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The problem with this Fusenews feature is that if I don’t do them regularly then the news out there builds up, builds up, builds up, until there’s so much of it out there that I’m almost embarrassed to do anything with it. Such is the case today! And, as per usual, I’ll say that I’m just going to type these pieces up very fast, when in truth it’s pretty much going to be the same kind of thing I always do. Truth! Let’s do it.
I highly recommend that each and every last one of you guys move to Illinois. The people here are so freakishly nice it’s amazing! Case in point, SCBWI-IL and The Center of Teaching Through Children’s Books are pairing up to have me talk to a whole bunch o’ folks on the evening of October 7th. Isn’t that kind of them? If you live in the area, please come by. I like to blather and while doing it in my own head is fine, it’s much nicer when there’s a healthy number of other people out there to absorb the blow.
In case you missed it the National Book Awards Longlist for Young People’s Literature was released last week. A very YA-centric list indeed with only two clear cut books for kids. Yet look in other categories and you’ll find that children’s authors do not relegate themselves solely to the children’s category. For example, in the adult nonfiction section you’ll see that our beloved Sy Montgomery has been nominated for The Soul of an Octopus.
New Blog Alert:Reading While White. You might argue that that is the unspoken title of most children’s literature blogs, but in this case they’re acknowledging the fact freely and commenting on what that means all the while. There are some fascinating pieces on there already, so if you’re anything like me you’re checking it daily. Ooo, I just love folks that aren’t afraid to touch on potentially controversial topics for the sake of making the conversation at large a richer experience.
In a particularly unfunny move, The Roald Dahl Estate has closed down the beloved Roald Dahl Funny Prize that was the brainchild of Michael Rosen. Why? There are hems and haws to sort through here but I think the key lies in the part where they say that in conjunction with next year’s centenary celebration, “the estate would be focusing on a new children’s book prize to be launched in the US.” So clearly they didn’t want two Roald Dahl prizes out there. One wonders if this mysterious prize in the US will also be for humor. I suspect not, but I’d be awfully interested if any of you have further details on the mater.
If you were once again faithfully checking your Iowa Review this season (ho ho) you might have seen three interesting things. #1 – It contains a “portfolio” all about children’s books this month. #2 – The cover is by Shaun Tan. #3 – Phil Nel’s piece A Manifesto of Children’s Literature; or Reading Harold as a Teenager is free for viewing online. I should note that the actual issue also has pieces by Jeanne Birdsall (yay!), Mr. Tan, and Kevin Brockmeier, so get thee to an academic library! Stat!
I don’t do much in the way of Instagram myself, but even without knowing it I can acknowledge that this Buzzfeed piece on what would happen if Hogwarts characters had it was rather inspired. Thanks to Travis Jonker for the link.
You ever hear the one about the bookseller who would get artists to draw their best beloved picture book characters on her arms and then she’d tattoo them there? Yes? Well, I hadn’t heard about her for a couple of years so I decided to check in. And lo and behold, one of my new neighbors here in the Chicago area, Eric Rohmann, was the creator of her latest tat.
If someone asked you to suggest a children’s book that they hadn’t read but should, what would you choose? It helps if the person asking is British and wasn’t practically required by law, like those of us here in the States, to read certain books in the U.S. kidlit cannon. My suggestion was actually Half Magic by Edward Eager. See some of the others here.
Wowzer. Children’s authors have power. Don’t believe me? See what Marc Tyler Nobleman pulled off with DC Entertainment. Well done, sir!
Speaking of superheroes, two years ago Ingrid Sundberg drew a whole host of children’s and YA authors as spandex-wearing, high-flying, incredibles. It’s still fun to look at today here.
Me Stuff (Part Deux): It’s a little old but I was interviewed by Joanna Marple not too long ago. There’s some good stuff there, like shots of the dream office I aspire towards (hat tip to Junko Yokota, though).
I feel a bit sad that I never read Lois Lowry’s Anastasia books when I was a kid. I think I would have related to them (or at least to her glasses which originally rivaled mine in terms of width and girth). How I missed these books I’ll never know. Now I’m reading all about the changes being made to the newly re-released series. Some make sense but others (changing Anastasia, Ask Your Analyst to Anastasia Off Her Rocker) don’t make a lick of sense. I get that “analyst” is not a common term these days. I care not. The term “off your rocker” is, after all, no less dated.
