Betsy Bird's Blog, page 324

Review of the Day: The Vengekeep Prophecies by Brian Farrey

The Vengekeep Prophecies

By Brian Farrey

Illustrated by Brett Helquist

Harper Collins

$16.99

ISBN: 978-0-06-204928-5

Ages 9-12

On shelves now

Let’s talk lazy fantasy writing. It exists. It’s out there. And when you find yourself reading some 30+ middle grade fantasies in a given year there are certain tropes and themes that appear so often they wear a rut in your frontal lobe. Most of them are innocuous enough, but there’s one that really sets fire to my dander; prophecies. Ugh. I cannot STAND prophecies. Essentially they’re just a way for the author to provide foreshadowing in as annoying a way as possible. Further points are detracted if the doggone prophecy rhymes. There are very few ways to upset the prophecy conundrum. You might be able to get away with one if you’re as good as Harry Potter but I’m not surprising anyone when I say that most just sorta slap `em in there willy-nilly. Which is perhaps part of the reason Brian Farrey’s The Vengekeep Prophecies is as much of a relief as it is. You want prophecies? Fine. Then let’s come up with a concept that sort of turns the whole idea behind them on its head from a book that says with perfect simplicity, “Fate is a lazy man’s excuse for avoiding curiosity.” With great humor and dexterity Farrey creates a new fantasy world where magic is kept in check, only popping up once in a while to bite our heroes on the bum. Fast and funny, this is one of those rare 400-page novels where I wouldn’t cut so much as a sentence or a paragraph if it meant making the story any shorter.

It’s tough being the black sheep in a family OF black sheep, but such is the lot of Jaxter Grimjinx. It’s certainly an honor to be next in a long line of thieves, con artists, forgers, fleet-fingered pilferers, etc. It’s significantly less of an honor to be a clumsy klutz unable to pick even the simplest lock. But what he lacks in dexterity Jaxter more than makes up for with his love of herbs capable of undoing every protective magic they come across. Then it happens. In the village of Vengekeep it is customary to reveal once a year a tapestry that will predict the coming year. Produced hundreds of years ago by prophetic twins, Vengekeep relies on these prophecies. So imagine the horror of the townspeople when they discover that this year a horrific series of plagues and disasters will be visited upon them and their saviors will be those no good Grimjinxes. Of course they will be. The Grimjinxes found a way to fake the tapestry this year and they envision it as brilliant cover for their daring exploits. But that’s all before the stories on the fake tapestry start coming true. Suddenly, it’s up to the least reputable citizens in town to save everyone. And it’s up to Jaxter to ultimately undo the damage his family has wrought.

When I think of the great conmen of fantasy literature I tend to draw a blank. I know they’re out there in droves in the adult literary sphere, but on the children’s side they’re a touch harder to come by. Sure there was The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner and Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge but those were individuals. Whole families of shysters, tricksters, and con artists? That’s an original notion that gives a person pause. And though admittedly there were times when the Grimjinx clan resembled nothing so much as a mildly moderated Addams Family (it’s the feisty grandma that does it), in the end they’re a nicely fleshed out family unit.

In fact, that’s one of the nicest things about Farrey. No matter how small a character or how bit a part, he fleshes out even the most minor of supporting characters. And Jaxter, as the main character, is even more beautifully created. He could easily come off as some medieval Batman with his pouches standing in for a utility belt, or maybe a slightly grimier Sherlock Holmes with his ability to notice hundreds of details about a person in a single glance. Instead, there’s a nice complexity to his character. He loves his family (who are admittedly very lovable) but he’s torn. He’s been raised to believe in this great grand heritage of cons and yet his heart really lies with research. He tries to tell himself otherwise and nearly succeeds until the moment much later at the end of the book where he says, “I was much better at fooling myself than I was at fooling everyone else.” Best of all, I always appreciate those writers that create heroes with special skills or interests that help to save themselves or the ones they love in the end. Jaxter has those very skills tenfold and save people he does.

Funny book too, come to think of it. Lots of fantasies try to weave in a little humor here and there, but so few actually succeed in being funny. That’s probably partly because humor is so subjective. What I find hilarious you might find gauche or gross. But I think it’s fair to say that a good large swath of kids reading this book would find it honestly amusing. How can you not like a book (or characters) where wise warnings are purposefully waved off with a pointed, “Sorry, Son, what was that? I was too busy ignoring you.” I also admit to loving the little Grimjinx words of wisdom that pepper the chapters. They’re fairly spot on some of the time, putting a wry twist on lessons we’ve heard before but not in this particular light. “If you must steal from a wise man or a foolish one, steal from the wise. You’ll leave him with something he’ll value: a lessen.” “Keep your enemies close, your friends closer, and let them fight it out.” “Accusations are merely the envy of the unenlightened given form.” Good stuff.

I ran a bookclub for kids until not too long ago and one thing those smart kiddos loathed was the dreaded number on the spine. For some of them, they couldn’t properly enjoy a book if they felt it was just the first in a long series. And The Vengekeep Prophecies, truth be told, really is the first in what I believe to be a trilogy. That said, there is only one minor hint that there is more to come when you reach the story’s end. By that point every dangling thread has been tied up, every loose plot point woven back into the story’s whole. Then Jaxter’s younger sister goes and hints that she’ll tell him something in the future. Aside from that (a note that will undoubtedly go by many a young reader) this is a standalone first novel that fulfills its promises and yet leaves you wanting more. In other words, the best kind of fantasy there is. You can bet I’ll be reading that sequel someday. Whenever it wants to appear.

Like This? Then Try:

Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge


The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen


The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Source: Galley sent from publisher for review.

First Lines: “Even weeks later, I heard rumors that I had ruined the Festival of the Twins. Which was complete rubbish. I was nowhere near the Festival grounds at the time. I was too busy escaping from a house fire. That I’d caused. Accidentally.”

Notes on the Cover: Brown. Brown brown brown brown brown brown. Say it together with me children – What is the one cover color kids eschew faster than gin-soaked broccoli? Brown. As a children’s librarian it really doesn’t matter how well I talk up a book. Once they get a glimpse of that brown cover it’s all over. The saving grace is that in this case the brown is only roughly half of the book jacket, so maybe if you strategically hold the book across the brown as you talk it up (I’m trying to do it right now and it TOTALLY does not look awkward) you could swing it that way. In any case, I pray that when the book goes to paperback (as well it should considering how magnificent and shining the text is) we’ll something a little less tan and a little more lively in its future. Heck, even the flames here look brown. Flames! I ask you.  As it happens, the author likes it more than I do.

Other Blog Reviews: The Book on the Hill

Professional Reviews:

A star from Publishers Weekly
Kirkus (and it’s one of their Best Children’s Books of 2012)

Other Reviews:

Kidsreads.com
U.S. Kids

Video:

Watch author Brian Farrey as he explains a bit more about the book.  Gets extra points for using the phrase Chosen One Schmosen One.

Video Sunday: Always comes too late, but Friday never hesitates

The chance to see M.T. Anderson speak at length on any topic should be celebrated in and of itself.  But to see him speak on the topic Wardrobes and Rabbit Holes: A Dark History of Children’s Literature (just this past November 7th) is the icing on the cake.  As you may remember I’ve a book coming out of Candlewick with Jules from 7-Imp in the Fall of ‘13 and much of what we discuss ties in beautifully to what Tobin’s saying here.  I’m particularly pleased by his reading of The Rabbits, which is illustrated by Shaun Tan and left a hole in my soul when I read it for the first time.  In a good way, of course.  By the way, love the fact that Cornell has the first Newbery Medal.  NYPL has the eighth.  Makes me wonder where the rest now reside.  Many many thanks to Jules for the link.

I don’t think I’m alone in saying that if the TED people were to call me up, last minute, and inform me that they had an opening and would I be interested in filling in a slot, that would be the definition of my worst nightmare.  For author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka, however, it was just a remarkable opportunity.  He also tells his amazing story, one which I’ve not really heard before.

I’ll go a far and long distance to watch someone read a picture book I love to a group of kids.  Kid reactions rock.  Particularly when they’re seeing a Jon Klassen book for the first time.  This Is Not My Hat – Field tested. Child approved.  And Ed Spicer would be your illustrious reader.

And for the final off-topic video (I’m assuming you watched ALL of the Tobin Anderson up top and have very few minutes left in your day, so we’ll keep it short this week), this is a treat.  A treat that you’ll find yourself repeating to yourself in your own head for hours at a time if you’re anything like me.

Video Sunday: Always comes to late, but Friday never hesitates

The chance to see M.T. Anderson speak at length on any topic should be celebrated in and of itself.  But to see him speak on the topic Wardrobes and Rabbit Holes: A Dark History of Children’s Literature (just this past November 7th) is the icing on the cake.  As you may remember I’ve a book coming out of Candlewick with Jules from 7-Imp in the Fall of ‘13 and much of what we discuss ties in beautifully to what Tobin’s saying here.  I’m particularly pleased by his reading of The Rabbits, which is illustrated by Shaun Tan and left a hole in my soul when I read it for the first time.  In a good way, of course.  By the way, love the fact that Cornell has the first Newbery Medal.  NYPL has the eighth.  Makes me wonder where the rest now reside.  Many many thanks to Jules for the link.

