Month: January 2009

Books, Books, Books and a Big THANK YOU!

| Tasha

I would also like to thank the amazing publishers, large and small, who send me books to review.  At one point a few years ago, I had a single shelf of books I got from publishers each year, books that I was honored to receive and happy to review.  Now, my single shelf has multiplied into a room in the basement where I stack the ARCs and books I receive.  They patiently wait to see if they will catch my eye.  There are simply too many for me to read each and every one.  But I am always thrilled and honored to received each and every one.

After each title I finish reading, I head down to select another book.  I have a priority shelf of books that I simply must read, but often others come in and take their places.  It is good that books are quiet and not demanding.  Picture books are actually kept next to my bed in case one of my sons wants some snuggly reading time.  It lets me get through them faster, though I still have a pile I have to work on that is close to toppling.

Through the generosity of publishers, I was able to donate over 700 books to libraries in my area this year.  These were full copies of books, not galleys.  They are so appreciated by the libraries that receive them.   I consider myself a conduit not only of reviews but of books.  It is an honor to be able to do this for libraries.

I do apologize if I have not reviewed a book you sent me.  I try my best, and yes, I am one of those annoying bloggers who just will not publish a negative review.  I don’t have the time or inclination to finish books that I don’t like, and I also feel there are plenty of places to find reviews that are negative.  I’d rather be a place where the books I love spending time with are given the limelight.

I must also apologize for being really bad at keeping email communication with publishers.  I know I should be sending you emails when I review your titles.  I do alright for awhile and then fall so far behind it is exhausting to even think of doing the ones I’ve missed.  I promise to try to be better at this.

So thank you everyone, for reading, for publishing, for writing.  Here’s to a new year filled with great books!

Children's Choice Book Awards

| Tasha

Teenreads.com in association with the Children’s Book Council are giving you the opportunity to vote for your five favorite books of 2008!  The five books that receive the largest number of votes will then become finalists that will again be voted on.  The ultimate winner will be announced in May. 

You can vote on this form for books on the list or vote for books not on the list.  Sounds like grand fun!  I’m off to cast my vote!

Monsoon Afternoon

| Tasha

Monsoon Afternoon by Kashmira Sheth, illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi

A little boy sees the dark clouds gathering just before the rain begins to fall.  He asks each person in his family to join him playing outside in the rain, but no one will until his Dadaji, grandfather, finds him looking glum by the open door.  The boy and his grandfather float paper boats in the washtub until the rain stops.  They take a walk and notice that the ants have disappeared, the banyan leaves are shining, and the peacocks are dancing, just as they did when Dadaji was a boy.  When his grandmother, Dadima, scolds them for tracking in mud, that too is just as it was when Dadaji was a child.

This book excels at bridging the cultural gap, allowing the non-Indian children to experience a monsoon through play that is universal.  Children will immediately relate to not having family play with them, the kindness of grandparents, and the scolding for making a mess.  Through that understanding they will come to see that cultures and regions may differ, but there is a universal language and world.  This book is at once a window and a mirror.

Jaeggi’s illustrations enhance the story, showing the grandfather as a boy, the brilliance of a peacock’s tail, and the pleasure of rain.  Children may be surprised to see that people head outdoors into the rain rather than staying indoors, but they will also understand the immediate appeal of playing in the water.

Recommended for being a book that is both specific and universal, this book also tells a great story of a boy and his grandfather together.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Smithsonian Notable Books for Children

| Tasha

I missed this list of notable books for children from The Smithsonian.  A wonderful list filled with some of the gems of the year.

I can see some of my favorites, including:

The Story Blanket by Ferida Wolff

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey

That Book Woman by Heather Henson

And there are many more here that I missed and am looking forward to trying.  Oh, always so many books!

2008 Cybils Finalists Announced

| Tasha

The finalists for the 2008 Cybils Awards have been announced!  I’m organizer for the Fantasy and Science Fiction category, so I am probably biased, but there are some stand out titles there to check out! 

A huge thank you to my dedicated nomination panel and on to the judging phase.  I’m also a judge for SF/F, and happily I have read all but two of the nominated titles! 

So what do you think of the nominees in any of the categories?