Daily Image:
There are fans and then there are fans. And best beloved is the author or illustrator who meets a fan who knows, really knows, how to quilt. Ms. Sibby Elizabeth Falk showed this to Jane Yolen recently. It’s Owl Moon like you’ve never seen it before:
9 Comments on Fusenews: Saving the Second Penny, last added: 9/30/2015
Glad to hear that the Anastasia books are being refreshed, but I agree that changing it to “off her rocker” is silly.
Marc Tyler Nobleman said, on 9/28/2015 6:39:00 AM
Thanks for the kind word, BB. It was, of course, a group effort. With Batman on your side, how can you lose?
Even in Australia said, on 9/28/2015 6:52:00 AM
I thought the exact same thing about changing “ask your analyst” to “off your rocker”! i bought new copies solely for the intro by the author to the first two in the series. They are HYSTERICAL. Also, I kind of like the new covers. It’s pretty clear to me that they are caricatures, not fetishizing anorexia or something.
Denis Markell said, on 9/28/2015 7:31:00 AM
“It helps if the person asking is British and wasn’t practically required by law, like those of us here in the States, to read certain books in the U.S. kidlit cannon.”
While admitting that commenting on spelling errors by a World Famous Librarian Person can lead to nothing but grief, I gotta say I love the image of a large cannon into which we can load kidlit books we’re not fond of and shooting them at our enemies.
Zoe said, on 9/28/2015 7:43:00 AM
He he! It always feels a bit like Christmas if I have a brush with Fuse News! Thanks Though I wish I had that quilt….
Elizabeth Bird said, on 9/28/2015 2:44:00 PM
HA! I love the image of a large physical cannon. I think the only grief to be suffered here is on my part. I will, however, take my editor to task (my editor being my mother who usually catches these errors at 5 a.m., thereby sparing my readers).
Sarah Julsonnet said, on 9/29/2015 10:39:00 AM
I’m super pleased that Anastasia is getting a reprint but I was surprised…did they make her blonde? And I confess, as much as I loved Anastasia, I ADORED Sam.
Susan Ramsey said, on 9/30/2015 4:16:00 AM
Whoops. — Mom
Carol Gordon Ekster said, on 9/30/2015 6:25:00 PM
The Owl Moon quilt is amazing in person. I happened to be there at the picture book boot camp where Sibby presented it to Jane. It was such a touching moment.
With Comic Con NYC later this week, publisher previews on the rise, and various work-related meetings, talks, and speeches I’m just the teeniest tiniest bit busy this week. But no matter! It is you, dear readers, that give me what for and how to. For you I would forgo all the sleep in the world. And as luck would have it, my 5-month-old baby is currently taking me up on that offer.
Onward!
Sometimes when I am feeling pensive I attempt to figure out which authors and illustrators currently alive today will, in the distant future, be so doggone famous for their works that people make pilgrimages to the homes they once lived in. I suspect that the entire Amherst/Northampton area will become just one great big tour site with people snapping shots of the homes of Norton Juster, Mo Willems, Jane Yolen, and so on and such. Thoughts of this sort come to mind when reading posts like Phil Nel’s recent piece A Very Special House in which he visits the former home of Ruth Krauss and Crockett Johnson. It is entirely enjoyable, particularly the part where the current owners reenact a photo taken on the porch with Ruth and Crockett 65 years later.
So they announced the Kirkus Prize Finalists last week. Those would be the folks in the running for a whopping $50,000 in prize money. The books in the young reader category are split between two picture books, two middle grade titles, and two YA. You can see all the books that were up for contention here and the final books that made the cut here. Heck, you can even vote on the book you’d like to see win and potentially win an iPad for yourself. I don’t think they needed the iPad as a lure, though. I suspect many folks will be voting left and right just the for the fun of it. Thanks to Monica Edinger for the links.
In other news, we have word of a blog made good. Which is to say, a blog that figured out how to make a living off of its good name. When people ask for YA blog recommendations I am not always the best person to ask. I don’t monitor them the way I monitor children’s book blogs. Pretty much, I just rely on folks like bookshelves of doom and The Book Smugglers to tell me what’s up. Now The Book Smugglers are becoming publishers in their own right! eBook publishers no less. Nice work if you can get it.
