SLJ's Battle of the Kids Books--place your bets now!

After weeks of guessing, and then watching favorites fall, the School Library Journal Battle of the Kids Books has its finalists. Kathi Appelt's Keeper, which has enjoyed a charmed journey through the rounds,  goes against the heavily favored Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud. Megan Whalen Turner's Conspiracy of Kings, back for a second chance as the Undead selection, is a fan favorite and could still run away with it all.

Is anyone else pleased to see two series books in the mix? Traditionally shunned at award time, (although, considering that The Hunger Games was the very first BoB champion in 2009, there is already precedent in this competition,) the inclusion of two series titles in this year's final is tres exciting and gratifying for fans of series fiction. I suppose RoS is technically a stand-alone with a connection to an established series, but that is a technicality I can over look for the purposes of my argument. Which is--two series books have made it to the end!

In an attempt to avoid a trifecta of failure (not having read any of the finalists for the third year running) I am currently reading Ring of Solomon. So when Richard Peck announces his winner in the Big Kahuna on Monday, I will at least have one horse in the mix.

My methodology is not very scientific, (since it is based entirely on my choosing to read one title over another,) but it stands: I'm betting on Bartimaeus.

We have a Final Four!

The School Library Journal Battle of the Kids' Books is headed for the finish line. The four semifinalists are now in place and ready to start duking it out towards the Big Kahuna Round on Monday. If you haven't been following at home, here is how the semis will play out:

Louis Sachar's The Cardturner vs Kathi Appelt's Keeper
Jonathan Stroud's Ring of Solomon vs Andy Mulligan's Trash

I'm kind of back where I started in the first round--I've only read one of these books. One I have ignored because I don't think I will like it based on what I have read (and this competition has not changed my mind about it,) and the other two are on my TBR pile, having to be put aside while I turn my attention to actual work (dammit!) And after watching others brackets crash and burn, I am making no predictions till I see which title returns from the dead on Friday.

Stop the madness!

I don't read many "grown-up" books, partially through choice and partially through career necessity. But when I do pick up a book for an audience older than 12, I have been lucky in reading some real winners. One such book was The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, which is definitely one of my favorite books of the last five years--for any age. Today I saw in a publisher's catalog that a kids adaptation of the novel is coming out in May. Publisher's catalog--meet the bottom of my shoe as I stomp upon you in frustration.

I am already on record griping about children's books for older readers that are adapted for kids that are still too young to read them. And I'm not particularly keen about the Great Illustrated Classics series, either, although I understand that they have worth for adult ESL readers, for example. But this trend of taking best-selling books written for adults and manhandling them somehow so that kids can read them has GOT TO STOP! To me it's no different then dressing kids like mini-adults. Three Cups of Tea was not only converted into a middle-grade book, but a picture book as well. What's wrong with leaving it as a book for adults that kids can read when they are ready to?

With the exception of Dewey, which actually benefited from the conversion for younger audiences (the publishers removed references to all the problems in author Myron's personal life and focused on the cat, which surely is all anyone was interested in anyway,) I can't think of a single title where this trend seems motivated by anything other than filthy lucre. The Art of Racing in the Rain seems particularly ill suited for the jump to middle grade readers for a number of reasons. First: it's sad. Second: the plot hinges on a wrongful sexual harassment suit against the protagonist. Third: the subtitle of the children's version is "my life as a dog," yet the whole point of the book is Enzo--the dog's--quest for humanity. Who thought this was necessary or a good idea? This was such a rewarding book to read as it was originally written, and I can't imagine that anyone who truly loved it would want to give their child a bastardized version so that they can get a "feel" for it. An unsuspecting reader who picks up the kiddie version will think it's just a sweet story about a dog and his family, and that does such a disservice to the original. Enzo was never striving for this.

School Library Journal's Battle of the Kids Books: the first week

Technically, not quite the first week, since it is only Thursday. But after the first two days, where I really did not have a vested interest, yesterday and today saw books that I actually read take to the arena. And they both lost! Booo! Tomorrow is the only round where I have read both contenders, a scenario that I am rectifying for Round Two. Let me go on record with a vote for One Crazy Summer.

