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Because life is too short not to know about cool children’s book festivals.  Heads up, Orange County!

Behold:

Warwick Children’s Book Festival
September 26, 2015
11am-4pm, rain or shine
Free Admission; open to the general public
Railroad Avenue, Warwick (Orange County)
www.warwickchildrensbookfestival.org

Children, readers and book lovers of all ages are cordially invited to the Warwick Children’s Book Festival on Railroad Avenue in Warwick on Saturday, September 26, 11am-4pm.  Fifty prominent and distinguished authors and illustrators of books for children (pre-K-12th grade) will be on hand to meet children, talk about their work, autograph and sell their books.  Enjoy a free concert for children by The Uncle Brothers at 1pm on Railroad Green.  There will also be a craft activity for children coordinated by library volunteers.  Railroad Avenue is surrounded by charming gift shops, cafés, bakeries and candy shops.  The street will be closed to car traffic for the day to enable children and families to enjoy a leisurely and safe afternoon.

The festival is presented biennially by the Albert Wisner Public Library Foundation and sponsors Glenn P. and Susan D. Dickes, longtime benefactors of the Library.  Generous support has also been provided by library patrons Herbert and Stephanie Neuman, as well as by the Village of Warwick, the Warwick Farmers’ Market and ShopRite.  Student artists from Warwick Valley Middle School, under the direction of art teacher Mrs. Nicole Heller, also designed and created models of the heads of beloved characters from children’s books, like Ludwig Bemelman’s Madeline, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Eric Carle’s Very Hungry Caterpillar and many others.  These will be on display at the festival.

The bookseller for the event is Ye Olde Warwick Book Shoppe, a beloved Warwick institution and valued Library partner.  A portion of the Festival’s proceeds will benefit Albert Wisner Public Library.  Further details are at warwickchildrensbookfestival.org.

Because you didn’t truly think The Grolier Club would let the 150th anniversary of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland pass without a word, did you?

Alice in a World of Wonderlands: The Translations of Lewis Carroll’s Masterpiece
A Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the Grolier Club

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a world-wide phenomenon! Published in 1865, it is one of the most quoted works of fiction in the world, one of the most translated, and has never been out of print. The Grolier Club is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its publication with this groundbreaking exhibition Alice in a World of Wonderlands: The Translations of Lewis Carroll’s Masterpiece devoted to the myriad translations of Alice. There are 7,609 editions (and counting) that have been translated in 174 languages.

On view from September 16 to November 15, 2015, the exhibition represents the most extensive analysis ever done of one English-language novel rendered into so many languages. The presentation of 140 translations is based on a three- volume book of the same title and is drawn from the collection of Jon A. Lindseth, who is the exhibition curator, with loans from co-curator Alan Tannenbaum as well as the Fales Library at New York University, Princeton University Library, and The Morgan Library & Museum.

The book is famously difficult to translate because of its wordplay, nonsense, homophones, and cultural references. When Lewis Carroll was considering having Alice translated into French or German or both, he wrote on October 24, 1866 to his publisher, Macmillan, saying: “Friends here [in Oxford] seem to think that the book is untranslatable into either French or German: the puns and songs being the chief obstacle.”

This exhibition gives evidence that Carroll’s friends were wrong and to date there are 562 editions in German and 451 in French. On view are the seven languages translated during Lewis Carroll’s lifetime: from the first German and French editions in 1869, through Swedish in 1870, Italian in 1872, Danish and Dutch in 1875, Russian in 1879, to shorthand, published by Cambridge University Press in 1889.

The exhibition begins with background about the Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodson, alias Lewis Carroll and and his child muse Alice Liddell, the daughter of the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, where Dodgson graduated and then stayed on to spend the rest of his life teaching. Lewis Carroll was a letter writer, photographer, mathematician, teacher, book collector, and of course, the author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. On view are selections from his life and works, his circles, the first use of the pseudonym Lewis Carroll in the magazine “The Train,” when he was 24 years old, through to his funeral keepsake and estate sale catalogue. Also on display are the first edition of Rhymes for the Nursery (1806), with “The Star,” a poem Carroll parodied, and translations of Carroll’s books from the collection of Alice Hargreaves, the real Alice. In addition, there are Carroll’s nonsense poem “The Hunting of the Snark” and Edward Lear’s copy of Alice, the two people being the greatest nonsense writers of the Victorian period.

This is followed by works that discuss the concepts and difficulties of translation including Vladimir Nabokov’s New Republic article of 1941, “The Sins of Translations.” The sins he cites are made by many translators of Alice. In his book Experiences in Translation, Umberto Eco writes: “Every sensible and rigorous theory of language shows that a perfect translation is an impossible dream.”

The other cases are devoted to translations in the languages and dialects of Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, the Pacific, Far East and Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, Brazil, as well as Esperanto, Braille and shorthand, Disney material, a Pop-up Book, and Comic Books. A world map shows the location of each spoken language into which Alice has been translated.

A brief overview of the translations on view:

Languages of Great Britain & Ireland, Extinct Languages, English in Other Alphabets
All six Celtic languages are represented, as are dialects of Scots. Others include Jèrriais, a Norman language from the Channel Island of Jersey; the Scouse dialect of Liverpool; Sussex dialect of East Sussex County; and Cockney of London. Extinct languages include Middle English and Gothic. Alice transcribed into other alphabets (some experimental) and codes include Carroll’s own Nyctographic alphabet, for writing in the dark. The precursor to Braille, Boston Line Type, is here.

Spain, the Baltic, and the Nordic Languages
The six languages of Spain are represented; there are more editions in Spanish than in any other language, since Alice is also published in many countries of the Americas. Editions in four languages of the Baltic region and five Scandinavian languages are shown.

The Balkans and Other European Countries
The Balkans are represented by editions in ten languages, and there are eight editions in other European languages, including West Frisian, translated by Tiny Mulder, who is featured here along with the King’s Medal for Courage awarded her by the British Government for rescuing seventy-two downed Allied airmen.

Asia
The Chinese and Japanese languages comprise large numbers of published editions. Important early editions are shown, along with eight other languages of the Far East, including Uyghur, Korean, Mongolian, Lao, Malay, Vietnamese, and Thai. The Central Asian languages Tajiki and Kazakh are displayed.

The Indian Subcontinent
Represented are editions in fourteen languages of India, Pakistan, and Nepal. Nonsense writing first appeared in India long before Lewis Carroll or Edward Lear.

The Pacific Region and Africa
Six Alice translation languages in the region from Hawaii to Australia are presented, including two illustrated editions of Pitjantjatjara, an aboriginal language of Australia. Four African languages are shown.

A Selection of Other Languages
Translations from North and South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and the Near East, including Jewish languages.
A selection of translations from Irish publisher Evertype is included. They have published Alice in more than fifty languages.

Awards for the best Alice translation books
The Grand Prize goes to the Slovak edition of 2010, and the Award of Excellence to the Neapolitan edition of 2002.

TRANSLATION CONFERENCE
On October 7 and 8, 2015 a translation conference is scheduled. Speakers are from China, India, South Africa, Spain, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, and Hawaii. The conference is open to the public but tickets are required.