Louise Rennison wrote a rather amusing little piece about how her British slang doesn’t translate all that well across the pond, as it were. Fair enough, but don’t go be telling me we Yanks don’t know humor. That’s why I was pleased to see that at the end of the article it says, “Louise Rennison will be discussing humour on both sides of the pond, and other interesting things, with her fellow countryman Jim Smith (author of Barry Loser and winner of the Roald Dahl Funny prize 2013) and American author Jon Scieszka (author of many hilarious books including Stinky Cheeseman and most lately Frank Einstein) – in a panel event chaired by Guardian children’s books editor Emily Drabble, run with IBBY at Waterstones Piccadilly, London, on 7 October 2014.” Why that’s today! Give ‘em hell, Jon! Show ‘em we know our funny from our droll. Then find out why their Roald Dahl Funny Prize is taking a hiatus. It’s not like they lack for humor themselves, after all.
*sigh* That Jarrett Krosoczka. He gets to have all the fun. One minute he’s hosting the Symphony Space Roald Dahl celebration and the next he’s hosting the upcoming Celebration of E.B. White. I mean, just look at that line-up. Jane Curtin. David Hyde Pierce. Liev Schreiber (didn’t see that one coming). Oh, I will be there, don’t you doubt it. You should come as well. We’ll have a good time, even if we’re not hosting it ourselves.
This may be my favorite conspiracy piece of 2014 (which is actually saying something). Travis Jonker lays out 6 Theories on the End of Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. Needless to say, I’m firmly in the “dog as Jesus” camp.
And speaking of conspiracy theories, were you aware of the multiple theories that abound and consist of folks trying to locate the precise geographical coordinates of Sesame Street? There’s a big Sesame Street exhibit at our Library of the Performing Arts right now (by hook or by crook I am visiting it this Sunday) and that proved the impetus for this piece. Lots of fun.
Hey, how neat is this?
On Saturday November 8, 2014, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art (NMAA) in Washington, DC will host the 22nd annual Children’s Africana Book Awards (CABA). CABA was created by Africa Access and the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association* to honor authors and illustrators who have produced exceptional books on Africa for young people.
And who’s that I see on the list of nominees? None other than Monica Edinger for Africa Is My Home! Two Candlewick books are listed, actually. Well played there, oh ye my fellow publisher.
Daily Image:
I admit it. I’ve a weakness for paper jewelry. Today’s example is no exception:
Wood pulp. A marvelous invention. Thanks to Jessica Pigza for the image.
0 Comments on Fusenews: Knowing your funny from your droll as of 10/7/2014 6:05:00 AM
We considered calling this page “100 Notes on Why 7 8 9,” but it sounded too much like a math page. And when Philip Nel suggested “The Niblings,” we all fell hard for it.
Our goal with this group is to share — in one convenient location — links from our blogs, as well as other interesting links related to the field of children’s literature. Instead of us sharing links to our respective blogs on four separate pages, consider this (the Facebook page or Twitter feed) a one-stop resource center for information on children’s literature. This was initially Jules’ very smart idea and she clearly couldn’t pass up the fun numerology in these four blog titles. Can you blame her? So in short:
Whence the name? Well, “The Niblings” comes from Tove Jansson’s Moomin series:
“Do you like educational games?” Hodgkins asked cautiously.
“I love them!” said the Nibling.
I sat down and didn’t know what to say.
— Tove Jannson, final chapter of Moominpappa’s Memoirs (1968, revision of The Exploits of Moominpappa, 1950), translated by Thomas Warburton, p. 147
Why this name for our group?
Tove Jansson’s Niblings love educational games and are, of course, often hungry. And we four children’s-lit bloggers have a comparably rapacious curiosity.
It is the nature of blogs to take small bites of things. Niblings like to gnaw on things, too. (Niblings also chew off noses they think are too long. We vow not to do this.)
“Niblings” is a term for nieces or nephews and thus offers an additional link to young readers.
The word evokes other literary groups, such as the Inklings (C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, et al), as well as Fanny Burney’s 1779 play The Witlings (which satirizes the literary world).
It’s slightly absurd, rather like Monty Python, Moxy Fruvous, Boing Boing (the blog), or, let’s face it, A Fuse #8 Production (which, if we’re going to get technical about it, was named after a car part).
We hope you enjoy our consortium over there in Facebook Land, should you be a Facebook-user.
I am serious as death when I state that if you see no other Children’s Literary Salon at NYPL, see this one:
The Children’s Literary Salon is pleased to announce our next event this Saturday, October 27th at 2:00 p.m.
Children’s Literary Salon
Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss:
How an Unlikely Couple Found Love, Dodged the FBI,
and Transformed Children’s Literature
Presented by Philip Nel
An illustrated talk, focusing on Johnson and Krauss in the 1950s, the period in which they reinvent the modern picture book, and the FBI places them under surveillance. Working with legendary Harper editor Ursula Nordstrom, Johnson publishes Harold and the Purple Crayon (1955), and Krauss begins her decade-long collaboration with Maurice Sendak, creating the groundbreaking A Hole Is to Dig (1952), A Very Special House (1953) and six others. And FBI builds a file on Johnson, opening his mail, monitoring his bank account, and noting the names of people who visited or phoned. Drawing from the biography (forthcoming September 2012) that shares its title with this talk, Nel offers a story of art, publishing, politics, and the power of the imagination.
Philip Nel is Professor of English and Director of Kansas State University’s Program in Children’s Literature. His most recent books are Keywords for Children’s Literature (co-edited with Lissa Paul, 2011) Tales for Little Rebels: A Collection of Radical Children’s Literature (co-edited with Julia Mickenberg, 2008), The Annotated Cat: Under the Hats of Seuss and His Cats (2007), Dr. Seuss: American Icon (2004). Forthcoming, fall 2012: a double biography of Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss, and The Complete Barnaby, Vol. 1 (co-edited with Eric Reynolds), which collects the first two years of Crockett Johnson’s influential comic strip. He also blogs. And tweets.
This event will be held in the main branch of New York Public Library at the Stephen A. Schwarzman building located at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue. The talk will take place in the South Court Auditorium. Copies of Mr. Nel’s book will be for sale at that time. The Children’s Literary Salon is a free event open to the public. No reservations necessary. See the announcement here for more details.
5 Comments on Children’s Literary Salon: Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss, last added: 10/29/2012
oh my goodness, i didn’t know they were a couple! the e.b./ katherine whites of picture books! can’t be in new york but will surely get myself this bio.
WendieO said, on 10/25/2012 11:06:00 AM
The book costs $40? $30 + at Amazon? For a paperback? I was going to buy it, since the libraries near me in California don’t have it, but now I have to reconsider.
Jennifer in GA said, on 10/25/2012 11:34:00 AM
Hey Betsy- do you know what the deal is with the availability of this book?? I forgot to preorder from Amazon when the hardback was like $28. Now it’s not available in hardback at all, and like WendieO mentioned, the paperback is $30+. I’d love to read it, but that’s a little too rich for my blood. Sadly, there isn’t a copy available in my library system, which covers the whole state of GA! :/
Karen Gray Ruelle said, on 10/25/2012 6:43:00 PM
So sorry I’m going to be out of town and will miss this.
Edwin Pallid said, on 10/29/2012 3:19:00 PM
Many thanks for the breathless story! I really enjoyed reading it, you are a splendid illustrator. I actually added your blog to my favorites and will forward for more updates. Here’s are some good Salon Chairs and Hooded Hair Dryer Chairs to check. Awesome Job, keep it up.
Okay. News of a double quick time fashion today, folks. Let’s see what you can do with these yummy numbers:
Maurice Sendak as hot young man. Now that I have your attention I will now direct you to this magnificent interview with Phil Nel. As you may have heard he has a helluva biography coming out about Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss publishing this fall and Jules at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast has the season’s must read interview with the man on the topic. If you follow no other link today, follow that one. I wasn’t kidding about the Sendak photo (Jules thinks he looks more like a superhero, so you make the call).
Jealous at all of those folks who can afford to buy original art from great illustrators? Wish you had the means? Well, here’s a solution I wish more people considered. Sergio Ruzzier was cleaning out his desk drawers and decided to just sell the extra stuff he found in there. Whether it’s a map of Thailand or some seriously laconic bees, Ruzzier’s got the goods. Just saying.
Things that make you say, “Awwww”. I am thinking specifically of this lovely little piece from Horn Book called The Secret Garden’s Perennial Wisdom . . . for Parents. Yes, the title sounds schlocky yet Ms. Andrea Fox’s writing is anything but. It’s just good honest goodhearted honestness. Honest (and it’s good).
It’s back! It’s back, it’s back, it’s back! Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!!
Well, I’ll be hornswaggled. I’m fairly certain that the Parents’ Choice blog has never linked to me before. First time for everything! And I’m just pleased as punch that they’re highlighting this year’s 90-Second Newbery Film Festival. Remember folks, any kid can enter a video. Go to it!
That nice Travis Jonker guy has been busy. First he ends up on the cover of SLJ talking about eReaders in comic form (love it). Then he’s up and bought by SLJ! That’s right folks. 100 Scope Notes will soon be joining the happily family here. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer, smarter fellow.
I think my mom asked if anyone else had sent me this link to educator reformer Jonathan Kozol talking about the children’s books he’s been reading. That would be a definite nope. I’m glad she took the initiative though since Kozol’s great. He expounds on many fine points. Just listen to this description of Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse: “It’s a delectable story of an irreverent girl.” I am now claiming this description for my eulogy someday. Dibs!
Ugh. Reading articles like this just remind me that I need to do another critical review soon. Fortunately I found the perfect candidate recently. Stay tuned.
FYI, our wonderful blogger turned author Gwenda Bond has a new book out and it’s getting reviews of the rave variety (and SHE doesn’t need to pay for them).
Daily Image:
Book fountain, book fountain, book book book fountain!
Thanks to Aunt Judy for the pic.
7 Comments on Fusenews: “This book might change your soul”, last added: 9/8/2012
Okay! So I’m a little out of practice when it comes to these news items and looking at some of the stuff I’ve accumulated in the last month, a good swath of it is out of date. Here’s what I have that’s current then.
Not long ago the good people at the Women’s National Book Association called me up and wondered if I’d be willing to participate in a kind of panel discussion with some female children’s author/illustrators . . . from Kazakhstan. Twist! Naturally I said yes indeed. I mean, how often do you come across that kind of an offer? Publishing Perspectives wrote up the meeting here. No pictures of me except a nice glimpse of my left arm. Publishers Weekly also wrote it up here but my favorite recounting is from what must be a translated site at How to Be Published which refers to me as a “New York Public Library girl materials dilettante”. If I were a tattoo kind of gal, I would make that my standard.
Two news items regarding good leftist cartoonists/children’s authors of the past. The first is this fine cartoon tribute to Syd Hoff in Tablet by Sarah Lazarovic. Thanks to Marjorie Ingall for that link. The second regards one Mr. Crockett Johnson. As you might recall he will be featured in a dual biography with Ruth Krauss by the multi-talented Phil Nel this coming fall. The magnificent title is Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss: How an Unlikely Couple Found Love, Dodged the FBI, and Transformed Children’s Literature. And then there’s the drop dead gorgeous book jacket by Chris Ware. Phil pointed out that not only is Ware drawing in the style of Crockett, he’s also doing a Sendak here, a Mary Blair there, etc. It’s also one of the sexier Ruth Krauss images I’ve seen. Cannot wait to get my grubby mitts on that one.
Not a New Blog Alert BUT . . . it might as well be for all that I’ve paid attention to it. When I write a review on this site I puff myself a little and feel smart because I’m capable of linking to other reviews. Big whoop. When the good folks at The Classroom Bookshelf review a book they don’t just review it. They interview the author via video, provide countless useful links, and generally make the book as useful and accessible to teachers as humanly possible. It just puts me to shame. They’re off for the summer (teachers, y’know) but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a bit of jaw-dropping in by seeing what they accomplished so far. Dear Lord, I stand amazed.
Some more me stuff. First a
3 Comments on Fusenews: Just your average everyday “New York Public Library girl materials dilettante”, last added: 7/5/2012
Gosh, Betsy, thanks for the shout-out! I’ll ask the press to send a copy directly to your “grubby mitts.” And I couldn’t be more pleased with Chris Ware’s cover. The only down-side is that, for all subsequent books of mine, I’ll think, “Well, it’s not a bad cover. But this designer is no Chris Ware….”
ChrisinNY said, on 7/5/2012 6:09:00 AM
I happen to know an aspiring librarian who I thought might find your article useful! Hope she reads it (even if it came from mom….)
Jennifer Schultz said, on 7/5/2012 6:50:00 AM
Good article (I will say that in our county library system, we’ve had to close some positions when staff retired or left–we’ve been able to reopen one youth service position, but our assistant librarian position has been closed ever since the previous AL retired three or four years ago). If you’re able to relocate for a job, your job outlook may be decent. If you’re looking for a position in your immediate area and are not able to relocate, you have a much tougher situation. It’s rough out there–recent graduates have my sympathies.
The fabulous Colleen Mondor and Jackie Parker-Robinson have come up with a clever notion. Kidlitcon, the yearly conference for bloggers of child and teen literature, fast approacheth and this year, things are getting a bit switched. As Colleen says on her blog, “What we decided was to shift things just a bit, both by moving away from publisher donated ARCs as raffle prizes and also toward a long term partnership with one organization. Ultimately what we came up with made sense in so many ways that in retrospect it was one of the easiest things we decided. I am delighted to announce that KidLit Con is now entering into a partnership with Reading Is Fundamental which we hope will extend for many years into the future and make a powerful difference in the lives of many.” There’s more information to be found here, including info on how to donate to RIF yourself. So far the fund has reached $1,056, which is fantastic though more is needed. And a cheer is going out to Carol Rasco for her mention of me in a recent thank you.
