The 8th Carnival of Children's Literature

The 8th Carnival of Children's Literature is now up at Scholar's Blog. Michele has done a fantastic job at rounding up a basket full of treats. Head on over and enjoy. It's much better for you than that bag of mini-snickers calling from the kitchen.

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Many thanks to Melissa Wiley for starting up the Carnival of Children's Literature last spring. To read Carnivals 1-7, click here.

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Speaking of that rapidly shrinking bag o' snickers--Does everyone in the States call trick-or-treating "beggars' night" now? I hate that term.

A (Halloween) Public Service Annoucement

One of the most significant things I've learned since beginning this blog nearly two years ago, is how good YA fiction can be. Actually, I'd never really read Young Adult fiction in my life until beginning to review children's books here. A few YA titles began slipping in here and there, and, now, I'm hooked. (I can only imagine what How I Live Now would have meant to me at age 15.)

When I was about 10, I gave up children's books. I read Dickens and Twain and other entertaining, but heady stuff fed to me by my teachers and parents. I also read Stephen King, everything he wrote up to 1985 when I graduated from high school and began reading what I considered more adult fare.

So, it's been a good long while, more than 20 years, since I've read a Stephen King novel. The reviews for Lisey's Story intrigued me enough to listen to this latest King novel. And, do you know what? I really enjoyed it. True, I haven't slept for two days. But not for the typical King reasons. I haven't slept because I couldn't put my audible player down.

Lisey's Story isn't horror in the traditional sense. It isn't fantasy. It could be most accurately labeled magical realism. But it is scary. Not scary in the self-fueling-truck or returning-from-the-dead-pet sort of way. Scary in the "this-is-the-real-world-for-some-unlucky-folk" way. And it's also the story of a long, beautiful marriage and what happens to the survivor when her husband dies.

So, this is simply a public service announcement to all you adults who haven't picked up a Stephen King novel in awhile. Pick up this one.

Happy Halloween and a quiz

Happy Halloween to one and all!

The Guardian celebrates with a witchcraft and wizardry quiz. Head on over and see how you fare (I'll admit I got only 6 of 10. At the risk of sounding like one of those internet GP Taylor "haters," let me just say that the question about him and his "inspiration" says a lot.

Review: The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems

Are you looking to introduce classic poetry to a child? And, by classic I mean canonical--Shakespeare, Dickinson, Poe. Then look no further than The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems.

The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems, compiled and illustrated by Jackie Morris, and with an introduction by Carol Ann Duffy, is a beautiful new collection of poetic masterpieces.

The book opens with Emily Dickinson's "A Book" and E.V. Rieu's "The Paintbox," honoring the word and illustration. What follows is a wide variety of poems you know from Nash to Yeats, Carroll to Rilke, Millay to Shakespeare, Stevens to Browning. And, Michele, there's even a Siegfried Sassoon poem included.

Jackie Morris illustrates her selected poems with lush illustrations of animals, people, oceans, seas, ships, and many, many stars. My favorite illustration adorns a two-page spread with "She Walks in Beauty" (Byron) on the left page and "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven" (Yeats) on the right. On the left page a serious man holds the train of a woman's blue cloak, a cloak that continues all the way to the top of the right page where a woman stares out into the "cloths of heaven."

The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems is a perfect gift for the holidays or for a new baby. It's one of those rare books that can stand on a bookshelf from birth through high school graduation.

Glenn McDonald takes on today's children's cartoons for PopMatters.

One week when McDonald and his four-year-old son took sick and spent days in front of TV, McDonald was surprised to find television has changed since he was a child: "The central message[of McDonald's cartoons] appeared to be that the world was a fun, colorful and wacky place, if remarkably violent. A land where dynamite and anvils were cheap and plentiful. "

Well, we all know times have changed. Cartoons are now computer generated and brighter than they were 30 years ago. But, McDonald has discovered, they're also about nothing. Here's my favorite passage from the article

"The kids shows today are kind, gentle, well-intentioned, and completely unnerving. Not only is there no violence—at all—there’s barely any conflict. It’s all hugging and sharing and learning.

The worst offender by far is an animated cartoon on PBS—out of Canada, significantly—called Caillou. Calliou is a bald-headed four-year-old who looks and acts like Charlie Brown, albeit oversedated with Ritalin meds. Here, truly, is a show about nothing. Forget Seinfeld. Literally nothing happens in these stories. Caillou just hugs and shares and learns, episode after glacially-paced episode, forever."

I encourage you to head on over to PopMatters and read the whole article. It's very funny and very true.*

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*I have to admit, I was alone in never liking the classic cartoons either. I think I've only ever liked two cartoon shows, both badly drawn--Scooby Doo and Schoolhouse Rock.

Weekend Reviews (II)

A few more reviews have trickled in here and there. Here's a roundup:

Ghosts! The Ultimate Guide for Ghost Hunters, by Richard Brassey, is the Times Children's Book of the Week. (Reviewed by Nicolette Jones)

Mary Harris Russell reviews books "For Young Readers" in the Chicago Tribune. Books reviewed include:

• Mommy? Art by Maurice Sendak, scenario by Arthur Yorinks, paper engineering by Matthew Reinhart ("Will be most appreciated by Hollywood horror fans, but Sendak is always Sendak, bringing us all to where the wild things are.")
• So Sleepy Story, by Uri Shulevitz ("This book is so quiet it's difficult to read it much above a whisper.")
• Extreme Animals: The Toughest Creatures on Earth, by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Neal Layton ("Neal Layton's accompanying drawings are a perfect match for Nicola Davies' prose")
• Endymion Spring, by Matthew Skelton ("The most compelling part is actually Blake's developing sense of his own gifts and of the personalities of his parents.")
• Flotsam, by David Wiesner (shows "careful looking shows new vistas")
• The Adventures of Marco Polo, by Russell Freedman, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline ("The larger-than-life scale of Kublai Khan's world comes across strongly, as does the unusual quality of his tolerance for all religions. ")

Weekend Reviews (I)

Here's an early roundup of weekend reviews:

Elizabeth Ward reviews Peter Pan in Scarlet for the Washington Post. And, she really likes it:

• "If her tale is not also as dark, that's because McCaughrean just doesn't give a toss about Barrie's iron bars. Grown-ups can get back to Neverland in her book. Hook can stir our sympathy. Autumn can revert to summer. Sequels are possible. And for once, we believe."

Interesting teen reviews in the Times. Four teens review the Booktrust Teenage Prize shortlisted titles. The shortlisted books are:

• The Foreshadowing, by Marcus Sedgwick
• Exchange, by Paul Magrs
• Henry Tumour, by Anthony McGowan
• Beast, by Ally Kennen
• A Swift Pure Cry, by Ally Kennen
• Angel Blood, by John Singleton

More tomorrow, I'm sure

The Nearest Book

Here's fun meme that allows me to make an announcement at the same time: Monster Blood Tatto rocks.

I'll explain why the annoucement after the meme. Meme via Susan at Chicken Spaghetti.

