Publisher’s Weekly offers an article: A Monster of a Debut on the hot new book Monster Blood Tattoo by D. M. Cornish. It is interesting to read how such a unique and inventive world was discovered. I am about half way through the book right now, so look for a review in the next week or so. It is definitely worth reading!
Author: Tasha
Henrietta, There's No One Better
Henrietta, There’s No One Better by Martine Murray.
This chapter book introduces us to Henrietta, future Queen of the Wide Wide Long Cool Coast of the Lost Socks. Henrietta is a little girl with a huge personality and enormous imagination who invites readers right in to experience it for themselves. Henrietta takes us to the Island of the Rietta filled with polka-dotted friendly creatures, introduces us to the problems of having a baby brother named Albert, and shows us the joy of saying really naughty words like Sheezamageeza! This book is a joy to read aloud and has just enough potty humor and naughtiness to keep both boys and girls laughing along. The illustrations are modern line drawings brightened with bright red touches. They evoke the world of Henrietta even more vividly.
Recommend this to teachers looking for a fun read-aloud chapter book for Kindergarten, first and second grade. It could lead to discussions on imagination and creativity and maybe even having children create their own imaginary islands and creatures. But this is one good enough to share with any child in your life and to recommend to chapter book readers themselves.
A+ Audiobooks
VOYA has a nice article on A Plus Audiobooks for teens. Audio books are made or broken by the narrator, so it is nice to have a list of those that are very successful.
Falling Way Behind
Yikes! Not only am I moving in less than two weeks and changing jobs, but my laptop has finally decided to give up the ghost and need to be wiped. Since it is a work laptop, I have decided to use an old laptop and just have the other configured for the interim director. So bear with me while I get used to the new old laptop and get all my bookmarks functioning again. I am also WAY behind in reading all of the other children’s literature blogs and my other favorites. I’ll catch up eventually, but it may not be for awhile, perhaps not until the end of the month after the move and once I have started the new job. OK, so maybe I won’t ever catch up again!
Narnia Forum
TheNarniaForums is a discussion board for all things Narnia. It includes the movies and the books, as well as games, the TV series, fan art, fan fiction, and Christianity and the stories.
Esme Blogs!
Teacher, author and children’s book advocate, Esme Raji Codell, has started a blog: Esme’s Bookshelf: Best New Children’s Books. The blog just started today and has three recommended children’s books. You should also visit her website, PlanetEsme, which is filled with a LOT of information on books, themes, and reading.
The State of Picture Books
The Book Standard has an interesting article: Picture Books Fight Back: What the Publishing Industry Is Doing To Reinvigorate Illustrated Books about what is happening with picture books in book stores and publishing houses. I read with dismay that one of the tactics being looked at is more glitter and flaps. Those books are ok in their own way, but give me a solidly written and illustrated book and it can more than match the joy of a sparkly pink flap. I want a book that I can turn to time and again with my children and in my storytimes without fail. It takes a lot more than a sprinkling of fairy dust to get that. It takes talent.
Guardian Longlist
The Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize has announced their longlist:
Clay by David Almond (I really like the British cover much better!)
Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Blown Away by Patrick Cave
A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd
Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge
The Worst Witch Saves the Day by Jill Murphy
A Darkling Plain by Philip Reeve
The Survival Game by Tim Wynne-Jones
Children's Music that Rocks
Thank goodness for great niche blogs like Children’s Music that Rocks, a blog all about music for children. I freely admit that I know almost nothing about children’s music, especially not the kind that really rocks. This is a great blog for librarians to know about for collection development and for recommendations for music that parents can actually stand to listen to with their children.
