Morning, folks. We’ve a good store of goodies this morning, and I’m pleased as punch to give them to you. First up, a short film. A very short film, actually. I’ve spoken in the past on how Hollywood views children’s writers and the creation of children’s books. This film seems to believe that children’s books in general are being urged to be “darker”. Even picture books. An odd sentiment, but there you go.
Thanks to Stephanie Whelan for the link!
So, First Book is doing something called the Speed Read Challenge. It’s being done to draw attention to First Book’s Be Inspired campaign, which is attempting to get 1 million books into the hands of kids. You can see a whole slew of celebrities told to speed read book in ten seconds. First, recent Newbery winner Kwame Alexander:
Next, Mo Willems:
I wanna do it.
As you may have heard from folks like Travis Jonker, Jimmy Kimmel started a regular feature where he has a bookclub with kids. So far they’ve covered Goodnight Moon and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Naturally when it came time to embed one, I went with The Giving Tree. To know me is to know why.
Barb Langridge has made it her goal to get the ALA Youth Media Award titles back in the public eye and conversation. Here she talks with the people of Baltimore about the recent winners. Good stuff.
And for our off-topic video, I had two really good choices. Still, in light of last Sunday’s Oscars, this seemed like the link that made a bit more sense:
Goodbye Big-Bird? Tell me it ain't so!
It took some digging, but I found an old copy of my Sesame Street cover. I think it still looks okay.
I'm guessing there's not much that's 'honorable' on the other channels. PBS is the one channel that makes me feel good about life.
And I vote in every election and I just sent in a check for $250 to PBS. But not a penny to any politicians.
NOTE TO SELF: SEEMS WE HAVE A LOT TO WORRY ABOUT THIS CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY SHOPPING
As soon as she had found the perfect present for her niece and dropped it in her shopping cart, Lovey Lane had a nagging worry.
"It just hit me -- this is made in China," the Dundalk resident said, checking the Disney princess costume box and scrutinizing the beads adorning a tiara as a possible hazard. "I thought I'd better put it back."
But the Pirates of the Caribbean ship for her nephew stayed put in the cart, as Lane reasoned that the plastic toy was not likely tainted by lead.
"Of course, we don't know what paint they're using," said Lane, shopping yesterday morning at Toys "R" Us in the Golden Ring area of Baltimore County.
After months of recalls that have seen millions of toys pulled from store shelves -- including classics such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Dora the Explorer and Big Bird -- anxiety was palpable in the toy aisles on the day after Thanksgiving. Warnings of lead paint and choking hazards, and even chemical coatings that could be transformed into a "date rape" drug if ingested, have gotten shoppers' attention.
Full Story Here:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-te.bz.toys24nov24,0,3673506.story
Toy safety tips
• Children under age 3: Avoid toys with small parts, which pose a choking hazard.
• Children under 6: Avoid building sets with small magnets. If they are swallowed, serious injuries or death can occur.
• Children under 8: Avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
• Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates can cause fatal falls. Helmets and safety gear should be worn and sized to fit.
• Projectile toys such as air rockets, darts and slingshots, intended for older children, can result in serious eye injuries.
• Chargers and adapters should be supervised by adults to prevent burn hazards.
• Read toy labels for age and safety recommendations.
[Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission]
Shopping for children's toys has become complicated. Perhaps it's time for consumers to seriously consider buying products and goods made locally.
As I am waiting through what I hope is my last half day without a computer, I've been thinking about how we write.* This past week I've been struggling to write and do research the way I used to just ten years ago--in longhand. And I've found it impossible. I can't keep up with my thoughts the way I can when I type. My right hand is killing me--too many days writing and taking notes from the age of ten have left me with arthritis at age 40 in just my right hand. And I simply can't bring myself to write anything beyond what I must at the moment in longhand (research notes). For eight days I've been unable to write fiction or, even, book reviews. I have 15 books sitting in a pile just waiting for their three-to-four paragraph reviews and I can't do it.
Sigh. How do you write?
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* This time I am entirely blameless for my computer's untimely demise.
Betsy, this was SUCH a treat! Thank you for posting all these! The “darker kid’s books” one is just fantastic. How perfect! And I have to tell you, I absolutely cannot stand THE GIVING TREE and I love that Jimmy pointed out why! lol Yay! Great stuff here…all the videos