The Wrap is reporting that Jennifer Lawrence has landed the role of Katniss in the feature film version of The Hunger Games. The actress has signed on for the full trilogy franchise.
Day: March 17, 2011
Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature–2011 Shortlist
The 2011 shortlist for the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature has been announced. The Australian prize is offered for “a work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry written for children up to secondary school level.”
Here is the shortlist:
Clancy and Millie and the Very Fine House by Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood (available in US)
Mirror by Jeannie Baker (available in US)
My Australian Story: The Hunt for Ned Kelly by Sophie Masson
Shrieking Violet by Emma Quay
The Three Loves of Persimmon by Cassandra Golds
Where There’s Smoke by John Heffernan
Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature –2011 Shortlist
Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature is given for “a work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry written for young people of secondary school level.”
The FitzOsbornes in Exile: The Montmaray Journals 2 by Michelle Cooper (published in the US on April 5, 2011)
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Saltwater Vampires by Kirsty Eagar
Big River, Little Fish by Belinda Jeffrey
The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta (available in US)
Dreaming of Amelia by Jaclyn Moriarty (available in US)
Pirates Don’t Take Baths
Pirates Don’t Take Baths by John Segal
Some piglets hate, hate, hate taking a bath. In fact, this little pig NEVER wants to take a bath again. So he decides to become someone who never takes a bath. Like a pirate! But his mother points out that he gets seasick. So the little pig decides to be a cowboy until his mother reminds him that cowboys sleep on hard, cold ground. How about an Eskimo, well they eat things like blubber and liver. The piglet goes from one idea to the next, his mother giving reasons why it isn’t a good option. Until finally, he decides to become a treasure hunter who searches for treasure – under water!
Segal has created a book that nicely mixes avoiding baths and different types of jobs. He infuses the entire book with humor that keeps it moving quickly forward. The relationship between the young pig and his mother is also a pleasure to read. Book design helps in reading the book aloud by having the mother’s comments in italics.
Segal’s art, done in pencil and watercolor, plays white space against fully colored pages to great effect. Reality of the mother and child is done against a white background while his fantasies of different jobs are done in full color backgrounds. The illustrations have strong edges and the watercolor gives a softness that is very appealing.
A fun look at avoiding baths through imagination, this book is appropriate for ages 3-5.
Reviewed from copy received from Philomel Books.
Waking Brain Cells 