What Did You Get From the LIBRARY?

[Josiah]

I have the feeling that Wonder by R.J. Palacio will be a good one. I think it's going to end up getting something from the Newbery Committee in January 2013, either an Honor or the coveted Medal itself.

[Adriana]

I wouldn't be surprised either. Isn't it already up for something?

[Josiah]

It probably has been nominated already for several awards and spotlight lists, but there are so many different honors that I'm not usually aware of which books have been nominated until after the winners have been announced.

[Adriana]

That makes sense. I looked it up and it hasn't won anything that I can find but it's up for something. Nothing as common as a Newbery or anything like that.

[Josiah]

I just checked out The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima and Ghosts!: Ghostly Tales From Folklore by Alvin Schwartz a few hours ago. I had been reading my sister's paperback copy of The Warrior Heir, but I needed to eventually take out the library book anyway if I'm going to bring it to be signed next Tuesday, so I figured I'd check it out today.

[Adriana]

I love how your sister likes to read too.

[Josiah]

Oh, yes. She's not nearly as big a reader as I am, but she'll try out virtually any book that looks at all intriguing to her. Manga and graphic novels are her main genre of interest.

[Josiah]

Today I checked out Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming, Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, The Haunting Hour: Chills in the Dead of Night by R.L. Stine and Ghond The Hunter by 1928 Newbery Medalist Dhan Gopal Mukerji. The R.L. Stine book is the one I'm planning to have signed to the library when I see him this Thursday at Anderson's Bookshop, and Ghond the Hunter is a novel I'm really looking forward to reading. Dhan Gopal Mukerji is one of the best, even though he's largely forgotten today, and I've wanted to read this book ever since I first heard about it.

[Adriana]

Still reading Halloween stories? Even though R.L. Stine can be read anytime...
I think I've read the Amelia book. If not it was another one that really gave me insight into her personality. I didn't realize that she was such a bad pilot in the beginning.

I haven't been able to go to the library because of elections... I do plan on getting:

soon. I plan to read The 10 p.m. Question right away. I have a feeling the librarians were busy with elections because the other books are just now being shipped out or are pending.

[Josiah]

Adriana wrote: "Still reading Halloween stories? Even though R.L. Stine can be read anytime..."

I probably won't end up reading The Haunting Hour, at least not yet. I only checked it out to bring to the R.L. Stine author signing at Anderson's Bookshop. I'm sure I will end up reading it at some point, though.

[Adriana]

Okay

I got so many more books than I expected:

[Nathan]

Adriana wrote: "Okay

I got so many more books than I expected:
[bookcover:Dogs Don'..."

WOW! What a haul. haha - I've heard No and Me is good! Let me know what you think.

[Adriana]

Will do (:

[Josiah]

I checked out Play with Me by Marie Hall Ets and Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton yesterday at the library. Both authors are among my favorite winners of the Caldecott Medal, Virginia Lee Burton in 1943 for The Little House and Marie Hall Ets in 1960 for Nine Days to Christmas: A Story of Mexico.

[Josiah]

I just returned from the library, where I checked out Let's Be Enemies, written by Caldecott Medalist Janice May Udry and illustrated by the great Maurice Sendak. The library's copy is a vintage one, not a recent reprint, and that's how I generally prefer it.

[Adriana]

Wow. Isn't that steam shovel books famous? I could swear that I read about it in another book... A book where the main character absolutely loved that book... Ramona Quimby?

[Josiah]

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel certainly is a classic. I think I've seen it mentioned in several other books, actually. Even though The Little House was Virginia Lee Burton's Caldecott Medal winner, I believe Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel may be her most recognized work today.

[Adriana]

Hmmm... maybe because more kids can get into Mike Mulligan... Not saying boys wouldn't like The Little House but Mike Mulligan sounds more appealing. They should give it a medal. It's not too late.

[Josiah]

It's a little late for a Caldecott, but they could give Virginia Lee Burton the Laura Ingalls Wilder or Regina Medals for a lifetime of distinguished service to children's literature. Unless she's already won one or both of them; I don't have those lists memorized. Other winners of the Regina Medal include Tomie dePaola and Madeleine L'Engle, if memory serves.

