Morning Notes: Late Morning Edition

SESAME WORKSHOP GETS INTO EBOOK GAME

Is it just me, or does it seem like ebook news is coming fast and furious lately? The LA Times reports that the folks who bring Sesame Street to the world will also begin offering digital books.

BEST COMICS OF 2009 ANNOUNCED; MICHIGAN LIBRARIAN’S BUDGET STRAINED

I love/have an issue with “best of” lists from reliable sources. Why the conflict? There are always undiscovered gems that pop up and make me further overspend my budget. That’s a good problem though, right? Good Comics for Kids has just released their best of aught nine picks, and it’s loaded with great titles (like the outstanding Toon Treasury, which I finally looked through at the bookstore this week – required purchase), and some I’m looking forward to checking out (I’ll be keeping an eye out for Leave it to PET!).

A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner. Release date: March 23, 2010.

A bit YA for these pages, but what the heck. Whether Bookends was asking for it as a stocking stuffer, Educating Alice was looking to discuss it further, or Charlotte’s Library was reviewing it and giving it away, the latest from Megan Whalen Turner (click here for a WBBT interview of Turner by HipWriterMama) was getting plenty of buzz.

How do decide which books to save first? Smell them.

Cover designer and recent interviewee @boydesigner (Chad W. Beckerman) points us to a recent New York Times essay by Joe Queenan about the odd discomfort he felt when reading a beloved book with a bad cover.

Jon Scieszka stops by the CBS Early Show to share some great children’s lit gift-giving picks. Scieszka is awesome. (Thanks to A Fuse #8 Production for the link)

Librarian Lump of Coal Gift Guide

In need of gift ideas for the insufferable librarian in your life? You’re in luck. With help from CafePress and Etsy, the 100 Scope Notes Librarian Lump of Coal Gift Guide has you covered.

(Click the images below to buy)

For the librarian who can’t remember what their profession is:

The appropriately named “Librarian Sweatshirt”. This pairs nicely with pants that say “pants” on them.

For the children’s librarian who wants scare everyone at the next story time:

Imagine the looks on their faces during the next Very Hungry Caterpillar read-aloud when you pull this out. Just imagine the looks.

For the librarian who should have hung it up in 1991:

This sticker gives off just the right “I’ve given up” vibe.

For the librarian that needs the perfect throw pillow to complete a room:

… although I’m kinda scared about what that room might be.

For the librarian who’s confused about their job description:

Anything?

For the librarian who needs just one more tote bag:

So that’s what happened to my bedspread.

For a librarian you would like to offend:

“When I saw this sticker, I immediately thought of you!”

For the obsessive note-taking librarian:

Yes, this is a notebook. Can you think of a better place to record your thoughts and feelings than in this handsome keepsake?

For the librarian who’s a little too “in tune” with the Twilight series:

A knit hat based on… Edward Cullen’s eyes. Next up, a shirt based on Jacob Black’s pecs.

Coming Soon: Children’s Book Lump of Coal Gift Guide.

Toon Review: Guess Again! by Mac Barnett

Guess Again!
By Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Adam Rex
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781416955665
$16.99
Grades K-2
In Stores

*Best New Books*

Review copy provided by the publisher.

This book is nominated for a 2009 Cybils award.

See how the cover for Guess Again! was designed on Adam Rex’s blog.

Also reviewed by Kids Lit, A Year of Reading, Pink Me, Muddy Puddle Musings.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

Link Du Jour: What’s the Title?

The conversation you are about to read actually took place.

The Scene: BookMine, an old and rare book dealer

Customer: Hi, I am looking for an old book.

Book Dealer: What’s the title?

Customer: I don’t remember.

Book Dealer: OK. Who is the author?

Customer: Sorry, can’t remember that either.

Book Dealer: OK, you are making it a little tough here. What was it about?

Customer: I don’t remember. But it was my favorite book when I was little.

Book Dealer: I don’t think I can help you.

Customer: OK, thanks for your help.

At the BookMine website, they have a page devoted to the many, shall we say, unusual phone, email, and face to face interactions with customers that have occurred over the years – including the one above. Hilarity comes early and often. Click here to read.

(Thanks to BoingBoing for the link)

(Top Image: ‘untitled‘ http://www.flickr.com/photos/78011127@N00/2549674296)

Book Review: Dinosaur Woods by George McClements

Dinosaur Woods
By George McClements
Beach Lane Books (Simon & Schuster)
ISBN: 9781416986263
$16.99
Grades K-2
In Stores

*Recommended*

You know what kids like? Thinking big. The bigger the idea, the better. Bob Shea & Lane Smith’s 2008 (and appropriately titled) Big Plans is a great example of this concept successfully making its way into children’s lit. Add Dinosaur Woods into this category as well. A group of animals try to save their little patch of forest the only way they know how – by coming up with a wild, grand, prehistoric idea.

As is so often the setup, developers are moving in. In four days the Plas-Tic Tree Company will be clearing forest to build a new factory. Seven residents of said forest are, understandably, troubled. Rojo the fox comes up with a plan to create a huge, fearsome, lifelike Tyrannosaurus Rex puppet to scare everyone off. The friends work hard on the project and it pays off – the developers are thoroughly spooked. But when the pseudo-dino breaks and the jig is up, will our heroes need to find a new home?

