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The following titles are favorite middle-grade read-alouds, books that inspired our own books.

While waiting around for my daughter’s pottery class to finish one Saturday afternoon, I dropped in to one of my favorite used book stores in Winnipeg called Nerman’s.  Their basement is chock full of children’s books and to my delight, I discovered an Eva Ibbotson title, Not Just a Witch (Macmillan, 1989. Illustrated by Alice Englander.)  When I showed it to my daughter, a self-proclaimed Ibbotson fan, she was delighted.

With her characteristic offbeat humor, Ibbotson introduces us to another wacky world of witches and mythical creatures that don’t quite fit the stereotype.  The story begins with two witch friends,  Dora and Heckie who, on their graduation from their witch academy, have a falling out over the fact they have unwittingly chosen the same hat (one with serpents, of course) for their graduation party.  The two part company and the story then follows the adventures of Heckie as she settles in a small town called Wellbridge.

We’re not all the way through the book yet, but my daughter insists upon being read from Not Just a Witch every night and I am enjoying this one as much as I have the other Ibbotson titles I’ve read with her.  (See my other PT posts on Ibbotson here and here.)  Do you have a favorite author whose books you and your child enjoy reading together?  Do tell!

The Reluctant Heiress Eva Ibbtoson

Last week I was in A MOOD and this book perfectly fit the bill.

Guy Farne was found on the docks in Newcastle and made his fortune to become on of the richest men in the world-- all in order to win over the snobby family of a girl he once loved.

Tessa is the under-wardrobe mistress of an opera company in Vienna. She also happens to be a Princess and heiress to Austria's most stunning castle, but it's post-WWI and Austria's nobility is crumbling. Luckily, the castle has a buyer and Tessa can devote herself to the music she loves so much.

You can see where this is going.

I love a good surprise reveal scene (like when Guy finds out Tessa's actually a Princess!) and a fun reunion and Ibbotson does them really well. I loved the glimpse into interwar noble life. I've seen it on the British side often enough, but it's different here because Austria lost and their vast empire was carved up and they turned Republic. It's a lot for them to handle and they're doing it with various levels of grace. I also loved the crazy characters in Tessa's opera company. Little details like the Yogurt Mother make it such a fun read.

The plot is predictable, and characters flat and not at all nuanced, but it was still very enjoyable and exactly what I needed.

Book Provided by... my local library

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Well, first things first!  The Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Awards were handed out two days ago, and at long last I can finally tell you the winners.  These awards are given out to new authors and illustrators of children’s books with no more than three books to their names that “portray the universal qualities of childhood, a strong and supportive family, and the multicultural nature of our world”.  This year, Laurel Croza wins the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award for I Know Here:

And Tao Nyeu wins the New Illustrator Award for Bunny Days:

Congrats to both winners !

• How very interesting.  TIME for Kids has come up with a Summer Book Review.  Which is to say, they’re recommending books that will be new and in print this summer, from other publishers.  One wonders how they came up with this particular list.  Thanks to Mr. Schu for the link.

• The art of the clever blog post title is difficult to teach.  My method tends to be to come up with something vaguely interesting, or to simply quote somebody famous but obscure in the hopes of making approximately four other people in the world happy.  This is not an effective strategy.  Playing by the Book did it better when it came up with the recent This post has taken me 6 months to write … Seriously.  How on earth is a person supposed to resist that?  Warning: Contains Danes.

• NPR has looked at Wendy McClure’s Little House inspired title The Wilder Life.  This is not to be confused with the short lived Gene Wilder television show Something Wilder.  And that, ladies and gentlemen, is your non-essential trivia of the day.

• I admit to being disappointed when I heard that Woody Harrelson had cornered the role of Haymitch in the upcoming Hunger Games movie, but only because I had my heart set on John C. Reilly.  Honestly, it’s not bad casting (he can actually act, so that whole drunk/charming/reliable/unreliable thing will go over like gangbusters).  It’s the casting of Stanly Tucci as Caesar Flickerman that has me baffled.  Honestly I just figured they’d get Regis Philbin, dye his hair blue, and be done with it.  Tucci will give the whole project a strange horror.  Seems the only big part in the film left to cast would be President Snow.  My vote?  Tommy Lee Jones.  An insane choice, but I can’t think of anyone more frightening you could put in that role.  And when was he last allowed to play a baddie anyway?  I think he needs to make Batman Forever up to us.  Not that they could afford him, I suppose.

