Fun online

During yesterday's busy and, I think, ultimately fruitful debate about blog reviewing over at Read Roger, I neglected to post on a number of interesting things happening in the kidlitosphere. Reviewing aside, blogs are an easy, fast, and flexible way to present news and information. Here's what's up:

• Don't forget to submit your links to the 13th Carnival of Children's Literature being held this weekend over at Jen Robinson's Book Page.

• Over the past two days I've listened to the first seven chapters of L. Lee Lowe's Mortal Ghost. In this first part of Lowe's novel, Jesse, a teen runaway, is taken in by Sarah and her mother, Meg. Jesse, who is traumatized in a way we don't know about until Chapter 7, is suspicious of their intentions and Meg's almost miraculous healing powers. Sarah--an accepting and intelligent girl--wants Jesse to seek shelter with them, but Jesse remains uneasy. Maybe they'll hurt him in their good intentions? Oh, and strange things begin happening in Chapter Seven. Great listening (the reader is a young Welsh musician) and a compelling text. You can cheat by reading ahead, but I'm holding out for more audio. Mortal Ghost is highly recommended and FREE online.

• The first-ever wiki children's novel is chugging right along. Four chapters are up now and Moctor Fall (so christened by A Fuse #8) is in all kinds of trouble. I just put up pages for chapters five and six and they're waiting to be filled with text. If you're interested in participating, send me an e-mail.

Weekend Reviews (I-II)

This weekend's review roundup is in one post because the Carnival was up yesterday. What's out there in the world of children's book reviewing? Let's take a look...

Susan Perren reviews new titles for the Globe and Mail. This week she considers:

• One Eye! Two-Eyes! Three-Eyes: A Very Grimm Fairy Tale, by Aaron Shepard, illustrated by Gary Clement
• Nokum is My Teacher, by David Bouchard, illustrated by Allen Sapp
• Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, retold and illustrated by Marcia Williams
• Healing Our World: Inside Doctors Without Borders, by David Morley
• Strange Times at Western High, by Emily Pohl-Weary

Mary Schulte reviews some of the ALA's "'unofficial' favorite novels and picture books of the year" for the Kansas City Star on the day before the big announcement. She reviews:

• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo with illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline (but of course...)
• A Drowned Maiden’s Hair: A Melodrama, by Laura Amy Schlitz
• Gossamer, by Lois Lowry
• Clementine, by Sara Pennypacker with illustrations by Marla Frazee
• Yellow Star, by Jennifer Roy
• Flotsam, by David Wiesner
• John, Paul, George & Ben, by Lane Smith
• Move! by Robin Page with illustrations by Steve Jenkins

Nobody Gonna Turn Me 'Round, by Doreen Rappaport, is the Washington Post Book of the Week (for ages 9-12)

The Saddest King, by Chris Wormell is the Times Children's Book of the Week (for ages 2-5; I love Wormell's books, so will be looking for this one!)

Amanda Craig reviews an intriguing new MG/YA title The Black Book of Secrets, by F.E. Higgins for the Times. She also reviews I am a Cloud, I Can Blow Anywhere, by Jonathan and Shirley Tulloch.

Stuart Kelly reviews The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, for the Scotsman.

Mary Harris Russell reviews six new books for the Chicago Tribune. This week she reads:

• Let It Shine, by Ashley Bryan ("The simultaneous experience on two levels--words and pictures--is strong." Based on the song.)
• A Friend at Midnight, by Caroline B. Cooney ("Caroline Cooney's Lily is a brilliant observer of family and school life. The resolution is not easy but earned.")
• Being Muslim, by Haroon Siddiqui
• Cowlick, by Christin Ditchfield, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
• 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore, by Jenny Offill and Nancy Carpenter
• Pierre in Love, by Sara Pennypacker, pictures by Petra Mathers

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Not a review, but super cool, nonetheless: The Philadelphia Inquirer profiles L.Lee Lowe in a new column called "The Word on Technology," about the online literature phenomenon. Lowe, author of Mortal Ghost, an online YA novel, is one of the pioneers in this field and has even begun providing an audio version of the book (hooray!).

Mortal Ghost, now as podcast

Great news! L. Lee Lowe, author of the serial YA novel Mortal Ghost, has begun providing podcasts of the novel. You can listen to each chapter online or download it to listen on the go. Chapter One is available now.

Looking for a Story idea?

Are you itching to write something, but need a story idea? Then head on over to Lowebrow and steal A Christmas Tale.

The talented L. Lee Lowe (Mortal Ghost) has begun the story for you. All you need to do is finish it. Here's the first paragraph:

• Jasper hung upside down by his feet, the feathers of his overlarge wings muddy and bedraggled. It's always this way, he thought crossly. Somebody's muddled up the consignments again. I wish they'd sort out their staffing problems.

Intriguing, no?