Otto Grows Down
By Michael Sussman
Illustrated by Scott Magoon
Sterling Children’s Books
ISBN: 9781402747038
$14.95
Grades K-2
In Stores

*Recommended*

A Review in Reverse

Engaging and entertaining, Otto Grows Down is hard to deny.

The artwork doesn’t take itself too seriously, and is a worthy match for a story that does the same. Similar to the recent The Very Hungry Dinosaur, Scott Magoon’s (Rabbit & Squirrel: A Tale of War & Peas) illustrations exude a deceptively simple, childlike quality.

Plot-driven and genuinely funny (there is a bathroom scene that had me absolutely disgusted, yet laughing out loud just the same), youngsters will be drawn in from page one. This title’s usefulness in a read-aloud setting is clear.

Will Otto be able to set things straight before he ceases to exist? But it doesn’t work. His birthday wish is for things to go back to normal. When his 5^th birthday arrives, Otto has had enough. But time keeps going backward. Immediately, time and events start moving in reverse – un-blowing out the candles, walking backwards – and it isn’t long before Anna is out of the picture. Amazingly, he gets his way. Upstaged at his own b-day bash, Otto blows out his candles wishing that little sis were never born. One week before Otto’s 6^th birthday, his little sister Anna steals his thunder by being born. The story begins with an easily relatable set-up.

A solidly above average release that is sure to be a read-aloud success. Funny, clever, and sporting a subtle moral that doesn’t thwack young readers on the head. Otto Grows Down takes this theme, adds a bit of time-in-reverse craziness, and comes out a winner. Excitement, anticipation, and the ever-so-familiar resentment are a few of the mixed feelings that spring from such an event. Plenty of kids have a hard time adjusting to a new sibling.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Also reviewed by Literate Lives, Books Upon a Wee One’s Shelf.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

Of the finalists in the Young People’s Literature category…

We have a winner…

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose.

Click here to see all of the National Book Award winners.

Watch the ceremony on C-SPAN2 on Sat (11/21) at 8pm & Sun (11/22) at 10am ET.

Jen Robinson’s Book Page does it. A Fuse #8 Production does too. Abby (the) Librarian also takes part. What is it? The link roundup. I enjoy those posts, so I’m throwing my hat in the ring with Morning Notes. I’m thinking this will be a weekly feature.

NBA WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED  TONIGHT; CONFUSED KOBE BRYANT BUYS NEW TUX

The National Book Award Winners will be announced tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 18). Will Stitches continue to make waves by taking home hardware in the Young People’s Literature category? Click here to review the nominees. Click here to follow the National Book Awards as they happen on Twitter.

WINTER BLOG BLAST TOUR CONTINUES

Chasing Ray is hosting a slew of insightful author and illustrator interviews this week. Be sure to stop by.

‘FANTASTIC MR. FOX’ A HIT WITH CRITICS; EMAIL TO BECOME THE PREFERRED METHOD OF MOVIE DIRECTING

While some are claiming Wes Anderson directed The Fantastic Mr. Fox via email, the results have nonetheless been well received. To quote the A.O. Scott of the New York Times:

In some ways his (Anderson) most fully realized and satisfying film. Once you adjust to its stop-and-start rhythms and its scruffy looks, you can appreciate its wit, its beauty and the sly gravity of its emotional undercurrents.

Click here to see what more critics are saying.

Here, I’ll be covering books (both great and not so great) that are currently making moves at the schools where I work, in the kidlitosphere, and on the bestseller lists. I’m starting with a not so great one…

The Christmas Sweater: A Picture Book by Glenn Beck. Currently #2 on the NYT Picture Book Bestseller list.

Oh no. I wasn’t aware that Glen Beck had written a children’s book until I checked this week’s bestsellers. Turns out that this is a picture book adaptation of his first novel, also called The Christmas Sweater. Here’s the Publisher’s Weekly take on that book:

“Beck’s lightweight parable cruises on predictability, repetition and sentimentality.”

Yikes.

If you like talking book covers, you’ll dig this post at Jacket Knack.

