Janet Taylor Lisle
Homepage for this author of children’s books. I haven’t read any of her more recent titles, but really enjoyed Afternoon of the Elves years ago. I’ll have to try her latest one.

The Artful Shopper: Not just for kids
A great testimonial for the appeal of children’s books plus a list of recommended titles for gifts this holiday season, all from the Capital Times from Madison, WI.

Diane deGroat
Official site for this author of humorous holiday picture books for older picture book readers.

Eileen Christelow
Official website for this author illustrator who just released the new book VOTE! in September. The site reflects her illustrating style completely. Lovely job!

Edgy YA Fiction
The bibliography from a presentation done at the Wisconsin Library Association’s Annual Meeting last month in Milwaukee. The presenters are from the revered CCBC in Madison.

The art of darkness is an article in the English Telegraph that is all about Phillip Pullman and his writing. Librarians and teachers will be interested in the following part of his work history:
“After 18 months he moved to a more sedate posting as a librarian at Charing Cross library. Then he trained as a teacher. For the next 12 years he worked in two middle schools in Oxford, teaching English to children between nine and 13. Pullman describes his teaching as ‘variable’ but, according to former pupils, he was exceptional and exciting. Greta Stoddart, the poet, was taught by him at Bishop Kirk Middle School: ‘He had an extraordinary energy. And he didn’t need books. He would come in and just launch into some story. He had this great mane of long, wavy hair that he would scrape back with his long fingernails – he kept them long to play the guitar. And he had that very direct stare that stays just a little longer than you’d expect. All of us girls were a bit in love with him.’ “

The Northpole
A child-friendly site with a traditional feel, containing stories, a chance to write to Santa, recipes, games, and activities.

Kids Domain Thanksgiving
A great holiday site for kids and parents. It has ecards, crafts, recipes, online games, downloads, clip art and more.

Seek by Paul Fleischman (0-8072-0821-3)
Having listened to this on tape, I can’t imagine reading it. Enveloped immediately by the sounds of the Louisiana swamp, I was captivated by the full cast recording. The story is that of Rob, a senior in high school, assigned to write his autobiography which he does in sound clips. Clips from his radio shows, his father’s radio program, and the voices of his family and friends. It all combines to form the story of a boy searching for his absent father.
I enjoyed the fact that Rob is not what is considered a typical teen. He is an intellectual who reads classic literature, listens to opera, and loves the radio. I would recommend the audio for families traveling with older elementary and even teen boys in the car. The sounds will stay with you long after the audiobook is finished.