Fun Fact: Remember that Re-Seussification Project I posted? And how it happened to come out the day before the birthday of the good doctor himself? Total coincidence. I had no idea. At the same time The Lorax has come out in theaters. Know how I know? Because every other minute there’s an ad on my television featuring the Lorax. Seems he’ll sell anything these days. Chaps my hide. Chaps Stephen Colbert’s too, I’m happy to report.
Full credit to this next link. This compilation of Judy Blume pop culture references has earned my respect, partly because it included the two I already knew of (Sawyer reading her book on LOST and the Saturday Night Live skit). Very fun to watch.
Which, naturally, leads to this. And I suppose it isn’t workplace appropriate. But it is sweet.
That was recorded almost half a year ago. I assume they’ve met by now, yes? I mean, she is married to a Newbery winner.
I think this is applicable to our usual subject matter today. After all, I suspect that there are a few authors out there for kids that still use typewriters. I used one as recently as 2006 in conjunction with my job. Plus this is a great little piece.
Thanks to Playing By the Book for the link.
I’ve shown the video of Christopher Walken reading The Three Little Pigs before. This one, though, is new to me. We never see him who I’m not wholly convinced it’s actually him. It’s a possibility, though. A distinct possibility.
Thanks again to Playing By the Book for the link.
And finally, for our off-topic video, what can I say?
Baby otters.
Thanks to Dan McCoy for the link.
SLJ represent! Though I could not attend this year’s KidLitCon (the annual conference of children’s and YA bloggers) many others did and they have all posted links to their recaps of the event here. So while I could not be present, fellow SLJ blogger Liz Burns of Tea Cozy showed up and has a fabulous encapsulation of that which went on. Lest you label me a lazy lou, I did at least participate in a presentation on apps. Yes, doing my best Max Headroom imitation (ask you parents, kids) I joined Mary Ann Scheuer and pink haired Paula Wiley. It went, oddly enough, off without a hitch. Attendees may have noticed my gigantic floating head (we Skyped) would occasionally dip down so that I seemed to be doing my best Kilroy imitation. This was because the talk happened during my lunch and I wanted to nosh on some surreptitious grapes as it occurred. You may read Mary Ann’s recap here and Paula’s here, lest you fail to believe a single word I say.
- Speaking of Penderwicks, the discussions fly fast and fierce over at Heavy Medal. To my infinite delight, both Jonathan AND Nina are Penderwick fans. Wow! For the record, I agree with their thoughts on Amelia Lost as well. That book has a better chance at something Newberyish than any other nonfiction this year. This could well be The Year of Amelias (Jenni Holm has an Amelia book of her own, after all).
- Heads up, America! According to an article in The Guardian, “The debt-laden businesses behind some of the biggest names in childrens’ TV and books are selling off some of the nation’s best-loved characters.” Personally, I figure the Brits can keep their Peppa Pig. It’s Bagpuss I want. Or The Clangers. I grew up watching Pinwheel on Nickelodeon so I’ve an affection for these. Any word on the current state of King Rollo?
- Aw yeah. Authors talking smack about authors. Granted it’s living authors talking about dead authors (dead authors talking about living authors is a different ballgame entirely) but it’ll stand. Two dude who write for kids break down J.M. Barrie, The Yearling, etc. and then end with unanimous praise for what I may consider the world’s most perfect children’s book. Go check ‘em out.
A Scieszka/Krosoczka could be a cocktail and a sobriety test all in one — once you can’t say it, you can’t have it.
I’m definitely looking forward to those Lonely Planet books. From what I can tell, they won’t have the traditional listings/contact information that guides for adults will have, but I think this is a terrific new direction for Lonely Planet. I have my fingers crossed that a Washington D.C. guide is one of the upcoming six titles.
I’ve been anxiously awaiting the Lonely Planet books since I saw them at BEA. I get requests all the time in my library from parents or grandparents who are taking the kids on trips. Washington D.C., Boston, Alaska, and Israel would also be excellent additions to the series from my library’s point of view.
You can see sample pages of the Not For Parents series on the LP website.
Thank you so much for linking to my post! I think it might be the most spreadsheet-y (?) post I’ve ever seen linked on here!
I cannot say how much I wish I had been able to go to KidLitCon … every panel sounds like it would have been amazing. Also, that’s a pretty swell SECRET GARDEN cover!
Wow what a compendium of goodness! It’ll take me all evening to follow the leads, how fun!
I can’t find the Dawkins book here – I really want to see it.
And doesn’t Tao Nyeu do embroidery? Now that I’m past bifocals and into trifocals, I am sad that my needlework days are over.
“”Books such as Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach offer a world where self-consciousness is overthrown and relationships are straightforward,” she told The Independent.
“But relationships in the real adult world are often fraught by miscommunication and the impossibility of understanding one another properly.” ”
Right. Because Alice in Wonderland has nothing to say about miscommunication and the impossibility of understanding one another properly.
If you need me, I’ll be over here telling my long and sad tale…