THREE-VOLUME BOOK
The illustrated book Alice in a World of Wonderlands: The Translations of Lewis Carroll’s Masterpiece, Jon A. Lindseth, General Editor and Alan Tannenbaum, Technical Editor, is in three volumes. Volume One includes the essays and appendices; Volume Two, the back-translations into English so that readers can see how all translators handled the same difficult portion of Chapter VII: A Mad Tea-Party; and Volume Three, the 174 checklists of editions, with more than 7,600 entries. The book is available from Oak Knoll Press, email address [email protected].

VISITING THE GROLIER CLUB
47 East 60th Street
New York, NY 10022
212-838-6690
www.grolierclub.org

More exhibition information can be found at AliceInAWorldOfWonderlands.com

Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm
Admission: Exhibitions are open to the public free of charge

FORTHCOMING EXHIBITION:
The Grolier Club Collects II
December 9, 2015 – February 6, 2016

For press information and jpegs please contact:
Susan Flamm
Public Relations Consultant to the Grolier Club
212-289-2999
[email protected]
or
Jennifer Sheehan
Exhibitions Manager
212-838-6690 x 2
[email protected]

This week I received the following piece of info:

“Mighty Media Press is hosting and moderating a Twitter chat on August 18th, with six middle grade authors to discuss how middle grade fiction can teach readers about creativity and imagination; and how it helps them confront and solve real-life struggles and conflicts.

Our hope is to bring greater attention to this reading level of fiction, and to create a discussion among the broader community. We welcome anyone and everyone to participate and contribute answers. Mighty Media Press (@Mighty Press) will be moderating and posing the questions.”

And here’s the poster:

Maybe one of the more enjoyable press releases I’ve released.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Authors and Illustrators Reveal the Origins and Pronunciations of Their Names

– See more at: http://forum.teachingbooks.net/2015/07/teachingbooks-net-author-name-pronunciation-guide-reaches-2000-audio-clips/#sthash.oAjVyX6K.dpuf

MADISON, Wis. (July 16, 2015) – Ever wondered how to pronounce a favorite author’s name? Since 2007, almost half-a-million readers have visited www.TeachingBooks.net/Hello to hear authors and illustrators say their names and recount brief stories about them.

Jon Scieszka: Poster child for this collection.

On July 16, 2015, the Author Name Pronunciation Guide—an original online digital resource created by TeachingBooks.net as a way to personalize and connect readers to authors— surpassed 2,000 recordings by prominent children’s and young adult book creators. The 2,000^th recording added to the collection is famed and beloved author/illustrator Tomie dePaola – a name often mis-pronounced. Listen to Tomie say it correctly at http://TeachingBooks.net/Tomie.

Maya Angelou: Is it Angel-ooo or Angel-aaa?

Hearing book creators introduce themselves offers unique insight into their personality and background. Through the Author Name Pronunciation Guide, students can hear 2015 Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander rhyme his name with salami (and pastrami); learn what the R and L stand for in Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine’s name; and be confident in pronouncing authors whose legacy lives on in their books, like Maya Angelou and Elie Weisel.

Yuyi Morales: Often mispronounced.

The Author Name Pronunciation Guide, listened to thousands of times each week, is a powerful way to virtually meet favorite authors and illustrators. “Once a reader has an opportunity to connect with an author or illustrator, their impression of the book is forever changed,” said Nick Glass, Founder & Executive Director of TeachingBooks.net. “We created this digital collection of name pronunciations to give readers a glimpse of the person who wrote the book, while facilitating a human connection that we hope further inspires student interest in reading. It is a joyful, beautiful association.”

Lois Ehlert: The inaugural recording.

Launched in 2003, TeachingBooks.net has been licensed in more than 37,000 schools across the United States and Canada. The Author Name Pronunciation Guide is one facet of this online, multimedia literacy service that strives to bring reading to life for all students.

For more information about TeachingBooks.net, or to sign up for a free 14-day trial, visit www.TeachingBooks.net or phone (800) 596-0710.

– See more at: http://forum.teachingbooks.net/2015/07/teachingbooks-net-author-name-pronunciation-guide-reaches-2000-audio-clips/#sthash.oAjVyX6K.dpuf

When Lisa Von Drasek does a program, you bloody well publicize that program. Here she just let me know about these multiple, awesome programs. Well worth noting, folks.

People often ask me how could I give up being at Bank Street College of Education to live in Minnesota. The answer is the Kerlan Collection. This is one of the largest  repositories of Children’s Book manuscripts, art and first editions.  We hold the papers of all of the Ambassador’s for Your Peoples Literature (if you are counting in your head that is Scieszka, Patterson, Myers, and DiCamillo) Yet not everyone has the funds to visit the University of Minnesota.  It is my goal to bring the collection out of the Cavern and share with librarians and teachers. This is just the beginning. Enjoy.

If you are going to ALA, don’t miss the opportunity too hear Melissa Sweet at the ALSC President’s program. Monday, 6/29 1:00 to 2:30

 Charlemae Rollins President’s Program — More to the Core: From the Craft of Nonfiction to the Expertise in the Stacks – MCC-2001 (W)

Awarding-winning author and illustrator Melissa Sweet and literacy advocate Judy Cheatham, VP of Literacy Services at Reading Is Fundamental, share the stage to present an informational and inspirational look at the creation of excellent nonfiction and the matchmaking of great books and kids who need them. Libraries’ role in innovative implementation of programs and services to support the Common Core Standards is a central skill and an important contribution to the communities we serve.  Even if CCS isn’t a part of your educational landscape, great nonfiction books – how they are created and ways to connect them to children and families is central to our craft and critical to our ability to collaborate with our communities. Let’s be inspired together!

http://gallery.lib.umn.edu/exhibits/show/balloons-over-broadway

THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES 2015 CHILDREN’S HISTORY BOOK PRIZE RECIPIENT: HELEN FROST FOR SALT

Award to be presented by Chancellor Fariña June 18; Families invited to meet the author June 20

NEW YORK, NY (June 16, 2015)—Dr. Louise Mirrer, President and CEO of the New-York Historical Society, announced today that author Helen Frost will receive New-York Historical’s 2015 Children’s History Book Prize for Salt (Macmillan, 2013), which tells the story of two 12-year-old boys growing up in the Indiana Territory in the midst of the War of 1812. The $10,000 prize is awarded annually to the best American history book, fiction or non-fiction, for middle readers ages 9–12. This year’s award will be presented by New York City Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña on Thursday, June 18 at 12:30 pm in the New-York Historical Society’s Robert H. Smith Auditorium.

“We are pleased to present our 2015 Children’s History Book Prize to Helen Frost,” said Dr. Mirrer. “Salt is a moving book that reflects our mission to make history accessible to children through compelling narratives that allow them to develop personal connections to historical subjects.”

Frost’s Salt skillfully captures the similarities and differences between its two protagonists’ daily lives—Anikwa, a member of the Miami tribe; and James, the son of white settlers. Each page of the book, written entirely in verse, alternates between the boys’ stories. As the natural scarcity of supplies—especially salt—intensifies, the impending war causes the white settlers to threaten and ultimately drive out the Miami tribe. Consequently, the boys’ friendship and trust sours.