I don’t think I’m alone in saying that if the TED people were to call me up, last minute, and inform me that they had an opening and would I be interested in filling in a slot, that would be the definition of my worst nightmare.  For author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka, however, it was just a remarkable opportunity.  He also tells his amazing story, one which I’ve not really heard before.

I’ll go a far and long distance to watch someone read a picture book I love to a group of kids.  Kid reactions rock.  Particularly when they’re seeing a Jon Klassen book for the first time.  This Is Not My Hat – Field tested. Child approved.  And Ed Spicer would be your illustrious reader.

And for the final off-topic video (I’m assuming you watched ALL of the Tobin Anderson up top and have very few minutes left in your day, so we’ll keep it short this week), this is a treat.  A treat that you’ll find yourself repeating to yourself in your own head for hours at a time if you’re anything like me.

Fusenews: You know what they say about the size of a man’s autograph, don’t you?

Okay, let’s do this thing.  I’ve had a remarkably busy week and I’m itching to discuss it alongside all the other newsworthy schtoof floating about in the atmosphere.  First up . . .

That Linda Epstein gal, that Linda Epstain gal, I do I LIKE that Linda Epstein gal (can you tell I’ve been reading too much Green Eggs and Ham to the Little Bird lately?). Two days ago the Women’s National Book Association asked me to moderate a discussion with heavyweights in the field on the topic of “The Making of a Young Adult Bestseller: From Acquisition to Reader”.  The panelists included Susan Katz (President and Publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Books a.k.a. the president of MY upcoming picture book’s house), Joy Peskin (Editorial Director, Farrar Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers), literary agent Jenny Bent (The Bent Agency), Marisa Russell (Publicity Manager, Penguin Young Readers Group), and wunderkind YA/MG author Hannah Moskowitz.  So no pressure or anything. I have to say, it was a rousing success with a packed room of professionals in the industry and up and coming authors.  Agent Linda Epstein wrote the whole thing up so I don’t have to now (yessss!) and along the way said some very nice things about me, which was swell.  Epstein’s relatively new to the agenting world herself so let me tell you a little secret to getting an agent. To my mind the most interesting agents are sometimes the young hungry ones.  Like this gal.  Just my two cents.

And since I am in a mood that overfloweth with love for my fellow (wo)man, I just want to extend a great big thank you to Monica Edinger for writing the very necessary and too little discussed piece Stop Calling Books for Kids “Young Adult”.  Amen and also testify.  Because “young adult” is now the hot buzzword (or at least it will be for the next 20 minutes or so) the media has a general tendency to just label any book for kids between the ages of 9-12 “young adult”.  It’s annoying and Monica zeroes in on why it’s a problem.  Actually, in February a panel of distinguished middle grade authors will be speaking in my library about this very thing.  Clear your calendars now for Saturday, February 2nd at 2:00 p.m. when the program Middle Grade: Surviving the YA Onslaught will feature writers Jeanne Birdsall, N.D. Wilson, Adam Gidwitz, and Rebecca Stead discussing this very topic at length.  Oh, the parsing that shall be had!


This is fun.  Head on over to First Second and vote on your favorite children’s book.  Whatever wins will end up being the 100 millionth (jeez) book they hand to a kid in need.  Wowzer.


Oh man.  See, I already felt bad that I was missing the Carle Museum’s 10th Anniversary.  I moaned quietly into my tea when I read press statements like, “The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA kicked off its 10th-anniversary celebration November 10 and 11 with the Museum’s first major permanent collection exhibition, Iconic Images: 10 Years of Collecting for The Carle, and a weekend of special events.  More than 1,200 people came from as far away as Asia to see the exhibition and meet the dozens of picture-book artists who came back to commemorate the Museum.”  But I was a good pookie.  I wasn’t going to complain.

That was all before I saw this photograph of Barry Moser, Eric Carle, and Norton Juster.

That’s it!  I can’t take it anymore!  I’m moving to Amherst.  Somebody get me a bloody job there, stat!

This has very little to do with children’s literature and everything to do with critical reviews.  Someday I hope to encounter a book as worthy of a crushing review as this restaurant received.  It is not nice.  It is, instead, oddly thrilling.  And yes, I would only write a review like this for a celebrity children’s book.  The closest I ever came was one for that beautifully horrid One Last Time: Good-bye to Yankee Stadium by Ray Negron.  Without a doubt, the worst book I ever reviewed, and the most enjoyable review I’ve ever written.  There’s something cathartic in tearing apart celebrity picture books.  It cleanses the soul.  The restaurant review was still better.


You done good kids.  You done good.


Okay, this one is just self-serving.  Ahem.  Dear U.S. Publishers (I’m looking at YOU Harper Collins),  If you have any compassion in the cold cockles of your heart, please bring the rest of the “My Sister the Vampire” series by Sienna Mercer to American shores.  The children of NY demand what I cannot provide.  They pepper me with suggestions for buying the British editions.  I can’t do it.  This is taxing. Please to remedy.


Now for a segment I like to call Folks Who Are Doing Good (And Are Not Me).  First up, Scholastic has gone all to the good with its extensive list of Storm Recovery Resources covering everything from their One Million Book Donation for Schools and Libraries hard hit by Sandy (you can apply here) to tips on explaining the storm to children.  It’s actually quite impressive.


The second link comes after I had tea with T.A. Barron yesterday (my life, as you may have noticed, is simply an unending series of cascading delights).  Tom told me about the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, an award given out yearly to twenty-five kids between the ages of 8-18 who have “made a significant positive difference to people and our planet.”  They get $2,500 to their project or their higher education if they win it.  Know a kid who’d fit right in?  Stuff like this I’d love to collect and put on one easy-to-navigate site.  Someday . . .


Nina Lindsay of Heavy Medals leads a busy life.  When she’s not debating the relative merits of the latest Gary Schmidt she’s chairing the Caldecott 75th Anniversary Task Force.  No small feat.  Recently she appealed to the ALSC listserv members by saying, “The  Caldecott 75th Anniversary Task Force needs your help  in spreading the word about the many exciting ways to celebrate 75 years of distinguished picture books.  Just head over to http://www.ala.org/alsc/Caldecott75 to pick up your electronic badge (like mine below!), and while you’re there, check out how you can join the celebration. Then, with badge appended, please take a moment to send a message to your state or local library groups, your school contacts, your book clubs or parent groups, and invite them to join in the celebration.   Who wouldn’t like to meet David Wiesner on Facebook?”  Good stuff, though I’m still cagey about whether or not I’m allowed to show that fancy medal they made for the celebration.


Daily Image:

Meet Amanda Bock.  She works in an elementary school library and is working on her MLIS.  She also appears to have the world’s greatest teensy tiny collection of miniature books signed by children’s literary greats.  I’ve never seen anything to compare.  Example A:

That’s Edward Gorey.

You’ll be happy to hear she’s recently made a Tumblr to display what she has.  Remarkable.  Big time thanks to Jarrett Krosoczka for the link and the picture.

Review of the Day – Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover by Cece Bell

Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover

By Cece Bell

Candlewick Press

$14.99

ISBN: 978-0-7636-5475-7

Ages 5-8

On shelves now

It would be simpler if kids read at exact levels at all times. Wouldn’t it be grand if you had a kid go strategically from easy books to early chapter books to older chapter books without so much as a glitch in the system? But as it happens the road to literacy is not this smooth varnished path off into the sunset. There are bumps, and valleys, and wobbly bits where the pavement chips off. That’s why certain school systems have introduced concepts like “Levels”. A kid reads at a certain level, masters it, and moves on to the next one. Of course, the danger with that kind of thing is that it never gives kids a chance to challenge themselves. If they’re Level L and are handed Level O, many adamantly refuse to consider trying something that “hard”. That’s why the world needs more books like this here Rabbit and Robot. Here you have that rarest of rare beasts, the early early chapter book. Harder than Frog and Toad, easier than Magic Tree House, it’s a transitional title that’s the perfect thing to get kids out of their reading ruts and into the wide and wonderful world of chapters. Lots of books attempt to do that sort of thing, but it takes a delicate hand like Cece Bell’s to also pepper the book with memorable, hilarious characters and a simultaneously familiar and unique plotline. This is only the first in the adventures of uptight Rabbit and groovy go-with-the-flow Robot, but I trust we’ll see more of them in the future. The world demands more of the same, consarn it!

Good buddies Rabbit and Robot (just go with it) are about to have their first sleepover at Rabbit’s place and both of them are very excited. Rabbit, a by-the-book kind of guy, has every evening activity written out and planned to the letter. And Robot, an easygoing fellow bearing a vague resemblance to a cell phone on wheels, is just the kind of stand up friend to throw a distinct wrench in the works. First Rabbit’s plan to “Make Pizza” is changed slightly when Robot removes the bulk of the home’s nuts and bolts to top his own pizza pie. Then Rabbit can’t find the remote and a near nervous breakdown occurs before Robot reveals the simple solution. A game of Go Fish takes a header when something odd happens to Robot. And finally, bedtime is the perfect moment to review and see that even if everything didn’t go precisely to plan, it was still a really nice day.

