Wired News: Copyright Crusaders Hit Schools
ALA steps in to provide more balanced coverage about fair use and copyright issues than that offered free to schools by groups like Business Software Alliance which tend to provide one-sided information and even mislead about the extent of copyright protection.
My favorite quote from the article:
“We want to teach children to be thinking human beings,” said Melinda Anderson, a spokeswoman for the NEA. “Not a parrot for some corporate agenda.”

I am away on vacation with my family for the next week. Expect my next posting to be Monday, August 16th at the earliest.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (0-399-23861-1)
This is a gem of a novel for preteens and teens. Moose’s family moves to Alcatraz so that his sister can attend a special school. Unfortunately, his sister doesn’t get into the school, his father is working long hours, and his mother is gone more and more, leaving Moose to take care of his sister.
The unique setting of Alcatraz is more than just a backdrop, it is an integral part of the story that is brought vividly to life. Readers immediately enjoy Moose as a character, willing to follow along as he makes mistakes and finds solutions. The other children on the island are complete characters too.
Recommend this one to both boys and girls. It is charming and a fun read.

Patricia Polacco
Official site for this prolific author of picture books for slightly older kids. I really enjoyed one of her more recent books, The Graves Family, with its message of acceptance cloaked in the kid-friendly setting of a haunted house.

Boston.com / Stopping the summer slide in children’s reading skills
A nice article on the power of summer reading for children.
“Why did some children read better than others? ”It’s Mom and Dad reading to kids and encouraging them to read during the summer and finding books that they’re interested in,” Kramer said. ”Some kids don’t touch a book all summer and those are the kids that keep me employed as a remedial reading teacher.””

Wishing Moon by Michael O. Tunnell (0-525-47193-6)
Aminah, a starving orphan, lives on the streets of an Arabian city. She seeks out the aid of the Princess but is chased away when the Princess throws a golden lamp at her head. When Aminah polishes the lamp, she discovers that a jinni lives inside it, after all the Princess is married to Aladdin. So the story of Aladdin’s lamp continues, but instead of greed Aminah uses the lamp to do good. But will this generosity be her undoing?
This is a wonderful tale set in a vividly rendered city with equally well-written characters from the sarcastic jinni to the good Aminah. Aminah is a strong female protagonist who struggles with real moral issues. Recommend this one to girls who enjoy fantasy.

Lynne Reid Banks turned 75 this weekend! Congratulations! And Happy Birthday!

Monterey County Herald | Pry the kids away from TV
A great list of recommendations for what kids can do instead of watching TV. Best of all, both reading books and going to the library made the list!