“Our educators and historians praise Helen Frost for her deep historical research and extensive consultations with Myaamia individuals living today in the Fort Wayne area to develop the book’s Native American protagonist,” said Alice Stevenson, Director of the DiMenna Children’s History Museum at the New-York Historical Society. “The jury also felt it provided a great entry point for younger readers to begin to understand the American Indian experience within the context of the War of 1812.”

The New-York Historical Society annually celebrates the work of an outstanding American history children’s book writer and publisher with the Children’s History Book Prize. The recipient is selected by a jury comprised of librarians, educators, historians, and families of middle schoolers.

At the New-York Historical Society and its DiMenna Children’s History Museum, visitors are encouraged to explore history through characters and narrative. The Children’s History Book Prize is part of New-York Historical’s larger efforts on behalf of children and families, which include creative, multigenerational programs that champion a lifelong appreciation of history and literature. At the DiMenna Children’s History Museum’s popular monthly book club Reading into History, families discuss a historical fiction or non-fiction book they previously read at home, share their reactions, experience related artifacts and documents, and meet prominent historians and authors.  Families are invited to join the next book wrap on Saturday, June 20 at 3 pm, which will feature a special Q&A with Helen Frost and fascinating artifacts from the War of 1812 pulled from New-York Historical’s collections.

About the Author

Printz Honor author Helen Frost was born in 1949 in Brookings, South Dakota, the fifth of ten children. She graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Elementary Education and a concentration in English, and received her Master’s degree in English from Indiana University in 1994. Throughout her career, writing and teaching have been interwoven threads. Frost has published poetry, children’s books, anthologies, and a play, as well as a book about teaching writing; and has taught writing at all levels, from pre-school through university. She is the recipient of a 2009 National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship.

About the New-York Historical Society

The New-York Historical Society, one of America’s pre-eminent cultural institutions, is dedicated to fostering research and presenting history and art exhibitions and public programs that reveal the dynamism of history and its influence on the world of today. Founded in 1804, New-York Historical has a mission to explore the richly layered history of New York City and State and the country, and to serve as a national forum for the discussion of issues surrounding the making and meaning of history.

About the DiMenna Children’s History Museum

The DiMenna Children’s History Museum at the New-York Historical Society presents 350 years of New York and American history through character-based pavilions, interactive exhibits and digital games, and the Barbara K. Lipman Children’s History Library. The DiMenna Children’s History Museum encourages families to explore history together through permanent installations and a wide range of family learning programs for toddlers, children, and preteens.

Press Contacts

Timothy Wroten

[email protected]

212-485-3400 x326

Ines Aslan

[email protected]

212-485-9263

As I have in the past, I’ll be speaking at the Highlights Foundation roundabout July 16th, and it really is just the nicest place to be.  With that in mind, here’s a cute little infographic the folks made about their summer camp.  Come by, come by!

The Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Awards Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the 12th biennial Awards.  The awards will be presented in a ceremony on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at the White Plains (New York) Public Library. The program is open to the public.

The Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Award was established in 1990 by librarians, storytellers and educators in Westchester County, New York, to honor Anne Izard, an extraordinary librarian, storyteller, and Children’s Services Consultant in the Westchester County Library System. The Award seeks to bring the riches of storytelling to greater public awareness by highlighting and promoting distinguished books on storytelling published for children and adults. Folklore, fiction, biography and historical stories must be entirely successful without consideration of graphic elements. Books which enrich a storyteller’s understanding of story, folk traditions, aesthetics, and methods of storytelling are also eligible. Books considered for the Twelfth Award were original material, reprints, or new English translations published in the United States between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014.

Recipients of the 12th Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Awards are:

Beyond the Briar Patch : Affrilachian Folktales, Food and Folklore by Lyn Ford [Parkhurst Brothers 2014]

The Boy Who Loved Math by Deborah Heiligman [Roaring Brook Press 2013]

Every Day a Holiday: A Storyteller’s Memoir by Elizabeth Ellis [Parkhurst Brothers 2014]

The Golden Age of Folk & Fairy Tales: From the Brothers Grimm to Andrew Lang by Jack Zipes [Hackett Publishing 2013]

The Grudge Keeper by Mara Rockliff  [Peachtree Publishers 2014]

The King of Little Things by Bil Lepp [Peachtree Publishers  2013]

Mysterious Traveler by Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham [Candlewick Press 2013]

Ol’ Clip Clop: A Ghost Story by Patricia C. McKissack [Holiday House 2013]

Once Upon a Time: A Short History of Fairy Tale by Marina Warner [Oxford University Press 2014]

Story by Story: Creating a Student Storytelling Troupe… by Karen Chace [Parkhurst Brothers 2014]

Teaching with Story by Margaret Read MacDonald, Jennifer MacDonald Whitman and Nathaniel Forest Whitman [August House 2014]

Whiskers, Tails & Wings: Animal Folktales from Mexico by Judy Goldman [Charlesbridge 2013]

You Never Heard of Willie Mays?! by Jonah Winter [Schwartz & Wade Books 2013]

For more information, please contact Tata Canuelas, Chair, at [email protected],  or  Ellen Tannenbaum, Co-Chair, at [email protected] .

So you think you love Judy Blume?  Prove it.  As you know, each and every year The American Booksellers for Free Expression has a book art auction.  It’s where people go to get really really good stuff.  And this year, since the ABFE is celebrating Judy Blume, they’re not only looking for artists willing to do something in her honor but also people willing to buy those selfsame pieces.

Think about it.  You probably know a die-hard Judy Blume fan already.  Now imagine you give that person some awesome art that celebrates her.  I honestly can’t think of a present that would be cooler than that.

Here is the official press release thingy.  And artists, don’t be shy.  If you have something in mind you just get on that thing.  Details below:

If you’re going to BEA in NYC this year, please join The American Booksellers for Free Expression(ABFE) on May 26th from 5:30 to 7:30 at The Grand Hyatt Hotel to celebrate children’s book art with Judy Blume and leading artists! More than 100 pieces of original art by luminaries such as Rosemary Wells, Jon Agee, LeUyen Pham and Chris Raschka will be auctioned to support the free speech rights of kids. This year ABFE is honoring Judy Blume for her anti-censorship work and is asking artists to create a piece inspired by one of her books. Artists interested in donating art should email [email protected] for more information.

Howdy, folks.  You may recall that in the past I’ve mentioned that there’s a lovely 21st Century Children’s Nonfiction Conference coming to NYC this June.  Well, for those of you with professional development credits to accrue, guess what?  You can get one by attending.  See below for more details:

EDUCATOR LITERACY PROGRAM

presented by

21st Century Children’s Nonfiction Conference™

Teaching Literacy Through Nonfiction

Sunday, June 14, 2015 • Manhattan College, NYC • Smith Hall

8:30 AM – 2:30 PM

1 CEU Professional Development Credit from Shippensburg University

The program includes these presentations:

-          Dr. Juliana Texley,  President of National Science Teachers Association, on …

The NSTA’s Online,Searchable Database of 10,000 Teacher-reviewed Books and the NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book List

-          Dr. Myra Zarnowski and Dr. Susan Turkel, Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Queens College, on …

Creating a Science Curriculum that Incorporates Nonfiction Literature and Standards

-          Dr. Christine Royce, Teacher Education Department, Shippensburg University, on …

Teaching Science Through Nonfiction Trade Books

-          The United Federation of Teachers Teacher Center /Library of Congress on …

Teaching with Primary Sources: Connecting the Library of Congress Resources to the Common Core and Other Standards

PLUS … Continental breakfast, lunch, author signings, publisher exhibits, and Continuing Education Credit

Registration and details are at:  http://teachers.21cnfc.com/

Sally Isaacs

Co-chair, 21st Century Children’s Nonfiction Conference

www.21CNFC.com

Here in New York there’s a Teen Authors Festival that makes the rounds once a year. Inspired by David Levithan’s style, a Kids Author Carnival was created. It’s now in its second year. Check out that line-up!

