This Week’s Tweets, Pins and Tumbls

February 7, 2014 | Tasha

Here are the links I shared on my Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr accounts this week that I hope you find interesting:

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

9 Life Lessons Everyone Can Learn From These Beloved Classic Children’s Books http://buff.ly/1fpfseZ #kidlit

2014 Spring/Summer Picture Book Preview| Minh Le | http://buff.ly/1dqyBKX #kidlit

Black history books teach children about traditions, unsung heroes http://buff.ly/1fpfm74 #kidlit

Books on Film: Making ‘The Calls’ — @100scopenotes 100 Scope Notes http://buff.ly/1dsPS6j #kidlit

COVER REVEAL: Raina Telgemeier’s ‘Sisters’ — The Beat http://buff.ly/1dqyA9I #kidlit

Exclusive: JK Rowling on Harry Potter character Gilderoy Lockhart – audio | Children’s books http://buff.ly/1bZvf1L #kidlit

Happy Year of the Horse! – The Horn Book http://buff.ly/MYlAmC #kidlit

‘Harry Potter’ Ending May Be Wrong, Says JK Rowling http://buff.ly/1dkpT0C #kidlit

How stories and reading can help teach children about disability | Guardian Professional http://buff.ly/MTe7p3 #kidlit

Jim Henson Company Options Rights to Randi Zuckerberg’s Picture Book DOT; Plans New Animated TV Series http://buff.ly/N9lp8a #kidlit

New ALSC Rule Will Limit Awards Committee Members’ Reviewing, Blogging | School Library Journal http://buff.ly/1dqTPZ0 #libraries #blogging

Pip Jones’s top 10 cats in children’s books | Children’s books http://buff.ly/MFgdsk #kidlit

Tim Federle ‏@TimFederle Feb 3

Confidence is overrated. Everything I’ve ever been proud of began in a place of total uncertainty.

Video: Mo Willems reacts to winning a 2014 Giesel honor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsqz_giMvzw&feature=share&list=UU7XkXRUKONFXX3-rnZO7Tag

EBOOKS

FCC makes “close call” in issuing e-reader waiver – District Dispatch http://buff.ly/MTmYa7 #ebooks

LIBRARIES

FCC: The time is now to speed library broadband connections http://buff.ly/N9AQxe #libraries

Minnesota’s libraries are rushing to adapt to a post-book world | Star Tribune http://buff.ly/N9DeE6 #libraries

Sonoma Library to Host Minecraft Camp – The Digital Shift http://buff.ly/1bZBanp #libraries

TEEN READS

For Black History Month, a time line to what black history in YA fiction looks like: http://bookriot.com/2014/02/05/black-history-ya-fiction-time-line/ …

Manga comics: where to start | Children’s books http://buff.ly/1fpfzHb #kidlit #manga

Outstanding Books for the College Bound | Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) http://buff.ly/1fz0mUd #yalit

Ransom Riggs, photo collector – Fine Books and Collections http://buff.ly/1fN4Ecl #yalit

2014 Notable Children’s Books–Older Readers and All Ages

February 7, 2014February 5, 2014 | Tasha

The Association for Library Service to Children has announced their picks for the best books for children from 2013. The books below are from the older reader section which is for ages 11-14 as well as the all ages section.

OLDER READERS

Becoming Ben Franklin: How a Candle-Maker’s Son Helped Light the Flame of Liberty. Freedman, Russell.

Counting by 7s. Sloan, Holly Goldberg.

Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America’s First Black Paratroopers. Stone, Tanya Lee.

Darius & Twig. Myers, Walter Dean.

Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People. Rubin, Susan Goldman.

Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln and the Dawn of Liberty. Bolden, Tonya.

Etiquette & Espionage. Carriger, Gail.

Far Far Away. McNeal, Tom.

Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design. Kidd, Chip.

The Living. de la Peña, Matt.

March: Book One. Lewis, John and Aydin, Andrew. Illus. by Nate Powell.

Navigating Early. Vanderpool, Clare.

One Came Home. Timberlake, Amy.

Paperboy. Vawter, Vince.

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. Medina, Meg.

ALL AGES

Journey. Becker, Aaron.