[Josiah]

I checked out the two Books of the Month, Troublemaker by Andrew Clements and A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, today at the library. I also checked out 2012 Caldecott Honoree Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell.

[Adriana]

You know awards/medals that I've never heard of. Whenever I look up awards or rewards only the popular ones come up. I can never find other lists of uncommon medals.

You are going to enjoy both of them I'm sure. Ooh! South by Patrick McDonnell was a beautiful little picture book that I read most of... I like when picture books have no words because sometimes you don't need them.

I just got:

[Nathan]

I went on a picture book spree today!


and The Boy With Pink Hair (there was no cover!).

[Josiah]

There you go, I added the cover. It looks like an interesting book. If I ever come across a copy, I'll be sure to read it. It sounds a little like The Sissy Duckling by Harvey Fierstein.

[Nathan]

Thanks Josiah!

[Adriana]

I want to read ALL the ninja picture books!
Oh yeah. I heard about The Boy With Pink Hair. Celebrity books aren;t usually the greatest but I hope that's not the case for that book. I really want to read it.

[Nathan]

Adriana wrote: "I want to read ALL the ninja picture books!
Oh yeah. I heard about The Boy With Pink Hair. Celebrity books aren;t usually the greatest but I hope that's not the case for that book. I really want to..."

I know right!! I'll let you know how The Boy With Pink Hair is. I haven't gotten to it yet.

[Adriana]

Great!

[Josiah]

I just came back from checking out 13 Gifts by Wendy Mass and Seriously, Norman! at the library, and returning I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. I should probably put a hold out on A Plague Year by Edward Bloor soon, considering that it's one of our books for December. My library has recently added to its shelves several interesting contenders for the 2013 Newbery awards, including Following Grandfather by Rosemary Wells, One Year in Coal Harbor by Polly Horvath, UnWholly by Neal Shusterman, The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech and Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow, which may or may not be a Newbery candidate depending on if Cory Doctorow is an official U.S. citizen.

[Adriana]

So jealous of you being able to get UnWholly already from your library. I wish I could tell my library what books they absolutely need to get. Have fun reading (:

[Josiah]

Of course, I also have my own copy of UnWholly, the autographed edition I bought at the midnight release party with Neal Shusterman. If the library's copy is available when it comes time for me to read UnWholly, though, I might check it out for myself. The library binding makes reading so much easier for hardcover books.

I still have about a month before I can begin reading the 2013 Newbery contenders, including UnWholly. Another book our library has just recently obtained that I think has a legitimate shot at the upcoming Newbery awards is The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine, which I plan on reading sometime in 2013.

[Adriana]

That's actually really true. Maybe that's why I prefer reading library books.
Is there a contender list somewhere?

[Josiah]

No official Newbery shortlist is released, so every eligible book is still a potential contender until the awards have been announced. That announcement will come for the 2013 awards on January 28. Right now my prediction is that Wonder by R.J. Palacio will win the Medal, but I might change my mind before the Medal is awarded. The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed and Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: The Story Behind an American Friendship are other leading contenders, and it could be a close vote for the 2013 Newbery Committee.

[Josiah]

I also wouldn't count out the legendary Jerry Spinelli, who came back in 2012 after four years without a new novel, releasing Jake and Lily and Third Grade Angels. Jake and Lily in particular is a book I wouldn't dismiss as a sleeper candidate for the Newberys. I'll never be accused of underestimating Jerry Spinelli's capabilities as a prize-winning writer.

[Adriana]

I didn't know about Spinelli's new book. Just added it.
I agree with you on Wonder, The Mighty Miss Malone, and The One and Only Ivan. The One and Only Ivan particularly for it's fame amongst children's book lovers on twitter.
Thanks for letting me know the date.
Off hand question- what books did you ask for Christmas?

[Josiah]

I asked for the four Newbery Honor books I still need. Of the roughly three hundred books that have been designated Newbery Honors since the Newbery began in 1922, these four are the last ones left that I need, but they're out of print and all difficult to find. Bhimsa, The Dancing Bear by Christine Weston, The Winged Girl Of Knossos by Erick Berry, New Land: A Novel for Boys and Girls by Sarah Lindsay Schmidt and The Dark Star Of Itza: The Story Of A Pagan Princess by Alida Sims Malkus are the four. Look around for copies of these titles online and you'll quickly realize why I don't own them already.