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next four sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig around for that "cool" or "intellectual" book on your shelves. (I know you were thinking about it.) Just pick up whatever is closest.

Here's what I found:

It was enough water to quench any thirst and not so far down the road that Rossamünd would have perished before he found it. This really struck him: had he pushed on, he might have been all right on his own after all. He thought life's twistings very odd.

Europe chatted gaily at first.

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Okay, why the annoucement. I received Monster Blood Tattoo from an editor, who claimed it to be very special. So, I picked it up on his recommendation, despite its cover.

It's not that the cover is badly drawn. In fact the design is quite good. But who does it appeal to? Call me gender biased, but, to me at least, it screams 15-year-old boy.

In reality, Monster Blood Tattoo is a fabulous fantasy (ages 9 and up), one I'm enjoying greatly at the moment. I'll tell you more when I post a review, but it's really, really good.

Poetry Friday

My Poetry Friday entry comes from a beautiful new volume of poetry,
called The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems, compiled and illustrated by Jackie Morris and introduced by Carol Ann Duffy. (Review to follow this weekend.)

I knew most of the poems in The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems, so I chose one I did not recognize, but one that really spoke to me.

maggie and milly and molly and may

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles: and

may come home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

for whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea

E.E. Cummings

Gorgeous! I especially like the last four lines. Oh, how I miss the sea or ocean when I'm not near one.
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If you know a young poet, Barefoot Books is running a poetry competition with a signed copy of The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems as its prize.
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Liz B at A Chair, a Fireplace and a Tea Cozy will be rounding up this week's Poetry Friday entries.

Awesome!

I'm so happy someone finally nominated Ptolemy's Gate for The Cybils Fantasy/Sci Fi award, because now when I look back over the year, it was a real stand out.

If you love Bartimaeus and Jonathan Stroud's trilogy as much as I do, then head on over to the Guardian to listen to their new podcast. Stroud "talks about the book and reads two chapters from the final book in the series, Ptolemy's Gate." [sic]

Who's with me?

It's almost November, which means it's time for NaNoWriMo. Now I hate this name almost as much as the word "blog," but I love the experience. Last year I got a great draft out of the experience and I hope to do the same this year.

I know Gail Gauthier is participating. Anyone else in the kidlitosphere?

Blogs, blogs and more blogs

Every two months or so, I find I need to add more blogs to my kidlitosphere blogroll. Here are some new ones I've noticed lately:

• Whimsy Books--Emily blogs about picture books, writing, and kids.
• Librarianne--Anne is a librarian, knitter, rocker, and reader. Can't beat that!
• Sara's Holds Shelf--Sara blogs mostly about YA fiction

And, not in the kidlitosphere, but Miss Snark approved:

• The Rejecter--More inside info on the industry, this time from a publishing house insider.

Fear and Fiction recap

Recently I mentioned I really wanted to attend “Fear and Fiction: The Power Of Children’s Books and The Inner Life of The Child” co-sponsored by the Yale Child Study Center and London’s Anna Freud Centre and held at New York City’s Bank Street College of Education.

I was unable to attend, but, fortunately, Monica recapped the experience at educating alice, as did Susan of Chicken Spaghetti (report here.)

Now Liz B. at A Chair, a Fireplace and a Tea Cozy has provided an excellent series of recaps. Head on over and read part I, part II, and part III. Thanks, Liz!

The Edge of the Forest #8

The October edition of The Edge of the Forest is up!

We have many exciting features for you, as well as interviews, reviews, and much, much more. In short, here's what's in store this month:

• An interview with Charles Butler, by Michele Fry
• Pam Coughlan continues her series on funny books for kids with Bring on the Funny II.
  This month she recommends hilarious books for children ages 8-12.
• Allie gets personal with What the BSC Means to Me.
• Adrienne Furness profiles writer/illustrator Judith Byron Schachner, author of the
  Skippyjon Jones series.
• Kim Winters contributes two interviews this month, speaking to library associate,
  Barbara Crispin (Crofton Branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library, Crofton,
  Maryland) for What's in their Backpacks and children's writer, Patricia Malone,
  for A Day in the Life
• Reviews in all categories—from Picture book to Young Adult.
• Kid Picks is back! Jen Robinson talks with a girl scout troup in Austin, Texas.
• Don't forget to subscribe to The Edge of the Forest with our new
  Subscribe feature. Just enter your name and e-mail address and you'll
  receive notification when each new issue is published. (If you subscribed last month and do not receive an e-mail later today, then please resubscribe. Three attempts were unsuccessful.)

The Edge of the Forest will return November 22. If you're interested in submitting an article or review, please check out the About Us page for details.

Eoin Colfer podcast

Hey, Artemis Fowl fans...Eoin Colfer talks about Fowl and reads from his latest book, Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony in a Guardian podcast.

Awards, awards, awards

Michelle Pauli reports for the Guardian that the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway committees are seeking public input to award the Carnegie of Carnegies and the Greenaway of Greenaways. Here's how it will work:

• "In a three-stage process, members of the public will first be asked to nominate their favourite from the roll call of winners, along with the reasons for their choice. An expert panel of judges will then further whittle the list to 10. The shortlist will then go back to the public for a final vote on the ultimate winner."

To vote, head on over to the Carnegie site. Nominations close Dec. 1.

And, don't forget to nominate your favorite books for The Cybils!

Content-Free Tuesday

I'm finishing up the October The Edge of the Forest today, so there's no content of real interest on this blog.

Instead, I bring you an internet quiz--Which Gashlycrumb Tiny are you? It's a great quiz as far as internet quizzes go--lots of funny questions and only one obvious misspelling. (Here's a link to excerpts from The Gashlycrumb Tinies, by Edward Gorey.)

As you can see, I'm "X is for XERXES devoured by mice." How horrible! I truly am deathly afraid of mice.

(link via Phantom Scribbler)

An interesting article in the..

...Washington Post.

Valerie Strauss writes about assigned reading and whether or not it's too difficult for its target audience. I'd never really thought about this before, but Strauss has completely won me over with her argument. Here's the gist:

• Toni Morrison's award-winning novel Beloved, about a former slave's decision to kill her child rather than see her enslaved, is on some middle schools' lists for kids to read unassisted. And elementary schools sometimes ask students to read books such as The Bridge to Terabithia, with themes about death and gender roles that librarians say are better suited for older children.

If I've learned anything since beginning this blog and The Edge of the Forest, then it's that there are so many wonderful, brilliant children's books that tackle similar subjects, but in a more approachable way. Why not offer alternatives? For each class, provide, say, five books on similar themes?

Reading and writing should be, in my opinion, about sharing different worlds, about putting things in perspective, about language and life. If that can be accomplished with children's books, then why not allow the children to enjoy titles best suited to them?

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ETA: Monica responds to the article and its simplistic approach over at educating alice. She justifiably takes the article to task!

Bob Minzesheimer reports on all things Eloise for USA Today.