Poems to Learn by Heart. Kennedy, Caroline. Illus. by Jon J Muth.

Review: Searching for Sarah Rector by Tonya Bolden

February 6, 2014 | Tasha

Searching for Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America by Tonya Bolden

This nonfiction book takes a detailed look at a period in history that most of us know nothing about. It is the history of Indian Territory and the slaves who worked and lived there. It is the story of Oklahoma becoming a state, the establishment of black towns, and the changes that the oil boom brought to that area. It is also the story of one girl who is caught up in this history, made rich by the circumstances, and just like many other black children trapped by the corruption of those around her.

The history here is completely fascinating. Bolden brings it to life by focusing on one girl, but that focus really is a way to enter the story rather than the bulk of the story itself. Instead the story is the history and the twists and turns that it created. Bolden manages to piece together the story of Sarah Rector against this history, displaying the corruption of the adults and the system, the rush of wealth that comes and goes so quickly, and the racism that drove it all.

Bolden always creates nonfiction that is compellingly written. She shares sources at the end, offers a complete index, and her dedication to accuracy is clear throughout her books. Using primary documents, she has managed to bring together text and illustrations that paint a complete picture of the time.

Fascinating and powerful, this look into an unknown section of our history makes for one amazing read. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from library copy.

2014 Notable Children’s Books–Middle Readers

February 6, 2014February 4, 2014 | Tasha

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has selected their 2014 Notable Children’s Books list. The Middle Readers section contains books for children ages 8-10. Here are the books:

The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest–and Most Surprising–Animals on Earth. Jenkins, Steve.

Barbed Wire Baseball. Moss, Marissa. Illus. by Yuko Shimizu.

Battle Bunny. Scieszka, Jon and Barnett, Mac. Illus. by Matthew Myers.

Battling Boy. Pope, Paul.

Better Nate Than Ever. Federle, Tim.

Bluffton: My Summers with Buster. Phelan, Matt.

Bo at Ballard Creek. Hill, Kirkpatrick. Illus. by LeUyen Pham.

The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible…on Schindler’s List. Leyson, Leon.

The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdös. Heiligman, Deborah. Illus. by LeUyen Pham.

Doll Bones. Black, Holly.

Eruption!: Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives. Rusch, Elizabeth. Illus. by Tom Uhlman.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. Grabenstein, Chris.

Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table. Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Illus. by Eric-Shabazz Larkin.

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. DiCamillo, Kate. Illus. by K. G. Campbell.

Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse. Wissinger, Tamera Will. Illus. by Matthew Cordell.

The Great American Dust Bowl. Brown, Don.

How to Catch a Bogle. Jinks, Catherine. Illus. by Sarah Watts.

Knock Knock : My Dad’s Dream for Me. Beaty, Daniel. Illus. by Bryan Collier.

The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba’s Greatest Abolitionist. Engle, Margarita.

Lincoln’s Grave Robbers. Sheinkin, Steve.

Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard. Cate, Annette LeBlanc.

The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius. Greenberg, Jan and Jordan, Sandra.

Mister Orange. Matti, Truus. Illus. by Jenni Desmond. Trans. by Laura Watkinson.

Monster on the Hill. Harrell, Rob.

P. S. Be Eleven. Williams-Garcia, Rita.

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale. Tonatiuh, Duncan.

Rooftoppers. Rundell, Katherine. Illus. by Terry Fan.

Serafina’s Promise: A Novel in Verse. Burg, Ann E.

Soldier Dog. Angus, Sam.

A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin, Bryant, Jen. Illus. by Melissa Sweet.

Sugar. Rhodes, Jewell Parker.

Treasury of Egyptian Mythology. Napoli, Donna Jo. Illus. by Christina Balit.

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp. Appelt, Kathi.

The War within These Walls. Sax, Aline. Illus. by Caryl Strzelecki. Trans. by Laura Watkinson.

When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky: Two Artists, Their Ballet, and One Extraordinary Riot. Stringer, Lauren.

When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop. Hill, Laban Carrick. Illus. by Theodore Taylor III.

Words with Wings. Grimes, Nikki.