KIDS AUTHOR CARNIVAL 2015

The 2nd annual Kids Author Carnival will take place at the Jefferson Market branch of the New York Public Library on Saturday, May 30, 2015. The event begins at 6:00 pm and lasts until 8:30 pm. Doors open at 5:30pm.

Last year, the inaugural Kids Author Carnival (KAC) at the Jefferson Market Library enjoyed great success. The event featured thirty-eight children’s authors, and over 200 readers attended—the majority of them kids in elementary and middle school.

The goal of KAC organizers—founder Claire Legrand, Lauren Magaziner, and Heidi Schulz, all authors themselves—has always been to create an event geared toward the interests and attention spans of young readers. Instead of typical, hour-long Q&A panels, the KAC offers several 20-minute stations through which children rotate in groups. The stations include book-themed games like Charades and Pictionary, as well as miniature writing workshops. These stations give kids a chance to interact with their favorite authors in a fun, informal setting.

This year, the KAC will showcase thirty-six incredible middle grade authors, including Aaron Starmer (The Riverman), J. A. White (The Thickety), Kirsten Hubbard (Watch the Sky), and Sage Blackwood (the Jinx trilogy).

The event will begin at 6:00pm and last until 8:30pm, with a mass signing concluding the event. Beloved independent bookseller Books of Wonder will once again handle the book sales.

Below is a full list of the KAC 2015 authors:

Patrik Henry Bass

Rebecca Behrens

Sage Blackwood

Jessica Burkhart

Isaiah Campbell

Angela Cervantes

Clay McLeod Chapman

Matthew Cody

MarcyKate Connolly

Elisabeth Dahl

Tara Dairman

Jen Swann Downey

Paul Durham

Laura Marx Fitzgerald

Paula J. Freedman

David Fulk

Andrew Harwell

Veera Hiranandani

Kirsten Hubbard

M.P. Kozlowsky

Claire Legrand

Dana Alison Levy

Matt London

Lauren Magaziner

Jen Malone

Jeff Miller

Gail Nall

Ammi-Joan Paquette

Adriana Brad Schanen

Heidi Schulz

Michelle Schusterman

Tricia Springstubb

Aaron Starmer

Mary G. Thompson

Danette Vigilante

J.A. White

My agent has just found a new home. And since he’s a stellar feller, here are the details of the matter.

LITERARY AGENT STEPHEN BARBARA JOINS INKWELL MANAGEMENT

After six years at Foundry Literary + Media, literary agent Stephen Barbara will join InkWell Management, effective January 5th, 2015. Barbara, who was instrumental in building Foundry’s books for young readers presence, will be followed by all fifty of his clients.

His list of authors includes New York Times bestseller Lauren Oliver, Newbery Medal winner Laura Amy Schlitz, National Book Award nominee Lisa Graff, Indie bestseller Lynne Jonell, Edgar Award and Emmy winner Jack Ferraiolo, #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Ricardo Cortes, international bestseller Todd Strasser, President of the Board of Directors of the Shirley Jackson Awards Paul Tremblay, and Sam Munson, whose novel The November Criminals is in development, with Chloe Moretz attached to star and Sacha Gervasi attached to direct the film adaptation. Barbara also represents young novelists such as Robert L. Anderson, Lexa Hillyer, Chelsey Philpot, Jess Rothenberg, and Leila Sales, in addition to the companies Paper Lantern Lit and The Story Pirates.

Richard Pine, who co-founded InkWell along with Kimberly Witherspoon and Michael Carlisle ten years ago, said of the move, “We welcome Stephen and his amazing clients to InkWell with great joy and excitement and look forward to helping him and them experience the kind of success they imagine in their wildest dreams.”

Commenting on the change, Barbara said: “I look forward to joining the superb InkWell team. It’s an agency I’ve long admired, and I couldn’t miss the chance to work with such a world-class group of authors’ representatives.”

Free Lecture
An Evening with Brian Floca
Saturday, December 6, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Bonnie J. Sacerdote Lecture Hall, Uris Center for Education, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Join award-winning author and illustrator Brian Floca, this year’s recipient of the prestigious Randolph Caldecott Medal for Locomotive, for a presentation about his creative journey, his work in various formats, and exciting upcoming projects. Meet the artist and explore the Museum until it closes at 9:00 p.m.

Brian Floca is the author and illustrator of picture books Locomotive, Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11, Lightship, The Racecar Alphabet, and Five Trucks. He has illustrated the Poppy Stories series by Avi; Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan; Kate Messner’s Marty McGuire novels; and Lynne Cox’s just published Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas. In addition to the Randolph Caldecott Medal, his books have received four Robert F. Sibert Honor awards, an Orbis Pictus Award, an Orbis Pictus Honor, a silver medal from the Society of Illustrators, and have twice been selected for The New York Times‘ annual 10 Best Illustrated Books list. Brian was born and raised in Temple, Texas. He graduated from Brown University and received his MFA from the School of Visual Arts. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Locomotive will be available for purchase in the Uris Center Met Store. Mr. Floca will be signing books after the presentation.

This event is free with Museum admission, but registration is required. Please RSVP. Preregistration is not required for the book-signing portion of this program.

Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Direct any questions to [email protected].

This event is made possible by the Friends of Watson Library at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                  

LIEV SCHREIBER, DAVID HYDE PIERCE, JANE CURTIN, MICHAEL POTTS AND MORE

CELEBRATE THE BELOVED AUTHOR OF CHARLOTTE’S WEB WITH READINGS AND MUSIC  

Symphony Space, First Book – Manhattan and HarperCollins Publishers announce

A star-studded evening honoring E.B. White on November 16, 2014   

October 2, 2014 NEW YORK, N.Y.— After the success of last year’s sold-out event featuring Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan performing excerpts from Roald Dahl’s classics, Symphony Space and First Book – Manhattan team up once again.  This time, the annual event will showcase readings by the New Yorker writer and treasured children’s novelist E.B. White.

At Terrific Tails: A Celebration of E.B. White, Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan), Tony Award-winner David Hyde Pierce (Frasier), Jane Curtin (Saturday Night Live, Unforgettable), and Michael Potts (True Detective, The Wire) will take the stage with other Broadway and Hollywood actors to perform the work of the cherished writer whose humorous and poignant stories and poetry include Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little and Trumpet of the Swan.  The evening will also include special guest appearances from White’s granddaughter Martha White and his stepson Roger Angell (author and former editor of The New Yorker). Barbershop quartet Scollay Square will perform songs from the film version of Charlotte’s Web. In addition, bestselling author of The Lunch Lady series, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, will return to host the event.  Proceeds will benefit First Book – Manhattan www.firstbook.org/manhattan

E. B. White (1899 – 1985), the author of such beloved classics as Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan, was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He graduated from Cornell University in 1921 and joined the staff of The New Yorker magazine, then in its infancy. He died on October 1, 1985.

