No excuses! These are just the books that I read in 2016 that I thought knocked it out of the park. These aren’t the “best of the year”. These are just the books that were particularly good and that somehow crossed my radar. I read a lot more than what you’ll see here, but I loved these the best. For your consideration:
Wonderful 2016 Children’s Novels
Cloud and Wallfish by Anne Nesbet
My dark horse Newbery front runner. I found it because Roger Sutton mentioned it off-handedly on his podcast, but it was Monica Edinger’s Horn Book review that got the most attention from the folks at Heavy Medal. It’s just the most delightful little Cold War, East Germany, book you could name. I’m gaga over it. If your kids read it, they will be too.
Five Children on the Western Front by Kate Saunders
Again with the book recommendations from Monica! This time a couple years ago, when she found the English edition of this book. It came out this year with surprisingly little fanfare, but I just adored it. The question is whether or not kids unfamiliar with the works of E. Nesbit will get anything out of it. The eternal optimist, I vote yes! I mean, it’s about a tyrant finding its (his) soul. There’s something to that.
Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm
Funny that I never reviewed this one, but with Jenni Holm you sort of don’t have to. The woman’s masterful. To read her book is to marvel at how seemingly effortlessly she pulls various elements together. I will say that though this book is a prequel, you will not need to have read its predecessor to get anything out of it. It is, in a nutshell, sort of perfect.
Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi
To ask anyone to craft a wholly original fantasy novel for kids is just setting that person up for a fall. If Mafi succeeds in any way here it is in her writing rather than her ideas. Not that her ideas aren’t interesting. They are, but it’s the characters, their interactions, and their personalities that sold it for me. It is infinitely readable and a lot of fun to boot. I like fun. I liked this book. I don’t hold it against it that it’s a New York Times bestseller either.
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
Years ago (three?) I said this Jason Reynolds guy was gonna be a star. I had a chance to hear him speak for the NYPL librarians after the publication of his first solo YA novel. In 2016 he started publishing middle grade in earnest and if he doesn’t win any major awards this year it’s simply a matter of time before he does in the future. I don’t know if Ghost is gonna take home a Newbery in any way, shape, or form. I just know that it was incredibly fun to read. One of my favorites of the year.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
It’s anyone’s guess as to why it took me 8 months or so to finally pick this book up. When I saw Kelly speak at BookExpo here in Chicago this year I knew she was on to something. But to be perfectly frank, I’ve loved her work since she wrote The Mostly True Story of Jack (a book that I would contend still doesn’t get the attention and respect it deserves). I liked this one a lot. It’s a thick one, no question, but it also compelled me skip ahead a little just so that I could make sure that the villain wouldn’t win. There’s only one other book on this list this year that made me do that. I’ll let you guess what it was.
The Inn Between by Marina Cohen
I include this book not because it’s some deep, insightful, heavily meaningful book fraught with consequence and award-worthy pain. No, this is just the kind of book I would have LOVED as a kid. I was the one who checked out all the Apple paperbacks that involved ghosts from my Scholastic Book Fair orders. So, naturally, this would have appealed. I mean, the back flap copy calls it “The Shining meets Hotel California” and that ain’t wrong. You’d never know it from the cutesy cover, though, would you? Someone needs a cover do-over.
The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz
It doesn’t need my help. It never needed my help. But it’s wonderful and winning. Smarter than almost every other book on here by half. Gutsy. Challenging. And I can’t wait for the movie. I call dibs on Tom Hiddleston to play the King of France.
The Magic Mirror: Concerning a Lonely Princess, a Foundling Girl, a Scheming King and a Pickpocket Squirrel by Susan Hill Long
Poor little book. You were the first novel I read in 2016 and I came dangerously close to forgetting you here today. I liked this one very much, going so far as to say in my review that it was similar in tone to The Princess Bride. It actually makes a rather good pairing with THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON, come to think of it. If you’ve a kid looking for light, frothy fantasy, this is the one to pick up.
Makoons by Louise Erdrich
Does anyone ever point out how funny these books are? Yes, we all know Louise Erdrich to be a master writer, but she’s also incredibly hilarious when she wants to be. The latest book in the Birchbark House series did not disappoint and even gave us a few new characters. My favorite is the character done in by vanity, brought low, and ultimately redeemed. I’m a sucker for that kind of tale.
The Mighty Odds by Amy Ignatow
If you could have any superpower, would you choose the normal one or the weird one? If you chose the weird one then this book is for you. I think we’ve seen the outcasts-with-superpowers motif a lot (Spiderman, arguably, was one of the first) but I like Ignatow’s style so much that this is one of my current favs. How much do I love it? I actually bought a copy for my niece and I almost never ever buy books. What can I say? It was just that good.
Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson
Not usually my kind of book but I liked Anderson’s Sidekicked years ago and figured that in spite of the description it might work for me. And it did! Granted, there’s more than a touch of Dead Poet’s Society to it, but all I cared was that it had an honest ending. An honest earned ending. This title doesn’t pander and I appreciate that. Worth discovering.
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Can you believe this book came out in 2016? I feel as if we’ve been talking about it for two years. It’s still one of the strongest of the year, no matter what anybody says. When I was a child, I had a thing for foxes. Clearly I missed my era. If you’ve somehow managed to avoid reading this title, you have time to get your hands on it before award season. Do that thing.
Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
While I would repeat that this book would be Because of Winn-Dixie if you dipped that book in a vat of sadness, that doesn’t mean it isn’t remarkable. I found it breathtakingly sad, but also smart. I didn’t care two bits for the main character (she’s remarkably forgettable) but the other characters just popped off the page. Quite a book.
Rebel Genius by Michael Dante DiMartino
Poor action/adventure fans. What do I even have for you here today? Well, I have a fantasy novel coming from one of the co-creators of the Avatar: The Last Airbender television series, and that ain’t peanuts. Though it does come across as a slightly less scholarly His Dark Materials, I enjoyed the premise of Rebel Genius (a great title, if ever there was one). The big bad villain never makes an appearance but plenty of other baddies do. It’s compelling to its core.
When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin
I just finished reading my daughter Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and wanted to just skip directly to this one, but Starry River of the Sky is next on our list and we shall not go out of order. Of the three books in the series, this is by far my favorite, and you certainly don’t have to have read the other books to enjoy it. Lin gets better and better with every book she writes. Annoying for her fellow authors, I’m sure, but great for the rest of us!
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
This marked Peter Brown’s debut as a novelist. Doesn’t seem quite fair that he should be able to write AND draw. Leave a little talent for the rest of us, won’t you, Peter? In any case, I’m all about the strong female heroines. So often in robot books the de facto pronoun is “he”. Brown made it “she” and it works for her. Better still, it works for us.
Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
Remember earlier when I mentioned that there was one other book on this list that made me so tense I had to skip to the back to know precisely who would live, who would die, and what would become of the villain? Because the villain in this book does meet a terrible fate, but even so remains a cussed little wretch to the end. She is, without a doubt, the best villain I’ve encountered in a children’s book in years. A true blue psychopath. Best you know now.