A recent (and hilarious) post at Bookends has me thinking of listservs this week. Looking for a good one? @LizB provides some direction.

If you’re familiar with the blog Awful Library Books, then you’ll like this. ALB authors Holly and Mary appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week. They brought books with them.

Looking to set an ominous mood? Look no further than the iron gate. I haven’t checked, but I’m pretty sure that it’s a scientific fact that anything written in wrought iron is 10x more spooky than if it were written on paper. Take a look:

See what I mean? Okay, bad example. Three recent books covers seem to understand this phenomenon much better than I:

School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari.

Rapacia: The Second Circle of Heck by Dale E. Basye.

But there is another…

Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris.

Side by side:

The similarities are hard to deny. Confirmed Cover Controversy. I feel like there’s more of these. Any to add?

(Top Image: ‘“You’ll Never Walk Alone”, Shankly Gates, Anfield,+Liverpool‘
www.flickr.com/photos/56951432@N00/76672246)

Oscar and the Bird: A Book About Electricity
By Geoff Waring
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763640323
$14.99
Grades K-2
In Stores

*Recommended*

So how’s you electricity section doing? Oh, pretty well you say? Anything in there for the K-2 set? You’ll get back to me? Look, let me save you some embarrassment and just suggest something that might help.

Oscar and the Bird: A Book About Electricity capably joins the other titles in the Start with Science nonfiction series. The basic vocabulary and storybook format make this book accessible for younger readers. A complex concept in a package that kids will be able to understand, this title is ripe for classroom connections.

Gray and white cat Oscar is a curious feline. When he comes across a tractor with its windshield wipers on, Oscar can’t help but wonder how the wipers are able to move. A brown bird flies down just in time to supply the answer: electricity. The two talk about the tractor battery that makes it all possible. Oscar’s questions soon lead to more big-picture concepts, like how circuits work and where electricity comes from.

What’s old is new again. The crisp, outline-free illustrations have a retro look that clearly illustrate the concepts covered. Soft blues, greens, reds, and yellows cover each two page spread.

A clear, concise little title that serves its purpose well. Good to have on hand.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Check out the Nonfiction Monday roundup at Tales From the Rushmore Kid.

Also reviewed by Moss Green Children’s Books.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

“I regret to say that the World Wide Web has once again raised its World Wide Head to cause trouble.”

- Snicket, L.

Is author Lemony Snicket pleased that the first book in his Series of Unfortunate Events has been made available for free online? No he is not. Click below to watch.

Carrying around a list of the All-Time Top 10 Saved by the Bell episodes? Not very useful (I really need to clean out my wallet). A detailed list of 2009 children’s books that have received starred reviews? Now you’re talking. Over at Shelftalker, they have generously crafted such a list. Each and every aught nine title to get a star from one of the major review journals (Kirkus, Horn Book, etc.) is named.

It’s even broken down by how many stars each book has received. If you’re looking for some of the best (and/or just interested in seeing which books made it into the elite “Five Star” club), you’ll want see this. Click here to head over to Shelftalker and take a look.

(Top image: ‘Cumulated Small Rhombicuboctahedra‘
www.flickr.com/photos/50451021@N00/341613813)

The following is a work of fiction.

Claiming unfairness in the fact that books with appealing covers get checked out more, the Children’s Literature Commissioner has declared that, beginning immediately, all books must be published with jackets that are “trend-free, novelty free, and good for children”. While the use of expensive jacket materials like foil and glitter will be strictly forbidden, the rule will also extend to cover artwork.

“Boys must be depicted in knickers and suspenders, girls must wear bonnets and prairie dresses.”

A more detailed list of forbidden materials and cover elements was provided (see below).

When asked how a genre like urban fiction could survive under the new rule, the commissioner begrudgingly noted that concessions have been made. “There is no rule against tweed driving caps being worn backwards.”