Mr. White is also the author of One Man’s Meat, The Second Tree from the Corner, and This Is New York. In addition, he co-authored the English language style guide, The Elements of Style, which is commonly known as “Strunk & White.” He won countless awards, including the 1971 National Medal for Literature and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, which commended him for making a “substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.”

During his lifetime, many young readers asked Mr. White if his stories were true. In a letter to his fans, he answered, “No, they are imaginary tales . . . But real life is only one kind of life—there is also the life of the imagination.”

Serving the New York City metro area, First Book – Manhattan distributes thousands of brand new books to disadvantaged children and the programs that serve them. Founded in 2011, First Book’s local Manhattan Advisory Board has granted more than 7,000 books throughout the community and expects this December event to be their most successful fundraiser to date.

Each year, First Book – Manhattan distributes thousands of brand new books to disadvantaged children and the programs that serve them throughout the New York City metro area. Founded in 2011, First Book’s local Manhattan Chapter has granted more than 25,000 books to kids in need and looks forward to hosting its most successful fundraiser to date on November 16.

“The bar we set for our signature event last year was a high one to leap over, but the production we have planned this time around will surpass the expectations of anyone who enjoyed last year’s show,” said Sean Gallagher, chair of First Book – Manhattan. “Ultimately, our goal is to provide as many books as possible to the underserved children in our community. We want everyone who comes to our winter benefit to have a fantastic time, and to be inspired to support the kids in this community with action.”

Event Details

“Terrific Tails: A Celebration of E.B. White”

When: Sunday, November 16 at 5pm

Where: Symphony Space Peter Jay Sharp Theatre

Tickets: $25 each; available on-line or at the box office by calling 212-864-5400

http://www.symphonyspace.org/event/8497/Family-Literature/thalia-kids-book-club-terrific-tails-a-celebration-of-eb-white

From our good fellow in the field, Rocco Staino:

Hello,

As chair of the ALA/CBC committee I am working with United for Libraries and the Children’s Book Council on an initiative for Children’s Book Week.  It is our hope that during Children’s Book Week in 2015 that with your help United for Libraries can dedicate throughout the country at least 7 Literary Landmarks that are connected with a children’s book or author.

It would be great if you or your state organization would take the lead in nominating a possible Literary Landmark in your State.  You may also want to work with your state’s Center for the Book.

Here are some helpful links that give you more information on Literary Landmarks.

http://www.ala.org/united/products_services/literarylandmarks

Only 33 States have Literary Landmarks.  Check to see if you state has at least one. If it doesn’t this is a great time to get one.

http://www.ala.org/united/products_services/literarylandmarks/landmarksbystate/landmarksbystate

I have worked in having several sites designated as Literary Landmarks.  Most recently we dedicated The Walt Whitman Birthplace a Literary Landmark.  At the event we had a Congressman, State Senators and members of the NYS Assembly including the chair of the Library Committee.  I am happy to say that the Landmark was cosponsored by Suffolk County Library Association, Suffolk School Library Media Association and the Lambda Literary Foundation.

Attached is a photo of the Librarians in attendance.

Feel free to contact me of Sally Gardner Reed or Jillian Kalonick (cc’d in this email)  if you have any questions.

Best,
Rocco Staino
Chair
ALA/CBC Committee
@roccoa

My 3-year-old daughter is currently an Hervé Tullet fan, but not in the sense you might think.  It’s not Press Here that strikes her fancy (though she enjoys it well enough) but his board books with Phaidon.  Who knew?  Now there’s an exhibit up over in Brooklyn I need to take her to.

Creating Children’s Books: Collaboration and Change
A Symposium in Honor of William Steig and Atha Tehon

http://www.library.upenn.edu/exhibits/childrensbooks_symposium.html

Creating Children’s Books: Collaboration and Change honors the contributions of William Steig and Atha Tehon to the world of children’s literature during late-twentieth and early-twenty-first centuries.

The symposium will explore the creation of children’s books from both the writer/illustrator and designer/publisher perspectives, looking at the role of collaboration in the process and considering the future of children’s books from various perspectives, including that of diversity.

Atha Tehon worked closely with the renowned editor and publisher Phyllis Fogelman, both of whom championed the work of African-American and Native American authors and illustrators, among others. The symposium is sponsored by the Muriel Pfaelzer Bodek Fund for Library Public Events of the University of Pennsylvania Libraries with additional funding from the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.

The symposium takes place in conjunction with two fall exhibitions in the University of Pennsylvania Libraries:

As the Ink Flows: Works from the Pen of William Steig explores the life and career of the artist, cartoonist, and children’s book author/illustrator William Steig. The exhibition highlights materials from the recent gift of over 2,500 original drawings, notebooks and scrapbooks, correspondence, books, posters, and other materials made by Jeanne Steig, his widow, to the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, supplemented with loans from his family.

The School of Atha: Collaboration in the Making of Children’s Books celebrates the life and work of Atha Tehon, children’s book designer and longstanding Art Director for Dial Books for Young Readers.

For questions and queries, contact Lynne Farrington, Curator of Printed Books, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts ([email protected]; 215-746-5828).
Free and open to the public (please show photo ID at entrance)

Class of 1978 Pavilion, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Van Pelt Dietrich Library Center, sixth floor
3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206

The New Victory Theater presents
Tall Stories’
The Snail and the Whale

Beloved Bedtime Story Hits Stage for Limited Engagement

October 18 – 19, 2014

New York, NY (September 9, 2014) – A tiny snail’s big adventure blazes a trail to the Big Apple when London’s Tall Stories (The Gruffalo, New Vic 2004; Snow White New Vic 2003) collaborates with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler on the stage adaptation of the award-winning story The Snail and the Whale (Blue Peter Book Award, 2005). Created for ages four to seven, The Snail and the Whale runs at The New Victory Theater, New York’s premier performing arts venue for kids and families, for a limited engagement from October 18-19, 2014.

Seen through the eyes of an intrepid young girl and her seafaring father, The Snail and the Whale captures the amazing journey of a small snail who travels the world by hitching a ride on the tail of a humpback whale. Together they spy penguins on icebergs, find fiery volcanoes and dive down to deep water caves, discovering that even little friends can be big heroes. Combining storytelling, live music and sound effects from a viola player on stage, the production incorporates every line from the original book, a specialty of Tall Stories’ adaptations.

“This story uses the characteristics and personalities of the animals in the book to shape the characters on stage,” says Toby Mitchell, director of The Snail and the Whale. “The little girl is adventurous and risk-taking like the snail, and the father is solid and brave, just like the whale,” he continues.

