I had the pleasure last night of attending Kathi Appelt‘s signing for Merry Christmas, Merry Crow, illustrated by Jon Goodell (Harcourt, 2005) at the Barnes & Noble Westlake (TX) last night.
It’s a magical title that reunites the amazing author-illustrator team behind one of my all-time favorite picture books, The Alley Cat’s Meow (Harcourt, 2002).
Kathi did a presentation and reading, followed by a question-and-answer session. The event was well attended, and NCSA Crown Award Chair Sandra Morrow mentioned that Kathi’s Miss Lady Bird: How A First Lady Changed America, illustrated by Joy Fisher Hein (HarperCollins, 2005) had been named to the forthcoming Crown Award List. Luminaries in the audience included Anne Bustard, author of Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus (Simon & Schuster, 2005).
Cynsational Notes
Other new and recommended holiday books include: When Cows Come Home for Christmas by Dori Chaconas, illustrated by Lynne Chapman (Albert Whitman, 2005); Christmas Mousling, also by Dori, illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung (Viking, 2005); and Hanukkah, Schmanukkah by Esme Raji Codell, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (Hyperion, 2005). See also CBC Showcase: Holidays and the Winter Season for more suggestions.
Fall 2006 is the publication date for Santa Knows by Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, illustrated by Steve Bjorkman (Dutton, 2006). I’ll keep you posted as production progresses.
Planet Esme‘s author pages have been redesigned! Surf over to check it out!
Cynsational News & Links
Love of KU Basketball inspires ‘Airball’ Book by Terry Rombeck from the Lawrence Journal-World. Feature story on Airball: My Life in Briefs by L.D. Harkrader (Roaring Brook, 2005). Read a recent related author interview on cynsations.
L.D. Harkrader will present a reading from the book, followed by a discussion and book signing from 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 18, 2005 at Oread Books, level 2 in the Kansas Union at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. A second appearance at Oread Books is scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 22.