Interested in the other lists of the month? Here’s the schedule so that you can keep checking back:
December 1 – Board Books
December 2 – Board Book Adaptations
December 3 – Nursery Rhymes
December 4 – Picture Book Readalouds
December 5 – Rhyming Picture Books
December 6 – Alphabet Books
December 7 – Funny Picture Books
December 8 – Calde-Nots
December 9 – Picture Book Reprints
December 10 – Math Picture Books
December 11 – Bilingual Books
December 12 – International Imports
December 13 – Books with a Message
December 14 – Fabulous Photography
December 15 – Fairy Tales / Folktales
December 16 – Oddest Books of the Year
December 17 – Older Picture Books
December 18 – Easy Books
December 19 – Early Chapter Books
December 20 – Graphic Novels
December 21 – Poetry
December 22 – Fictionalized Nonfiction
December 23 – American History
December 24 – Science & Nature Books
December 25 – Transcendent Holiday Titles
December 26 – Unique Biographies
December 27 – Nonfiction Picture Books
December 28 – Nonfiction Chapter Books
December 29 – Novel Reprints
December 30 – Novels
December 31 – Picture Books
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By: Cinzia,
on 12/29/2016
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By: Gerald Hawksley,
on 12/29/2016
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By: Becky Laney,
on 12/29/2016
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First sentence: Koko's full name is Hanabi-Ko, which is Japanese for Fireworks Child.
Premise/plot: Koko's Kitten is a nonfiction picture book for elementary-aged readers. Though the book is called "Koko's Kitten," the picture book biography (of a gorilla) tells much more than just that one little snippet of her life. It tells of how Koko was/is the subject of a special project, how she started learning sign language, the special bonds she's formed with the humans in her life, etc. The climax of this one, is, of course, how she came to have a kitten of her own.
My thoughts: I remember learning about Koko in the 1980s. And I had fond but vague memories of Koko's Kitten. I remembered she had a kitten. A kitten named All Ball. I remembered that the kitten died and she wanted a new kitten. It turns out I remembered only *some* of this one. I still like it. But it is more wordy than I remembered.
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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By: LAURIE WALLMARK,
on 12/29/2016
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Make sure you're telling your story in the correct order.
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/cause-effect-telling-story-right-order
By: Becky Laney,
on 12/29/2016
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First sentence: It happened every spring in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Premise/plot: Sarah Miller's newest book is a middle grade nonfiction book about Lizzie Borden and the 'trial of the century.' On August 4, 1892, Mr. and Mrs. Borden were murdered. Miller chronicles the events stage by stage. Her book is divided into sections: Lizzie Borden Took An Axe, Murder!, The Bordens, Investigation, Inquest, Arrest, Preliminary Hearing, The Waiting Time, The Trial of the Century, Aftermath, Epilogue.
My thoughts: This one was incredibly compelling and very well researched. (Over twenty pages of notes documenting among other things all the dialogue in the book.) Miller presents a balanced perspective of the case allowing readers to make up their own minds. Miller gives all concerned or connected the human touch. The press does not come out looking innocent.
Whether your interest is true crime, biography, or nonfiction set during the Victorian period, this one is worth your time.
© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
By: Gavin McGuire,
on 12/29/2016
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In November, First Book and its partners the American Federation of Teachers and the Albert Shanker Institute presented the Citizen Power Project; a challenge to educators nationwide to identify, plan, and implement a civic engagement project important to their students, school or community.
Fifteen projects received grants to help turn big plans into big impact.
The projects represent a wide range of civic engagement – from teaching empathy and healthy habits to supporting student voices and helping the environment.
So far, the civic impact of these projects has been phenomenal.
In Framingham, Massachusetts, middle school English teacher Lori DiGisi knows her students don’t always feel empowered. “They feel like the adults rule everything and that they don’t really have choices,” she explains. “The issue I’m trying to solve is for a diverse group of students to believe that they can make a difference in their community.”
Using the First Book Marketplace, Lori and her class chose to read books about young people who did something to change the world — books with diverse characters that each student could identify with. Through stories, Lori’s students have begun to understand that they too can make a difference.
From here, Lori plans to narrow the focus onto the issue of improving working conditions. Students will interview custodians, secretaries, and cafeteria workers in their school to understand what their working conditions are like and ask the all-important question: what can we, as middle schoolers, do to make your working conditions better?
Meanwhile in Malvern, Arkansas, middle school English teacher Claudine James has used the Citizen Power Project to improve upon an already successful program. In 2011, Claudine visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC and wanted to bring that experience back to her students.
That year her class studied the Holocaust and put together their own Holocaust Museum in their school and opened it to the public.
The reaction to the museum was something Claudine never expected.
“It was very well received by the community and in fact, we had an opening day reception on a Sunday afternoon and there was no room to even stand.”
Claudine has organized project-based learning initiatives like this every year since. The Malvern community has embraced them, and even come to expect them.
This year, powered by the Citizen Power Project, Claudine and her class are planning an exhibit called, ‘Writers from Around the World’. They are reading books by authors from all over the globe. Her goal is to promote tolerance and understanding among her students and for them to promote those ideas to the community.
“When my students are presented with problems that other people from other cultures have to overcome, they see the world in a new light,” explains Claudine, “then they go home and spread the word.”
Artwork by one student in Racheal’s class depicting the negative impacts of climate change.
In Newark, New Jersey, kindergarten teacher Racheal Safier has her young students thinking globally. “We wanted to figure out what climate change is,” she explains, “they took a really big interest in how global warming affects animals.”
Racheal has been amazed by her student’s enthusiasm for this topic and the project, but she knows where it comes from. “Books have been the launching point for so many of the ideas generated in my classroom.”
Now that ideas are being launched, Racheal wants to show her class the next step: what actions do we take?
And they have many planned. There will be brochures distributed to parents, a table at the school’s social justice fair, maybe a video, and even letters to the President.
“I want it to be their project — and some of the things they come up with, I am really blown away.”
These three projects are just a snapshot of all the important work educators are doing around the country for the Citizen Power Project. Lori, Claudine, and Racheal are shining examples of the impact that educators can have on their students and their communities.
For educators to create change though students they need access to educational resources. First Book is proud to help provide that access for the Citizen Power Project.
When these 15 projects are completed in early 2017 be sure to check the First Book blog to see videos and pictures, and read more impact stories of impact from across the United States.
If you’re an educator serving kids in need, please visit the First Book Marketplace to register and browse our collection of educational resources. Click here to learn more about the Citizen Power Project.
The post Changing Communities with Books: The Citizen Power Project appeared first on First Book Blog.
By: Becky Laney,
on 12/29/2016
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First sentence: This is my dollhouse. It used to be just a cardboard box. But then I painted bricks on the outside and divided the inside into rooms and made wallpaper with my markers and it became almost like a real little house.
Premise/plot: Readers meet an imaginative young girl who loves, loves, loves to play with a dollhouse she created by herself. Readers also meet her friend, Sophie, who has a store bought dollhouse. The two do work out how to play together despite their differences.
My thoughts: I could relate to this one! For me and my sister, it was Barbie doll houses. (She had one. I didn't. She had a *real* refrigerator, mine was out of blocks. She had a *real* bed, mine was an egg carton.) I loved the celebration of imagination AND friendship. I loved the focus on PLAY. Part of me does wonder if kids are allowed enough PLAY time and encouraged to PLAY creatively. I think there is a huge difference between PLAYING and playing on. (I want to play ON the computer. I want to play ON the ipad.)
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10
© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
By: bookkm,
on 12/29/2016
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I have several siblings (several- more than three, less than a dozen). For years, I gave every sibling a Christmas present. Then, I gave every sibling and his or her significant other a Christmas present. THEN, I gave every sibling, their S-O and their CHILDREN individual Christmas presents. THEN, I gave each family a box of Christmas presents. Finally, I sent some of my siblings a “family” Christmas present. Now, they are lucky to get a greeting card from me. This is the evolution of my family gift-giving.