The distinct advantage of being your own author/illustrator is that you never have to consult with your collaborator. Bell’s style has always been akin to that of Crockett Johnson and the like. It’s this pure-lined style that embraces simplicity over clutter. When working in her usual picture book vein, Ms. Bell’s books are straightforward in their plots and visuals. Here in Rabbit & Robot she uses her lines to convey the characters’ moods with great verve. Rabbit is as easy to smile as he is prone to overwrought hysterics. Robot, in comparison, is simultaneously laid back and energetic. This comes across particularly well when Rabbit first presents Robot with his anal retentive list of what their evening will have to consist of. Robot, we know from our reading, has other ideas about what they’ll be doing, but you can tell from the picture that he’s mostly keeping that to himself. There’s a bemused smile playing about his metallic lips. You get the feeling from pictures like that that he knows precisely how this evening will go, and it’s Rabbit who’ll be the surprised one in the end. Then there’s the characters’ look. It took me a while to realize it, but there’s something oddly satisfying about looking at that perfect triangle that serves as Rabbit’s nose and the elongated rectangle that’s Robot’s. It just works.

You could say the book has a classic feel and this would be true. Does it have an old-fashioned feel or a contemporary feel, though? I’m going to side with contemporary in terms of the characters and the interactions. While I’ve no doubt that kids 50 years down the road could still get a kick out of these characters, the book doesn’t feel like it belongs to the past. The art, however, definitely relies on some tried and true historical tropes. Note, if you will, the telephones that Rabbit and Robot speak into on the title page. Aside from the fact that they appear in little bubbles ala Bye-Bye Birdie there is the fact that they both are on landlines (with cords and everything!). Be ready to explain to your kids what exactly those types of phones are when they ask you. Then there’s Rabbit’s television set. He does indeed have a nice little remote for it, but who else noticed the awesome bunny ears (ho ho) perched on top of the TV? The TV itself is perched on a kind of Jetsons-esque stand, which is cool in and of itself. One get the distinct feeling that if a camera were to appear in the course of this tale they’d be buying film for it and taking it down to the local photomat to get it printed.

The odd couple format has proved to be a tried and true way of getting kids into early chapter book fare. Whether you’re reading about Frog and Toad, Houndsley and Catina, or Bink and Gollie, opposites attract. They attract one another and they attract burgeoning readers who need something a little silly, a little sly, and a little enticing if they’re going to keep doing this whole “reading” thing folks keep trying to push on them. Go into most libraries and you’ll find that easy books and early chapter books are some of the most popular in the system. All the more reason to let something like Rabbit & Robot into your life. It’s new and fresh and thoroughly enjoyable, whether you’re reading it to a kid or they’re parsing it on their own. There’s a new odd couple in town and hopefully they’ll return to us again soon.

On shelves now.

Source: Final copy sent from publisher for review.

Like This? Then Try:

Alien and Possum: Friends No Matter What by Tony Johnston


Monkey and Robot by Peter Catalanotto


Houndsley and Catina: Plink and Plunk by James Howe


Bink and Gollie by Alison McGhee and Kate DiCamillo

Other Blog Reviews:

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast at Kirkus
Shelf Elf
Read, Write, Reflect
There’s a Book
books4yourkids.com

Professional Reviews:

A star from Publishers’ Weekly
Kirkus

Other Reviews:

BookPage

Interviews:

Cece talks with 7-Imp about early sketches and a rejected chapter of the book
An interview with Kathy Erskine

Misc:

Four words for you – World’s. Cutest. Release. Party.


Read a sample of the book here.

Librarian Preview: Harper Collins (Spring 2013)

Oh the previews are here, they’re here, they’re here,

The wonderful previews are here

Time to go out, go out, go out,

Go out and order a . . . . beer?  No, no . . .

From that catchy little tune (working on it) I hope you realize that preview season is upon us yet again.  Time to sit down and hear what is in store for the future.  Will 2013 completely and utterly stop any and all supernatural romances dead in their tracks (which is to say, are vampires finally over?)?  What picture book idea will spontaneously manifest itself at two entirely different publishers without rhyme or reason?  And what, the heckedy heck, is up with fuzzy blue giants?  Why are they so awesome?

Yes.  It’s finally happened.  The pandering.  The blatant self-promotion.  The self-satisfied mugging.  You thought I was insufferable when I wrote my ALA Editions textbooky thing a couple of years ago?  Brother, you ain’t seen nothing until you’ve seen my fiction side in action.

So it is that we begin today’s Harper Collins Preview at the Greenwillow table.  As you may recall, Harper Collins is one of those publishers that allow you to sit at their tables, eat their bagels and muffins, and hear their editors tell you face-to-face about their upcoming season.  Sure, they could do a boring PowerPoint to a big room, thereby saving themselves some sanity, but the fact that they take the time to talk to us in this intimate fashion makes them one of the better previews in town.  It’s the personal touch that counts, y’know?  Plus I’m far more likely to remember a book when the editor has taken my questions about it firsthand than if I’m dozing in a big audience with a bunch of other folks, later desperately trying to remember why one teen novel with a flowy gown on the cover is different from another teen novel with a flowy gown on the cover when it’s time to do my ordering.

In any case, the clock is ticking, there are books to be discussed, so we begin with Greenwillow.

Actually we begin with me.  They didn’t.  I’m just mucking with the order of presentations here because I’m so pleased to announce my pretty little Giant Dance Party picture book.  It comes out on my birthday (April 23rd), and isn’t THAT a lovely present to receive?  Brandon Dorman is the illustrator behind it, and a nicer fella you couldn’t hope to find.  You may know his book covers on everything from Savvy to the more recent Goosebumps novels.  As you can see, the title is self-explanatory.  The tale follows young Lexy, a girl who can cut a rug better than most her age.  That is, if she’s dancing for her parents or herself.  Put her onto a stage and you might as well be staring at a frozen ice pop in the shape of a young girl.  When Lexy decides the answer to her problem is to teach rather than perform, she finds that no one wants to have a kid as her teacher.  No one, that is, except a herd (is that the best term for it?) of benign furry blue giants.  All seems to go well until the day of their recital when Lexy discovers that maybe she’s not the only one with stage fright problems out there.

Don’t let the cute nature of the cover fool you.  Is it cute?  Yeah.  Guilty as charged.  But there are some slammin’ moves to be found inside and, as I may have mentioned in a previous post, this is the first picture book I have encountered that includes krumping.  I kid you not.  Expect me to come up with some kind of video to accompany this soonish.  Suggestions are welcome.  I’m slightly stumped since Dan Santat created the world’s greatest dance-related picture book trailer three years ago for Tammi Sauer’s Chicken Dance.  More to come about this in time.

And there are apparently other books coming out in 2013 as well!  Did you know that?  I was stunned!  For example, they have decided to republish the original picture book edition of Amelia Bedelia for one and all to see.  Not an easy book, mind you, but a full picture book sized title with all the art reproduced full and some in-depth backmatter at the end.  And you know I love me some backmatter.  I guess the success of the young Amelia Bedelia picture book series gave the idea the extra push it needed.  In any case, look for this soon.

Speaking of the younger version of AB (Amelia Bedelia), the new title coming out in the spring with be Amelia Bedelia’s First Library Card.  Otherwise known as the picture book hundreds of children’s librarians will be using for first-time library users visiting their branches.  In a new twist, they’ve also noticed that those early chapter book Fancy Nancy books have been doing rather nicely.  As a result, you can expect some early chapter books of young AB as well.  It makes me think that if these also sell a whole world of possibilities opens up.  What if they did longer Nate the Great or Cam Jansen books?  What if they made an Amelia Bedelia middle grade novel?  Or teen!  Lord knows I’d pay good money for an Amelia Bedelia supernatural romance novel.  A penny to anyone who gives me a serviceable plot to go with it.

Shadow boxes.  There is nothing cooler on this globe than shadow boxes.  I’m sure there are art students in colleges across the country that would agree.  Yet for the most part you don’t see them used in children’s books all that often.  Sometimes here and there, but it’s not consistent.  In Stardines Swim High Across the Sky we definitely see some in action.  A kind of follow up to Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Carin Berger, this is yet another wordplay rich book of poems by Mr. P.  The particular draw, however, is how Ms. Berger chose to do the art.  But why describe the style when I can simply show you?

Caldecotty!  Best of all, you’ll get to see a display of this art at ALA in Chicago this coming June.

This next book is a bit of a riddle: How do you resist a tiptoeing bear?  Answer: Why bother?  Anything big that tries to be small and quiet is instant picture book gold.  In Tiptoe Joe by Ginger Foglesong Gibson (illustrated by Laura Rankin) a bear in sneakers highs himself hence on sneaky sneakered feet.  The book’s  a simple cumulative tale with readaloud potential.  Put it on your preschool readaloud radar then.

Harper Collins is the publisher that seeks out self-published authors of picture books more often than other publishers I’ve seen.  And since old Pete the Cat has paid off very very well for them indeed (catchy songs are ALWAYS a plus) it seems natural that they’d take everything a step further and look into self-published apps/ebooks that convert to the picture book format.  That apparently is the case with Axel the Truck: Beach Race by J.D. Riley, and illustrated by MY illustrator Brandon Dorman.  What’s interesting about this book is the fact that it’s more of an easy book than anything else.  Perhaps the first self-published app turned easy book out there.  Interesting.

All I will do for Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes is write down some of the descriptive direct quotes the editors tossed about when describing the easy book.  Ahem.

“The great American novel in I Can Read form.”

“Gut-wrenching.”

There you have it, folks.  Need more be said?

Now it’s cover art comparison time!!!

Of the two I think I prefer Jeff Baron’s upcoming I Represent Sean Rosen.  And not just because of the Christoph Neimann art either.  The kid just seems more appealing.  Basically, this is just your average story about a kid hitting it big.  Like The Toothpaste Millionaire but without the business angle.  You see, Sean Rosen is a kid with a great idea, but he’s not gonna tell you what it is because clearly you’d steal it.  Whatever it is, it’ll change the entertainment industry.  Sean decides to sell the idea to Hollywood instead but runs into the problem of not having an agent.  The solution?  Meet fake agent Dan Welsh (one trip to the fridge will tell you where Sean got that name).  Author Baron’s a playwright himself, so he’s been working up some “podcasts” of Sean’s.  Podcasts/YouTube videos.  Here’s the first.

Anna Was Here by Jane Kurtz is a PK middle grade novel.  Those of you in the know will be aware that PK = Preacher’s Kid.  And frankly, I don’t see a lot of those.  We see a lot more army brats in a given year than preacher kids.  Wonder why that is?  In this case, the story is about Anna’s move from Colorado to Kansas (I was this close to writing Cansas).  Even more interesting is the fact that the book discusses without fanfare a family where the Bible is just a regular part of the day to day.  Apparently not in a strident way or anything either.  Just a way of life.  We’ll check it out.

New series, new series!  Now this preview happened pre-Sandy, but you just know that had it happened afterwards this next book would have had an evident tie-in.  The Lightning Catcher by Anne Cameron (all similarities to The Lightning Thief title-wise or the lightning bolt letters on all the American Harry Potter book jackets are strictly coincidental, you betcha, uh-huh, uh-huh) is the first in a four book series.  In this debut young Angus is whisked to The Exploritorium for Violent Storms.  Turns out his parents are two of the world’s greatest living lightning catchers, keeping the world safe from wild weather.  When the parents are kidnapped, that’s when the rubber meets the road.  It follows in a definite trend of weather-related middle grade novels like Eye of the Storm by Kate Messner and The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith, but to name but a few.

I’ll be eschewing most of the YA stuff today, as per usual, but I will say that I’m thrilled to see the eleventh book in The Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney is due to come out.  Slither is the first book in the series to be told from the p.o.v. of one of the creatures.  Fans will be happy to hear that Rimalkin is in it but sad to hear that Tom is not.  FYI: The movie is definitely slated to come out in October of 2013!  It’s called Seventh Son and will star folks like Julianne Moore (Mother Malkin!), Jeff Bridges (when he isn’t working on The Giver, apparently), and Ben Barnes a.k.a. Hot Prince Caspian as Tom Ward.

DING!

That’s enough from Table Four.  Onward to Table Five with big time folks like Barbara Lalicki, Rosemary Brosnan, Tara Weikum, and Erica Sussman.  I see that at this point in my notes I’ve turn philosophical, writing stuff like “In many ways previews break down to a variety of people telling you all kinds of stories.”  Oh aye?

First up, the book Adam Rex was tweeting about long ago when it was first arranged.  His first collaboration with Neil Gaiman.  Chu’s Day follows a sneezy little panda and the havoc he creates thanks to an itchy nose and distracted parental units.  Apparently it was inspired by a trip to China, and indeed if you see an F&G or final copy of this book you will encounter a jacket photo of Gaiman with a panda on his lap.  Rex, insofar as I can tell, has never done pandas much before.  But back in early 2011 he did a series of posts where he drew different types of pandas (seen here and here and here and here).  Now you know why.

You can read the real reason Gaiman wrote the book here (long story short, he’s trying to get printed in mainland China for once). And there is, naturally, a book trailer.  As Rex says of it, “Fun fact–Gaiman wasn’t available to make this video, so I played him wearing a Neilsuit a la the British ‘pantomime’ tradition.”

I’m sure the process was very much like the old Black Books skit.  Dylan Moran even looks like Gaiman (though Rex, happily, has few similarities to Manny).

You know, go to enough of these previews and you begin to get a sense of which editors you really trust.  The ones that crank out books you can’t get enough of.  Rosemary Brosnan fits that category.  Often I’ll compliment someone at HC for a book and then find it’s one of hers.  You may know her best from editing Rita Williams-Garcia’s marvelous, miraculous One Crazy Summer.  Well, hold onto your hats, ladies and gentlemen.  The sequel, P.S. Be Eleven, is due out this May.  As Rosemary said, she can’t stop smiling about it.  And, she pointed out, she signed Rita up for it long before the first book won those four shiny shiny medals that now grace its cover.  Kudos to Ms. Rita, it’s more than a little daunting to follow-up any book that got as much attention as her first did with a sequel of any type.  In this book anyway Delphine is tall, dad is betrothed, there are crushes, Panthers, and a 6th Grade dance.  The jacket, as you can see, matches the art of the paperback edition of the first book.  And yes, folks.  Number three is in the works.

You’ve gotta kind of respect a middle grade novel that begins with the heroines convinced that they’ve just watched their guidance counselor killing someone only to find that she was merely making pickled beets.  Sophie and Grace have their own spy club in The Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittshcer but beets or no beets there is indeed something sinister going on.  The sequel is already slated with the title Tiara on the Terrace.

Here’s some more exciting reissue news, particular for those of you looking to get some summer reading paperbacks on your shelves.  All the Ramona Quimby books are about to be repackaged with interior and exterior art by one Jacqueline Rogers.  Eight titles in all, they’re coming out simultaneously in hardcover and paperback just in time for Ms. Cleary’s 97th birthday.  And if these catch on they may do the same with other Cleary titles too.  An excellent idea.  High time we had some new art.

I was surprisingly taken with Ms. Tui T. Sutherland’s novel this year.  I don’t know if you read Ms. Sutherland’s Wings of Fire which Scholastic put out, but for a talking dragon novel it wasn’t too shabby.  Now she’s got a book out with HC called The Menagerie which she wrote with one Kari Sutherland.  In it a boy moves a small Iowa town and, once there, finds a griffin cub under his bed.  Turns out there’s a magical menagerie in the town, and the boy must find the other griffins and uncover a big time mystery.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai will indeed be out in paperback this January (I’ve already ordered my copies) and as we speak she is working on a second book.  Meanwhile Molly Moon and the Monster Music, the sixth and final Moon title, by Georgia Byng is out this March, and should be well-timed with that MM movie in the works.

DING!

Now a flip around and a walk to Table 1.  Here we have the good mistress Alessandra Balzer and sweet mistress Donna Bray.  And Jordan Brown, of course.  He’s not mistress of anything.

Mo Willems is back, baby!  Not that he really went away but while his Elephant & Piggie books have been consistently primo, his picture books have merely been amusing.  All that may change with the publication of That is NOT a Good Idea! In it, Willems stretches himself a little further.  Becomes a bit more subversive and strange, but in a thoroughly good way.  Channeling himself some Hilaire Belloc we have a silent film inspired presentation.  Fox (or is it a wolf?) meets chicken.  Chicken meets fox/wolf.  Romance and possibly dinner (eek!) ensue.  And all the while you’ve this steadily increasing Greek Chorus of chicks pooh-poohing the characters’ decisions.  I’m thinking big time readaloud potential on this one.  Can’t wait to see the final product.

Bob Shea returns as well with Cheetah Can’t Lose.  In it an overly self-confident, not to mention obnoxious, cheetah finds himself at odds when he crosses two adorable little kittens.  Hilarity, not to mention Shea’s copyright customary sympathy for bullied bullies, ensues.

Just the other day I went and reviewed one Michelle Markel’s remarkable picture book bio called The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau.  Well the woman is keeping busy, now coming out with Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909.  Aside from the cool nonfiction picture book subject matter (Yiddish Clara went on to lead the longest walkout of women workers in American history) the illustrations are by none other than Melissa Sweet.  And Ms. Sweet, aside from winning a Caldecott Honor for A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams, won a Sibert last year for the fantastic Balloons Over Broadway.  In this book she’s worked in time cards and sewing into her art.  I can’t help but wonder if with the rise in interest in strikes (the folks in Wisconsin and Chicago come to mind) we’ll be seeing more of these union-centric titles in the coming years.  It just makes sense.

