Jen Robinson's Book Page

Links I Shared on Twitter this Week: February 27

Here are highlights from the links that I shared on Twitter this week @JensBookPage. Topics this week include book awards, book lists, the Cybils Awards, diversity, growing bookworms, book-related events, publishing, ebooks, schools, and libraries. 

Awards

How cool! There's a new Mathical prize in children’s literature, focused on books involving math http://ow.ly/Jxiy2 via @FuseEight

The 2014 Andre Norton Award Nominees for #YALit Science Fiction + Fantasy have been announced, says @SheilaRuth http://ow.ly/JpfdP

Our own @MotherReader was incl in @mental_floss list of 23 Weird Awards for "weird ass pic. books" http://ow.ly/JpeWl via Tanita Davis

Hollins University Launches Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children’s Literature reports @CynLeitichSmith http://ow.ly/JHEke  #kidlit

Book Lists

26 Children's Books That Celebrate Black History by Mallory McInnis @buzzfeed http://ow.ly/JC38b via @PWKidsBookshelf

Happy Birthday, Mr. Grimm. List of some of Grimm's most famous tales, plus books based on them, from @semicolonblog http://ow.ly/JB7Hf

A Tuesday Ten from @TesseractViews | Crossworld Fantasy (characters start in real world + go to another) http://ow.ly/JxjGi #kidlit

Another Tuesday Ten @TesseractViews | Off-world Adventure! | #kidlit taking place in space or on other planets http://ow.ly/JHCXS 

Board Books for Toddlers (Not the Babyish Ones) from @growingbbb http://ow.ly/JxgLW #BookList #kidlit

9 Fairy Tale Chapter Books for Kids (without princesses) from @momandkiddo http://ow.ly/Jxgie #BookList #kidlit

List of Heroic Reads for kids (by age) for Supporting Collaborative Summer Library Programs @sljournal http://ow.ly/JHuxO  #BookList

Cybils

On the #Cybils blog: 2014 Winners: What’s Being Said, Part 2 http://ow.ly/JxkuG

The New #Cybils Featured Blogger is Greg Pincus @gregpincus from Gotta Book. Short interview by @Book_Nut here: http://ow.ly/JB7dQ

A nice thank you to #Cybils from our Featured Blogger @gregpincus http://ow.ly/JBZD4

New #Cybils blog post: Now that the Awards are Over, here's how we'll be keeping up the blog. Stay tuned! http://ow.ly/Jx8yI

#BookList Fun on the #Cybils blog | Great Read Aloud #NonFiction titles, selected by Jennifer Wharton http://ow.ly/JHDZX 

Diversity + Gender

Must-read from @haleshannon 4 teachers, librarians, parents, reviewers on boys being excluded from her school visits http://ow.ly/JHDd8 

Sigh. 7th What UK Kids Are Reading Report finds hardly any books by female authors in most-read lists http://ow.ly/JHGoF  @GuardianBooks

More upbeat: It's A Woman's Universe: The Ladies Of Science Fiction | Jessica Khoury @HuffingtonPost http://ow.ly/JHGNk  @PWKidsBookshelf

Kid Lit Still Mostly White, but #Diversity Gaining Ground @sdiaz101 @sljournal http://ow.ly/JC1gN

"I believe that genre fiction by women deserves the same treatment + respect as genre fiction by men" @JenniferWeiner http://ow.ly/JpiuG

Mind the Gaps (in #library collection development) | Books for All Young Readers Vaunda Micheaux Nelson @HornBook http://ow.ly/JHF05 

Voices of Race: Youth #Library Programs to See and Celebrate #Diversity by @amyeileenk http://ow.ly/JHFxH 

Events + Programs

Gorgeous! The free @CBCBook Children's Book Week poster by Grace Lee is up at http://bookweekonline.com ! @disneyreads #CBW15

Also check out Raúl Colón's official @CBCBook Children's Book Week bookmark at http://bookweekonline.com ! @SimonKIDS #CBW15

Great new resource from @BookChook | A List of Book-Related Special Days for Kids, like "Read in the Bathtub Day" http://ow.ly/Jxk56

RT @OliverJeffers I illustrated the cover of a book, co published by Amnesty International, that contains famous quotes… https://instagram.com/p/zfXxj_zXir/ 

Growing Bookworms

"Reading aloud – I think it is the single most important thing you can do in your classroom" says @katsok http://ow.ly/JxkLu #teaching

Classroom "read aloud ... builds a community" | @StaceyLoscalzo on Kate DiCamillo's Read Aloud PSA http://ow.ly/JB9ux

#RaisingReaders Monday @kateywrites | "it’s important to show kids that we love to read" + reading is "cool" http://ow.ly/JxaAt

How to Get Kids to Read More. "Build a culture of book loving": Beth Greenfield @YahooParenting http://ow.ly/JphdG #RaisingReaders

Family reading time is important to many older kids, too | Leanna Landsmann @Tennessean via @tashrow http://ow.ly/Jpgyl #RaisingReaders

On Reading, Writing, Blogging, and Publishing

A Brief History of Young Adult Books from @EpicReads http://ow.ly/JC2Xq via @PWKidsBookshelf #YALit

Much-Anticipated Sequels and the Latest from Avi, Suma, and Wein @sljournal http://ow.ly/JC1x0 #kidlit #yalit

The Spring 2015 Kids’ Indie Next List Preview | @ABABook via @bkshelvesofdoom http://ow.ly/JpkEE #BookList

