It's a book!

Not my picks

As I've mentioned before, another librarian on staff purchases children's literature with funds from a small endowment (very small). A large cart arrived on Friday afternoon and I had a few minutes this afternoon to peruse a few of the selected titles. Here is what's new to me:

• The Demon's Lexicon
• Clover Twig and the Magical Cottage
• Sideshow: Ten Original Tales of Freaks, Illusionists, and Other Matters Odd and Magical
• Sacred Scars
• Which Way to the Wild West? Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion
• The Silver Door
• The Eyeball Collector
• The Miles Between
• The Deep
• City Boy
• The Runaway Dragon

I took The Miles Between to lunch this afternoon, but did not finish it (I did read the end). Late last week I went through two issues of Booklist and the most recent School Library Journal. I should have another cart of juvenile books in B & T by the end of the week. I love doing collection development for juvenile and young adult books.

The more I learn ...

New to my Bloglines account this morning was an article from PW Children's Bookshelf, It's the End of the World as We Know it. It caught my attention for two reasons, first discussing the possible demise of the current "vampire fiction" trend. Not long ago readers were bemoaning the end of the Harry Potter series and wondering what was next. Stephanie Meyer and Twilight was next for legions of young adult and adult fans (though I must in all fairness note I am not a fan). The second reason? Identifying steampunk and post-apocalyptic fiction as possibilities for the next big thing is interesting.

This is the second time in as many months I have heard the term steampunk fiction and the more I learn, the less I understand. In theory I know steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction that features advanced technology in the victorian era. I have since learned there are sub-genres of steampunk that include the wild west -- think Wild, Wild West with Kevin Kline and Will Smith. The closest I could get for juvenile fiction was a reference to The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. I dug a bit for more:

• Tor.com: Steampunk 101
• Knowledge Rush: Who Is Steampunk?
• Internet Review of Science Fiction: Steampunk

There was a reference to Dr. Who (OK, I get that) and now I wonder if the current SyFy hit Sanctuary could be steampunk. As to books, we just got a shipment of children's books yesterday ordered by a peer who very much enjoys fantasy. I think I'll take a look at what's arrived.

Completely new to me was the term "post-apocalyptic fiction;" the PW article and my searching highlighted Scott Westerfeld and his new title Leviathan. A quick search of the library catalog revealed we have four titles by Westerfeld, though subject headings were a bit more generic using dystopias, adventure, and science fiction. This particular genre is easier to grasp:

• Post-Apocalyptic Juvie Lit: Brainiac
• Post-Apocalyptic Kiddie Movies: Boston Globe
• Post-Apocalyptic Fiction - End of the World Literature on AbeBooks

I think I'm ready to get back to reading. Where's my JAK novel?

List-mania!

It's that time of year; new children's literature book lists are being unveiled. One of the children's literature professors uses Choice lists, both Teacher and Children's, on reserves; I have already been through those tow lists pulling what exists in our collection and am considering ordering additional titles to flush out the collection. This morning I found the Horn Book Fanfare List 2008 and School Library Journal's Best Books of 2008 (not as worried about Booklist's best books list since it is often comprised of the past year's starred review titles). I will be spending some time checking my purchases against the Horn Book and SLJ 2008 lists and if necessary adding them to my current book cart.

• Horn Book Fanfare List: Best Books of 2008
• School Library Journal's Best Books 2008
• International Reading Association Choices Lists
• The Reading Teacher: Children's Choices 2008
• The Reading Teacher: Teacher's Choices 2008
• Journal of Adult & Adolescent Literacy: Young Adult Choices 2008

Odd stats note

This morning I was looking at the StatCounter account for this blog and noted over a dozen unique hits from five different locations (four states and another country) with the same google search landing on the same blog post within an hour.

Coincidence? Who knows?
Weird? Well, to me, yes.

