Elizabeth Bird, librarian extraordinaire, had a lot to say this week about The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch on her School Library Journal blog. This book has received some great attention, but there’s nothing quite as rewarding for an author as knowing without a doubt that someone has made a point of thinking deeply […]
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Elizabeth Bird, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 13 of 13
Blog: Bartography (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Elizabeth Bird, Reconstruction, Eerdmans, The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch, School Library Journal, Don Tate, Chris Barton, Add a tag
Blog: Barking Planet (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: forest, bears, Roald Dahl, Christmas book, present, Slate, Phillip Pullman, reindeer, Puppies, barking dogs, children’s books, Red Riding Hood, Hobbit, Suzanne Collins, dog books, castles, Elizabeth Bird, early reader, gift, Hans Christian Anderson, Smithsonian, Wayne Walker, therapy dogs, the lorax, Publishing Perspectives, senior dog, Grimms Tales, good books for kids, 4 paws for ability, a ChristmasTtale, animal wise, anne staun, Are Fairy Tales Out of Fashion, Ariel Wulff, barking, barking dog, Barking Planet Blog, Barking Planet Productions, Breezes from Wonderland, C.A. Wulff, can do canines, Canadian Service Dogs.coromandel, Castle in the Mist, Caterine St Louis, children’s Christmas book, children’s dog books, children’s dog stories, child’s gift, child’s present, Chongxiangguan Book Co Ltd, Circling the Waggins, Collected Miscellaney, Dakota’s Den, Dan Greenburg, Deanna Leah, Deb Eades, dog rescue railroad, dog videos, Dogster, Don Blankenship, Enchanted Hunters, Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm, fantasy-adventure, FindingFido, first-chapter book, Following Atticus, Freedom Service Dogs, Good Books fof Kids, HBG Productions, healing power dogs, Hope and Heroes, human-canine connection, PAW, Paws for a cure, paws for Prison, Paws for Purple Hearts, Paws Giving Independence, Paws to Read, pawsitively pets, Pets Blog, Pets Blogs, Planet Dog Foundation, Planet of the Dogs, Retrieved, Richard Lawson, Roger Ebert Oz the Great and Powerful, See Spot read, seth lerer, Seth Lerner, Snow Valley Heroes, summer reading problem, Sunbear Squad, Susan Svrulga, therapy reading dogs, up on the woof, Warrior Canine Connection, Way Cool Dogs, yelodoggie, You Can Change the World in Thirty Seconds, love, lewis carroll, NYPL, NYTimes, Children, Books, Kids, Fairy Tales, Film, warriors, dog stories, snow, Dogs, service dogs, Educating Alice, Hunger Games, loyalty, Jack Zipes, kidnapped children, invaders, NELA, Justin Cronin, non-violence, IOE, IPNE, JC Greenburg, Kalevala, Kathleen Dematara, kids xmas book, kid’s books, kid’s dog books, Leslie Kaufman, Li Ke, Linquei Shao, Maria Tartar, Myla Goldberg, Nancy Houser, neiba, Nicholas Carr, Nor’wester Readers, NYPL children’s Literary Seminars, One Green Planet, Operation Roger Truckers, PAL (People Animals Love), Patriot Paws, Add a tag
The forest has played a major role in children's literature from the earliest time.
The forest was mysterious, a place of unknowns and often darkness and fear.
From legends to fairy tales, the forest was a place of wonder and often a place of danger...from Winnie the Poo to Little Red Riding Hood
The forests are central to the Planet Of The Dogs and Castle In The Mist.
For readers, the forests, like the books whose stories embrace them, open the doors to the imagination.
This blog is dedicated to children's literature that opens the doors to the imagination. And to the amazing role of dogs in enhancing our lives. -
.........................................................
SLEEPING BEAUTIES VS. GONZO GIRLS By Maria Tatar
In this fascinating article that moves through children's literature and cultural myths ranging from Gretel and Red Riding Hood to Katniss Everdeen and Lady Gaga, Maria Tatar explores the evolution of the female archetype today. Here are excerpts.
Beauty goodbye at last, as feminists advised us to do not so long ago...
Maria Tatar chairs the program for folklore and mythology at Harvard University. She is the editor of the excellent Enchanted Hunters, the Power of Stories in Childhood.
