On My Reading Radar: Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey

We are BIG Traction Man fans in this house, so when I saw this listed as a great summer read over at The Guardian, I got pretty excited. And for the record--absolutely NO need to be under 5 to enjoy it. Traction Man is the thinking person's Action Man (also known as GI Joe in this country.) And with his faithful side-kick Scrubbing Brush, he will be prepared for anything. I could not find a US release date for this title, but considering the success of the previous titles in this series, Traction Man is Here and Traction Man meets Turbo Dog, it can't be long before he arrives on our shores.

You can read my previous rhapsodizing about Traction Man here.

Today I am thankful for......

.....To Be Read (TBR) piles! Much like piles of laundry, they never go away. But unlike piles of laundry, they are so much more rewarding! it's frustrating to know that I will never get to read all the great books that are out there and that interest me. But the alternative--no great books at all!--is so much more dire.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

TBR's in office

TBR's on coffee table (and Richie!)

On my Reading Radar: Agent Q, or The Smell of Danger

I've made no secret of my fan girl admiration of M.T. Anderson, nor my love of the w00t!-worthy Pals in Peril series. So let's all give a big 'Huzzah!' for the return of Lily, Katie, and Jasper Dash in a brand new adventure, due for release in October. Now that the Enola Holmes series is finished, and Larklight seems content to remain a trilogy, "Pals in Peril" has sole possession of the top spot on my "Most Awesome Current Series" list.

On My Reading Radar: Mr. Putney's Quacking Dog

It's that time of the fiscal year when my book budget is spent, and I'm looking wistfully at the summer catalogs for what's coming over the horizon. So imagine my joy when I saw that Jon Agee, the Prince of the Palindrome, the Sultan of Spoonerisms, the Titan of Tongue Twisters, the Officer of Oxymorons--and who also happens to write a damn good picture book--has a new title coming out! August will see the release of Mr. Putney's Quacking Dog. Is it a picture book? Is it word play? Which ever category it falls into (and we can't discount both!) it's bound to be brilliant.

(For some unashamed Agee love, here is my review of Orangutan Tongs. Bring me wetter water waiter!)

Mockingjay: the countdown is on!

Scholastic, in their ever successful attempts to tease fans of The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, have added to their Hunger Games site a widget that is simply too cool for school: it's a countdown clock to the release (and I'm guessing that word can be used in regard to more than just the publication date) of Mockingbird. The final volume in Suzanne Collins' dystopian trilogy must be the most highly anticipated book of the summer--even if the summer's nearly over by the time the book comes out. Count me among the faithful, salivating.

The widget doesn't fit properly in my side bar. It barely fits here (booo!) Still, I'm trying to do my bit to promote what I expect to be the publishing event of the year.

On My Reading Radar--Alvin Ho: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Parties, and Other Man-Made Catastrophies

I know it's not even summer yet, but I'm already looking forward to the fall and the latest installment in the Alvin Ho series. Alvin in September is the best thing since back-to-school shopping. And not nearly as scary. (You can read more about this upcoming release here)

On My Reading Radar--No Easy Way: The Story of Ted Williams and the Last .400 Season

Just in time for Red Sox fans after a long, cold offseason! This picture book about one of the few records left standing after the steroid era is due for publication on February 4, 2010. Woo hoo! Can't wait to get my hands on it.

It is my opinion that Ted Williams has not received the sort of kiddie lit attention that other baseball greats have been awarded. Think of all the books about Babe Ruth, or Roberto Clemente, or Jackie Robinson--all worthy subjects for sure. But Ted Williams was not just a great baseball player, but a patriot as well, having interrupted his professional career not once, but twice to serve in the Armed Forces. I haven't seen too many modern athletes, other than Pat Tillman, who have forfeited their lucrative careers in favor of serving their country. I have already written an open letter to Dan Gutman, in the hopes of roping him into writing about the Splendid Splinter. Thank you to Fred Bowen for getting the Ted Williams ball rolling!

And in the "life is sweet" category......