There's a new book--Eloise in Hollywood--

"written by screenwriters J. David Stem and David N. Weiss (Rugrats in Paris) and illustrated by Ted Enik."

There's also a new series on Starz.

All this news just begs the question: does anyone actually like Eloise? I never have, and especially dislike Eloise in Moscow, a book that is so condescending towards its secondary subject (Moscow), it's embarrassing.

So come on, Eloise fans, speak up! Defend your girl.

Meme: 5 Little-Known Things About Me

I've been tagged by Nancy at Journey Woman to answer this meme: 5 Little-Known Things About Me (5 Things Meme). When I realized I was tagged, my first thought was...hmmm...I'm not at all surprising. But, I'll give it a shot anyway.

1. Let's start with the most embarrassing. I've become a skatemom. My daughter talked me into ice skating lessons when she was in second grade. Three years later and I spend hours at the rink a week. Ten hours to be exact. Oh, and the rink is an hour away from our home. Audible is my saving grace. My daughter wears the dresses and everything. She's working on her axel. I never would have imagined this when she was first born. Even my son takes lessons now. Thank god the rink is in a mall and I can poach Panera's wireless. (I do buy things from them so I don't feel guilty.)


2. Some of you know this, but I speak Russian fluently.


3. If I could live anywhere in the whole wide world, I would live in London.


4. I'm deathly afraid of squirrels and, once a year or so I dream I'm attacked by one. I'm scared of mice and rats too. I prefer reptiles any day.


5. I've been a sleepwalker since I could, well, walk.

Let's see, whom can I tag? Let's go with Mother Reader, Adrienne, and Michele (I have The Edge of the Forest on the brain and I've just edited their pieces for the new issue.)

Monica attended the one conference I really wish I could have attended-- “Fear and Fiction: The Power Of Children’s Books and The Inner Life of The Child” co-sponsored by the Yale Child Study Center and London’s Anna Freud Centre and held at New York City’s Bank Street College of Education.

And, she's recapped the experience at educating alice.

ETA: Susan of Chicken Spaghetti also attended and reports here.

Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo will receive the "Chicago Tribune Young Adult Book Prize in recognition of her remarkable novels for young people."

Elizabeth Taylor speaks to DiCamillo on the occasion for the Chicago Tribune (registration required). Here's the final question and answer:

"Q. What should readers know about you?"

"A. I guess that I sure do feel like I am lucky. I am still back there hoping to sell 5,000 copies of a book so that I can write another one. I feel like it has all been kind of a fever dream."

Weekend Reviews (1-2)

It was a busy, busy day yesterday, so the weekend review roundup comes in only one part this time.

Susan Perren reviews a variety to titles for Toronto's Globe and Mail. Books reviewed include:

• Abby's Birds, by Ellen Schwartz (ill. by Sima Elizabeth Sheftin) (Big quote here: "Ellen Schwartz's cut-paper illustrations-- ingenious and most appealing to the eye --are the perfect medium for this exquisitely subtle picture book, in which origami, the Japanese art of folding paper to make various objects and shapes, is both theme and message.")
• A Crash of Rhinos, A Party of Jays: The Wacky Way We Name Animal Groups, by Diane Swanson (ill. by Mariko Ando Spencer) ("a cheerfully educational vantage point from which to view the natural world and its denizens")
• Creatures Great and Small, by Karen Patkau ("starkly beautiful renderings of representatives from the insect, fish mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, sea jelly, crustacean, arachnid and mollusk kingdoms")
• Fire! The Renewal of a Forest, by Celia Godkin ("That forest fires are a necessity is the premise of Godkin's picture book, one admirably supported by watercolour illustrations geared to the young reader. ")
• Odd Man Out, by Sarah Ellis (a "richly textured and involving novel")

Henry Alford reviews Lemony Snicket's The End for the New York Times. ( and finds it "more suspenseful than the other books, largely because we want to know if the vile Olaf will finally get his comeuppance, and whether there is any more information about the Baudelaires’ parents")

Jenny Nimmo's The Snow Spider is the Book of the Week in the Washington Post. ("the magical first book in a trilogy by the author of the Charlie Bone series")

The Getaway, by Ed Vere (a picture book), is the Children's Book of the Week in the Times (reviewed by Nicolette Jones).

Horrid Henry’s Christmas Cracker, by Francesca Simon, is discussed, not reviewed, at the Times. I can't wait for this one.

Mary Harris Russell reviews many a new book for the Chicago Tribune. Let's see if I can get them all:

• Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct, by Mo Willems
• Chowder, by Peter Brown
• Pancakes for Supper, by Anne Issacs, ill. by Mark Teague ("Mark Teague's slightly larger-than-life figures give just the right atmosphere.")
• I'm Not a Baby, by Jill McElmurry ("Child readers will delight in feeling smarter than Leo's family")
• I'm Dirty, by Kate and Jim McMullan ("Only such a well-chosen hero could conclude by wishing us 'a dirty day!'")
• Winter Is the Warmest Season, by Lauren Stringer. I find this assertion highly debatable, but Harris Russell says, "Winter's cold is a terrific incentive to assemble all the warmth you can think of: fuzzy boots, earflap hats, hot chocolate. " Off topic: This is why I'm a Californian at heart. I dislike all those things from boots to hot chocolate.
• The End, by Lemony Snicket ("Don't miss it!")
• Crispin: At the Edge of the World, by Avi ("Crispin also struggles to figure out what acting like a man will be, and the novel ends with an episode in France that leaves no doubt that war is hell designed by human greed.")
• Horns and Wrinkles, by Joseph Helgerson ("a journey worth following")
• Wintersmith, by Terry Pratchett ("For all the fun, it's about taking responsibility")
• The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Vol. I: The Pox Party, by M.T. Anderson ("The reading starts slowly, the vocabulary is demanding, but then, after not so long, you're unable to put it down.")
• This Is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn, by Aidan Chambers ("This book is not for a young or impatient reader. Through it, however, Cordelia blazes into life, sometimes annoying, honest, vulnerable")

Poetry Friday Review: The Hare and the Tortoise and Other Fables of La Fontaine

You know, it's funny. Last week when I was looking for a Poetry Friday entry, I was thinking, I could really use some La Fontaine right about now. And, I could find nothing online in English translation.

But what should appear on my doorstep this week? A gorgeous new collection of La Fontaine fables from Barefoot Books.

Translated by Ranjit Bolt and illustrated by Giselle Potter, The Hare and the Tortoise and other Fables of La Fontaine contains nineteen fables as told by La Fontaine. Bolt writes in the introduction that La Fontaine's fables were not, of course, new in the seventeenth century, but "for the quality of his writing and the brilliance of his wit, La Fontaine has to be the king."*

Bolt maintains La Fontaine's sing-song rhythm and rhyme, making The Hare and the Tortoise a great read-aloud choice for children graduating from Mother Goose. Potter's illustrations are whimsical fun as usual and a variety of animals adorn every page. The Hare and the Tortoise and other Fables of La Fontaine is highly recommended for children from 2-12.