Are people really still asking? @GdnChildrensBks : Why are so many adults reading YA + teen fiction? http://ow.ly/JC2zc @PWKidsBookshelf

Why digital natives prefer reading in print. Yes, you read that right @mikerosenwald @washingtonpost http://ow.ly/JxAp5 via @scclfriends

First Harper Lee then Dr. Seuss. Now: Scottish man finds lost Sherlock Holmes story in attic @NYDailyNews http://ow.ly/JpfVr

Schools and Libraries

The Dos and Don'ts of Attending Library Story Time (Tips for Parents from Volunteer @momandkiddo ) http://ow.ly/JHEMk 

Sigh! The Crackdown on Little Free Libraries @CityLab via @JoneMac53 http://ow.ly/JBdAC

Teacher with Tissues: Showing Students How Books Tug at Your Heart by @MrsSokolowski @NerdyBookClub http://ow.ly/JxhbD

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.

Literacy Milestone: Transcribing Her First Song (+ Keeping a Diary)

My daughter, who will be five in just over a month, loves to make up songs. She's been doing this for a few months now, dancing around the house singing about birds or spring or pizza or whatever happens to be on her mind. Sometimes it's actually hard to tell which are songs she's learning at school and which are songs she's made up (there seems to be some overlap). 

Today, for the first time, she came to me with her little Hello Kitty diary and a pink pen and asked me to transcribe the words of her newest song. There are two verses, with a refrain in the middle that goes "Oooh oooh oooh oooh." Once she saw how I wrote the first couple of "Ooohs" she took over that part from me, but I documented the rest. Then, she asked me to sing it back to her once, and she was off to her next activity. 

My husband and I have also been asked recently to add our own entries to said Hello Kitty diary (a Valentine gift from the $1 bin at Target). She mostly draws pictures so far. But I love that she has independently latched on to the idea of using this little diary to make her songs and ideas more permanent. I have a feeling that this will be the first of many songs and poems written in the first of many diaries. This particular diary we will doubtless keep forever. 

Did or do your children have diaries? 

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. 

Bear Hug: Katharine McEwen

Book: Bear Hug
Author: Katharine McEwen
Pages: 32
Age Range: 3-7

Bear Hug by Katharine McEwen is a cozy, collage-illustrated book that uses a year in the life of a young bear to illustrate the seasons. The bear gets ready for winter and finds a companion. The two bears hibernate, and, in spring, emerge with a cub. The family spends time doing bear things during spring, summer, and fall, and then, once again, the bears start to get ready for winter. 

Bear Hug is a quiet tale that would make a soothing bedtime book. McEwen's prose is somewhat advanced, suitable for parents reading aloud to preschoolers. Like this:

"So just as Papa showed him,
he gathers leaves and bundles of bracken
to make a warm winter bed.

And just as Mama showed him,
he dives into the shivery river
to catch fat, silvery fish."

I like the use of "shivery" and the poetry of placing "silvery" in the next line. Bear Hug is something of a non-rhyming poem, a book that will stand up to repeated readings. 

But the real beauty of Bear Hug lies in McEwen's warm, cozy illustrations. The browns of the forest and the bears are everywhere in the book, off-set by the russet tones of fall, the white of winter, and the deep greens of summer. The bears are non-threatening for the youngest of readers, their affection for one another shown clearly throughout the story. The collage style makes the illustrations unique, and fills the pages with details. 

Bear Hug is aptly titled, a bear hug of a book. While the simple storyline may not work for older kids, Bear Hug is a lovely read-aloud for preschoolers. Recommended! 

Publisher: Templar Books (@Candlewick)
Publication Date: September 23, 2014
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher, sent for consideration for the Cybils awards

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon and iBooks affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Children's and YA Books I Have Shared with My Husband

In my review of The Living by Matt de la Peña, I mentioned this:

"as soon as I closed the book I said to my husband "You have GOT to read this" (something I reserve for only a select few titles each year)."

My husband doesn't read nearly as many books as I do, so I reserve the cream of the crop (and the more exciting/action-packed titles) for him.

My longtime blogging friend Susan Stephenson from The Book Chook said that she would be interested to know what other books I had passed on. She suggested that this might make a good blog post. So I discussed this with said spouse. We couldn't remember every book that I had recommended, but we did come up with a list of the titles that I had passed on that he particularly enjoyed. Here they are:

The Harry Potter Books by J.K. Rowling. This is admittedly an obvious one, but I distinctly recall telling him after reading the very first book that I thought he was going to like them. We ordered the second book from the UK, because it was published there earlier. And I recall my husband getting one of the later books out of the library, even though I had bought a copy, because he didn't want to wait for me to finish.

The Underland Chronicles (Gregor the Overlander) by Suzanne Collins. This middle grade series didn't get nearly the attention that Collins' YA series received later, but my husband devoured them. I had read them as library copies, but then I bought a full paperback set for him for Christmas one year. Here are links to my reviews of Books 1 and 2, Book 4, and Book 5. 

The first Diary of a Wimpy Kid book by Jeff Kinney. I handed this one to my husband at some point, and he enjoyed it, but never read the others. Recently, after we watched the first movie with our daughter, he decided that he would like to go back and read the other books in this series. Luckily there are quite a few now. I've reviewed Book 3, Book 6, and Book 7. 