Flanked by the heads of the major children’s book publishing houses, the commissioner was quickly asked to divulge the reasoning behind this move. The commissioner cites the Pepsi Challenge as his inspiration. “If all covers must follow the same rules, the playing field will be leveled. The insidious nature of shelf appeal must be stopped”

Forbidden Materials:

Glitter, foil, thick paper, plastic jewels of any kind, and “treatments that make any paper surfaces shinier than burlap.”

Forbidden Cover Art Depictions:

All clothes invented later than 1850, vigorous activities (such as jumping and dancing), and all forms of physical contact (such hugging and hand-holding).

Click the links below to read previous Children’s Lit Commish posts:

Children’s Lit Commish: ‘All Books Will Actually Just Be Videos By 2012′

Children’s Lit Commish: ‘No Blogging Allowed at Blog Conference’

Children’s Lit Commish: ‘No More Non-Famous Authors’

Children’s Lit Commish: ‘No More Adaptations’

Children’s Lit Commish: ‘No More Non-Series Books’

You voted, and this morning we have ourselves a Most Unfortunate Cover. With a full 23% of the vote, the winner/loser is…

In my opinion, an upset. Click here to view the full results.

Few things can build anticipation like a curling wave. Where’s it going? What’s going to happen? Hokusai captured the mood perfectly in his iconic The Great Wave off Kanagawa (above). A trio of recent children’s book covers understand this and in doing so give off a distinctive separated-at-birth vibe. Let’s have a look:

Necks out for Adventure! by Timothy Basil Ering.

Number two:

Alistair and Kip’s Great Adventure by John Segal.

And to complete the trio:

Missing the Boat by Wayne Chinsang and Justin Shady.

Side by side by side:

Characters atop big waves, the nontraditional lettering – it’s a match folks. Hokusai would be proud.

As far as I know, it began in ’07.

A close up of sock-covered feet.

Pretty memorable cover, right? I would say so. That opinion must have been pretty wide spread, because the socks bandwagon got crowded pretty quickly.

Numerous times, I thought the trend had run its course. I wouldn’t see a sock-covered book for a few months and assume that I wouldn’t see one for a long time.

But they kept popping up.

I really thought ‘09 would mark the end, but based on the following evidence, I see this trend continuing well into 2010.

Friend Me by Cathy Hopkins.

But that’s not all…

The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet by Erin Dionne.

Where will the collection stop?

(Thanks to A Fuse #8 Production for the cover tip)

If your read 100 Scope Notes in an RSS reader, the link to vote for the most unfortunate cover didn’t seem to work. I think I fixed the problem, so here is the (hopefully) fixed poll:

Click here to view your choices

For the uninitiated:

An Unfortunate Cover occurs when a less than appealing cover is wrapped around excellent and/or classic book. Take a look at some of the past Unfortunate Cover selections:

#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11.

Before we do anything else, I have to ask you something:

Q: What do you call a romance novel cover without the woman?

A:

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.

Really, picking on an Apple Classics cover is akin to shooting fish in a barrel – these are all showing their age at this point. But this one just stood out. Or I should say reverse stood out.

Not only does the mood and setting look straight outta the romance section of your local used book store, but doesn’t this guy bear a striking resemblance to late 80’s tv star Richard Greico (of 21 Jump Street fame)? Or is it just me?

Coincidence?

Covers Week continues tomorrow with a Cover Controversy that will rock the boat. Click here for a full schedule of events.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

- John Quincy Adams

In what might be the most irresponsible application of this noble exercise in recent memory, I now implore you to browse the gallery of Unfortunate Covers below and vote for the best (or worst, if you prefer).

#1: Superfudge

#2: Boy

#3: Bridge to Terabithia

#4: Danny, the Champion of the World

#5: Ramona Forever

#6: Dancing Carl

#7: The Tower Treasure

#8: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

#9: On My Honor

#10: Old Yeller

#11: Treasure Island

#12: Robinson Crusoe

If cover designers are superhero alter-egos, then Chad W. Beckerman (art director and cover designer for Abrams Books for Young Readers and Amulet Books) would have to  be Clark Kent. Friendly and hard working by day, yet designing covers that have been known to burst onto shelves, leaping tall buildings (or at least generating lots of interest) in a single bound. Here are but a few:

Plus, take a look at his profile picture:

Somebody find this guy a phone booth.

