Art auction for a worthy cause

The Texas Library Association is auctioning an original piece of picture book art by Diane Stanley. The image is taken from Charles Dickens: the Man who had Great Expectations, by Stanley Peter Vennema (now, sadly, out of print.) For your chance to see the image and print a raffle ticket, visit the Itsy Bitsy Gallery.

Wimpy Kid Film

No surprise here. My 5th/6th grade discussion group met on Tuesday to discuss the two WK books, and one topic that came up was "Who would you cast to play Greg Heffley in a film version?" I'm dismayed to say that, other than Frankie Muniz, who's probably too old by now, I'd not heard of any of the actors they suggested!

Great Galleys--Picture Books you won't want to miss

I seem to have been inundated with picture books for review over the past few weeks. Just like buses...you wait, and wait, and wait for one to arrive, and then as soon as you light a cigarette, three arrive at once. I don't actually smoke, but I have seen this theory in action, and it's true! Anyways, I've been fortunate enough to get some good ones in this recent batch and can proudly recommend:

Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers: another love story by Sam Lloyd
Gorgonzola: a Very Stinkysaurus by Margie Palatini and Tim Bowers, illus.
Max's Bunny Business by Rosemary Wells

There's always room for more in the Great Fictional Cats cannon (Rotten Ralph, Samson the Church Cat, Jenny Linsky, Henry the Siamese, Slinki Malinki--I could go on and on) so make space for Mr. Pusskins! His books beg the question "just where are the grown-ups?" but in the end, who cares? Mr. Pusskins is the star with Emily as his adoring friend. And now he has a new devotee, the mischievous kitten Little Whiskers.

Gorgonzola is the stinkiest dinosaur this side of the Mesozoic Era, but it's nothing a few well-placed words and a toothbrush can't fix. This "message" book about personal hygiene is funny and clever with fantastic cartoon illustrations and a few choice puns as well. Dinosaurs and B.O.--a great combination!

Max's Bunny Business is really here as an honorable mention, simply because it involves the venerable Max and Ruby who seem to have the same adventure over and over again: Ruby, industrious and focused, is sidetracked by Max, who just wants a set of vampire teeth/chocolate chicken/sparkle ring. Fortunately, they still amuse. And just who's side is Grandma on anyways? After all these years, I still can't tell.

All of these books are available May 2008.

Call me a cynic, Mr. Patterson.....

The New York Times writes about author James Patterson's attempts to reach a broader audience with his YA series, Maximum Ride. I don't care what he says in the interview: this is about selling more James Patterson books, not about successfully introducing adult readers to the joys of YA literature. Let's at least be honest, folks! Mr. Patterson isn't really so different from many adult authors (and actors) who think they have children books locked away inside of them. He is fortunate that he has the opportunity to get them published because of his track record in a different genre. But to throw his weight around like this, and then try to represent it as bringing great books to the masses, is nauseating.

Baited Breath--What's Awesome This Spring

Looking for some hot releases for the first half of 2008? Publisher's Weekly has kindly compiled a list of titles scheduled for release up to the end of June. I myself am eagerly awaiting The Pigeon Wants by Mo Willems. Check out The Pigeon Wants a.....contest as well if you want to try and win a school visit from Mr. Willems himself! All those years working for Sesame Street have made the Pigeon website just about the most entertaining character site on the web.

Bedtime Stories

Winnie the Witch by Valerie Thomas, illus. by Korky Paul
Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Space Boy by Leo Landry
Dog and Cat Make a Splash by Kate Spohn

A trend, if that's the correct word, that my daughter developed in the early days of bedtime stories, was to put herself into the stories. It started with Ian Falconer's Olivia. Clearly there was something about that "porcine wonder (apologies to Mercy Watson!) that she identified with. She asked that her name be used instead, and Olivia was never 'Olivia' in this house again. When I was a child I used to play act out my favorite books, and then scenes from chapter books, as I got older. Eventually I was no longer happy being part of someone else's story and began writing my own. But that initial incursion into beloved books was the first step in unlocking my own creativity.