• Goggle search: kiddie lit creation 1931
• Blog Hit: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
• U.S. Locations: Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina
• Other Country: Mexico

I found it interesting that each search used kiddie lit and not children's literature. I don't know if they found what they were looking for here, especially since the occurence of "kiddie lit" in that particular post directed people to other blogs and 1931 was simply in reference to Hugo, but it was fodder for a quick Sunday morning post.

Update, later that same day...

Ask and you shall receive; thanks to a comment from Puzzler I now know that one of the crossword clues in today's Washington Post was "Kiddie lit creation of 1931." I looked around a bit and found that the children's literature character Babar the Elephant was first published in 1931. It's probably too late in the day to be of any help, plus I have no clue if it is correct, but just in case:

"Babar made his debut in "The Story of Babar" published in 1931 by Jean de Brunhoff. Jean created and illustrated seven Babar titles before dying in 1937. Laurent de Brunhoff, son of Jean, continues his father's work and is still writing Babar books." - Treehouse TV

"The complexity of King Babar's world, and some of its contradictions, are partly the result of the fact that his long life has been chronicled by two different biographers. Babar's history began in Paris in 1931, when the pianist Cecile de Brunhoff invented a bedtime story about a baby elephant for her sons, who were then five and six years old. The next day the boys repeated the tale to their father, the artist Jean de Brunhoff, who was inspired to write it down, expand it, illustrate it, and publish it in 1931 as The Story of Babar." - by Alison Lurie, 12/16/2004, NYT Book Review of The Royal Family.

National Book Awards

Paper Cuts: A Blog About Books, posted the 2007 National Book Award finalist list this morning. I gleefully scrolled down to the Young Peoples Literature category hoping for books I had either read and enjoyed, or at least had a passing familiarity with the title. Here is the young peoples literature finalists from the National Book Foundation:

• Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Little, Brown & Company)
• Kathleen Duey, Skin Hunger: A Resurrection of Magic, Book One(Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
• M. Sindy Felin, Touching Snow (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
• Brian Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Scholastic Press)
• Sara Zarr, Story of a Girl (Little, Brown & Company)
  Young People’s Literature Judges: Elizabeth Partridge (chair), Pete Hautman, James Howe, Patricia McCormick, and Scott Westerfeld.

Of this list, I've only read The Invention of Hugo Cabret (and just got in the audio book and accompanying DVD!), and have purchased Story of a Girl and The Absolutely True Diary for the library. Hugo is a favorite of mine, so I naturally am hoping Brian Selznick wins the award. As with any other book award, there will be plenty of discussion concerning the selection and eventual winner.

Tags: Paper Cuts: A Blog about books, National Book Awards

The order of the day: My Daemon

After seeing Daemons from the Golden Compass Movie on no less than three children's literature related blogs today, I succombed to implied peer pressure and created my own. That's him pictured above, Araphon. I am modest, shy, dependable, a leader and responsible.

Tags: Daemons, Golden Compass Movie

Revisiting "Lucky"

The same issue of School Library Journal (April 2007) that presented letters to the editor about Pajamas also had several short entries regarding The Higher Power of Lucky, aptly titled Scared of 'Scrotum?'. A nice follow-up to The Higher Power of Patron featured in the previous issue, I found it refreshing a school library journal was profiling the newest Newbery author after many school librarians were scoffing at the selection (see Hitting Below the Belt). While I personally thought the Newbery honor book Penny from Heaven was better, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The letters published were admittedly supportive and SLJ has done a nice job of presenting both sides of the controversy. Of interest, the following from three Newbery honor authors

"As the Newbery Honor recipients, we wanted to share our feelings on the currentNewbery discussions. We are delighted and honored to be in the wonderful company of Susan Patron and her incredible book, The Higher Power of Lucky. We support her creative vision and hope that the present controversy will not overshadow her remarkable achievement. Readers everywhere, young and old, are truly lucky to have such a book in their schools, libraries, stores, and in the world. " -
Jennifer Holm, Kirby Larson, & Cynthia Lord (SLJ, 4/07)