This Poetry Friday I'd like to quote from Bolt's translation of La Fontaine's "The Man and the Mirrors."

The fable begins with a man who loves himself more than all others. But mirrors seem to lie to him--showing not a beautiful, but an ugly face. So he seeks seclusion and heads away from the mirrors. Here's what he finds:

There was a river flowing near

Whose waters were extremely clear,

In which he sadly chanced to see

His face reflected perfectly.

Covered in anger and confusion,

He thought, "It must be an illusion.

From now on I'll avoid this stream

Although not coming here does seem

A pity--it's a pleasant place."

I have described this tragic case

Because we're all not far behind--

That man was like the human mind.

Which thinks, alas, quite naturally,

That it's as perfect as can be.

The mirrors stand for others who,

By being faulty through and through,

Show us that we are faulty too.

And for the stream you needn't look

Beyond the stories in this book.

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* Russia's Ivan Krylov (18th-19th century) was also a brilliant fabulist, but, unfortunately, less well known in the West.

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Head on over to Chicken Spaghetti for this week's Poetry Friday roundup. Thanks, Susan!

Afraid of witchcraft? Here's a book for you!

Audrey Barrick reports for the Christian Post Reporter that a new book has just been published "to give parents guidance on supernatural issues and how to address it with their kids. The book, Spellbound, by Marcia Montenegro, "comes as more Christians worry about the influence of such popular children’s 'heroes' as Harry Potter."

The author knows what she's talking about. Montenegro "was a professional astrologer involved in New Age practices including having a spirit guide, doing astral travel, and exploring numerology. Now a Christian, she speaks at churches and radio programs explaining why Christians must avoid certain practices and entertainment."

On a related topic, second-most-searched topic on this blog?* Witch spells for children. Man, if I had them, I'd share 'em, believe me. I've always wanted to be a witch.
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*First-most-searched topic? The Lightning Thief

TD Canadian Children's Literature Award

Pamela Porter has won the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for The Crazy Man.

According to Canadian Press, The Crazy Man "tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who is disabled in a farm accident in southern Saskatchewan."

Have any of you read The Crazy Man? If yes, please let me know what you thought.

ETA: Mindy reviewed The Crazy Man way back in 2005 a propernoun.net. Here's the review!

Cool new logo

Take a look at this gorgeous medal Stephanie, of The Children's Literature Book Club, created for The Cybils. Thanks, Stephanie!

The Cybils: Picture Book committees

Hooray! The Cybils Picture Book committees have been formed. Here's who will be judging the picture book category.

Nominating Committee: This group of five wonderful people will be sifting through the online nominations and compiling a shortlist of 2006's best picture books.

• Jules, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
• Franki, A Year of Reading
• Andrea, Just One More Book
• Emily, Whimsy Books
• Anne H., Librarianne

Judging Committee: This group of five will read and discuss the shortlist and, finally, after duking it out, chose the winner of the 2006 Cybils Picture Book award.

• Anne, Book Buds
• Pamela, MotherReader
• Renee, Renee's Book of the Day
• Nikki, Work In Progress
• Anne-Marie, A Readable Feast

If you're still looking for a committee, head on over to the Cybils site and take a look at all the great choices.

The Cybils

The Cybils site is up and running. We're already accepting nominations for your favorite book of 2006 (English language) in several categories.

Here are the rules. You have until Nov 20 to cast your votes.

I'm still looking for one member of the nominating committee for the Picture Book Category. More information here.

Review: Ghost Eats It All!

Is there a holiday out there better than Halloween? It's my favorite in any case, partially because children's books about Halloween are the most fun holiday books.

Ghost Eats It All!, by Janee Trasler, is a great example of pure Halloween fun. Aimed at the toddler set, Ghost Eats It All!, features a greedy ghost and a quiet, resentful, hungry Frankenstein.

Ghost eats ice cream, an egg, an apple, pizza, candy, and cake in front of Frankenstein. Frankenstein becomes more and more hungry and more and more angry at Ghost's insensitivity, so he finally takes action, scaring Ghost away.

It's a simple tale, but toddlers will love looking at Frankenstein's facial expressions as he becomes increasingly upset by Ghost's selfish consumption of all the sweets. Perfect read-aloud fun for the 1-5 year-old crowd. Happy Halloween!

Random Thoughts on a Wednesday

Two items I must share today, even though they are completely apropos of nothing to do with this blog.

1. Finale of Project Runway this evening. Hooray! It's been a stressful season and I'll actually be glad when it's over. Basically I'll be happy if Laura, Uli, or Michael will win. The odds are with me.
2. A Spot of Bother, by Mark Haddon, is the most underrated (adult) novel of the year. Jules loved A Spot of Bother and wrote about it at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, and I loved it too. So, give it a read.

Indigo Junior Advisory Board

Indigo Books & Music (Canada) has been using a youth advisory board to understand what teens are looking for in their reading material. The youth board is 15 members strong and they meet with people from Indigo Books and Music Inc., RandomHouse, Harper Collins and Scholastic. Today, Indigo released a press report to let us know how that's going.

Here are the top picks from today's advisory board:

• Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
• Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling)
• Holes (Louis Sachar)
• Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ann Brashares)
• Q and A (Vikas Swarup)
• The Eternity Code (Eoin Colfer)
• The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien)
• Gathering Blue (Lois Lowry)

Several of the teens comments are really interesting too. This is my favorite suggestion: "'I'd really like to see more historical fiction novels written for teens,' said Braden Lunn, 14-year old JAB winner from Calgary, Alberta. 'I'm interested in war and world history, but the books for adults are a bit too complicated.'"

I completely agree with this assessment. I'm reading The Unresolved, by T.K. Welsh, right now and it's a combination of historical novel/ghost story and it's so amazing.

The Cybils: Picture Book Committee

Do you love picture books? Have you read a lot of them this year? Do you run a blog, or are you a writer who blogs?

Then, consider serving on The Cybils picture book nominating committee. You and five other experts will narrow down the nominations for the best picture book of 2006 to a five book shortlist.

Just send me an e-mail or drop me a comment if you'd like to participate. Follow the link above to read all the details.

Review: Vive la Paris

This is a review with spoilers.


Esmé Raji Codell's Vive la Paris is a book that sneaks up on you. (I need a term for this. Somehow "sneaker" doesn't sound right.) What I mean by this is that Vive la Paris reads likes a nice, polite, upper Middle Grade novel until two-thirds of way through and then: slam! An unexpected philosophical point--one kids will understand through the protagonist's behavior and its aftermath--takes Vive la Paris in surprising directions.

Paris McCray is one busy fifth grader. She heads up a reading program at her school, complete with mimeographed newsletters. She has lots of friends and four older brothers. Music is an important part of her family's life and she takes up piano, studying with an elderly neighbor, Mrs. Rosen. And, of course, Paris has an enemy. Another fifth grader, Tanaeja, likes to beat up Paris' older brother, Michael, which is embarrassing to say the least.