• Aw.  I wish I could say I was surprised when I heard that Wonderland, the Alice musical update, was
  8 Comments on Fusenews: Your source for any and all Gene Wilder trivia, last added: 5/13/2011
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  Zoe said, on 5/11/2011 10:22:00 PM
  

  Ah! Will have to see if I can track down Laurel Croza’s book – that’s new to me. As to plant pots my favourite this week has been this (nothing to do with books, but such a clever use of cacti!) – http://etsy.me/jimdyd.

  And can’t you help me out with a lovely Danish picture book suggestion? I’m still searching….

  tanita said, on 5/12/2011 2:27:00 AM
  

  Hahahahahah! Poor Eragon. Donated mine to the library.

  I do think Woody Harrelson as mercurial, unreliable drunk will go over well — but I hear ya on Tommy Lee Jones – he is Scariest Man Ever when he plays the villain. I vote yes! And I’m glad to hear that the author of Anna Hibiscus is soldiering forward. I do get tired of other people trying to determine what an author knows, based on such flimsy assumptions. Those books really are cool.

  Jennifer Schultz said, on 5/12/2011 6:18:00 AM
  

  That Time magazine summer reads section is great-a mix of good lighthearted reads and some reads that are a bit more serious.

  Jennifer Schultz said, on 5/12/2011 6:21:00 AM
  

  Just read the reviews from the Time for Kids reporters. I’m impressed!

  Maureen E said, on 5/12/2011 8:58:00 AM
  

  I’m so glad I read to the end of this post. The Eragon line cracked me up.

  Brooke Shirts said, on 5/13/2011 9:46:00 AM
  

  Yeah, Tommy Lee Jones would be great as Pres. Snow — but my heart is set on having him portray the uber-scary Mayor Prentiss in the imaginary film version of The Knife of Never Letting Go!

  Elizabeth Bird said, on 5/13/2011 10:00:00 AM
  

  I’ll flip you for him.

  Children's Librarian said, on 5/13/2011 12:44:00 PM
  

  LOL Betsy on the “Eragon” quip! I’m not sure that book would even be good enough as a planter, but it would be a use for it at least. I, sadly, don’t feel like I can part with my copy because it was a gift from the dear friend that introduced me to my husband. And while the book was awful, her friendship and her match-making skills are bar none. She wouldn’t be insulted if she knew I gave it away, though!

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Click here to learn more about the Golden Coffee Cup.

Ah, the last day, as the Bard says, "Parting is such sweet sorrow." To the new folks, I try to pick some wondrous spirit that has departed to far shores for the last day of the Golden Coffee Cup. That said I have two this year.
The first "teen-aged magician's" high five comes from the incomparable Sid Fleishman.



I loved him as a girl. My copy of BULLWHIP GRIFFIN was dog-eared, worn out and read over and over over. BTW, this book was first called: BY THE GREAT HORN SPOON! just for FYI. Anyway, I had a full blown literary crush.

Fast forward a lot of years to 2000. You can imagine how surreal I felt as an adult to meet Sid and really have a chance to talk to him, to get to know him just a little. He was the best. I can't almost keep from crying when I think of what an encouraging soul he was, how welcomed into the fold of children's writer he made me feel, how he made me believe that I could do ever so much more as a children's writer than I had even let myself imagine...

Here's a great quote from Sid: I write what I am. I may become a yellow-haired boy, a prankish wizard's ghost, or even a dog with arrogant wolf's eyes. But beneath all the make-up, wigs, and putty noses -- that's me, off on a fresh adventure and having as much fun as I can. Go check out his writing tips.

I'm glad we can still pick up Sid's books and experience his magic. Thank you for tossing out so much!

I have another spirit I must mention too. Today’s second high five comes from the never –to-be-forgotten, “happy endings” freak -- Eva Ibbotson.


She wrote one of my favorite starts to a book -- from ISLAND OF THE AUNTS: “Kidnapping children is not a good idea. All the same, sometimes it has to be done.”

I was hooked.

What a promise. Here is article about Eva: article about Eva. I hope we all find a teacup worth of her success. I hope we write about as varied characters as wizards, ghosts, rain forests, ballet dancers, and mustached aunts. I hope we all find our happy endings. :)

Come back tomorrow when I announce this year’s winners of the piping hot Golden Coffee Cup. You have till midnight to post your goal stories! Keep going you are almost, almost there!

Here is a quote from Eva: The thing you have to do is keep writing, the habit is too ingrained, you can't stop.

