I am delighted to announce that starting in mid-to-late January I'll be working with Susan Kusel from Wizard's Wireless, Pam Coughlan from MotherReader, and Gina Montefusco from PBS on a new children's book blog for PBS Parents. The mission of the blog will be to help kids learn to love reading. This, of course, fits in quite well with what Susan and Pam and I have been trying to do with our own blogs, and with what PBS does through their many other outlets. We are all very excited to get started.
And honestly, we have many of you who are reading this post to thank. Some of you may recall that last January I was a guest blogger/expert at PBS Parents, talking about the power and wonder of children's books. Many members of the Kidlitosphere came over and commented, and helped me when I ran into questions that I was unable to answer sufficiently on my own (as referenced in this article). I think that together we demonstrated to PBS the high level of interest in children's books and raising readers among the blogging community, as well as the value of the Kidlitosphere as a resource for the PBS Parents audience. And that really started the ball rolling for this PBS Parents children's book blog.
As already explained by Susan at Wizards Wireless, topics will include "getting kids interested in reading, early literacy and reviews across a variety of genres." I also hope for the new blog to be a portal by which parents can learn more about the amazing resources available in the Kidlitosphere. As Susan also explained, we are having a bit of trouble coming up with the perfect name for the new blog. Any suggestions that you have would certainly be welcome. I'm thinking of Literacy Lighthouse as a name for my own little sub-section of the new blog, because I expect to focus a spotlight on literacy and book reviews. But we still need an overall name that gets across the concept of raising readers, talking about children's books, etc.
Stay tuned for further news as we get the blog established. Any feedback or suggestions that you have in the meantime would certainly be appreciated. And thanks so much for the feedback that helped to get this whole thing started, nearly a year ago.
Oooh, that's exciting! Congrats!
Posted by: PJ Hoover | December 08, 2008 at 09:31 PM
Yay for you, and Pam and Susan. Great news. Congratulations!
Posted by: jama | December 09, 2008 at 04:38 AM
Congratulations, Jen!
Posted by: Susan_Thomsen | December 09, 2008 at 05:28 AM
Exciting!
Posted by: Andrew Karre | December 09, 2008 at 06:01 AM
Can't wait to see the new blog! What great news!
Posted by: Lori | December 09, 2008 at 06:27 AM
What exciting news! Congratulations, Jen!
Posted by: Meg | December 09, 2008 at 07:16 AM
I'm so excited, but I have to ask if you are still going to keep your blog. Don't tell me that Jen Robinson's Book Page will be done away with????
(I would be very sad)
Posted by: Deanna H | December 09, 2008 at 07:29 AM
That's so amazing. Way to go!
You know, it looks like you have a great idea for a name in your post: Spotlight on Reading. Then all of the sub-fields could have some sort of light analogy. Just a thought
Posted by: Stacy Nyikos | December 09, 2008 at 07:35 AM
Thanks so much, guys. The whole thing is definitely a result of the energy of the Kidlitosphere.
And Deanna, I'm sorry. I should have made that more clear. I'll still be blogging at Jen Robinson's Book Page. I'll also blog about once a week for PBS. I'm really happy with the way that PBS set this up, actually, as a collaborative blog. We each can keep our own blogs, and our own blogging identities, but also contribute to what's happening at PBS Parents. I would never have wanted to give up everything that I've built here over the past 3 years.
Stacy, thanks for the suggestion. I've thrown it into our brainstorming mix. We're still in pretty early stages of figuring out what will work best.
Thanks again, all!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | December 09, 2008 at 09:19 AM
Amazing, wonderful, and fantabulous don't seem big enough to cover it! PBS obviously saw where the kidlit energy is housed. Congratulations to Susan, Pam, and you.
Posted by: Terry | December 09, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Wonderful news -- can't wait to see it, Jen.
Posted by: Liz | December 09, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Humongous!!!!
Posted by: Laurel Snyder | December 09, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Congrats! Can't wait to check it out.
Posted by: caribookscoops | December 09, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Congrats, Jen! This is great news and the PBS families is going to get a great book advocate.
I wonder if they may have a special interest in certain genre of books, such as multicultural materials since PBS is so good about reaching out to a diverse audience.
Posted by: Philip Lee | December 09, 2008 at 03:46 PM
You all are so great. Thank you! I love the word Fantabulous, Terry.
And Philip, I think it's too soon to say about genres, or those sorts of details. But it's a good thought.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | December 09, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Congrats and Literacy Lighthouse sounds good.
Posted by: Doret | December 09, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Congratulations, Jen!! And thanks to everyone here for such good wishes for the three of us. Thank you again to you and Gina for involving me in the project. I'm really really looking forward to it.
-Susan
Posted by: Wizards Wireless | December 10, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Oh what a treat this new blog will be, Jen! Can't wait to read it and spread the word. As for the name, what about "Literacy Grounds"?
Posted by: Aline Pereira | December 10, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Susan, it's going to be great working with you! And Doret and Aline, thanks for the naming feedback. Literacy Grounds makes me think of Literacy Playground (or maybe Literary Playground). Which is how brainstorming works. Thanks!!
Posted by: Jen Robinson | December 10, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Fabulous news! Congrats! PBS is in excellent hands.
Posted by: Jules | December 10, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Congratulations to all of you! Please keep me posted! :)
Posted by: Little Willow | December 10, 2008 at 06:21 PM
PBS is so FORTUNATE! And so are all of us ...
Posted by: Mitali Perkins | December 11, 2008 at 11:17 AM
There is a great children's book called "Other People's Shoes." It teaches the value of kindness. It is the kind of books that parents love to read their children because it has a great storyline and teaches great values.
Here is a link if you want to check it out:
www.eloquentbooks.com/otherpeoplesshoes.html
Posted by: Michelle | December 11, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Great! Always like good news. Congratulations.
Posted by: C. Lee McKenzie | December 13, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Thanks so much, guys! This Kidlitosphere is such an amazing and supportive group.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | December 14, 2008 at 12:59 PM
That's wonderful! Keep us updated.
Posted by: Jennifer, Snapshot | December 14, 2008 at 04:26 PM
I've been waiting for more news about your PBS blog. Will your posting begin soon? I'm sure I'm not the only one eager for this to start.
Posted by: Judy Weymouth | January 29, 2009 at 01:48 PM
Thanks for asking, Judy! We're working on some technical details/name for the blog, etc. That's taken a bit more time than originally anticipated, but I hope that we'll start posting sometime in February. I'll make an announcement on my blog, as soon as I have some more definite information. Plans are proceeding! Thanks again for being interested.
Posted by: Jen Robinson | January 29, 2009 at 02:21 PM