Tags: Schol Library Journal, The Higher Power of Lucky, Newbery award

HP cover: Late to the party

Every children's literature blog I read yesterday afternoon (and Amazon) had this image of the cover art for J.K. Rowlings' last Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In keeping with the better late than never scenario, I'm posting it here this morning along with links to three blogs I read yesterday detailing the unveiling:

• Buried in the Slushpile: Covering Potter
• PW: Take a first look at the last Harry Potter
• Dulemba.com: Harry Potter Cover Revealed

Over at Buried, an interesting question was raised concerning PW's mention that "For the first time ever, the jacket image is a full wrap-around. On the front of the book"(PW, 3/28/07). She noted that all of the American covers of Harry Potter did indeed have full wrap-around cover art. I checked my copies this morning. She's right. Then, "e" at dulemba observed the likeness between the new HP cover art and our favorite Newbery book, Lucky. Hmmm, I bet that thrills and/or fuels the Newbery conspiracy theorists. Anyway, here is yesterday's news release from Scholastic.

It matter's not to me, I have had my copy (and a copy for my dad) on order from the library book jobber since before Christmas. July 21st is still four months away.

Update: Children's Bookshelf, Publisher's Weekly

Harry Potter Corner, by Sharon Maughn at the Children's Bookshelf, has several points of interest for HP fans including this ...

"A look at the full spread, including back cover, reveals Harry's skeletal nemesis, He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, blood-red eyes peering from his cloak, reaching out toward the young wizard. Let the speculation begin: A battle to the death? The end of Hogwarts? The end of the world? The theories are sure to run rampant as readers analyze the jacket for clues about Rowling's final installment of the series, set to run 784 pages with a record-setting first printing of 12 million copies. 113 days and counting…." (Maugh, PW, 3/29/07).

Tags: Harry Potter, Harry Potter cover art, Scholastic, Children's literature

Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Basil

Perhaps best known for his comic strip Non Sequitur, Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Basil is Wiley Miller's first children's book.

Denver Post article: Getting a read on kid lit

The Denver Post published an article Saturday, March 24, "Getting a read on kit lit" that discusses the overwhelming children's literature choices, "Last year alone, 16, 000 new children's titles were published," and the subsequent problems parents and children face when selecting quality books to read.

Tags: Denver Post, Children's Literature

Looking @ picture books

Continuing through my back log pile of journals this morning I found the March 2007 (vol. 16, no. 4) issue of Book Links. Another ALA publication, Book Links is unique in that it connects books and curriculum, as well as provides web elements for classroom use and "hands-on-learning" elements for librarians and classroom teachers. Two articles caught my interest and both detail appreciating picture books for not only their artistic value, but also for their literary content.

Illustration as Art - Color by Mary M. Erbach (p. 33) Erbach discusses seven different picture books and the use of color by the illustrators including Lois Ehlert, Marjorie Priceman, and Ed Young. The first in a new featured series of "Illustration as Art" articles, subsequent articles will "cover styles of children's book illustration and aspects of book design, and will help both children and adults gain a greater appreciation for art as they learn to look and look again, taking time to digest and explore this wonderfully varied subject" (Book Links, editor's note, p. 33).

Using Picture Books to Teach Literary Techniques by Shutta Crum (p. 57) Crum offers a "sampling of literary techniques" and corresponding picture book offerings that may be used to successfully illustrate the defined technique. Included are allusion, alliteration, imagery, personification, onomatopoeia, and suspense & foreshadowing. Many of the books Crum recommends will be easily found in most libraries including Margie Palatini's Piggie Pie, Dav Pilkey's Dogzilla, and Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs.

Recently I have been trying to highlight children's literature articles in professional journals for education students. This issue of Book Links is going up on the resource center blog after lunch.

