coloring book featuring Cars characters. The pictures are large and easy to color. It's 64 pages, which is a good size for a coloring book.
Have you come across any other Cars books that you'd recommend or that your kids liked?
Have I lost all my credibility as a reviewer by writing this post?
Thursday, March 6, 2008
If I Ruled the World
To: All Publishers
Subject: Urgent Memo
No book that I like should ever go out of print. This includes books that I read when I was a kid, books that I saw once at a used book sale and meant to buy but didn't, and any book that anyone has ever mentioned to me that sounded cool.
Also, please keep the exact same cover, illustrations and font that the book had the first time I read it. I can't tell you which edition I read... maybe it was the first, maybe the 21st.... but I'm sure you can figure it out telepathically.
All books that you publish should be in hardcover because they're really prettier that way, and more durable for libraries. Please also publish all your books in paperback, because that would make me so much more likely to buy them. I would appreciate if you would publish both hardcovers and paperbacks at the same time, because I really hate waiting a year or more for the cheaper copy to be released.
My library (like all libraries) takes a little while to process new books, so I end up waiting months for the hot new book that everyone is talking about. By the time I get the book, everyone has stopped talking about it. If you would kindly send all new books to libraries about 3 months before they're released... that would just be lovely.
Books that I don't like can go out of print whenever you feel like it.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters.
Subject: Urgent Memo
No book that I like should ever go out of print. This includes books that I read when I was a kid, books that I saw once at a used book sale and meant to buy but didn't, and any book that anyone has ever mentioned to me that sounded cool.
Also, please keep the exact same cover, illustrations and font that the book had the first time I read it. I can't tell you which edition I read... maybe it was the first, maybe the 21st.... but I'm sure you can figure it out telepathically.
All books that you publish should be in hardcover because they're really prettier that way, and more durable for libraries. Please also publish all your books in paperback, because that would make me so much more likely to buy them. I would appreciate if you would publish both hardcovers and paperbacks at the same time, because I really hate waiting a year or more for the cheaper copy to be released.
My library (like all libraries) takes a little while to process new books, so I end up waiting months for the hot new book that everyone is talking about. By the time I get the book, everyone has stopped talking about it. If you would kindly send all new books to libraries about 3 months before they're released... that would just be lovely.
Books that I don't like can go out of print whenever you feel like it.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters.
Poll results
Here are the results from a recent poll I conducted.
Question: Which sources do you consult the most when deciding what books to read?
And, continuing on this tangent for a moment... if blogs are really that powerful... that is to say, if more people consult them more than any other form of marketing or word of mouth... then that is really intriguing. And if it is true, do you think publishers are aware of this trend?
Question: Which sources do you consult the most when deciding what books to read?
- Blogs (17 votes)
- Friends (15 votes)
- Award lists (10 votes)
- Libraries (9 votes)
- Word of mouth (8 votes)
- Reviews on Amazon and Barnes and Noble (7 votes)
- Reviews in professional journals (7 votes)
- The blurb on the book's dust jacket (7 votes)
- Your book club (5 votes)
- Bookstores: independent stores (4 votes)
- Reviews on Goodreads or LibraryThing (4 votes)
- Reviews in newspapers or magazines (4 votes)
- Bookstores: chain stores (3 votes)
- Conferences (3 votes)
- Websites: other than those listed above (2 votes)
- Your kids (2 votes)
- Your parents (2 votes)
- Other (2 votes)
- All of the above (0 votes)
And, continuing on this tangent for a moment... if blogs are really that powerful... that is to say, if more people consult them more than any other form of marketing or word of mouth... then that is really intriguing. And if it is true, do you think publishers are aware of this trend?
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
For Better or For Worse: Not going to happen
Based on the FBoFW strips yesterday and today, I'd say it's a forgone conclusion that Warren will not be the knight in shining armor. So, Monday was just a red herring, which is what a lot of you said in the comments of this post.
