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She can turn even the most reluctant — or, in her words, dormant — reader into a student who can’t put their books down.  With talent and passion like that, it’s a benefit to children that she abandoned her career as an accountant to become a grade six language arts and social studies teacher.

She is The Book Whisperer.

On this edition, Mark speaks with Donalyn Miller about safe territory, books in the classroom and her advice to parents, principals and politicians.

Also mentioned in this episode:

• Interview with Francesca Simon

The 44th annual convention of the Association of Jewish Libraries took place July 5-9, 2009 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel. I was honoured this year to be part of the speaking program having been invited to talk about the role of social media in promoting Jewish literature.

On this edition of Just One More Book!!, follow Mark as his audio recorder captures forgiveness, education and pop-culture, how Jewish books have evolved and become exciting for young readers.

Segment 1: April Halprin Wayland is the author New Year at the Pier, a book about forgiveness which is rooted in the the Tashlich ceremony of the Jewish New Year celebrations of Rosh Hashana.  This segment includes April reading the beginning and end of her book, New Year at the Pier.

Segment 2: Librarian Toby Rossner shares her approach to creating educational programs about universal values using picture books including Chicken Man, a book about someone who made the most out of any job he did.

Segment 3: Ann Abrams is a musical librarian who serenades us with her own songs and sings a musical parody using a popular song for which she rewrote the lyrics — both to help get children excited about Jewish children’s books.

This episode includes two brief excerpts of Mark’s session on using social media to raise awareness of great Jewish literature using social media, presented at AJL09.

Thanks to the Association of Jewish Libraries, Heidi Estrin and Cheryl Banks, Esme Raji Codell and our interview guests author April Halprin Wayland and librarians Toby Rossner and Ann Abrams.

Mark recently attended the second annual Kidlit Conference, a gathering of bloggers, podcasters, authors and illustrators, in Portland, Oregon.

During the conference Mark had the opportunity to meet and speak with some fascinating people. Take for example, Philip Lee, one of the founders of Lee and Low Books, an independent children’s book publisher that focuses on diversity.

On this edition of Just One More Book!!, Philip Lee tells Mark about life after his departure from Lee and Low and taking risks in publishing books about diversity.

Links to resources mentioned by Philip:

• Baseball Saved Us, the first book published by Lee and Low
• Voices of Diversity, Philip’s radio work at KBCS

We celebrate 400 episodes in two years by reflecting on what we’ve accomplished, what we’ve learned and what we’d like to see in children’s literature. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this episode.

Books, reviews, interviews and resources we mention:

• Bill in a China Shop
• Love of Reading Gallery
• Eva Ibbotson
• Henry Winkler
• Judy Sierra
• Simon James
• The Grandmother Doll
• When-I-Was-a-Little-Girl

Audio comments and book recommendations received:

• Terry Doherty (Interview with Terry on JOMB)
• Elizabeth Dulemba - The Beach Ball by David Steinberg and Liz Conrad
• Andy J. Smith - Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Seuss
• Jen Robinson - Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright, Joe & Beth Krush
• Anna M. Lewis - 38 Ways to Entertain Your Parents on Summer Vacation by Dette Hunter and Kitty Macauley
• E. B. McHenry (Interview with E. B. on JOMB)
• Heidi Estrin - The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
• Andy Bilodeau, Vivian Vasquez and TJ - How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
• Kevin Hodgson - Westlandia by Paul Fleischman and Kevin Hawkes

Thank you for being part of the Just One More Book!! children’s book podcast community.

Photo of Andrea and Mark at PAB2008 by John Meadows.

Last week, in part one of a two-part series, I spoke with Jason Wells, Director of Marketing and Publicity for Harry N. Abrams Inc. about the role and career path of the publicist, the high turnover rate in the industry and the evolution of book marketing and publicity in the digital age.

On this edition of Just One More Book!!, part 2 of my conversation with Jason Wells. This time, we talk about digital marketing and publicity and the future of children’s books in the age of MySpace, Facebook, blogs and podcasts.

According to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development “Character education involves teaching children about basic human values including honesty, kindness, generosity, courage, freedom, equality, and respect.”

Sharron McElmeel is a leading expert in this field and she’s done just about everything including publishing a 220-page book called Character Education: A Book Guide for Teachers, Librarians and Parents.

