ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) has started its own blog. According the their press release, the blog will cover “time sensitive news in children’s librarianship, current
issues in the field, programs, conferences, initiatives, resources and
activities of interest to ALSC members and those interested in children’s
librarianship.”
I think a place to discuss the special qualities of service to children is a wonderful thing. Definitely adding it to my RSS feed list.
Check out this breathtaking new trailer for The Golden Compass film. Wow!
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! 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.
Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist is becoming a film by Mandate Films. Kat Dennings will play Norah and Michael Cera will play Nick. Looks like the targeted release date is 2009.
Review of one of the nominated titles for the 2007 Cybils in Fantasy and Science Fiction.
Gift of the Unmage by Alma Alexander.
Thea was born a Double Seventh, the seventh child of two seventh children. From birth she was expected to have great magical powers, but they never emerged. Her father pulls some strings to get her a special Pass to learn from Cheveyo in an unknown land. With Cheveyo’s quiet teaching, Thea begins to learn more and more of herself and why she cannot do magic. She learns of her special powers of weaving, allowing her to visit the ancient Grandmother Spider and discover the presence of many worlds beyond her own. This is power and knowledge that she will need to fight in an upcoming battle that might just save her own world from destruction.
This book is a fascinating blend of spirituality and fantasy. The things that Thea learns with Cheveyo are less magical and more philosophic. I had not anticipated the depth of these lessons, the ring of truth they have and the power that this book receives from them. The writing is lovely as it twines through different worlds, allowing the reader to experience them. I enjoyed the portrayal of the near-silent Cheveyo and Grandmother Spider. Thea’s character is well-developed and serves as the perfect window into her world.
While this book will not be for all fantasy fans, who may expect their fantasy to be more about dragons and knights, it will be welcome for readers of fantasy looking for depth and great world building. Highly recommended for thoughtful fantasy readers.
Review of one of the nominated titles for the 2007 Cybils in Fantasy and Science Fiction
Tattoo by Jennifer Barnes.
This fluffy fantasy novel has the charm of a Buffy the Vampire combined with a dark fairy myth. A normal day at the mall becomes a lot more when Bailey selects four strange temporary tattoos. She and her three close friends apply the tattoos at the mall and then discover that they have special powers given to them by the tattoos. Bailey begins to hear voices and dream vivid dreams of two fairies, which lead the four teens on a wild ride to save both their world and the connected fairy world.
These are not sweet Tinkerbell fairies with pixie dust, rather they are dark fairies with amazing powers. The humor of the book is winning as are the four teen girls, who are each as unique as can be, though they verge on cardboard at times.
The cover is a huge selling point of the book. Teens looking for a book to escape into without working hard at it will enjoy this novel.
The Battle of the Labyrinth will continue the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan! The fourth in the series, it will be released in May of 2008. Take a look at that great cover and plan on ordering this for your library! What fun to have another fantasy series that flies off of the shelves all on its own. But even better, it’s a great series filled with action and humor, so librarians can be confident putting it into the hands of children and teens.
VOYA’s October Edition has a Roundup of Paperback Series for Teens. It is great to see series books being reviewed seriously. One thing that VOYA does exceptionally well is to take paperback releases seriously and review them right alongside the hardcovers. When one is working with teens this is very important. The Sweep series looks like the best bet from this batch. Onto my to-be-read list it goes!
Waking Brain Cells 