I think this year's judges are feeling the pressure of measuring up to the stellar critiques of the previous two competitions. Because let's be honest--the BoBs are just as much about the judging as the judged. This is an opportunity to look into the minds of esteemed writers and see what they have to say about writing which is not their own. Not to mention, it is an opportunity for them to lay down a fine piece of writing themselves.  After only four days there has been one judgment handed down via a one-act play in which the books eventually decided the winner between themselves (super-original to say the least,) a wrestling match between an inner librarian and an inner writer, and an awful lot of hand wringing about having to make a decision at all. It might be crude of me, but I'm kind of hoping that one of these Matches the judge writes, "How the heck did Book A ever end up in this competition?! No comparison--Book B by a mile!" I don't suppose that's realistic (the judges may very well know each other,) but I feel that way sometimes, and reading some of the comments, many members of the audience certainly do not feel the need for delicate and equal-opportunity responses.

School Library Journal's Battle of the Kids Books: the story so far

Last year I missed out on the BoB Round 1 action because I was on holiday in Barbados (go on--feel sorry for me.) This year I'm hanging at home and able to follow the action day by day. Because I have read so few of the contenders this year (at present count: four) I am using the preliminary eliminations to try and ready myself for Round 2 which starts 24 March. I had to make some educated gambles as to which books I would start reading, and so far it's paid off. Match 1 saw the emergence of Louis Sachar's The Cardturner as the winner, and that is currently sitting atop my TBR pile. As for the Match 2 winner, Deborah Wiles' Countdown, I was also betting on that one, based solely on the fact that Conspiracy of Kings is a series book, and I've not read the rest of the series. Wise move, because that factored into the judge's decision, too. Countdown is already waiting for me at the library.

Now we come to day three, where I have actually read one of the contenders. The highly acclaimed The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan and illustrated by Peter Sis, a fantastical fictionlized account of the early years of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda takes on The Good, The Bad, and the Barbie: a doll's history and her impact on us by Tanya Lee Stone. I have a soft spot for non-fiction, but I've already read The Dreamer. So in the interest of time, I'm pulling for the poet.

Feline fun: Binky the Space Cat

For any cat lover who has suspected that their cat has a rich inner life--this is the series for you. Binky is a domestic shorthair who is a certified member of F.U.R.S.T. That's 'Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel' for the uninitiated--which is all of humanity, by the way. Living in his space station with Big Human, Little Human, and his mousie toy, Ted, Binky has a solemn duty to protect his humans from a constant onslaught of alien activity. Also known as too many insects in the house. But as a member of F.U.R.S.T, Binky also has an intense desire to travel the stars, despite the fact that he has never left the house. Can he possibly do both?

Okay. So this is a series written for children making the leap from early readers and early chapters to more advanced graphic novel storytelling. That being said, there is so much in these two books to delight, confound, and generally amuse, why restrict the fun to the 6-10 demographic?

It's not always clear if Binky is actually living these grand adventures or simply spicing up his day-to-day activities with a lively dose of imagination. For instance, Binky has a covered litter box which is clearly "bigger on the inside." And the ability of a cat to build a space ship is always up for debate. But younger readers won't sweat the details, and older readers will recognize how humorously odd cats can be in general, even if they are Earth bound. Binky's understated expressions and occasional bouts of gas (euphemistically referred to as "space gas") add much to the visual appeal of this book.

I wish I had read these books when I made my list of favorite kiddielit (should that be "kittylit"?) cat series. With a combination of silly humor, tender moments, and a hero that can not only travel through space but clean under his legs as well, this is a series to watch.

Best of February

Lots of picture book reading in February. These were among my favorites.


Monsters Eat Whiny Children (Kaplan, Bruce Eric)

This qualifies as the best book about complaining since Emily Jenkins' I Love You When You Whine.  The indecisiveness of a group of monsters as to the best way to serve up whiny children is at the heart of this humorous book. Kudos for mentioning curry: "They all tried to figure out if they were in the mood for Indian food. Sometimes it's so hard to figure out if you're in the mood for Indian food." Not at our house--where it is a food group!