This stage adaptation of The Snail and the Whale was inspired by the work of UK’s Storybook Soldiers, an organization that helps British military personnel abroad record bedtime stories for their children back home. It was discovered that one of the soldiers’ favorite books to record was The Snail and the Whale, and Tall Stories saw a parallel between the story’s protagonist and a child wanting to join a parent aboard a navy vessel. To devise the show, they worked with Storybook Soldiers’ founders Kirsty Alderson and Rosemary Meeke and listened to various soldiers’ recordings of this epic tale.

The Snail and the Whale stars Patrick Bridgman as the Whale/Dad, Lucy Grace as the Snail/Daughter and Rosalind Steele as the Viola Player/Narrator. The show’s creative team includes Toby Mitchell, director; Olivia Jacobs, creative producer; Isla Shaw, set designer; James Whiteside, lighting designer; Richard Heacock, composer; and Pete Foster, company stage manager.

Watch a trailer of Tall Stories’ The Snail and the Whale on the New Victory website.

The Snail and the Whale is supported, in part, by a Presenter’s Grant from The Jim Henson Foundation.

Performance Schedule: 4 performances

Saturday         10/18                11am and 3pm

Sunday           10/19                11am and 3pm

The Snail and the Whale has a running time of 55 minutes and is recommended for everyone ages 4 through 7.

General Ticket Information

Tickets for The Snail and the Whale at The New Victory Theater (209 West 42^nd Street) are $17 for Members and $25 for full price tickets. Theatergoers who buy tickets to three or more New Victoryshows qualify for free Membership, with benefits including up to 35-percent savings on tickets all season long, invitations to special events and unlimited free ticket exchanges. Purchase tickets online or by phone at 646-223-3010. Beginning September 2, the New Victory box office (209 West 42nd Street) is open Sunday and Monday from 11am-5pm and Tuesday through Saturday from 12pm-7pm. For more information, visit the New Victory website.

About Tall Stories

Tall Stories is a not-for-profit theater company that creates entertaining and imaginative performances for audiences of all ages. The company is a registered charity which tours the UK and the world. Since 1997, when Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell founded the company, Tall Stories has toured as far afield as Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Dubai, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore and the U.S. The Gruffalo has been released on DVD by the Really Useful Group and a picture book has been published based on the Tall Stories show The Snow Dragon.

About The New Victory Theater

The New Victory Theater introduces extraordinary performing artists from around the world to extraordinary audiences in New York City, bringing kids to the arts and arts to kids. Created in 1995 for young New Yorkers, their families and schoolmates, The New Victory Theater presents a diverse season of international companies at low ticket prices year after year. Through the theater’s award-winning education programs, The New Victory continues to provide access to schools and communities of New York City who seek to experience and engage with the work on our stages, often for the very first time. The Off-Broadway theater’s contributions to the cultural landscape of the city were celebrated by the prestigious New York critics’ organization, The Drama Desk, which presented The New Victory Theater with a 2012 Special Award for “providing enchanting, sophisticated children’s theater that appeals to the child in all of us, and for nurturing a love of theater in young people.”

Folks, you know me. Half the time I forget to even mention these swell little events that happen, absolutely free I might add, in my library.  But this Saturday’s panel . . . well, it’s special.  It’s sort of a once in a lifetime panel.  You’re not going to see this kind of thing pretty much anywhere else.  So if you’re in the area in any way . . .

New York Public Library’s Children’s Literary Salon is pleased to announce our event on Saturday, October 4th at 2:00 p.m.

It’s the blatant self-promotion game!  Starring me!  Forgive me, folks, but a gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do.  Don’t worry.  I’ve at least one post lined up for later this week that will involve children’s books that are surprisingly racist (fun!).  Until then, I’d be honored if you were so good as to join me this Saturday:

What: A book signing at Bank Street Bookstore (610 W. 112th St., NY, NY) for Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Children’s Literature.

When: Saturday, September 27th at 2:00 p.m.

Why: Because we like you. M-O-U-S-E.

Three creative minds collaborated to write this insider tell-all about the mischievous boys and girls who’ve written some of your favorite contemporary children’s books. Bank Street Bookstore hosts one of them, Betsy Bird, on Saturday, September 27 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss one of the fall season’s widely anticipated releases.

Wild Things, written by leading kids’ lit bloggers Bird, Julie Danielson and Peter Sieruta, goes behind the scenes with anecdotes and backstories highlighting some of the most beloved children’s book authors and illustrators in the post-Harry Potter children’s publishing world. Get the inside story on some of the most controversial children’s authors working today.

Be sure to go here for more info.

COLUMBUS CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL RETURNS SEPTEMBER 20

Authors, Illustrators and More to be Featured at Free Outdoor Event at the Columbus Public Library

(Columbus, GA) – The long-awaited Second Annual Columbus Children’s Book Festival returns to the grounds of the Columbus Public Library on Macon Road on Saturday, September 20^th.

The event is free and open to the public.

The first event, held in 2013, brought thousands to the Library on a rain-soaked day to see authors such as R. L. Stine and Jane O’Connor.

This year’s Festival promises to be even bigger with well-known authors, illustrators and entertainers coming to town for free presentations and autograph sessions that are designed for the whole family. Books will be for sale, as will food, beverages and snacks.

Complete event information, including author and performer schedules can be found on the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries’ website www.cvlga.org. Interested parties may also contact the Library at 706-243-2669.

FEATURED AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS (detailed biographies at the end of this release)

The featured authors and illustrators represent some of the most famous and most highly-regarded talent working in the field of children’s literature and entertainment, including:

·         Famed Muppeteer Caroll Spinney who has portrayed Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch in over 4,000 episodes of Sesame Street.

·         Christopher Paul Curtis, the iconic author of the young adult classic The Watson’s Go To Birmingham – 1963 and other novels.

·         Alyssa Satin Capucilli, creator of everybody’s favorite puppy Biscuit and author of over 100 books for children.

·         Acclaimed international storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy, author of The Library Dragon and Martina the Beautiful Cockroach.

·         Michael P. White, award-winning artist and illustrator of The Library Dragon and Harriet’s Horrible Hair Day.

·         Galactic Quest Comic Books featuring Sonic the Hedgehog artist Tracey Yardley and Herocats creators Kyle Puttkammer and Marcus Williams.

MEET AND GREET WITH THOMAS & FRIENDS^TM

A very special Meet & Greet will take place when Thomas & Friends™ pull into the station. Bring your friends and family, and don’t miss the opportunity to meet Everyone’s favorite No. 1 blue engine, and get your photo taken! Be sure to bring your camera to capture the special day.

ENTERTAINMENT AND OTHER EVENTS

Joining the Festivities will be entertainers such as Adam the Juggler, All Hands Productions Puppet Theatre, storyteller Mama Koku and Molly the Clown. Jubilee Farms Petting Zoo will be in operation onsite from 10:30am-12:30pm. There will also be character greetings from Biscuit, Where the Wild Things Are Monster, Skippyjon Jones and The Very Hungry Caterpillar throughout the day.

Additional activities during the event include Craft-O-Mania, a series of craft projects for children inspired by the Festival authors, and the Simple Steps Garden, an area of play, reading and crafts for babies, toddlers and the pre-schoolers.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The Festival will run from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday, September 20^th. The event will happen rain or shine.

The Festival kicks off with an opening ceremony at 10:45am awarding area students who participated in the annual Children’s Book Festival Young Writers Contest.