'Daughter-as-character' made an appearance not once but twice this evening. Perhaps it was the unexpected appearance of a Christmas story (and she so loves Christmas,) but first she was that daft hen Minerva Louise. Even more impressive was the character swap involved in 'Dog and Cat', because she was reading that one to me. And she not only placed herself in that story, but she also found room for my husband and I, our next door neightbor, her favorite teddy bear, and her American Girl doll. So not only did she have to concentrate on reading the words correctly, but she had to keep all the charcters straight. And by golly, she did it! An impressive display, if I do say so myself. And a wonderful example of the maxim that "books can take you anywhere".

What I am Reading Today--My Last Best Friend

Ida May is a bright, regular fourth grader who has just suffered the biggest blow of her young life--her best friend Elizabeth, moved away. Once bitten, twice shy, Ida determines never to make another best friend. This should be easily accomplished since class meanie Jenna Drews has made a career out of telling everyone what a loser she is. So when upbeat, popular, newcomer Stacy Merriweather arrives on the scene and wants to be Ida's friend, Ida has absolutely no interest in reciprocating. Uh uh. Not.At.All.

These days I can't seem to read books about little girls without internalizing their struggles, because my own daughter is just setting down this road: learning that life is unfair, that other kids are mean, and that their parents won't always "get" them. Then I read a book like My Last Best Friend, and I feel a little bit better, remembering that there's good stuff too: that kindred spirits hone in on each other no matter what the obstacles, that mom and dad have seen it all themselves and are there for you, that excellent teachers will notice you and encourage you. There are no real surprises in this book--other than the fact that Jenna Drew might actually have a humble side to her. The reader knows that Stacy Merriweather can't be all that she seems (Ida herself has already figured this out,) and you just know that Ida and Stacy are each what the other needs. This book is funny, touching, and gives the reader everything she wants. And with a sequel on the way, that's good news. This is going straight to the 'Staff Picks' shelf at work!

Before Green Gables

I found this in the Washington Post--Elizabeth Ward's review of Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson (great name!) I was not even aware that an Anne prequel was in the works. Like Ms. Ward, I am not a fan of literary prequels, sequels, companion novels--whatever you want to call it when someone new writes a book basically cashing in on someone else's. Homage and tribute is one thing--writing about every woman who was loosely related to Laura Ingalls Wilder is another beast altogether. Still, it's a favorable review. It will find an audience. Some readers may not even realize the books are written by different authors. Is that a good thing?

Book of the Week--Kat Kong

How did I ever miss out on this one?! First of all, I love Dav Pilkey's picture books, and having made a point to read all of them, I thought that I had. Secondly, Kat Kong looks just like my cat, Richie, famous for having traveled over from England with us and being the most talkative, daftest, lovable cat I know (I also have a nine lives/reincarnation theory about him, but I won't go into that here.) Kat Kong is a "faithful" adaptation of the King Kong story--about as faithful as you can be using manipulated photo collage and telling the story with mice and a black cat. The book has been rated, just like a film (TS for "terribly silly".) Forget 'terribly' silly--it's wonderfully silly! There are some truly ghastly puns, both in the text and in the pictures. So if you like to groan while you giggle, this is the book for you. Dav Pilkey's website has some fantastic "behind the scenes" info about this book, including the storyboards he drew for Kat Kong and it's companion volume Dogzilla, on-line puzzles and printables from the book, and insider tips about how he managed to get his cat, Blueberry, to make such menacingly goofy expressions. In fact, the site in general is quite cool. Stay awhile and play!

Rag Doll Respect

Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy are joining the ranks of Holly Hobby and My Little Pony--iconic toys that have been "updated" for modern audiences. School Library Journal reports that Simon and Schuster and Starz Media have joined forces to return the dolls to the pop culture spotlight. The new Raggedy Ann looks awfully cute. She has a sort of manga style about her. But I loved her in her original incarnation. This must be how Pooh fans felt when Disney got their hands on the franchise and irrevocabley defined how Winnie the Pooh looked for generations of children.