The Hunger Games series, also by Suzanne Collins. Again, this recommendation seems obvious now after all the hype, but this may have been the first time my husband read an ARC, because I gave him the first book as soon as I had finished it and said something like: "Yes!" Incidentally credit goes to Liz Burns, who was the one who told me that I needed to get hold of that ARC at a conference one year. Here are my reviews of Book 1, Book 2, and Book 3. 

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor. I wasn't actually sure about this recommendation, because the books in this series have a bit more romance than my husband is normally looking for. But we had met Laini at KidLitCon, and he decided to give it a try. He enjoyed these books, and thinks that Laini is a fabulous writer. 

The Living by Matt de la Peña, as mentioned above. I read this book in pretty much a single sitting, deaf to everything going on around me, which made it an easy recommendation. We are both looking forward to the sequel. 

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey. I read this one on Kindle, which I later regretted, because I wasn't able to pass along my copy (I'm the only e-reader in our household right now). I waited for it come out in paperback, but finally gave up and bought him the hardcover for this past Christmas. He is reading it now. Here are my reviews of Book 1 and Book 2. 

I'm sure there are others, but those are the ones that stood out for the two of us. I know it looks like I've just shared the really popular titles with him. But in fact, it's more true that I only share books with him that truly stand out for me (and that I think he will enjoy). This has proven to be highly correlated with books that end up doing well. So, the next time I hand my spouse the first book of a new series I will let you know, and you'll know that it is likely to be successful. 

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Blown Away: Rob Biddulph

Book: Blown Away
Author: Rob Biddulph
Pages: 40
Age Range: 4-8

Blown Away by Rob Biddulph is a delightful new picture book chock-full of amusing details. Penguin Blue tries to fly a kite one day, but the wind sweeps him away. Various friends try to grab hold, but they end up pulled along. Eventually, they leave Antarctica and land on a tropical island. It takes ingenuity for the travelers to find their way home.

Blown Away is a great book to read with preschoolers. There are participation opportunities, as when the text asks: "Who's good at blowing?" and the listening child has the chance to point out an elephant. There is a mention of passing "clouds one to nine", and the clouds are, in fact, numbered, giving an opportunity to stop and count. But the beauty of these opportunities for interaction is that they are fully integrated with the story.  

Biddulph's rhyming text positively cries out to be read aloud. He maintains enough variation in fonts and layout to encourage the reader to vary tones, keeping things from being remotely sing-songy. He also uses a rich vocabulary. Like this:

"Intrepid travelers, never fear, 'cause Blue has had a good idea.
"The boat,
            some leaves,
                           a vine, and then...
The wind will blow us home again.""

There are also tons of over-the-top, entertaining details in Biddulph's digitally created illustrations, like a whale used as a school bus, and an ice cream truck sitting, unremarked, on the tropical island. The animals aren't quite realistic looking, but they all have personality. This is a book that will reward repeat readings, for sure. 

Blown Away is everything my family looks for in a picture book: read-aloud-friendly, participation-encouraging, entertaining, and visually pleasing. Highly recommended!

Publisher: HarperCollins (@HarperChildrens) 
Publication Date: January 20, 2015
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

#KidLitFaves: Recent Children's and YA Books that Bloggers Love: Feb. 23

As I travel about the kidlitosphere, encountering reviews by other bloggers (people I trust, and generally have been following for some time), I take note of those reviews in which it is clear that the reviewer really, really likes the book. I share links to those reviews on Twitter (with hashtag #KidLitFaves) and Facebook and round them up here. Hopefully over time this will become a useful resource. I welcome your feedback! 

Picture Books:

Rosemond Cates at Big Hair and Books is "crazy about Rodeo Red" by Maripat Perkins and Molly Idle. She says:

"This will absolutely be added to the permanent collection at my house, and I highly recommend getting a copy for your library as well!"  

Jeff Barger at NC Teacher Stuff says that Joyce Sidman and Rick Allen's Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold combines "exceptional poetry, interesting nonfiction text, and gorgeous illustrations". He adds:

"Joyce Sidman's poetry creates wonderful visuals and makes it a pleasure to read lines aloud. I'm especially drawn to the adjectives that she uses. The poems are impressive on their own, but then you get fascinating nonfiction with great wow! facts."

Early Readers/Early Chapter Books:

At Libros Latin@s, Ashley Hope Pérez reviews the Sofia Martinez series by Jacqueline Jules, three early readers available separately or in a single multi-story volume. Ashley says:

"The Sofia Martinez series is a lovely addition to the world of early chapter books....Suited well to the needs, interests, and sense of humor of early readers, the books will have broad appeal for the K-2 crowd."

Charlotte Taylor from Charlotte's Library adores Ursula Vernon's Dragonbreath series. Reviewing the 10th Dragonbreath installment, Knight-Napped!, she says: 

"If you want a book to offer a seven or eight-year old with a sense of humor, especially an eight-year old who is maybe a bit geeky and who appreciates the snarky absurd, a Dragonbreath book is the Right Answer!!!"  

Middle Grade:

Katie Fitzgerald at Story Time Secrets is undertaking a Children's Historical Fiction Reading project. She reviewed The Squire's Tale by Gerald Morris in the interest of including a book about King Arthur. She says:

"This book is one of those rare gems that manages to be both literary and laugh-out-loud funny. Gerald Morris has a very understated sense of humor that might not appeal to every young reader, but kids that get his subtle jokes will be endlessly amused by them and eager for more." 

