ONE MITTEN by Kristine O’Connell George, illustrated by Maggie Smith (Clarion, 2004). What can one mitten do? Or, even better, how about two? (Unlike me) George is a master at light, happy rhyme for Pre-K, making this friendly book ith its endearing illustrations a winner. Ages 3-up.
As it happens, I received an update yesterday from Kristine’s Web site;
I received a letter today from Michelle Meadows, one year after the release of her debut picture book; this is what CLSCLR had to say about it:
THE WAY THE STORM STOPS by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger (Henry Holt, 2003). In this every-beat-just-right debut picture book, Meadows crafts for young readers the beauty, excitement, awe, scariness,
Texas author Jim Stevenson has posted a new newsletter. Jim is the author of 5K Runner; I met him at TLA (I think) last year. Lovely man. Kathi Appelt introduced us.
I’m pulling materials right now for my YA Novels class for the Writers’ League of Texas. Should be interesting.
What If You Met A Pirate? A historical voyage of seafaring speculation by Jan Adkins (Roaring Brook, 2004). The word “pirate” evokes parrots, peg legs, daggers and swords, but that image is mere fiction. In a color illustrated, question-and-answer format, Adkins gives young readers the real scoop on such matters as “who got to be a pirate?” “What did a pirate ship look like?”
“Bongos, boobs, cantaloupes, chi-chis, grapefruits, headlights, high beams, Himalayas, honkers, hooters, jugs, marangas, melons, mountains, ta-tas, taters, tits, tomatoes, watermelons, and yams.”
— Megan in Unexpected Development
Unexpected Development by Marlene Perez (Roaring Brook, 2004). What did Megan do over her summer vacation, Mrs. Westland? Sex. That’s what she relates in her answering essay.
“The First Time,” a short story by Pooja Makhijani is available online from Cicada, a young adult magazine published by Carus.
Pooja is also the author of Mama’s Saris (Little Brown, 2006).
Chris Barton, Austin’s newest under-contract author (Charlesbridge), wrote this morning to let me know about an upcoming PBS program, “The Political Dr. Seuss.”
Off to a school vist this afternoon at Mathews Elementary in Austin!
What a fun visit Greg and I had this morning at O. Henry Middle School.
It was such a delight to walk into the library, all spooky for Halloween, and see such titles on display as Shattering Glass and Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters by Gail Giles as well as The Afterlife by Gary Soto.
Some buzz….
My Teacher for President by Kay Winters, illustrated by Denise Brunkus (Dutton, 2004) just went into its third printing and is a winner this election year.
I was asked today by an Austin Public Librarian to speak, and (at three invites a day) was already booked. But along the way, I learned that Austinite Phil Yates’
Some interest today in a possible French language edition of Rain Is Not My Indian Name (Harper, 2001). I forwarded them onto my agent. We’ll see what happens.