Sunday Afternoon Visits

I am once again out visiting around the blogs on a Sunday afternoon. Here are some things that especially caught my eye from the past few days:

• Susan at Chicken Spaghetti links to the new First Book Blog. I've written about First Book before, but hadn't heard about their new blog. First Book is a national organization that collects books and distributes them to underprivileged children. To date, First Book has distributed more than 43 million books to kids! On Friday, First Book celebrated its 14th birthday. What I like about the blog is that the enthusiasm of the people who work for First Book really shines through. They also have several video interviews with children's book authors and illustrators. I highly, highly recommend visiting the First Book blog, or finding a way to help them to put more books in the hands of children.
• Little Willow has another booklist this week, this one on Young Adult Fantasy titles. I don't know how she keeps coming up with such great lists, but fantasy lovers of all ages should definitely check this one out. She also has some thoughts on the many sub-genres of fantasies. I've noticed for myself that I like best fantasies that start out (and sometimes remain) in our ordinary world, and then either have a doorway that people go through, or have an overlapping world of magic, or something like that. I find it easier to get lost in books like this than in what Little Willow calls "standard fantasy novels" that are set in some unspecified place and time. Finally, Little Willow also has a new booklist on Summer Reads. I was happy to see The Penderwicks on this list - what a wonderful summer story.
• Wendy Betts of Blog from the Windowsill has published a new issue of her electronic publication Notes from the Windowsill. How can I resist this tagline: "celebrating children's books loved by adult readers"? Wendy reviews some classic reprints, several new books, and several that are new to paperback. As I did, she recommends Dana Reinhardt's A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life (which I reviewed here). She also likes Scott Westerfeld's So Yesterday, which I read recently, but didn't review (I was a bit more lukewarm on this one, though I have liked other Westerfeld books).
• MotherReader has a Louie-themed list of children's picture books. You'll have to go read the whole post on her site to understand it. I have to tell you that I think this woman should be a writer. She can write about anything, and I find it funny. Here's an example: "it is one of my favorite words to use — but I digress (I like digress too)." She said, digressing. I can't explain it, but I think it's off-handedly hilarious.
• The Disco Mermaids unravel their first set of clues to The dePaola Code, deciphered from looking at the cover of Tomie's favorite of his books: Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs. Well worth a visit!
• Camille from Book Moot got to hear Rick Riordan speak recently, and pronounces him "a true "gentleman"." She also links to Rick's report from this week's Book Expo America, which is pretty funny. Take-home message from Rick's report: "if Dave Barry asks you to donate a vital organ for a worthy cause, say no." Now there's advice that would be difficult to live without, don't you think? Camille also reviews Alice Alone by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, and is pleased to report that her family has been unharmed so far by having this frequent censor target in the house.
• Becky from Farm School has a fun post on books about the locations of children's books. That is, books about the real-life places that lie behind famous, and not-so-famous, children's books. For instance, did you know that there's a children's book walking tour guide to New York City? Becky has the links.
• PJ Librarian strongly recommends library summer reading programs. What's not to like, I say, in programs that encourage kids to keep reading over the summer. The one at my local library is quite popular.

Thanks for visiting with me on this Sunday afternoon! I'll be in touch.