The Joy of Children's Literature

Connecting with Nonfiction: Techniques and Title Tips for Young Readers and Teens Thursday, October 1, 2009 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT We've all been hearing it-want boys to read? Give them nonfiction. Looking for success with reluctant readers? Try nonfiction. Looking for enrichment for gifted students? Nonfiction is a good bet. What are some ideas to help you incorporate nonfiction into your work with students and teachers? You'll get the answers you need on how to make these connections with your teachers and students in the Connecting with Nonfiction webcast. Are you being asked to find nonfiction for students to "read" and not just use for a report? Are you prepared to talk to your young library patrons, students and their teachers about nonfiction? You can use some of the same techniques that you currently employ to talk about fiction and apply them when talking about nonfiction. Are you aware of new and popular nonfiction titles, including the latest biographies, infor...

Saturday, I was one of 130,000 people who attended the National Book Festival on the Mall in Washington, DC. The Library of Congress Blog stated that the high attendance was likely because of the prominence and star power of this year’s authors. I am in complete agreement! The star power of the children's and young adult authors alone was magnificent. Overall, the National Book Festival is a day of celebration for all book lovers, but for a reading educator, it's like spending a day in heaven! I arrived at the children's tent around 9:45 and it was already packed with no available seats. The Library of Congress Blog promised that the"Lollapalooza of the book world" would open with a flourish, and it did indeed! A panel of children's authors/illustrators took the stage to announce the new http://read.gov/ site and the online book The Exquisite Corpse in which each author (plus many more not present) had written a chapter or episode. I have seen panels of chil...

This week's PW starred reviews includes two books by authors speaking at the National Book Festival this past weekend, Lois Lowry and Sharon Creech. I'll post blogs about their presentations later this week (sneak peek: FABULOUS!). From Publisher's Weekly -- 9/28/09 Picturebooks January’s Sparrow by Patricia Polacco. Philomel, $22.99 (94p) ISBN 978-0-399-25077-4 Based on actual events, Polacco’s ( In Our Mothers’ House ) story is at once horrifying and heartening. It centers on the Crosswhite family, slaves who flee their Kentucky plantation after witnessing the merciless whipping of January, a slave caught while attempting escape. Led to believe that January died from his wounds, Sadie Crosswhite is heartbroken when she inadvertently leaves behind the wooden sparrow he carved for her. Writing in credible dialect, Polacco conveys the family’s fear and fortitude as they follow the North Star, “trackin’ through cornfields, climbin’ up bluffs, rollin’ through muck and mud.” ...

If you are a reader of the JCL blog, you know that I'm going to the National Book Festival this weekend and am encouraging anybody and everybody to go with me. If you need more enticement (than the FABULOUS line-up of children's and young adult authors ), just read this from the Library of Congress blog : Here’s a tip — this “Lollapalooza” of the book world is going to open with a flourish. A team of young people’s authors, fronted by the irrepressible National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jon Scieszka, will launch the new read.gov website that promotes reading and literacy for all ages as the festival opens at 10 a.m., in the Children’s pavilion. You won’t have to be a kid to get a kick out of this one: The new site will premiere a serial story, with the first (completely zany) chapter to be read by Scieszka from the stage. It’s titled “The Exquisite Corpse Adventure,” and to find out what happens next — this story will unfold every two weeks for a year — you’ll ha...

I'm already so excited about this weekend and it's only Monday! Saturday is the National Book Festival held on the Mall in Washington, DC. For me, it will be like attending the Oscars, except better...have you seen the line up of children's and young adult authors????? NO? Well, let me give you a tantalizing peek..... Holly Black Judy Blume Kate DiCamillo Sharon Creech Nikki Grimes Shannon Hale Steven Kellogg Lois Lowry Megan McDonald Kadir Nelson Jerry Pinkney Sharon Robinson Rick Riordan Jon Scieszka David Shannon Tony DiTerlizzi Mo Willems Jacqueline Woodson And, if you happen to like adult fiction, big hitters like John Grisham, John Irving, James Patterson, Jodi Picoult, Nichoas Sparks, and Janette Walls--just to name a few--will be there. You can go to the author page of the National Book Festival to find out all about these authors and more. The event is free and open to the public. I hope to see you there!

Publisher's Weekly Starred Reviews for 9/21 Picturebooks Waiting for Winter by Sebastian Meschenmoser. EDC/Kane Miller, $15.99 (56p) ISBN 978-1-935279-04-4 Like furry slapstick comedians, a squirrel, hedgehog and bear make one sweet goof after another as they look for the first snowflake of winter. Told that it will be “white and wet and cold and soft,” they put off hibernating and begin to search. Hedgehog holds up his discovery in triumph: it's a toothbrush (“Winter will be wonderful,” Hedgehog thinks, as the next page shows the animal delighting in a shower of white toothbrushes against an inky sky). Squirrel is convinced that a tin can is the first snowflake, and Bear appears with an old white sock. Meschenmosher (Learning to Fly) sketches freely on white pages in dark gray and sepia, drawing with casual grace and unerring comic instinct. Squirrel's reddish hair springs forth frenetically, Hedgehog's prickles look untidy and sleepy, and Bear's luxurious fur ha...

I am a big fan of Kate DiCamillo and am anxiously awaiting my copy of her newest book, The Magician's Elephant . I would love to start a book discussion over at the Joy of Children's Literature Ning . The start date would be in plenty of time for everyone to get a copy and read it. Come on, join the Ning and we'll have a lively discussion! A live webcast with Kate DiCamillo will be held on Octorber 25th at 1:00 PST/4:00 EST, hosted by Sidewell Friends School in Washington, DC. Click on the link and register for what I am sure will be a great experience. I've already signed up!

BOOKLIST WEBINAR THE SCOOP ON SERIES NONFICTION: BEST USES, BEST PRACTICES, AND BEST NEW BOOKS FOR FALL SEPTEMBER 22, 3PM-4PM CST Need help engaging reluctant readers, promoting reading success, and keeping your library relevant in this era of accountability? Attend "The Scoop on Series Nonfiction" Webinar and come away with a wealth of information and ideas for enhancing your collection and engaging young readers with series nonfiction. Booklist youth editors will moderate as four top series nonfiction publishers—Lerner Publications, ABDO Publishing Company, Norwood House Press, and Cherry Lake Publishing—share their expertise and introduce a selection of their fall titles. Webinar participants will also get a sneak peek at Booklist's October 1 Series Nonfiction Spotlight, including a focus on a new trend: series nonfiction and early literacy. RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY!