Morning Notes: Wonka Chewing Gum Edition

PICTURE BOOKS DEAD. ‘NO WE’RE NOT’ CLAIM PICTURE BOOKS

A million thoughts pop into my head upon reading the controversial New York Times piece Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children (click here to read). Here are a couple:

1.     When parents are doing the buying, yes, they are pushing kids to read chapter books earlier. This, I get the impression, is what they feel “involved” parents do.

2.     Schools are partly responsible, as reading level measures (such as Lexile) are becoming more prevalent. Schools are in the business of locating students’ reading levels (often through a test). If Freddie 1st Grader reads at a 700 Lexile level, Freddie’s parents want him to read a book written at a 700 Lexile level (see: most likely a chapter book).

3.     If kids had free reign, they’d be reading just as many picture books as always, which makes this whole situation kind of scary as the reader isn’t the one in control.

COFFEE SHOP LOOKS LIKE LIBRARY … ONLY SIDEWAYS

I’m not sure why the D’Espresso coffee shop decided to turn a library on its side for their interior design, but I like it. Click here to check it out.

(Thanks to BoingBoing for the link)

WILLY WONKA CHEWING GUM COULD BECOME REALITY

Real headline alert! Thank you microscopic capsules! This is the best news I’ve heard all day. Click here to read.

(Thanks to Telegraph for the link)

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood. On shelves March 2011.

The original snagged four starred reviews and won over plenty of fans, including Bookends and Literate Lives. The sequel should come as a welcome sight.

They made a Harry Potter pop-up book?

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