The Cat's Pajamas (Edwards, Wallace)

I love picture books about word play and grammar because they are inevitably creative. This book about idioms is more fun than a barrel of monkeys (and if you have ever wondered just how much fun IS a barrel of monkeys--check page 15.) Idioms make sense when you know what they mean, but have you ever tried to visualize one? Edward Wallace obliges with his ornate illustrations. And as a bonus--look for the hidden cat in each picture.

Now and Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin (Barretta, Gene)

The premise of this picture book is so simple, Benjamin Franklin himself might have devised it. By playing on the phrase "Now and Then", author and illustrator Baretta does a comparison between the modern devices, conveniences  and institutions we have now, and how they were created or discovered by Franklin. My favorite: the Library, of course! Runner up: the Long Arm.

 Willie and the All-Stars (Cooper, Floyd)

Floyd Cooper made an appearance in last month's list, which makes me wonder how I've missed this fine writer and illustrator before. Not to mention--this is a book about baseball! Where was my head at in 2008 that I didn't catch this fantastic book the first time around? Willie is a young boy who lives on the North Side of Chicago in 1942. He lives on a diet of baseball and dreams of the day when he will be a Major Leaguer like his idols. Then he learns about the great players of the Negro Leagues, and with that discovery makes another, thoroughly unpleasant one; they don't play in the Major Leagues because they are the "wrong color." As is Willie himself. Floyd Cooper combines a thoughtful story with a history lesson in this book about the color divide in American baseball before Jackie Robinson. Fortunately, it ends on a hopeful note at none other than Wrigley Field.

Clemente! (Perdomo, Willie; ills. Bryan Collier)

Keeping with the baseball theme, this is a fine story about a little boy who is named Clemente after the baseball Hall of Famer who died in a plane crash on a humanitarian mission to Nicaragua. The baseball player's life and career is detailed quickly, allowing the book to focus on how he inspired and encouraged those who admired him (like this little boy's parents.) I really liked the illustrations in this book, which are a mixture of watercolors and collage that work to bring out the realistic detail of the figures against the various backgrounds. A timeline of Clemente's life, Author's and Illustrator's notes, and bibliography give this book non-fiction cred.

Socksquatch (Dormer, Frank W.)

This is a LOL worthy book which tells a story while really not having one. The eponymous Socksquatch can't find a sock. And he wants one. So he goes to look. Then he finds one and is happy. The end! However, the visual appeal of this book, not to mention the sheer silliness of the premise and interaction between Socksquatch and the other monsters he encounters (makes this a winner. Got sock?

Hot Rod Hamster (Lord, Cynthia; ills. Derek Anderson)

This could be the perfect cross-over book between girlie-girls and active-boys: a cute, cuddly rodent with the need for speed ("HOT ROD HAMSTER COMING THROUGH!") There are a couple of different storytelling levels here; the narrator trucks along with rhyming couplets which set-up the story of the hamster's journey from junkyard to finishing line, and asks the continuing refrain, "Which would you choose?" when presenting different types of cars, wheels, flame decals, and eventually trophies. Then there is the dialog between the hamster and the mechanic at the junkyard as they soup up a little car, expressed in voice bubbles with lots of !!!! and ALL CAPS. Then there is the actual race, which is adorably funny as the tiny hamster car takes on the larger racers. I hope Hot Rod Hamster races again soon. Or at least takes up an equally exciting hobby.

Orlando on a Thursday (Magenta, Emma)

Thursday is a bitter-sweet day for Orlando, because it is the day that his Mami goes to work, and he can't see her all day. The up-side is that his Papi stays home on Thursdays. Orlando doesn't seem to be aware of what Mami does all day (presumably she is at work--he just describes it as "busy in town".) Nor does he wonder what Papi does on the other days of the week when he doesn't stay home. All he understands is that for one day a week his world is turned around. The story borders on precious at times, but the distinctive illustrations manage to convey immense emotion and a real sense of security as Orlando works through his problematic day.