Michael is a charming kid who prefers baking to sports. He's charged with accompanying Paris to her piano lessons and before long he's singing to her music. Both children become close to Mrs. Rosen, a lonely Holocaust survivor who really takes to her young students. When she learns Paris knows nothing, and I mean nothing, of the Holocaust, she feels inspired to show Paris her tattoo and share with her artifacts from her history, including the yellow star.

This is where the novel takes a turn I found so surprising and really new. Paris is a strong narrator. As the youngest child with four older brothers, she's a smart, tough, popular girl. She knows what she wants and says just about anything without fear of retribution. So, when she shows up to school wearing Mrs. Rosen's yellow star on her sleeve, other kids in her class mimeograph yellow stars writing in the names of relatives who've died or the names of brothers serving in Iraq. Needless to say, Paris is finally, publicly very, very wrong.

When she's called into the principal's office and her parents summoned, the principal tells her "ignorance is not a defense." When Paris doesn't understand what this means, Mom reads her the riot act:

• "''Didn't you hear that teacher? There comes a time when ignorance is no longer an excuse. Ignorance is the fire that burns the cross. Your ignorance.' Mama whirled around. 'People died, Paris. People wore that star and died, the way people wore our skin and died.'"

I like to be surprised, and Vive la Paris surprised me. Vive la Paris is highly recommended for kids ages 9-14.

The Cybils

The First Annual Children's Book Awards, Blog Edition, finally have a name. The Cybils. Head on over to Book Buds to find out how we decided on this name.

This means that, by the end of the week, we'll be seeking book nominations!

A Message for Bloggers

The First Annual Children’s Book Awards, Blog Edition

This month we’ve seen a spate of book awards, some of which have left us wondering: couldn’t we, the intelligent, savvy members of the kidlitosphere do better? Or, at least, differently?

So, we’re inaugurating our own book awards, honoring books published in English for children in 2006. Anne Boles Levy, of Book Buds, will launch a site this week and administer the awards process. What we need first is a name for this award, so we can get the award site up asap. One suggested name is The Belugas. Okay, that was my suggestion, but I suspect it’s a little weird. Anyone have a better idea? Head on over to Book Buds and make your contest name suggestion.

How will these awards work?

• We will be accepting nominations for the best books of 2006 through November 20, 2006. Books will be judged in the following categories: Picture Book, Middle Grade Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy/Sci Fi, Picture Book Non Fiction, Non Fiction (Middle Grade/Young Adult), Graphic Novel, Poetry.
• Nominating committees of five members from the children’s literature blogs* will narrow the recommendations down to a shortlist of five books per category. The shortlists will be announced January 1, 2007.
• Committees of five members, different from those serving on the nominating committees, will decide which title per category will win the Children’s Book Award, Blog edition. The winners will be announced January 15, 2007.
• This is meant to be as democratic and open a process as possible. Ask any questions you may have.

What does this mean for me?

• If you run a blog about children’s literature* and would like to serve on a nominating committee or on a judging committee, then head on over to an administrating blog (organized by category and listed below) and nominate yourself .
• Consider nominating yourself in two different genres, so that if the committee for one of your favorites fills up, you'll have a back-up option.
• Suggest a name by heading over to Book Buds

As soon as we have a name and committees, we can begin soliciting nominations.

Administrating Blogs

• Picture Books, Big A little a (e-mail)
• Middle Grade Fiction, A Fuse #8 Production (e-mail)
• Young Adult Fiction, Jen Robinson’s Book Page (e-mail)
• Fantasy/Sci Fi, Wands and Worlds (e-mail)
• Non Fiction (Picture Book), Bartography (e-mail)
• Non Fiction (MG/YA), propernoun.net (e-mail)
• Graphic Novel, A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy (e-mail)
• Poetry, Chicken Spaghetti (e-mail)

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*Children’s writers who blog, or bloggers who run general literature blogs are also eligible to serve on either committee

Picture Book Award Committees

If you'd like to serve on the judging or nominating committees for the Picture Book category, please shoot me a comment or an e-mail. Please let me know what your second choice category would be as well.

Review (by 10-year-old Anna): The End

MotherReader is on the ball and has already reviewed A Series of Unfortunate Events #13: The End. And, Nancy at Journey Woman has shared some select quotes. I'm a bit behind on my reading and, instead, have subcontracted this review to my ten-year-old daughter, Anna. She works for cheap and has long loved A Series of Unfortunate Events.

So here goes:

A Series of Unfortunate Events #13: The End

Reviewed by Anna, 10

The end to A Series of Unfortunate Events is very confusing.

In a way, The End is two books in one, but one of the two books is only a chapter long.

The Baudelaire orphans get shipwrecked on an island, where everyone wears white robes and drinks coconut cordial. Their leader has hurt feet and can't walk. Weapons, books, and mechanical items go to the dangerous side of the island. Their leader, Ishmael, says that everything is eventually washed up on the island.

While Sunny, Violet, and Klaus are there, they find out that their parents had once been on the island. Count Olaf ends up with them, and he tries to poison everyone with a dangerous mushroom. But, he realizes, if he poisoned them, he would also poison himself. Eventually, they discover Ishmael is a fraud (he doesn't have hurt feet) and has a secret library, kitchen, and a use for all the weapons.

The end of The End is really in "another book." There’s an “about the author” page, a couple of blank pages, then a title page, dedication page, and table of contents, and then a last chapter. The ending is very vague. It discusses Beatrice, who is Lemony's niece (and the books are always dedicated to her), and in A Series of Unfortunate Events is Kit Snicket's daughter.

You have now arrived at the ending of the review of The End, which was a pretty good book.

Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines

It's your last chance to register your entry in the 8th Carnival of Children's Literature held over at Scholar's Blog. I'm heading over there myself.

I can't wait to read it on Halloween, the best holiday of the year.

Too Good to Be True, indeed

Monica has a great post up today--Madonna and Child, African Version--at educating alice. Go read it, if you haven't yet.

Then, consider this small tidbit of information from TMZ. Yep, not only is Madonna adopting a child, but her newest work of children's "literature" is due out next week.* You just know a picture book about the joys of adoption will be next.

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* The gossip piece says the forthcoming book is Madonna's second. It's actually her sixth children's book, but the second in the English Roses series--The English Roses: Too Good to Be True.

Mr. Men Competition

Seven-year-old Betsy Middleton has won the Times' Mr. Men competition with her story "Mr. Happy Loses His Smile."

You can read all about the competition and Besty's story by following this link.

Weekend Reviews (1)

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. I'm off to a late start today, just now rounding up the first of the weekend reviews.

• Kathryn Hughes reviews Lyn Gardner's Into the Woods for the Guardian and finds it is a "glorious mish-mash of ancient and modern." It's only now I've noticed Into the Woods is illustrated by Mini Grey. I am really going to have to look for this book soon. Gardner is blogging about her experience as a first-time children's novelist for the Guardian's Culture Vulture blog.
• Elizabeth Ward finds Pratchett is "back on track" with Wintersmith, the focus of this week's "For Young Readers" column in the Washington Post. Ward also reviews The Silver Donkey, by Sonya Hartnett (a "luminous story")
• Kathryn Ross recommends many a book for the mid-term holidays in the Scotsman.
• Larklight, by Philip Reeve (ill. by David Wyatt) is the Times' "Children's Book of the Week" (reviewed by Nicolette Jones). Jones likes Larklight, writing, "He deftly balances the historical and the fantastical, drawing on Victorian voices and references while creating something out of this world."

