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I’ve done it again.  Delayed my Fusenews too long and now this post is going to overflow with too much good stuff.  Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.

Me stuff for the start. And in fact, there just so much Me Stuff today that I’m just going to cram it all into this little paragraph here and be done with it. To begin, for the very first time my book Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Chidren’s Literature (co-written with Jules Danielson and Peter Sieruta) was cited in an article. Notably, a piece in The Atlantic entitled Frog and Toad and the Self.  Woot!  In other news I’m judging a brand new picture book award. It’s the Hallmark Great Stories Award. Did you or someone you know produce a picture book in 2016 on the topic of “togetherness and community”? Well $10,000 smackers could be yours. In terms of seeing me talk, I’m reading my picture book (and more) at the Printer’s Row Lit Fest on June 11th.  If you’re in the Chicago area and ever wanted to see me in blue furry leg warmers, now your chance has come here.  Finally, during Book Expo I managed to coerce Hyperion Books into handing me three of their most delicious authors (Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and Eoin Colfer) so that I could feed them to WGN Radio.  You can hear our talk here, if you like.  And check out how cute we all are:

Colfer, for what it is worth, is exceedingly comfortable.  I highly recommend that should you see him you just glom onto him for long periods of time.  Like a sticky burr.  He also apparently has an Artemis Fowl movie in the works (for real this time!) and you’ll never guess who the director might be.

This is interesting. Not too long ago children’s book author C. Alex London wrote a piece for BuzzFeed called Why I Came Out As a Gay Children’s Book Author.  It got a lot of attention and praise.  Then, earlier this month, Pseudonymous Bosch wrote a kind of companion piece in the New York Times Book Review. Also Known As tackles not just his reasons for a nom de plume (skillfully avoiding any and all mentions of Lemony Snicket, I could not help but notice) but also how this relates to his life as a gay children’s book author.

Hey, full credit to The New Yorker  for this great recentish piece on weeding a collection and the glory that is Awful Library Books.  My sole regret is that I never let them know when I weeded this guy:

The copyright page said 1994, but I think we know better.  Thanks to Don Citarella for the link.

Cool. The publisher Lee & Low has just released the winner of the New Visions Writing Contest, now in its third year.  Congrats to Supriya Kelkar for her win!

New Podcast Alert: With podcasting being so popular these days, I do regret that my sole foray into the form has pretty much disappeared from the face of the globe. Fortunately there are talented folks to listen to instead, including the folks at Loud in the Library. Teacher librarians Chris Patrick and Tracy Chrenka from Grand Rapids, MI (homestate pride!) get the big names, from picture books illustrators to YA writers. Listen up!

New Blog Alert: The press release from SLJ sounded simple. “SLJ is pleased to welcome The Classroom Bookshelf to our blog network. In its sixth year, the Bookshelf features a weekly post about a recently published children’s book, including a lesson plan and related resources.” Then I made a mistake. I decided to look at the site. Jaw hit floor at a fast and furious rate leaving a dent in the linoleum. Contributors Randy Heller, Mary Ann Cappiello, Grace Enriquez, Katie Cunningham, and Erika Thulin Dawes (all professors at Lesley University’s outstanding school of ed.), I salute you. If I ever stop writing my own reviews, you’ll know why.

This:

This one’s just for the New Yorkers. I’m sure you already saw this New Yorker paean to the Mid-Manhattan library, but just in case you didn’t it’s here, “unruly pleasures” and all.

For whatever reason, PW Children’s Bookshelf always goes to my “Promotions” folder on Gmail, so I assume they already mentioned this article. Just in case they didn’t, though, I sort of love that The Atlantic (second time mentioned today!) wrote an ode to Sideways Stories from Wayside School. Thanks to Kate for the link.

Now some Bookshare info.  The idea of providing free ebooks for kids with print disabilities is a good one.  And, as it happens, not a new one.  Bookshare, an online accessible library, just added its 400,000th title to its collection and boy are they proud.  Free for all U.S. students with qualifying print disabilities and U.S. schools, they’ve a blog you might want to read, and they service kids with blindness, low vision, dyslexia, and physical disabilities.

Daily Image:

You probably heard that Neil Patrick Harris will be playing Count Olaf in the upcoming Netflix series of A Series of Unfortunate Events.  Now we have photographic proof.

I wonder if Brett Helquist ever marvels at how much power his art has had over these various cinematic incarnations.  The lack of socks is a particularly accurate touch.