Mr. Beckerman kindly sat down recently to discuss his work, the future of book covers, and his confusion over pirates with clean socks. Here are the results.

Scope Notes: How would you describe your job as a cover designer/art director?

Chad W. Beckerman: Very simple – it’s a dream job. I get to work with amazing artists, authors, and designers all in pursuit of making a book. I oversee the design, direction, and visual development of books for Abrams Books for Young Readers and Amulet Books, as well as overseeing the re-branding of the new ABRAMS logo and identity.

The editors and I think about which illustrators out there are doing work that excites us and who might have a good emotional response to the text.
Once an author and illustrator have been matched up, I will go over sketches with the illustrator and offer direction in the form of, advice, encouragement, advice, enthusiasm, and loads of jokes. I am also responsible for the design and direction of the books from cover to interior — and yes, even the back cover. I try my best to make the book look as entertaining as possible so it’s enticing for a reader to pick up.

How did you get into the business?

I graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a MFA in Illustration and hopes of working in some sort of job that would enable me to work with narrative subjects. After a summer of wandering the streets of New York looking for a job, an apartment, and a general direction in life, I found myself interviewing at Scholastic. But at that time I wasn’t looking for publishing work – I was showing around my illustration portfolio (http://cwdrawings.blogspot.com) again in hopes that I might illustrate a story. I had a small collection of black & white illustrations, mostly based on the works of Raymond Carver.

I also had a portfolio of book covers I had thrown together to show off my photo-illustration work. Next thing I know Elizabeth Parisi is offering me an assistant designer job. After a little over a year I moved on to Greenwillow Books where Paul Zakris hired me as Designer and was promoted then to Senior Designer. 1405 days later I left Greenwillow for an Associate Art Directors job at ABRAMS. 632 days after that I became the Art Director, give or take a day.

I was hoping for an hour-by-hour breakdown, but days is acceptable. I think I’m starting to get a sense of why you do the job you do – attention to detail.

Actually, I wish I were more detail oriented. I only know the exact days because I got addicted to timeanddate.com. It fascinates me to know specific numbers, like how many days I worked at one particular job or how many more days it is until the 4th of July, my favorite holiday.

I’m with you on the 4^th. It’s gotta be the most under-appreciated holiday. I live in Michigan, so July 4^th is about the only holiday where you don’t have to wear a jacket.

You like music, right? You know how musicians talk about the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds as being hugely influential? Are there book covers that designers revere in a similar way? Are there covers that stand out to you as particularly inspiring?

I love music! In fact I listen to it while I work all the time. It helps me zero in and focus. You should really check out Marcellus Hall’s music. He is the illustrator of City I Love. Really amazing stuff.

Okay, back to the question. Here are a couple of lists of books, artists, and designers that I find have influenced me and the way I think.

1. Molly Bang’s design for The Stinky Cheese Man.

Molly Bang’s design for The Stinky Cheese Man changed everything. Before this book, we hadn’t really seen how much design could do to enhance a picture book story. For good reasons, design stayed in the background. Here is was right out in front, helping to tell the story. In terns of design this book is still unmatched.

2. The N.C. Wyeth illustrated books from the early 1900’s.

The design evokes the mood of the story, but more importantly looks fresh and entertaining even after all these years.

3. The last few Chuck Palahniuk covers have been amazing.

4. Chip Kidd’s Book One is a great source of inspiration. If only to see the beginning of possibilities.

5. Lastly, even though this isn’t a book, the painting Christina’s World has always left a great impression on me. In fact the whole Wyeth family has. It’s worth a trip to Rockland, Maine to visit the Olson house which is depicted in this painting. It’s so beautiful there.

Have you seen the cover of The President’s Daughter? It’s an interpretation of Christina’s World.

Tim O’Brien’s illustrations are amazing. Talk about detail oriented!