Poetry Friday: Drumbeat in our Feet

This Poetry Friday's entry is a review of a rockin' new picture book, Drumbeat in Our Feet. Written by Patricia A. Keeler (an African dance fanatic) and Júlio T. Leitão (an African dance instructor), Drumbeat in Our Feet captures the beauty and joy of African dance through descriptive text, singsong verse, and gorgeous full-color illustrations by Keeler.

Each two-page spread has information on an aspect of African dance on the left page. Keeler and Leitão discuss origins, traditions, types of dance, image dancing, costumes and body painting, libations, musical instruments, drums, and other elements of African dance. On the right page, picture book verse adds life to the story. Here's an example and this week's Poetry Friday entry:

We are the children of the ancestors,
singing the songs,
dancing the steps to a story
that never ends.
African rhythm in our steps.
African drubeat in our feet!

Not rhyming verse, but poetry nonetheless.

Drumbeat in Our Feet concludes with a newspaper-like article on young dancers in the New York African dance troupe Batoto Yetu. Drumbeat in Our Feet is perfect for children ages 5-10 and highly recommended for dance and art fans of any age.
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Liz B. is on the Poetry Friday roundup this week at A Chair, A Fireplace and a Tea Cozy.

Horrible Histories

Cassandra Jardine describes how she discovered the Horrible Histories through her children for the Telegraph. Here's the set up:

• "How these books – there are 50 of them – passed me by until now is a mystery to rank alongside the cause of Napoleon's death. At times in their 13-year history, they have occupied all top 10 positions in the children's non-fiction chart."

Terry Deary's Horrible Histories rock. They're funny, a little gruesome and still manage to give the facts. Jardine writes,

• "But although he and his readers love gore and lavatorial humour, cartoons and appalling jokes, his books actually contain vast amounts of information and give a vivid portrait of the past: the cruelty, the characters, the grisly lot of children. "

Oh, and the best part of Jardine's article? She reports, "More exciting still, Deary is in discussion with 'a major leisure enterprise' to establish Horrible Histories theme parks – each era housed in a different dome, like the Eden Project. So when children can visit the Terrible Tudors near Stratford or the Rotten Romans at Hadrian's Wall, we shall be having Horrible Holidays, too." I am so there--with or without the kids.

I really wish Horrible Histories were published here and a U.S. equivalent contracted.

More on The End

Dan Smith covers the publication of The End today for the Toronto Star. Handler is quoted as saying:

• "'I already find your interest on such topics to be quite unhealthy. But I do admit that Mr. Snicket has expressed interest in some other cases that may have some overlap with the Baudelaires. But I don't think you should read them and so I think you should forget that I ever said that.'"

Arthur Salm interviews Daniel Handler by phone for the San Diego Tribune. Salm also asks about children's books in Sandler/Snicket's future:

• "As for a new series, by Handler or Snicket or whomever: 'Yes, there's always a possibility. There are other things I'll be working on both for children and for adults. But readers should not expect Volume 1 of something next year. I'm of the belief that one has to go away before one can come back.'"

Susan Salter Reynolds interviews Handler (also by phone) for the Los Angeles Times. Here's a funny quote from the interview:

• "Handler realized that he had become an adult when he and his wife attended their first parent council meeting at the slightly 'glamorous' preschool they chose for their son.'I couldn't believe I was a parent and not a student,' he laughs."

Tracy Grant reviews The End for the Washington Post and is disappointed by the inconclusive End: "Snicket has written a book that answers precious few of the questions readers have and tries to excuse his laziness and lack of creativity by saying one never fully understands anyone's life story -- not even one's own."

The End

As you all know, tomorrow is the official publication date of the final, thirteenth volume of Series of Unfortunate Events.

The Washington Post asked kids to write in and suggest their own endings to the series. Most of 'em want Count Olaf gone.

Sheila, of Wands and Worlds, has annouced that her son's entry was chosen as one of the thirteen. Congrats, Sheila and David!

The Washington Post will have a review up tomorrow as well.

ETA: Patricia Leigh Brown warns us there are no happy endings to the Series of Unfortunate Events in the New York Times.

ETA2: Richard Allen Greene discusses the series' appeal for the BBC.

Update: Children's Book Review

Bookshelves of Doom has been added to the Children's Book Reviews wiki.

If you haven't taken a look at the review archive lately, head on over and take a peek. With Leila's two years of reviews, the Young Adult section is very strong.

I'm now moving on to A Fuse #8 Production. Next up: The Children's Literature Book Club.

National Book Award shortlist

The National Book Awards shortlists have been announced.

Here's the list for "Young People's Literature"

M.T. Anderson, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor tothe Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party (Candlewick Press)
Martine Leavitt, Keturah and Lord Death (Front Street Books/Boyds Mills Press)
Patricia McCormick, Sold (Hyperion Books for Children)
Nancy Werlin, The Rules of Survival (Dial/Penguin)
Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese (First Second/Roaring Brook Press/Holtzbrinck

I've read two of these titles and reviewed one, The Rules of Survival, which I really, really liked. Go Nancy Werlin!

By the way...what's with the "young people's literature" title? It sounds weird, no?

(link via A Fuse #8 Production)

DVDs for children

Roger Holland is back at PopMatters, recommending children's DVDs.

What comes highly recommended? TaleSpin: Volume One, from Walt Disney Home Entertainment.

What does Holland pan? Disney’s Sing-Along Songs--Happy Haunting, from Walt Disney Home Entertainment. Here's what Holland has to say about sing-along DVDs:

• I’ve long since stopped wondering just who was buying the Sing-Along Songs DVDs. The series is clearly the kid’s present equivalent of gas station flowers or CDs on the Hallmark label, and the purchasers can only be fond but uninvolved family friends and relatives. Such unthinking convenience gift givers would do far better to consider either a brand with pretensions to child development or one of the many quality reissues we see each month.

While Waiting for the National Book Award shortlists...

...the Quills have been announced. And, just let me say, this is the last time I will ever make mention of them. Why? Well, here are the winners in each category.

• Children's Illustrated Book. If You Give a Pig a Party, by Laura Joffe Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond. First one was cute, the rest...not so much. They're okay, they're fun, but aren't there more innovative titles out there this year?
• Children's Chapter Book/Middle Grade. The Penultimate Peril, Lemony Snicket. Alright, whatever. These books are fun. They're great for kids. I'm sure I would have loved them at age 10. They're smart, have great vocabulary (and lessons), but, seriously, #12 in a series is the best middle grade novel of the year? I don't think so.
• Young Adult/Teen. Eldest, Christopher Paolini. AAARRGH!!!!! Punctuation can NOT express why this novel could have possibly been better than any of the others nominated in this category. Seriously. From this moment on...