The Illustration Of Red Riding Hood in bed with the wolf is by Dore...
......................................
In recent times, many versions of the fairy tales of old have been made for film and TV. Producers of these retold versions of Little Red Riding Hood have been inspired by the early versions of the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault with the ominous forest, the dangerous wolf, and the innocent young maiden. These retellings have often been heavily influenced by the quest for commercial success, and the reults have been decidely mixed. Often banal or cliched, they are examples of how commerce as well cultural change affects the retelling of fairy tales.
Here is a link to the trailer of the 2011 Movie film, Red Riding Hood
And here is an excerpt and a link to Roger Ebert's laugh out loud review.
"Of the classics of world literature crying out to be filmed as a sexual fantasy for teenage girls, surely "Red Riding Hood" is far down on the list. Here's a movie that cross-pollinates the "Twilight" formula with a werewolf and adds a girl who always wears a red hooded cape...
What this inspiration fails to account for is that while a young woman might toy with the notion of a vampire boyfriend, she might not want to mate with a wolf. Although she might think it was, like, cool to live in the woods in Oregon, she might not want to live in the Black Forest hundreds of years ago because, like, can you text from there?
"Red Riding Hood" has the added inconvenience of being dreadfully serious about a plot so preposterous, it demands to be filmed by Monty Python..."
Like Mr Ebert, most critics gave the film a negative review. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the audience rating was 39%.
........................
A sensual intepretation of Little Red Ridin Hood from 1997 is found in this short film by David Kaplan adopted from Conte De LA Mere Grande...music by Debussy...the wolf moves like a seductive spirit of the forest...soft black and white images and a clever Red Riding Hood...
Here is the Link: Red Riding Hood
.......................
Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf
Roald Dahl wrote his own version of Little Red Riding Hood in the form of a humorous,tongue in cheek poem. This is how it begins...
"As soon as Wolf began to feel
That he would like a decent meal,
He went and knocked on Grandma's door.
When Grandma opened it, she saw
The sharp white teeth, the horrid grin,
And Wolfie said, "May I come in?"
Poor Grandmamma was terrified,
"He's going to eat me up!" she cried.
And she was absolutely right.
He ate her up in one big bite.
But Grandmamma was small and tough,
And Wolfie wailed, "That's not enough!
I haven't yet begun to feel
That I have had a decent meal!"
He ran around the kitchen yelping,
"I've got to have a second helping!"...
The image above is from a fun film made of Dahl's Red Riding Hood poem using stop-motion puppets. The imaginative creators, Hannah Legere and Andrew Wilson, certainly caught the spirit of the Dahl poem. Link here to this delightful film version of Roald Dahl's poem...
The dog lover in the photograph is Roald Dahl.
......................
Artists and Illustrators...
14 different artist's versions of Red Riding Hood are posted on the Art of Children's Books blog site..here is an excerpt from their introduction...
"Folk tales and fairy tales are at the top of the list when it comes to vintage children's books. The Brothers Grimm* folk tale, Little Red Riding Hood, has been a beloved and enduring story. Originally titled Little Red Cap, the story has a strong lesson. Since it's publication, Little Red Riding Hood has been illustrated by many artists over the years. Here is just a sampling of the different artistic interpretations of Little Red Riding Hood."
Book cover by Andrea Wisnewski...*The original version was published by Charles Perault.
...........................
The Forest and Imagination...
The influence of the forest on the imagination will always be with us, especially in legend, folk tales and children's stories.
Innumerable film and TV versions, including many annimated cartoons, of Little Red Riding Hood will continue to be made. And wonderful writers like Roald Dahl in the past, and Philip Pullman in the present, will continue to find the forests of fairy tales a timeless setting for timeless stories.
The illustration is by Arthur Rackham...if you look closely, on the path beneath the huge tree, you will see red Riding Hood and the wolf.
......................................
Reading for Pleasure...opening the imagination, opening the mind...
Reading for pleasure puts children ahead in the classroom, according to a UK study of the reading behavior of appoximately 6000 young people. Here are excerpts from a report that reaffirms the value early reading and bedtime stories.
"Children who read for pleasure are likely to do significantly better at school than their peers, according to new research from the Institute of Education (IOE).
The IOE study, which is believed to be the first to examine the effect of reading for pleasure on cognitive development over time, found that children who read for pleasure made more progress in maths, vocabulary and spelling between the ages of10 and 16 than those who rarely read...