( I did not expect nor did I often receive presents in return. Sometimes I was happily surprised. I just like giving gifts.)
A lot of these gifts were homemade. Because homemade gifts are super, right? Well, they are, if they come from my sisters, who all take great pride in crafting the most delightfully sewn, knitted, quilted items. I go for the Big Effect, and that sometimes means that my gifts fall apart 24 hours after they are unpacked. Still, it’s the thought.... Or, is it? (My food gifts are usually awesome!)
A gift can be as small as a button, as mysterious as an empty box, as ephemeral as a kiss.
Books about gift-giving and generosity that I love.
The Best Christmas Ever by Chih-Yuan Chen. I will mention this book every Christmas season in some form or other, because I love it so much. I love the brown paper feel of the illustrations. I love the feeling of winter, darkness, and struggling hope. I love its simplicity. And I love the joyous resolution. The Bear family is so poor that they don’t even hope for presents this year. On Christmas morning, they find that “Toddler Christmas” visited in the night and brought them small, precious gifts.
Birthday Surprises edited by Johanna Hurwitz. Hurwitz asked 10 children’s authors to write a story about a birthday in which a child received an empty box. Sometimes, the box was the actual present. Sometimes, the box represented something else. In one case, the box was sent by mistake and the present was delivered in person. Imagine getting a box filled with air.
Silver Packages by Cynthia Rylant. First published in Rylant’s collection, Children of Christmas, this story tells of a train that rolled through the mountains and gifts that were thrown from the back to the impoverished children. Every year, a boy wishes for one particular gift. Every year, he gets something he needs. He returns as an adult and we find out whether his wish ever came true.
The following website offers a list of books about gift-giving and generosity to share with your young ones.
The Best Childrens Books about Generosity.
By: DIWAKAR,
on 12/29/2016
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So how was your Christmas? Ours was quieter than last yearbut very enjoyable. We spent Christmas day with our two grandsons and Terry’s parents. We laughed a lot, played games, ate too much and had a great time
I’m also excited to read the complete edition of the Wipers Times, the famed trench newspaper of the First World War. It contains a unique record of life on the wartime frontline, together with an extraordinary mix of black humour, fake entertainment programmes and pastiche articles.
On Jan. 15, 2009, Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) tries to make an emergency landing in New York's Hudson River after US Airways Flight 1549 strikes a flock of geese. Miraculously, all of the 155 passengers and crew survive the harrowing ordeal, and Sullenberger becomes a national hero in the eyes of the public and the media.
Before saying goodbye to 2016, I thought it would be fun to look back at the most popular posts on my blog last year. I also want to take a moment to thank you. It is your visits, comments and shares that keep this blog alive. I am so very grateful to you all. Thank you!
In Third Place is our visit to the Titanic Museum in Belfast. The museum kindly shared the post on their social media streams, which certainly increased the number of visitors to my blog.
In Fourth Place: British Eccentricity on Show at: The Chelsea Flower Show.
Posted on 12/29/2016
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Question: Do I leave my family names out knowing they hate me. afraid they will try to sue. plus who can be a ghost writer? Answer: Writing a book about
By: Cinzia,
on 12/29/2016
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By: Beth Kephart ,
on 12/29/2016
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We were fifteen minutes into our workout when the conversation escalated. "You're what's wrong with America," she said, loud enough for the entire gym (okay, maybe only our section) to hear. "Nobody in this country reads."
"Are you suggesting I don't read?" I said, and for the first time in any of our conversations, I heard defensiveness creep into my tone. I thought of the hours upon hours, every day, that I spent during the election year—reading, watching, and listening. So many hours that my life had become knotted up with the news, that my conversations were always tilting toward the political, that my home life was growing obstructed by my dark glaring over the dinner table at a husband who was not responsible for the world tumult. So many hours that I was no longer reading the books that gave me comfort—the true works of art that stand above, and beyond.
I gave away so much time in 2016 to learning the issues and refining my point of view that I didn't just lose all kinds of professional ground. I lost one of the things that gives me joy—peaceful times with books that rise above the cacophony.
In this past week, in the post-Christmas quiet, I have returned, with force, to these many books that have been sitting here. I have a semester of memoir to teach at Penn, an honors thesis student whose fiction I will guide, four upcoming Juncture memoir workshops to plan for, and a number of book projects of my own. I don't know what will happen with any of this—I have not met my students, I have not advertised the workshops, I am perched on the ledge of essential revisions—but I do know that I can do nothing that I'm supposed to be doing if I do not sit and read.
And so I have been reading, and now you have reached that place in this post place where I list some of the books I have been curled up with these past few days. One after the other, these books have made me glad. For their intelligence and craft. For their beacon shimmer. For the inspiration that they give me.
Everywhere I Look, Helen Garner. For my thoughts on this collection of essays, go here.
Best American Essays 2015, edited by Ariel Levy. Within these pages I found old favorites (Roger Angell, Isiah Berlin, Sven Birkerts, Hilton Als, Justin Cronin, Rebecca Solnit, Zadie Smith, Anthony Doerr, Margo Jefferson) and new voices (Kendra Atleework, Tiffany Briere, Kate Lebo). Here is Atleework, in a gorgeous essay called "Charade," writing of her mother just before she died. Such simple words here. And so very moving.
A few months before, she was beautiful—you could still see it in flashes. Her hair was thick and blondish, and her body was round in some places and slender in others. Her hands, always cold, held pens and typed and cooked scrambled eggs. Her eyes were blue and her heels were narrow. She looked a lot like me.The Art of Perspective, Christopher Castellani (Graywolf Press Series)—a refreshingly smart examination of narrative strategy and literary point of view. This may be a craft book, but there is, within the pages, a kind of suspense as the author presents his own quandaries about a story he might write. I could quote this entire book. But this should give you a taste for Castellani's smarts:
Why bother to write if you don't have a view worthy of sharing? I think we judge the literary merit of a text not merely by how closely we relate to the characters' experiences—that's the relatively easy part of the author's job—but by how strongly the author's ultimate vision compels us, provokes us, challenges us, or makes new the everyday.The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure, Caroline Paul illustrated by Wendy MacNaughton. I'll be honest. I did not know about this NYT bestseller until I read about it in Brain Pickings. I bought it for my niece (to be perfectly honest), and I was just planning to scan enough of it so that we might speak of it later. Well. Hold the scissors. I could not stop. This is a memoir/history/how-to/diary journal with pictures, all in one. But it's not just the cleverness of the design that strikes me hard. It's the cleverness of the prose. Paul begins with a story from her youth, when she set out to build a boat out of milk cartons:
I envisioned a three-masted vessel, with a plank off to one side (of course) and a huge curved prow that ended in an eagle head. So I set about collecting milk cartons. I collected from my school cafeteria. I collected from my friends. I collected from my family. I soon became familiar with the look on their faces when I explained I was building a milk carton pirate ship. It was actually a combination of looks, all rolled into one. Hahaha, what a crazy idea, the expression said. And Good luck, kid, but I don't think it's going to happen. And, Well, at least I'm getting ride of my milk cartons. Then at the very end of this facial conga-dance, I always caught something else. Actually, that sounds like FUN. I wish I could do that, the final look exclaimed.
(Sorry, Niece Julia, I did not write in your book or dog ear its pages. I hope you like it as much as I do.)
Upstream: Selected Essays, Mary Oliver. Truth Alert! I just got this book yesterday, and I haven't finished reading yet. But I do love the three essays I've read, and I want to share this small bit from the first page. This is from the first paragraph, right at the end. It goes like this:
What a life is ours! Doesn't
anybody in the world anymore want to get up in the
middle of the night and
sing?
(Just like that, Oliver breaks into a song. Huzzah!)
Time Travel, James Gleick. Full Disclosure, Which is Bigger Than a Truth Alert. I bought this book for another niece, Claire, because I have a little tradition with Claire that includes the purchases of books. What are you seeking? I asked her this year. She said science, nonfiction, a good memoir were her new cup of tea (a good memoir! did you see that?). I bought her a copy of this book and me a copy of this book, because I'm teaching concepts of time this year in my Penn classroom, and I might as well make myself cool and contemporary. Claire, I have not broken the spine on YOUR copy of this book. I hope we both love it and can talk of it someday.
Finally, sitting here during my many months of not reading much but that which I had to read, has been a book mailed to me by Carrie Pepper, a book called Missing on Hill 700. This is Carrie's tribute to a brother lost in a firefight during the Vietnam War. She was thirteen when the telegram arrived. Her family ultimately crumbled from the news. Carrie's decision was to seek out news of the brother she had lost, and through the letters and photos that others send, a mosaic of a life emerges—a mosaic and also hope that Tony's remains will finally make their way home. The subtitle tells you much about Pepper's heart and purpose: "How Losing a Brother in Vietnam Created a Family in America."
By: Elizabeth O. Dulemba,
on 12/29/2016
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I adored THE ARABIAN NIGHTS as a kid, so I was thrilled when Nat Geo Children's Books asked if I'd like to see their recent incarnation, Tales from the Arabian Nights: Stories of Adventure, Magic, Love and Betrayal, written by Donna Jo Napoli and illustrated by Christina Balit. Christina stopped by to tell us a bit about how she works.
e: Hi Christina, what is your creative process and what is your medium, can you walk us through it?
Christina: Well I work in a very tiny room at the top of an old stone house in the middle of the Kent countryside in England. Its packed to the rafters with everything I need and because of the way I work I don't need a great deal. Everything I illustrate is done by hand so first and foremost I need all my reference books (of which I have thousands on shelves throughout the entire house) and a table and a comfy chair. I have two chairs actually...so I make sure that I switch from one to the other throughout the day to change my position and keep my back moving.
e: What do you think makes an illustration magical, what I call "Heart Art” - the sort that makes a reader want to come back to look again and again? I’m looking for your definition of “Heart Art.” Christina:
Well to answer this I have to think back to what I always loved in illustrations when I was little and pouring through books. And that was beautiful drawing and exquisite detail. But then I didn't have access to all the computer art and digital animation that children have now and books were all we had. But regardless I really think little people love searching for the magic and finding all the little bits and pieces that are sometimes too small to see on a first look. The hidden treasure within the breath-taking awe and wonder of hand made work. Children instinctively draw onto paper and try to make art until they no longer believe they are any good at it, so they instinctively appreciate the loveliness of an illustration. 
Christina: Very much so! I actually spent large chunks of my childhood in various parts of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. I went to a small nursery run by some lovely nuns on the banks of the Euphrates in Baghdad, a primary school in the deserts of Abu Dhabi (long before it became a city and it was a small barasti village on a peninsula on the Arabian Gulf) and an extraordinary Quaker school nestled in the mountains of Lebanon. It was a great background to my visual memory.
Christina: I've been working on two new stories for children - which are based on Babylonian myths and I've also been writing a play (for adults). Furthermore, National Geographic are hoping to produce a further Treasury of Bible Stories soon so that should be just great fun.
Thank you Christina! These are LUSCIOUS!
By: Betsy Bird,
on 12/28/2016
Blog: A Fuse #8 Production (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Best Books, Best Books of 2016, 2016 chapter book reprints, 31 days 31 lists, chapter book reprints, Add a tag
Back on December 9th I wrote a piece on those reprinted picture books I was happiest to encounter in 2016. Now I’ll say a word or two about the reprinted novels of this year. Naturally, if you look at the output from the publisher New York Review Books you’ll find a lovely array of titles. For more than are listed here, that’s for sure and for certain. The books I’m including today are ones I’ve read, so it’s fairly short. Still, don’t miss the books listed here today. The book market is not kind to reprints that could be called “forgotten”.
2016 Reprinted Children’s Novels
The Borrowers Collection by Mary Norton
My knowledge of previous collections of all the Borrowers stories is not good enough to determine whether or not any previous versions also included the short story “Poor Stainless” or not. Whatever the case, this new bound volume of full stories is delightful. Chock full of illustrations, it’s the ultimate Borrowers collection.
The Golden Key by George MacDonald, ill. Ruth Sanderson
The title probably hasn’t been out-of-print before, but I do know that back in the day it was Maurice Sendak who illustrated it. Sanderson’s a different take than Sendak, that’s for sure, but it’s a lovely new edition.
The Rescuers by Margery Sharp, ill. Garth Williams
If Disney had any sense in its monolithic head it would have years ago grabbed the literary rights to every publication ever brought to the silver screen. Imagine, if you will, a children’s book collection that consists of books that are better known now for their Disney adaptations. 101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith, Old Yeller by Fred Gipson, Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss, and, naturally, The Rescuers. As with most Disneyfied products, when I read this book as a kid I was struck both by how sharp the writing was (not cutesy in the least) and also by how good illustrator Garth Williams was at making horrific looking humans. Turns out the master of whimsy had a penchant for the grotesque as well.
Never knew he had it in him.
For other celebrations of reprinted books, please check out the ShelfTalker piece Hello, Old Friends. I wish I’d seen the Lobel book mentioned there. Ah well. Can’t get them all.
Interested in the other lists of the month? Here’s the schedule so that you can keep checking back:
December 1 – Board Books
December 2 – Board Book Adaptations
December 3 – Nursery Rhymes
December 4 – Picture Book Readalouds
December 5 – Rhyming Picture Books
December 6 – Alphabet Books
December 7 – Funny Picture Books
December 8 – Calde-Nots
December 9 – Picture Book Reprints
December 10 – Math Picture Books
December 11 – Bilingual Books
December 12 – International Imports
December 13 – Books with a Message
December 14 – Fabulous Photography
December 15 – Fairy Tales / Folktales
December 16 – Oddest Books of the Year
December 17 – Older Picture Books
December 18 – Easy Books
December 19 – Early Chapter Books
December 20 – Graphic Novels
December 21 – Poetry
December 22 – Fictionalized Nonfiction
December 23 – American History
December 24 – Science & Nature Books
December 25 – Transcendent Holiday Titles
December 26 – Unique Biographies
December 27 – Nonfiction Picture Books
December 28 – Nonfiction Chapter Books
December 29 – Novel Reprints
December 30 – Novels
December 31 – Picture Books
By: Monica Gupta,
on 12/28/2016
Blog: Monica Gupta (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Articles, Videos, खान पान और स्वास्थ्य, खान पान संबंधी, खानपान में बदलाव, Add a tag
खान पान की बदलती तस्वीर – 2015 -16 का नेशनल हैल्थ फैमली सर्वे – पैदल कम चलना , शारीरिक मेहनत कम करना और संतुलित खाना न लेना हमारा लाईफ स्टाईल बनता जा रहा है…तो क्या ये सही है… ?? खान पान की बदलती तस्वीर – 2015 -16 का नेशनल हैल्थ फैमली सर्वे khan paan ki badalti […]
The post खान पान की बदलती तस्वीर – 2015 -16 का नेशनल हैल्थ फैमली सर्वे appeared first on Monica Gupta.
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 12/28/2016
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I want to send the arc of Audacity Jones Steals the Show to the first commenter on my previous post - Danielle H - but I have no way to contact.
Will you email me thru my website?
Blog: prime time rhyme (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Jerry Beck,
on 12/28/2016
Blog: Cartoon Brew (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Feature Film, VFX, Erik Nordby, Jennifer Lawrence, Morten Tyldum, MPC, Passengers, Add a tag
The vfx behind that zero-g swimming pool scene.
The post How They Pulled Off That Insane Swimming Pool Scene in ‘Passengers’ appeared first on Cartoon Brew.
By: Jerry Beck,
on 12/28/2016
Blog: Cartoon Brew (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Artist of the Day, Gobelins, Kevin Phung, Phase M, Wonderland, Add a tag
Discover the art of Kevin Phung, Cartoon Brew's Artist of the Day!
The post Artist of the Day: Kevin Phung appeared first on Cartoon Brew.
By: Barbara O'Connor,
on 12/28/2016
Blog: Barbara O'Connor (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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 |
| Audacity Jones Steals the Show by Kirby Larson |
By: LAURIE WALLMARK,
on 12/28/2016
Blog: Just the Facts, Ma'am (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: revisions, Add a tag
Thirty questions to think about before you tackle your next revision.
http://www.adventuresinyapublishing.com/2016/11/revision-checklist-30-questions-to-ask.html#.WFWXQfkrJlY
By: Jerry Beck,
on 12/28/2016
Blog: Cartoon Brew (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Feature Film, Ideas/Commentary, Brenda Chapman, Cars 3, Emily Dean, Jennifer Yuh, The Lego Batman Movie, The Lego Ninjago Movie, The Star, Add a tag
91 of 92 of major American animation releases in the current decade have had a male director.
The post Sorry, Women: You Won’t Be Directing Any Major U.S. Animation Releases in 2017 appeared first on Cartoon Brew.
By: Becky Laney,
on 12/28/2016
Blog: Becky's Book Reviews (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: 1996, books reviewed in 2016, j nonfiction, library book, mg nonfiction, Add a tag
First sentence: We know Laura Ingalls Wilder best through her nine Little House books, which tell the story of her life as a pioneer girl.
Premise/plot: This biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder would be perfect for upper elementary or middle schoolers. In some ways it's "just" a biography, but, in other ways it's so much more than that. One thing that I loved about it, for example, is the inclusion of HOUSE PLANS for all the houses Laura Ingalls Wilder lived! That plus the inclusion of crafts and recipes and extension activities really just made me happy.
For any reader who loves the book series or even the television series, this one is a fun and easy-going read.
My thoughts: While I didn't learn anything "new" about Laura Ingalls Wilder, I found it a fun, delightful presentation of what I already knew. The only book that truly was packed with I-didn't-know that information was the recently released PIONEER GIRL. This biography shares an intended audience range of the actual books. So one could go from the series to this biography smoothly. (I can't imagine a fourth or fifth grader picking up PIONEER GIRL and finishing it. Pioneer Girl just has SO MANY footnotes.)
Easy to recommend this one!
© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
By: Becky Laney,
on 12/28/2016
Blog: Becky's Book Reviews (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: 2016, art appreciation, books reviewed in 2016, friendship, library book, picture books, Add a tag
First sentence: Art, this is the BEST day ever! I'm so excited to meet our new neighbor. I hope she loves art too.
Premise/plot: Louise and Art are back in a second book! (Though the focus is on Louise and not her adorable, little brother Art!) Louise and Andie, the girl next door, become good friends quickly. But things don't stay wonderful long, soon, these two realize they have artistic differences. Can this friendship be saved?!
My thoughts: Loved this one. I did. I really loved it!!! It is so important--no matter your age--that you learn how to resolve conflict! I love seeing this friendship endure the stress of a big argument. I love that these two are able to work things out and really come to know and appreciate each other better.
Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 10 out of 10
© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
By: Gerald Hawksley,
on 12/28/2016
Blog: wonkyworks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: alphabet, children's kindle picture book silly monster abc, free children's kindle book, free children's kindle picture book, free kid's book, free picture ebook, rhyming ABC alphabet picture book, Add a tag
By: Jerry Beck,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: Cartoon Brew (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: chris meledandri, Garth Jennings, Harvey Mason Jr, Illumination, Joby Talbot, Jojo Villanueva, Mike Knobloch, Sing, Feature Film, Music, Add a tag
The complete list of songs that appear in Illumination's "Sing."
The post A Complete List of Every Song in Illumination’s ‘Sing’ appeared first on Cartoon Brew.
By: Betsy Bird,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: A Fuse #8 Production (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Best Books, Best Books of 2016, 2012 nonfiction chapter books, 2016 nonfiction chapter books, 31 days 31 lists, middle grade nonfiction, nonfiction, Add a tag
I peer into the darkness and at long last I see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’re almost there! Almost at the end of this month’s 31 Days, 31 Lists challenge. I’m certainly delighted, not least because I’ve managed to keep it up so far (knocking on wood now as hard as my brittle knuckles can knock).
As with some of the lists, today’s is not by any means complete. I fell down on the job of reading as many chapter nonfiction books as I should have. And since I refuse to place any books on these lists that I haven’t actually read myself, it’s going to be far too short. For a variety of far more complete lists featuring nonfiction, please check out the Best of the Year compilations from all the major review journals (SLJ, Kirkus, Horn Book, etc.) as well as libraries like NYPL, Chicago Public Library, and others.
2016 Great Nonfiction Chapter Books for Kids
A Celebration of Beatrix Potter: Art and Letters by More Than 30 of Today’s Favorite Children’s Book Illustrators, edited by The Stewards of Frederick Warne & Co.
It seems a pity that I’m only just now mentioning this book, but I honestly couldn’t figure out if there was any other list it would slot into easily. In truth, it’s probably made for adult enthusiasts and not actual kids, but who knows? There could be some Potter loving children out there. Maybe they’d be interested in the wide variety of takes on one classic Potter character or another. Whatever the case, this book is a beautiful ode to the works of Beatrix and anyone would be pleased to receive it.
Crow Smarts: Inside the Brain of the World’s Brightest Bird by Pamela S. Turner, photos by Andy Comins, ill. Guido de Flilippo
This is right up there with Sy Montgomery’s Kakapo book as one of my favorite books about obscure birds out there. Of course, the Kakapo is dumb as a box of rocks while these birds are smarter than human 4-year-olds, but who’s counting?
Deep Roots: How Trees Sustain Our Planet by Nikki Tate
Orca consistently produces fun nonfiction titles on serious subjects in a voice that never patronizes its young readers. This latest is no exception.
The Hello Atlas by Ben Handicott, ill. Kenard Pak
I really wasn’t sure where to put this one either, and it just feels like it has a bit too much content to consider it a picture book. The publisher calls this, “A celebration of humanity’s written and verbal languages is comprised of fully illustrated word charts depicting children of diverse cultures participating in everyday activities, in a reference complemented by a free downloadable app for iOS and Android that allows readers to hear the book’s phrases as recorded by native speakers”. Cool, right? Well, says Kirkus, “This will be a necessity for just about everybody, as there are no phonetic spellings”. So word to the wise. It’s still a pretty amazing book.
Presenting Buffalo Bill: The Man Who Invented the Wild West by Candace Fleming
Did I mention I liked it yet?
I liked it.
Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story by Caren Stelson
Still one of the most powerful books of the year.
Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune by Pamela S. Turner, ill. Gareth Hinds
This one came out so early in the year that I almost forgot it was a 2016 title. Then I remembered that there’s this crazy outside chance that it could win a Newbery for its fantastic writing. So there’s that.
Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White by Melissa Sweet
It took me a while to jump on the bandwagon with this one, since I’m sometimes slow on the uptake. Now that I’ve read it, I’m gratified to write that it really is quite amazing. I’m not sure what kid would pick it up on their own, but it does a really lovely job of encapsulating White’s life and spends a good amount of time on his writing for children. Visually arresting from start to finish, this is one of the best bios of the year. Glad I followed the crowd on this one.
What Milly Did by Elise Moser, ill. Scot Ritchie
I’m not a huge fan of the cover, but I think the book’s worth its weight in gold. FYI.
Interested in the other lists of the month? Here’s the schedule so that you can keep checking back:
December 1 – Board Books
December 2 – Board Book Adaptations
December 3 – Nursery Rhymes
December 4 – Picture Book Readalouds
December 5 – Rhyming Picture Books
December 6 – Alphabet Books
December 7 – Funny Picture Books
December 8 – Calde-Nots
December 9 – Picture Book Reprints
December 10 – Math Picture Books
December 11 – Bilingual Books
December 12 – International Imports
December 13 – Books with a Message
December 14 – Fabulous Photography
December 15 – Fairy Tales / Folktales
December 16 – Oddest Books of the Year
December 17 – Older Picture Books
December 18 – Easy Books
December 19 – Early Chapter Books
December 20 – Graphic Novels
December 21 – Poetry
December 22 – Fictionalized Nonfiction
December 23 – American History
December 24 – Science & Nature Books
December 25 – Transcendent Holiday Titles
December 26 – Unique Biographies
December 27 – Nonfiction Picture Books
December 28 – Nonfiction Chapter Books
December 29 – Novel Reprints
December 30 – Novels
December 31 – Picture Books
Blog: Kelly Hashway's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: adult, Fading Into the Shadows, publishing, Writer Wednesday, writing, Add a tag
- Cover design ~ I've been designing covers (in secret) for years, but this year I learned a lot about cover design and even did my own cover for Fading Into the Shadows, which I love.
- ebook formatting ~ I've been doing paperback formatting for a while, but this year, I learned fancy ebook formatting thanks to some awesome programs.
- Self-Publishing is the way to go for me ~ I've been traditionally published, but I'm not interested in that route anymore. I've worked on both sides of publishing for years now, and I'm ready to take my future in my own hands and self-publish from here on out. (I'm very excited about this!)
- I love writing adult mysteries ~ For years I swore I wouldn't write adult books, but look at me now. I don't know why I didn't think I'd like it, but I find the 25-30 age group really fun to write about.
- Balance ~ I'm particularly proud of this one because I've had the goal of finding balance between editing for clients and working on my own books for the longest time. I just couldn't figure out how to pull it off until I participated in NaNoWriMo this year. Now, I know I can balance the two and get all my work done on time.
By: Monica Gupta,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: Monica Gupta (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Articles, Videos, happy new year 2017, How to celebrate New Year 2017, Add a tag
How to celebrate New Year 2017 – नया साल दस्तक दे रहा है इसे आप कैसे मनाएगें … नया साल कैसे मनाएंगें आप – नव वर्ष की शुभकामनायें, नया साल मुबारक हो, नये साल की हार्दिक शुभकामनायें, नववर्ष की शुभकामनाएँ, नव वर्ष की शुभकामना , how to celebrate new year, how to celebrate new year […]
The post How to celebrate New Year 2017 appeared first on Monica Gupta.
By: Margot Finke,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: HOOK KIDS on READING (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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My Two
Latest Picture Books
As well as Kobi and Oscar, many other unique Down Under animals
share the adventures in both these books.
An Aussie Word Glossary and animal information are at the back of each book, plus fun details about Koalas and Tasmanian Devils.
surviving in the Aussie Bush. He soon discovers he is lost,
scared, and REALLY misses his mom.
All the Aussie bush critters are afraid of him. Yet Oscar longs to be
friends with everyone--you see, he REALLY is different.
How he makes the other animals see his friendly
nature becomes a grand adventure.
16x books to choose from ( PB to Young Teen)
Ages 5 through 14 years.
http://www.margotfinke.com
(Direct from my Website) $2.50 POSTAGE
Add 50c for each extra book.
Magic Carpet of Books
SKYPE Author Visits to Schools
************
Blog: prime time rhyme (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: Becky Laney,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: Becky's Book Reviews (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: 2016, books reviewed in 2016, J Poetry, library book, picture books, picture books for older readers, Add a tag
First sentence: Ancient Greece: an age of marvelous myths, gone, but not forgotten. Heroes that rise and fall.
Premise/plot: This is the third collection of reverso poems by Marilyn Singer. The first two were: Mirror, Mirror and Follow, Follow. Both of those were fairy tale inspired poetry collections. This third book is inspired by Greek mythology.
So what is a reverso poem? A poem that is both read top to bottom, and bottom to top. The two 'versions' of the poem might tell completely different stories! Word order and punctuation can accomplish a LOT. Much more than I ever thought about!!! Most of the reverso poems in this collection have two narrators. For example, with "King Midas and His Daughter," the first poem is from the daughter's perspective (top to bottom), and the second poem (bottom to top) is from the King's perspective.
My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. I'm not sure I loved, loved, loved it as much as the previous volumes. But. It's been a few years since I've read them, and, I'd have to reread all three closer together to truly decide which is my favorite. I can tell you that I do like Greek mythology. (Thanks in small part to Edith Hamilton and good old Percy Jackson.)
I think my favorite poem might be "Pygmalion and Galatea."
Wondrous!/ How/ life-/ like! There is nothing in this world/ so perfect. Oh, these lips, hands, eyes!/ The artist/ is in love with/ his creation./ Let a heartfelt wish be granted,/ kind Venus:/ Only you could make this stone breathe!
Only you could make this stone breathe!/ Kind Venus/ let a heartfelt wish be granted./ His creation/ is in love with/ the artist./ Oh, these lips, hands, eyes--/ so perfect!/ There is nothing in this world/ like/ life! How/ wondrous!*The book does have at least one typo. And I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't chosen to share it. I would have just auto-corrected in my head without thinking twice. "There is nothing is this world." I include it here just in case it hasn't been caught yet and fixed already for future editions.
© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
By: LAURIE WALLMARK,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: Just the Facts, Ma'am (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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Many things have to happen after you hand in the final text of your manuscript and its publication.
http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/no-one-tells-page-proofs-blurb-requests
By: DIWAKAR,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: POETRY FOR THE SOUL (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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By: bookkm,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: Books 'n' stories (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: anthropology of gifts, gift books, gift-giving, gifts, Add a tag
The Anthropology of Gifts - Part One
Look what I got in the mail right before Christmas!
This is an example of a traditional "gift" book - lovely to behold and to hold. Other traditional gift books are coffee table books, heavy with color plates, or educational tomes to enrich the recipient's mind, or inspirational volumes. Gift books look impressive on display.
Every major publisher puts out books in the Fall that are designed to catch the eye and to answer the needs of the gift-giver.
Most book review sites produce Best of... lists before the holidays so that no one goes ungifted. I prefer to let people do their own choosing. I am not alone in having received book gifts that were not to my liking. I have GIVEN books as gifts that ended up in yard sales.
