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Our selection of hot new releases and popular kids' books has a lot to offer!

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Title: GUYKU A Year of Haiku for Boys Written by: Bob Raczeka Illustrated by: Peter Reynolds Published by: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, New York, 2010 Themes/Topics: seasons, poetry, haiku, nature Suitable for ages: 4-8 Opening: The wind and I play         … Continue reading →

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In the spirit of the most wonderful time of the year, we've put together a list of the best new kids' Christmas books that capture the holiday magic. We know you'll love our Christmas Books booklist!

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Over 1.5 million children from more than 75 countries have signed up to celebrate International Dot Day in their classrooms and individually. It is a day of COLLABORATION and CREATIVITY across the globe. Peter Reynolds says, “the theme for this year’s … Continue reading →

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I arrived home last night after a terrific trip to Michigan, courtesy of the good, kind folks at West Bloomfield Township Public Library. I was treated much too kindly and given the opportunity to speak with young people from 8th grade all the way up to preschool.

(See what I did there?)

More details on that trip another day.

This morning a friend directed me to this link, with information about “The Global Read Aloud.”

“What in the world’s that?”

According to the site:

The project was created in 2010 with a simple goal in mind; one book to connect the world. Now with three years under our belt and more than 30,000 connections made, we realize we are on to something larger than us so we look forward to continuing the global connections.

The premise is simple; we pick a book to read aloud to our students during a set 6-week period and during that time we try to make as many global connections as possible. Each teacher decides how much time they would like to dedicate and how involved they would like to be. Some people choose to connect with just one class, while others go for as many as possible. The scope and depth of the project is up to you. In the past we have used Twitter, Skype, Edmodo, our wiki, email, regular mail, Kidblog, and any other tools we can think of to make these connections. Teachers get a community of other educators to do a global project with, hopefully inspiring them to continue these connections through the year.

I was surprised and honored to see one of my books listed along with such company. It’s nice to be in the conversation, much appreciated. The project looks at books in various categories, according to grades. There’s “Picture Book,” “Grades 1-3,” “Grades 4-6″ and “Grades 7-up.” Some of the folks named include some of my personal favorites, such as Peter Reynolds, Kevin Henkes, Kate DiCamillo, Anne Urso, Jo Knowles, and others.

Oh, wait. Before I forget, look at this cake that was made for me at Algonquin Middle School. It happened a while back, but I just found the photo on the net. I’m only a year and a half behind!

Here’s another sweet shot from that same visit to Algonquin. Thank you, Rebecca.

You can sign up for the Global Read Aloud right here.

Here are the 5 books listed for 7th-grade and up. It looks like I have some reading to do — which, to me, is always the primary point of these lists. Glad to be a contender:

• Endangered by Elliot Schrefer
• Bystander by James Preller
• Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
• The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
• Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Gein

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Where the heck is 2012 going? Already midsummer is about on us. Soon in Maine we'll be chopping wood and thinking of snow. OK, maybe not for a couple of months yet ...

I've been deep into finishing up final spreads for my next book with Kane Miller (spring 2013). I can't tell you what it's about yet, so you will just have to wait! As will I. (To tell you that is, I already know what it's about!) Due date is end of June and I'm going to ALA, Anaheim on June 22 for a couple of days, so right now I am madly colouring.

Haven't even had breath for the warm up sketches ... I do miss them, but the schedule is heavy.To keep myself on track I have a daily schedule with the spreads listed ... that way I can keep track and if I get ahead a little, it feels good! Might even get Saturday off.

Had to have a new head shot for book signing at ALA (more on that in another post!) and so I girded up my loins, got the SLR and with 'im indoors to click the shutter and spent an hour in the garden taking hundreds of horrible shots until I eventually got one that was decent. The pansies look nice. I totally hate having publicity photos done! Argh!

I've been pretty quiet lately, no long posts. I got pretty sick in April with shingles. Gah! I hope I never get it again. I thought I had a pulled shoulder, but no, within a few days the dreaded rash appeared. My right arm was out of action for a couple of weeks. It made me realize how enormous it would be if I couldn't use it again! When you are sick you think you'll never feel better, right? Boy, was I a bear. Still had work to do and managed to get to a couple of booked events on meds, but I NEVER want to have shingles AGAIN. To those of you who think it's just an itchy rash ... oh buddy.

Thankful to be feeling much better and to be able to meet this book deadline. 'In between' I also did black and white illo's for a chapter book for little ones, that I can't tell you about just yet .. but hopefully next month. So many things I can't say!

I also can't say anything about a new book project coming my way this month. Makes you wonder why I am writing this blog post at all! Here is one of the great things I have learned more about since beginning my journey in children's publishing - PATIENCE.

Last week I escaped from the studio for the day and made it down to Boston to Fablevision's art show and the meet and greet that is 'Creative Juices'. From my northerly position here in Maine it's about a 2 hour drive to the train station in Portland, then the DownEaster to Boston 2.5hrs - but a lovely ride and scenery! (Reminder to self, stay in Boston another time ... getting home at 4am was too much. My age is showing). Met up with illustrator Katia Wish for dinner (vodka pizza, lemincello, tiramsu, cappuchino) and then a roam around the North End, then to Fablevision studios for an evening of  kahoots and gossip.




Fablevision are a great company, headed up by the Reynold's brothers Peter and Paul. (Peter is a many times over best selling children's autho

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A Year of Haiku for Boys written by Bob Raczka drawings by Peter H. Reynolds Houghton Mifflin  2010 Haiku for and about boys, organized by seasons, full of the sort of things boys do. But not for haiku purists or people who want boys to really understand what haiku are really about. Full of observations of what it means to be a boy, full of mischief and the occasional moment of tenderness,

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One of my favorite contemporary book series for children is becoming a film! Here's the press release:

Media contact: Laura Rivas
Assistant Director of Marketing, Publicity, and Events
617-588-4445; [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUDY MOODY MOVIE
BASED ON CHILDREN’S BOOK SERIES
COMING TO THEATERS SOON

Somerville, MA (May 6, 2010) – Candlewick Press is thrilled to announce that a Judy Moody movie is coming from Smokewood Entertainment, the Oscar-nominated production company behind the acclaimed film “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.” John Schultz (“Aliens in the Attic”) will direct the film. Kathy Waugh and Megan McDonald wrote the screenplay, based upon the characters in the wildly popular and award-winning Judy Moody children’s book series by McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, and published by Candlewick Press. Candlewick will also publish a Judy Moody movie tie-in program in Spring 2011.

The project commences production in August and is being packaged by Creative Artists Agency. Smokewood principals Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness will produce, with Bobbi Sue Luther and Andrew Sugerman executive producing.

Says Candlewick President and Publisher Karen Lotz , "We are mega-Moody thrilled that Judy's hop to the big screen will be with Smokewood Entertainment and their incredible roster of talent. Double R-A-R-E!"

“As a family that reads and loves the Judy Moody book series, it became very apparent to us that they would make wonderful family films,” said Siegel-Magness. “Our company, Smokewood Entertainment, intends to make films with a positive message for a variety of audiences, and the adventures of independent Judy and her family and friends are a perfect vehicle for that.”

Candlewick’s movie tie-in publishing program will feature a select number of titles, including paperback original Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer written by McDonald, based on the screenplay by Waugh and McDonald. Also coming as part of the movie tie-in program will be the full-color hardback Judy Moody Goes Hollywood .

The Judy Moody book series has more than 12 million books in print worldwide and has been translated into 23 languages. Currently there are eight titles in this fun and funny middle-grade fiction series starring the feisty and independent-minded third-grader; plus a series starring Judy Moody’s younger brother, Stink; and two full-color adventures co-starring Judy and Stink. A new hardcover Judy Moody book - Judy Moody, Girl Detective – will go on-sale August 10, 2010.

McDonald is the author of the Judy Moody series, the Stink series, the Sisters Club books, and numerous other titles including picture books and easy readers. She lives in Sebastopol, California. Reynolds is the illustrator of the Judy Moody and Stink books and the author-illustrator of The Dot, Ish, So Few of Me, The North Star, and Rose’s Garden. He lives in Dedham, Massachusetts .

Candlewick Press is an independent, employee-owned publisher based in Somerville, MA. Candlewick publishes outstanding children’s books for readers of all ages; including books by award-winning authors Kate DiCamillo, Laura Amy Schlitz, and M. T. Anderson; the widely acclaimed 'Ologies and Judy Moody series; and favorites such as the Where's Waldo and Maisy books. Candlewick's parent company is Walker Books Ltd., of London, England, with additional offices in Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand.

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Add this book to your collection: Tess’s Tree by Jess M. Brallier and Peter Reynolds ©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.. Share and Enjoy:

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Yesterday an author friend of mine Peter Reynolds, told me about this great computer program that he helped to develop that children and adults will both love. It is called Stationary Studio and it helps children (and adults for that matter), even the ones who do not like writing, to see that writing can be a lot of fun. The program includes an easy-to-use word processor, decorative elements that Peter created for the program, an easy-to-use layout tool, and more. You can try the program for free and there is no expiration date either. If you like the program and what more templates and bells and whistles you can purchase upgrades. Take a look!

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