Patrol: An American Soldier In Vietnam by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Ann Grifalconi (HarperTrophy, 2002). A poetic, hearwrenching look at one soldier’s mission. Emotionally evocative, sufficiently sophisticated, appropriately accessible. Illustrations are in collage. Ages 8-up; also a good picture book choice for middle grade and high school.

My Thoughts

I’ve received a number of requests of late for war/military related titles, so I thought I’d pull this one from the backlist.

The soldier depicted is African American. That’s more of an observation, but there you have it.

The illustrator offers thanks to “all who brought this book into being and to all those who died in Vietnam.”

I seem to be feeling unusually alliterative this morning.

Cynsational News & Links

How’s the Weather? The Current Climate for Publishing Children’s Books by Harold Underdown from The Purple Crayon.

Focusing Your Editing and Revision Lenses by Christa Exter from the Institute of Children’s Literature.

Motivational Speakers and Authors: The Secret To Their Success by Francine Silverman, editor/publisher of Book Promotion Newsletter, a bi-weekly ezine for authors of all genres, and author of Book Marketing from A-Z (Infinity Publishing 2005), from Open Horizons.