Won’t You Be My Neighbor Days are being celebrated in Pittsburgh this week in honor of Mister Rogers.  You can participate too by wearing a sweater on March 20th in honor of Fred Rogers and his incandescent approach to children’s television and children themselves. 

All together now:

So, let's make the most of this beautiful day
Since we're together we might as well say
Would you be mine, could you be mine
Won't you be my neighbor
Won't you please, won't you please
Please won't you be my neighbor

http://www.lookybook.com/embed/1389-embed.swf

And to Name But Just a Few: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue by Laurie Rosenwald

This book offers a vibrant and often silly romp through the colors.  Each page shouts with color, large images and huge fonts.  The artistry here is clear, filled with collages, found objects, drawing, paint and much more.  It invites young readers to head out into their worlds and create their own colorful spaces. 

The text here is filled with fonts, different sizes and colors.  It is as much part of the illustrations as the paint, collages and ink.  It dances, sings and laughs along with the colors and the readers. 

I can see this being very successful in art classes talking about colors.  The audience here is not really preschoolers.  I would use it with slightly older children, say ages 5-8.  They will enjoy the play of the words and the art and will find inspiration here.

The amazing CCBC in Madison Wisconsin is now podcasting!  You can check out their first podcast here. 

 

It features Sweethearts by Sara Zarr, Jazz by Walter Dean Myers, and What Have You Lost by Naomi Shihab Nye.

According to CNNMoney, Tina Wells has been signed to write a series of books for tweens called Mackenzie Blue.  The books will be positive fiction for middle-grade girls, a move away from the recent trend towards mean girls. 

Tina Wells founded Buzz Marketing Group in 1996 at age 16.  This deal with Harper Collins further places her as the go-to person for marketing to tweens and teens.

The 2nd Annual Children’s and Young Adult Blogger’s Literary Awards have been announced!  Congratulations to the winners!

I am especially pleased with the winners in the Science Fiction/Fantasy category which I helped to nominate and which happen to be two of my favorites in each of the age groups!  I am thrilled!

The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Both of these books are real wonders that offer fresh perspectives, unique situations, and great characterizations.

Feast your eyes on Amazon’s copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, won at an Sotheby’s auction for £1,950,000.  This is one of only 7 copies of the handmade book by J.K. Rowling.  The proceeds from the auction benefit Rowling’s charity: The Children’s Voice Campaign.

Amazon offers reviews of each of the fairy tales in the book as well as drool-worthy images of the book itself.

The Pen that Pa Built by David Edwards, illustrated by Ashley Wolff.

This traditional cumulative story tells the process of making a woolen blanket from sheep to the final product.  The wording is wonderfully clear and concise, making reading it aloud a pleasure even to the end.  The illustrations echo back to traditional woodcuts but are enlivened by bright colors.  This is a pleasant glimpse into prairie life and the process of welcoming a new baby into the family. 

Unlike many more cut and dry books on the process of making something, the illustrations and language here add real life to the book.  Recommended for reading aloud to ages 4-6.

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr.

How early in a year can one declare that they have read one of the best teen novels of the year?  Well, maybe I will set a record!

Zarr has followed her very popular Story of a Girl with another tremendous read.  Jenna used to be fat and unpopular, but she has transformed her life into one of a popular pretty girl.  Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple.  She remains caught, hearing the voice of the girl she used to be buried deep within her and unwilling to let go.  Jenna is living close to the edge emotionally already, but when her childhood friend returns after Jenna had thought he died eight years earlier, he brings a flood of memories with him.   And one of those memories cuts a little too close to them both even with eight years having passed. 

The tension of the this book is masterfully achieved.  Zarr uses vivid memories, crawlingly desperate prose, and no theatrics to create this book that begs to be finished in a single sitting.  Zarr also uses Jenna’s relationship with food to convey her emotional state.  The wonderful thing about this is that she doesn’t simplify it, but allows it just be there in all of its complexity.  Here’s an example from the book:

“My stomach was already beyond full from the tuna sandwich and leftover spaghetti I’d wolfed down along with the stolen candy bar, but I was still hungry in the back of my throat, in my chest, in my limbs — every part of me but my stomach.” 

It is Zarr’s ability to live with complexity in her characters that make her books work so well.  No one is free to be a cardboard character here, they all are human puzzles to enjoy and fully believe in.

Highly recommended with a wonderful cover, this book belongs in all libraries serving teens.  It is one of the best of the year, despite the fact we aren’t out of January yet.  A real winner that is bound to fly off of shelves and to readers who will come back begging for more.   I’d recommend Gail Giles novels to fans of Zarr.

You Were Loved Before You Were Born by Eve Bunting, illustrated be Karen Barbour.

This book is a celebration of a new life.  It follows the expressions of love from parents and family as they prepare for a new baby.  They paint the baby’s nursery, give presents, plant roses, and make toys, all with great joy.  It is a quiet, loving book, perfect for a child who is expecting their first sibling, because it reassures them that the same joy was present when they were being expected. 

Bunting’s language is simple, strong and lovely as always.  Here she creates a feeling of blissful expectation with her words.  Barbour’s illustrations are gloriously folksy and warm.  Every child should emerge into a world filled with such bright colors and warmth. 
Too quiet and personal to be shared with a group, I recommend reading this to a 4-6 year old looking forward to a new baby.  It is also the perfect gift for new parents expecting their first child.