Guardian Unlimited Books | Review | Beyond Potter
A look at the sales charts in England. One chart covers the current bestsellers and the other covers the perennial favorites that sell well year after year. I especially enjoyed looking at the classic bestsellers, or the “Evergreens.” Scroll to the bottom of the article to find the links to the charts.

Mountain Solo by Jeanette Ingold (0-15-202670-3)
This book about violin prodigy, Tess, brings readers into the high-pressure world of musically-gifted teens. At the same time, readers get a glimpse into a violinist living at the turn of the century. As the two stories come to a satisfying end, we are all reminded about the role of the listener in music. Lovely.

Golden Books
Homepage for the publisher of the popular Golden Books which now include Barbie, Bob the Builder, Dora the Explorer, and Disney.

Welcome to TV Turnoff Network
TV-Turnoff Week is coming April 19-25. This site offers information on organizing a TV-free week with more reading and less TV watching.

197 Bogus Graduation Rate Studies and Reality from Wisconsin
A Harvard study has been in the news lately. It states that Wisconsin public schools have some of the worst graduation rates of white vs. Hispanic and African-American children. True? No, not according to this article from EducationNews.

Alma Flor Ada
Official website for this prolific author of children’s books, many in Spanish or bilingual.

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (0-439-43536-6)
It is very rare to find a children’s fantasy title that breaks into new territory, but this is one. Gregor and his toddler sister, Boots, fall through a duct in their laundry room into the Underland. It is a world filled with talking rats, spiders, bats, roaches and humans. The story follows a quest format, but with such action and spirit that it never drags.
Recommend this title to kids who enjoy fantasy. It will open their eyes to the possibilities out there beyond Harry Potter. Even better, the end hints at a sequel to come!

Farnsworth revisits illustrative art in McCloskey tribute
The Farnsworth Art Museum in Maine is paying tribute to the art of Robert McCloskey.
“In addition to McCloskey, the exhibition gathers the work of 16 Maine children’s-book illustrators of many generations, all of whom link directly or spiritually to McCloskey. Some are of an earlier era – Dahlov Ipcar, Ashley Bryan, Carol Inouye and Peter Parnall. The rest are younger, contemporary illustrators whose work is influenced by the older generation.”

The Journal Times Online
This article outlines an incredible book program in Kenosha, WI. Run at Carthage College, the program brings kdis from middle schools who have all read the same books and presents hands-on workshops on the themes within the books. Very cool.