The author’s appearances will be as follows. All authors will appear in the Festival Main Event Tent located on the front lawn of the Library, with autograph sessions immediately following their presentations:

11:00am          CAROLL SPINNEY

12noon            ALYSSA SATIN CAPUCILLI

1:00pm            CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS

2:00pm            CARMEN AGRA DEEDY

3:00pm            MICHAEL P. WHITE

Thomas and Friends^TM will be greeting fans at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm in the Library Auditorium.

Galactic Quest Comics will have their own tent and will be meeting fans throughout the day.

FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES BOOKSTORE

One of the Libraries’ support groups, The Muscogee County Friends of Libraries, will be running the Festival Bookstore during the event. Books from all of the featured authors, plus additional works, will be on sale. This will be a prime opportunity to pick up books to be autographed by your favorite author. The Store will accept cash and Visa, MasterCard and Discover credit cards.

SPONSORS FOR THE EVENT

A wide range of community organizations have agreed to sponsor the event this year, including:

The Muscogee County Library Foundation, Aflac, the Muscogee County Friends of Libraries, Pratt & Whitney, The Housing Authority of Columbus, GA, Publix Supermarket Charities, the Hughston Clinic, Muscogee Moms, WRBL News 3, theColumbus Ledger-Enquirer, Sunny 100, CBS Outdoor, and the Speakeasy and Twelfth Street Deli.

FEATURED AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES

CAROLL SPINNEY - Named a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress, Big Bird has captivated children around the world for more than 30 years. A puppeteer since he was eight years old, Caroll Spinney has been the man inside the bird from the beginning. Also playing Oscar the Grouch, his characters have been seen on more than 4,000 shows in 148 countries.

Spinney is the author of The Wisdom of Big Bird (And the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from a Life in Feathers, an inspirational memoir in which he shares the wisdom that he has gleaned over the years from his work creating and portraying one of the world’s most beloved characters. In an honest and endearing tone, Spinney vividly recalls a life enriched by pursuing and attaining his childhood dream.

Starting with a show in his neighborhood barn, for which he charged two cents admission, Spinney set out to be “a puppeteer on the best kids’ show in the world.” After attending art school in Boston, he launched his television career in Las Vegas, where he created a show titled Rascal Rabbit in 1955. Returning to Boston, he first joined the Judy and Goggle Show as a puppeteer, and then moved over to The Bozo Show where he stayed for ten years.

Since achieving worldwide renown on Sesame Street, Spinney has made guest appearances on many other television shows, always as Big Bird and Oscar. He has performed in specials with Julie Andrews and Bob Hope, starred in his own 90-minute special, Big Bird in China, in 1982 and made appearances in the second and third Night of 100 Stars, Broadway’s televised tribute and fundraiser for fellow thespians. Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird marked Spinney’s motion picture debut in a starring role.

Spinney has earned four Emmy Awards, two Gold Records, and two Grammy Awards. Sesame Street has won numerous awards for its groundbreaking work.

CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS - The second oldest of five siblings, Christopher was born and raised in Flint, Michigan which has been used as a prominent setting in several stories including The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 and Bucking the Sarge. Graduating from Flint Southwestern High School, Christopher immediately did two things: 1) enrolled at Flint’s campus of the University of Michigan and 2) applied for a job at Fisher Body Plant No. 1, a General Motors assembly facility. This was extremely typical for many young adults. Most blue-collar jobs, particularly in the “Jungle” where Christopher worked, were often heavy-duty, hard-working tasks, requiring minimal educational skills at best. The pay and benefits couldn’t be beat, so for high school graduates that wanted a significant income right out of school, General Motors was the ticket.

Of all the various departments one could work, the “Jungle” was easily one of the worst. The Jungle was where the manufacturing process began, various sizes and shapes of metal being welded together at sequential work stations that eventually became the body frame of the automobile.

Once the car’s basic skeletal frame was established, one of the first things to get added were the doors. This was Christopher’s work station. During the 70s, Fisher Body produced three models – the Electra 225 (also known as a “deuce and a quarter”), LaSabre and Riveria. Because the doors were so big and quite heavy, the company set the job up for two men to alternate installing the doors on every other car coming down the assembly line. This went on each night for eight or more hours, about 60 cars per hour.

Christopher and his coworker decided that instead of working every other car, they would work every 30 minutes. This allowed Christopher time to do other things — besides reading novels (one of his great passions), he began writing to overcome the boredom. Some of the writings were letters; others were sketches of stories that, like his character Bud Caldwell (Bud, Not Buddy), began the colorful sojourn which led him to become one of America’s leading authors of children’s literature.

Christopher currently lives in Detroit, Michigan and in his free time still enjoys reading, playing basketball and collecting music.

ALYSSA SATIN CAPUCILLI - Alyssa Satin Capucilli is the imaginative author of books for both pre-schoolers and beginning readers. Her creations include lift-the-flap books for toddlers that feature gentle, lovable characters and easily identifiable objects as well as a series of beginning readers starring Biscuit, a rambunctious golden-haired puppy whose adventures are brought to life by illustrator Pat Schories.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1957, Capucilli developed an early love of books, and looked forward to weekly trips to the library with her mother and sisters. “I could hardly wait to choose a special book from all of the books that lined the shelves,” she once recalled to Something about the Author (SATA ). “As a matter of fact, my sisters and I would often play library at home! We would take turns pretending to be the librarian, and we would recommend books to each other, check them out, and tell each other to ‘SSSSHHH!’” Among Capucilli’s favorite authors were Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, and Beverly Cleary, whose stories about Henry and his dog, Ribsy, she loved. “The funny thing was, although I loved to imagine myself as different characters in books,” Capucilli added, “I never imagined that the authors who created them were real people!”

Capucilli’s first published book was Peekaboo Bunny, a lift-the-flap book published in 1994. Illustrated by Mary Melcher, the book helps small children navigate in a garden, and it was popular enough to prompt a sequel, Peekaboo Bunny Friends in the Snow.

Capucilli introduced a new character to young readers in Biscuit. A small, soft-eared, lovable puppy the color of freshly baked, golden biscuits, Capucilli’s Biscuit bounds into the life of a young girl, quickly becoming her best friend as she interprets his “Woof, Woof” to mean many things. From wanting a small snack before bedtime to being tucked in snugly under layers of blankets, the activities of Biscuit and his young owner are depicted in “oodles of contextual clues,” easy-to-read sentences, and “repetitive word and phrases,” according to School Library Journal reviewer Gale W. Sherman. “I find that inspiration for stories and characters comes from so many places: our memories, our family, our friends, our pets, our own observations and our own wonderings,” Capucilli explained. “I first got the idea to write about … Biscuit after watching my daughter dog-sit a neighbor’s huge golden retriever! But deep inside, I think that the ‘Biscuit’ stories are really about that puppy I always imagined I would someday have, from when I was a young girl, reading and dreaming.”

The Biscuit books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies in many formats throughout the world. She is also the author of dozens of other books, including the popular Katy Duck series.

CARMEN AGRA DEEDY - Carmen Agra Deedy has been writing for children for over two decades. Born in Havana, Cuba, she came to the U.S. as a refugee in 1964. She grew up in Decatur, Georgia, where she lives today.

