MORE POSTS

Book Review: Big Chickens Fly the Coop

Travis Jonker, January 28, 2008 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Big Chickens Fly the Coop By Leslie Helakoski Illustrated By Henry Cole Dutton Children’s Books ISBN 9780525479154 $15.99 Grades K-2 In Stores *Recommended* No group of people on earth enjoy a sequel as much as kids. Sometimes it seems like if you slap a “2” at the end of a book or movie, youngsters take […]

Read Post »

A Shout Out

Travis Jonker, January 28, 2008 | News



I just wanted to say thanks to the wonderful children’s lit blog BreeniBooks for including 100 Scope Notes in “Blogs That Make My Day“. It’s always nice to be singled out (unless it’s for something bad, which this is definitely not).

Read Post »

Is It “Wiz-ner” or “Wise-ner”?

Travis Jonker, January 28, 2008 | News



Or “Wheeze-ner”? As a person who often has to explain how to pronounce my name (hard J? soft J?), I can see how the following website could be a lifesaver for those struggling to name that author. Thanks to the outstanding children’s lit blog The Longstockings, I now know how to pronounce just about every […]

Read Post »

Retro Review: The Wretched Stone

Travis Jonker, January 27, 2008 | Reviews



The Wretched Stone By Chris Van Allsburg Houghton Mifflin Company (1991) ISBN 9780395533079 $18.95 Grades 2-4 In Stores Unless there is some strange cult out there that seeks to unlock life’s mysteries through meditations on “The Mysteries of Harris Burdick” (and really, there might be), nowhere on earth does Grand Rapids native Chris Van Allsburg […]

Read Post »

Hollywood Inside Report: Hugo Cabret and Martin Scorsese!?

Travis Jonker, January 27, 2008 | Reviews



I first heard mention of Martin Scorsese buying the rights to “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” a couple of days after the Caldecott announcement. My reaction was surprise – I figured if anyone, maybe Jon Favreau would give it a shot, but Marty? I tried to just sort of ignore the news for a bit, […]

Read Post »

Sunday Link Du Jour: January 27, 2008

Travis Jonker, January 26, 2008 | Link Du Jour



If you’re a school librarian like I am, and work with students to help them find information, the following link might make you say “A-hah! I knew it.” If you’re not a school librarian, well, you might say the same thing, but without the exclamation point. It turns out that the youngsters, occasionally called “the […]

Read Post »

Book Review: Trout Are Made of Trees

Travis Jonker, January 24, 2008 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Trout Are Made of Trees By April Pulley Sayre Illustrated By Kate Endle Charlesbridge ISBN 9781580891370 $15.95 Grades K-2 In Stores *Recommended* “Trout are made of trees.” “Wait, trout are made of trees?” That was my approximate reaction to reading the title of this book for the first time. Then I considered the statement. Hmm, […]

Read Post »

Book Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Travis Jonker, January 22, 2008 | *Best New Books*, Reviews



Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules By Jeff Kinney HNA Books ISBN 9780810994737 $12.95 Grades 4-7 In Stores *Best New Books* One situation in the original “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” really hit home with me. It’s when our hero Greg, ready to pull the prank of a lifetime on his substitute teacher, comes […]

Read Post »

New York Times: What’s Sellin’?

Travis Jonker, January 22, 2008 | News



I recently posted about what books were selling at the nations independent bookstores. Now for the other side of the coin. The New York Times Bestseller list gives another perspective on what books are inspiring people to say “I would like to own that”.  Excerpts from the most recent list appear below. (click on the […]

Read Post »

Book Review: Oggie Cooder

Travis Jonker, January 21, 2008 | Reviews



Oggie Cooder By Sarah Weeks Scholastic Press ISBN 9780545078382 $16.99 Grades 3-5 In Stores February 1st, 2008 I have not always been a huge fan of the word “silly”. I guess it makes me feel kind of silly to say it. Until I started working in elementary schools a few years back, I tried not […]

Read Post »