Red Light, Green Light by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max (Harcourt, 2005). An upbeat and colorful rhyming introduction to traffic for pre-K. Told from the point of view of a young boy playing with an extensive and augmented toy set. Ages 3-up.
My Thoughts
An excellent example of simple,
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I’m working hard with Lisa Firke of HitThoseKeys.com on the redesign of my Web site today. Soak in the yellow while you still can!
Attention Censors by Colleen Mondor from BookSlut.com. Features interviews with authors Natasha Friend and Brent Hartinger. See also Inside Brent’s Brain: a chat at connectforkids.org.
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,
Happy Feet by Richard Michelson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Harcourt, 2005). A celebration of a father-son relationship and of the Savoy, told from the point of view of a young boy born the day “the earth’s hottest, coolest, most magnificient, superdeluxe dancing palace” opened for the first time. Includes an author’s note detailing more history of “Harlem’s most famous dance club”
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Tuesday night I had the pleasure of speaking at the quarterly meeting of Kansas SCBWI. It was held in Prairie Village at a church on Nall, about 20 minutes from my mother’s house. I spoke about the role of culture in crafting children’s and YA characters.
What a charming group! My thanks to regional advisor Sue Ford.
I leave tomorrow to spend a week in Kansas City, and my email access will be thin to nill. Please contact my husband, author Greg Leitich Smith, if you need to get in touch with me. Thanks! Also, over at spookycyn, I offer a myriad of thoughts on the Time magazine special report on “Being 13.”
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar (Dutton, 2005). An insider’s look at Scott’s freshman year of high school as he tries to win a girl, finds another, stumbles into sports reporting, is unfortunately successful at politics, joins a theater crew, loses and gains friends, dodges bullies, seeks inspiration in English class, sometimes stands up for what’s right and sometimes doesn’t,
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Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar (Dutton, 2005). An insider’s look at Scott’s freshman year of high school as he tries to win a girl, finds another, stumbles into sports reporting, is unfortunately successful at politics, joins a theater crew, loses and gains friends, dodges bullies, seeks inspiration in English class, sometimes stands up for what’s right and sometimes doesn’t,
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Friendship According To Humphrey by Betty G. Birney (Putnam, 2005). Humphrey’s still the class pet in room 26, but suddenly, he’s not the only one! Enter Og the Frog. “Boing!” Can these different species become friends, and what about the other relationships in Mrs. Brisbane’s classroom? It can be HARD-HARD-HARD to be a friend, but it’s worth it.
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The World According To Humphrey by Betty G. Birney (Putnam, 2004). Humphrey is the class hamster in Room 26, and boy, does he learn a lot! Not only is Humphrey keeping up with the kids in their studies, he also visits the home of a different one each weekend. Everyone loves him…except the new teacher, Mrs.
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