Great great article in the Bangor Daily News about an exhibit in Maine of Robert McCloskey’s paintings. Not his paintings for children’s books, mind you. These were done in his spare time between projects. His daughters Jane and Sally (the same Sal as Blueberries for Sal) put it together and the piece even has a sidebar on a separate exhibit of McCloskey’s illustrations and sketches for some of his children’s books. Best of all, there’s a mention at the end that a book about his life written by Jane is due out next February. Big time thanks to Jenny Schwartzberg for the link.
- Time for a little librarian speak. Excuse me while I pin my hair into a bun and practice my shushing technique. I kid. My shushing technique is without flaw. But I would like to discuss the matter of Baker & Taylor with you. If your library system is anything like my own, you probably order at least some of your books from Baker & Taylor. And maybe you’ve the ability to order paperbacks of series as well. And maybe, just maybe, you want a surefire way of bringing up a series without having to look at every possible book out there that contains the words “Katie” or “Kazoo” in the title. Well Abby (the) Librarian has found a searching technique that will aid you in this endeavor. This is kinda sorta invaluable to folks in our business. Cheers, Abby!
- In a similar librarian vein, those of you with MLIS degrees in your back pockets might want to check out the 100 Scope Notes piece Things Librarians Fancy. And those of you who are doing Save the Library related storytime and craft programs (hey man, it happens) might be interested in Elizabeth Dulemba’s Save the Library coloring pages. That woman has the illustration market cornered on coloring pages. Smart of her.
- Okay. Enough with the librarians. Children’s authors, it’s your turn now. Or potential children’s authors. Highlights Magazine has released a list of the kinds of submissions they’re looking for. Give it a gander and then hone your ability to simplify, simplify, simplify.
- What I Have Learned Today: That author Tanita Davis needs to start writing some middle grade novels so that I can start reading her. Seriously. I just went over to the Hunger Mountain (the VCFA Journal of the Arts) website and read her piece Reflected Faces. I like what I’ve seen there. Her essay discusses, amongst other things, the reluctance of some publishers to place dark-skinned faces on the covers of YA novels. Mitali Perkins discusses the same thing in the same issue in Teens Do Judge a Book by the Cover. At one point Mitali suggests getting any faces off of YA literature, period. I would argue that in the case of children’s novels (as opposed to teen) I’d actually like to see more covers like that of Sassy: Little Sister is Not My Name by Sharon Draper. Check this out:
8 Comments on Fusenews: Me no know art. But me know what me like. Food!, last added: 6/12/2010Display Comments Add a Comment
Cheers, actually, go to my B&T rep who showed me that nifty trick! I now can’t live without it. Thanks for the link, Betsy!
There is a typo in the ripple blog link – the actual link is http://ripplesketches.blogspot.com – and thanks for telling us all about this! I’m SO in.
Oo. Good catch. Corrected it has been. Thanks for that.
Thanks again, Betsy! Kelly wanted me to tell you that the email for Ripple is now: [email protected]. I am SO HAPPY this is getting recognition! Thanks!
So glad to see Marching For Freedom get a Horn Book award! It was sadly overlooked at the Newberys and other awards earlier in the year. And I love that When You Reach Me is joining a small group of doubly-honored books — I had assumed that it was a frequent thing for the Newbery to win the Horn Book award.
Thank you Elizabeth! It’s so wonderful to get support for this project!Xo-Kelly
Hey Fuse #8 . . . hope you enter the Bodacious Book Contest!!!
So much to digest! The Maureen Johnson post was brilliant and I just may have a Highlights article in me. Thanks for both. How do you ever find the time?