The Kirkus Review Top 40

Check out the Kirkus Review's Best Children's Books of 2005 (click from Book Standard and you can read the whole issue in PDF format). There are lots of familiar titles (The Penderwicks, Zen Shorts, A Wreath for Emmett Till, Liz B. at A Chair, a Fireplace and a Tea Cozy just reviewed the last of these on November 13) and some extras.

Extras include an interesting Q&A with Jules Feiffer. Here's a sample:

• Q: What did you enjoy about working with Norman Juster on The Phantom Tollbooth?
• A: First of all, we were roommates, so it was just part of the ongoing relationship of two people eager to establish themselves in some sort of career. A lot of other things were going on. You know, while we were collaborating on the book, we were actually exchanging girlfriends.

And, there's a bookend Q&A with Norman Juster as well.