...Children who were read to regularly by their parents at age 5 performed better in all three tests at age 16 than those who were not helped in this way."
The research was conducted by Dr Alice Sullivan and Matt Brown; To read the article, visit Pleasure Reading
......................................
The Doors that Rose opens...
“I consider myself a facilitator…if my dog could drive, she would not need me. Rose seems to enjoy seeing people multiple times and developing a relationship with the people… She is a working dog by nature and she just loves these jobs. I am constantly amazed at the doors that Rose opens…she goes to places I could never get without her…reaches beyond my reach, touches a person deeper than my touch. The restless or agitated patient who is calmed by Rose’s touch...the child in the classroom who won’t settle down and get to work but when Rose sits by them, they quiet right down and the hyperactivity seems to dissipate. The child getting excited about reading to Rose every week; they wouldn’t do that for me, but they do it for Rose. Lying with a dying patient who will smile, close their eyes and stroke her with a peacefulness that is so precious…I know I could not enter that person’s space without Rose…it really is all about occupying part of someone else’s space for just a short time be it in a school, home or hospital...”
A former teacher, Susan Purser, and her Australian Cattle Dog, Rose, have been very active as a therapy dog team for several years in Sarasota, Florida.
....................................
Paws Giving Independence
Paws Giving Independence is a recpient of a 2013 Planet Dog Foundation Grant. Planet Dog has this year donated $71,500 in new grants to 16 non-profit dog organizations..."The PDF grants will help fund assistance dog, therapy dog and search and rescue programs across the country and support a wide variety of non-profit programs that are helping children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities; injured service members; natural disaster survivors and many more people in need..."
"Paws Giving Independence is an all-volunteer organization that saves dogs from area shelters, trains them to be service/companion dogs, and places the dogs, free of charge, with those in need. Their Saving a Life to Change a Life project identifies suitable dogs in shelters and trains them to meet the specific needs of people with disabilities. They train dogs to open doors, pick up dropped objects, turn lights on and off, and other ways to assist in independence. In addition, they train dogs to alert for epileptic and diabetic seizures, and psychological assistance for military veterans with PTSD. PDF funds support veterinary care, special prosthetics and balance equipment and training."
Paws Giving Independence was founded in 2008 by 3 Bradley University students who recognized the marvelous healing capabilities of dogs.
..........................................
for Dog Lovers and decent people...
Here's a Goodreads review that strikes home and makes sense for dog lovers and decent people...Passionate dog rescuer, animal rights advocate and author.C.A. Wulff wrote How to Change The World in 30 Seconds...
"At first i started reading this book as an animal rescuer myself. But as i started to go through all of the information in the book i realized that this book is a GREAT informative guide for people who have just dipped their toes into the realm of rescue. It is laid out in a way that focuses on an audience that may, or may not have already heard of some of the ideas. This way a novice rescuer can understand it, but the veteran rescuer isnt just wading through either. I saw several options that were detailed out even for someone in rescue many years. So really what im saying is.. it doesnt matter if you are new or old to it, this can give you great ideas, starting points and explanations for why so many rescuers are able to save lives on click at a time."
Here is a link to the full review by Sylence of How to Change the World in 30 Seconds, in Goodreads...
.............................................
Much has been written of the importance of childhood experiences with books...books that meant a lot to an individual as a child and where the memory of the book remains important in their adult life. Here, thanks to Monica Edinger's Educating Alice blog, are excerpts from a rather fascinating converstion by two of the most prominent, respected, and imaginative writers of children's and YA literature...
Guest Blog: Gaiman & Pullman Talk Children's Books in Literary Oxford
"Gaiman talked about reading the Mary Poppins books when he was six or seven and how they helped form whatever worldview he had as a kid. 'The idea that the world is incredibly unlikely and strange secret things are always happening, that adults don't really explain to you, or in fact, that adults may be oblivious to'...
''His (Gaiman's) wonder was infectious as he recalled discovering the library when he was very
young and having that incredible feeling of power; discovering the card catalogue in which you could actually look up subjects like witches or robots or ghosts; or you could just take down books and read the interesting ones. Both authors talked about discovering American comic books and marveled at the speed in the stories, the size of them, with Gaiman adding, "Everything was alien, everything was equally as strange and unlikely, so skyscrapers, and pizza and fire hydrants were just as alien to my world as people in capes flying around..."