As part of a discussion on character education and her other projects, Sharron McElmeel answers questions that help reveal some of her powerful advice which includes make your house a “book house”, include a book on every gift-giving occasion and we must all move out of our classrooms and living rooms to spread the joy of reading everywhere we can.

Links to Ms. McElmeel’s resources and books mentioned:

• Sharron McElmeel’s website
• McBookWords - a resource for schools, educators and librarians
• McBookWords blog
• Character Education: A Book Guide for Teachers, Librarians and Parents
• Authors in the Kitchen: Recipes, Stories and More
• Authors in the Pantry: Recipes, Stories and More

Children’s books mentioned:

• Where the Wild Things Are
• A Snowy Day
• Virginia Lee Burton books including Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel
• Value Tales Series
• Pink and Say
• Nail Soup
• Stone Soup
• The Gingerbread Boy
• A Ghost, a Witch and a Goblin

Photo: http://mcbookwords.blogspot.com/

This episode comes to you from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada, where a large group of people braved a moderate snowstorm to attend the launch of Before Green Gables, the prequel of Anne of Green Gables.

The book launch coincides with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the introduction of Anne Shirley to the world. To mark the occasion, Canada Post has unveiled two new stamps (one for Anne Shirley and one for Prince Edward Island), the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled their new Anne Shirley quarter and Girl Guides of Canada have unveiled a new patch.

This episode of Just One More Book!! includes interviews with author Budge Wilson, editor Helen Reeves, LM granddaughter Kate Macdonald Butler, the Right and Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, LM Montgomery expert Betsy Epperly, publicist Alina Goldstein and the many voices of Anne Shirley enthusiasts.

Anne of Green Gables links

• 100 Years of Anne
• Anne of Green Gables on Wikipedia
• Lucy Maud Montgomery Institute

Excerpts of songs from the CD Your Daughters and Your Sons by The Duhks used with permission of Sugar Hill Records (Thank you, Molly!)

• Annabel
• Anna William’s Reel
• Crusty Rolls and Chili
• The Ol’ Yellow House

You can view some photos from the event here.

January 27 is the ABC Canada Literacy Foundation’s Family Literacy Day; an event that celebrates and promotes literacy, with a family twist.

Across the country, libraries, schools, community centres, arts centres, and homes — maybe even your home — will be hosting events and reading children’s books. It’s a great excuse to read a book with your child, if you need one.

On this edition of Just One More Book, Mark speaks with Margaret Eaton, President of the ABC Canada Literacy Foundation about literacy and this year’s Family Literacy Day.

Authors mentioned:

• Robert Munsch

Mark refers in this interview to the following quote from a recent post on Jen Robinson’s Book Page. Jen wrote last January, in an article about a talk that Jen heard by read-aloud advocate Jim Trelease, that:

“He (Trelease) suggested that we need some sort of national campaign to inform people all over the country of the importance of exposing their kids to more words every day, and encouraging them to enjoy reading. He gave an analogy to the campaign that was used to successfully cut the incidence of smoking in this country by 50% over 40 years, a combination of informing people, scaring people, and insulting people, and thinks that we need to try something similar in American homes re: reading.”

More statistics and literacy tidbits referenced by Mark in this interview can be found here:

• New Data on Reading from the Miss Rumphius Effect blog
• Jim Trelease Talk: My Notes from Jen Robinson’s Book Page blog

Photo: ABC Canada

There’s a feature of children’s books that’s often talked about, though a surprisingly high number of people are not willing to admit; you don’t have to be a child to enjoy one. In fact, you don’t even need to have a child to pick up a children’s book and read it.

Those who are in on that belief are passionate about children’s books in a way that’s near impossible to measure. Take, for example, Jen Robinson. In many ways, she’s redefining that passion. Her blog, Jen Robinson’s Book Page, is a showcase piece of the kidlitosphere, a community of bloggers and podcasters that promote children’s literacy, picture and young adult books and the people behind them.

On this edition of Just One More Book!, Mark speaks with Jen Robinson about her love of children’s books, the tools she uses to promote literacy and tackle literacy related issues, and a new children’s literature portal.

Photo: Jen Robinson’s Book Page

Here's a random cachibachi for ya....Fliptomania Inc. These are flip books that kids (or adults who love things like this) make flip books of various scenes and characters. I like the sock monkey. Of course for all you illustrators out there, I imagine you've made some sort of flip book yourself. It's addictive. ToyDirectory.com has loads of links and info about toys and the newest fads in toys.