Sarah Stevenson is posting her Cybils shortlist reviews for Round 2 Graphic Novels at Finding Wonderland. Reviewing Elementary/Middle Grade category winner El Deafo by Cece Bell she says:

"I see it as having that critical combination of kid appeal and literary merit that will make it both a memorable and enjoyable read... This one was one of my favorites AND it scored the highest on my rating system for the E/MG graphic novel finalists."

Tasha Saecker from Waking Brain Cells calls Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan "simply exceptional." She concludes:

"This book is a delight to read.  It marries the magic of the harmonica with more realistic historical fiction components very successfully." 

Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads features books that she especially likes for Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays. Last week she discussed Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting (And Lives to Tell About It), saying:

"'I've been a huge Charlie Joe Jackson fan for a long time, and this book is an excellent addition to the canon!... This can be enjoyed even if you haven't read CJJ, and I would bet that all of my boys will be eager readers of this one even though Katie is on the cover." 

Young Adult:

April at Good Books and Good Wine makes identifying her favorites easy for me by including a ranking from one to five stars on each review. She gave five stars to All the Rage by Courtney Summers, saying:

"If you are in the market for a book that is incredibly intelligent commentary on our culture and why we need feminism, you need to pick up All The Rage and rage right along with main character Remy at the unfairness of her situation as well as those of other victims. This book is well written. It’s a quick read. It is real and raw and painful. I absolutely recommend it."

Closing Thoughts:

Choosing books to include was exceptionally difficult this week, because so many of my blogging friends waxed enthusiastic about so many titles. I've tried to select books for a wide range of audiences (by age, genre, topic, etc.). I hope that all of youare able to find something of interest. 

Two other notes about these review excerpts:

1. If I have quoted from one of your reviews, and you prefer that I not do so in the future, just let me know. No worries.
2. The book covers that I have included beside each blurb include my personal Amazon affiliate ID. If you don't want your reviews to be included in future because of this, just let me know.

Please let me know what you think of this new feature!

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Links I Shared on Twitter this Week: February 20

Here are highlights from the links that I shared on Twitter this week @JensBookPage. Topics this week include book lists, the Cybils Awards, diversity, black history month, international book giving day, growing bookworms, reading, publishing, and Dr. Seuss.

Awards

Press Release @MrSchuReads | 8th Annual Children’s Choice Book Awards Finalists Announced @CBCBook | Kids vote next! http://ow.ly/JlAjU 

Book Lists

Inventors, Innovators, and Inspirers | Great Picture Book Biographies | Joy Fleishhacker @sljournal http://ow.ly/JdxAq #BookList

Read it Again Momma! @BooksBabiesBows Two-Year-Old's Current Book Rotation, or books toddlers will want to re-read http://ow.ly/J8YZ5

18 Math Picture Books for Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grades from @momandkiddo http://ow.ly/JlzuD #BookList #kidlit

Nice resource from Jean Little Library: #BookList of Read-Aloud or Easy Nonfiction (mostly science + animal books) http://ow.ly/J8ZWZ

Another list from @momandkiddo for me to save for my daughter: Early Chapter Books for 5 to 8 Year Olds http://ow.ly/J8Yi0 #kidlit

Not-to-be-Missed 2014 Middle Grade Novels │ JLG’s Booktalks to Go | Deborah B. Ford @sljournal http://ow.ly/JdxXg #BookList

The Best Place to Hide: Some Favourite Children's Books about Dens and Hiding Out by Emma Barnes @AwfullyBigBlog http://ow.ly/JdBV1

2015 Great #GraphicNovels for Teens selected by @YALSA via @tashrow http://ow.ly/JlsTc  #BookList

Cybils

In case you somehow missed it, the 2014 #Cybils Award Winners were announced today. Some wonderful books here: http://ow.ly/J47h2

On the #Cybils blog: Fun Stuff! The Winners: What’s Being Said http://ow.ly/J8Zt0 #kidlit #yalit

On the #Cybils blog: A Note to Publishers, Authors, and Illustrators from Publisher Liaison @SheilaRuth http://ow.ly/Jlsym  #kidlit

Diversity

Ciel Rouge - 2015 YA Reads Written by Authors of Color http://ow.ly/JdCQW via @bkshelvesofdoom #WeNeedDiverseBooks #YALit

African-American Experience Children’s Literary Reference Guide (2010-2015) from @fuseeight http://ow.ly/JdBIf #DiverseBooks

Perceptions of #Diversity in Book Reviews, Part 1 "Scarcely Plausible" by @malindalo @diversityinya http://ow.ly/J20Y2 @bkshelvesofdoom

So Many (Too Many?) Issues": Perceptions of #Diversity in Book Reviews 2 @malindalo @diversityinya http://ow.ly/J21rT @bkshelvesofdoom

2015 Rainbow List, top 10 books w/ “significant GLBT content, and which are aimed at youth, birth - age 18” http://ow.ly/J8XMl @tashrow

Jen R at Biblio File graphs stats from @CCBCwisc report on 2014 books by/about people of color http://ow.ly/JltJd  #WeNeedDiverseBooks

And here are detailed @CCBCwisc 2014 Statistics on books by and about people of color http://ow.ly/Jlz5A  via @bkshelvesofdoom #diversity

The @CCBCwisc Stats Show Children’s Books Shifting Toward Diversity reports @publisherswkly http://ow.ly/Jm3SG  #WeNeedDiverseBooks

