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Kelly,

She may be a celebrity to some--but I had never heard of her before.

Oh, Elaine. Consider yourself fortunate!

Which one is Lauren? I have never seen anyone read on the Hills. Who knows maybe L.A. Candy will win a Cybils one day.

Ugh. Of course, I guess that's unfair of me, since I've never seen The Hills. But still, unfair and all...ugh.

Oh thank god. For a second there, after reading your title, I thought you were going to announce that a celebrity children's book author had started their own kidlit blog. Phew! Bullet avoided!

Fuse, no. But you know that's coming, don't you? I can't believe it hasn't happened yet. (Again, not that the real celeb is writing...they can use the write they already employ to blog too! [Yes, I do know there are exceptions. I suspect Henry Wrinkler is one.])

Oh, YES. I can see that Kelly Rowland has a lot to offer the children's literature community. So much.

I'll admit it. I like Destiny's Child. There, I said it out loud. I like a lot of Madonna's music too. (I don't have very sophisticated musical tastes, it is true. I like a beat, that's about it.)

You don't want to write this blog, Tadmack?

I have an embarrassing interest in celebrity gossip. I love US Weekly magazine -- which is not something I'm proud of. Totally a guilty pleasure. I'll tolerate a lot from a celebrity I enjoy, but why, why, why do they think that they should start writing books? Perhaps because they are so in touch with reality as we know it...

I vote MotherReader. It'd HAVE to be MotherReader who keeps up with it all and makes snarky comments (that's a compliment) and reviews them all.

Jenny: Who knows? It seems like fad right now. Just like starting up a clothing line.

Jules: Me Too. MotherReader has to write this blog. Will she find this if I post a link to her here?

http://www.motherreader.com/

I hope she does. Come, MotherReader, we're calling you.

MotherReader, hear the chants of your fans. MotherReader...MotherReader....MotherReader...

I'm thinking, I'm thinking...

Kelly,

Got any aspirin--I feel a headache coming on!

I'm a big fan of aspirin (as opposed to tylenol or advil, of course, not for children)so I'll send two your way with a nice fizzy drink, Elaine. Bottoms up!

I'm ok with it - hey, if Madonna can write a children's book - who can't?!?!?!

True enough, Becky. Though I have to admit...I HATE Madonna's children's books, as much as I was and still am a fan of some of her music :)

Thanks for the heads up on this. It makes me want to reach for some aspirin too. Although, at least they're drawing inspiration (and motivation) from their background as teachers which more than Madonna (and most other celebrity children's book authors) can say.

Oh my.

Kelly, I left a comment right back atcha at my picture book post today. Anyway, I also wanted to ask (at the risk of sounding like I'm trying to drive traffic to our blog, which I'm not) if you read our Skulduggery review? You don't have to read every word (it's one of those long-ish co-reviews), but I'm just DYING TO KNOW if anyone else got the sense that Stephanie and Tanith are sisters? I might be the only one here who thinks that's coming in maybe the sequel! Anyway, I remember you reviewing it, so I wondered if you thought the same and was hoping you'd comment (It's here). Didn't Jen Robinson read it, too? I'll have to ask her. I had thought it was so obvious that we'll soon be finding out they're sisters, but I'm starting to think it just might be me.

Cheers!

Kelly, sorry about the way early RSVP, but I had to post for Poetry Friday early, so here's me, letting you, as hostess, know!

I did a takeoff on the "39 reasons to be happy" meme that Journey Woman started for her birthday, except I had to tweak it a bit into: 39 Reasons to Write.

What's the problem? I think it's a great idea for a book.

No, wait, sorry -- I read that wrong. I thought they were writing about about a well-mannered boy who likes to read but, with the help of his teacher, finds out that books and their characters are actually sort of lame.

Come to think of it, I'm no longer sure that the DVD that arrived from Netflix today is actually about a high-performing team of champions that, through the efforts of one unconventional coach, is transformed into a ragtag bunch of dysfunctional misfits...

Oh for the love of God!

Migraine coming on... dude, I'm thinking of taking aspirin, and I'm allergic to it...

Amy: Good point.

Jules: Excellent Skulduggery review. As time passes, I like that book more and more! I left you a comment...

Got'ya, Sara!

Chris: Thanks for the smile :)

LT: Yup. That pretty much sums it up.

Tadmack: Don't do it! Save yourself! Reach for the advil instead :)

I blogged about this Alan Johnson thing before... I had a hard time articulating exactly what was so... wrong about him saying that boys needed 'special books' that were more with it than Jane Austen. One, that assumes that all girls are alike, that is, 19th century-focused and girly. Not true. Two, that assumes that all boys are James Bond, and/or want to be, especially those "working class" boys that this is all about -- (apparently the upper crust need only go on doing what they're doing.) my problem is that I would want to read active spy books too - maybe in between my Austen books.

It's so great to have somebody, anybody pushing reading to kids - and to boys. But why is he trying so hard to divide and define boys, girls, their genders and needs here? Does he have another agenda?

This is the problem, TadMack: " I would want to read active spy books too - maybe in between my Austen books." Absolutely! If I were a pre- or teen girl in the U.K., I would be up in arms about this.

Why not simply say: "Our schools need new books. And here's an initiative, however paltry, to give 20 new books to each school. And here's a great list! Pick out your 20. Parents, maybe you'll pick one out to donate to your school too!"

I read he's running for PM, but I can't see how this would help him in the least.

So will girls feel like they CAN'T read books that are on the "boy shelf"?

Onsies coming soon?

Now THOSE are a designing challenge.

BACA, BACA, BACA.

Yikes - I was about to post a reply concerning the 'boys' bookshelf' earlier but didn't get the time. (I was sarcastically suggesting that perhaps he thinks the girls should just be glad they're allowed to read, which may have been too snarky!) I didn't get time to finish it but I just this minute heard a piece on BBC Radio 4's Front Row on the school librarian of the year award. Must say, I found the winner quite down and uninspiring myself, but maybe she was just nervous at being on the radio. Anyway, they talked about the list and the boys bookshelf and I was annoyed all over again that there was no questioning of the idea at all. All I could figure out is that Johnson might hope to be seen as taking helpful action while limiting the amount of money spent by thoughtful targeting. (I'm not saying this makes any sense, of course, but just trying to see how such a stupid idea could possibly seem one likely to encourage voters.)

You should be able to hear it (if you care to!) using the Listen Again option, shortly after the programme is over. Front Row. The piece was on about 20 minutes into the programme.

Hi there Kelly,
Speaking as an author who is honoured to be on the Books for Boys Reading list, I just wanted to put everyone right about what is actually going on here. Girls should feel proud. The UK Government and the Education authorities have long recognised that girls read an awful lot more than boys - especially teenage boys - and I know because I've got one. My son used to be a voracious reader until he hit 13 and then he didn't pick up a book(to read for pleasure) until he hit 16. Apparently this is the norm for boys in the UK. The electronic games console takes over their lives. The Books for Boys initiative is supposed to encourage boys to read by making sure that school libraries have suitably testosterone-laden offerings to whet their appetites. It by no means sends out a message to girls that they can't read those books but it is trying to tell school librarians that they should not overload their shelves with Babysitters Club and Princess Diaries books ( I don't mean to be simplistic but you get my drift.) Hope that has shone some light on the issue.
Lynn Brittney

I've given up trying to understand the British education system or the Govt's approach to literacy and reading, so I can't help (sorry!).

I must say if what Lynn says is true, they've picked some very non-testosterone-laden books for that list (Lady Friday, A Hat Full of Sky both spring immediately to mind).

As for Alan Johnson making PM - Pfft!

Well Alan J won't be PM, and I'm a Daffodil apparently - but I really wanted a "Not Applicable" option on several of those questions !!

I have my flower here:http://deowriter.blogspot.com/2007/05/what-flower-are-you.html

I cracks me up. I have to be so not a violet at school.

Kelly,

Is her father ghostwriting the book for her? Don't "misunderestimate" him!

What next? A children's book written by Dick Cheney on gun safety entitled IN YOUR FACE?

Hah! Too funny, Elaine.

Someone must be ghostwriting this book. As I understand it, you shouldn't "misunderestimate" Ms. Bush as well ;)

Apparently George Dubya has himself commented on the forthcoming book:

“Jenna’s book is destinised for bestsellerhood. Its reputation will swiftly oblitifry that of Frank Annie’s Diaries, and Lois Lowry’s matchstick cats and dogs. I move to instantenaciously squash any suggestions that this has been toastwritten. A single teenage mother living with hives has no time to eat toast.”

So funny, Nick. Classic.

I love the "call to action" part. Hey Jenna, how about you make the first call - to your father. You know, the one with all the strong programs for the underprivileged. Oh, wait...

This seems like an unnecessary bit of dialogue. What happened to if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. If you've read the book, give some honest criticism, but why spend time denigrating someone?

While I appreciate your comments, Zee, you will notice I backed off if you read the post I posted yesterday AND the comments I left over at Gail Gauthier's Original Content.

My reactions are part of an ongoing dialogue about celebrity books. Whatever you want to say about Jenna Bush, she's never been recognized for her intellect or way with words.

I am mostly nice on this blog. I don't post negative reviews, nor do I ever go after a first-time author. I do reserve the right to think, however, that Jenna Bush got a book deal based on her name alone. Here's hoping she'll prove me wrong.