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InsideStory: Making Words Memorable
InsideStory Flashcards, the Seattle-based company founded in 2006 by mother/daughter team Kande Underwood and Shauna Simon, is creatively changing the way children learn and remember words. Simon, a teacher and tutor, says that the flashcards were "inspired by necessity. There was nothing else like them on the market with this level of vocabulary. If kids are told stories, they’re much more likely to remember words because they become more meaningful."
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Lerner Gets Advice from Target Readership
Most publishers realize that if you want to know what draws teen readers to certain books and not to others, you'd better ask a teenager. Thus, about 20 YA publishers have been seeking feedback from teen readers by participating in the ALA's YALSA YA Galley Project. Publishers send galleys to teen book discussion groups around the country, and receive honest and throrough feedback. In what might be a first, Lerner Publishing is taking the discussion a step further...
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New Children's Ambassador to Be Announced Jan. 5
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington will announce the next National Ambassador for Young People's Literature on January 5, at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The two-year post was created in conjunction with the Children's Book Council and Every Child a Reader to raise national awareness of the importance of young people's literature. The new appointee will succeed Jon Scieszka, the country's first children's ambassador, who began his term in January 2008...
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Galley Talk: 'Wishing for Tomorrow'
Liz Murphy, owner of The Learned Owl Book Shop in Hudson, Ohio, chats about Hilary McKay's sequel to A Little Princess.
Finishing a quick re-read of A Little Princess, I wiped away tears as Sara and Becky and the Indian Gentleman drove off. But picking up Wishing for Tomorrow, I was delighted to read McKay's note that explained her feeling that the rest of the girls left behind at Miss Minchin's school needed to have their voices heard. -
In Brief: December 3
This week, Saks Fifth Avenue's windows display the art in a picture book, Alex Rider author Anthony Horowitz tours the country, and Libby Schmais blogs about her debut YA novel.
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Judge Rules in Favor of Meyer in Plagiarism Case
A judge has ruled in favor in Stephenie Meyer and Hachette Book Group, dismissing Jordan Scott’s claim of copyright infringement. Scott had accused Meyer of plagiarism. Scott filed the suit in federal court in California in August of this year. At the time, Hachette called the suit a "publicity stunt to further Ms. Scott’s career," and said it expected the court would dismiss it...
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Little, Brown Gears Up for New Patterson Novel
Initial marketing efforts launching James Patterson's Witch & Wizard were shrouded by a veil of secrecy. At this year's BEA, Little Brown kept ARCs under wraps and under lock and key - literally. Now the publisher is keeping anything but mum about the novel, which debuts December 14 with a 700,000-copy first printing. The current promotional campaign entails a number of initiatives intended to spark young adults' interest in the novel - and to build on the buzz that began last spring...
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Fact and Fiction About H1N1
It's in the headlines everywhere, as schools across the country have recorded heavy student absences this fall, with children laid low with flu symptoms. H1N1. To help parents and educators answer questions and assuage children's fears about this virulent virus, Stone Arch Books, an imprint of Capstone Publishers, is currently offering free downloads of its January 2010 release, Finn Reeder, Flu Fighter, a middle-grade novel...
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In Brief: November 19
This week, it was Extreme Trivia Challenge Night with the Children's Book Council, seven paper engineering wizards popped up at Manhattan's Books of Wonder, Lois Lowry was a star attraction at the Connecticut Children’s Book Fair, and Heather Vogel Frederick hit the road in search of mother-daughter pen pals.
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Random Hopes ‘Fallen’ Will Soar
Delacorte has been stirring up interest in Lauren Kate's Fallen, which launches a four-book series about fallen angels and forbidden love. The author embarked on a six-city pre-pub tour at the end of October to promote the novel, due December 8 with a 100,000-copy first printing. The publisher will roll out the next phase of its marketing and publicity campaign on November 20, when a book trailer will open in 47 theaters...
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Mathew Price Goes Multilingual
Dallas, Tex.-based Mathew Price, a children’s book publisher of pop-up and lift-the-flap books, is making a commitment to multiculturalism that goes beyond the color of a character's skin (or fur), by publishing its books in multiple languages. According to marketing consultant Janey Tannenbaum, almost every book on the fall MP list is available in both English and Spanish-language editions, using exactly the same heavy paper, covers and mechanics it has used in the past...
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Red Balloon Celebrates 25th Year
The Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minn. celebrated its 25th anniversary last weekend with a birthday bash that included author signings, story times, and other fun activities that children of all ages enjoyed. And we're sure the adults accompanying their children also celebrated the 20% discount on everything in the store, because store co-manager Justine Stahlmann reported that the store did two to three times the amount of business as it usually does on weekends.
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Moving On Up: Friends from the Front Lines
The children’s book world has seen powerful stories of hope and resilience during wartime before. Nubs now joins their ranks, as one of the most inspiring tales to emerge from the war in Iraq. The picture book photo-essay describes how an abandoned, abused Iraqi dog trekked more than 70 miles through rugged, wintry terrain to find the U.S. Marine who had shown him kindness. The resulting friendship is the kind of happy ending that would, er, make a great book....
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Hoose Wins NBA in Young People's Literature
The National Book Award for Young People's Literature was given Wednesday night to Phillip Hoose, for Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (FSG/Kroupa), a true-life account of the 15-year-old African-American girl who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in March 1955, nine months before Rosa Parks. Hoose walked to the podium with Colvin, and in accepting his medal, called the honor "unreal." He began by thanking his "brilliant" editor, Melanie Kroupa...
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Five Authors (and a Surprise Guest) at the NBA Teen Press Conference
During his introductory speech at the 12th annual National Book Foundation's Teen Press Conference, held this past Tuesday, host Jon Scieszka noted that the "crazy collection of writers and illustrators" that make up this year's National Book Award finalists in the Young People's Literature category offered "absolutely something for everyone"; be it social activism, history, or "lots of kissing."
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Charlesbridge Acquires Mackinac Island Press List
Watertown, Mass., children’s publisher Charlesbridge has acquired the rights to the 30-book backlist and several forthcoming titles from Mackinac Island Press of Traverse City, Mich. MIP will continue to operate as a book developer, producing between eight and 12 children’s titles, and one and two series a year.
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Children's Book Reviews: 11/16/2009
In this week's children's book reviews: picture books from Peter McCarty, David McPhail, Sandra Boynton, and Arnold and Adrianne Lobel; fiction from Iain Lawrence, Mike Lupica, James Patterson, and Peter Lerangis; and a round-up of the latest pop-up books to hit the market.
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Galley Talk: Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Tish Gayle of The Blue Marble Children’s Bookstore in Ft. Thomas, Ky., shares her thoughts about a spring 2010 novel.
Through literature for children and young adults, we’ve been introduced to characters who have worked their way remarkably well through personal hardships. In Kathryn Erskine's extraordinary Mockingbird, we meet 10-year-old Caitlin, aka Scout, a talented artist diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome... -
In Brief: November 12
This week, five YA authors gather for fans at Books of Wonder in New York City, children in Mongolia get their books delivered... by camel, and Ivy and Bean Day was celebrated in 100 bookstores and libraries across the country.
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Movie Briefs: 'A Christmas Carol' and 'New Moon'
In this round-up of film news involving the children’s book world, it was a big opening weekend for Disney’s AChristmas Carol, taking in $30 million; and Little, Brown preps for the long-awaited release of the Twilight sequel, New Moon, on November 20.
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