Tags: Book Links, ALA publications, Juvenile literature, Classroom & library resources, Picture book art

More on graphic novels

After posting about Oddly Normal, Volume 1, I went down to pick up Monday's mail and found a new Booklist journal in my mailbox. The March 15th Booklist, volume 103 number 14, includes a Spotlight on Graphic Novels. Sign up for a trial version of Booklist Online and browse this issue at your leisure. I have not had time to read the issue, but a quick overview reveals it is loaded with great graphic novel information:

• New Graphic Novels (p. 35-41): Reviews
• He Reads ... Graphic Novels (p. 38)
• She Reads ... Graphic Novels (p. 39)
• You Go, Graphic: A Carte Blanche article by Michael Cart (p. 43)
• New Graphic Novels for Youth (p. 56)
• Core Collection: Japanese Manga for Teens (p. 60)
• Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth (p. 62)
• Starred Review: UXL Graphic Novelists: Profiles of Cutting Edge Authors and Illustrators (p. 77)
• RA Corner review of Graphic Novels: A genre Guide to Comic Books, Manga, and More (p. 79)

I already purchased the Pawuk book, Graphic Novels, reviewed in the RA corner and am interested in the UXL title given a starred review in the reference book bulletin section of the journal. It is not enough to simply own graphic novels, I need reference and research titles with information to support the genre as well. Due to the limited number of available reference books currently available for the graphic novels, most of the books recently purchased about this genre have been cataloged for the resource center reference collection.

Booklist image c. ALA, used here for education purposes only

Tags: Booklist, Graphic novels, Graphic novel reviews

Questioning cover art

I've mentioned here before that I am not a slave to cover art for juvenile and young adult fiction. Picture books? That is another issue completely since they are, by virtue of their nature, about the illustrations. I can not say an attractive cover does not catch my attention when rifling through a new cart of books, but when I am making a decision to buy the book it is from reading the review and determining it's subsequent fit into our juvenile collection.

Within the last few weeks we have received the first two parts of Christopher Pike's Alsosha trilogy. Pictured on the far left is the hardcover version of the first book, Alosha. The islands are somewhat representative of what Ali, aka Alosha, describes as visions of her homeland in the book and it is a visually appealing cover. But, it is not a great fit for book genre or the age level of reader it is trying to attract (IMHO). This morning book two of the trilogy arrived and it looks completely different from the first; it definitely has the fantasy/graphic novel/edgy approach more in keeping with the book's concept. Out of curiosity, I searched Amazon and Barnes & Noble for the rest of the series and found the paperback cover of Alosha, the book on the far right. The paperback cover works with the covers for the rest of the series and I simply question the differences.

I understand the paperback and hardcover versions of books may be different. I checked the hardback and paperback covers of books two and three and they are identicle. So, why would a publisher a trilogy's cover art after the first one? Maybe they lost the artist. Maybe they don't care. Maybe they didn't think anyone would notice. Anyone purchasing the first book with the original cover, wanting to have the full set, is going to be confused when the second and third title look so different; there is no cohesiveness. Maybe it's not such a big deal, but I would have been peeved if my Harry Potter books had changed so drastically midstream. Plus, if the publisher is looking for trilogy branding and visual reminders, these different covers miss the mark. Guess it's will just be one of those things that make me wonder.

Tags: Juvenile books cover art, Alosha trilogy, Juvenile fiction, Juvenile fantasy genre

Fickle and juvenile

It might be kinder to say I currently have the attention span of an average five-year old ...

In the last week I have begun to read, and later returned to the circulating collection, no less than four different juvenile novels. I started the books with an open mind, moving outside my interest "zone" to broaden my reader horizons. However in each instance there was not enough in the book to entice me to finish. I took one to lunch three days thinking I could power through to the end; nope, nada, not going to happen. After struggling through two of the four I discussed them with the cataloging librarian who is a fantasy aficionado. She agreed that while they were perfectly acceptable books, neither was a stellar example of an exceptional fantasy novel.

Instead of thinking I am simply literature lazy and do not want to read something critically that is not to my taste, I prefer to say I am exercising my rights as a discriminating reader and choose not to finish. There are so many books to read (and so little quality reading time) that it seems foolish to force the issue. They are two very different things, reading for enjoyment and reading for work. That is why I rely on professional children's literature reviewers when selecting books for the library collection. An entire juvenile section full of only what I enjoy reading, no matter how eclectic my tastes, would be a poor example of collection development policy.