And now let’s raise a glass and toast my profession. Isn’t it nice to have a profession that can, without so much as a stray drop of guilt, be toasted? Lucky that. In any case, the I Love My Librarian awards are starting up again and that means you need to get out there and vote for your beloved holders of MLIS degrees. You may nominate a school, public, and academic librarian if you like. Doesn’t cost you a thing and maybe your one true library love will get the credit they so richly deserve. Stranger things have happened, no?
Speaking of honoring folks, the Eric Carle Museum Honors have been announced. Each year four categories are filled with folks who have done some good in the name of children’s literature. This year the recipients include:
Lois Ehlert ▪ Artist
Jeanne Steig ▪ Angel
Michael di Capua ▪ Mentor
Karen Nelson Hoyle ▪ Bridge
On Thursday, September 22nd the Honors will be at Guastavino’s here in town. The usual auction that takes place at that time is seeing a bit of a shake-up as well. According to the website, “Our fourth annual art auction will feature original works of art donated by some of the industry’s most celebrated artists. This year also offers the opportunity to bid on ‘experiences’ with authors and artists.” If one of those “experiences” can include a chance to go pubbing with Tomi Ungerer I am in! At last year’s event I discovered that I was pregnant mere hours before attending. This year will have to top that, right?
Back in the day when I was young and foolish I had a chance to interview Frances Hardinge on my blog. Years have passed and Ms. Hardinge has yet to become the household name here in the States that I know she is capable of being. While I wait then I’ll continue to read other interviews of her, like
0 Comments on Fusenews: Now with more earthquaky goodness as of 1/1/1900
First off, today I’d be amiss if I did not direct you to submit your favorite book trailers to the SLJ Trailee Awards.* If you’ve a favorite trailer that was posted between the dates of July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, SLJ wants to hear about it. Think back through all the book trailers you’ve seen. What stood out? Pay attention to those dates too. I wanted to vote for the stop motion trailer for Linger but saw it was posted May not July 2010. D’oh!
Now this wasn’t created for the 90-Second Newbery but the creators should submit it anyway. It’s a silent film version of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman and it’s a delight to watch.
I particularly like the “dog”.
And now you guys have some serious luck. Phil Nel and Julia Mickenberg (editors ofTales for Little Rebels: A Collection of Radical Children’s Literature) recently spoke at the Children’s Literature Association’s annual conference held at Hollins University. The topic? Radical Children’s Literature Now! And best of all, the whole talk is online for your viewing pleasure. How awesome is that?
Phil even provided the Bibliography of the talk on his blog. What a fella!
Next up, Potted Potter. It’s an abbreviated take on all seven Harry Potter books ala The Reduced Shakespeare Company. I call it a hoot, but then I forgive a lot when it’s done with a British accent.
Actually Leila found another Potter related link of relative amusement. This works because of the Ghostbusters shirt. I love that such shirts are considered ironic hipsterwear these days.
Some of you have just tasted the delights of the annual SCBWI Conference in L.A. To you I say, lucky ducks. I’ll live vicariously through your blog updates and Twitter
3 Comments on Video Sunday: Now with more monkeys, last added: 8/7/2011
Thanks for the mention, Betsy! A revised and slightly expanded version of “Radical Children’s Literature Now!” will appear in The Children’s Literature Association Quarterly 36.4 (Winter 2011). So, to those who are interested, look for it late this year or in early 2012.
Philip Nel said, on 8/6/2011 9:39:00 PM
And, geez, I should also reiterate my thanks here. Appreciate you taking the time to answer our queries! (You’ll see yourself in the talk, starting at 26:50, where we quote you.) Thanks again!
James Kennedy said, on 8/7/2011 9:39:00 PM
Just catching up, Betsy: As it happens, that “Graveyard Book” film WAS done for our 90-Second Newbery hoohah! The same group also did a fantastic “When You Reach Me.” You can see both here:
I’ve been clutching this video to my chest for months, just waiting, waiting, waiting for September to come around. Children’s literature related? Not unless funky puppets count (that puppet makes me laugh every time). Just consider this something to get your groove on today. September is here (yipes!) and if your weather is anything like New York’s right now then you are dwelling in sweet 62 degree heaven.