Divergent Final Trailer

February 5, 2014 | Tasha

Review: Baby Bear by Kadir Nelson

February 5, 2014 | Tasha

Baby Bear by Kadir Nelson

Nelson returns with a picture book about a lost baby bear that showcases his luminous art work. Baby Bear is lost and can’t find his way back home. So he asks different animals about how to find his home again. Mountain Lion suggests that he figure out how he got here. Frog is rather busy, but tells Baby Bear not to be frightened. The Squirrels suggest that he hug a tree. Moose tells Baby Bear to listen to his heart. Owl reassures him and Ram encourages him to climb high and keep walking. Finally, Salmon leads him across the river and Baby Bear is home.

Nelson writes with the tone of a folktale, a measured pace and a strong structure of questions and answers. Told entirely in dialogue between the animals, the setting and action is left to the gorgeous illustrations to explain. My favorite moment is the ending of the book where there is no family to meet Baby Bear, no structure of “home” for him to return to, just an understanding and a pure moment of realization that he IS home.

Nelson’s art is stunningly lovely. He uses light and perspective to really show the story. We see Baby Bear from different angles, one amazing double-page spread just has a close up of his eyes with the moon reflected in them. Each page is a treat visually, each building to that moment of already being home.

Shimmering and lush, this picture book will open discussions about what home is, mindfulness and following one’s heart. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

2014 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers

February 5, 2014 | Tasha

YALSA has announced their selections for the 2014 Quick Picks list. The list features 77 titles and three series and represents books specifically chosen for teens who do not like to read. I always find new titles and fresh faces in this list.

They also selected a top ten:

100 Questions You’d Never Ask Your Parents: Straight Answers to Teens’ Questions about Sex, Sexuality and Health by Elisabeth Henderson and Nancy Armstrong

Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff

How to Speak Dog: A Guide to Decoding Dog Language by Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman

Killer of Enemies by Joseph Bruchac

Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong by Prudence Shen

Proxy by Alex London

Star Wars Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Vietnam #4: Casualties of War by Chris Lynch

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina

2014 Notable Children’s Books–Younger Readers

February 5, 2014February 4, 2014 | Tasha

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has selected their 2014 Notable Children’s Books list. The Younger Readers section contains books for children preschool to age 7. Here are the books:

Alphablock by Christopher Franceschelli

Ball by Mary Sullivan

The Bathing Costume, or, the Worst Vacation of My Life by Charlotte Moundlic, illustrated by Olivier Tallec

Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas by Philippe Coudray

A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo Willems

Building Our House by Jonathan Bean

Bully by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell

The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Deep in the Sahara by Kelly Cunname, illustrated by Hoda Hadadi

Eat Like a Bear by April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins

Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

Flight of the Honey Bee by Raymond Huber

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle

Fraidyzoo by Thyra Heder

Little Santa by Jon Agee

Locomotive by Brian Floca

Lulu and the Dog from the Sea by Hilary McKay, illustrated by Priscilla Lamont

Maria Had a Little Llama by Angela Dominguez

Martin & Mahalia by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Moo!

Mitchell Goes Bowling by Hallie Durand, illustrated by Tony Fucile

Moo! by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner

My Father’s Arms Are a Boat by Stein Erik Lunde, illustrated by Øyvind Torseter

My Happy Life by Rose Lagercrantz

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson

Nino Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales

Old Mikamba Has a Farm by Rachel Isadora

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky

Parrots over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore

Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes

Robot, Go Bot! by Dana Meachen Rau, illustrated by Wook Jin Jung

Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon

Ten Orange Pumpkins by Stephen Savage

Tito Puente: Mambo King by Monica Brown, illustrated by Rafael Lopez

The Tortoise and the Hare by Jerry Pinkney

Warning: Do Not Open This Book! by Adam Lehrhaupt, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

Xander’s Panda Party by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Matt Phelan

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

2014 Kate Greenaway Medal Longlist

February 4, 2014 | Tasha

The longlist for the 2014 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal was announced today. This UK medal is awarded each year for outstanding illustration in a book for children. The shortlist will be announced on March 18th and the winner in June.

Here is the longlist: