Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Trick or Book?

Well, it was time for Halloween festivities here in the entwood.

Alas, time has been so short this year, there was no time for clever literary pumpkin carving but we did continue our annual tradition of demanding something in return for some treats in your bag.

First of all, you HAVE to say "Trick or Treat." You cannot just shove your bag forward without even a hello.

[Ding-Dong]

Costumed Kiddies: "Trick or Treat"

Chez BookMoot: "Hello Kiddies, Happy Halloween. Who can tell me the name of one of your favorite books?"

I was ever so pleased to hear a chorus of "Oh yeah, I remember this place." Even better were the kids who are so well trained now that they recite the question with us or shout out a book title as we open the door.

Some of the titles mentioned this year included:

2 for Barney
Snakes
Spiderman
Saving Shiloh
"2007 Guinness Book of World Records" (shouted out, loud and clear)
Jack in the Beanstalk
Sea of Monsters
Because of Winn Dixie
various Harry Potters
several Lord of the Rings
Jackie Chan
"Disney Books"
Sponge Bob
Three Little Pigs
Horowitz Horror
The Tale of Despereaux
The Titan's Curse
"I don't have one." (Arrrrrrrrghhhh...)
Like a Song
3 for The Misadventures of Maude March (this is a Texas Bluebonnet book this year)
Tinkerbell
8 for Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo (this is a Texas Bluebonnet book this year)


One of the nicest things about this year's trick-or-treaters is that almost every one of them said "Thank you."

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Robert's Snow for Cancer's Cure

This week's Blogging for the Cure:

Bloggers are banding together to help fight cancer. Here is this week's Robert's Snow Blog Event schedule:

Monday, October 29

Tuesday, October 30

Wednesday, October 31

Thursday, November 1

Friday, November 2

Saturday, November 3

Sunday, November 4

Please take time out to visit all of these blogs, and read about these fabulous illustrators. And, if you're so inclined, think about bidding for a snowflake in the Robert's Snow auction. Each snowflake makes a unique gift (for yourself or for someone else), and supports an important cause.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Back online

Well, it has been a busy time here in the entwood.
My gig at the local junior high was a happy time.
  • At least half the books in my "Read these, I promise they are good!" display got checked out.
  • Talked some more parents off the Accelerated Reader
    "ledge of despair"
  • Gave Cinda Williams Chima's Warrior Heir to a reader who can't wait for the next Percy Jackson
  • Danced with happiness to see Gail Gauthier's Happy Kid in the box of new books that arrived

  • Booktalked Caroline Cooney's Flash Fire as a current event tie-in to the fires in California

There has never been more to read about on the blogs as the Blogging for the Cure for Robert's Snow continues.

...and I have never had more to read as my inbox has exploded with interesting emails about the event and the new Kidlitosphere list_serv.

On the home front, Saturday is Homecoming with all the incumbent rituals and frenzies surrounding the dance. Keep Treebeard aka Mr. BookMoot (and the young man coming to fetch Entling no. 3) in your thoughts.

An angry Ent is terrifying. Their fingers, and their toes just freeze on to rock; and they tear it up like bread-crust.
-- "Flotsam and Jetsam", The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Hopefully we will be back to our regularly scheduled broadcasting next week.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Robert's Snow for Cancer's Cure

Here is this week's schedule for the Robert's Snow Blogging for the Cure features.

Monday, October 22

Tuesday, October 23

Wednesday, October 24

Thursday, October 25

Friday, October 26

Saturday, October 27

Sunday, October 28

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Boots on the Ground

Library jobs booked all last week and next.
Demand is outstripping the time available.
M-u-s-t * s-a-y * N-o!
Homestead on the point of collapse due to disorganization and columns, heaps, piles, infills of clutter and debris.

I've been at junior high and high school this past week. I am dismayed by how much I have not read.
As usual, I learn more from the kids than anyone else.

*__________*

Student #1: "Really, Mrs. P, you NEED to read these Warriors books."

*__________*

Me: I saw this (I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You) was on the Lone Star list, is it good?
Student #2: You haven't read this yet?
Oh it is SOOO...good. You have GOT to read this.

*__________*

Junior high teacher who will probably have a kidlit blog someday:
"Hi, you are back.
Have you read Twilight yet?"

Me: "Uh, no, not yet."

Junior high teacher who will probably have a kidlit blog someday: "I told you to read it. I'm not talking to you until you read it."

an hour later


Junior high teacher who will probably have a kidlit blog someday:
"Are you reading Twilight?"

Me: "Uh, no, cataloging these books here.
Oh, thanks, I will read this copy that you just put on the desk in front of me."

Junior high teacher who will probably have a kidlit blog someday: "I'm not talking to you until you read it."

a half hour later


Junior high teacher who will probably have a kidlit blog someday:
"Are you reading Twilight?"

Me: "I'm on page 15."

Junior high teacher who will probably have a kidlit blog someday: "I'm not talking to you until you read it."

*****

I will be back there on Monday. I have my assignment for the weekend.


Saturday, October 20, 2007

and the next James Tiberius Kirk is...

Ever alert, Entling No. 2 sent on this news about the casting of James T. Kirk and "Bones" in the Star Trek XI movie.
Whoo hoo, Éomer!

"Heroes" fans here in the entwood are happy about the casting of Spock too.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Robert's Snow Artist: Ruth Sanderson























"Let It Snow" is the perfect cheer for this effort to benefit Robert's Snow for Cancer's Cure and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

It is also the title of Ruth Sanderson's contribution to the 2007 Robert's Snow auction.

Snow laden fir boughs form the points of the snowflake as a smiling snowman raises his arms towards the sky. His doffed his hat and face express the joy of a snowfall. Sanderson has added a touch of whimsy as closer examination reveals footprints in the snow behind the snowman.


Careful attention to detail, rich glowing colors and lush picture storytelling make Sanderson's books a favorite with children.

In 2003, young readers in Texas voted for her book, The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring to win the Texas Bluebonnet Award.

Sanderson lists horseback riding as her favorite hobby and her love of horses is reflected in her books. Her horses (and unicorns) have flowing manes and soulful eyes.

When girls ask me for a "princess fairy tale" I am always tickled to see their eyes light up when I show them Cinderella. The cover sparkles and Cinderella's dress is a the height of fantasy fashion. Their usual response is "oooooooooooooohhh..."

Ruth Sanderson has an affinity for fairy tales having illustrated:

The Crystal Mountain
by Ruth Sanderson
The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Ruth Sanderson
Cinderella by Ruth Sanderson
A Treasury of Princesses: Princess Tales from Around the World
Beauty and the Beast (Little Books) by Samantha Easton
The Snow Princess by Ruth Sanderson
Papa Gatto: An Italian Fairy Tale by Ruth Sanderson
Rose Red and Snow White: A Grimms Fairy Tale
by Ruth Sanderson, Jacob Grimm, and Wilhelm Grimm
Where Have The Unicorns Gone by Jane Yolen
William Shakespeare's The Tempest

Golden Wood Studio website showcases her artwork and offers a look at the evolution of a picture from sketch to finished painting. She has a Mother Goose book coming out in 2008 and Jane Yolen posed as Mother Goose.


You may bid on "Let it Snow" during Auction 3: December 3 - 7

I don't know about you, dear reader, but my short list is getting longer and longer and longer...

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Robert's Snow for Cancer's Cure


In 2004, Grace Lin and her husband Robert Mercer were inspired to begin Robert's Snow for Cancer's Cure to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Beautiful, one-of-a-kind snowflakes were created by children's book illustrators and auctioned to raise money for cancer research.

Sadly, in August 2007, Grace lost her Robert to cancer. In honor of Grace and Robert, the kidlitosphere will be featuring the artwork of some of the illustrators who contributed their talent and time to this year's auction. Three separate auctions will showcase these exquisite original works of art. The first auction begins on November 19.

You can see these treasures here.

Grace Lin describes her snowflake on her blog a solitary grace.

This is the schedule for this week's features. Thank you to Tricia and Jen Robinson for building the links for us to use.

Monday, October 15


Tuesday, October 16


Wednesday, October 17


Thursday, October 18


Friday, October 19


Saturday, October 20



Sunday, October 21

Please take time out to visit all of these blogs, and read about these fabulous illustrators. And, if you're so inclined, think about bidding for a snowflake in the Robert's Snow auction. Each snowflake makes a unique gift (for yourself or for someone else), and supports an important cause.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

First Annual Kidlitosphere Conference

Great things about the First Annual Kidlitosphere Conference:

  • Gracious and convivial company
  • Interesting and extremely helpful presentations.
  • Entertaining and funny stories.
  • Gotta Book's hilarious t-shirts.
  • A magical brunch at Esme Raji Codell's Book Room, a children's book wonderland if there ever was one. If the setting were not amazing enough, Esme prepared a delicious spread of food that included a blintz cassserole that made me very very happy.
  • Finding out we have more than just our affection for children's and YA literature in common -- We discovered we share similar interests in movies, TV shows, coffee and shoes.
  • A chance to visit with gifted authors and illustrators
  • Such happiness and joy to find out all the blogs I read, REALLY are written and hosted by such nice, smart and funny people.

I think I am the last one to post. As usual, Indefatigable Kelly at Big A little a has an excellent round-up of the posts about the conference.

Thank you, Robin Brande for making all this possible!

It was WONDERFUL!

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Author: Rick Riordan

I had several kids at my last junior high gig ask me if I knew the title of the next Percy Jackson book. They were dismayed when I said no.

Well, know we all know.

Rockstar Rick Riordan's next Percy Jackson novel will be called
The Battle of the Labyrinth.

Excellent cover!!

And now I am off to Chicago for the 1st Kidlitosphere Conference. See you all soon.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Cybil Nominations Are Now Open

From the Cybils website:

Nominations Are Now Open
Welcome to the 2007 Cybils, the only literary awards by bloggers. We're seeking nominations from book lovers in eight genres:

Fantasy/Science Fiction
Fiction Picture Books
Graphic Novels
Middle Grade Fiction
Non-Fiction: Middle Grade and Young Adult
Non-Fiction Picture Books
Poetry
Young Adult Fiction


Nominations close November 21st and you get one nomination per category so reflect, ponder and nominate.

I will be serving as a judge for Non-Ficton: Middle Grade and Young Adult.

Our fearless leader/organizer, Jen Robinson, posted about the committee at her blog.

The 2007 Cybils MG/YA Nonfiction Committee
I'm happy to announce the members of the 2007 Cybils MG/YA Nonfiction Committee:
Category Organizer: Me
Nominating Panel:
Mindy (Propernoun.net)
Susan Thomsen (Chicken Spaghetti)
KT Horning (Worth the Trip)
Vivian (HipWriterMama)
Becky (Farm School)

Judging Panel:
Tracy Chrenka (Talking in the Library)
Emily Mitchell (Emily Reads)
Camille Powell (Book Moot)
Alice Herold (Big A little a)
Jennie Rothschild (Biblio File)