..........................................
Monica Edinger, a fourth grade teacher, and a passionate advocate of the wonders and benefits of children's literature, has a very lively and informative blog: Educating Alice . Her new book, Africa Is My Home, is receiving excellent reviews.
Here are excerpts from her blog ;
The Unjournal of Children's Literature
The “un” movement is an intriguing one. Until recently I had only heard about it in terms of unconferences, participant-driven events such as this one. But now there is another sort of un-thing, an unjournal. Created by children’s literature graduate students at San Diego State University, the inaugural issue of The Unjournal of Children’s Literature is up and ready for viewing, reading, and responding. Gorgeous to look at, clearly designed in terms of navigation, fascinating in terms of content, this is one elegant web publication.
And from an article on kids, books and reading: "Reading to me is many things and so I think we teachers need to provide many different experiences with reading and books. My fourth grade students read all sorts of material on their own, for themselves, for all sorts of reasons..."
.......................................................
What do Therapy Dogs Do All Day?
Here are videos from Peple Animals Love (PAL), based in Washington DC, that document the wonderful work that their volunteers and their dogs perform. Click this link: PAL
.....................................
Fairy Tales as the Last Echoes of Pagan Myths...
Seth Lerner, in writing about the orgins and history of fairy tales and folklore, points out that Wilhelm Grimm, at the time the Grimm brothers books were being published in 1812 and 1815, wrote that fairy tales were the "'last echoes of pagan myths'. He (Grimm) went on:"A world of magic is opened up before us, one which still exists among us in secret forests, in underground caves, and in the deepest sea, and it is still visible to children.(Fairy tales) belong to our national poetic heritage..."
Lerner sees even more significance in Fairy tales. He goes on to point out that "what we find inside these secret forests, caves, and seas is not just a poetic heritage, but a personal one as well. For fairy tales are full of families, full of parents who bequeth a sense of self to children, full of ancestors and heirs whose lives play out, in little, the life of a nation from childhood to maturity..."
Seth Lerer is Dean of Arts and Humanities and Distinguished Professor of Literature at the University of California at San Diego. The quotes and ideas above are from his informative and insightful book, Children's Literature, A Reader's History from Aesop to Harry Potter
................................................
NYPL's Children's Literary Salon is pleased to announce our event on Saturday, October 12th at 2:00 p.m.
........................................................
Harry Potter's Textbook...
"J.K. Rowling will write her first movie script for Warner Bros., writing Fantastic Beasts and Where to
Find Them–a film based on Harry Potter’s textbook from his school for wizards.
The film is part of a planned series featuring the author of the magical book, Newt Scamander. Rowling published a book by the same name in 2001. She had this comment on her Facebook page:
"Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world..." Here is the link: JKRowling
.........................
Dogs in the Forest...
The forest plays a very important role in the Planet Of The Dogs Series. Here is an excerpt from Castle In The Mist...
"The dogs continued to lead the soldiers deeper into the woods. Soon, it began to snow, slowly at first, and then, the wind increased and the snow was everywhere. It became very difficult to see very far. The leader of the soldiers told his men that they were to follow him. They were returning to the castle.
They started walking through the snow when one of the men, who was an experienced forest guide, said to the leader, “With respect sir, but I don’t think we are going in the right direction.” The leader was about to answer him when howling started. It seemed to come from all directions. Then the leader spoke, “You will follow me, I am certain that this is the way.” They continued on through the swirling snow, unable to see, and surrounded by howling dogs..."
Here is an excert from a review:"Do you think it is possible for dogs to stop war? Author Robert J. McCarty has created a charming fantasy-allegory that can be read and understood on at least two different levels…a story about dogs who come from another planet to help people on earth. But under the surface are the important messages of friendship, love, loyalty, and how to overcome evil with good…Castle In The Mist will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Wayne Walker reviewing Castle in the Mist for Stories for Children Magazine, the Home School Book Review and the Home School Buzz wrote:
.........................................