Also a contributing factor to the fickle-ness of my reading patterns is the humble realization that my brain is fried from several consecutive eight hour days of web page re-designs and is close to exploding (always messy) with the knowledge I have a long way to go before declaring the job finished. And for heaven's sake, don't even get me started on the short conversation I had with my boss regarding the soon to begin torture of the library web page re-design.

I could wax poetical about having only two days until spring break, but that's another post. Or, I could provide the information regarding how many days between the end of spring break and Easter break. Maybe I should describe in detail the number of days between Easter break and the last day of classes for this spring 2007 term. But, to do that I would have to admit a student worker supplied me with the information (I had no idea!) earlier today.

Then again, I could reveal it has taken me four tries to correct this post and it remains only boderline grammatically acceptable, possibly even less readable than those four books in question earlier.

Instead, I will pick a favorite book from my collection and just relax. As Scarlett says, "Tomorrow is another day."


Tags: No tags here today.

About Picture Books

This is a two fold post, it links to an interesting article about picture books in Publisher's Weekly and includes the story of "how I found an interesting article about picture books in Publisher's Weekly." The article, Are Picture Books Back, by Gabrielle Mitchell-Marell, discusses the current publishing surge for children's picture books:

"As for the cause of the poor picture book performance in recent years, many observers point to the same culprit: the swell in these titles, both new and backlist, from Harry Potter to C.S. Lewis and beyond, has taken its toll on the more mature picture book category as younger readers turn to fiction, and away from picture books. Simon Boughton, publisher of Roaring Brook Press, breaks it down this way: "Because the younger kids are now reading up, the seven- and eight-year-old end of the picture book market has become the younger end of the kids' fiction market. Pre-reading kids are where picture books serve the most purpose." This is a marked change from the previous generation, where kids might read picture books into first or second grade. " (Marell, Publishers Weekly, 2/26/07)

The article goes on to discuss how Harry Potter changed some of the marketing trends and the oft cited criticisms of how costly picture books may be. Interestingly enough, the discussion also detailed how picture books rely on libraries and librarian's purchasing them to keep the business growing. Case in point, consider the additional profit made by the publishing houses of such award winning books as the Newbery and Caldecott selections. I'm not sure picture books were ever really gone, but the article is interesting. Almost as interesting, to me anyway, as how I found the article.

If you have ever doubted the "linking" nature of the blogosphere, it's a small world after all, reading this post is an example of the phenomenon; kind of like the Kevin Bacon game (if I may be so bold) without all six degrees. How so?

The list of blogs that interest me continues to grow. As I read different blogs and their comments my curiosity (aka inherent nosiness) often overcomes me and I indulge by click on the linked names attached to comments. If the comment author has a blog, it is displayed and I take time to peruse their blog as well. This summer I found an interesting blog, Buried in the Slushpile, by the Buried Editor in this manner; I think she may have commented on Read Roger and I followed from there.

Yesterday the Buried Editor's post, Nothing is ever final, contained two different cover art samples for a book her company is publishing. Children's book cover art is a weakness of mine, so I was compelled to add my two cents to the conversation. This morning I looked back to see what other readers thought of the topic and spent a few minutes clicking on those aforementioned comment links. One link, e, led me to dulemba.com, the blog of children's writer and illustruator Elizabeth O. Dulemba and her post Do you follow the biz? linked to the Publishers Weekly article Are picture books back?

Tags: Children's literature, Picture books, Publisher's Weekly, Picture book articles

More on Lucky

The beat goes on, here are a few links to information regarding Lucky and the ongoing controversy/discussion:

• Read Roger highlighted a New York Times article this morning - With one Word, Children's Book Sets Off Uproar
  
• Children's Bookshelf article, Listserv's Buzzing over Newbery Winner
  
• Publisher's Weekly, Susan Patron's response
  
• LM_Net on the Web, List Serv Archives
  
• Also on Read Roger, discussion regarding the Children's Bookshelf article, Bagging our Principles, and the New York Times article, Oh, those sneaky sneaks.
  