Pardon me while I run with the Clark Kent analogy. Do you have cover kryptonite? Are there certain elements that you shy away from for personal or child-appeal reasons?

1. I have promised myself never to use a half cut off face, leg, arm or any other body part on a cover for the sake of not showing a specific person. It’s been done. Let’s move on.

Indeed.

2. Placing type on a cover that doesn’t harmonize with the cover art. The book and reader deserve a book that is thoughtfully designed and consistent.

I regularly read your blog Mishaps and Adventures. I especially love your “making-of” posts for books you’ve worked on. What was your goal in starting a blog?

Honestly, I started the blog in hopes of generating traffic to my website, which I launched about the same time. Oddly, the blog has turned into my site.  It took me some time to figure out what I wanted to talk about and what I could talk about. It wasn’t until I did a post on the making of Something to Blog About, illustrated by Christine Norrie, that I figured out what I was doing.

I am a big process nerd and during those posts I enjoyed that I could give  someone a look behind the scenes at the making of a book. I wanted to document how an idea comes to life and what other ideas might be left behind to make others grow.  I feel like I am just beginning to hit my stride with Mishaps and Adventures. My hope is that the blog will turn into a teaching tool for people hoping to get into publishing, people in publishing, and even myself.

Do you have a philosophy when it comes to book covers? A credo? Limerick, perhaps?

A limerick or credo? The word that comes to mind is “iconic”. This is a lofty goal of course, but it’s a place to start.  I try to design with this word in mind and a focused idea. I think the cover for Wimpy Kid is a prime example of a cover that is a very simple idea that works. The cover idea is based on this passage from the interior:

First of all, let me get something straight: This is a JOURNAL, not a diary. I know what it says on the cover, but when Mom went out to buy this thing I SPECIFICALLY told her to get one that didn’t say “diary” on it. Great, All I need is for some jerk to catch me carrying this book around and get the wrong idea.

I needed to make a cover that worked with this, yet remained very basic, so as not to clutter the cover with too much information. We could have gone with a cover that had a lot of cartoons to tell the reader that this was a graphic novel, but more is not necessarily better. So we chose to use one image that would sum up the entire book. And one bright color to catch the eye and identify this book with in the series.

Another great example of an iconic or simplified cover ideas are the Penguin cloth-bound classic series designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith.

These covers are a great example of using not only a perfect symbol for a book, but one that works for a series, and perhaps which takes a slightly new take on a familiar work. In this case, using simple patterns to describe the themes of the story. A fancy chandelier pattern for Great Expectations. A delicate blooming flower pattern for Sense and Sensibility.

Those do look nice. How do you feel about updating old covers? I recently read the article Tough Love, an open letter to kids’ book publishers by Diantha McBride in SLJ. One of her requests was for stale covers to get a redesign. I always think “man, if they could just do an update on this cover, the book would get the attention it deserves.” What are your thoughts on this?

I think redesigning old covers is a great way to breathe new life into what might have become a stale idea.  I love what they have done with the Penguin classics. It’s genius taking the drab idea of the classic and bring it into the modern world. For Example Candide, cover by Chris Ware; The Portable Dorothy Parker, cover by Seth; The Jungle, cover by Charles Burns; The New York Trilogy, cover by Art Spiegelman. Brilliant! I have often thought, “what would I come up with if I had to redesign a cover of my own design, only conceptualize it completely differently?”  Would I do it any better?  I think these kinds of questions are better left unanswered when dealing with your own work. Thankfully, I haven’t had to take this on as of yet.

Speaking of older covers, if you could have a crack at one cover from history, what would it be?

I would love to take on epic books such as War and Peace. Or an all-time favorite, Watership Down.

I say you just go for it, post it on Mishaps, and see what happens. Like M.S. Corley did with the Harry Potter covers. Have you seen those?

I have! They are amazing. However I think they are amazing now. I am not sure they would have worked in the American markets. But their simplicity is very refreshing.

So who has input on a cover design? Are kids ever consulted?