Clever Jack Takes the Cake (Fleming, Candace; ills. G. Brian Karas)

The power of storytelling prevails in this slightly predictable yet highly humorous Jack tale about a poor boy who tries to bring a gift worthy of a princess to her birthday party. Mind the crows, Jack!

My favorite kiddielit cats

I recently read the latest picture book by British author and illustrator Ruth Brown, Gracie the Lighthouse Cat. Ruth Brown is not the household name that she should be in the United States, taking a back seat to more famous picture book Browns; Margaret Wise and Marc being the ones which spring to mind. Ruth Brown draws the natural world with a balance of delicacy and vigor, and her illustrations of animals in particular manage to bring out all their natural personality without overtly anthropomorphizing them (her professional collaborations with James Herriot, for instance, seemed like a match made in Heaven.) Her latest book, which tells two concurrent stories of rescues at sea--one based on actual fact and the other, perhaps not--continues in the style which works so well for her. Reading it, and admiring the cats she drew so beautifully, set me to thinking about some of my favorite cats in children's literature (I'll limit myself to picture books.) I know as soon as I post this I will think of many other favorites, and I'm hoping to get lots of other recommended favorites as well from my readers.

Sticking with Ruth Brown for the moment, I will start with Copycat. And anyone who knows me personally, and has met my cat Richie, will recognize the appeal this book holds for me! The copycat in question is a friendly tom named Buddy who loves to mimic the action of the other animals in the household. Buddy's playful parroting is revealed with peekaboo alternating half and full pages. It's a cute concept, and a cute story. Check out your local library for this one, as it is sadly out of print.

You've heard of library cats, right? This story is based on a real cat who lived in a church in Louisville, Kentucky. One day he turned up and made the church his home, where he eventually lived for 12 years as a well-loved member of the congregation. Ann M. Martin, best known for the Baby-Sitter's Club franchise, tells a touching story about how something as inconsequential yet monumental as a cat can bond a community. Illustrations by the incomparable Emily Arnold McCully complete this loving tribute.

What would a list of my favorites be without a mention of the Church Mice series by Graham Oakley? Incomplete--that's what! Samson is the long-suffering church cat who, after years of sermons about brotherly love, is unable to eat a mouse. He often finds himself at the center of their scrapes and schemes, whether he wants to be there or not. But his loyalty to Arthur and the rest of the mice is beyond question, and his place on this list well-deserved

Rotten Ralph will most definitely never be confused for a church cat. Or a well-behaved one, for that matter. The eponymous anti-hero of this long running series by Jack Gantos and Nicole Rubel (although new entries are not as frequent as I would certainly wish) lives with his ever-patient, ever-forgiving owner, Sarah--who looks to be no older than 8 or 9, by the way. Her parents disappeared after the first book, but Sarah is unwavering in her devotion to her vile kitty. In fact, when she sends him to obedience school in Not So Rotten Ralph, and nothing less than brainwashing will make him change his ways, she realises that she wouldn't change him for the world. More power to her. These subversively disobedient stories are great fun to read and must be a huge relief to really naughty children.

Nick Bruel's Bad Kitty is a relatively recent addition to the world of kiddielit kitty's. She's not as rotten as Ralph, but she is certainly just as funny. And making the jump from picture books to highly illustrated chapter books has meant more bang for your bad kitty. Reminiscent of Bill the Cat, with her bug-eyed manic expression and Tasmanian Devil-ish freak-outs, her aversion to baths, dogs, and Uncle Murray provide plenty of material for roping in reluctant readers.

Pickles the fire cat started out as a side character in Esther Averill's adventures of the Cat Club (most of which focused on shy Jenny Linsky.) He was a stray, hanging out in barrals and mooching off of kindly Mrs. Goodkind. Left to his own devices he would chase cats smaller then himself, which quickly gained him the reputation as a bad cat. He needed a purpose to keep him out of trouble. His mighty paws made him a perfect fit for the local fire department, where he proved himself a natural at coaxing timed cats out of trees. Hands down my favorite book from my childhood.