Close your eyes. Now think of the best book trailer produced between January 1, 2006 to July 1, 2010. Can you think of it? Fantastic. Now go and read Joyce Valenza’s post about the New Book Video Trailer Awards that are coming up. Not only can you nominate your favorites but you can also vote for the winners in each category.
Teen trailers will not be considered, so this next series of videos wouldn’t quite make the cut. To be honest, I’m not certain how I missed this on the first go-around. I suppose because they’re YA to a certain extent but since (A) Adam Rex usually works in the world of children’s literature and (B) They star Mac Barnett who is CLEARLY picture book and chapter book related, these count.
What’s important here is that you recognize the mad acting skills at work. Ye gods. Here’s where the cool kids are at. The cool kids with oddly slicked back hair.
Can you believe that as of this posting some of these have only gotten 526 views? What the heckedy heck?
Speaking of book trailers with shocking low views on YouTube, 368 right now for what may well be the most movie-like movie trailer I’ve ever seen. And that is saying something. Production value city going on here. Wow.
Those Fat Vampire vids are seriously the best thing ever. Who is that other fellow with Mac? When he rhymed “vam-pier” and “re-queer” I about lost my breakfast (in a good way).
Elizabeth Bird said, on 9/5/2010 8:38:00 AM
That’s an excellent question. He’s either a Jon Korn or a Shawn Harris but I was unable to get much info on either. Funny guy though, eh?
JMyersbook said, on 9/5/2010 9:19:00 AM
No, no, the race for Best Thing Ever is a tie between the FABULOUS dancing grandmother in the first video and the irresistibly cute/hilarious talking shell in the last video! One of the best Video Sundays EVER!
Adam Rex said, on 9/5/2010 2:37:00 PM
That’s Jon Korn. Shawn directed the videos. Thanks for posting them!
Philip Nel said, on 9/5/2010 9:55:00 PM
Thanks for the link & the encouragement! ‘Twas quite time-consuming to do (roughly 12 hrs’ work for 4 mins of film), but will do more in future!
Deborah Freedman said, on 9/6/2010 11:00:00 AM
I love the video too, because I’m a metafiction geek – not just because Scribble is prominently displayed! Thanks for the shout-out, Betsy.
Marcel’s Antecedent Perhaps? « educating alice said, on 9/6/2010 12:43:00 PM
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:paula said, on 9/8/2010 7:56:00 AM
“re-quyr” … definitely one of the funniest things I’ve seen all year. I bet about 125 of those views on YouTube are me!
I am indebted to Jenny Schwartzberg for bringing to my attention the fact that the BBC’s extensive archives are offering up recordings of some of the great British Novelists of the past. These are both television and radio programs and they are intoxicating. You can hear the very voice of Virginia Woolf herself. And on the children’s side of things, there are folks like T.H. White, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Penelope Lively. You could get lost in there. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, Jenny.
New Blog Alert: And it’s a doozy too. If you missed the fact that the magnificent Philip Nel started a blog called Nine Kinds of Pie recently, then now is the time to know. Mr. Nel is that nice young man who teaches as a Professor of English at Kansas State University and also writes books like The Annotated Cat in the Hat and, my personal favorite, Tales for Little Rebels: A Collection of Radical Children’s Literature (that one was done with co-writer Julia L. Mickenberg, of course). He updates his blog with frightening regularity as well. Of course, it’s the summer. The school year is only just now picking up. Still, anything he cares to write is well worth your time to read. Plus he wins an award for Best New Blog Title in our field.
All right. Let me see what I can do with this. Ahem. So Beatrix Potter was friends with Anne Carroll Moore. Anne Carroll Moore was a famous children’s librarian who worked at the main branch of NYPL. I am a children’s librarian who works in the main branch of NYPL. I have seen the picture Potter gave to Ms. Moore as a gift. Ipso facto, I’m going to weigh in on the whole Emma Thompson writing a new Peter Rabbit story news item. I feel entirely ripped in half too. On the one hand, I love Emma. I honestly adore her. I think she’s a modern marvel. I want to be her best friend and to just listen to her talk for hours on end. On the other hand, this marks a very bad precedent: The celebrity picture book sequel to a classic work. No. No no, this will not do. We can’t have Justin Bieber writing conclusive storylines to Stuart Little or Courtney Love putting the last touch on an official return to Wonderland. Nope. I love you Emma, but this cannot stand. I’m sure you’re a perfectly fine writer, but you’re making it look too enticing to the others. Thanks to @PWKidsBookshelf for the link.