This can be slightly different from publisher to publisher but generally a cover will pass by the art director, an editor, publisher, and marketing director. All come to the table with certain objectives. An editor needs to make sure a cover is faithful to the book as well as the author. The publisher needs to make sure a cover fits in with the list and will sell. And the marketing director looks at a cover from the point of a consumer. How can we get them to pick up this book over another? Is the design right? Does it need a tag line? Perhaps a burst? The art director needs to foresee all these needs, hopefully before a final cover is routed.  Before I get to a stage where I will bring a cover to a cover meeting I will work very closely with the editor to make sure our ideas sync. Very rarely will we consult kids. Perhaps if I had a room full of them this might work. But where can you find a room full of kids? Well, perhaps in a school room. But it’s frown upon to walk into a class room and use them as a focus group. It’s better to take them out for a beverage an listen to what they have to say:

But in all seriousness, I lay it all down on the idea that if I don’t find it entertaining enough to pick up then neither will a kid.

It seems like you do a good job of putting yourself in the shoes of your audience.

I think it is a crucial part of my job. I hope that I succeed and stay current as long as I can.

How conscious are you of designing a cover that will have staying power (won’t get dated after a few years)? Is this a goal, or are you mostly looking for what will appeal right now?

I don’t think about the staying power of a jacket much. I can only think back to one cover that probably could have used some forward thinking. One of the first books I designed at ABRAMS was called Hell Phone by William Sleator.

Needless to say there is a cell phone on the cover. The image, I believe, was very arresting, but the phone itself became dated within a year. I guess if the book is a success the cover will stay, if it’s not then the cover will be reborn in paperback.

Or you could just rename the book Hell Phone: The Zack Morris Story.

See, these are the ideas that we are looking for! Hilarious.

Are there any trends you see on the horizon?

Currently, and for the last couple of years, the industry has been trying to figure out what to make of the graphic novel. I think Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid gave the industry an insight into how to make the genre profitable as far as middle-grade fiction goes. With any big success story you will find a lot of copycats in form and design. Usually, once an idea has been successful it’s very hard to copy that idea and make it a success as well.
However, there are some good things that come from these trends. Books are forced to evolve and better themselves by finding new ways of telling a story. For example, right now we are seeing an influx of novels with pictures and even comics to enhance the story. For a former reluctant reader, I think this is a great trend that will hopefully make reading more entertaining and act as a bridge to reading as a whole. I see this trend evolving even further into more interactive books, ones that enhance the entertainment-side of reading.

It does seem like things are heading that way. I think of The 39 Clues series and Skeleton Creek as recent examples of books that rate high on the interactivity scale.

Okay, free association time. Give me the first comment that pops into your head when you look at the following recent (and one not so recent) covers.

The Wild Things (fur covered edition) by Dave Eggers.

Jealously! Dave Eggers and the folks over at McSweeny’s are publishing some of the best designed books of the last 10 years.

The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney.

Purrfection! I love this cover! I love that they had the courage (no pun intended) to not use any cover type. Amazing.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

BIG RED DOT!

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

What the . . . ?

A couple things here (besides that no one, in my opinion, should do a Treasure Island cover besides N.C. Wyeth).

1. Why are the characters leaning forward? Do they have rickets from a long sea voyage?

2. How do they keep their socks so clean?

3. I think Robert Louis Stevenson deserves to have his name a little bigger. Just sayin’ . . .

4. Why does the boy look like the guy from C.H.I.P.S.?

Good question. My theory is that the guy from C.H.I.P.S. was the person who actually painted the cover. He included the piece in his resume and that’s what got him the C.H.I.P.S. gig.

Thanks for taking my question, Chad. Best of luck in all your future cover (and non cover-related) endeavors!

Covers Week continues tomorrow with a brand-new inductee into the Unfortunate Cover pasture of misfortune. Click here for a full schedule of events.



To the brave men and women who assembled their debut picture book covers, we salute you (click here to give it a try). What follows is a gallery of the results in all their good, bad, and ugly glory. I’ll be adding to it as the week continues.

@ The Miss Rumphius Effect.

