Pasadena Citizen has an article on their public library offering new services for teens. When I was working as a children’s/YA librarian, I created a program like this. I still miss those kids. They were funny, warm, goofy and best of all, they let me into their lives. I only hope that the new teen librarian at Pasadena gets to feel that magic too.
I see teen programs as really vital, though I must admit that I have yet to start one here. The ideas are floating in my brain, but we have yet to really start targeting teens. I don’t think that any of the larger libraries in our library system have teen librarians and some lack even an area for teens. And we wonder why these kids aren’t using libraries??

Gossip Books are books that are a new type of trash novels for teen girls. A guilty pleasure that will be very popular.
Via [places for writers].

CBCA Book of the Year Awards – Winners 2003
The list of award winners picked by the Children’s Book Council of Australia was just posted this week. Let’s hope that many of them get published on this side of the world too.

Just finished Dark Waters by Catherine MacPhail. It is the story of a boy (Col)from Scotland who is brother to the biggest thug in their town. Col wants to be just like his law-breaking brother, but then ends up rescuing another boy from drowning in the loch. Now that he knows how it feels to be a hero, what choice will he make for his life?
The book was gripping towards the end and the Scottish setting and language make for an interesting setting. I recommend it.
This book is for YAs. It is one that boys will read happily and girls will enjoy. I always enjoy finding a book for boys that doesn’t revolve around sports and yet keeps a strong masculine tone.

It is great to find passionate postings about chidren’s books on blogs that don’t focus on that subject. This post in Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things, a blog that tends to focus more on technology, speaks to a love of fantasy for kids by an adult reader. I feel the same way! Bring on the great fantasy reads!

Via L.A.C.K. comes this USATODAY article on Lois Lowry, author of my all-time favorite book, The Giver.

Ellen Jackson has a great website all about her work as a children’s book author. I think the best parts of her site are about rejection letters she has received and how to deal with rejection as an author.

Picture-Book
This site is filled with information for children’s illustrators, authors and publishers. It has information on conferences, awards, galleries, groups, techniques, booksellers, recommended books, lists and more. Lots of stuff to look through for book lovers too.

The Jamie and Angus Stories by Anne Fine (0-7636-1862-4) is a great bedtime chapter book for a tricky age where kids are looking to move away from picture books but may not be ready for the intensity of some of the classics like Charlotte’s Web. It is perfect for even very young children who are ready to make that change. Jamie is a little boy who finds Angus, a stuffed bull, in the first story in the book and they become inseparable. The go through a series of gentle adventures that children will recognize and identify with. The stories have humor and emote security and love, just the perfect combination for right before bedtime.