By: Christopher Moore,
on 8/26/2015
Note: Join us this Thursday, August 27, at Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing for an author event with Christopher Moore. Describe your latest book. Secondhand Souls is the sequel to my bestselling novel A Dirty Job, which was about a single dad in San Francisco who gets the job of being Death and runs [...]
By: Gigi Little,
on 7/29/2015
Who better to explore the world of our most beloved friends — pets — than the equally beloved Dr. Seuss? With his signature kooky creatures and whimsical verse, this new, never-before-seen book is a super-fun way to learn about the dilemma of making up your mind. Books mentioned in this post What Pet Should I [...]
By: [email protected],
on 4/29/2015
‘Real’ books to read are sought after by those introducing young children to the exciting and vital world of reading. Many picture books are invaluable in opening children’s minds and imaginations to story but only a small number of these can actually also be read by readers at the earliest stages of reading for themselves […]
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By: Michelina Ouellette,
on 3/5/2015
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By: The Children's Room,
on 3/3/2015
By: Gigi Little,
on 10/29/2014
Here's Horton — but not hearing a Who. And a Grinch who's not green (but still decidedly grinchy). And Marco from Mulberry Street. All back in a new book of lost stories from Dr. Seuss! Horton and the Kwuggerbug is like a whimsical, wacky, absolutely beezlenutty visit from a favorite old friend. Books mentioned in [...]
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By: Bridget Whelan,
on 6/29/2012
Every night there are publishers and agents who go to sleep knowing that they held the manuscript of Harry Potter in their hands and turned it down.
I don't know for sure how many times it was rejected - every source quotes a different figure - but it seems safe to say quite a few.
So here are a few more famous rejections to give you heart if you've ever been on the receiving end of I'm-afraid-your-book-doesn't fit-into-our-list kind of letter.
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By: Cheryl Rainfield,
on 5/31/2012
The Mandeville Special Collections Library has scans of more than 400 cartoons that Dr. Seuss drew during WW II.
It’s cool to see cartoons that Dr Seuss drew, not from his books but in newspapers during wartime. You can clearly see his style–it’s so vivid–which to me is also like an author’s voice. If an artist or an author has a strong enough voice, you can pick it out anywhere. And that’s one of the things (in my opinion) that make a great writer or artist.
Found via Huff Post
By: Cheryl Rainfield,
on 4/29/2012
Professor Cheryl Cowdy from York University was interviewed on CTV: “is Dr. Seuss Too Political?” because a grade-one teacher was actually banned from displaying a quote from Dr. Seuss’ Yertle the Turtle! (I LOVE that book.) The quote was: “I know up on top you are seeing great sights, but down here on the bottom, we too should have rights.”
What a great quote, eh? I love how Dr Seuss often put positive-action thinking into his books, encouraging readers to treat each other equally (think The Sneetches with their stars on bellies and stars not on bellies). And I don’t understand people who try to stop kids from reading about things that can help! Or just reading, period. Book banning makes no sense to me.
But something Professor Cheryl Cowdy said in her interview resonated with me. She said she thinks children’s books are often banned because people think kids aren’t capable of thinking for themselves. That makes sense to me. People are afraid, and want their children to think the same way they do. But children have the right to make their own minds up.
Check out the video interview for more!
By: Renee Taprell,
on 3/21/2012
By: Annie Beth Ericsson,
on 3/5/2012
In case you missed it, this week’s results for School Library Journal’s Fuse #8 Re-Seussify Seuss challenge were in, and they were pretty spectacular! The mission, as set forth by children’s lit guru Betsy Bird, was to draw a spread from a Dr. Seuss book, but in the style of ANOTHER famous picture book artist. I was inspired by the fun mash-up idea, and pulled off the image of Yertle The Turtle in the style of Arnold Lobel, above.
The idea for the image itself came to me pretty easily. It’s no surprise that I love drawing turtles, and Yertle The Turtle is a family favorite. The reptile vs. amphibian factor – Yertle crossed with Frog and Toad - was amusing to me as well. In particular, I wanted to try my hand at Arnold Lobel’s style. I thought the limited palette with textured graphite would be fun, and his characters and watercolors lend themselves easily to my own style. Plus, he’s a fellow Pratt alum!
I learned a lot about Arnold Lobel’s creative process from this video with his daughter, Anita Lobel. She sought to replicate her father’s paintings when she colored Arnold Lobel’s unfinished The Frogs and Toads All Sang:
I am very interested in Lobel’s use of color separations to make the Frog and Toad illustrations, and I wish I could find more on the subject. While Anita went with full-color in her recent interpretation, I wanted to imitate the 2-color (and black) separations by sticking to a green layer, a brown layer, and dark graphite. I’m pleased with the result and think it was rather successful, if I do say so myself.
Now go check out Betsy’s post for the other mind-blowing creative Re-Seussification mash-ups!
It’s a Seuss trifecta today, as we celebrate Dr. Seuss’ 108th birthday, kick off Read Across America, and The Lorax (one of my all-time favorite Seuss stories) opens on the big screen.
15 years ago, the National Education Association (NEA) created Read Across America to celebrate reading and provide inspiration for kids of all ages to discover the joys of reading. What better date than March 2nd, Dr. Seuss’ birthday, to bring kids and books together.
Every year Read Across America gives special emphasis to a classic Seuss title and 2012 is going green with The Lorax. 
First published in 1971, The Lorax quickly became a classic with an environmental message that was ahead of its time. Now, the original gets a modern twist with a fun new pop-up edition of the book and, of course, the blockbuster movie adaptation. At my house, we’ve been reading the book and I’m excited to take my daughter to see The Lorax movie, with its star-studded cast and larger-than-life animation--I'm particularly in love with the Truffula trees, fluffy and bright, just as I'd imagined from Dr. Seuss’ pages. I may even have to spring for 3-D...
And speaking of pages, let’s kick this thing off--grab your kid and a book, tip your hat to a tree, and settle on down to a grand reading spree. Remember, "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child."
Here are some of my favorite Dr. Seuss stories--which of his books do you love the most? --Seira
By: Sally Murphy,
on 6/16/2011
<p>&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;I</p> Best self-help book ever!
By: Anita Mejía,
on 3/16/2011
By: Anita Mejía,
on 3/16/2011
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By: Alicia Padrón,
on 3/2/2011
It’s heavy work in the world of book publishing at present, with Hachette Book Group confirming that they are one of the unlucky publishers that will miss out on payments from the beleaguered Borders, Inc USA, as the bookstore closes a major book distribution plant in the mid-west costing 300 jobs.
Now for the second time in four months, like a game of chess, the leadership has changed at the book publisher of novels by such distinguished authors as Sen. Edward Kennedy and Christopher Hitchens.
Author-editor-producer Susan Lehman has been forced out as publisher of Twelve after taking over in September. Twelve is an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, which announced Jan. 11 in an company email shared with The Associated Press that associate publisher Cary Goldstein will replace Lehman effective immediately.
“Susan Lehman is an extremely insightful, creative and talented editor,” Grand Central executive vice-president and publisher Jamie Raab said in the email. “Unfortunately, the role of publisher just wasn’t the perfect fit.”
Lehman had yet to acquire any new books for Twelve, designed to release just 12 books a year, one every month. But Raab told the AP that obtaining new books was not a factor that toys in her decision and otherwise declined to offer a specific reason beyond saying that being a publisher is “an all-encompassing job” that can take years to learn.
“Had I had more time, I’m certain I could have failed on my own demerits,” Lehman wrote in an email to the AP. “But 12 weeks isn’t enough time to do even that. It’s a wonderful imprint. I had lined up great play chess and non-fiction writers for terrific books I hope will find their way into print. Cary Goldstein has a great job and I wish him well.”
Lehman has worked in a variety of christian book publishers fields, from editing at Riverhead Books to producing television documentaries.
Jonathan Karp started Twelve in 2005, but left in June to head the flagship trade imprint of Simon & Schuster. Twelve’s bestsellers include Kennedy’s True Compass, Hitchens’ Hitch-22 and Sebastian Junger’s War.
Grand Central is a division of the Hachette Book Group – also associated with major children’s publishers and toy shops in New York.
"They would feat on Who-pudding, and rare Who-roast-beast
Which was something the Grinch couldn't stand in the least!" - How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss
. If you aren't familiar with the book then surely you are familiar with the animated cartoon version
that airs on television every year around this time. It's a holiday classic. But if you need a refresher...
By: Sally Murphy,
on 3/1/2009
He's having a birthday, he's having it nowSo step up, Dr Seuss and take a big bow.Okay, so my rhyme is NOT as Seussical as can be, but you get the drift - today, March 2, is Dr Seuss's birthday. If he was alive today, Dr Seuss, or Theodor Suess Geisel would be 105. If you want to learn more about him, you can click here to visit the Seussville website.To celebrate the day, I am asking another of
By: Erin,
on 2/15/2008
Excerpt from "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss:
When you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.
But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike
and I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.
You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.
Poetry Friday roundup at HipWriterMama
By: Aline Pereira,
on 7/20/2007
I would like to draw your attention to this Family Reading page on The Horn Book’s website – there are lots of ideas and shared experiences to hearten and encourage reading with and to our children. I especially love Martha Parravano’s article “Reading Three Ways“ about reading with her two daughters; and I laughed aloud at the end. It reminded me of a holiday when Son Number One was still toddling. Rapunzel had been the perpetually chosen audio tape on the day’s drive up to the North of Scotland. A few days later:
…I wish I’d actually been there to hear it!
Thinking back to that time when books had to be repeated ad infinitum, here’s a list, in no particular order, of only some of our family favorites from the very early years:
When I look at this list I realise that nearly all these books were given to us by friends whose own children had loved them – and we in turn have handed them on to our smaller friends…
So let me just leave you with a something the illustrator Howard Pyle once said:
“The stories of childhood leave an indelible impression, and their author always has a niche in the temple of memory from which the image is never cast out to be thrown on the rubbish heap of things that are outgrown and outlived.”
By: Neil Gaiman,
on 3/9/2007
By: Sheila Ruth,
on 3/2/2007
You've probably already read that today is the 50th birthday of the Cat in the Hat. Happy birthday Cat! You can send a birthday card to the Cat in the Hat and help literacy; Random House will donate a book to First Reads for every card sent. To send a birthday card, go to www.catinthehat.com. If you're at work, you might want to turn off your speakers first, unless you want your co-workers to wonder why the happy birthday song is blaring out of your computer!
Tags: Dr Seuss | children's books | literacy | cat in the hat
Legends, they both are. Love these pithy little posts Renee. Always nice to know the details about those you admire.
Hi Dimity,
This is the beginning of my Classic Author Interviews/Fun Facts. These authors may have passed on many years ago but they're still alive and well today as their incredible story books are passed on from one generation to the next.