Lauri Fortino's Blog, page 56
February 12, 2016
Paying It Forward, Starting In My Own Community
Scene from The Peddler’s Bedillustrated by Bong Redila (Ripple Grove Press, 2015)
Even before my first children’s picture book, The Peddler’s Bed, was published, I knew I wanted to help people. But how? After the book was released, I began to research non-profit organizations that might be a good match. And although there are many extremely worthy causes out there, it didn’t take long to realize that the best match was right here in my own community: The Syracuse Rescue Mission.
Since 188...
February 3, 2016
Interview Alert: Wendy BooydeGraaff
I’m excited to welcome fellow Ripple Grove Press author Wendy BooydeGraaff to Frog on a Blog! Wendy’s debut picture book Salad Pie, which is illustrated by Bryan Langdo, officially releases March 1, but is available for pre-order now! I’ve ordered mine and cannot wait to read it!
I have a special affinity for Ripple Grove Press authors and illustrators and plan to make interviews with these talented people a regular feature hereonTheFrog. Please enjoy learning more about Wendy BooydeGraaff!
...February 1, 2016
Picture Books At The Library 49
I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible. Rating System: If I enjoyed just the story, or just the art, I’ve given the book a :) . If I liked both, the book gets two :) :) . If I absolutely loved the book, I’ve given it three :) :) :) . Don’t let my ratings keep you from reading a title ju...
January 26, 2016
Caldecott Quick Thoughts 2016
If you are as intrigued by the selection process as I am, you may be interested in the following link that I originally posted back in 2011:
Everything you ever wanted to know and more about the Caldecott medal and the awards process can be found there at the American Library Association’s e...
January 16, 2016
Reader’s Theater At The Library
Image by Scott Mosher
The DeWitt Community Library offers a Digital Reader’s Theater program for kids. It’s run by Paralibrarian Scott Mosher who does everything from choosing the script, working with the kids, recording the performance, and editing the recording.
If you were to google “reader’s theater”, you would get tons of results. It’s popping up all over. Teacher’s are using it as a tool in their classrooms to help their students develop fluency in reading and reading comprehension and...
January 11, 2016
Picture Books At The Library 48
I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible. Rating System: If I enjoyed just the story, or just the art, I’ve given the book a :) . If I liked both, the book gets two :) :) . If I absolutely loved the book, I’ve given it three :) :) :) . Don’t let my ratings keep youfrom reading a title ju...
January 6, 2016
Top 15 Circulating Picture Books Of 2015
The picture books that have been checked out most frequently in 2015 from the DeWitt Community Library are an interesting mix of new and not-so-new titles. The Maisy bookscontinue to be a popular choice, appearing 4 times in this list. Pigeon made the list, as did Pete the Cat and Spider-Man. Also on the list, my personal favorite of the lot,The Bear Ate Your Sandwich, which is tied withThe Day the Crayons QuitandGoldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs.Not far behind isThe Book With No Pictures....
January 4, 2016
If A Book Is About A Bed, Does That Make It A Bedtime Book? Hmm…
My picture book The Peddler’s Bed is centered around a bed, but I never considered it a bedtime story. It could certainly be read at bedtime, but it wasn’t written with that in mind. When I think of bedtime stories, I think of books like Goodnight Moonor other soft, lyrical, lulling stories. I think I’m both right and wrong about that.
Wikipedia defines a bedtime story as a “traditional form of storytelling, where a story is told to a child at bedtime to prepare the child for sleep.” Most any...
December 31, 2015
Picture Books At The Library: End-of-Year Roundup 2015
This end-of-year roundup introduces all of the picture books I didn’t get a chance to share over the past year. They were all published thisyearand are available at my library; perhaps they’re available at yours as well. As you scroll through this long list, my hope is that you will find a few gems that you have not yet read. I’ll see you in the new year with the next post featuring the latest picture books At The Library. Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and successful New Year! :)
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December 28, 2015
Picture Books At The Library 47
In my position as a technical processing assistant at the DeWitt Community Library, I catalog a lot of new picture books. Unfortunately, I cannot review them all, but I do try to read them all. Below are some I’ve cataloged recently. I have assigned a :) to my favorites. (Whenever possible, summaries have been taken directly from the books.)
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This is the story of a story that starts over the same way, every day–except when it rains. On rainy days, it is u...