This brings me to something I have been mulling over during this season of grabbing, getting, gifting, griping, to say nothing of wrapping, worrying and wondering - the anthropology of gifts.
Part One:
Did you get what you wanted this holiday? Did you give the perfect gift? Are you wishing that you had spent more...or less? Did your friend get a better gift from you than you got from him?
Does it matter?
Why do you give gifts, anyway?
We learn that there are two acceptable reasons to give gifts;
to show affection,
to earn affection.
(The second reason is, ahem, less acceptable than the first.)
It follows that gift-giving should be completely altruistic. There should be no thoughts of, “Whoa, she will be blown away when she sees my awesome gift.” Nor, should we be worrying that, “This gift won’t seem too brown-nosey, will it?”
In the history of gift giving there are so many other reasons;
to show power, - as in, “No gift you give me is worth as much as the gift I give you. So watch it. I might take it back.”;
to earn prestige, - “Look how very important and special I am. I can give so much.”;
to flatter, - “YOU deserve this wonderful gift.”;
to insult, - “YOU barely even merit this tiny awful gift.”;
because it’s expected, - “I got invited to my cousin’s step-son’s wedding and I never even met him. I don’t want to look cheap.”;
because it meets a need - “I noticed that your socks are worn. Here, have some socks.”
The feelings that accompany gift-giving and getting are also significant -
insecurity,
hope that the recipient will be pleased,
envy over what others receive,
worry that we haven’t quite discharged our gift-giving duty,
worry that someone will be empty-handed,
worry that we will be disappointed,
hurt that the giver has no idea what we like - or who we are - even what colors we hate!
Yep, it’s a mine field, this giving of gifts.
A young friend once complained that her relatives, whom she barely saw, gave her a beautiful Christmas stocking.
“As if I was a little kid,” she snorted. She was in her late teens. “They have no interest in me, at all.”
By the way, the stocking was absolutely gorgeous. It was not appreciated. The relatives did not want to show up empty handed, especially when they spent so little time with my friend.
And this brings up the politics of RECEIVING gifts.... Whoo, Nellie! Do we really want to go into that, right now?
The ONLY acceptable way to receive gifts is happily and with a “Thank you.” Jumping up and down with glee is acceptable if you are small enough to jump up and down without shaking the floors. Sulking is never a good thing.
If the gift is insulting, the giver has been thwarted. You seem pleased. They will have to try harder.
If the gift attempts to impress, well, act impressed if you want to, but it is not obligatory.
If the gift was meant to flatter, don’t make much of it - unless you want to flatter back.
If the gift feels obligatory, remember, the giver didn’t have to give you anything.
If the gift seems insignificant, perhaps it is all the giver could give you.
As mothers, and grandmothers, and maiden aunts, and crotchety old uncles are always telling us, “It’s the thought that counts.” (Except when it IS the thought that counts, - and the thought is nasty - then we are not supposed to notice.)
This holiday season, I decided not to worry about it. I asked my loved ones what they wanted and gave them what I could to meet those requests.
I love every gift I receive, because I love the givers.
The best gift we have is our friends and family. So, if we remember that, it’s all good - (in the words of Pete the Cat).
By: Becky Laney,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: Becky's Book Reviews (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: board book, board books, books reviewed in 2016, review copy, Add a tag
First sentence: I love the way you monkey around. I love the way you stomp up dand down! I love the way you waddle when you walk.
Premise/plot: An animal-themed board book for parents to read aloud to their little ones. The message from cover to cover is very sweet and affectionate. (Some readers might think it a little over the top with sweetness.)
My thoughts: I definitely like this one. It's for little ones--babies, toddlers--no doubt. I like the animals. I especially like the elephant!
Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10
© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
By: Kathy Mirkin,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: The Write Words (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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I'm taking a hiatus from blogging. Please look me up on Twitter at https://twitter.com/KathyMirkin.
I may stop by now and then to share books news and tips, so please do come back.
By: Abigail Nusbaum,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: Asking the Wrong Questions (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: n k jemisin, recent reading roundups, helen oyeyemi, Add a tag
It's nearly time to sum up the year's reading, and I have a great deal to talk about on that front. Unfortunately, I've been felled by a flu, so I'm hoping I'll be back my feet and in a state to write meaningfully about, well, anything by the time the 31st rolls around (which, as everyone knows, is the only proper time to talk about the year's best anything). In the meantime, however, here are
By: Jerry Beck,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: Cartoon Brew (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Feature Film, Animal Crackers, Another Day of Life, Ballerina, Beast of Burden, Blame, Blazing Samurai, Bunyan and Babe, Captain Underpants, Cars 3, Chuck Steel Night of the Trampires, Cinderella the Cat, Clara, Coco, Crayon Shin-chan: Invasion!! Alien Shiriri, Despicable Me 3, Spark, Tadeo Jones 2, The Boss Baby, The Breadwinner, The Emoji Movie, The Girl Without Hands, The Last Fiction, The Lego Batman Movie, The Lego Ninjago Movie, The Nut Job 2, The Red Turtle, The Star, The Three Heroes and the Sea King, Underdog, Fedinand, Foodiverse, Godzilla, Here Comes the Grump, Hirune Hime: Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari, Kikoriki: Deja Vu, Kung Food, Kuroshitsuji: Book of the Atlantic, Loving Vincent, Manou the Swift, Mary and the Witch's Flower, Morten on the Ship of Fools, Mune Guardian of the Moon, Mutafukaz, My Cool Dad, My Life As A Zucchini, My Little Pony: The Movie, Night is Short, Ping Pong Rabbit, Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, Punyakoti, Red Shoes and The 7 Dwarfs, Resident Evil: Vendetta, Richard the Stork, Sadko, Sahara, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Urfin Jus and His Wooden Soldiers, Walk On Girl, Wish, Your Name, Add a tag
The most comprehensive list of 2017 theatrical animated features!
The post Preview: 60+ Animated Feature Films to Look for in 2017 appeared first on Cartoon Brew.
By: Gerald Hawksley,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: wonkyworks (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: bestseller, Christmas, genius bestselling author, stinky santa, Add a tag
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| SCREENSHOT OF BESTSELLING SUCCESS! |
By: Becky Laney,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: Becky's Book Reviews (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: 2016, board book, board books, books reviewed in 2016, review copy, Add a tag
First sentence: My itsy-bitsy spider climbed up to snuggle me. Down came my arms, we hugged so happily.
Premise/plot: This board book reworks the classic song "Itsy Bitsy Spider."
My thoughts: I liked this one. I did. This is definitely for little ones, and, not so much preschoolers. (Although if you have preschoolers and little ones, then both might enjoy it.) The illustrations are very bright and bold. The text is cute. You can still sing it as a song. This one begs to be acted out. (As did the original song!)
Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10
© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
By: Elizabeth O. Dulemba,
on 12/27/2016
Blog: Elizabeth O. Dulemba (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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CLICK HERE to sign up to receive alerts when a new coloring page is posted each week and... Please check out my books! Especially...
my debut novel, A BIRD ON WATER STREET - winner of over a dozen literary awards, including Georgia Author of the Year. Click the cover to learn more!When the birds return to Water Street, will anyone be left to hear them sing? A miner's strike allows green and growing things to return to the Red Hills, but that same strike may force residents to seek new homes and livelihoods elsewhere. Follow the story of Jack Hicks as he struggles to hold onto everything he loves most.
I create my coloring pages for teachers, librarians, booksellers, and parents to enjoy for free with their children, but you can also purchase rights to an image for commercial use, please contact me. If you have questions about usage, please visit my Angel Policy page.