@ Spinning Jennie.

@ Ms. B’s Book Blog.

@ Life Allegorical.

@ Tanita S. Davis.

@ Teacherninja.

@ The Rebel Angels.

@ Sam Riddleburger.

@ MotherReader.

@ Book Nut.

This one is mine.

Normally, I like to keep the focus on what’s inside the book. However, every now and again I use these pages to write about what’s on the outside. Namely, covers – similar ones, unfortunate ones, trends and the like. It recently struck me as a good idea to devote an entire week of 100 Scope Notes programming to this topic. From this coming Monday, November 9 to Friday, November 13 you’ll be getting all covers, all the time. Here’s the schedule of events:

Monday: A brand new “Create Your Debut Cover” meme. It may (or may not) be the best one yet. The fantasy and YA versions were well received, so I’m rewriting the rules for an entirely different type of book. I’ll also post a gallery and add reader submissions to it as the week goes on. It’s time to get creative in a really limited, rule-following way.

Tuesday: An interview with Abrams Books for Young Readers art director and cover designer extraordinaire Chad W. Beckerman. The man behind the cover design of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (and the blog Mishaps and Adventures) certainly knows his stuff. Tune in if for no other reason than to hear his expert opinion on this cover:

Wednesday: A brand-new inductee into the Unfortunate Cover pasture of misfortune. If you’re counting, this will be the 12^th in the series. You’ll also be able to vote for the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) Unfortunate Cover thus far.

Thursday: Cover Controversy time. Let’s just say it’s a bad day for tiny boats. Also, another trend continues its slow approach to world domination.

Friday: The Children’s Literature Commissioner makes an important cover-related announcement. The increasingly unstable (and fictional) Children’s Lit Commish will deliver a (fictional) message regarding the future of book covers.

All Week: The 100 Scope Notes banner will be taken over by book cover-related comic strips created by your humble children’s lit blogger.

See you back here next week!

On a related note:

The official album of Covers Week is The Covers Record by Cat Power.

The official gangsta rap-soundtracked crime film of Covers Week is Deep Cover.

The official cover-up of Covers Week is a giant straw hat.

The unofficial cover-up of Covers Week is the Liar cover controversy.

The official response to a disaster during Covers Week is to take cover.

The official bet of Covers Week is for your team to cover the spread.

The official brand-new word I invented to celebrate Covers Week is decovered (When a book has had its cover removed, it has been decovered).

The official Covers Week response to shame is to cover one’s face.

This Blog’s for You: Ten of the best blogs for folks who take kids’ lit seriously (but not too seriously) by Elizabeth Bird.

Children’s Book of Art
DK Publishing
ISBN: 9780756655112
$24.99
Grades 4-7
In Stores

*Recommended*

Really, kids are in prime position to be turned on to the wide world of art. If they don’t already draw for fun, classroom crafts, “draw a picture” assignments, and weekly art class ensure that elementary-aged youngsters are getting creative on a daily basis. Children’s Book of Art proves to be a well-organized, able introduction to the noteworthy names, styles, and works that form the basics of artistic knowledge. A solid overview of a topic that kids are ready to dig into.

Split into three general sections (Early Art, Modern Art, and Sculpture), the book covers a wide swath of territory. Beginning with the who, how, and why of early cave paintings up to Damien Hirst’s installation art, each time period and style of art is given its due. The book consists of “gallery” pages (showing the use of different artistic elements), “artist profiles” (detailing the life and work or individuals), “how did they do that” sections (which provide instructions for working with different media), and “art style” spreads (covering significant art movements). The range is impressive.

Easy on the eyes, as an art book should be. Large images of well-known (and some more obscure) artwork pop up everywhere. Page layouts often teach, showing readers how different styles of art are created. Artist biographies run down the side of pages, time line style, hitting important events and highlighting influences.