The illustrations, rendered in mixed media collage, are nothing short of astounding. McClements works wonders here with paper and paint, crafting expressive characters full of life.

Solid story, amazing visuals, and a “think big” theme that kids will enjoy. A nice package.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

This book is nominated for a 2009 Cybils award.

Also reviewed by Raising Readers and Writers, Kids Book Blog.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

Morning Notes: ‘Don’t Read this Book’ Edition

UNRELATED STORIES: SLJ SETS A BAD EXAMPLE, NAMES BEST BOOKS

After upsetting some over last month’s bars ‘n bloggers cover (see the Tweet o’ the Week below for more on that), School Library Journal reminds us all what they do best by posting their best of ‘09 picks. A list not to be missed.

NEW CHILDREN’S LIT AMBASSADOR TO BE NAMED ON JAN. 5; SCIESZKA TO HAND OVER KEYS TO ARMORED LIMO

Jon Scieszka announced via FaceBook that the time for a new National Abassador of Young People’s Literature will soon be upon us. It’ll be sad to see Jon go.

EBOOKS COMING TO NINTENDO DS; AUTHORS RACING TO WRITE MARIOKART: THE BOOK

In the UK, Electronic Arts is bringing ebooks by the likes of Enid Blyton and Eoin Colfer to the handheld Nintendo DS. With all the talk about ebooks lately, it will be interesting to see how this goes over.

Lego Star Wars: the visual dictionary by Simon Beecroft. Currently #3 on the New York Times Picture Book Bestseller list.

Every October, two of the schools where I work host book fairs. This year there was one clear winner in terms of popularity: Lego Star Wars. Both schools promptly sold out of the book – which is something considering the costs: 22 bones. Soon thereafter it popped up on the NYT bestseller list. I’m thinking it will be calling the list home for a while. If you’re looking for high interest titles to add to your collection, you can’t do much higher than this.

New school, familiar story. Teacher wants to use certain books for teaching, higher-ups don’t like said books and try to remove them. It’s too bad. Click the image above to read about the craziness in a Kentucky high school at A Chair, a Fireplace & a Tea Cozy.

A legitimate cover controversy? I was honestly surprised to learn that a number of School Library Journal subscribers were not pleased with the bar setting for November’s “This Blog’s for You” cover. Call me oblivious, but I didn’t think twice when I saw it. @FuseEight links to their letters to the editor.

Apparently, children’s books also make good ping pong paddles. The UK staff of HarperCollins Children’s Books is at it again. Last time it was the world’s longest children’s book domino rally, this time it’s Tollins table tennis. I need to work here someday.

Cover Controversy: In Your Face!

When it looks like someone’s about to hand you something, you tend to pay attention. Unless it’s a roll of Necco Wafers or a copy of the recent Peyton Manning picture book, both of which are so offensive they’re easy to ignore.

Two recent covers use this attention-grabbing device, and in doing so appear to be cut from the same cloth. Let’s take a look at the first cover:

Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer by Carol Brendler.

The twin:

The Zippy Fix (Calvin Coconut #2) by Graham Salisbury.

Side by side:

A match?

Book Giveaway: November ‘09

It isn’t often that the book being given is one of the year’s best, but that’s what we’ve got on our hands here folks. If you’re interested in snagging the book below, contact me on Twitter, or send an email to 100scope@gmail.com A.S.A.P. If I receive your entry before 11:59 pm on Tuesday night, your name gets tossed into my Abe Lincoln-style stovepipe hat. The winner will be drawn soon thereafter. And the book is…

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan. ARC.

Best of luck!

(Top Image: ‘Alicia Martin: Biografias – Cascade of books‘

Nonfiction Monday: Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart

Under the Snow
By Melissa Stewart
Illustrated by Constance R. Bergum
Peachtree Publishers
ISBN: 9781561454938
$16.95
Grades 1-4
In Stores

*Recommended*

It’s a question that crosses everyone’s mind at some point – where do animals go in the winter? Sure, we know that mammals like bears and squirrels hibernate and some birds fly south, but what about everyone else? Butterflies? Fish? Snakes? Under the Snow answers these questions for young readers.

The story is simple, yet informative at every turn. The narrator begins by describing the coming of winter, and the changes the season brings. The focus quickly turns to the animal world.

You spend your days sledding and skating and having snowball fights. But under the snow lies a hidden world.

Using cutaways and zoom-ins, the watercolor illustrations show a variety of animals in their winter homes. Ladybugs cluster in a gap in the stone wall. A bumblebee queen hides inside a rotted log. A turtle buries itself in the mud at the bottom of a pond. Each turn of the page shows a new animal adapting to the winter months.

Not a shelf-appeal stunner, but sporting a usefulness that can’t be denied. Under the Snow should be a part of your nonfiction collection.

Review copy borrowed from school library.

Check out the Nonfiction Monday roundup at The BookNosher.

Also reviewed by Kiss the Book, Kiwi Magazine.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

Link Du Jour: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love eBooks

The Kindle. The Nook. EBooks – where do you stand? For? Against? Or do you reside in the “wait and see” camp? That is where I have planted my tent stakes for the time being.

But as time passes, we’ll only be moving toward ebooks, not away.

Illustrator/author Lucy Knisley offers her take on the ebook debate in comic form, a method always appreciated by this children’s lit blogger. Click the image below to read.

(Thanks to BoingBoing for the link)