By: Monica Gupta,
on 12/26/2016
Blog: Monica Gupta (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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पानी कितना पीना चाहिए सर्दी के मौसम में – सर्दी के मौसम में चाय हम भले ही दिन में पांच या छ: बार पी ले पर पानी ??? पानी कितना पीते हैं याद कीजिए ….. !!! जरा सोचिए !! पानी कितना पीना चाहिए सर्दी के मौसम में – दिन में कितना पानी पीना चाहिए – सर्दी […]
The post पानी कितना पीना चाहिए सर्दी के मौसम में appeared first on Monica Gupta.
By: Betsy Bird,
on 12/26/2016
Blog: A Fuse #8 Production (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Best Books, Best Books of 2016, 2016 nonfiction picture books, 31 days 31 lists, nonfiction picture books, Add a tag
It’s finally come! The list is nearing its end. So it is with great delight that I present to you some of the last of the lists. Today’s is particularly long, celebrating what I consider to be some of the best books of 2016. Since so many of them have shown up on my other lists I’ll leave off the comments this time around except for those that haven’t appeared here before.
These are the nonfiction titles I was most impressed by in 2016:
2016 Nonfiction Picture Books
Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer by Diane Stanley, ill. Jessie Hartland
Ada’s Ideas: The Story of Ada Lovelace, the World’s First Computer Programmer by Fiona Robinson
Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood, ill. Sally Wern Comport
Animals by the Numbers: A Book of Infographics by Steve Jenkins
Anything But Ordinary: The True Story of Adelaide Herman, Queen of Magic by Mara Rockliff, ill. Iacopo Bruno
A Beetle Is Shy by Dianna Hutts Aston, ill. Sylvia Long
Circle by Jeanne Baker
Cloth Lullaby: The Woven Life of Louise Bourgeois by Amy Novesky, ill. Isabelle Arsenault
The Deadliest Creature in the World by Brena Z. Guiberson, ill. Gennady Spirin
Death Is Stupid by Anastasia Higginbotham
Dining With Dinosaurs: A Tasty Guide to Mesozoic Munching by Hannah Bonner
Does a Fiddler Crab Fiddle? by Corinne Demas & Artemis Roehrig, ill. John Sandford
Dorothea’s Eyes by Barb Rosenstock, ill. Gerard DuBois
Elizabeth Started All the Trouble by Doreen Rappaport, ill. Matt Faulkner
Fancy Party Gowns: The Story of Ann Cole Lowe by Deborah Blumenthal, ill. Laura Freeman
Gabe: A Story of Me, My Dog, and the 1970s by Shelley Gill, ill. Marc Scheff
Grandmother Fish: A Child’s First Book of Evolution by Jonathan Tweet, ill. Karen Lewis
Growing Peace: A Story of Farming, Music, and Religious Harmony by Richard Sobol
If this hasn’t appeared on a list before it’s only because I’ve never found a place to slot it. Though it has elements of biography to it, it’s mostly about sustainable farming, overcoming religious differences, and working together. And since I never made a peace and global studies list (next year?) it shall go here instead.
How Cities Work by James Gulliver Hancock
Very keen. It’s a good book to use if you want to describe to a kid how cities form, what they contain, their problems, their solutions, and their future. Lots of lift-the-flap elements as well.
One note – if you’re buying this book for your system through Baker & Taylor, they’ll have a warning note attached saying that there are small parts and that it’s not appropriate for children under the age of three. They sometimes will put this warning on books with small lift-the-flap flaps. I personally think the book is safe, but you may be strict in your policies. FYI.
How Much Does a Ladybug Weigh? by Alison Limentani
I Am NOT a Dinosaur! by Will Lach, ill. Jonny Lambert
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, ill. Elizabeth Baddeley
The Kid from Diamond Street: The Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton by Audrey Vernick, ill. Steven Salerno
Lift Your Light a Little Higher: The Story of Stephen Bishop: Slave-Explorer by Heather Henson, ill. Bryan Collier
Martin Luther “Here I Stand” by Geraldine Elschner, translated by Kathryn Bishop
The Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring: The Accidental Invention of the Toy That Swept the Nation by Gilbert Ford
Since the book is focused far more on the invention than the inventor, I couldn’t really put it on the biographical list. So for all that it’s fun and funny and interesting and beautiful (really beautiful) I’ve had to wait until now to put it on any lists. That said, it was worth the wait.
Miracle Man: The Story of Jesus by John Hendrix
The Music in George’s Head: George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blue by Suzanne Slade, ill. Stacy Innerst
My Book of Birds by Geraldo Valerio
Natumi Takes the Lead: The True Story of an Orphan Elephant Who Finds Family by Gerry Ellis with Amy Novesky
The Navajo Code Talkers by J. Patrick Lewis, ill. Gary Kelley
Olinguito, from A to Z! / Olinguito, de la A a la Z! by Lulu Delacre
Otters Love to Play by Jonathan London, ill. Meilo So
Pink Is for Blobfish: Discovering the World’s Perfectly Pink Animals by Jess Keating, ill. David DeGrand
A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the Creation of The Snowy Day by Andrea Davis Pinkney, ill. Lou Fancher & Steve Johnson
The Polar Bear by Jenni Desmond
Prairie Dog Song by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe
The Secret Subway by Shana Corey, ill. Red Nose Studio
She Stood for Freedom: The Untold Story of a Civil Rights Hero, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland by Loki Mulholland & Angela Fairwell, ill. Charlotta Janssen
A Spy Called James: The True Story of James Lafayette, Revolutionary War Double Agent by Anne Rockwell, ill. Floyd Cooper
Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World About Kindness by Donna Janell Bowman, ill. Daniel Minter
Ticktock Banneker’s Clock by Shana Keller, ill. David C. Gardner
The Toad by Elise Gravel
The Tudors: Kings, Queens, Scribes, and Ferrets! by Marcia Williams
Under Earth / Under Water by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski
When Grandma Gatewood Took a Hike by Michelle Houts, ill. Erica Magnus
Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton, ill. Don Tate
Whose Eye Am I? by Shelley Rotner
The William Hoy Story by Nancy Churnin, ill. Jez Tuya
You Never Heard of Casey Stengel?! by Jonah Winter, ill. Barry Blitt
Interested in the other lists of the month? Here’s the schedule so that you can keep checking back:
December 1 – Board Books
December 2 – Board Book Adaptations
December 3 – Nursery Rhymes
December 4 – Picture Book Readalouds
December 5 – Rhyming Picture Books
December 6 – Alphabet Books
December 7 – Funny Picture Books
December 8 – Calde-Nots
December 9 – Picture Book Reprints
December 10 – Math Picture Books
December 11 – Bilingual Books
December 12 – International Imports
December 13 – Books with a Message
December 14 – Fabulous Photography
December 15 – Fairy Tales / Folktales
December 16 – Oddest Books of the Year
December 17 – Older Picture Books
December 18 – Easy Books
December 19 – Early Chapter Books
December 20 – Graphic Novels
December 21 – Poetry
December 22 – Fictionalized Nonfiction
December 23 – American History
December 24 – Science & Nature Books
December 25 – Transcendent Holiday Titles
December 26 – Unique Biographies
December 27 – Nonfiction Picture Books
December 28 – Nonfiction Chapter Books
December 29 – Novel Reprints
December 30 – Novels
December 31 – Picture Books
By: Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski,
on 12/26/2016
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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It's Tuesday! Write. Share. Give. 
Blog: prime time rhyme (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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