Netflix has added two new members to the cast for the A Series of Unfortunate Events series. Entertainment Weekly reports that Malina Weissman will play Violet Baudelaire and Louis Hynes will play Klaus Baudelaire.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Neil Patrick Harris would take on the role of the antagonist, Count Olaf. The story for this adaptation project comes from a popular middle grade series by Lemony Snicket (a.k.a. Daniel Handler). Altogether, Handler wrote and published a total of thirteen installments.

Here’s more from Deadline: “Narrated by Snicket, A Series Of Unfortunate Events recounts the tale of the orphaned children Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire at the hands of the villainous Count Olaf, as they face trials and tribulations, misfortunes and an evil uncle in search of their fortune, all in their quest to uncover the secret of their parents’ deaths. Violet, the self-confident, capable and smart-beyond-her-years eldest sibling, helps her brother and sister solve problems with her skills as an inventor. Klaus is the middle child who loves books.” (via Hello Giggles)

Neil Patrick Harris has been cast in the forthcoming A Series of Unfortunate Events series. In the past, he (pictured, via) has acted in several book-based movies including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (and its sequel) and Gone Girl.

Entertainment Weekly reports that the story for this Netflix series comes from Daniel Handler’s popular children’s books series. Handler himself will serve as an executive producer. Harris will play the villainous Count Olaf.

Here’s more from The Hollywood Reporter: “A Series of Unfortunate Events tells the tale of orphaned children Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire, who finds themselves in the villainous clutches of an evil uncle named Count Olaf who has designs on their family fortune. Jim Carrey played the plum and showy role of the uncle in the 2004 movie that also starred Meryl Streep. Now Harris would play him.” (via io9)

The troubled Pixar production ditched many of its original voice actors.

George R.R. Martin has made it onto the 2014 edition of Barbara Walters’ “10 Most Fascinating People.”

Martin earned his place on Walters’ list due to the great popularity of the A Song of Ice and Fire book series and the Game of Thrones TV adaptation; both projects have made a serious mark in pop culture history.

The nine other people alongside Martin include Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, Chelsea Handler, Neil Patrick Harris, Scarlett Johansson, Taylor Swift, Michael Strahan, David Koch, and Amal Clooney. (via The Huffington Post)

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

At Powell's, we feel the holidays are the perfect time to share our love of books with those close to us. For this special blog series, we reached out to authors featured in our Holiday Gift Guide to learn about their own experiences with book giving during this bountiful time of year. Today's featured giver [...]

Be Neil Patrick Harris — the actor, magician, father, husband, son, and sandwich-shop employee — in his choose-you-own-adventure autobiography. Even if you don't know who Doogie Howser or Barney Stinson are (be honest, you do), you'll love NPH's entertaining and irreverent look at Hollywood, parenthood, and his own idiosyncratic fame. Books mentioned in this post [...]

Tony Award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris stars in a trailer for his forthcoming imaginative nonfiction book, Choose Your Own Autobiography.

In the video embedded above, Harris sings his Hedwig & The Angry Inch show warm-up routine, sinks into quicksand, and performs several other outlandish acts—what do you think?

Crown Archetype, an imprint at Penguin Random House, will release this unconventional memoir on October 14, 2014.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Two new books coming out by two VERY funny people. Check out the covers and descriptions for Amy Poehler and Neil Patrick Harris’ forthcoming books.

NPHBook.com

SICK of deeply personal accounts written in the first person? Seeking an exciting, interactive read that puts the “u” back in “aUtobiography”? Then look no further than Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography! In this revolutionary, Joycean experiment in light celebrity narrative, actor/personality/carbon-based life-form Neil Patrick Harris lets you, the reader, live his life. You will be born in New Mexico. You will get your big break at an acting camp. You will get into a bizarre confrontation outside a nightclub with actor Scott Caan. Even better, at each critical juncture of your life you will choose how to proceed. You will decide whether to try out for Doogie Howser, M.D.You will decide whether to spend years struggling with your sexuality. You will decide what kind of caviar you want to eat on board Elton John’s yacht.

CHOOSE correctly and you’ll find fame, fortune, and true love. Choose incorrectly and you’ll find misery, heartbreak, and a guest stint onCelebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. All this, plus magic tricks, cocktail recipes, embarrassing pictures from your time as a child actor, and even a closing song. Yes, if you buy one book this year, congratulations on being above the American average, but make that book Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography! On sale October 14, 2014.

Amy Poehler’s Today Show Reveal

As a veteran of beloved television series like “Saturday Night Live” and “Parks and Recreation” and major motion pictures like “Mean Girls” and “Baby Mama,” Amy Poehler, actress, producer, comedian extraordinaire, has some advice to dish — and we can’t wait to read it.