Just a few weeks ago, I did a short post on the recently deceased children’s writer Eva Ibbotson.  I picked up a few of her books at my local library, and became instantly engrossed in one of them, so much so, that it became my bedtime read, rather than my daughter’s!  That book was Journey to the River Sea (Macmillan, 2001).  Set a hundred years ago near the turn of the century, the story features a young orphaned girl, Maia, who is sent on a journey from England to distant relatives, the Carters.  The  Carters live on a rubber plantation on the banks of the Amazon river near the city of Manaus.  Maia is accompanied by a governess, Miss Minton, who must not only educate Maia, but the twin daughters of the Carters, Beatrice and Gwendolyn.

Maia is intrigued by the adventure that lies ahead of her.  She is fascinated in particular by the Amazon River and is eager to experience this new part of world.  She and Miss Minton board the RMS Cardinal and make the journey across the ocean to South America.  While on board, Maia befriends a young boy actor named Clovis, who has been ‘adopted’ by the Goodleys.  The Goodley’s run a theatre troupe and plan to stage Little Lord Fauntleroy at the Manaus Theatre with Clovis as the lead.  Maia promises Clovis that she will do her best to meet up with him once they arrive at the city.

Now, rather then give you any more of the story, I insist you get out the book.  Suffice it to say, the Carters are not quite the family Maia expects and she has many more adventures once she arrives at their house.  I found Journey to the River Sea to be a riveting and captivating read.  The characters are fully developed and dynamic; the jungle and plantation setting marvelously evoked, and the unfolding of the story’s event evenly paced.  I kept thinking to myself what a marvelous movie this would make, but of course, as a story in a book, it is also quite fine as it is.  If you are reading chapter books to your children, I’d certainly recommend this one to keep both mother and child entertained.  Or, as in my case, simply  ‘mother’ entertained!

All right, all right, all righty, all right then.  Where to begin . . . I know.  With a tribute that deserves notice first and foremost.  I had heard that Laura Amy Schlitz was writing an obituary for her friend, fellow writer Eva Ibbotson.  I expected it to be brilliant.  It has, in fact, exceeded my expectations.  So much so that it gives me the rather morbid hope that I die before Laura just so that she can write an obit for me as well.  Nobody does it better.

• Hooray!  It’s time of the year again!  The Best Book lists of 2010 are beginning to arrive.  Just the other day New York Public Library decided on their 2010 list of 100 Books for Reading and Sharing (I’m not offering any hints, but it’s good).  They’ll be printing that soon.  And now Publishers’ Weekly has release their own Best Children’s Books 2010.  I don’t agree with all their choices, but it’s certainly got some great books on there.  Be sure to check it out.

• Speaking of Bests, my co-author Peter Sieruta at Collecting Children’s Books just printed the list of the 2010 ABC New Voices list of “outstanding debut books by authors for middle-grade and young-adult readers.”  I must say, I’m more than a little disappointed in the results.  No Adam Gidwitz.  No Kate Milford.  No Margi Preus.  No N.H. Senzai.  We must have been reading very different authors this year, those independent booksellers and I.  I would like to read The Clockwork Three, though.  I’ve been hearing good things.

• Wow!  So somehow I was unaware that Lisa Brown (she of the recent picture book Vampire Boy’s Good Night) had created a large archive of three panel cartoon reviews of various works of classic literature.  Or, if not classic literature, at least well known literature.   Some of you, I know, will be fond of the Little House one.  Thanks to Educating Alice for the link.

• Got word the other day from illustrator Annie Beth Ericsson that due to the fact that NYC’s Mayor is declaring a brand new Illustration Week soon, she is going to interview a whole slew of new up-and-coming illustrators “many of them children’s book-related” on her blog Walking in Public.   Sounds good to me.  Please note, oh ye librarians that work with small children, that a couple of the illustrators have images that aren’t necessarily workplace friendly.  Good stuff that should be checked out, though!

• The screening of the children’s literary documentary Library of the Early Mind went swimmingly here at NYPL last week.  But don’t take my word for it.

• You know that
  7 Comments on Fusenews: “swinish Milneish parts”, last added: 11/11/2010
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  Debbie Reese said, on 11/9/2010 5:07:00 AM
  

  Hi Betsy,

  That was my first visit to Kalamazoo, and I liked it so much, that I’ll pose the question (to you) that I often get… Why did you leave there? (For me, its “why did you leave NM for Illinois? and the answer is grad school.) The library is gorgeous. And the rolling hills, fall colors… And the hospitality, too! All in all, a terrific visit.

  Regarding my reference to the list… Did I note that it wasn’t your personal list? I don’t, in fact, recall just what I said, but will make absolutely sure to do it in the future when I reference the list in a lecture. I was talking about the prevalence of stereotypical images and referenced the list and my analysis of the list. Words matter, as I take great care to point out, and I certainly don’t want to add confusion to the work you do, and did, with that list. I’ll make a clarification on my post about the seminar.

  An aside… yesterday I pulled up Amazon’s list of “Bestsellers in Children’s Native American Books” and posted that list to my blog. I haven’t done much with it yet, but it occurs to me that it’d be interesting to see how much cross-over there is from that list to the list generated from your poll.

  Elizabeth Bird said, on 11/9/2010 8:21:00 AM
  

  Thanks, Debbie! Ah, Kalamazoo. You know, as a kid I always thought I’d end up in Kalamazoo again. Somehow that hasn’t quite turned out that way, but I’m a big-time fan of the town. So glad they treated you well! They’re swell folks, those Kalamazooians.

  And many thanks for understanding why I’d want to clarify that my list was a poll rather than something I conjured from my own noggin. I do agree with you on a fair number of the titles and find your commentary a necessary part of the list itself. And thanks for letting me know about the new post to your blog! I too would be interested in seeing how much crossover there is.

  Now what’s your take on that graphic novel collection Native and that new MG novel The Mourning Wars? I’ve been dying to know!

  Debbie Reese said, on 11/9/2010 9:38:00 AM
  

  The graphic novel… I wish the people who put it together (designers?) had made clear what tribe each story is from. The info is in the back with the bios, but I’d have liked to see it with each story.

  MOURNING WARS? I don’t know it… I’ll look for it. Publishers do not send me books. I only get them when someone asks me “have you seen” — and then I track things down, usually buying them or borrowing from the library. I read some blogger’s comments, about how publishers send them books, and I wonder how they get on those publisher’s distribution lists.

  I admire how much you are able to do. I have stacks of things around me that I’ve not yet blogged about. Like LAST SUMMER OF THE DEATH WARRIORS, which I like. And, I’ve got Pratchett’s NATION here with dozens of tags sticking out…. things that ‘broke the magic’ for me (to use Cynthia Leitich Smith’s phrase from her talk at Kalamazoo). And I just got I AM NUCHU… But, I’m teaching, and put a lot of time into that.

  Richard said, on 11/9/2010 9:44:00 AM
  

  Sometimes I think authors should leave well enough alone rather than ruin a good thing. I’m referring to the debate in the Observer on whether JK Rowling should continue with another Harry Potter book. In the context of this post Betsy alluded to the prequels of the Star Wars saga.

  Well…this just got my juices flowing…

  Coincidently, the other day on cable TV I saw the movie Phantom Menace (prequel #1) for only the second time in my life. The first time was in a theater when it was released back in 1999.

  I thought it was bad then. But sitting through the movie a second time really drove home how bad it really was.

  I was interested to see how others felt, so I went out on the Internet and poked around. On You Tube there was a review of the film that was one of the funniest and most clever things I’ve ever seen. Actually, it was more a “seven part dissertation” on how not to make a movie (or craft a story).

  Due to some coarse language, as well as a few short segments that are a bit off-color, the 7-part video may not pass “Video Sunday” muster. But otherwise, it was spot on! It’s a compendium of everything concerning “story as it relates movies”. Of course the observations are equally applicable to “story as it relates to books”.

  In this season of Newbery debates, putting aside all the individual nitpicky criteria, for me a book boils down to one thing…
  Does it tell a good story.

  For a primer on how not to craft a story:
  1- Watch the original Star Wars movie.
  2- Watch The Phantom Menace.
  3- Find the You Tube “Phantom Menace Review Part 1″, and view all seven parts.

  One of the opening lines of the vide #1 review is:
  “The unfortunate reality of the Star Wars prequels is that they will be around…forever.
  They will never go away.
  They can never be undone.”

  :paula said, on 11/9/2010 2:48:00 PM
  

  Jeez, I was using Anakin Skywalker as an example of how NOT to evolve a villain (I was reviewing Barry Lyga’s Archvillain), and I could not even bring myself to link to anything from those Star Wars prequels. SO BAD. My kids adore them though, which really calls their judgment into question, in my opinion.

  Elizabeth Bluemle said, on 11/11/2010 4:41:00 PM
  

  Betsy, publishers had to submit their books to be considered for the New Voices program, which accounts for the omission of those wonderful books you mention.

  Elizabeth Bird said, on 11/11/2010 7:32:00 PM
  

  Gah! Then I shall run about NYC kicking the publishers in the shins. Thoroughly.

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