Deedy began writing as a young mother and storyteller whose NPR commentaries on All Things Considered were collected and released under the title, Growing Up Cuban In Decatur, Georgia. The pithy collection of twelve stories soon garnered awards, among them a 1995 Publishers Weekly Best Audio (Adult Storytelling) and a 1996 Parents’ Choice Gold Award.

Her children’s books have won numerous awards.

The Library Dragon received various children’s state book awards and has sold near half a million copies. In 2003 the book was her home state’s choice to represent Georgia at the Library of Congress’s National Book Festival.

The Yellow Star was the recipient of the 2001 Jane Addams Peace Association Book Award (Honor), presented to Ms. Deedy at the United Nations by Mrs. Kofi Annan.  It also received the 2001 Christopher Award, the 2000 Parent’s Choice Gold Award, the 2001 Bologna Ragazzi Award (for best international children’s book), the 2002 WOW Award (National Literary Association of England), among other notable awards and honors. It has been translated to over a dozen languages.

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach was presented with the 2008 Pura Belpre Honor Award, the 2008 NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Book Award, the 2008 Best Children’s Books of the Year (Bank Street College of Education), the 2008 International Latino Book Award, the Irma Simonton and James H. Black Award (Honor), the 2008 E.B White Award (Nominee), and the 2009 ALA Odyssey Audio Award (Honor), among others.

One of Deedy’s more recent children’s books, 14 Cows for America, is based on an astonishing gift Americans received from a Maasai village in Kenya, following the events of 9/11. The book was released in September of 2009 and is a New York Times Bestseller. The Wall Street Journal described it as a “. . . moving and dramatically illustrated picture book.”

Deedy is now expanding into the world of chapter books with The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale. This is a story of deception, intrigue, and derring-do that reveals the unlikely alliance between a cheese-loving cat and the Cheshire Cheese inn’s mice in Victorian England.

Deedy has spent the past twenty years writing and telling stories. She has been an invited speaker at venues as varied as The American Library Association, Refugees International, The International Reading Association, Columbia University, The Smithsonian Institute, TED, The National Book Festival, and the Kennedy Center.

MICHAEL P. WHITE - Michael was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He received his Associate of Arts degree from The Art Institute of Atlanta. Michael spent many years doing local and regional art festivals before illustrating his first book. His artwork has been featured in many galleries including a show highlighting his book illustrations at the Hudgens Center for the Arts. He has illustrated four children’s books: The Library Dragon (winner of the 1997 Flicker Tale Children’s Book Award, an Honor Book for the 1997-1998 Florida Reading Association Children’s Book Award) and its sequel The Return of the Library Dragon, both by Festival author Carmen Agra Deedy; The Secret of Old Zeb (winner of an Award of Merit from the Southeastern Library Association) with Carmen Agra Deedy; and Harriett’s Horrible Hair Day with Dawn Lesley Stewart.

Michael loves having his dream job — working with students of all ages on how one idea can create a story. Michael lives in Atlanta with his wife, Traci, his daughter, the lovely and talented, Madeline; and five dogs.

Believe it or not, this year marks the 50th Anniversary of Roald Dahl’s beloved CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. This September, Penguin is celebrating with a week long Skype Tour of the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre!

On the Skype tour:
•       The Roald Dahl Museum’s Education Manager will lead your group around
the Museum virtually
•       Kids will get a look inside Roald Dahl’s real Writing Hut, featuring
his famous chair and the unusual objects he kept on his desk
•       Experience the world of Dahl and the inspiration behind his wonderful
stories
•       Participate in a Q&A with the Education Manager

Skype opportunities are available the week of Monday, September 29 – Friday, October 3, 2014 between 9:30am EST and 3:00pm EST/8:30am CST and 2:00pm CST/7:30am MST and 1:00pm MST/6:30am PST and 12:00pm PST.

If you are interested in scheduling a FREE virtual visit, please email [email protected] with your preferred date and time. You can also find more information at
https://education.skype.com/projects/9566-penguin-books-roald-dahl-skype-tour-at-the-roald-dahl-museum-and-story-centre.

Celebrate Reading This Fall with Thalia Kids’ Book Club at Symphony Space

The always popular Thalia Kids’ Book Club includes lively discussions between top children’s book authors and their fans, with special guests and a behind-the-scenes look at how books are written and produced. The interactive series is co-presented with the Bank Street Bookstore.
For more information and tickets, visit http://www.symphonyspace.org/tkbc .

Wednesday, September 10, 7 pm
Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller: Nightmares!
 Tickets: $22 members, non-members $25
Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother, The Muppets), an actor, writer, and musician, teams up with New York Times bestselling author Kirsten Miller (Kiki Strike) to discuss their hilariously frightening middle-grade novel Nightmares!, the first book in a trilogy about a boy named Charlie and a group of kids who must face their fears to save their town. Ages 8 and up.
Note: The special ticket price includes a copy of Nightmares! (retail priced at $16.99).Ticket holders will get a copy of the book at the door on September 10. Books will not be available for early pickup.

Sunday, September 21 at 1 pm
Pseudonymous Bosch: Bad Magic
Tickets: members $12, non-members $15
The mysterious author of the New York Times-bestselling The Name of This Book is Secret goes behind-the-scenes of his new adventure series Bad Magic. The author will be in conversation with Adam Gidwitz (A Tale Dark and Grimm). Ages 9 to 12.

Tuesday, September 23 at 6 pm
An Evening with Patricia Polacco
Patricia Polacco, the beloved author and illustrator of Thank You, Mr. Falker, and dozens of other favorite picture books, discusses her life and award-winning works. The author and illustrator of more than 70 books for children, Polacco has won every award imaginable in children’s literature.  Her latest book is Mr. Wayne’s Masterpiece, an inspired-by-true-life story about overcoming the fear of speaking in public. Ages 6 & up.

Sunday, October 19 at 1 pm
An Afternoon with Lois Lowry
Tickets: members $12, non-members $15
Reading and conversation with the treasured author of Number the Stars, The Giver, and many other favorite works for kids and teens. Number the Stars, the Newbery Medal-winning novel about the Occupation of Denmark in the Second World War, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Ages 9 and up.

Sunday, November 16 at 5 pm
A Celebration of E. B. White
All Tickets: $25 (ticket sales benefit First Book).
Stars of Broadway and Hollywood celebrate the work of the beloved writer whose humorous and poignant stories and poetry include Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little. Special guests include White’s granddaughter Martha White. Jarrett J. Krosoczka (The Lunch Lady series) will host the event, and actor David Hyde Pierce will also read from the stories. First Book, a non-profit organization, connects book publishers to community organizations to provide access to new books for children in need. Ages 7 and up.

Symphony Space is located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street in Manhattan, New York City.  The box office number is (212) 864-5400.
A note to editors: Symphony Space Literary Department presenters are available for interviews. More detailed information about each group and photos are available upon request. Visit http://www.symphonyspace.org/tkbc for updated information.

Media Contacts:
Mary Shimkin, Symphony Space
(212) 864-1414, ext. 224,  mary.shimkin@symphonyspace.org
Beth Blenz-Clucas, Sugar Mountain PR
(503) 293-9498, [email protected]