• Fuse #8, Oh, Doggone it
  
• At Librarian.net, scrotum!

Tags: Children's bookshelf, Publishers Weekly, Children's Literature, The Higher Power of Lucky, Newbery Award

And now, my two cents

I finished reading The Higher Power of Lucky, the 2007 Newbery Award winner by Susan Patron, this evening. I am now able to add my comments to the discussion regarding its language appropriateness, for want of a better description. I am sure to offend any number of school librarians for saying I do not have a problem with the authors correct use of the word scrotum.

Yes, Lucky is a ten-year-old girl. Yes, I know children reading this book are undoubtedly going to be third, fourth and maybe fifth graders. Yes, I realize the vocabulary in question, used in several instances, may be off-putting for book talks by librarians in school libraries. I do not want to sugar coat the very real issue possibly faced with having the title in school libraries. However, this book is about more than a single word; one that, I might add, is simply defined at the end of the book without unnecessary embellishment.

I find it interesting that several other topics dealt with in Lucky are not causing issue. For instance, there is discussion of Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, death, and a mother in jail for selling drugs. Each of these topics is potentially troubling for in-school discussion as well, but what I keep reading about is that word. Higher Power of Lucky is a well- written, meaningful book detailing life-changing events for a young girl. By the end of the book, Lucky finds a family in the town's small population both figuratively and literally. By focusing on a single vocabulary element, the meaning of the book is lost.

Let's not forget, there are also issues of fiscal responsibility and library purpose to consider when determining whether or not to add this book to a library collection. I do not foresee any public library having problems with this title. The "word" and book topic aside, public library patrons will expect to have a full collection of Newbery and Caldecott titles on the shelves. Not that there will not be questions, concerns, or statements made by parents and patrons (after all, tax payer money funds the library), but generally speaking the issue is a bit less dicey. School libraries have a catch 22 situation when determining purchasing value for their library, getting more bang for the buck so to speak. School libraries have more stringent policies in place for collection development. They also have parents, administrators, and school boards (not to mention the general public) watching over librarian purchases. So, the librarian needs to have a full Newbery and Caldecott collection, after all these titles have been judged the best in literature for 2206 - but hesitancy to make the purchase because of possible outcry is real. I do not care for it, but it is real.

I bought the title without a second thought after the announcement was made, no I had not purchased it previously and maybe that is telling, because it fulfills a purpose for my academic library's children's collection. Actually, I did not purchase the book, another librarian in charge of a small endowment for children's literature in our library routinely purchases award winning titles, including duplicates of Newbery and Caldecott winners. Why is it an automatic purchase?We have a large, thriving, teacher education program with a full compliment of children's and young adult literature classes. Award winning books are expected to be part of the juvenile collection. Pre-service teachers studying children's literature need an opportunity to read the book and make a determinations for classroom use. Oddly enough I have not heard much from any of the children's literature instructors and will probably gently inquire, via email, as to their opinion regarding the current Newbery controversy.

Newbery critera, while specific in some nature, is very much open to interpretation by the committee charged with choosing a single book (or books if honor's are chosen) for the award. For example, look at the following excerpt from the ALA Newbery Critera web page discussing the concept of distinguished writing to be judged by the committee members:

"a. Interpretation of the theme or concept; Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization; Development of a plot; Delineation of characters; Delineation of setting (and) Appropriateness of style."

"b.Committee members must consider excellence of presentation for a child audience." (ALA, Newbery Criteria)

Those are very broad, and somewhat sweeping, guidelines, guaranteed to generate discussion after award announcements at ALA mid-winter meetings each year.

