Monica Edinger's Blog, page 133

The Exquisite Corpse Adventure Episode 6

is here!  Here's a wee taste of Patricia C. and Fredrick L. McKissack's contribution:

Einstein took off the baby's tiny roller skates and put on little hiking boots. "You're going to need these," said Einstein.

Smart Kid Reviews: Grace Lin's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

By the time most of you read this it will be too late to see Grace Lin live this morning on the Today Show for Al Roker's Book Club for Kids; but no matter, surely the spot will be archived as are the previous authors' appearances.  Last night, no doubt to distract her from any pre-Al jitters, some of us were invited to meet Grace for dinner which was quite delightful.   And coincidently, one of my 6th grade book bloggers to whom I'd give her book to read has just posted her review.  Here's...

Smart Kid Reviews: Grace Lin's When the Mountain Meets the Moon

By the time most of you read this it will be too late to see Grace Lin live this morning on the Today Show for Al Roker's Book Club for Kids; but no matter, surely the spot will be archived as are the previous authors' appearances.  Last night, no doubt to distract her from any pre-Al jitters, some of us were invited to meet Grace for dinner which was quite delightful.   And coincidently, one of my 6th grade book bloggers to whom I'd give her book to read has just posted her review.  Here's...

Books, Bars, and Blogging

I had thought there might be some questions about the School Library Journal cover I was on last month, the one celebrating children's book bloggers.  After all, we were five white women, so I thought there might be letters wondering about the lack of gender and racial diversity.  Well, yesterday the December issue went online with a bunch of letters, but not about that.  Nope, about us. In a bar.  Holding drinks.  Yep, check out Some Readers Couldn't Stand Our November Cover: Now We Need a...

Smart Kid Reviews: Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan

Leviathan was my first encounter with Scott Westerfeld, but is sure not to be my last.  A longtime steampunk fan, I greatly enjoyed the characters and the story he spins in this vividly rendered alternative world. I then gave it to one of 4th grade science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts; here is his review:

This book is called Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. It takes place in 1914 and will be in a series.  It is a mix of fantasy adventure, coming of age, science fiction, and fiction and...

A Place to Talk About A Conspiracy of Kings

Since it is not very nice of those of us who have gotten the ARC to keep publicly rubbing salt in the wounds of those who have not, I've started a group for those who do want to talk about it.  Go here to join.  And please pass the word along to others who may be interested. (Or let me know if there already is such a group elsewhere and I'll join it instead!)

On Lists

Just read an essay about a new book out celebrating the list, Umberto Eco's The Infinity of Lists: An Illustrated Essay. It immediately made me wonder if Eco knows of E. B. White's use of lists in his children's books, one of his most delightful and (certainly to my students) recognizable stylistic tics. For example, here's narrator White on Templeton in Charlotte's Web:

The rat had no morals, no conscience, no scruples, no consideration, no decency, no milk of rodent kindness, no...

They're Back! The Exquisite Corpse Episode 5 is Up!

"Hold everything," said

Everyone obeyed as much as possible. Joe held the birthday card with their parents' urgent cry for help. Nancy held the bull-whip in readiness. The baby held the last note in the "Star Wars" theme song. Einstein held his breath.

Want to know if the baby and Einstein ever breathed out?  What Nancy did with the bull-whip?  Well then, go read the rest of the latest episode of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, this one penned by the witty Gregory Maguire and...

A Bit o' NCTE

This was the first convention that I've been to since I got my Iphone and I went a little wild using the camera for tweeting purposes.  For those not following me on twitter— what is wrong with you?  (just kidding) —- here are those photos.  By no means a good overview of what I did, but a few things nonetheless.

So on Friday after the general session with Julia Andrews and her daughter, I stopped in to the celebration for Lee Bennett Hopkins — lots of fun to hear such distinguished poets as...

Jack Langstaff, Wild Mountain Thyme, and Other Specialnesses

One of the iconic members of the CLNE group was the marvelous imp, Jack Langstaff.  He led us in song and dance and was such a wonderful part of the experience that it was very hard when he was gone.  I do have to say Gregory Maguire has a lovely singing voice, but as anyone who was around for Jack at CLNE knows, no one can replace him.  After mentioning (and first mispelling) "Wild Mountain Thyme" in my previous post I went searching for a video of it. Didn't find one with Jack, but did...