CANADIAN SERVICE DOG FOUNDATION
The Canadian Service Dog Foundation trains and provides service dogs for a wide variety of human needs and services. They provide a wide range of vital services,,,ten major humanitarian objectives are listed on their website. Here are the first two:
- "To improve quality of life for Canadians through the use of service dogs, assistance dogs, therapy dogs and emotional support animals. Provide opportunities, resources, and support through the use of trained service dogs for Canadians living with psychiatric disabilities so as to allow for greater functional independence, sufficient to make healthy choices and lead active lifestyles."
- To support past or present military personnel, emergency service workers, and related professionals dealing with operational stress injuries through the use of specially trained service dogs.
- Here is a link to learn more about their wide reaching canine services for people: CSDF Services
- ............................................
Read sample chapters of all the books in the Planet Of The Dogs series by
clicking here:Books
Our books are available through your favorite independent bookstore or via Barnes Noble, Amazon, Powell's...
Librarians, teachers, bookstores...Order Planet Of The Dogs, Castle In The Mist, and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, through Ingram with a full professional discount.
Therapy reading dog owners, librarians and teachers with therapy reading dog programs -- you can write us at [email protected] and we will send you free reader copies from the Planet of the Dogs Series...Read Dog Books to Dogs....Ask any therapy reading dog: "Do you like it when the kids read dog books to you?"
And Now -- for the First Time -- E Books of the Planet Of The Dogs Series are coming on KDP Select...
Planet Of The Dogs will be available October 1...Castle In The Mist will be available on October 15 and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, on November 15...in time for the Holiday Gift Season...
Any one of these books would make for a delightful—and one would assume cherished—gift for any child. All three would be an amazing reading adventure. Darlene Arden, educator, dog expert, and author of Small Dogs Big Hearts wrote:
...........................................................
Finding Fido
"We are excited to announce that Barking Planet Productions is publishing a new book by C.A.Wulff.
"Finding Fido" will be available for purchase at amazon.com on September 30. "Finding Fido" is a handbook every pet owner will want to have in their library.
.....................................................
A Dog Health Update: here are excerpts from an article on Giardiasis – Parasitic Diarrhea in Dogs, Cats and Humans...The microscopic parasites known as Giardiasis are the most common intestinal parasites to be found in humans, dogs and cats. A protozoan parasite infection, it is the cause of a very serious diarrheal illness in the intestinal areas, known to be highly contagious but not lethal. However, it is a parasite that can be transferred across species — from person-to-person or animal-to-person... The most popular locations for this parasite are on surfaces or within soil and food.However, drinking water and recreational water that has been contaminated with feces (poop) from infected humans or animals are the most common methods of transmission. This includes untreated or improperly treated water from lakes, streams, or wells...
Here's the link to read this comprehensive, informative article: Way Cool Dogs
............................................
New England Conferences-Book Shows in October for Independent Bookstores and Libraries
As members of the Independent Publishers of New England (IPNE), we will be exhibiting Circling the Waggins and Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale at the New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA),October 6-8, in Providence, RI and the New England Library Association(NELA), on October 20-27, in Portland, Maine.
...............
Green Eggs and E-Books? Thank You, Sam-I-Am By Julie Bosman
Here are excerpts from Julie Bosman's article...
"Dr. Seuss books, those whimsical, mischievous, irresistibly rhymey stories that have been passed down in print to generations of readers, are finally catching up with digital publishing...
The Dr. Seuss canon will be released in e-book format for the first time, beginning later this month, his publisher said on Wednesday, an announcement that could nudge more parents and educators to download picture books for children...picture books have lagged far behind(adult fiction) . Several publishers said e-books represent only 2 to 5 percent of their total picture book sales, a number that has scarcely moved in the last several years.
But the release of the Dr. Seuss books, still hugely popular after decades in print, could move that number higher. The e-books will be available on color tablets, including the iPad, Kindle Fire and Nook HD. The first titles to be released, on Sept. 24, include “The Cat in the Hat,” “Green Eggs and Ham,” “There’s a Wocket in My Pocket!” and “The Lorax” (featuring an environmentally conscious character who might be happy about the announcement)."
...................................
''The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to seaClick here for information and videos of COROMANDEL , byTrevor Bachman's... Here is an excerpt from their site...A" vibrant musical odyssey for children and adults, Coromandel is a journey through the mind of poet Edward Lear"...playing in New York City in early October..." a fusion of rock, jazz, bluegrass, tango, musical theatre, and classical sounds makes for a diverse, delicious, and sonically satisfying evening. Told with a whimsical simplicity that appeals to children of all ages..."