As I reflect on books read over the summer and early fall, there is one title that impacted me more as literature than what was selected by the Newbery committee. My personal choice would have been Firegirl by Tony Abbott. Six months after reading it I remember how touched I was by the book's message. Regardless, the choice has been made and discussion will ensue for several months now with everyone chiming in with opinion pieces. And, in my opinion, that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Tags: Children's bookshelf, Publishers Weekly, Children's Literature, The Higher Power of Lucky, Newbery Award

Publishers Weekly - Children's Bookshelf

In addition to blogging and reading blogs, I subscribe to a fair list of library related list servs and email notification services (AL Direct, LM_Net, EBSS) as one way of keeping up with news in my profession. One that I stumbled across a year or so ago was Children's Bookshelf; "a free weekly newsletter from Publishers Weekly about all aspects of children's and YA publishing." I tend to browse the message and most of the time there is something to catch my attention. If I delete the email too quickly, they archive the email messages I can always go back and find an item for further reading. Yesterday there was a link to an article by Shannon Maughan at the Children's Bookshelf titled Listservs Buzzing over Newbery Winner.

This is where I humbly admit I have not read the latest Newbery Award winner, The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron. It happens to the best of us (not that I presume to be one of the best, but still). Every once in a while I miss the Newbery or Caldecott when doing collection development throughout the year and have to order it after the announcement is made at the ALA mid-winter meetings. This was one of those years; I purchased the honor books and the Caldecott winner before the mid-winter meetings, but missed the Newbery. Yesterday afternoon our two copies arrived and I have placed my name on the list so I am able to read it before it begins it's travels in OhioLINK land. Without first reading the book I am reluctant to join in the fracas, or discussion, regarding the author's use of the word "scrotum." Really. The opening paragraph of Maughan's article reads:

"What's in a word? Plenty of controversy, if it happens to be a word naming a part of the male anatomy, and if it appears in a Newbery Award-winning novel. In recent weeks the online blogosphere inhabited by children's book professionals has been abuzz with debate over author Susan Patron's use of the word "scrotum" in her freshly minted Newbery winner, The Higher Power of Lucky. Librarians, teachers, reviewers and others have used blogs and listservs as forums to object to or defend the book and the ALA's selection of the title for one of its highest honors. (Children's Bookshelf, 2/15/07)"

It is an interesting debate, one that I may weigh in on after finishing the title. I also wonder how the use of one word rates in the history of controversy surrounding previous Newbery titles that included the use of profanity, witchcraft, midwives, and violence. I just may need to sneak that book of the cart before it's cataloged and see for myself.

Tags: Children's bookshelf, Publishers Weekly, Children's Literature, The Higher Power of Lucky, Newbery Award

Multitasking or avoidance?

Resource center scheduling is done, the student are reporting to work as directed, school has started, and we are well on our way to another successful term. Traffic is slow and steady during the beginning of the term. Generally speaking the students in here now are our "regulars" reacquainting themselves with the library and center. It is a prime time to accomplish things languishing on my list. However, I am constantly surprised at the number of tasks that may be completed when I am, essentially, avoiding other projects. Not that what I am doing is irrelevant or unnecessary, but they are at the bottom of my "to-do" list for a reason. Case in point, I have bulletin boards to update.

There has been a blank board in the resource center for several months; covered in green paper, but lacking any form or function. Late last week a Publisher's Weekly email newsletter, Children's Bookshelf, posted an article about the Cat in the Hat's 50th Birthday. A special web site, Happy Birthday Cat in the Hat, has been launched to commemorate and celebrate the event. Various activities are available for teachers, librarians, and kids, including printable worksheets and a way to send birthday wishes to the Cat! And, with the assistance of a GA and student worker, a bulletin board was born. Students are now aware of the birthday, the books we have in the library, and are directed to the web site for more information. Even better, this board can remain until semester's end.

This afternoon I have a brand new School Library Journal (January 2007) for professional reading and juvenile collection development. Choosing children's books, some days I really do love my job.

Tags: Start of a new term, Cat in the Hat's 50th Birthday, Bulletin Boards