We're gearing up for a big "let me tell you why Anthony is so much more reliable and stable than you" speech and a "since Anthony is so wonderful, maybe it's time to get married and snatch him up" realization. And then, a "hey, I wonder if Mike and Deanna have an old wedding dress in their attic that I could use?"
Is it just me, or has Liz looked like a lot like Elly and Michael in the last week? And, why do both Anthony and Warren feel they have "no hoooome" without Liz... when neither of them has ever had a home WITH Liz?
Really, though, I'm just thrilled to see the plot moving forward.... wherever it goes.
We're gearing up for a big "let me tell you why Anthony is so much more reliable and stable than you" speech and a "since Anthony is so wonderful, maybe it's time to get married and snatch him up" realization. And then, a "hey, I wonder if Mike and Deanna have an old wedding dress in their attic that I could use?"
Is it just me, or has Liz looked like a lot like Elly and Michael in the last week? And, why do both Anthony and Warren feel they have "no hoooome" without Liz... when neither of them has ever had a home WITH Liz?
Really, though, I'm just thrilled to see the plot moving forward.... wherever it goes.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Look! It's an article!
Bloggers frequently link to their published articles in their posts. I've never done that, though, for the very good reason that I haven't had an article to direct your attention to thus far. But now, here's my big chance.
I have an article this month in ALSConnect. It's the newsletter of The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
Except, ummm... you can't read it unless you're a member of ALSC, because you need a password to access it. So, if you are a member, you can log in to see my very short article on the last page of the newsletter with advice for attending the ALA annual conference. And, if you're not a member, check out this post (one of the first ones I wrote on this blog) which contains a much, much longer version of the same advice.
Hey, it's a start, right?
I have an article this month in ALSConnect. It's the newsletter of The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
Except, ummm... you can't read it unless you're a member of ALSC, because you need a password to access it. So, if you are a member, you can log in to see my very short article on the last page of the newsletter with advice for attending the ALA annual conference. And, if you're not a member, check out this post (one of the first ones I wrote on this blog) which contains a much, much longer version of the same advice.
Hey, it's a start, right?
Monday, March 3, 2008
For better or For Worse: Wohoo!
Oooooh, this is great. Check out today's strip.
Hopefully this will go somewhere. It probably won't, but hey, I can dream, right?
Hopefully this will go somewhere. It probably won't, but hey, I can dream, right?
Monkey and Me: Multiple editions
About a month and a half ago, I made a list of new books that I'm looking forward to. One of the books on my list was Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett.I saw the book in October very briefly during a meeting with a publisher rep and loved it instantly. It has great rhythm, bounce, repetition and is perfect for little kids. Hopefully, one day soon it will be released as a board book.
A few months later, I was lucky enough to visit Powells, the legendary independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon. And, as I walked into the children's section, what did I see but Monkey and Me? I knew wasn't being published by Simon and Schuster until March so I did a little checking. I found out that what Powells had for sale was the British edition of the book, which had already been published by Macmillan. I was thrilled to see it so early, and I snapped it right up. I've been reading it to my son since and he loves it.
It's March now, and the American edition has finally been released. I eagerly took it out of the box when it arrived at the store I work at, and went to show it to my colleagues. And you know what? When I got to the last page, I found that it was different than the British edition I've been reading with my son. There's a very small change, but it's a change nonetheless.
The British edition ends like this:
"Monkey...and...me,
We went... (turn the page)
...home for tea."
The American edition ends like this:
"Monkey...and...me,
We went... (turn the page)
...ZZZZZ."
The illustration on the last page is the same, and it shows the protagonist (a cute little girl) fast asleep in front of her snack. But the "ZZZZZ" changes the rhythm of the original, and doesn't work as well when you're reading it aloud.
I don't know why this bugs me, but it does. I think American kids could figure it out... and books are precisely where you learn about customs from other countries. Mr. Gumpy's Outing, a wonderful classic by John Burmingham (a British author) mentions tea at the end, and I've never heard of anyone being confused by it.
Regardless, if you have little kids, definitely check out Monkey and Me. It's a great storytime and read aloud book for ages 1-4.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Carnivals
The February Carnival of Children's Literature is up today at Anastasia Suen's blog, Picture Book of the Day. Head on over and check it out.
I have new appreciation for carnival hosts after I hosted the January Carnival of Children's Literature. It takes some work, but it's a fantastic way to discover wonderful blogs and to meet new people. If you're ever interested in hosting, just get in touch with Melissa Wiley at Here in the Bonny Glen. Melissa recently created a webpage that explains all about the Children's Literature Carnival and contains an archive of every carnival so far.
There's a new carnival in the works for booksellers at the American Booksellers Association Omnibus blog. The first Carnival of Independent Bookselling is about why you decided to become a bookseller (if, of course, you are a bookseller at an independent store). Submit your post through Blog Carnival's submission link, or send an e-mail to sarah-AT-bookweb-DOT-org. Submissions are due by March 21, and the carnival will be posted on March 25.
I have new appreciation for carnival hosts after I hosted the January Carnival of Children's Literature. It takes some work, but it's a fantastic way to discover wonderful blogs and to meet new people. If you're ever interested in hosting, just get in touch with Melissa Wiley at Here in the Bonny Glen. Melissa recently created a webpage that explains all about the Children's Literature Carnival and contains an archive of every carnival so far.
There's a new carnival in the works for booksellers at the American Booksellers Association Omnibus blog. The first Carnival of Independent Bookselling is about why you decided to become a bookseller (if, of course, you are a bookseller at an independent store). Submit your post through Blog Carnival's submission link, or send an e-mail to sarah-AT-bookweb-DOT-org. Submissions are due by March 21, and the carnival will be posted on March 25.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Books and literature in the Harry Potter series
Since this blog is about books and Harry Potter, it seems only natural for me to talk about the books that are mentioned within the Harry Potter series.
J.K. Rowling liberally sprinkles book titles throughout the series, and I've posted a new poll listing some of my favorites. There are 60 books listed, so it doesn't contain every title mentioned in the series (if you're looking for that, see this list at the Harry Potter Lexicon.) But, if the book is featured in my poll, it means that it figures significantly into the plot. Or it's on Harry's initial shopping list in Sorcerer's Stone. Or I think the title is cool. Clearly, I used rigorous standards.
J.K. Rowling liberally sprinkles book titles throughout the series, and I've posted a new poll listing some of my favorites. There are 60 books listed, so it doesn't contain every title mentioned in the series (if you're looking for that, see this list at the Harry Potter Lexicon.) But, if the book is featured in my poll, it means that it figures significantly into the plot. Or it's on Harry's initial shopping list in Sorcerer's Stone. Or I think the title is cool. Clearly, I used rigorous standards.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Poll results
Here are the results of a few recent Wizards Wireless polls:
Question: My favorite books written by Lucy Maud Montgomery are:
Answers:
Question: Does anyone read these poll result posts?
It's the best way I can think of the archive the results, but they always seem so lengthy to me. Should I keep writing them?
See the new poll in the sidebar about what sources you consult for book recommendations.
1st place (14 votes)
- Yes
2nd place (2 votes)
- I've thought about it, but haven't joined yet.
3rd place (1 vote each)
- I used to be, but I'm not anymore.
- What's Goodreads?
4th place (0 votes)
- No
Question: My favorite books written by Lucy Maud Montgomery are:
Answers:
1st place (13 votes)
- Anne of Green Gables
2nd place (7 votes)
- The
3rd place (5 votes each)
- Anne's House of Dreams
- Rilla of Ingleside
4th place (4 votes each)
- Anne of the
- Anne of Windy Poplars
- Emily of New Moon
- I haven't read any of her books
5th place (3 votes each)
- Anne of Ingleside
- Anne of Avonlea
6th place (2 votes each)
- Emily Climbs
- Emily's Quest
- The Story Girl
7th place (1 vote each)
- Chronicles of Avonlea
- Mistress Pat
- Kilmeny of the Orchard
- Jane of Lantern Hill
- A Tangled Web
8th place (0 votes each)
- The
- Further Chronicles of Avonlea
- Pat of Silver Bush
- Magic for Marigold
Question: Does anyone read these poll result posts?
It's the best way I can think of the archive the results, but they always seem so lengthy to me. Should I keep writing them?
See the new poll in the sidebar about what sources you consult for book recommendations.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Blogs That Make My Day
Oh, my goodness. I just won an award. I'm all flustered.
No, it wasn't an Oscar or a Caldecott (hey, I can dream, can't I?) But it was just as big a compliment. Jill from The Well-Read Child just gave Wizards Wireless the "Blogs that Make My Day Award."
This is a great opportunity for me to say how much I love Jill's blog. The Well-Read Child is full of tips, reviews and great advice for parents. Be sure to check it out. I read it every day.
As a way of returning the compliment, here are ten blogs that make my day. It was almost impossible to pick just ten... so this isn't a definitive list, but rather just the tip of the iceberg. I listed them in reverse alphabetical order, since my blog name starts with a W, and is usually (and understandably) at the bottom of blogrolls. I thought I'd give those end of the alphabet people a chance to be on the top of the list. If I were doing it again, I think I'd name my blog 100 Aardvarks.
- What Adrienne Thinks About That. I met Adrienne at the Kidlitosphere conference and immediately felt like I was talking to an old friend. Reading her blog feels the same way. She's one of those people I would call a kindred spirit, and I really relate to her posts. And I just love her Real Suggestions From the Children's Room.
- Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Jules and Eisha never cease to amaze me. This blog is always unbelievably thorough and detailed. They have terrific interviews with bloggers, authors and illustrators and they recently added my favorite new feature: 7 Picture Book Tips For Impossibly Busy Parents. If I ever get featured in a Seven Imp interview, I'll know I've made it in the kidlitosphere!
- Saints and Spinners. Alkelda's wonderful blog is always thoughtful and thought provoking. I love her Song of the Week feature and her Children's Books that Never Were never fails to make me laugh. As a librarian-in-training, I find her comments about the library world extremely helpful.
- MotherReader. Pam is funny, insightful and always on the money. Speaking of people that make me laugh, Pam always does, both in person and on her blog. She was one of the very first kidlit bloggers I met, and she's just, well... cool.
- Kids Lit. An amazing blog that is filled with reviews and updates from the children's book world. Tasha reports on everything and her reviews are always top notch. I also love her blog's new design. She blogged live about the ALA awards press conference and her comment about Hugo Cabret winning the Caldecott was priceless.
- Jen Robinson's Book Page. Here's another amazing blog. Jen does wonderfully detailed literacy updates, book reviews, and she writes about so many things related to children's books. I always look forward to her Sunday afternoon visits of blogs around the kidlitosphere, because she manages to find terrific posts that I've missed. She was one of the very first supporters of Wizards Wireless and she's linked to my blog more times than I can possibly count.
- Books Together. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Anamaria, and she's just as wonderful and personable as her blog. She always manages to blog about just the kinds of books my son would love, and I've gotten great book suggestions from Books Together.
- BookMoot. Camille's excitement and love for her job and for children's books comes through in every post she writes. About a month ago, she did a fabulous post about school visits that was both wise and wonderful... and full of essential tips for every author. BookMoot is wonderful and well worth checking out.
- Biblio File. Jennie is a fellow MLS graduate student who attends the same university I do, although oddly enough we've never seen each other on campus (but keep running into each other at library events). I can always relate to Jennie's posts (particularly the ones about homework and papers) and she's really opened my eyes to the field of YA literature. And I just love this Poetry Friday post that she wrote.
- Art, Words, Life. This blog is written by children's book author and illustrator Jennifer Thermes. It's filled with Jennifer's original drawings, which are so beautiful and scrumptious they often make me catch my breath. I also love Jennifer's profile picture, because it's a self portrait. And I keep meaning to tell her how much I liked her book picture book Sam Bennett's New Shoes.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sing a book
One of my favorite songs from Sesame Street is "Sing," written by Joe Raposo.
"Sing.
Sing a song.
Sing out loud.
Sing out strong."
You have that song in your head now, don't you?
I sing songs with my son all the time, and I also sing books. Just about any picture book can easily be turned into a song. I find it to be a great read aloud technique, and we both enjoy the experience. The tune is completely irrelevant, I make up something new every time I sing.
Books that have worked well as songs (for us, at least) include:
Singing was particularly effective when my son was a baby, and I used to sing all of his longer board books to him. It also worked well when he was an antsy toddler. He still likes it now, even though he's older, and every night he'll tell me which books he wants me to sing.
I think I have a terrible voice, and I'm quite shy about using it normally, but my son doesn't mind no matter how off key I am. I tried singing my made-up musical version of Freight Train in a storytime last week, and to my surprise, it actually worked quite well. I'll have to try it again.
If there's a small child in your life, try singing them a book. Just remember, as the wise people at Sesame Street would tell you:
"Don't worry that it's not good enough
For anyone else to hear.
Sing
Sing a song."
"Sing.
Sing a song.
Sing out loud.
Sing out strong."
You have that song in your head now, don't you?
I sing songs with my son all the time, and I also sing books. Just about any picture book can easily be turned into a song. I find it to be a great read aloud technique, and we both enjoy the experience. The tune is completely irrelevant, I make up something new every time I sing.
Books that have worked well as songs (for us, at least) include:
- Freight Train by Donald Crews
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
- Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- Big Dog Little Dog by P.D. Eastman
Singing was particularly effective when my son was a baby, and I used to sing all of his longer board books to him. It also worked well when he was an antsy toddler. He still likes it now, even though he's older, and every night he'll tell me which books he wants me to sing.
I think I have a terrible voice, and I'm quite shy about using it normally, but my son doesn't mind no matter how off key I am. I tried singing my made-up musical version of Freight Train in a storytime last week, and to my surprise, it actually worked quite well. I'll have to try it again.
If there's a small child in your life, try singing them a book. Just remember, as the wise people at Sesame Street would tell you:
"Don't worry that it's not good enough
For anyone else to hear.
Sing
Sing a song."
Friday, February 22, 2008
Poetry Friday: Weather
I live in a place that's always surprised by inclement weather. A few snowflakes or a hint of ice is enough to send the area into panic and cause school closings, massive traffic backups and lines at the supermarkets.
It sounds like I live in Texas or California or another place that doesn't see a lot of snow. Nope. I live in the Washington D.C. area.... where it snows several times EVERY winter.
Schools are closed in my county today. There was a small ice storm last night.
Although, if you're going to school or work in one, the closures are quite lovely and you get used to them. Many years ago, I was student teaching at a high school in Boston. When I woke up to go to work, there was almost a foot of snow on the ground. I called the school and reached the secretary. "Wasn't the school closed?" I asked. "Or at least delayed?"
"Why would it be closed?" she answered. "It's just snow."
So, here's a poem for the Washington region, which has had a very odd week weather-wise. A few days ago the temperature was in the 70's, and today ice is covering everything.
Whether the Weather
Author unknown
Whether the weather be fine,
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!
The Poetry Friday round-up today is at Big A little a.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Poll results
Here are are some poll results that surprised me. I thought everyone (given the chance) would love to play Quidditch, but it turns out what most people really want is a good seat in the stands (preferably in the Top Box, of course).
Question: If you could be involved in a Quidditch match, what would you chose to be?
Answers:
1st place (9 votes)
- Spectator
2nd place (8 votes)
- Chaser
3rd place (4 votes)
- Seeker
4th place (2 votes each)
- Beater
- Commentator
5th place (1 vote each)
- Keeper
- Mascot
- Referee
I thought everyone would want to be a Seeker because it's the most glamorous and high profile position. Personally, I wouldn't want to be one, though... there's just too much pressure.
I'd want to be a Beater. You just fly around whacking Bludgers at people. Sure, you have to use a little strategy, but not much. Doesn't that sound like fun?Speaking of polls, I recently posted one about the website GoodReads. Even though (I swear) I double-checked the poll before I posted it... there's a typo in one of the choices. Unfortunately, you can't change the options on the poll after people have voted... so now that typo is just sitting there, taunting me. Be sure to vote so I can take that poll down!
Book Reviews
Looking for reviews of children's books? Look no further than the Children's Book Review wiki. It was created by the indefatigable Kelly Herold of Big A little a, who may be one of the most busy and productive people I've ever met. The wiki contains a wonderful and rich variety of blog reviews from all over the kidlitosphere.
I just put up all the reviews I've ever posted on Wizards Wireless on the wiki. There aren't that many... because I tend to make lists and general comments about books instead of writing formal reviews. But, I was surprised to see that I've written 15 reviews so far... I thought it was far fewer than that.
One of the most rewarding parts of reviewing for me has been connecting with authors. If the book has been published relatively recently and I can find an e-mail address, I will frequently send authors links to my blog reviews. And, every one of them has written back, which I find amazing. I have to admit, I felt like a rock star when I got return e-mails from Susan Patron and Mordecai Gerstein only a few weeks after I started blogging.
I'm in awe of bloggers who write reviews regularly (and sometimes even every day!), such as Betsy at A Fuse #8 Production, Jen at Jen Robinson's Book Page, Tasha at Kids Lit, Jules and Eisha at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Abby at Abby (the) Librarian, Laura at Library & Literary Miscellany... and, ummm... everybody but me.
I've rounded up all the reviews I've written thus far (see the list below). Looking at the list, I notice that I seem to favor titles that contain exclamation points!
Books for Babies and Toddlers
Picture Books
Juvenile Fiction
Want to contribute your reviews to the Children's Book Review wiki? Take a look at this post on Big A Little a to see how to do it.
I just put up all the reviews I've ever posted on Wizards Wireless on the wiki. There aren't that many... because I tend to make lists and general comments about books instead of writing formal reviews. But, I was surprised to see that I've written 15 reviews so far... I thought it was far fewer than that.
One of the most rewarding parts of reviewing for me has been connecting with authors. If the book has been published relatively recently and I can find an e-mail address, I will frequently send authors links to my blog reviews. And, every one of them has written back, which I find amazing. I have to admit, I felt like a rock star when I got return e-mails from Susan Patron and Mordecai Gerstein only a few weeks after I started blogging.
I'm in awe of bloggers who write reviews regularly (and sometimes even every day!), such as Betsy at A Fuse #8 Production, Jen at Jen Robinson's Book Page, Tasha at Kids Lit, Jules and Eisha at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Abby at Abby (the) Librarian, Laura at Library & Literary Miscellany... and, ummm... everybody but me.
I've rounded up all the reviews I've written thus far (see the list below). Looking at the list, I notice that I seem to favor titles that contain exclamation points!
Books for Babies and Toddlers
- Freight Train by Donald Crews
- Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy! by Sandra Boynton
- Orange Pear Apple Bear, by Emily Gravett
- Tickle the Duck! by Ethan Long
- The Toolbox by Anne and Harlow Rockwell
Picture Books
- The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury edited by Janet Schulman
- The Baby Beebee Bird by Diane Redfield Massie, illustrated by Steven Kellogg
- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
- How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman
- Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
- The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordecai Gerstein
- Shhhhh! Everybody's Sleeping by Julie Markes, illustrated by David Parkins
- When Dinosaurs Came with Everything by Elise Broach, illustrated by David Small
Juvenile Fiction
- The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
- Rules by Cynthia Lord
Want to contribute your reviews to the Children's Book Review wiki? Take a look at this post on Big A Little a to see how to do it.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Goodreads
I've just started using a website called Goodreads. It's a website where you list the books you're reading (or have read), and see what your friends are reading. It's a great place to get reviews and recommendations.
