Day: October 10, 2007

New Golden Compass Trailer

| Tasha

Check out this breathtaking new trailer for The Golden Compass film.  Wow!

National Book Award Finalists

| Tasha

The finalists for the 2007 National Book Awards in Young People’s Literature have been announced.  And what a great slate of candidates it is!  Two of my all-time favorites of the year, so I look forward to reading the others. 

Right now my vote goes to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.  A spectacular read.

Sherman
Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time
Indian

Kathleen
Duey, Skin Hunger: A Resurrection of Magic,
Book One

M.
Sindy Felin, Touching Snow

Brian
Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Sara
Zarr, Story of a Girl



Monster Hug!

| Tasha

Monster hug! by David Ezra Stein.

I think I have discovered a new favorite picture book author.  This is the same David Ezra Stein who wrote the wonderful Leaves, which is my new favorite autumnal title. 

In this book, two monsters wake up, meet and start to play.  The monsters are bigger than mountains, can climb buildings, eat cars and trees, but really are just a pair of wild children.  The art is wonderfully rough and wild, suiting the subject perfectly, emphasizing the child-friendly text.  I love the wildness in the monsters’ eyes, the transposing of a blue monster who lives in a volcano and a red monster who lives under the sea, and the use of red words that capture the mood of the two monsters in single syllables. 

There is something special about finding a book that is not only masterfully created but will be truly enjoyed by even the smallest children.  What a rare treat!

Very toddler friendly, this book can be used with children ages 2-6.  Even older children will enjoy the humor and freedom here.  Highly recommended for use in preschool and toddler story times this time of year for a very non-scary monster story.