“This is our Core toe book, I like to say.”  As a mom of a toddler I admit that I now view with great interest any and all picture books that adapt nursery rhymes and simple songs into a written and illustrated format.  And quite frankly This Little Piggy by Tim Harrington fits the bill.  It starts with the usual five and their mildly disturbing desire for things like road beef and then goes onto the second foot as well.  Why on earth have I never heard of anyone doing that before?  The other foot!  It’s obvious when you say it.  By the way, as more toes get involved they seem to have a lot more occupations to work with.  In some cases they’re selling hotdogs (what IS it with the meat and these hungry piggies?).  And in the vein of the aforementioned Pete the Cat there will be an accompanying song with this online.  Clever piggies.  Of course, I should probably mention that Tim Harrington is the lead singer of Les Savy Fav and you can see what he looks like here.  Sort of a pseudo-celebrity.  I tell ya, man.  Eventually everyone comes to my world.  Eventually.

“Little Women with wings featuring Tinkerbell’s little sister.”  I keep beginning these write-ups with quotes but c’mon.  Can you blame me?  And I admit that though I love Julia Denos (the illustrator on these books) I wasn’t really sold until I saw the author.  The new Fairy Bell Sisters series may be more of the fairy same, but the author is Margaret McNamara a.k.a. former Harper Collins editor Brenda Bowen.  Donna Bray then whipped out her history chops by quoting the great long dead editor Ursula Nordstrom.  “If I can resist a book, I resist it.”  Ooo.  Well played, madam.  Ratchet it all up another notch and we were told that these books echo classics and act as gateway drugs to books like The Secret Garden and Little Woman AND they’re great readalouds to boot.  Geez o’ petes.  If you’re gonna sell librarians on a new fairy series, you may as well pull out all the stops, eh?

Jarrett Krosoczka is convinced that this little blog o’ mine (I’m gonna let it shine) was the first place to debut the cover of his upcoming Platypus Police Squad series opener The Frog Who Croaked.  I told him I just lifted it wholesale from Barnes & Nobles.  Okay, so there are a lot of reasons to love what’s going on here.  I think it’s fair to say that you guys are just as sick of the nursery rhymes-meet-noir detective novel style books as I am.  Sometimes I feel like we see one a year.  There’s just too much faux noir out there.  I’m sick of it.  But buddy cop children’s books?  Dude . . . I can’t think of any.  So it is that we get “Frog and Tad meets Law & Order” (I usually leave all the “meets” until the end of this post, but this one I could resist including here).  In his first full-length novel Krosoczka presents a heavily illustrated tale of a hotshot rookie and a grizzled old timer as they fight crime.  Said his editors, “It marries his love of buddy cop films with his love of platypuses”.  Sold.  There will be four books in the series altogether and please note that the hotshot rookie on the cover is pulling a boomerang out of his black leather jacket.  Suh-weet.

My notes at this point read “Jenny Lee – writes for Shake It Up”.  But I don’t know what that means so I Google it.  Ah ha.  Shake It Up.  A television series that has so far run from 2010 to 2012 on the Disney Channel and is about the following: “Two Chicago teens attempt to realize their dream of becoming professional dancers by landing spots on a popular local show.”  Gotcha.  Well, in any case we see a couple television writers crossing over to make children’s books but they tend to write for adult fare like The Daily Show.  Elvis and the Underdogs was sold as marrying literary quality with fun.  Fair enough.  Benji, our hero, is a sickly kid whose best friend is a male nurse.  Naturally, he’s bullied quite a bit and in the course of things gets himself a therapy dog.  A 200-pound Newfoundland of a therapy dog named Elvis with the personality of Fraiser Crane (he was supposed to go to the President of the United States, thank you very much).  So there’s that and a mystery as well.  Oh, and the dog talks.  I think you had me at Fraiser Crane, anyway, though.

As titles go, my favorite this season (from Harper Collins anyway since I still think Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made is mildly brilliant) has gotta be The Girl from Felony Bay.  Now THAT gets a person’s attention!  Written by J.E. Thompson and set in rural South Carolina (so hand it to fans of Three Times Lucky) the book was described as “Carl Hiaasen rummaging through Margaret Mitchell’s closet”.  In this book a dad is framed so our heroine and her buddy have to go through some serious Southern heritage to clear his name.

Editor Jordan Brown could sell you flaming cheese in Hell.  The man is just that good.  So good, in fact, that I have to put my guard up when he starts talking because otherwise this preview will turn from a sane and sober What’s Coming Out Next Year into a wild free-for-all encapsulation of Jordan Brown’s Greatest Hits.  In this particular case we hit upon Kevin Emerson (The Lost Code)’s The Fellowship for Alien Detection.  As Brown tells it, this middle grade novel is sci-fi for non-sci-fi readers.  In this book two kids travel about with some folks who investigate possible alien sightings.  Brown called it a Men in Black type book that will please many a Joss Whedon fan.

With The Laura Line I am very pleased to see the return of Crystal Allen.  Her debut with How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba Sized Trophy was an excellent middle grade a year or two ago (I recall reading it on a plane and having a flight attendant grill me about what it was about).  Allen is one of the very few authors out there writing about contemporary middle grade African-American kids.  In this particular book our overweight protagonist is convinced that she is about to be humiliated.  Her teacher has just organized a field trip to the slave shack that sits on her property.  I don’t know much more about it, but you can bet that this will be one of the first books I read for next year when I get my hands on it.

Sidekicked by John David Anderson was described as “A mash-up of what you’d get if you asked Louis Sachar to write an Avengers novel.”  Which, naturally I now want to do.  In lieu of that plan, this book is about a kid who develops super powers but ends up being super sensitive as a result.  It’s a clever idea.  We’ll see how the final product tackles this not-often-seen metaphor.

There would be lots of ways to sell Director Chris Columbus as a co-author on a book like House of Secrets.  The smartest way for this particular book?  Goonies.  Yeah, break out the Goonies connection (he wrote the screenplay) because secretly that’s what every children’s librarian secretly wishes they could find in a book.  Alongside co-writer Ned Vizzini (no stranger to the movie world himself what with his It’s Kind of a Funny Story hitting the big screen a year or so ago) House of Secrets is the first of a three book series that promises a new installment every spring.  It follows the Walker family and its three kids consisting of an eldest boy and two younger girls.  Sorta like The Emerald Atlas, I guess.  When their surgeon dad moves them into a creepy house in San Francisco, they discover that they are part of a secret legacy.  Add in some giants, witches and skeleton pirates and you have, what they were calling, “An American Cornelia Funke”.

Finally, one of the cleverest sequel titles I’ve seen.  Did you like The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom?  Me too.  I just keep meaning to review that puppy.  Well, hopefully I’ll be able to do so before I read The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle, due out in April.  Can I just praise that title a little more?  I mean, how smart is it to reference The Princess Bride like that?  Very smart.  The book series would certainly be enjoyed by Princess Bride fans, that’s for certain, so by invoking the name you do yourself many favors.  Plus, from what I can tell the cover sports all four princes.  I remember the kids really were upset that only two princes made the front cover of the first book with the other two princes on the back.  This time, all four.  Awesome.

DING!

Next table, Table #2.  With the honorable Katherine Tegen, Maria Modugno and Molly O’Neill presiding.

First up.

Yep.  All I really need to say about that.  It’s Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson and editor Katherine Tegen had the idea for the book four years ago when it was Mandela’s 90th birthday.  Now it’ll be out in time for his 95th.  Considering that he and the aforementioned Beverly Cleary are both celebrating their 90-something birthdays with HC books, those crazy kids should have a joint birthday party.  (Now imagining what the guest list for a Beverly Cleary/Nelson Mandela birthday party might consist of.)

Katheryn Fitzmaurice returns with the middle grade novel Destiny, Rewritten.  In it, a girl named after Emily Dickinson hides a secret desire.  Though her mom would love her to be a poet, what she REALLY wants to do is become a romance novelist.  Um . . . that is awesome.  She then goes in pursuit of a lost book and finds ways to stand up for herself.  The book is set during Poetry Month, which is clever, and includes a series of one-sided letters written by Emily to Danielle Steele.  The good Harper Collins folks did send a copy to Ms. Steele to let her know about this book but as of this preview had not heard back.  Pity.  It’d be a helluva blurb.

Big news here!  At long last the Septimus Heap saga is reaching its end in a grand finale with Fyre!  Every single character of significance will make an appearance in this last book, clocking in at 544 pages if Amazon is to be believed, 750 pages if the preview is.  Can’t say which one is true, but it’ll be complete, you can bet on that!

New illustrator alert!  When shopping for a new artist of picture books, it can be a good idea to hand them a classic text and see what they do with it.  So when newbie Mike Austin was given The Color Kittens by Margaret Wise Brown, the results were a fresh new approach.  Now he does a helluva monster.  Now you probably already know Mike from over at Blue Apple Books where he’s done work on A Present for Milo and other stuff.  Monsters Love Colors is his first Harper Collins title.  One has to wonder if there will be an app for it as well someday.  Who knows?

If you think 123 Versus ABC looks very Adam Rex you’re not alone.  As far as I can tell, that’s a good thing.  We need more Rexian art out there.  Plus, let’s face it, this is a remarkably good idea for a children’s book.  Written and illustrated by Mike Boldt, this eyebrow-rific title shows what happens when numbers go to war with letters.  “They’re refrigerator magnets come to life.”  Note to self: Buy refrigerator magnets for child.  Those things are awesome.

See, the thing about Fancy Nancy is that she’s ain’t half bad.  As a librarian you always have this instinctual gut-reaction when you see one of her books.  Your innards want to say they’re just cheap pinkness meant to lure in unsuspecting little girls.  But the doggone things have substance, and that kills me.  They are written well and the art is lovely each and every time (at least, if it’s Robin Preiss Glasser actually doing it).  The newest FN title is Fancy Nancy: Fanciest Doll in the Universe.  When Nancy’s younger sister puts a permanent ink tattoo on her fancy doll’s previously fancy tummy it is not a happy household.  Yet when the time comes for Nancy to pick her doll out of an identical line-up, guess who doesn’t have any difficulty?  Sounds like it would make a perfect companion to Barbara McClintock’s Dahlia.  Love that book.  There is also a new addition to the Fancy Nancy early chapter book series, Nancy Clancy, Secret Admirer.

DING!

One final table to go and it sports Anne Hoppe and Phoebe Yeh.

Now first and foremost, here’s a book that I could have easily have passed over had I but thought it was that most unfortunate of literary genres, the eco-thriller.  Something about the very term screams “didacticism” to me.  Fortunately, Jinx by Sage Blackwood has been read by a couple folks I trust and though you could conceivably slap that moniker on it, it’s so much more.  The first in a trilogy, the book is recommended to fans of Angie Sage, though Anne said the writing adhered more to Diana Wynne Jones.  She also said it had “The best first chapter of anything I’ve published.”  All I care is that it sounds like a good companion to The Mostly True Story of Jack, has a villain called The Bonemaster, and contains were-chipmunks.  Honest-to-god were-chipmunks.  Love.

From the author who brought you The Princess Curse a year or two ago comes Merrie Haskell’s next standalone middle grade title Handbook for Dragon Slayers.  According to her editors, Haskell’s strength lies in her ability to conjure up complex girls coming of age and determining what their role in society will be.  Noted.

At this point Phoebe Yeh mentioned that 2012 was a hard year for great authors.  We lost two, Maurice Sendak and Jean Craighead George, almost simultaneously.  As such, we’re seeing some of their books coming back into print where once they were gone from our shelves.  In terms of Maurice two books of his are due this spring.  One is a reprint and one a new title never seen before.  The older book is the Caldecott Honor winner The Moon Jumpers.  Apparently the art for this was still available so they re-separated it and reshot it to get the full effects.  Sendak even signed off on the proofs before his death.

The other title is Sendak’s last book (or perhaps penultimate if that nose book ever comes out from Scholastic) and one of his most personal.  Called My Brother’s Book, it focuses on Sendak’s older and much beloved brother.  Tapping into the man’s deep and abiding love of Blake, this is being marketed as an adult title but is recommended to those high school teachers who do work with Shakespeare as well.  There are, I should note, more than a few Shakespearean references inside.

The Jean Craighead George book is a new picture book by the name of A Special Gift for Grammy.  George was apparently in the middle of two picture books when she died.

Next up, one of the best pushed and marketed books I’ve seen in a while.  When KidLitCon was held at NYPL this year there was a moment when I saw a young man really talking up and pushing copies of this next title at my attendees.  I’m not certain if that young man was a Harper employee or author Eric Kahn Gale himself but whoever it was it got my attention.  Right off the bat we were told that this is a controversial little sucker because it’s a book that in the course of its story outlines how one goes about becoming the perfect bully.  In this tale a kid who is bullied decides to handle the situation on his own.  Told through both journal entries and the aforementioned bullying rules, the book taps into some serious black humor.  They mentioned Jack Gantos as a possible comparison.  Apparently Gale wrote the book after meeting with some of the bullies of his own youth only to find they’d grown up to become nice and decent people.  I like to call that The Facebook Effect.  It’s the moment when a person who made your life a misery in school Facebook friends you.  We talked about this a bit in a recent Children’s Literary Salon at NYPL.  Good stuff.  In any case they’re going all out for this book, giving it a 3/4 jacket (something they haven’t done for a title since Walter Dean Myers and Monster).

Next up, a guy who was in the same screenwriting program at Columbia as my husband.  I don’t know Mr. Soman Chainani myself but Matt tells me that he was a very nice guy and did often speak about this book of his being published with Harper.  The School for Good and Evil sounds like nothing so much as Wicked with a twist (and less Oz).  Two best friends are kidnapped and sent to different schools.  One is a school for evil and the other for good.  Thing is, they sort of get the wrong schools.  At least that’s what I gathered from the cover.  Still a little unclear but it looks fun.

Next up, a book that will make for an excellent nonfiction companion to Simon & Schuster’s Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle.  Alex Ko: From Iowa to Broadway, My Billy Elliot Story is one of those stand up and cheer books, but good for kids with Broadway dreams.  Raised in Iowa with a dad that didn’t want him to have a life on the stage (then died of cancer), Alex had his chance to live his dream thanks to older siblings who were willing to do extra jobs to help him out.  And as luck would have it he really did have a chance to become Billy Elliot on Broadway.  Then, on the first night of his performance, he hurt himself and needed therapy to recover.  Happily he returned and all was well and these days he performs with the New York City Ballet.

Here’s a tip to publishers: Want me to want a book instantly?  Do as How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids by Thomas C. Foster did.  All you need to do really is get Kate Beaton, the woman behind the wonderful Hark, A Vagrant webcomic, to do the jacket.  I will buy anything she touches.  Seriously.  Love love love love this.

I eventually got almost all the references, even the Lord of the Flies one, but the lion still stumps me a little. Suggestions on that one are welcome.  Best I could come up with was Pyramus and Thisbe.

Not entirely certain how a Zits illustrated novel by syndicated cartoonist Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman could be YA (they’re suggesting ages 13 and up?!?).  Pity since if it were middle grade (like the actual comic strip) you could add it to the trend of syndicated cartoonists writing books for kids in 2012 (The Odd Squad and Timmy Failure respectively).  Maybe there’s some sex and stuff in it?  The mind boggles.

That, as they say, is it.  Except . . . .

On with the Meets!!!

Best Meets

“The Natural History Museum meets Tim Burton” – Not sure if someone said this or I made it up myself (I suspect the former) but that’s a description of Carin Berger’s work on Stardines Swim High Across the Sky by Jack Prelutsky

“Storm Chasers meets The Mysterious Benedict Society” – The Lightning Catcher by Anne Cameron

“The Artist meets Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” – That Is NOT a Good Idea! by Mo Willems

“Life is Beautiful meets The Walking Dead” – That’s actually my description of it, but I don’t think I’m too far off.  That’s for The End Games by T. Michael Martin

“13 Reasons Why meets Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” – Wild Awake by Hilary Smith

“Ender’s Game meets Hogwarts in space” – Vortex by S.J. Kincaid

“Roald Dahl meets Lemony Snicket meets Gregory Maguire” – The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Press Release Fun: 826NYC Auction

*sigh*

I’d really prefer to keep this a secret, but it’s for a good cause and you guys are sweet.

There’s currently an auction for entirely worthy 826NYC (“826NYC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write”).  What kind of auction, you say?  Oh, I dunno.  Could be an auction of some of the world’s finest working children’s illustrators today going for cheap cheap cheap cheap.  I mean, as I write this there’s an honest-to-god Lane Smith going for $100.  Did you like this year’s Creepy Carrots?  How about an original sketch from the book for $150?  Mo Willems art for $100!  Oh, I can’t say any more.  It’ll just depress me.  If I had my way I’d buy up all this stuff myself.  Some of these pieces are done in three or four days, so best you put in your own two cents now.  Here’s a sampling of what I’m talking about:

Brian Floca

Tony DiTerlizzi

Adam Rex

Press Release Fun: The 23rd Annual Illustration Exhibit (R. Michelson Galleries)

Seems unfair that folks within the vicinity of the R. Michelson Galleries should also have access to his yearly exhibit as well.  Them’s the breaks.  Some folks have all the luck.  Check out the 23 reasons to go too.  Very fun.

Celebrate with us! Twenty-three years of exhibiting the finest in original Children’s Book Art. Our artists have garnered an astounding 12 Caldecott Medals and 29 Caldecott Honor Awards.

Opening  reception on Sunday, November 11, 4 – 6 pm. Ceremony and entertainment begins at 5 pm.

23 reasons to come to our 23rd Annual Illustration Exhibit

Because you missed last year’s party and all your friends have told you what a great time they had.
Because you were at last year’s party and met more than 50 of the illustrators and writers behind your favorite children’s books.
Because 36 years ago Marc Brown created Arthur, the Aardvark and Richard Michelson opened his first gallery. Because R. Michelson Galleries has gone on to become America’s premier source for Illustration Art and Arthur has sold more than 65 million books in the United States alone. Because R. Michelson Galleries and Marc Brown have finally teamed to exhibit artwork from these recent books: Ten Tiny Toes, Wild About You, ZooZical.
Because Barbara McClintock has a new book/CD out with singer Natalie Merchant and we will be exhibiting the original artwork.
Because Jon J. Muth has a new book/CD out with Bob Dylan and we will be exhibiting the original artwork.
Because it is only a short 8 mile drive to our good friends at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art who will be celebrating their 10th anniversary earlier in the day.
[image error]Because Mo Willems has 3 new best-selling, chart-topping books - Goldilocks and the 3 Dinosaurs, Don’t Let the Pigeon Finish the Activity Book and Elephant & Piggie Let’s Go For a Drive and he will be signing copies and talking about his original art.
Because Norton Juster will be presenting Anita Silvey with the 50th annual Norton Juster Award for service to the world of Children’s Literature (which she more than deserves!), presented by Reader to Reader.
Because Kate Feiffer and Jules Feiffer have teamed up again for No Go Sleep, and the illustrations are not to be missed.
Because there will be a rare opportunity to view and purchase original artwork by Eric Carle, Maurice Sendak, Alice Provensen, Ezra Jack Keats and Tomie dePaola.
Because we represent the Estate of Dr. Seuss.
Because Tony DiTerlizzi is drawing a series of faeries especially for this exhibition.
Because E.B. Lewis will be serving up Tea Cakes for Tosh and because November is the perfect time to see  G. Brian Karas’ Lemonade in Winter.
Because Kadir Nelson, who can do anything, has some amazing collages on view.
Because Barry Moser was our very first artist exhibited (1979), and it is the 30th anniversary of his National Book Award winning edition of Alice in Wonderland, which will be on exhibit for the first time in 30 years.
Because Rebecca Guay will preview work from her one woman exhibit coming up at our gallery in 2013 and because Jane Yolen will sign her 200th+ book for you.
Because Scott Fischer’s Lottie Paris: The Best Place has just published and because the hardest working man in book biz, Jarrett J. Krosoczka will be here and somehow everywhere else around the country at the same time…
Because National Book Award winning Jeanne Birdsall and every – award winning Jane Dyer might bring along their dogs,  now starring in their own  picture book Lucky and Squash,  and because Charlie the Ranch Dog is back with a new adventure illustrated by Diane DeGroat and written by NY Times gazillion selling author Ree Drummond.
Because Mordicai Gerstein has agreed to allow us to exhibit work from his Caldecott winning Man Who Walked Between Towers and because Chris Raschka won his 2nd Caldecott last year, and we will have original art from his latest books and  because if you come to the opening reception you’ll meet Nonny Hogrogian and David Kherdian — a Caldecott (her)/Newbery (him) couple.
Because Wendell Minor illustrated Jean Craighead George’s final picture book The Eagles are Back and though it won’t be available till next year, we’ll have a sneak preview.  And because Ruth Sanderson will be here with her lovely Rose Red and Snow White...
Because Raul Colón collaborated with vice president Joe Biden’s wife Jill in a picture book tribute to our servicemen and women, and you owe it to yourself to see the artwork. And because Neil Waldman will be back with artwork from The Wind that Wanted to Rest.
Because we will be exhibiting the 2012 SCBWI New England Conference (if you haven’t joined SCBWI — you should!) R. Michelson Galleries’ Emerging Artist Award winning illustration by Russ Cox.

And finally, we almost forgot (but not really)

23.  Because Eric Velasquez and Richard Michelson collaborated on Twice as Good, which was just awarded a National Parenting Association Gold Medal, and which has a cover blurb by President Obama (who has not yet sent in his RSVP, but you never know!).

Plus we’ll  have  surprise guests and more…

The Eric Carle Museum will be on hand with books for your favorite authors and illustrators to sign (please — no books brought in — buy your books here and help support the Carle Museum).

Any one of these reasons should be reason enough to come, but 23 reasons together means you have no excuse not to be here.

The exhibit will be on view from November 11 until January 15.

Fusenews: Post-Sandy Edition

As I write this I don’t know what the election results are and I shall refuse to think about them all the livelong day.  Lalalalalala!  No images today, by the way.  I apparently hit my limit and need to beg SLJ for a little more space.  I’m good for it!  Honest!

So there’s lots of post-Sandy news and ways that you can help the libraries that got hit hard in the gut this past week.  First let’s start with something (relatively) cheery.  PW did a great series of interviews with folks in the publishing industry hit by Sandy.  There you can read how Lois Lowry and Laura Vaccaro Seeger dodged death (fairly literally) and why folks like Eric Berlin and Rebecca Stead are being namechecked in Hoboken.  They also did a piece on how folks like Kate Messner (with Kid Lit Cares) and Urban Librarians Unite have been coming together to collect books and money for hard hit systems.  Author/illustrator Peter Brown alerted me to this fantastic and continually updated list of what the various shelters and organizations in the community need desperately at this time.  Meanwhile I wanted to help out Hoboken in some way but it’s still too soon to find out how.  In the meantime, there’s a good site dedicated to Rebuilding New Jersey’s Libraries for those of you who want to help.


There are some interesting posts ah-brewing over at the Forum of the American Journal of Education.  Steven Herb, a fellow who has served on more than a few committees during his time looks at Caldecott Awards and Honors past and present with some interesting insights. I never knew the beef folks had with Marcia Brown’s Shadow until now, but I definitely get the grumbles.  Then he goes on to answer all your questions about how the darn Caldecotts are given out anyway.  Thanks to Vic Sensenig for the links!


One request: When I die, could someone please write a catchy song using my name that sounds as fun as this one made for picture book author/illustrator Bill Peet by the kids at The Calhoun School?  It’s all I’ve ever wanted.  Honest.  Thanks to Karen Walsh for the link.


Suppose I should mention some of the serious news out there.  This broke just before the hurricane did but even strong winds couldn’t distract us from the fact that Penguin and Random House are set to become as one.  Naturally the response over the blogosphere is to come up with a name for this new company.  The Random Penguin House is the most repeated, so why don’t we just simplify things and just call it Odd Ice Floe instead?  Has a ring to it, it does.

You may have missed it, and you’d be forgiven if you had, but the New York Times Best Illustrated list of 2012 is out and boy is it a doozy!  The winners include:

Bear Despair written and illustrated by Gaëtan Dorémus (Enchanted Lion)


The Beetle Book written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Houghton)


House Held Up by Trees written by Ted Kooser; illustrated by Jon Klassen (Candlewick)


The Hueys in the New Sweater written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel)


Infinity and Me written by Kate Hosford; illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska (Carolrhoda)


Little Bird written by Germano Zullo; illustrated by Albertine (Enchanted Lion)


One Times Square: A Century of Change at the Crossroads of the World written and illustrated by Joe McKendry (Godine)


Red Knit Cap Girl written and illustrated by Naoko Stoop (Tingley/Little)


Stephen and the Beetle written by Jorge Luján; illustrated by Chiara Carrer (Groundwood)


Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad written and illustrated by Henry Cole (Scholastic)

I’ve read each and every last one of these and what strikes me is how international it is this year.  French, Irish, Japanese, Canadian, and more author/illustrators grace the list.  A special shout out to Claudia over at Enchanting Lion Books for getting two titles on there, but it’s just as nice to see little guys like Groundwood and Lerner having their day in the sun.  I haven’t reviewed a single one of these, but now I’m thinking maybe it would be a good idea.  Dunno.  They’re all rather . . . rather tasteful, wouldn’t you say?

Hobbit to star in the silver screen adaptation of Molly Moon.  Okay . . . that’s not exactly how they’re pitching it, but that’s how I see it.  We would also have accepted “Back-up Driveshaft guitarist” as a description as well.  Thanks to PW Children’s Bookshelf for the link.


Hey!  Travis Jonker over at 100 Scope Notes went and had a baby on us!  Well, congrats to you, Travis!  Little bugger is one good looking dude.  Woo-hoo!


You know how college kids are always creating elaborate, relatively clever pranks in their Senior years?  Well, when I attended Earlham College back in the day I walked into our cafeteria (called, like every other cafeteria in the nation, Saga) to find that someone had managed to paint a huge image on the ceiling .  We’re talking a good 40 feet off the ground, there were some beloved character’s from the school newspaper, Plato’s Republic, as penned by Alexis Fajardo.  They were reenacting Michelangelo’s God touching Adam’s finger moment.  It was beautiful.  Fast forward some 20 odd years later (doing the math . . . not quite right but close enough) and that same Alexis Fajardo has started a Kickstarter page for his graphic novel series Kid Beowulf.  Seems that his publisher up and died on him as he was producing the third volume, so he needs a bit of a kick.  Check out the site and see what you think.  I guarantee you won’t find another comic starring Beowulf and his twin brother Grendel having adventures.


