Is the children’s market in a boom period or declining? What are agents and editors looking for when it comes to books for young readers? Do cycles matter? Or when it comes to the highs and lows of the publishing industry do writer’s simply have to step up their game during the tough times? If [ Read the full article… ]
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YA Book Review: Sunrise Over Fallujah
Last weekend I participated in Mother Reader’s 48 Hour Reading Challenge. Participants get 48 hours to read and review books of at least a fifth grade reading level. This was right up my alley and I was able to read so many great books by familiar and unfamiliar authors. African American author Walter Dean Myers’ [ Read the full article… ]
Priscilla and the Hollyhocks
Priscilla and the Hollyhocks Written by Anne Broyles Illustrated by Anna Alter Published by Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc., 2008 Priscilla dreamed of freedom, a dream to be fulfilled, but only after the loss of her mother, and after toiling through the life of a slave. When Priscilla was very young, her mother was sold away, “like [ Read the full article… ]
You can’t choose what you can’t see
Hmm…feels a little weird in the blogger’s chair. Have I been away that long? I’m peeking my head up from a forced hiatus because Becky Laney over at Becky’s Book Reviews is gearing up for the annual Librarian’s Choices 2008. Last year, I was excited to learn of this list, sponsored by the Texas Woman’s [ Read the full article… ]
Book report: Metal Man
Metal Man Written by Aaron Reynolds Illustrated by Paul Hoppe Published by Charlesbridge Publishing, June 2008 On a scorching hot day, Devon, a young Black child, skips out of the house and heads over to visit Mitch, “the metal man,” an artist and welder who creates art with scrap metal. Devon’s mother isn’t impressed with [ Read the full article… ]
It’s A Teen, Teen World
In case you live under a rock or haven’t noticed, we’re smack dab in the middle of a teen “renaissance.” Quotes are necessary because pop culture pundits don’t believe it’s a temporary thing, which renaissances typically are. No, as it stands, we’re in the middle of a change in entertainment – movies, TV and music. [ Read the full article… ]
IRA releases it Teachers’ Choices lists
The International Reading Association has released it’s Choices Booklists for children, teachers and young adults. And the lists are quite diverse. Here are a few titles from the Teacher’s list, that are either by or about African Americans: Primary winners: Ain’t Nobody a Stranger to Me by Ann Grifalconi, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, Hyperion, Jump [ Read the full article… ]