And while we are talking about cats with a purpose, let's not forget Henry, who at times has been a cross-country cat, a hot-air balloon cat, a sailor cat, and a high-wire cat. He is the beloved pet of Kid and the sometimes antagonist of Man, who shows a preference for the dog but can't seem to do without Henry. The success of this series is that Henry's escapades are grounded in the natural ability of cats, with--when required--a dash of the fantastic. Resourceful, brave, thoughtful, and charismatic, Henry proves time and again that--"Yow-me-yowl!"--he is "some smart cat."

You can't be a cat lover and not appreciate a book which celebrates "the mystical divinity of unashamed felinity" (to quote a certain well-known musical.) This book of poems by Tony Johnston and illustrated by Wendell Minor is not so much about a specific cat as it is about the cat experience. To prove that cats are a source of constant inspiration, the kitties on the cover of this book were none other than the cats of illustrator Minor himself (a third Minor cat also appears in the book.)

And last but not least, since we are on the subject of well-drawn cats, I must mention my all-time favorite cat illustrator, Anne Mortimer. This picture from Cats Sleep Anywhere by Eleanor Farjeon, while not my favorite Mortimer cat (that would be Tosca, from the series by Matthew Sturgis and annoyingly unavailable in a decent scan) is indicative of the quality of cat she produces. Her cats have appeared in books by Margaret Wise Brown, Edward Leer, and Sue Stainton and are always beautifully rendered and uncannily realistic.

Well, there you go! Let me hear about your favorite literary moggies.

The Cybils winners have arrived!

It's Valentine's Day--also known as Cybils announcement day. Months of hard work by an army of dedicated committee members has resulted in a list of high quality, highly entertaining books for children and young adult readers in an array of genres. Run, don't walk, to the Cybils site to check out the list of winners for 2010.

But before you go! As a member of the Nonfiction Picture Book Panel, Round 2  I had great pleasure in selecting this year's winning title. And so, without further ado, I present The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerley, with illustrations by Edwin Fotheringham.

This is a biography about Mark Twain which isn't so much about Twain himself but about one of his biographers. Of her own volition, and initially in secret, Twain's thirteen year old daughter, Susy, started to write a biography of her famous father, a man she described as "an extraordinarily fine-looking man. All of his features are perfect, except that he hasn't extraordinary teeth." When Twain realized that he was the subject of such an intimate portrait, he was touched and gratified and flattered. He valued his daughter's perspective while he was amused by her "frequently desperate" spelling. By writing about Susy writing about Twain, Kerley paints a portrait of artists at work--one under the glare of celebrity and one in obscurity. It is a portrait of a relationship, despite the focus on an individual. The book cleverly includes excerpts from Susy's biography as attachments which can be read within the narrative of the book or enjoyed separately on a second perusal.

Note should also be made of Fotheringham's illustrations, which are bold and playful and completely without gravitas, not unlike Twain himself at times. Susy and her father are often presented in counter-point to each other as the biographer surveys her subject before subjecting him to her pen.

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) tops a list of over 100 nominations which were put forward at the beginning of the Cybils process way back in October. This book distinguished itself in terms of literary quality, brilliant illustrations, and immense child appeal. Congratulations to all of the winners of the 2010 Cybils Awards.

On My Reading Radar: The Unforgettable Season

Just in time for Spring Training! Last year, the release of the excellent No Easy Way by Fred Bowen finally introduced Ted Williams as a subject for picture book biographies, a move which was long overdue in my opinion. This spring he is making an appearance again in The Unforgettable Season, written by Phil Bildner with illustrations by S.D. Schindler. The book is about the summer of 1941, when Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox and Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees were pursuing two of the most enduring records in baseball history. Author Phil Bildner has written a number of outstanding baseball picture books (Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy is probably my favorite) so this book has the potential to be something really special (blatant plug to Penguin USA--I'd love a review copy!)

This book gives me another opportunity to post my open letter to Dan Gutman. I'm still hoping for that Stosh and Teddy meeting!

Note: since I posted this I have been informed that there will in fact be a "Ted and Me" entry in the Baseball Card Adventures series. Huzzah! And about time.