Finally, the following notice was sent by author Kathi Appelt.  I met Laura myself, so I know how important this can be.  In lieu of a Daily Image today, please read the following:

Dear everyone–

I have a favor to ask.  A few years ago I met a remarkable young girl named Laura Rodgers. When she was in the second or third grade she made a decision to read all of the Newbery books, along with honor books.  When she was in the fifth grade, she started her own  mock Newbery blog:  http://lauramitolife.blogspot.com/

Now she’s in the seventh grade and she is really struggling.  Laura was born with mitochondrial disease and it appears to be taking a huge toll on her, effecting primarily her muscular functions.  It seems to be mimicking something like MS, and she is no longer able to walk or to use her hands for small motor things.  I’ve been in touch with her mom, Rylin, and it’s not looking good right now.

Since the one thing that Laura loves above all else is books, I asked her mom if she thought some autographed books would cheer her up, and her answer was unequivocal.  So, here I am, asking you all to consider sending Laura an autographed book or two with your John Henry’s.  I know it would mean the world to Laura.  Over the years, I’ve sent her as many picture books as novels, along with non-fiction and poetry.  She loves all of them.

If you’re like me, I’m always getting asked for free autographed books, and I give an awful lot of them away, mostly for auctions and prizes, and always for good causes.  But in this case, I know exactly who is receiving my books–someone who loves them, and needs them too.

If you have the inclination, please send copies to:

Laura Rodgers

4060 W 400 S

Lebanon IN 46052

And please also, send this message to any other author/illustrator pals you know. As I write this, it’s late and I know I’m missing people.  I think it would be great to bombard our young reader with a whole boatload of autographed books.  I’m not going to post this on facebook just because I don’t want it to get that out of control, but it would be great to send it to anyone you know personally, along with my gratitude.

Thanks so much,

Love, Kathi

Review of the Day: The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau by Michelle Markel

The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau

By Michelle Markel

Illustrated by Amanda Hall

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

$17.00

ISBN: 978-0-8028-5264-6

Ages 4-8

On shelves now

I’m not ashamed to say it, though perhaps I should be. Still, it’s true. Though I grew up in the middle class with a good education and a stint at a liberal arts college there are huge gaping gaps in my knowledge that have consistently been filled in over the years by children’s books. I know that I am not alone in this. When I worked in NYPL’s Central Children’s Room we had any number of regular adult patrons that would come in seeking children’s books on a variety of different topics so that they could learn about them in a non-threatening fashion. At its best a children’s book takes a complex subject and synthesizes it down to its most essential parts. Simple enough. But if you’re dealing with a picture book biography, it then has to turn a human life in a cohesive (child friendly) story. No mean feat. So when I saw this picture book bio of the artist Henri Rousseau I was immediately arrested by its art. Then I sort of came to realize that when it came to the man himself, I knew nothing. Next to nothing. I may never win a Jeopardy round or a game of Trivial Pursuit but thanks to great books like this one I may someday attain the education of a seven-year-old. There are worse fates in the world. These days, seven-year-olds get all the good stuff.

Your everyday average forty-year-old toll collector doesn’t usually drop everything to become a painter, yet that’s exactly what one did back in the 19th century. His name was Henri Rousseau and though he never took an art course in his life (art lessons aren’t exactly available on a toll collector’s budget) he does his research, looks at art, sits himself down, and begins to paint. He’s incredibly excited after his first big exhibition but his reviews say mostly “mean things” about his art. Still, he clips them, saves them, and continues to paint. Over the years he meets with very little success but is inspired by greenhouses and the lush topiary found inside. He can’t afford to ever see a jungle of his own so he makes them up. Finally, after decades and decades, the new young crop of artists takes note of his work. At last, he is celebrated and appreciated and his naïf style is seen for what it truly is; Simultaneously ahead of its time, and timeless.

As far as I can tell the picture book biography can go in a certain number of directions when it comes to its interior art. It can seek to emulate the original artist, mimicking their style with mixed results. Or it can eschew the original artist altogether and only show their paintings as images on walls or in the notes at the book’s end. Artist Amanda Hall takes a slightly different take with her art, inserting Mr. Rousseau into his own works. As she says at the end “Instead of my usual pencil crayon and watercolor technique, I used both watercolor and acrylics for the illustrations, as I wanted to get close to the feel of Rousseau’s own paintings. I decided to break the rules of scale and perspective to reflect his unusual way of seeing the world. For some of the illustrations I drew directly on his actual paintings, altering them playfully to help tell the story.” That right there might be the book’s difference. I think that for many of us, the joy of an Henri Rousseau painting lies not in the composition necessarily (though that is a plus) but the sheer feel of the piece. Rousseau’s jungle scenes do not look or feel like anyone else’s and Hall has done a stellar job capturing, if not the exact feel, then a winning replica of it for kids. The endpapers of this book are particularly telling. Open the cover and there you find all the usual suspects in a Rousseau landscape, each one creeping and peeking out at you from behind the ferns and oversized blossoms.

A poorly made picture book bio will lay out its pictures in a straightforward dull-as-dishwater manner never deviating or even attempting to inject so much as an artistic whim. The interesting thing about Hall’s take on Rousseau is that while, yes, she plays around with scale and perspective willy-nilly, she also injects a fair amount of whimsy. Not just the usual artist-flying-through-the-air-to-represent-his-mental-journey type of stuff either. There is a moment early on when a tiny Rousseau pulling a handcart approaches gargantuan figures that look down upon him with a mixture of pop-eyed surprise and, in some cases, anger. Amongst them, wearing the coat and tails of gentlemen, are two dogs and one gorilla. Later Hall indicates the passing of the years by featuring three portraits of Rousseau, hair growing grey, beard cut down to a jaunty mustache. On the opposite page three critics perch on mountains, smirking behind their hands or just gaping in general. It’s the weirdness that sets this book apart and makes it better than much of its ilk. It’s refreshing to encounter a bio that isn’t afraid to make things odd if it has to. And for some reason that I just can’t define . . . it definitely has to.

But to get back a bit to the types of bios out there for kids, as I mentioned before Hall inserts Rousseau directly into his own painting when we look at his life. Done poorly this would give the impression that he actually did live in jungles or traipse about with lions, and I’m sure there will be the occasional young reader who will need some clarification on that point. But in terms of teaching the book, Hall has handed teachers a marvelous tool. You could spend quite a lot of time flipping between the paintings here and the ones Rousseau actually created. Kids could spot the differences, the similarities, and get a good sense of how one inspired the other. Near the end of the book Hall also slips in a number of cameos from contemporary artists, and even goes so far as to include a key identifying those individuals on the last few pages. Imagine how rich an artistic unit would be if a teacher were to take that key and pair it with the author bios of THOSE people as well. For Gertrude Stein just pull out Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude by Jonah Winter. Pablo Picasso? A quick look at The Boy Who Bit Picasso by Antony Penrose. Lucky kids.

Just as the art of a picture book biography can go any number of directions, the storytelling is in the same boat. You want to tell the life of a man. Fair enough. Do you encompass everything from birth to death, marking dates and important places along the way? Do you synthesize that life down to a single moment and then use your Author’s Note at the end to tell why that person is important at all (many is the Author’s Note forced to do the heavy lifting). Or do you just zero in on what it is that made that person famous in the first place and look at how they struggled with their gift? Author Michelle Markel opts for the latter. A former journalist, Markel first cut her teeth on the author bio with her lovely Dreamer from the Village: The Story of Marc Chagall. Finding that these stories of outsider artists appealed to her, the move to Rousseau was a natural one. One that focuses on the man’s attempts to become an artist in the face of constant, near unending critical distaste. Markel’s gift here is that she is telling the story of someone overcoming the odds (to a certain extent . . . I mean he still died a pauper an all) in the face of folks telling him what he could or couldn’t do. It’s inspirational but on a very gentle scale. You’re not being forced to hear a sermon on the joys of stick-to-itativeness. She lands the ending too, effortlessly transitioning from his first successful debut at an exhibition to how he is remembered today.

I remember having to learn about artists and composers in elementary school and how strange and dull they all seemed. Just a list of dead white men that didn’t have anything to do with my life or me. The best picture book bios seek to correct that old method of teaching. To make their subjects not merely “come alive” as the saying goes but turn into flesh and blood people. You learn best about a person when that person isn’t perfect, has troubles, and yet has some spark, some inescapable something about them that attracts notice. A combination of smart writing and smarter art is ideal, particularly when you’re dealing with picture book biographies. And The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau is nothing if not smart. It typifies the kind of bios I hope we see more of in the future. And, with any luck, it will help to create the kinds of people I’d like to see more of in the future. People like Henri Rousseau. Whatta fella. Whatta book.

On shelves now.

Source: Final copy sent from publisher for review.

Like This? Then Try:

It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw by Don Tate


I Am Marc Chagall by Bimba Landmann


A Weekend with Rousseau by Gilles Plazy

Other Blog Reviews:

Jean Little Library
Books Together
The Nonfiction Detectives
Shelf-employed
Waking Brain Cells
Bookshelf: What We’re Reading

Professional Reviews: Kirkus

Interviews: With Michelle Markel at I.N.K. (Interesting Nonfiction for Kids)

Misc: Read what Ms. Markel has to say about the book herself when she writes the guest post at Cynsations.

Videos:

A nice little book trailer exists as well.

There’s even a director’s cut.