Other links re Children's Books by and about People of Color Published in the United States in 2014 @bkshelvesofdoom http://ow.ly/Jlzoi 

Events (Book Giving Day + Black History Month)

International Book Giving Day ... Books = Love, says A Field Trip Life http://ow.ly/J23A5 #BookGivingDay

7 Core Values to Celebrate During Black History Month from @LEEandLOW blog via @CynLeitichSmith http://ow.ly/J23hc

Graphic Novels That Make Black History Month Come Alive @BooklistReader via @bkshelvesofdoom http://ow.ly/Jhc35 #BookList

Today kicks off #Nonfiction Picture Book Event: Reading Aloud Nonfiction #nf10for10 says @cathymere http://ow.ly/Jls4Q 

Growing Bookworms

New website http://SightWords.com has printable flashcards, teaching strategies, and games for kids learning to read http://ow.ly/J46SP

Video of the Week from @MrSchuReads : Kate DiCamillo Talks About the Importance of Reading Aloud http://ow.ly/JdY4Y #literacy

Sigh. Infographic from @nationalbook | Reading Among Teenagers in Decline | @bkshelvesofdoom http://ow.ly/JdBwn (click image to enlarge)

Sigh! 'The End' of the bedtime story? 1 in 3 parents never read to children before bed, says survey @DailyMirror http://ow.ly/J1zKv

How Children Learn To Read, research results shared by @mkonnikova in @NewYorker via @Jon_Scieszka http://ow.ly/J1Zbl

A Dr. + Researcher on Blocks, Play, Screen Time And The Infant Mind @NPR_ED via @Jon_Scieszka http://ow.ly/J1YJI

Do you give your kids books for Valentine's Day? Amy @SunlitPages does. http://ow.ly/J22ml

Miscellaneous

Finding your sweet spot: How to be happier and more productive – by doing less - @GlobeAndMail + @raisinghappines http://ow.ly/JhdFs

On Reading, Writing, Blogging, and Publishing

Interesting... The Unlikable Female Character: Thoughts on Middle Grade Literature — @fuseeight http://ow.ly/Jhd3j

Interesting post @TheVampedUpVan| Gem’s Rant: You Can’t Be Pretty in #YALit Unless You Say You’re Not via @GNomadness http://ow.ly/Jeflk

Reading, Depression + Me by @catagator @bookriot (treating depression -> enjoying reading more) http://ow.ly/JdCtr via @bkshelvesofdoom

Children’s books are written to be re-read. Why are they not considered worthy of major awards? @GuardianBooks http://ow.ly/JdtLp

2015: The Year of the Spiders and the Flies in #kidlit, declares @fuseeight http://ow.ly/J8Ytr

Tips for Asking for Advice or Help from Professional Colleagues (or People You Know from the Internet)* @molly_wetta http://ow.ly/JigCl 

A new, previously unpublished Dr. Seuss picture book is coming out July 28, says @AmazonBooks http://ow.ly/Jhe9T @RandomHouseKids

Really? Jonathan Franzen Says Young Adult Lit Equals "Moral Simplicity" and It's a Tired Insult says @Bustle http://ow.ly/Jm4lv 

We’re talking about young adult fiction all wrong, stop being reductive @kylefowle in A.V. Club http://ow.ly/Jm4Ll  via @PWKidsBookshelf

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.

A Fine Dessert: Emily Jenkins and Sophie Blackall

Book: A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat
Author: Emily Jenkins
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Pages: 44
Age Range: 4-8

A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Dessert is a picture book that will expand the perspective of kids, even as it makes them smile. A Fine Dessert describes four different families, from 1710 to 2010, each making, and eating, a dessert called blackberry fool.

The ingredients and basic steps for making this dessert don't change significantly over the years, but many other things do. The tools available for whisking cream, for example, evolve quite a bit, as do the methods used for chilling the dessert. 

The very nature of the family changes, too, as we evolve from the nuclear family with mother and daughter (and in one case slave mother and her daughter) doing the cooking to, in the final installment, a father and son making the dessert, and then sharing their dinner in pot-luck fashion with a multi-ethnic assortment of friends. 

The various differences open up many opportunities for discussion with and education of young readers. My own daughter, nearly five, enjoyed doing the math to figure out how much quicker the whisking got over time. We've also discussed topics ranging from refrigeration to slavery. She wanted to know why the mother and daughter in 1810 had to hide in a closet in order to lick the bowl, and this led me to tell her that at one time in our country people owned other people. I think it was over her head, but I won't be surprised if the topic arises again.

But it's not all seriousness. What my daughter loves best about A Fine Dessert is the way each child, across the generations, gets to lick the bowl. She seems to appreciate that something that she enjoys is universal. 

A note from the author indicates, not surprisingly, that these conversation-generating topics were intended. Jenkins also shares the dates at which certain innovations became available. Sources for more information are also included. A Fine Dessert was clearly thoroughly researched. Emily Jenkins concludes in her note:

"This book is about the connection of human beings to one another and to delicious flavors in the kitchen. No matter their circumstances, technologies, and methods of food sourcing, people have the same urge to lick the bowl!"

I knew it!

A Fine Dessert also includes a note from illustrator Sophie Blackall. She says:

"It took me a year to make these drawings, though I wasn't drawing the whole time. Before I even sharpened my pencil, I made a twig whisk to see how it felt to whip cream in 1710."

This attention to detail comes through in the illustrations. The mother from 1710 looks exhausted. The endpapers were painted with the juice of mashed blackberries. The illustrations for 1710 and 1810 in particular have an old-fashioned tone and palette. We can see so many details that change over time - hair styles (for men and women), methods of lighting, construction materials, artwork. The 2010 images are more colorful, and convey the plenty of a modern fridge, even though the boy and his dad appear to live in a fairly modest home. This is a true collaboration of author and illustration - no question. 

A Fine Dessert is a fine picture book indeed, one that I highly recommend for home, and especially library, purchase. I expect this to remain a family favorite for a long time. 

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (@RandomHouseKids)  
Publication Date: January 27 2015
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Growing Bookworms Newsletter: February 18

Today I will be sending out a new issue of the Growing Bookworms email newsletter. (If you would like to subscribe, you can find a sign-up form here.) The Growing Bookworms newsletter contains content from my blog focused on children's and young adult books and raising readers. I currently send the newsletter out every two weeks.

Newsletter Update: In this issue I have five book reviews (picture book through young adult), one installment of my new #KidLitFaves series, and two posts with literacy and reading links that I shared on Twitter recently.I also have one post with a new Literacy Milestone for my daughter.

Not included in the newsletter, I shared one post announcing the winners of the 2014 Cybils Awards. 

Reading Update: In the last two weeks I completed two middle grade, three young adult, and three adult titles. A good reading fortnight! I read/listened to:

• John Christopher: The White Mountains (Tripods, Book 1). Aladdin. Middle Grade. Completed February 13, 2015, on MP3. This book is a classic for a reason, and made for an excellent audio. 
• S. S. Taylor: The Expeditioners and the Secret of King Triton's Lair. McSweeney's McMullens. Middle Grade/Middle School. Completed February 14, 2015. Review to come.
• Nick Lake: There Will Be Lies. Bloomsbury USA Children's Books. Young Adult. Completed February 3, 2015. My review.
• Megan Miranda: Soulprint. Bloomsbury USA Children's Books. Young Adult. Completed February 8, 2015. My review.
• Dan Smith: Big Game. Scholastic. Young Adult Fiction. Completed February 16, 2015. Review to come.
• Orson Scott Card: Shadow of the Hegeon. Tor Books. Adult Science Fiction. Completed February 9, 2015, on MP3. I am re-reading this series on audio, enjoying it so far. 
• Christine Carter: The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Groove at Home and Work. Ballantine Books. Adult Nonfiction. Completed February 11, 2015, on Kindle.I found a lot of useful ideas in this book, and recommend it. 
• Ron Lieber: The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money. Harper. Adult Nonfiction. Completed February 16, 2015, on Kindle. I also found this book useful, particularly as my daughter has just started asking for an allowance. 

I'm reading Strike, the final book in D. J. MacHale's Sylo Chronicles trilogy. I'm listening to Hollow City by Ransom Riggs, the second book about Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children. The books my husband and I have been reading to my daughter can be found here.

My daughter pleased me very much yesterday. When she came home from school I told her that a package had come for. She replied: "I hope it's a book!" Yes, that's my not-such-a-baby bookworm. She also surprised me yesterday by asking for "that book where the author and the illustrator are in the story." Which turned out to be Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett and Adam Rex, which we hadn't read for months. A good book stays with you, I guess. We are also, after seeing the movie, reading Paddington stories frequently. 

What are you and your family reading these days? Thanks for reading the newsletter, and for growing bookworms. 

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. 

There Will Be Lies: Nick Lake

Book: There Will Be Lies
Author: Nick Lake
Pages: 464
Age Range: 12 and up

I think that There Will be Lies by Nick Lake is brilliant and suspenseful, though in the end I found it not quite my sort of thing. The title and bold cover alone are hard to resist. Here's the beginning of the book:

"I'm going to be hit by a car in about four hours, but I don't know that yet.

The weird thing is, it's not the car that's going to kill me, that's going to erase me from the world.

It's something totally different. Something that happens eight days from now and threatens to end the world.

My name is Shelby Jane Cooper--is, was, whatever.

I'm seventeen years old when the car crash happens.

This is my story. (Page 1, ARC)

I found Shelby's "real" story compelling. There's an Afterschool Special sort of vibe to one thread of the book (in a good way), as Shelby is lied to by, and ends up on the run with, her mother. It's clear from the beginning that things aren't quite normal in Shelby's world, but her first person perspective and limited experience mask the details. I was reminded a bit of Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff.

But there's also a parallel story in There Will Be Lies, in which Shelby intermittently finds herself in another world, one dominated by a character from Native American folklore (Coyote). There, Shelby has to help Coyote to save a child. There's a dreamy quality to these scenes (which occur, at first, only when Shelby is asleep). Lake ratchets up the suspense by switching between the real and magical worlds at cliffhangers. 

Personally, the juxtaposition of the two storylines - the two realities - didn't work well for me. I've never cared much for magical realism, and this had a similar feel to me. But I think that people who enjoy stories with alternate realities and/or about myths and legends will like it. 

I also liked that Shelby is differently abled, though I don't want to share the details, as this is one of the many things that the reader is left to figure out.

Shelby has a sarcastic, snarky voice, which take a bit of getting used to, but which I think teens will appreciate. Like this:

"She just grabs her bag and motions for me to follow. I sigh and shake my head, giving up. I have told her about those horrible pants so many times now, and she just doesn't listen. It's almost like she WANTS to look like a loser, so you know, shrug.