On October 28, 2014, Dey Street Books will publish Poehler’s highly anticipated literary debut, “Yes Please.” 

True to form, Poehler’s first foray into publishing will tackle a variety of topics, from friendship and parenting to advice on love and life, all done with her inimitable wit. On Sale October 28, 2014

It looks like it will be a very funny Fall. Which one do you think you will pick up first?

Neil Patrick Harris has revealed the cover for his forthcoming "Choose Your Own Adventure"-style autobiography on Twitter. Crown will release Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography on October 14th. Thus far, the Tony-nominated actor's tweet has drawn more than 4,000 "favorites"--what do you think? Fair warning, the book blurb for this seemingly lighthearted book advises readers to enjoy it with caution: "Choose correctly and you’ll find fame, fortune, and true love. Choose incorrectly and you’ll find misery, heartbreak, and a guest stint on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. All this, plus magic tricks, cocktail recipes, embarrassing pictures from your time as a child actor, and even a closing song."

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Publishers Lunch has released Buzz Books, a free eBook collection of excerpts from "32 of the most buzzed-about books scheduled for publication this fall and winter." Buzz Books 2014 Fall/Winter includes excerpts from: Audrey Magee’s The Undertaking; Matthew Thomas’ We Are Not Ourselves; Jessie Burton’s The Miniaturist; and Neil Patrick Harris’ Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography, among many others. In addition, Publishers Lunch has also published Buzz Books 2014: Young Adult, a similar collection of excerpts for YA novels. The book includes excerpts from Meg Wolitzer's Belzhar; Ellen Hopkins’ Rumble; Eric Kahn Gale’s The Zoo at the Edge of the World; and Tanuja Desai Hidier’s Bombay Blues, among others. Both titles are available to readers in the U.S. for free through NetGalley.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Brandon Stanton, creator of the “Humans of New York” photo project and author of the New York Times bestselling book, was invited to take pictures at The Met Gala by Vogue magazine.

During the glitzy event, Stanton captured the portraits of How I Met Your Mother actor Neil Patrick Harris, Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston, and nine-time Grammy winner John Legend. Vogue allowed Stanton to post some of his favorite pieces on the HONY blog.

Stanton shared the photo of Cranston and his wife along with a touching quote this morning on Facebook; the post has drawn more than 310,000 “likes” and over 6,100 comments. In an interview with Mashable, Stanton revealed that his “goal was to keep my interviews the same as they’d be on the street, even though everyone was carrying cocktails and wearing tuxedos.” What do you think?

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

A team of journalists talked about the Emmy Awards on our video edition of the Morning Media Menu, exploring the unexpected winners, upsets and the “bold new era in television” that is bringing great storytelling to TV.

Press play above to listen. Our guests were TVNewser senior editor Alex Weprin and Dear Television writer Phillip Maciak. KCRW’s The Business reporter Darby Maloney joined us afterward with this commentary:

I’d argue that Breaking Bad‘s big win for Outstanding Drama Series– a win that some say is well overdue– is also a win for Netflix. It proved that Netflix isn’t just a competitor to traditional TV– it is a collaborator or adjunct to the medium. When part 2 of Breaking Bad’s Season 5 premiered on AMC last month it hit a ratings high of nearly 6 million viewers. Writing in Variety, Andrew Wallenstein said “with five seasons under its belt [Breaking Bad] made the kind of ratings quantum leap you just don’t see.”  So how did all these people find — and catch up with this highly serialized show? In a word, Netflix.

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Sony Pictures Animation has released the official trailer for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. We’ve embedded the trailer above–what do you think?

Here’s more from Deadline: “It’s directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn from a script by John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein and Erica Rivinoja. Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Neil Patrick Harris, Terry Crews, Will Forte, Andy Samberg, Kristen Schaal, and James Caan, among others provide voices for the movie that Sony will release September 27th.”

The first movie came out back in 2009; it’s based on Judy Bartlett‘s popular picture book which shares the same title. Simon & Schuster’s Atheneum Books for Young Readers imprint published it in 1978 and also released the sequel, Pickles in Pittsburgh, in 1997. A third book entitled Planet of the Pies will hit bookstores in August 2013.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

I've mentioned "How I Met Your Mother" before as one of the few network TV shows that had a good grasp on what twentysomethings wanted to see on the small screen. This week the creative forces behind HIMYM reminded us they know a thing or two about... Read the rest of this post