Last year Hilda and the Midnight Giant from UK publisher Nobrow Press was one of our Top 20 Books. When word came out that Nobrow was poised to launch a children’s imprint, Flying Eye Books, I was excited to see what they had to offer. One of the first books out of the gate was the excellent how-to/graphic [...]
I know that an author or illustrator visit is not something that every school can swing. So each year I have to rub my eyes, blink a couple times, rub them again (repeat, if necessary), and make sure that what I’m seeing is real – we get the chance to host a children’s book creator. [...]
MANY STARS FOR YOU ShelfTalker posted their first installment of The Stars So Far. This tally of books that have received starred reviews is always an interesting read. Think you can guess the two books that have already received 5 starred reviews? They were a surprise to me. Click here to check out the list. NO [...]
Aww, yeah – how’s that for a screencap? Don’t rub your eyes – you’re not watching C-SPAN2 in the year 2000 (wildest dreams just don’t come true that easily). It’s video of the 2000 Newbery/Caldecott Medal announcement. 2000 isn’t that far back, so it’s interesting to see the differences between these fairly calm “ALA Book [...]
National Poetry Month has landed, and we’re celebrating with book spine poetry. Three (maybe even four) cheers for everyone who gave it a shot. If you try book spine poetry in April, snap a picture, post it to your blog, or email it to me at scopenotes (at) gmail (dot) com. I’ll add to this [...]
The White House Easter Egg Roll has come and gone – time for some analysis of the read-aloud session. Breaking from his read-aloud standby (and established favorite picture book) Where the Wild Things Are, President Obama went with a proven winner – Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. A safe choice, sure, but you can’t deny it’s a crowd [...]
This is unbelievable. And sad. via ChildLitZoom Patent trolling, the much maligned practice of aggressively enforcing a patent with no intention of manufacturing a product, has popped up in the most unexpected of places – children’s literature. In a case that is sure to be controversial, James L. Schmiddy, an Alaskan lawyer, has been granted [...]
In March… …we learned that Abraham Lincoln is alive and into graphic novels for kids. The reincarnated 16th President appeared in a video created by John Schumacher and Colby Sharp about Newbery-winning book Lincoln: A Photobiography. …we found out about some of the graphic novels hitting shelves in 2013. In the inaugrual Preview Interview, First Second [...]
Well here we are, the final Friday before National Poetry Month begins. On April 2 I’ll be posting a gallery of your book spine poem submissions. Here are my tips for making your own. You want in? Email your poems to me at scopenotes (at) gmail (dot) com or post them to your blog and let [...]
MATILDA: HORSE RACE FIXER The New Yorker, in discussing the new stage play of Roald Dahl’s classic, reveals the very different early draft of Matilda. Click here to read at Bookshelves of Doom. SCHOOL LIBRARIANS: STAY FOCUSED The Blue Skunk Blog makes me think every time out. In a world of a million professional distractions, [...]
Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on GoodReads or Amazon? [Author]‘s book is a piece of nationalist propaganda, using oversimplification, emotional appeals, and dualistic morality to shut down her readers’ minds. More troubling is that it is aimed at children, who don’t yet have the critical faculties to defend [...]
Check out the Poetry Friday roundup at GottaBook. National Poetry Month looms (but, you know, in a good way) and I’m counting down to the big event with a book spine poem each and every Friday in March. Interested in giving the book spine poem thing a shot? Try it with kids? Here are my [...]
I just read the Publishers Weekly article The Bestselling Children’s Books of 2012. A few thoughts… 1. The rise of the Dork How about the Dork Diaries series taking two of the top six hardcover frontlist spots? When that series first appeared I didn’t think it would make that sort of a splash. But Dork [...]
When we started lending e-readers in my school library last year, I expected there would be some damaged devices. I envisioned the occasional drop, or maybe a backpack smash. I didn’t see this coming: That’s right: “My dog ate my e-reader”. People have joked that arming students with devices would eliminate the age old “My [...]
Welcome to Your Awesome Robot By Viviane Schwarz Flying Eye Books ISBN: 9781909263000 $13.95 Grades PreK-2 In Stores April 16, 2013 Find it at: Schuler Books | Your Library While the concept of library makerspaces for teens and adults has been getting buzzy lately, youth librarians will tell you we’ve been getting crafty with young [...]
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