.....after opening his magic pink refrigerator, and visiting New York and Paris, Dodsworth arrives in London in November. I have just this to say--please come to Boston!

Picture Books with Promise

Okay, when I saw the title of this book in the Publisher's Weekly Fall Children's preview I got excited because I had images of cockney wide-boys dancing in my head. One look at the cover has disabused me of that notion, and a visit to Urban Dictionary has enlightened me to the fact that "geezer" is a term used in the US as well as the UK, although the connotation is completely different. I guess I've watched too many episodes of "The Fast Show"to think of a geezer as a crotchety grandpa. That being said, "geezer" is still one of my all-time favorite words, and so as long as this story bears little to no resemblance to The Shivers in the Fridge (creepiest. children's. book. EVAH), this book just might live up to the promise of its title.

Reading Radar--what's new for the fall

I've just spent a thoroughly pleasant hour or so perusing a new Scholastic catalog, and I have discovered that a lot of my favorite series have new books coming out in September and October! I will be making space on my To Read Pile for:

Julian Rodriguez: Invasion of the Relatives by Alexander Stadler

It's been a long wait for this sequel to Trash Crisis on Earth

Marsupials by Nic Bishop

After Spiders and Moths & Butterflies I'm really hoping that Mr. Bishop sticks with mammals for awhile!

Dog and Bear: 3 to Get Ready by Laura Seeger
And the third book in the series. Dog and Bear: Two's Company, the sophomore offering in this series, was not as strong as the debut. Here is hoping for a return to form for Dog and Bear.

Squire's Quest by Gerald Morris

Very Happy for this return to the Squire's Tales after a few offerings from the Knights' Tales for younger readers.

Happy Birthday Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel

You can never have too much Bad Kitty!

How do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
The same way they get well soon, go to bed, and go to school--with much good humor.

Mr. Putter and Tabby Spill the Beans by Cynthia Rylant

I love how Rylant and illustrator Arthur Howard have made the quiet life of this Octogenarian and his cat so appealing. In our house, the high octane Henry and Mudge too a distant back seat to Mr. Putter and Tabby.

I Spy Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
Fly Guy's popularity simply grows and grows in my library, and considering the frequency with which books in this series are being released, I would guess that we are indicative of a wider trend.

New life for Finn Family Moomintroll?

According to a report in Publisher's Weekly, 2010 is the 65th anniversary of Tove Jansson's classic series about a family of sprites that look like adorable anime hippos, and there is a big marketing drive planned for the occassion. While Finn Family Moomintroll does not have the strong following in the States that it does in Europe and, particularly, Japan there is hope that the new campaign, which will introduce a line of adapted Moomin books for the pre-k set, will build a new generation of fans from the ground up.

I am usually skeptical about books of one reading level adapted for another. In fact, let's be honest--I generally hate them! I feel strongly that adapted books simply rob the reader of the full, satisfying experience of reading the book as it was written, when they are able to understand it. The seven year old who reads the "illustrated, adapted" version of Moby Dick will never take the time to sit down and read the proper version, because they will feel like they already know the book. And of course they don't. However......I love the Moomins. I want so much for the Moomins to find a following here (and I have tried like the dickens to get kids to read the books!) I first read them about a decade ago and was absolutely charmed. Since the Moomins have proven themselves adaptable-Tove Jansson herself wrote about their adventures both as a comic stip and then as a series of chapter books. So perhaps, in the right hands, with the original artwork intact, they can be made relevent to young listeners who will then want to revisit them when they can read the books themselves.

If you want to be one step ahead of this oncoming Finnish invasion, I suggest you go to your local library and check out the Moomintrolls for yourself. Then you'll be ready for any potential trips to Moomin World , the official Moomin theme park (should Disney World prove too cliche for a family vacation!)

Look what's coming in August......

My day just got a whole lot brighter! New Babymouse--huzzah!

Reading Radar: It's a Secret by John Burningham

It was a happy children's librarian who saw this in her May edition of "Books For Growing Minds." Even better, I found an article in a recent issue of "The Independent", where Burningham talks a bit about his childhood, in promotion of his new autobiography. (Note to self--buy it!) He has some scathing commentary about modern parenting trends. But readers familiar with his disarmingly subversive picture books will not be surprised.

My John Burningham Top Three:

3) The Magic Bed: Georgie has outgrown his crib and is ready for a big boy bed. And he doesn't choose just any old bed as a replacement. Magic and imagination are interchangeable in this story about moving on.

2) Mr. Gumpy's Outing: What could possibly go wrong when a boy, a girl, a cat, a dog, a rabbit, and a cow ask for a ride on the same skiff?

3)John Patrick Norman McHennessy, the Boy Who was Always Late: Now back in print, to my complete and utter joy. You can see what I think of this classic here.

What's up with Jasper Dash?

I thought my bummer of a Friday had taken a turn for the better when I saw in a Listening Library catalog Jasper Dash and the Flame-Pits of Deleware by M.T. Anderson. I've been waiting ages for this book to be released. But as I looked on-line for ordering information for the book, I kept hitting dead ends. Baker and Taylor shows a hardcover edition coming out in September 2009 from Simon and Schuster as well as a paperback coming out in June from Houghton Mifflin. The audio book (via Random House) is due in May. So many publishers! So many formats! So many release dates! Jupiter's Moons! This is a mystery worthy of Master Dash himself. But I just want to read the flipping thing!! Next to M.T. Anderson himself I must be the the most anxious for this book to finally see the light of day.

On My Reading Radar--The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Well, after this morning's Newbery Committee announcement, this is sort of a no brainer! It's one of those books that I've been meaning to catch the next time I saw it come across the circ desk. But now that it's the 2009 winner, I'll step up my efforts. I've already ordered a second copy for our collection. I wonder how the imminent release of Coraline in theatres played into this, if at all. Will the success of one project help the other? More importantly, will anyone now borrow our copy of the Coraline GN, which has not circulated as well as I thought it would?

As for the other winners, I'll say just this--not my favorite crop this year. A lot of hard sells on the lists, at least from a librarian point of view.

On My Radar--The Twilight Prisoner

After enjoying The Night Tourist so much, I'm pleased to see that a sequel is coming out in April. I have to admit that I thought the first book was pretty well contained, so while I'm happy to read more adventures, I'm almost not sure that that's necessary. At any rate, we can all look forward to a Night Tourist movie, at some point.

Never one to be outdone.......

Looks like it's going to be a fun January ^_^

On my Reading Radar--Fashion Kitty and the Unlikely Hero

Hurrah for more Fashion Kitty! My daughter and I were just talking about this series this morning. She is currently discovering the joys of Babymouse, and she said that the one series reminded her of the other (must be all the pink.) She'll be glad to know that there's more fashion heroics on the way and on the way soon--Baker and Taylor states a January pup date. Would it be too undignified if I had to wrest the book away from my 7 year old in my own desire to read it?

On my Radar--Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog

I live for days like this! The kind folks at Random House have cheered me considerably with their Fall 2008 teaser, announcing the news of a new Traction Man book coming in September. Woo hoo! Traction Man is a hero at our house, and no doubt others across the world, and I'm pumped for his further adventures.

On My Radar--Fave Early Reader Series

Some of my favorite Early Reader series are returning with new installments. September brings us the further adventures of Fly Guy, that slightly scrotal but totally lovable insect (and I don't often show affection for any sort of bug) and his owner, Buzz. And for fans of the softer, less-manic tales of friendship, there is a new Houndlsy and Catina book to savor.

I have so much admiration for writers who can create a story of limited, sometimes pre-dictated, vocabulary, and still offer a story that is fun to read. Dr. Seuss and Else Holmelund Minarik are the standards by which Early Reader authors are judged, but Mo Willems (Elephant & Piggie,) Tedd Arnold (Fly Guy,) Cynthia Rylant (take your pick!), James Howe (Houndsley & Catina,) Lola M. Schaefer (Mittens,) Keith Baker (Mr. & Mrs. Green) have all risen to the challenge.