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.''
.....................................
"We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace."
—Albert Schweitzer, "The Philosophy of Civilization" -
Blog: American Indians in Children's Literature (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: SLJ, James Dashner, Elizabeth Bird, The Infinity Ring, Add a tag
Thanks, Ami, for pointing me to something Elizabeth Bird at SLJ said:
I’m sure you’ve all heard of the upcoming Scholastic series The Infinity Ring. It looks like it’s getting a big push in the same vein as The 39 Clues and all that. I hadn’t paid it much mind, until I realized the plot. So in Book #1 it is imperative to rescue Christopher Columbus so that he can discover America (the reasoning being that if he doesn’t then even worse guys will . . . to which I say, just how much worse?). That’s Book #1. Book #2 requires that the bad guys, who want to prevent The French Revolution, be thwarted. So to recap, the heroes must save Columbus in Book #1 and ensure that Marie Antoinette gets her head separated from her neck in Book #2. If this is incorrect please tell me now. Otherwise, I’m utterly baffled. I demand clarification!!!I went over to the Scholastic page, where I learned that The Infinity Ring is a series for children ages 8 and up, in which three kids will time travel to save the world. The first book in the series is A Mutiny in Time, by James Dashner. At the Scholastic page, I read:
History is broken, and three kids must travel back in time to set it right!History, the kids learn, "has gone disastrously off course" because Christopher Columbus was thrown overboard in a mutiny.
Wait, wait, wait... Off course for who?!
I guess, in this story, the entire world is a wreck because Columbus did NOT "discover" America. I wonder what this "undiscovered-by-Columbus" America looks like?! Who is making a wreck of what? Who are the "bad guys" Elizabeth refers to?!
Well.
Scholastic sent out some advanced reader copies (arcs) and by reading reviews at Goodreads, I gleaned a bit more info.
Because Columbus didn't "discover America" all sorts of natural disasters are occurring because someone else--"the Amancio brothers"--have done the discovering. I guess they are to blame for the natural disasters. I wonder what the disasters are?
Climate change, anyone? The real one, I mean?
I wonder if the author takes up anything to do with Indigenous peoples?!
Blog: Books 'n' stories (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: children's books, blogs, Anastasia Suen, Elizabeth Bird, Kids' Book Websites, Add a tag
Yesterday (approximately 53 minutes ago) was Kids' Books Website Tuesday - the day I share a blog or website (or two) devoted to children's books. Enjoy.
A Fuse #8 Production is written by book blogger and librarian, Elizabeth Bird. The blog is hosted/sponsored/part of School Library Journal's amazing Internet resources for people who like schools, and libraries, the materials found in those institutions and the people who frequent both. Book reviews - lots of book reviews - commentary on what's happening in the publishing world for children and teens - interesting stuff about authors and illustrators - it's all on this blog. I check with Betsy's blog to keep on top of what's new and different in writing for young people.
Suen writes for this age group, too, and she features one of her books every week on another blog, Anastasia Suen's Book of the Week. If you read the sidebars of these blogs, you will find links to Suen's other online presences including a daily blog on Picture Books and another one on Chapter Books and an e-newsletter. Fun, helpful and informative! Thanks, Anastasia.
Blog: the pageturn (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Richard Scarry, YA Books, Illustrators, Fuse #8, Booktalks, Kate DiCamillo, Beverly Cleary, Elizabeth Bird, Betsy Bird, Michael Grant, Brian Biggs, Ramona, Lord of the Flies, Tween books, Balzer+Bray, Lauren Oliver, Blogs and bloggers, Penderwicks, Robison Wells, HarperCollins, Libraries, Books, Neil Gaiman, Authors, Picture Books, School Library Journal, SLJ, Where's Waldo, Tricia Springstubb, Add a tag
Our popular feature is back! Blank-Meets-Blank was actually started first by Betsy Bird at Fuse #8 – she ranks the best “Blank-Meets-Blank” when she attends publishers’ librarian previews. This is an awesome way to booktalk to kids and teens in your library or classroom!
