Since much of the debate surrounding the Newbery is that it doesn’t much cater to what many kids actually like and since the Newbery isn’t likely to go changing what it’s been doing for a few decades just because those of us in the kidlitosphere are whining, AND because solutions are so much more fun [ Read the full article… ]
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Newbery’s, Caldecotts, CSK’s…do kids care?
Mmmm…it’s awards time. Know how I know? Because debating the merits of kiddie lit’s most prestigious honors has started. I always peek my head up during awards season, if only to hear the buzz. And the recent article in the Washington Post, Plot Twist- The Newbery May Dampen Kids’ Reading, is particularly interesting to me. [ Read the full article… ]
Change Has Come, a picture book by Kadir Nelson
Yes, I’m a grown man. But I dig children’s literature, especially picture books. I admire creators of these wonderful works of art — authors and artists. So you can imagine the excitement I felt when I discovered a new book on the horizon, illustrated by an artist I admire, Kadir Nelson, about the President-elect whom [ Read the full article… ]
Literary Awards: The Best Books of 2008
It’s that time of year again to recognize the best and brightest in books for 2008 according to various giants in the publishing industry. First up, The New York Times announced its Notable Children’s Books of 2008 which includes Walter Dean Myers’ Sunrise Over Fallujah on its list. Publishers Weekly joined in the praise for [ Read the full article… ]
The industry agrees
A recent article in Publisher’s Weekly emphatically backs what The Brown Bookshelf has long endorsed — importance of increasing the diversity of books out there for young African American teen readers. The article points to signs that this is happening. One interesting point – editor Stacey Barney (who actually acquired So Not The Drama for [ Read the full article… ]
It’s a Reading and Writing Affair
Established in 2000, RAWSistaz (Reading and Writing Sistaz) Literary Group is committed to the support and promotion of books by, for and about African-Americans. Every year, RAWSistaz presents an annual gathering for the members of their online group in various cities. In addition to being a reunion for the group’s members, The RAWSistaz Affair spotlights [ Read the full article… ]
What are teens reading? Ask A Librarian
With respect to teen readers, there’s always a fine line. They certainly don’t want to be told what to read and yet, are right on the cusp of realizing that aduls can and do provide pretty decent recommendations. A recent SLJ article provides a peek into what teen readers are into, at the moment, from [ Read the full article… ]
A Balanced Diet is a Must
There’s an old advertising stat that goes something like this: a person must be exposed to a message or image at least nine times before they truly register it. Maybe it’s eight times, maybe it’s ten – the point is, a person must be exposed to a message over and over before they absorb it. [ Read the full article… ]