No, I take back the shrug. It does bother me.

Because it's just... it's just, she looks like a loser RIGHT NEXT TO ME." (Chapter 1, ARC)

But she has her profound moments, too. Like this:

"I look.

There, on the reddish wall of the rock, are little drawings scratched into the stone: deer, some kind of stag, geometric patterns. 

Despite myself, I feel something resonate inside me, a plucked string. More than a thousand years ago, someone scraped these pictures into being. A man with a spear. A gun." (Chapter 12, ARC)

She is, without question, a memorable character. 

There Will Be Lies is a great book for people who enjoy figuring out what's going on from obscure clues. I flagged quite a number of passages, things that I thought contained hints about the lies involving Shelby (and which I won't share here, because I don't want to give away any secrets). Just realize that it's not all straight-up mystery/thriller, but also involves a quest, a witch, and talking animals. There's a lot gong on in There Will Be Lies. And even though I didn't personally love it, I am confident that fans of Nick Lake's work (he won the Printz Award for In Darkness), as well as high school and public library purchasers, will not want to miss There Will Be Lies. 

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (@BWKids)
Publication Date: January 6, 2015
Source of Book: Advance review copy from the publisher

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

#KidLitFaves: Recent Children's and YA Books that Bloggers Love: Feb. 16

As I travel about the kidlitosphere, encountering reviews by other bloggers, I take note of those reviews in which it is clear to me that the reviewer quite likes the book. I share links to those reviews on Twitter (with hashtag #KidLitFaves) and Facebook and round them up here. Hopefully over time this will become a useful resource. I welcome your feedback! 

Picture Books:

Stacey Loscalzo calls A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins and Sophie Blackall (which I intend to review myself at some point) "The Best Picture Book Ever." She says:

"This book is quiet and probably will not catch the eye of a child walking by but it is a keeper. Any book that teaches a lot of history in a small space and brings two siblings together in conversation is worth a space on our shelves for sure." 

Jennifer Wharton at Jean Little Library looks at Buried Sunlight: How Fossil Fuels have Changed the Earth by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm. Her verdict:

"This is the best explanation of fossil fuels for young listeners and readers that I've seen - it even made sense to me! The text is clear and interesting and the inspired illustrations richly complement the text. A definite must-have for your collection."

Catherine Friess from Story Snug and her family are quite enamored of Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Thief. Catherine says:

"We love Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar. It’s a great story which celebrates reading, books and libraries in a very humorous way."

Amy Broadmoore from Delightful Children's Books is a big fan of Emmanuel's Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson and Sean Qualls. She says:

"There are very few books that feature characters with disabilities, and this is a good one.Emmanuel’s Dream will captivate children and broaden their view of the world."

Mary Kinser always keeps an eye out for diverse books at Spout's Bookshelf. She particularly likes Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson, saying.

"This title is brimming with spirit and distinctiveness, in its depiction of a young boy, his nana, and the world of their city... What de la Peña and Robinson have created is a fresh classic, a book that keeps giving with each subsequent read - and believe me, it's one you'll read time and time again." 

Susan Murray at From Tots to Teens adores Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award and Caldecott Honor winner Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales. She says:

"There are so many layers to the art included here, so many things to discuss in the words and pictures I could go on and on.  It is so lucky for all of us that Yuyi Morales chose Frida Kahlo new life here.  It is magic you'll never forget." 

Middle Grade:

Tasha Saecker's reviews at Waking Brain Cells are generally pretty positive. But it's not often that she says things like "I adored this novel." Her rave review for The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley says:

"Bradley’s writing is exceptional. It reads easily and beautifully. She captures Ada perfectly ... Brilliant characters shine on the page as this book looks at war, abuse, and love in a complex and heroic way.  Appropriate for ages 10-13."

At Random Musing of a Bibliophile, Brandy likes Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai even better than she liked the author's previous National Book Award / Newbery Honor winning title. She concludes:

Going with Mai and her grandmother on their journeys of discovery and closure is a privilege every reader will enjoy. I laughed and cried with them, and felt like I was a part of their family when I finished.

Charlotte Taylor from Charlotte's Library tends toward understatement. So I pay attention when she says: "One Witch at a Time, by Stacy DeKeyser (Margaret K. McElderry Books ,February 10, 2015) is an extremely satisfying middle grade reimagining of Jack and the Beanstalk". She adds this:

"What sets DeKeyser's books apart is that they are the only younger middle grade fairytale retellings (9 to 10 year olds) I can think of that have a boy as the central protagonist (feel free to let me know I'm wrong!)."

Young Adult:

Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads also tends to be relatively understated in her reviews (and she's excellent about pointing out weaknesses, not just strengths). Karen seemed to like Inherit Midnight by Kate Kae Myers, though, saying:

"This was one of the better books I have read in a while. Lots of action and adventure, a nice touch of romance, fun family history, and traveling. Nothing was pat, and the ending had some very nice twists."

Reviewing Bone Gap by Laura Ruby, Brandy from Random Musings of a Bibliophile says:

"This book is one that needs to be read. It begs to be read. Nothing I say in this review is going to do this book justice. It's one of those books you simply have to experience... This is my favorite read of 2015 so far and I've really liked all the books I've read this year so that's saying something." 

Closing Thoughts:

I'm grateful to all of the bloggers listed above, and to many others who I follow, for reviewing a breadth of children's and young adult literature that I could never / would never cover on my own. 