...I'm ignoring these awards.

New book contest

Anne at Book Buds is relaunching her blog with a Famous First Words contest.

What would you say if you were the first to land on Mars? I posted "Get me outta here. I wanna go home!" But, then again, I'm space-phobic.

Head on over to Book Buds and leave your Famous First Words--they're sure to be better than mine!

Review: Babymouse: Rock Star

Babymouse is back in Babymouse: Rock Star, the fourth volume of the Babymouse series.

This time, school and music are getting her down. Oh, and her number-one enemy Felicia Furrypaws.

How does Babymouse cope? She daydreams, of course. First, she's a rock star. Then, on a boring Wednesday, a tornado whisks her out of school. But, daydreams won't save her from her biggest problem: she wants to play the flute better. She wants to move from last chair in the school band.

Felicia Furrypaws is second-to-last chair and torments Babymouse. Fortunately, Babymouse finds help from a fellow Furrypaws victim and succeeds in the end with a little practice, instruction, and targeted daydreaming.

Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm triumph again with this latest installment in the tales of your average school-aged mouse. Babymouse's daydreams are fun and action-filled, but the beauty of the books is in the everyday. Everyone has angst about their position in the band, everyone fears a school bully, and everyone hates the bus.

The bus is the star of my favorite sequence in Babymouse: Rock Star. The bus screeches up, the driver says, "Let's get moving! What do you think I am anyway? Your own personal chauffeur?" Then Babymouse comments that the bus "was like an obstacle course." The obstacles? "Doesn't open. Talks too much. Gets bus-sick. Soda spill. Bumpy. Rickety. Kind of scary. Gum. Picks nose. Yells." True, true, true.

Babymouse: Rock Star is highly recommended for school-aged children five and up. And, even though Babymouse is written at approximately a third-grade level, I've found young middle schoolers love Babymouse as well.

Yes!

Stormbreaker comes to U.S. screens, finally, this Friday.

Stormbreaker is based on Anthony Horowitz's first Alex Rider book, Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker, and the film was released July 21 in the U.K. Why the delay? Who knows, I'll never understand these things. But, I'm thrilled to see it will be released here at last.

Mark Feeney talks to Anthony Horowitz and the actor who plays young Alex Rider, Alex Pettyfer, for the Boston Globe.

Here's a funny exchange:

• "Q. Who'd win a fight between Alex Rider and Harry Potter?
• AH. They wouldn't fight.
• AP. It's fantasy against reality. Alex Rider would kick his [butt]."

Top 10 characters from Children's Historical Fiction

The Guardian is at it again with another interesting article on children's books.

Today, Julia Golding, author of the Cat Royal series, lists her top 10 characters from historical fiction. She choses titles from a variety of historical eras, beginning with:

• 1. Prehistoric: Torak in Michelle Paver's Wolf Brother. You root for the orphan boy from the beginning because he is an outcast, trying to survive in the harsh world of a prehistoric forest. You get to sniff the scents, taste the food and feel the fear along with him.

Most recent historical era? WWII and Golding selects one of my personal favorites, Goodnight Mister Tom. If you haven't read this book, you must, as Golding explains:

• 10. Second world war: Tom Oakley in Michelle Magorian's Goodnight Mister Tom. A tale of two lost souls, an evacuee and Mr Tom, helping each other through the traumas of war in Blitz Britain. A beautiful book about childhood, grief and love. You can't read it without falling for Mr Tom's gentle curmudgeonly strength yourself.

Landon Snow review and book giveaway

After outing myself as an aspiring writer this morning (and, speaking of writers, a big shout out and congrats to Jay of the Disco Mermaids on his book deal!), I must make another announcement about my life outside of this blog, but I swear it is relevant to this review and contest: I am not a Christian.

Why is this relevant to children's literature? Well, a few months ago, I received a set of books, by R.K. Mortenson, billed as a Christian alternative to Harry Potter. I don't necessarily see a need for an Christian alternative to Harry Potter, a series I find highly moral in its own right, but I suppose that doesn't mean others might. And, R.K. Mortenson's representative, a very pleasant and intelligent person, convinced me to give the books a read despite my biases.

And, I have to admit, I found the first book in the series, Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle, a lot of fun and worth the read. Here's why:

• Books play an important role in the tale. The hero, Landon Snow, is a reader and a writer and stories, books, and legends are central to his story.
• Landon is a compelling character. He's intelligent and inquisitive, eager to "figure things out."
• Mortenson is an excellent writer and particularly skilled at describing places and settings in the novel. The Button Up Library, center of much of the first novel's action, is a place of wonder and beauty.
• Kids who love Narnia and Alice in Wonderland will enjoy finding influences and play on these works in the text.
• The Landon Snow novels are beautifully produced (in the style of the Spiderwick Chronicles) and the type is in a gorgeous, eye-friendly brown.

So, what's the giveaway? First person to send me an e-mail will receive Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle, Landon Snow and the Shadows of Malus Quidam (Landon Snow, Book 2), and an ARC of the third volume.

Reviewing

It's been a busy, busy weekend, so I haven't had time to weigh in on the reviewing question posed by Wendy at Blog from the Windowsill. The question is: to post or not to post negative reviews. Since Wendy's post, the following bloggers and writers have offered their opinions:

• Jen at Jen Robinson's Book Page
• Liz B. at A Chair, a Fireplace and a Tea Cozy
• A Fuse #8 Production
• Mary Pearson
• Colleen Mondor at Chasing Ray
• Gail Gauthier at Original Content
• Roger Sutton at Read Roger
• Esme at Planet Esme's Book-a-Day plan posted about just this question weeks ago.

Everyone has well-reasoned responses as to whether or not to post negative reviews on their blog. My reasons, however, are pragmatic and maybe false, so I'd like to get your opinions. Here's why I only post positive reviews.

1. I began this blog because I'm writing for children. I'll be sending out two novels (one strictly middle grade, another tween) this fall. I thought, if I really want to write for children, I should read as much as possible. After I began reading, I wanted to talk about my reading with others. Because I live in a small town in the middle of nearly nowhere, my interlocutors were small in number. Hence, the blog. And, in this sense, it has really fulfilled its promise. I love the dialogue and have learned so much from fellow bloggers and writers.
2. I receive and seek out many books to read. So many at this point, that I've begun sending out copies to reviewers for The Edge of the Forest, because there are too many for me to read on my own. I have a strict rule: I will read 45% of a book. If I still don't like it, I put it aside. If I haven't completed it, I can't review it. Life is short. Why read a book that doesn't "click" with you? As an example, there's one recent YA novel that ended up on many top five lists this season that I could not bear. I thought the representation of dyslexia in the novel was completely false from a scientific point of view and couldn't look past it. Was it a well written book? Yes. But, it wasn't for me.
3. Blogging is a hobby for me. I have a demanding day job, and I am not being paid to review books. I hope that my reviews are helpful to people, but it is not as if I work for a paper and have the responsibility to consider all that comes in. I review approximately four books a week (many fewer than some of my peers like A Fuse #8 Production and Bookshelves of Doom). Because I'm beholden to no one, I chose to write about the books that surprised me or entertained me or, even, transported me to another world completely.