I've added two links to Goodreads on the sidebar. The first "bookshelf" is for the books that I'm currently reading... which is an interesting mix of books for graduate school, books for work (I'm a children's bookseller) and picture books I read with my son. Here's what it looks like so far:
I'm noticing that the picture books look a little strange. For example, Bark George, is a long wide book... but for some reason it comes out on the bookshelf as tall and narrow.
My second bookshelf is for books that the DC Kidlit book club is reading. The first book we're reading is The Secret Garden, and I'll update this bookshelf as more books are selected. If you're an adult who lives in the Washington D.C. area and enjoys discussing children's literature and would like to join, please let me know.
Are you on GoodReads? What has your experience with it been? Do you find it useful?
I've added two links to Goodreads on the sidebar. The first "bookshelf" is for the books that I'm currently reading... which is an interesting mix of books for graduate school, books for work (I'm a children's bookseller) and picture books I read with my son. Here's what it looks like so far:
My second bookshelf is for books that the DC Kidlit book club is reading. The first book we're reading is The Secret Garden, and I'll update this bookshelf as more books are selected. If you're an adult who lives in the Washington D.C. area and enjoys discussing children's literature and would like to join, please let me know.
Are you on GoodReads? What has your experience with it been? Do you find it useful?
Monday, February 18, 2008
Baby Blues: the clock has stopped
There's been a lot of talk among comic strip readers about the fact that the characters in For Better or For Worse have stopped aging.
Quietly, and with a lot less fanfare, another popular comic strip seems to have also stopped time. I'm talking about one of my all time favorite strips, Baby Blues.
One of the best things about Baby Blues is that we've gotten to watch the characters grow and develop. Zoe and Hammie went through all the various stages that kids experience, and that's what made the strip so funny and realistic for me. They got a year older about every two years. I have just about every Baby Blues book, and I reread them as my son is going through each phase. It always shows me the humor in the situation.
But then, baby Wren was born into the MacPherson house. And time stopped.
The first collection that contains Wren is called Never a Dry Moment and was published in 2003. That means the strips themselves probably appeared in the paper about a year or so earlier. Today, (roughly) six years after Wren was born, she is still a baby. She crawled briefly... about three years ago, but that was about as far as her development went.
Let me give you a little perspective. Since the time Wren was born... I got married, became pregnant, and had a baby who will soon be four years old.
If it was just Wren, I'd be okay with that.... but Zoe and Hammie have stopped changing and developing too. The characters are stuck at ages eight, five and baby. And a lot of the outside characters like the four grandparents, and neighbors Yolanda and Bunny have all but disappeared. The strip has slowly become static. And I have to admit, I've stopped buying the new books, because I feel like they're not as compelling as they used to be.
My friend Cate and I have been watching this trend for a while, and we're curious if anyone else has noticed. Have you or is it just us?
Quietly, and with a lot less fanfare, another popular comic strip seems to have also stopped time. I'm talking about one of my all time favorite strips, Baby Blues.
One of the best things about Baby Blues is that we've gotten to watch the characters grow and develop. Zoe and Hammie went through all the various stages that kids experience, and that's what made the strip so funny and realistic for me. They got a year older about every two years. I have just about every Baby Blues book, and I reread them as my son is going through each phase. It always shows me the humor in the situation.
But then, baby Wren was born into the MacPherson house. And time stopped.
The first collection that contains Wren is called Never a Dry Moment and was published in 2003. That means the strips themselves probably appeared in the paper about a year or so earlier. Today, (roughly) six years after Wren was born, she is still a baby. She crawled briefly... about three years ago, but that was about as far as her development went.
Let me give you a little perspective. Since the time Wren was born... I got married, became pregnant, and had a baby who will soon be four years old.
If it was just Wren, I'd be okay with that.... but Zoe and Hammie have stopped changing and developing too. The characters are stuck at ages eight, five and baby. And a lot of the outside characters like the four grandparents, and neighbors Yolanda and Bunny have all but disappeared. The strip has slowly become static. And I have to admit, I've stopped buying the new books, because I feel like they're not as compelling as they used to be.
My friend Cate and I have been watching this trend for a while, and we're curious if anyone else has noticed. Have you or is it just us?
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