I envy not the good people charged by ALSC to regularly determine the official Great Websites for Kids as promoted by the librarians. I’m just grateful they exist and that they’re willing to add some new additions. Had I the power, I’d place these on my library’s children’s website pronto, if not sooner. A magnificent resource.
Thanks for the plug on the blog! Speaking of: am planning a brief post on Seuss’s advertising work later today.
Jennifer in GA said, on 8/21/2010 7:04:00 AM
I think Emma Thompson is one of the few celebrity-type people who could actually pull off writing a sequel to a classic book. She’s more of a writer-turned-actor than actor-who-wants-to-dabble-in-writing. She got her start as a comedy writer. I know it’s not the be-all and end-all, but she did win an Oscar for writing the screenplay adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, and she’s also adapted the Nanny McPhee screenplays. Even though she hasn’t published and works of fiction, I think her writing background is strong enough to do the job and do it well. Personally, I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt until she proves otherwise.
Elizabeth Bird said, on 8/21/2010 7:10:00 AM
Oh, I don’t deny that she may end up doing a stand-up job of it. I just worry that it sets a bad example for other celebrities. They’ll eye Emma’s work, forget the whole she’s-also-a-real-writer element, and try doing the same thing themselves. *shudder*
rams said, on 8/21/2010 8:24:00 AM
That Viewmaster Alice looks like The Lonely Doll Goes Anti-Grav.
mhg said, on 8/21/2010 8:29:00 AM
Emma Thompson already has work that sets her salary in the millions. She was “asked” to do this. Meanwhile, the usual meme for authors is that we do not make money at our profession (heard it again right there in your seminar this month BB). Publishers are telling authors to have low expectations while the jobs go to people who are not in the business and already have jobs. WTH?????? Let’s stop the poverty meme to authors and get some reality, folks.
Tricia said, on 8/21/2010 11:25:00 AM
The voice of Virginia Woolf! I don’t get the feeling she’d have enjoyed making podcasts.
The viewmaster picture reminded me tiny boxes I found at the fleamarket here with slide rolls. Held up to the light, I realized they were fairy tales! They were popular in East Germany. The artwork on the ones featured on the website above is worth a check-out. Just click on the name of the fairy tale (sorry, the site is just in German). Weiter means continue. Have fun!
In case you missed it the National Book Awards Longlist for Young People’s Literature was released last week. A very YA-centric list indeed with only two clear cut books for kids. Yet look in other categories and you’ll find that children’s authors do not relegate themselves solely to the children’s category. For example, in the adult nonfiction section you’ll see that our beloved Sy Montgomery has been nominated for The Soul of an Octopus.
You ever hear the one about the bookseller who would get artists to draw their best beloved picture book characters on her arms and then she’d tattoo them there? Yes? Well, I hadn’t heard about her for a couple of years so I decided to check in. And lo and behold, one of my new neighbors here in the Chicago area, Eric Rohmann, was the creator of her latest tat.
And I couldn’t be more pleased with Chris Ware’s cover. The only down-side is that, for all subsequent books of mine, I’ll think, “Well, it’s not a bad cover. But this designer is no Chris Ware….”
Glad to hear that the Anastasia books are being refreshed, but I agree that changing it to “off her rocker” is silly.
Thanks for the kind word, BB. It was, of course, a group effort. With Batman on your side, how can you lose?
I thought the exact same thing about changing “ask your analyst” to “off your rocker”! i bought new copies solely for the intro by the author to the first two in the series. They are HYSTERICAL. Also, I kind of like the new covers. It’s pretty clear to me that they are caricatures, not fetishizing anorexia or something.
“It helps if the person asking is British and wasn’t practically required by law, like those of us here in the States, to read certain books in the U.S. kidlit cannon.”
While admitting that commenting on spelling errors by a World Famous Librarian Person can lead to nothing but grief, I gotta say I love the image of a large cannon into which we can load kidlit books we’re not fond of and shooting them at our enemies.
He he! It always feels a bit like Christmas if I have a brush with Fuse News! Thanks
Though I wish I had that quilt….
HA! I love the image of a large physical cannon. I think the only grief to be suffered here is on my part. I will, however, take my editor to task (my editor being my mother who usually catches these errors at 5 a.m., thereby sparing my readers).
I’m super pleased that Anastasia is getting a reprint but I was surprised…did they make her blonde? And I confess, as much as I loved Anastasia, I ADORED Sam.
Whoops. — Mom
The Owl Moon quilt is amazing in person. I happened to be there at the picture book boot camp where Sibby presented it to Jane. It was such a touching moment.