So, for me, the only solution would be the following: Posts about what made me put down a book nearly halfway through. (I can see a series about "putdownable books.") Would that be helpful? Would that be fair to the authors of said books? Would such a series make readers more trustful of me as a reviewer? My instinct says no, but my instinct has not always been useful.

I'd love to hear your responses! Thanks to Wendy for beginning such a useful discussion.

Weekend Reviews (2)

A few more review have popped up here and there this Sunday morning. This is what I've found:

Nicola Smith reviews, you've guessed it, Peter Pan in Scarlet for the Independent. ("McCaughrean's book, like Barrie's, is as refreshingly dark and unsentimental as a book about fairies and lost babies can be, and it's hard to see how she could have done it better. ")

Barkbelly, by Cat Weatherwill, is the Washington Post "Book of the Week." (It "has something for readers who love fantasy, folk tales and adventure -- in other words, just about everyone.")

The Edge of the Forest #8: Call for Submissions

Well, I've switched over to blogger beta and it seems as if my heavily tweaked template and all my links moved with me! Please, please let me know if you see any problems.

I'm looking for a Kid Picks submission for the October Issue (I, 8) of The Edge of the Forest. If you know a group of children who'd like to tell us what they like to read and why, then please consider writing a Kid Picks column. Here's a link to the most recent column written by MsMac of Check It Out and a link to previous columns.

Also, I welcome (mostly positive) original reviews of new children's books in the following categories this month: Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Non Fiction.

Weekend Reviews (1)

In rounding up the early weekend reviews, one book is on everybody's mind--Peter Pan in Scarlet, by Geraldine McCaughrean.

Kate Kellaway reviews Geraldine McCaughrean's Peter Pan in Scarlet for the Observer. It's a mixed review and these sentences seem to sum up Kellaway's impressions best: "Perhaps the most satisfactory side effect of this brilliant failure of a book is that it sends one curiously back to the original (the one safe way of returning to Neverland) and it is then that one sees exactly what is awry and why any sequel is a doomed enterprise. It is JM Barrie's strangeness that makes Peter Pan the book it is. "

Peter Pan in Scarlet is the Times' "Children's Book of the Week." Nicolette Jones writes of the new title, "Making copious use of arresting metaphor (“They ran until their lungs hung inside them like dead bats in a cave”), she [McCaughrean] is funny, creative, clever, nostalgic and sound about mothers. A delight."

Not reviews, but related: Susan Mansfield talks to Geraldine McCaughrean for The Scotsman and Terry Kirby considers the dangers of writing a sequel to a famous work for the Independent.

Moving on from Peter Pan:

Amanda Craig reviews Halloween books for the Times. Books considered include:

• Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul's Winnie's Midnight Dragon ("The irresistibly lugubrious wit prepares children for the Addams Family, James Thurber, Edward Gorey, Ronald Searle and the vein of mock Gothic that Anglo-American humour delights in. ")
• Ghosts!, by Richard Brassey ("Inside are tales about how to keep ghosts away, spooky sounds, famous hauntings and more unusual ones...")

Kari Wergeland considers "Books for Young Readers" for The Seattle Times. Graphic novels are the order of the day, including Flotsam, by David Wiesner, and To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel, by Siena Cherson Siegel and illustrated by Mark Siegel.

Susan Perren reviews new children's books for the Globe and Mail. Books reviewed include:

• Boo and Baa Have Company, by Lena and Olof Landström, translated by Joan Sandin (three and four year olds "will delight in watching this pair's hapless adventures")
• A Distinguished Old Bentley Drove Down to the Sea, by Lisa Rae, illustrated by Peter Pickersgill (a "sparkling, rhyming tale")
• Mwâkwa Talks to the Loon: A Cree Story for Children, by Dale Auger ("The Cree language is part of the story here -- many nouns appear in both English and Cree -- as is the Cree way of life. And Dale Auger's artwork is stunningly beautiful.")
• It's NOT the Stork: A Book about Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends, by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley (a "fine introduction to the birds and bees, one well-laced with humorous illustrations and diagrams")
• To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel, by Siena Cherson Siegel, illustrated by Mark Siegel ("Comic strips they may be, but the memoir's captivating watercolour and ink drawings carry Siegel's affecting story forward with élan.")
• Rex Zero and the End of the World, by Tim Wynne-Jones ("a delightful novel with arresting characters")

Poetry Friday: Overdue Library Book Edition

In honor of finally finding a library copy of Hop on Pop in my cluttered home (15 days overdue), I thought I'd share my favorite part of this early-reader classic:

Mr. BROWN
Mrs. BROWN
Mr. Brown upside down.
Pup up.
Brown down.
Pup is down.
Where is Brown?
WHERE IS BROWN?
THERE IS BROWN!
Mr. Brown is out of town.

ETA: You simply must check out Gregory K.'s Oddaptation of Hop on Pop at GottaBook. These lines made me laugh out loud: SO SLOW/This book’s so slow./OH WOE/More rhymes to go.
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Christine M. celebrates the Harvest Moon with Carl Sandburg at The Simple and the Ordinary .(It's a beautiful moon here too, Christine!) The moon's the thing at Bildungsroman/Slayground as well: Little Willow contributes "The Cat and the Moon," by William Butler Yeats.

Becky shares "Vegetables," by Eleanor Farjeon, at Farm School.

Fibs abound this week. Well, okay, there are two: Wendy shares a not-appropriate-for-children fib at Blog from the Windowsill and Gregory K. makes us laugh and eat poptarts at GottaBook.

Michele of Scholar's Blog shares Thomas Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" in honor of National Poetry Day in the U.K.

Susan Taylor Brown contributes "To her friends said the Bright one in chatter," by A. H. Reginald Buller, at Susan Writes. (It's a funny one!)

Franki reviews Roger Housden's Ten Poems to Last a Lifetime at A Year of Reading.

The Old Coot is back with by Langdon Smith's "Evolution."

Laura shares Edna St. Vincent Millay's "First Fig" in an attempt to overcome childhood poetry trauma at Tockla's World of Children's Literature. (Hey, Laura! You've picked up on one of the main points of Poetry Friday)

Late entry: Nancy from Journey Woman does not disappoint with Robert Southey's harvest poem, "God's Judgment on a Wicked Bishop." Follow Nancy's links, this is a good one.

These just in!: A recent tragedy makes Liz B. think of "A Refusal to Mourn the Death, by Fire, of a Child in London," by Dylan Thomas, at A Chair, a Fireplace and a Tea Cozy. And, Susan of Chicken Spaghetti directs us to "Seasons of Love" (music, video, and lyrics) from the musical Rent.

If I've missed your post, please drop me an e-mail or a comment. Happy Friday to one and all!