I also asked for the books I don't have in the Choose Your Own Adventure series, as well as its multiple spinoff series.

[Adriana]

I see that with the minimal ratings they received on Goodreads.
Wow. You have a great collection there (:
Did you get any of them?

[Josiah]

My parents gave me Bhimsa, The Dancing Bear, so my list is now down to three. The least expensive copy I can find of The Dark Star of Itza is $279.00 (plus shipping), and the least expensive copy of The Winged Girl of Knossos is $299.00 (also plus shipping). I've never found a copy of New Land for sale anywhere online, so I can't even put a dollar figure on that one.

[Adriana]

Yeah, I looked up The Winged Girl of Knossos which I saw for $350.00 which is crazy. It should be in a library somewhere... Was your book good?

[Josiah]

Do you mean Bhimsa, the Dancing Bear? I haven't read it yet.

[Adriana]

Yeah, and oh. I just remembered how The Winged Girl of Knossos was not a picture book like I thought which might be the same case with Bhimsa, the Dancing Bear.

[Josiah]

Most Newbery books are novels (including the four remaining ones I need and Bhimsa, the Dancing Bear), though there are several picture books sprinkled in throughout the years, especially before the Caldecotts were begun for the specific purpose of honoring picture books. Before the Caldecott Medal was instituted, it was much more common for picture books to be cited for Newbery Honors (retroactively, of course, though they were given special acknowledgement even back then).

[Adriana]

Already read Triple Your Reading Speed. Next up is The Mockingbirds. Dying to read this book. I also unfortunately found out that a book I really wanted to read isn't available for me at all. It's for "new media" people... it sucks.

[Nathan]

What did you think about Triple Your Reading Speed? That's on my TBR list also... I'm skeptical.

[Adriana]

Well since I did this reading program to pick up my reading pace I kind of figured out the things they were saying beforehand. Basically stop blinking so much. There was another thing but it was whatever for me. Honestly I don't think I needed the practice because all of the practice I had before so if you feel like you need it then go ahead and read it. Be conscious of how fast you're reading and your eye movements. Always have that next page ready. There was also something in there about seeing the whole page. It was pretty good. I did try watching how much I blinked and read a 300 pages book in 3 hours which sounds good... I have nothing to compare it too but I think it's good.

[Josiah]

A week from this coming Wednesday, 2011 Newbery Medalist Clare Vanderpool is going to be at Anderson's for the promotion of her second book, Navigating Early; therefore, sometime on Sunday I plan on checking out the library's copy of Moon Over Manifest to bring to the event and have signed by her. On January 22, author/illustrator extraordinaire Kadir Nelson will be coming to Anderson's, as well, and I plan on checking out a few books from the library for him to sign. In fact, the library is putting a special rush order on the preparation and binding of Nelson's new book, I Have a Dream, so I will for sure be bringing that one.

[Adriana]

Do you have to have to pay an entrance fee every time you go to a signing?

[Josiah]

No, not an entrance fee, really. The only requirement to have books signed by the author (there is no requirement for one simply to attend the event) is to buy a book of the author's. Any book will do; it doesn't even have to be the new one. This purchase earns a signing number for the signing line, designating the order in which attendees may go up to meet the author one-on-one and have their books autographed. It really is an excellent system, as patron-friendly as it could possibly be.

[Adriana]

That's really awesome. There is an entrance fee for this bookstore close to mine. I understand though because some people might not buy a book which is why they are doing the event. That system is actually brilliant. They should adopt it.

I was wondering if you have any Andrew Clements books that you really really recommend.

[Josiah]

I've only read three of his books so far, but a friend of mine who really liked Andrew Clements's books once told me the best one he'd ever read was The Janitor's Boy, so I'll trust his recommendation and pass it along to you. The Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School series seems to be pretty good, too, and the best of Andrew Clements's standalone novels that I've read to this point is Extra Credit.

[Adriana]

Thanks so much! Have you ever read Frindle by him?

I got from the library:


All my other books have been really slow or they keep on being active and pending... it's kind of frustrating.