Two other notes about these review excerpts:

1. If I have quoted from one of your reviews, and you prefer that I not do so in the future, just let me know. No worries.
2. The book covers that I have included beside each blurb include my personal Amazon affiliate ID. If you don't want your reviews to be included in future because of this, just let me know. 

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

The 2014 Cybils Winners Are Here!

The winners of the 2014 Cybils Awards were announced today. There are 12 fabulous books and one book app, spanning the gamut of children's and young adult literature, from fiction picture books to young adult graphic novels.

The Cybils Awards represent the culmination of many hours of work by more than 100 bloggers. First the Round 1 panelists read and read and read, going through more than 1300 eligible nominated titles to create shortlists of 5 to 7 titles in each category. Next, the Round 2 panelists read and analyze and discuss each shortlist title, to come up with the winners. The results offer well-written, kid-friendly, blogger-approved titles for readers with all sorts of interests. 

I am especially excited about two of the winning titles this year. I was a Round 1 panelist in Fiction Picture Books, and am thrilled with the winner, Chris Haughton's Shh! We Have a Plan. Here's what the Round 2 panel said about this title (official blurb from the Cybils blog):

"Four friends creep across the title page of Shh! We Have a Plan and readers have no choice but to turn the page. Where are they going and what is the plan? Chris Haughton has set the stage for this visually humorous story of friends in search of prey. An homage to Tomi Ungerer’s Three Robbers, Shh! We Have a Plan gives readers the foil they want in a fourth robber who is more interested in making friends than capturing them. With repeated verse and anticipated outcomes, this story will have young readers chiming in on the refrain and laughing at the outcome. In a spare 103 words, this tale is told mainly through the images, which enhance the humor with their bold and vibrant colors and graphic style. Haughton’s use of a limited palate for the setting and characters leaves room for the arrival of multi-colored birds. Shh! We Have a Plan is sure to be a read-aloud staple."

And here's a snippet from my own review, published in October:

"Shh! We Have A Plan, with its muted colors and mostly whispered text, would make a wonderful bedtime book, though there is some risk of a late-evening attack of the giggles. There's a subtle message for readers about reaching out with kindness instead of stealth, but the three bigger guys never do learn this lesson (to continued giggles). Though perhaps a bit simple for first and second graders, Shh! We Have A Plan is perfect for the preschool and K set. Highly recommended!"

I'm also thrilled to report that a book that I nominated was the winner in Young Adult Speculative Fiction: The Living by Matt de la Pena. Here's the (brilliant) official blurb:

 "As Valkyries choose heroes in battle so, too, do the Cybils Round Two battle teams judge the fate of young adult speculative fiction. Brought together by our love of all things literary, the Round Two judges of the Cybils YA Speculative Fiction team strapped on our armor and gorged on seven books in as many weeks. The task was not easy; as Round One judges had offered up seven glorious examples of some of the best Speculative Fiction in the Young Adult genre. The titles offered for judging were: Salvage, by Alexandra Duncan; While We Run, by Karen Healey; Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future, by A.S. King;Death Sworn, by Leah Cypess; The Living, by Matt De La Peña and Noggin, by John Corey Whaley. Our heroes and heroines were rich and poor, devious and innocent; assassins, space ship pilots, terminally ill patients, wealthy soldiers, and teens with extraordinary mental abilities. Who would persevere?

Would we rally against the patriarchal society of Salvage or swear our allegiance, as faithful assasins, to the Master as inDeath Sworn? Could the mantra of Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future, “free yourself, have the courage,” save Tegan and Abdi as they ran? Could cryogenics really be the future of politics and medicine? Do we love more fiercely with our Noggins or our hearts? Do The Living provide a link to survival forged by friendship, loyalty, and diversity?

While we all loved Glory O’Brien as a batty visionary whose version of tomorrow made her drink deep of life and make bold choices today, more of us felt that with the novel’s fragmented plot it would not have as strong appeal for readers across the board. Noggin‘s beleaguered, beheaded teen touched our hearts — but though its realistic voice made it a firm favorite, the romantic subplot overshadowed our real interest: disembodied heads. As we rallied around our Brunhilde, a lively plot, vivid, pragmatic voice, and an action-packed and horribly realistic plot proved Matt De La Peña’s The Living to be victorious.

The battle was not easy and our fallen soldiers, the books that did not finish, are heroes in their own right. They are strong, good, and interesting reads, and we urge you all to pick them up. But in the end, we dismount and bow to the winner, The Living, by Matt de la Peña, for bringing us both a spine-tinglingly suspenseful story, as well as an important exploration of class, loyalty, technology, love, and diversity; something for everyone.

We, your Cybils judges, now return to our former lives, our conscription complete, our valor shared."

And here's a snippet from my own review, published in January of last year:

"The Living by Matt De La Peña has it all. It's a high stakes survival drama, with a mysterious conspiracy, containing the seeds of a possible apocalypse. There are also teen interactions that include racial and socioeconomic conflicts. I read The Living in less than a day, simply unable to stop, regardless of what was going on around me. And as soon as I closed the book I said to my husband "You have GOT to read this" (something I reserve for only a select few titles each year)."

So, if you are looking for a great picture book, or a "can't put it down" novel, these are my current top two recommendations. Check out the full list of Cybils winners for titles in other categories. 

Happy Valentine's Day! Happy International Book Giving Day! Happy Cybils Day! Wishing you love and books all around. 

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).