‘Lassie’ and other old favorite children’s books come home again to a new generation
I have mixed feelings about classic children’s literature. Yes, I love sharing it with children. Kids should read classics like Charlotte’s Web. But the books do show their age, and it can be hard to tell a child why all the mommies in Mrs. Piggle Wiggle stay home and all the daddies are distant.
The other problem I have is that there are so many new quality books for kids that I find I have to purposefully squeeze in the classics.
And finally, Yes teen books are edgy. They have to be. I think it is a lot less about pushing the envelope than about speaking to today’s youth and getting them involved and excited about reading. I read the edgier teen novels, and find them a heck of a lot more tame than the adult bestsellers! And usually a lot better written!
Month: August 2003
Richie's Picks
Richie’s Picks
This teacher’s picks of great books for kids and teens are emailed out to over 3,000 people. He has compiled lists of the best books from 1999-2002 and is currently compiling his top choices for 2003. Each book listed has a complete review included. Great site!
The Goblin Wood
THE GOBLIN WOOD by Hilari Bell (0-06-051371-3) is a book that will work for many types of readers. Set in a magical land, it is the story of Makenna whose mother was killed for being a witch due to the influence of priests in her village. Makenna flees to the forest where she bands together with a group of goblins who are being killed off too. It is also the story of the brave and honorable Sir Tobin who is sent to capture Makenna. The story is much more than a knight tale. It examines what humanity is, where allegiances should lie, and defines honor. The only complaint I have is with the cover art. The book will need some pushing to get it to move due to the dark cover that does little to sell the magical tale inside.
I would recommend the book to kids who enjoy fantasy, boys who like knight stories, and people asking for books with strong female protangonists. Makenna is one of the strongest heroines around.
Graphic Novels Again
Brodart offers a guide to Graphic Novels, that provides core lists of titles for both libraries and schools, selection criteria and new releases. Definitely a site that I will be adding to my bookmarks.
Comic Books
Comics Worth Reading
This site offers recommendations, reviews, previews and more about comic books, all in a blog format. Graphic novels are also included, making this welcome information to people selecting graphic novels for libraries.
Peter Dickinson
Peter Dickinson is another of my favorite YA authors. His book Eva was one of my top booktalking books about a decade ago. It is definitely worth a read and is an easy sell to teens. Just summarize the first chapter, and they will be breathless and wanting to know more. On his site, I noticed a lot of books of his that I have missed. I will have to try to fit them in sometime.
Teen Books
While visiting Tamora Pierce’s site, I followed a link to Teens@Random. There I found lots of books that are on my future reading lists, so I think it is a pretty good site for announcements. I also like that teen fans can visit author’s sites and win prizes.
Tamora Pierce
Tamora Pierce
In September, Tamora Pierce will release a new book Trickster’s Choice starting a new series! She is one of my favorite YA fantasy authors, due to her strong female characters and that her novels are filled with humor and engrossing action. I look forward to reading this one. It will definitely move right to the top of my book pile.
Lemony Snicket
Lemony Snicket has a new book coming out next month, and a wonderful website to check out.
Waking Brain Cells 