Today, we’re sharing the best Blank-Meets-Blanks for our upcoming Fall 2011 titles:
EVERYTHING GOES: ON LAND by Brian Biggs
On-sale 9.13.11
LIESL & PO by Lauren Oliver
On-sale 10.4.11
MO WREN, LOST AND FOUND by Tricia Springstubb
On-sale 8.23.11
VARIANT by Robison Wells
On-sale 10.4.11
Blog: The Pen Stroke | A Publishing Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Billy Nuñez, Chrystal Chan, Heidi Kellenberger, Mary Anne Donovan, Oak Island — A Tale of Two Treasures, Uncovered Cover Art, Uncategorized, Matilda, Elizabeth Bird, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, A Fuse #8 Production, Fusenews, Add a tag
What am I reading now? Oak Island — A Tale of Two Treasures by Mary Donovan
The children’s literature blogosphere is expanding on a daily basis. As a result, every once in a while I stumble upon a site that’s a true gem. Elizabeth Bird, of a A Fuse #8 Production, gushed about Uncovered Cover Art in her latest edition of Fusenews.
The creator of the site, editor Heidi Kellenberger, describes the it as “a sketchbook of reimagined children’s books.” Uncovered Cover Art combines two of the things that I absolutely love: art and children’s literature. The creativity and imagination these talented artists possess is truly spectacular. Kellenberger says of the site,
Uncovered Cover Art is a celebration of creativity, children’s literature, and art.
This is for you.
This is for artists who want to show off their passion for illustrating
children’s books.This is for art directors looking for artists, wondering if the editorial work in
Hot New Thing’s portfolio will transfer to children’s book illustration.This is for agents on the lookout for new talent.
This is for children’s book lovers who stay up late imagining the faces of Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, and Little Red Riding Hood.
But, wait, the fun doesn’t stop there. Kellenberger is giving her audience the opportunity to participate in the launch of Uncovered Cover Art by casting their vote. “The three most popular artists will receive a copy of Show and Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration.” Voting is currently underway and ends on Tuesday, August 30, 2011.”
A couple of my favourite pieces are Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Billy Nuñez and Matilda by Chrystal Chan. What are some of yours?
0 Comments on Uncovered Cover Art as of 1/1/1900
Blog: Faeriality (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: interview, librarians, NYPL, Monday, mardi gras, March, elizabeth bird, Add a tag
Marketing Mardi Gras Giveaway Week!
It's finally here - a week of giveways and marketing advice for all my wonderful followers. Come join the fun for a crazy amount of free (priceless you might say) giveaways.
To enter:
1) You must be a follower of my blog and Elana Johnson's blog to win any giveaways. Remember: You must enter Elan'as contest separately from mine.
2) For Daily Prizes, you must comment on each daily post to be entered into the drawing.
3) Everyday there will be one CLUE hidden in the post that will be needed for Friday's Scavenger Hunt Question. Write it down!
4) Friday's Follower Prize - There will be a random drawing on Friday. You only need to follow the two blogs mentioned above to be entered. :)
4) Grand Prizes - one for agented authors and one for unagented authors. To enter, on Friday you must fill in the complete form to be eligible to win.
Note: For additional information and how to score extra points, see Fridays post. Keep in mind, I am going on the honor system so if you tell me you posted, I believe you. You do not need to show "proof of post" unless you want to.
Marketing To Librarians - Elizabeth Bird (Librarian at New York Public Library/Fuse 8 blog/author)
Note: Remember to write down clue #1 and comment to be entered into Monday's drawing for a stack of books!
Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for being our first to kick off Marketing Mardi Gras. Tell us about yourself and experience as the librarian of one of the most fabulous libraries in the U.S.A.
Thanks for posting, Elizabeth! Libraries are such an important market, yet there aren't a whole lot of blog posts that discuss this.
What great information, Elizabeth. Thank you. I think it would be so cool to be a librarian in NY. Thanks to Shelli for providing this wonderful interview.
I wanted to let you know that I tweeted about this contest today and I follow you on Twitter as well. (I'm JenSwanBooks). I put this on my FB and would like to friend you but don't know where to find your FB page. My link is http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1569575144.
I have signed up to follow both your blog and Elana's.
I'm really excited about your contests and have enjoyed reading all your marketing tips. Thanks for the great info!
Jennifer
Thanks for the post, Elizabeth. I am amazed by how much you do in and outside your work as a librarian. Very impressive!
Shelli and Elizabeth, thanks for this great interview. And no does discourage me but I'll try to get over it. I think I am already making nice with the librarians in our area. And I am starting to query agents this month. Can't start too early, right? ;)
Shelli here are my other links. And I am starting a blog roll so I will have all the points. MWA HA HA HA HA
Putting Pen To Paper
Twitter
Great info about library systems! Thanks!
Great post, Shelli - as always!
Great post - as always, Shelli!
Awesome information! Thanks, Shelli and Elizabeth! :)
Great interview! I really did learn tons! :D
I'm always interested to read how to approach libraries about your book. Great info.
Blog roll is at the bottom of my blog. I couldn't find another place to put it right now. I think I need to clean the house! ;)
Thanks for the information, Elizabeth and Shelli. Great post.
Such great information. I've been really thinking about marketing lately, and it hasn't even occured to me to start thinking of how to target libraries. Thanks so much for this!
Thanks for the interview. This is a subject I don't know a lot about, so it was a very interesting read!
Very cool interview and its always fun to hear a librarians perspective since I run a library but Im not a librarian in the traditional sense. :-)
Wow great info. in this post- thanks!
I just came over from Elana's blog! Great post and contest!
Thanks for the contest and this helpful post. Haven't even thought that far ahead, but it's worth storing for later!
I posted your contest and Elana's on Twitter (@shannywriter), Verla Kay, and my blog Http://shannywriter.livejournal.com
I clicked on your Google "follow me" but can't find where to follow your blog feed.
Wow, librarian in NYPL. Sounds like a dream. Thanks for all this wonderful insight and advice.
Great information! Thank you!
How awesome to hear a librarian's perspective. Great tips, Elizabeth. I didn't know there even was such a thing as heat sensitive pencils -they sound cool! :-)
Thanks, Shelli!
Such great information. Thank you!
Great interview and wonderful tips! Thanks for sharing.
I think this looks like fun so I did a post on my blog about it. Way-to-Go sharing the fun Shelli.
Enjoyed the interview and appreciated the advice! Awesome way to end the day. :)
Fantastic post. Very interesting advice.
What great advice. Thanks for the interview and I'm excited about the contest.
Great advice, and thanks for such an exciting contest.
Great info - thank you! Especially liked the list of what not to do.
I'm so glad you're running the Mardi Gras contest during school vacation week. I actually have time to participate!
Great advice. Thanks.
S
That is so cool, about the New York libraries being specific about meeting the needs of the community. Loved this interview. Thanks!
I love libraries and librarians! And I will be putting a link to your contest as a side-bar on my blog.
Wonderful interview Shelli!
:)
e
How wonderful for an author to get a librarian's point of view. Thanks!
Great interview (I utilize the library a lot!)!
This contest sounds pretty darn fabulous!
Wow, I guess I didn't realize as the author I had to go and market to the libraries too! I guess it was something I always assumed was done by the publisher...:P Guess it makes sense now in these times that it's the author's job.
Thanks for this post--definitely learned something new today!
So useful, Shelli! I've been waiting for sometihng like this--How to Reach Those Nifty Librarians. And thanks to Elizabeth for her generosity. All in all, a stellar post!
So useful, Shelli! I've been waiting for sometihng like this--How to Reach Those Nifty Librarians. And thanks to Elizabeth for her generosity. All in all, a stellar post!
Cool. Libraries are some of my most favorite spots on earth (behind only forests and beach). And that makes librarians some fo the coolest people. I always wish I'd become one.
Thanks for the great post Shelli and the wonderful opportunities too. I'm a new follower. Just popped over from a tweet. (I'm on twitter as @susiebj)
That is great info. I know my local librarians and they say they can't wait for my book to be published. Scares me :)
Count me in for all these points!
+1 Tweeted the contest
+2 Follow me on Twitter
+1 Facebooked the contest
+2 Friend me on Facebook
+2 Add me to your blogroll
+2 for following Elana's blog
+1 for following my blog
Thanks!
Corey
Thank you so much, Elizabeth and Shelli -- fantastic, helpful info! :D
Thank you for the timely info! I was just talking to some fellow debuts about this exact thing!
I'm way too late to win the prize so I'm commenting for commenting sake, mostly because I loved this post, especially this sentence:
Be willing to talk to crazy people.
So true!