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I’m angry today, at the literary academic establishment. Specifically, I’m mad at AWP and Yaddo.

Last week  I called Yaddo (nicely) to ask about residencies for authors of kidlit.  I was told that I should apply with a submission of my adult work, and that then I could work on whatever I like if I got in. But they cannot fund children’s books, no matter the artistic merit of the work.

Grrrrr.  How incredibly stupid is that?

Then, yesterday, I found out that the panel I was on for AWP was declined, a panel about literary fictioneers and poets who also write books for kids.  Not shocking I guess. How else will they make room for another panel about (insert boring topic here)?

I’m really disappointed about this. It was an amazing group of writers, and we had a lot of good things to say.  Not to mentin being something NEW.

But it’s no surprise, in a climate where  many MFA programs  refuse to apply kidlit publications to tenure.  Because those morons will never realize that some of the most innovative writing– the most genre bending, creative, crazy work– is being done for kids.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

(Six more hours before you miss the deadline. And even then, we'll work you in! Submit your Carnival of Children's Literature entry here.)

The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff: You Wish
By Jason Lethcoe

I wanted to like this book. It has footnotes, for heaven's sake! And a time line in an appendix! And maps on the end papers!

Unfortunately, I couldn't get past Benjamin's wishes for Playstations and flat-screen tvs for himself and all the other kids at the orphanage. The author threw in a "massive outdoor power generator" to add a tiny bit of plausibility. Then one of the boys was "so overcome with emotion that he just sat with the unopened Playstation box on his lap, wiping tears from his eyes with his tiny, grubby fist." Gag. I nearly wept, too. We went from wishes vs. curses and good vs. evil directly into consumerism at its very ugliest.

I agree with all of this, but the excelsior file said it better, so I'm going to be lazy and let you read his review.

After you're done reading the review, get busy and submit your Carnival entry.