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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Ethnic Book Awards: A Directory of Multicultural Literature for Young Readers by Sherry York (Linworth, 2005). This collection of award-winning books will help K-12 educators select culturally-relevant materials for their libraries, making collections appeal to and reflect a diverse population.
The one-of-a-kind directory includes culturally-specific award-winning books about Jewish, African-American, Latino, Caribbean, and Asian-American cultures. The book includes background information on ethnic book awards as well as an alphabetical listing of award-winning books with publication information and brief summaries for each title.
Reviewers Checklist (www.reviewerschecklist.com) is an online database designed to help the media find new and forthcoming books for children, teens and families. It also serves as a promotional tool for authors and illustrators and a one-stop resource for educators, librarians and industry professionals. Registered media can search for their topics of interest and send review copy requests directly to the publishers.
Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach (Henry Holt, 2005). Hero knows her unusual name comes from a character in the Shakespeare play “Much Ado About Nothing,” but that’s no consolation on the first day of sixth grade at her new school. All the kids make fun, and she’s sure this year will be as empty as all the rest.
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Look! by Kyra Teis (Star Bright Books, 2005). Bold and bright, splashy and colorful, Teis board book prompts young children to practice identifying shapes and colors. Ages 1-up. Read an interview with the author/illustrator.
My Thoughts
I’ve never paid much attention to board books, except as potential baby shower gifts and sub-rights opportunities.
My Name Is Bilal by Asma Mobin-Uddin, illustrated by Barbara Kiwak (Boyds Mills, 2005). Bilal keeps his distance when bullies harass his sister, Ayesha, pulling at her head scarf. Then, hiding his Muslim identity, he tells the class his name is “Bill.” Mr. Ali, a teacher, witnesses Bilal’s struggle and gives him a book about another Bilal,
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The book industry reports that 78% of the titles published come from small/self-publishers. With combined annual revenues of less than $50 million, these publishers have limited publicity budgets and their authors are expected to do their own promotion. Where can they turn and learn?
Now authors with books to promote may ask questions of nearly 150 author experts whose specialties run the gamut from romance to foot surgery.
Soft House by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin (Candlewick, 2005). What to do on a rainy day? Nothing sounds fun. But then Alison Isabelle knows just the thing. With the help of Mr. Cat, the siblings build a soft house out of blankets and cushions, crawl in with a flashlight, and enjoy Mama’s peanut-buter-crunch-and-chocolate-chip cookies.
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My husband, author Greg Leitich Smith, and I will be featured at “Evening With The Authors,” hosted by the Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Lockhart, Texas; on October 8.
Other participating authors will include San Antonio’s Diane Gonzales Bertrand.
For cynsational readers planning to attend the SCBWI Austin fall conference,
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I’ve returned from the 2005 summer residency at the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. I had a wonderful experience and look forward to working with my five students over the course of the fall semester. At the moment, though, I’m also nursing a sore throat and trying to rapidly catch up on my to-dos (see below) after the extended absence from home.