Useful for fact-finding students looking for artist info as well as those simply interested in learning more, Children’s Book of Art effectively (and entertainingly) serves both audiences.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Check out the Nonfiction Monday roundup at Books Together Blog.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

It’s never too early to bookmark, right? I found out via One-Minute Book Reviews that The American Library Association will continue the best idea ever to happen to their Youth Media Awards: the live webcast. From the ALA site:

The American Library Association (ALA) will provide a free live webcast of its Youth Media Awards, a national announcement of the top books and media for children and young adults, on Jan. 18, at 7:45 a.m. EST. The award announcements are made as part of the ALA Midwinter Meeting, which will bring together librarians, publishers, authors and guests to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from Jan. 15 to 19.

I’ve watched the last two announcement webcasts and I highly recommend taking part. Bookmark this site to get in on the action on January 18.

To avoid being uni-technologied when it comes to getting the word out, ALA will also announce the winners via Twitter. Click here to subscribe to the feed.

(Thanks to One-Minute Book Reviews for the links)

(Top Image: ‘Me back in 1984 with my Commodore Vic 20‘
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27315689@N00/459020985)

What happens when you mix Seuss and superheroes? Something like this:

Hand this one out come high school graduation time! Click the image below to head over to pop culture website BuzzFeed and see more Seuss-related collisions of worlds.

The Super Hungry Dinosaur
By Martin Waddell
Illustrated by Leonie Lord
Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin)
ISBN: 9780803734463
$16.99
Grades PreK-1
In Stores

*Recommended*

There’s something about the taming of wild beasts that has staying power in children’s lit – you’ve heard of Where the Wild Things Are, right? I can understand why – it’s a role reversal. Rules are so often imposed on youngsters, it only makes sense that they would enjoy a story where the kid gets to call the shots, besting the monster. And such is the case with The Super Hungry Dinosaur. But don’t let my (possible over-) analysis cloud the picture – this book is charming as all get out, and kids will approve – especially in a read-aloud setting.

Hal and his dog, Billy, are minding their business in the back yard, when they are surprised by an unexpected guest. The titular Super Hungry Dinosaur breaks down the fence and is looking for food. The dino first tells Hal that he will be lunch, but the curly-haired boy is sharp and explains why that is not a fair choice. Rebuffed, the dinosaur suggests other family members (each suggestion denied by Hal) until the line is crossed: the dino wants to eat Billy. Hal takes a stand, taming the beast and feeding him, sending the green dinosaur contentedly on his way.

The artwork, created by Leonie Lord, sets a jovial mood. Crayonlike in texture and childlike in form, Lord creates sunny pages that are a delight to lay eyes on. The two-page spread is nicely utilized, showing the full size of the dinosaur. Spreads are also occasionally split into thirds horizontally, providing three narrow strips to continue the story. This is Lord’s first children’s book, and I look forward to more in the future.

Appealing in story and artwork, The Super Hungry Dinosaur will do pretty well for itself in collections far and wide.

Review copy provided by the publisher

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

Children’s book or thinly veiled political message?

Answer: Children’s book.

YA has been done. Fantasy is yesterday’s news. It’s time to do something for the kids. Above is my debut picture book cover.

What will yours look like?

CREATE YOUR DEBUT PICTURE BOOK COVER

1 – Go to “The Name Generator” or click http://www.thenamegenerator.com/

Click GENERATE NEW NAME. The name that appears is your author name.

2 – Go to “Picture Book Title Generator” or click http://www.generatorland.com/usergenerator.aspx?id=243

Click CREATE TITLE! This is the title of your picture book.

3 – Go to “FlickrCC” or click http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/index.php

Type the last word from your title into the search box followed by the word “drawing”. Click FIND. The first suitable image is your cover.

4 – Use Photoshop, Picnik, or similar to put it all together. Gettin’ creative is encouraged.

5 – Post it to your site along with this text.

If you create a cover, let me know – I’m going to post a reader gallery soon.

Covers Week continues tomorrow with an interview of cover-designing wiz Chad W. Beckerman. Click here for a full schedule of events.

The sun has set on Covers Week, but before we get back to regularly scheduled programming I wanted to post all of the cover-related comic strips that graced the 100 Scope Notes banner during the week. For posterity: