I'm fighting a losing battle with blogging today and have opted to have you all go look at Betsy Bird's blog, instead, and think about covers while I go paint.

Betsy spent some time at a major chain checking out new kid books and posted a bunch of great cover comparisons. I've already complained about covers here and here and here and wonder if I'm just a curmudgeon when it comes to the older covers getting updated?

Reissues with original covers are super ideas, though! One of my all-time favorite books, The 13 Clocks, is about to be reissued NEXT week with the lovely Marc Simont art intact AND an introduction by Neil Gaiman -- how cool is that! I can't find my copy anywhere and it was about to turn to dust anyway. The version illustrated by Ronald Searle was probably just lovely, too, but I'm sticking with the Simont one.

Last night in class, guest speaker Julie Paschkis (Caldecott deserver extraordinaire) gave an amazing Amazing AMAZING talk/slideshow. She showed some of the picture books she loved as a child and how they're still influencing her today. I'd say, definitely, that The 13 Clocks is one of those books for me.

Recently I found out I won a contest put on by one of my favorite new books! Eeeeeee!!!!!
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz.

I remember entering the contest -- writing a paragraph on why I'd want to win, but I'm pretty sure it was a random drawing. The prize is a trip to San Francisco to meet the author and her former boss...no, really, it is totally awesome to meet someone's former boss, see below:

I never reviewed it here because technically, it ain't for kids. But I did talk about it at my writing/illustrating critique group because the book, a cozy mystery, is freaking hilarious and I highly recommended it to everybody. I'm getting ready to re-read the book to back the following claim up, but am currently convinced that: this is absolutely the sort of book I would have read as a teenager. I'd nominate it for an Alex Award if I thought fun books ever won.

The Spellmans, a San Francisco based family of private investigators, are the heroes of the book. The main character, Izzy, is only 28 and a big part of the book revolves around her teenage sister, Rae. The Spellmans remind me very much of Helen Cresswell's Bagthorpes, my favorite series* as a teen. The dialogue is cereal-milk-out-your-nose funny. Lutz's background is screen plays. The scenes between Izzy and her parents, which I could visualize perfectly, had me cringing and laughing at the same time. No wonder Spellmans is already bought for a future movie.

The mystery elements had me guessing until the very end. I hadn't read reviews so I had no idea how far the crimes would go -- whether things might turn grim and bloody. Just a few days ago while reading Will Write For Food I found the definition of a "cozy." I guess I like "cozy mysteries" and the Spellman Files fit that definition in that there's not a lot of blood shed, except maybe while a character is shaving (so far, the next two books might be gore-fests, who am I to know!) There's also probably less sex and swearing than in most edgy YA which makes me think the Spellmans are a great choice for a winter vacation book for teens. Perfect for snuggly blankets and cocoa, and, really, for anyone in need of a good laugh.

So the CONTEST I WON!

I DO judge books by their cover and loved The Spellman Files on first glance. Thank heavens I enjoyed the innards, too, and took a gander at whether the author was touring or if there was a website for the book. I missed Lisa when she stopped in Seattle, but I found the book and found the contest and enjoyed the limited run of her blog.

The contest grand prize, which I'll be enjoying in February (when the paperback comes out, the sequel comes out in March) is a trip for two to San Francisco to meet Lisa and her former boss, a private investigator. We get to be schooled in the art of private investigating for a day -- watch out Seattle! Because I'll be watching you.

Continue reading "I'm a Spellman!" »

Here's a book worth sinking your teeth and talons into this spring. Dragon's Keep puts the fire and fear back into dragon fantasies all while building an excellent main character that isn't your average princess. This reminded me of the historical/fantastical girl fun I had when reading Catherine Called Birdy and The Princess Academy, and the page turning tension of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, BUT with crazy ass dragons and very complex adult and teen characters.

Janet is a star at bringing us the sights, sounds, and smells of medieval England. She then ups the ante with a wonderful new breed of dragon. I was spellbound on my couch while reading this--piles of dirty laundry and dust bunnies and unpaid bills engulfing me until I reached the end of the book. Not to give anything away, but Janet lets bad things happen to good people and I reveled in that! Such fun. Such terror.

Janet will be doing events surrounding the book's release on her group readergirlz site as well as a book event in Western Washington in late March. I'll be doing some new art for pages devoted to Dragon's Keep on her fantasy mini-site at www.janetleecarey.com. I'm so excited to work on envisioning Rosalind and her Wilde Island. Fun fun fun.

PS!

It got a starred review from Booklist (darn tootin!) and an awesome blurb from the MAN, Lloyd Alexander: "A rich medieval fantasy, a splendid weaving of bright and dark threads, constant surprises and startling turn of events; of brutalities and beauties, terrors and triumphs... A remarkable achievement."

Rock on Janet!!!

Jaime

If you buy one fashion book/activity kit for ages 7 to 10 this year or ANY year make it this one! True--it is a work-for-hire. True--my name's not on the cover or the Amazon listing. But those are my skinny tall girls being fashion forward on every page and my carefully crafted boatneck tee template outlines with matching capri pants that youngsters will be tracing. Tracing and building their Project Runway dreams on. Take that Tim Gunn! I'm published!

Thanks to multi-talented author, Sara, for introducing me to the project. Her writing and fashion flair are beyond compare.

Jaime

I'll be doing a post soon on great books about writing and illustrating for children. One that I love and am only three pages through is Joan Aiken's The Way to Write for Children. I'm only three pages through (for the past five years) because after reading one page I have to go lie down. Joan packs a big wallop of information on every page and makes me think writing for children is the most important job in the fine arts world. I assumed Ms Aiken's books were fabulous though my only contact with her writing was this how to write book.

So when I heard my amazingly talented friend comparing The Wolves of Willoughby Chase to the Lemony Snicket books as if Mr Snicket had ripped Ms Aiken off I wanted to see this for myself.

Maybe I'm a dodo, but personally Daniel Handler's books contain their own brand of melodrama different from Joan Aiken's. Though he is following in her genre footsteps of wonderful Victorian cliches, Joan Aiken's Wolves was great great fun quite different from the fun of Lemony Snicket.

The beginning is smashing, there are REAL WOLVES. Huge packs of them. And they are just AROUND. God help me, but Joan makes it seem so believable that I really am afraid of roving teams of wolves following trains to train stations and launching themselves at sleeping passengers in their cars. The Wolves of WIlloughby Chase is very satisfying--the beginning instills a proper amount of terror in your heart to fear for our two young main characters and there are a few scenes (ice skating on a frozen river to spy on a suspicious person as it gets dark and hearing a howl) that are amazing scenes of tension. I wanted to rip the pages up to find a way to read faster and found myself yet again reading it before bed and then again at six in the morning to find out what had happened while I slept.

Even though I knew there'd be a happy ending I wasn't entirely sure. That had me reading to the end. Surely those that love Lemony Snicket or a dark Anne of Green Gables even will enjoy this. I'm excited to find the sequel, also with a lovely Edward Gorey cover, and see what happens next.

Jaime

After a rousing winter meeting with Gayle Richardson in which she gave attendees a HUGE list of new books to read I ran out and found as many of them as I could. The Beasts of Clawstone Castle is my first read on the list and I am thrilled with it. To be fair it was my first "listen" while moving back into my office after our basement flooded.

I'd love to put this book on MTV's movie list, but I wonder if American audiences would be able to handle it. The ghosts in Clawstone are tremendously well developed characters with gruesome or frightful ends. Ends which Ms. Ibbotson describes in great detail. The end of the book hinges on some really disgusting cruelty to animals. I don't think it is gratuituous, but I'm not sure I could look at it on screen. If I hadn't watched The Departed last night I think I'd be having nightmares about the end of Clawstone instead of the thugs of South Boston (to be honest I had a hard time getting to sleep BECAUSE of having just watched The Departed, but my trusty subconscious had me dreaming about getting to eat the best most expensive candy in the world. Candy dreams are almost as good as nightmare preventing pudding.)

I love England, ghosts, and cows. Maybe this book was written just for me. I also love truly nefarious villains, siblings that are nice to each other, and modern books that acknowledge/use the internet, but find a way to leave our characters without its help believably.

Any kid that digs the ghosts in Harry Potter and are budding environmentalists will love this book. It would make a great winter road trip book for families. The ending packs a lot of information that might befuddle parents so you'll want your kids to explain it to you, but you might want to be there for the kids when some scary animal testing passages come up.

Cover-wise: score one for England. David Roberts did the cover (above) for the British printing. THIS is a perfect cover for the book. The American one I'm not as thrilled about as it seems sweeter and tamer than this funny, deliciously ghastly book.

Gayle also recommended Which Witch? which I saw a young girl reading at a yummy neighborhood coffee shop. I wanted to ask her about it, but her mom seemed to be in a hurry. Here's hoping she also reads The Beasts of Clawstone Castle.

Jaime

The last few weeks my nightstand has hosted a battle of little girl book vs little girl book and author memoir vs. author memoir.

First up is Ramona Quimby vs. Harriet Welsch.

Don't think I'm too much of a boob, but I'd never read any of the Ramona books until a few weeks ago. After Patti Lee Gauch's rousing Sassy talk at our October SCBWI meeting I knew I had to find out more about this funny little girl and her talented author.

Ramona the Pest couldn't be better. Hilarious, not dated, with a crystal clear voice and super snappy dialogue. I know NOW that Beezus and Ramona comes first, forgive me, I'll get to it. I'm sad I missed out on Ramona at my Ramona age. At the time I thought the books looked baby-ish and never wanted to open them opting instead for John Fitzgerald's (drawings by Mercer Mayer) Great Brain series. I do remember enjoying Dear Mr. Henshaw, but why didn't anyone force me to read Ramona for my own good? MOM and NANA I'm talking to you.

I can't be so glowing about Harriet the Spy, though. I REALLY wanted to love it--I've always wanted to be a spy and was intrigued by the article about Harriet and Louise in the Horn Book. I can remember loving the title, cover, and chapter illustrations as a kid, but I'm pretty darn sure I never read the accompanying text. Harriet had moments of briliance, but it wasn't as snappy or timeless as I found Ramona. I know, from all the great articles written about Louise and from mention of her in Dear Genius, how important Harriet was. Maybe I have no right to compare them, but Ramona wins for me for now.

Next: Beverly Cleary vs. Betty MacDonald.

Both fairly local ladies, both with thoroughly engaging memoirs. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle I couldn't get ENOUGH of when younger. I dream of spending a night at Betty's old place. But I am still slogging through the Egg and I and it isn't all it's cracked up to be.

A Girl From Yamhill chronicles Beverly Bunn's life from birth to highschool graduation. The beginning is lovely, funny, poignant, and gives you glimpses of the real Ramona. As the Depression rages on and Beverly gets older her family falls apart a little bit. The passages about teen Beverly's interactions with her mother made me cringe inside. Still, A Girl From Yamhill had me wanting to finish, to see how Beverly would triumph and continue to find humor and joy in her everyday Portland life.

To be fair, I still need to finish the Egg and I and read the second of Beverly's autobiographies, My Own Two Feet. While The Egg and I started strong, it has become a chore for me to finish this book. It has ruined my romantic thoughts of owning a chicken farm someday or trying to live off the grid. Normally, I'm all for continuously ridiculing your neighbors, but there are so few passages without judgement or complaint that Egg and I is leaving me curdled. I want to love it. Some of her descriptions of the Northwest are so spot on and so poetic that it might be worth reading just for those. But I can also get that from Sometimes A Great Notion so...

For now Beverly takes the cake. Following Beverly's "college prepatory course" I would happily make her a potato caramel cake, quick chocolate cake, Arabian spice cake, Lady Baltimore cake, prize devil's food cake, walnut loaf cake...Beverly can bake all of these. Please believe this is not the only reason I picked her.

Jaime

*And A Few White Lies

Patty Ho is a girl after my own heart. I wish I'd known her and her buildering roommate in MY high school career. As a proud member of the Knowledge Bowl, Science Olympiad, and Youth in Government I had my fair share of nerd camps/field trips. None of them measure up to the extra-curricular activities of Patty and friends at the Stanford Math Camp (except for maybe my high school robot team's trip to Boston where I got to spend most of it necking in a van on the MIT campus. But using the word 'necking' negates whatever hipness I'd hoped to garner...as does the fact I was on a robot building team.)

Back to Patty.

The beginning of the book involving Patty's home life is so funny and so painful, I laughed and cringed at the same time. Luckily, there is some healing at the end--go get the book.

Patty is consistently witty and spot on with her dramatic teen insecurities during the ups and downs of a math camp summer. Keep reading to see how Patty grows into her own skin. I'm not giving the details away, which are fresh and poignant and hilarious for a YA novel, but an ending is so rewarding when you see a character shine brighter then she thought she could even though you ALWAYs knew she had it in her.

Justina Chen Headley is a powerhouse on her own. Check out her lovely website, her awesome book marketing blog, AND an amazing new joint venture on MySpace that is going to do great things for books, girls, and the world.

Jaime

Joan Holub and her mother, Julie Hannah, have written a wonderfully informative and well-paced book on Luke Howard, a Quaker chemist in 19th century London that put his grammar school Latin to good use. This is the first time I've EVER understood how a cloud gets made or what the weatherman means by a low-pressure system, so thank you Joan and Julie!

The watercolor and graphite spreads of Luke's life and story are interspersed with modern day scans of a little girl's science fair notebook. The little girl keeps a weather journal like Luke did 200 years ago and also explains how to make a rain gauge, compare snowflakes, and determine the distance of a lightning storm. I love this format. Hopefully it is one in a series for Joan and her mother of fun non-fiction.

Luke's character is nicely fleshed out. There are great photos of clouds (out my window currently are stratocumulus and nimbostratus, thank you very much) and my FAVORITE part--Luke's actual paintings of clouds from 1803-1811. Makes me want to trade my TV in for a barometer and paint the sky everyday.

Hummenah hummenah.

Not since Mr. Darcy has there been a more desirable male lead than Edward Cullen.

Continue reading "stephenie meyer: TWILIGHT and NEW MOON" »

Not sure this can stand as an official review since I already returned the book to the library a few weeks ago and have forgotten the better details.

But I DID thoroughly enjoy Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom. Even if I'm not sure I'm SMART enough for the book I do feel like I deserve a little certificate or rite of passage memento from the Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Coven In The Sky.

Continue reading "ursula 1000" »

Alright don't tell my budget or significant other. This was an impulse buy. But the art was too ghoulishly entrancing, my fever too high, the weather crummy, and the date too close to Halloween to pass up this juicy fat hardcover.

Continue reading "jan pienkowski: THE FAIRY TALES" »

This is very exciting: SCBWI WWA is trying something brand spanking new by hosting a Graphic Novel Workshop.

The very talented Linda Medley, author and illustrator of Castle Waiting, will be leading the workshop. Both authors and illustrators are invited and Linda welcomes you to bring any projects you are working on that you might like to convert to a graphic novel OR a graphic novel you'd like her to look at!

There are only a few spots left--I can't wait!

I'm sorry I missed it. I would have had some Frobscottle and Mud Burgers to commemorate such a fine day. Dear wacky Roald would be 90.

What is your favorite Dahl book?

Mine used to be Danny the Champion of the World and The BFG--Quentin Blake being a huge part of the appeal, too.

Currently I'm in love with the audio version of Boy and Going Solo both read by Andrew Sachs, Manuel, from Fawlty Towers. I say buy both book and audio versions--there are some fantastic photos and things in the books. But Andrew Sachs is an all-time favorite and an amazing narrator. There's also the non-child friendly Lamb to the Slaughter...Dahl was a nutter.

A new discovery a few years ago--that someone besides Quentin Blake could illustrate a Dahl story and have it be a success. I love what Ralph Steadman did for The Mildenhall Treasure.

Happy Dahl Day everyone. Look out for bald toeless witches and poach some pheasants if you can!

Jaime

Where were the trumpets?

A new Karen Cushman book came out and I didn't see any fanfare or hoopdeehoo.
Odds are it is great and I look forward to getting my hands on it (I do miss the beautiful Trina Schart Hyman covers, though.)

Here are the notes I took of her keynote speech at the 2006 Seattle SCBWI Annual Conference. They may be a little nonsensical but so am I...She and Jane Yolen share the Butt In Chair mantra.

Jaime

Linda Smith is the excellent author of (among other titles) Mrs Crump's Cat and Mrs Biddlebox. During a Haystack workshop Marla Frazee told us some heart wrenching stories about working on the art for Biddlebox while Linda was losing her memory and life to cancer. I love Mrs. Biddlebox more than ever now, but can't get through it without crying. As long as I never meet David Roberts maybe I can get through the delightful Mrs. Crump's Cat without bawling.

NOT just because this is the story of an exquisite yellow cat that closely resembles my exquisite ginger haired felon/cat. The text is crisp, lyrical and funny as I assume all of Linda's books are. David's illustrations are wonderfully lanky, spot on glimpses into my ideal home and village (looks like a British drizzle and tea cozy kind of place to me.)

The book is tall and he makes excellent use of the page height in every spread. Roberts does some great things with perspective and layout--delightful triptych panels that I'd love to see more of in other books. Mrs. Crump (and her bosom) and her new cat have some excellent expressions and I recommend this book EVEN to dog lovers.

America has finally done something better than England: the US version of Joseph Delaney's The Last Apprentice: Book One (called The Spook's Apprentice in Britain) is GORGEOUS. The American version seems to be the only one that is illustrated with dark dark dramatic chapter headings by Patrick Arrasmith. I would post a scan of one, but it is so much fun to discover on your own--go get it!

This book is a great bedtime read--very scary, EXCELLENT tension building. So excellent, in fact, that I was forced by others to turn the light out at 11:30 and stop reading only to wake up at SIX the next morning to finish a chapter that had my goosebumps all a flutter.

So what if it came out last year, I'm glad to be slow on the uptake: The sequel to Book One: Revenge of the Witch is Book Two: Curse of the Bane and it comes out August 29th! I hardly have to wait now.

Jaime

I might be biased because I've worked on art for the book's website but The Beast of Noor is a wonderful wondeful book. Janet immediately pulled me into this other world with rich scenery and tender believable characters. Plus I had to stop reading it and say a prayer that it held a happy ending. When you are doing that you know the book's put a spell on you. AND it is the first of a trilogy! Can't wait for the next adventure.

AND there is a book party this Saturday, July 8th, at Parkplace Books in Kirkland at 7pm. I'll be there with bells on...or at least butterflies.

Here's the copy from Janet's evite and all are welcome:

Host: Janet Lee Carey
Location: Parkplace Books
348 Parkplace Center, Kirkland, WA
When: Saturday, July 8, 7:00pm
Phone: (425) 828 6546

Book Sales will Benefit
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
Help a dog save a life.

TWO great books by the SAME author. It is a joy to discover a new favorite author and Candace Fleming is mine. New to me--I know she is a seasoned professional.

First came Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! illustrated by G Brian Karas (another favorite whose alter ego IS Mr. Greeley.) The text is as crisp and lush as a homegrown radish. The illustrations are fantastic--full of sweet funny bunnies with adorable shirts and fluffy bottoms. The setting is spot on with a great narrow yard and what I imagine an English or American victory garden looked like...with victory for the rabbits.

There's a sequel, too, I think, but am having trouble finding it: Tippy-tippy-tippy, HIDE.

Also there's a new man in my life thanks to Candace as recommended reading by Kirby: Lowji.

Lowji Discovers America is the first in what I hope will be a series. Lowji moves from the cosmopolitan fragrant world of India to small town America leaving behind friends, family and all that is familiar. The one hope he clings to is the chance that in America he will be able to own a pet dog or cat. A pet he will shower with affection and snuggle every night (how can you not love Lowji for that alone?)

Life doesn't go according to Lowji's plan but Lowji finds the silver lining on most every cloud. We share with him the loneliness and (often) humiliation of being the new kid on the block. Lowji is no push over, however, and he does things I'd never dream of doing. Most concerning burps and pigs...

Candace provides a bounty of humorous characters and situations as well as a peek into what life might be like in modern Bombay (great food references thanks to Lowji's father, the chef.)

You can't help but root for Lowji and I'm hoping to hear more from him soon.

Jaime

This book showed up "new" at the Ballard Library a few weeks ago. Originally published in 2001 it was endorsed and reprinted in 2005 for the Hans Christian Andersen Bicentennial by the Kingdom of Denmark and Groundwood Books respectively.

What a wonderful introduction to Hans. The illustrations by Lillian Brogger are fantastic and immediately reminded me of the Provensens fairy tale book. Wacky and skewed Brogger also uses collage to great effect. Hans Christian's own papercuts and drawings are in the book (though they aren't credited.)

Hans Christian Andersen: His Fairy Tale Life reads like a fairy tale, too. Hans had some amazing adventures but it is his reaction to the small things in life that mark him as an extraordinary character in a normal world. Adults will read between the lines--I'm not sure I could have been friends with Hans! A very sensitive and dramatic boy/man prone to singing anywhere and everywhere, reciting poetry and given to great lamenting. Or perhaps I have the child's reaction to Hans the man--here's an excerpt from the book:

Edvard Collin's wife was one of the people who lovingly tended to him when he was grieving for Henriette. She listened to his cries and laments. She comforted him and encouraged him. But every once in a while even she would exclaim, "Oh, now he's going too far!"

The her mother would scold her and say, "Just remember that it was Mr. Andersen who wrote 'The Nightingale.'"

Don't scold but it has been 20 years since I read any original Hans Christian Andersen stories: the strongest impression I have of him is Danny Kaye's movie role of Hans! Clearly Hans is much more complicated than that and there is much more blood, death and gore in his fairy tales than the sweetened Disney versions like The Little Mermaid. I'll be getting into some of his fairy tales soon--luckily Varmer's book has a Further Reading section at the back and recommends a Viking 2005 collection translated by Tiina Nunnally. Nunnally did the translation of this book and it is great. A good translation means so much. I'll also check out The Amazing Paper Cuttings of Hans Christian Andersen and for illustration's sake I'd love to see Lisbeth Zwerger's Fairy Tales.

One thing to take away from Hans is his indomitable creative spirit. Not so much ego but a desire to keep creating no matter how many people told him he stank. He had horrible self doubt but he just kept on trying and lordy, he REALLY didn't want to work in a factory! Facing a future like that can really make you get your butt in gear.

Jaime

Sweet Silly George Shannon has a great new book of poems and riddles perfect for spring. Busy In The Garden has me raring to rake and boogie with some broccoli. My favorite poem would have to be the Zucchini one (forgive me for the lack of formatting--I'm still learning to blog):

Zucchini
meeny
miney
moe.
Plant a seed
and watch it grow.
Eeny
meeny
makes a lot.
Like a magic cooking pot.
Eeny
meeny
munch a lot.
Zucchini every meal-
you've got:
Zucchini bread.
Zucchini spread.
Zucchini casseroles.
Zucchini pies.
Zucchini fries.
Zucchini dinner rolls.
Zucchini juice.
Zucchini mousse.
Zucchini jam and scone.
Zucchini hash
and succotash.
Zucchini
meeny
miney
MOAN.

Moaning aside it makes me hungry for summer and my grandmother's famous Chocolate Chip Zucchini cake.
Apparently in Vermont there is a Zucchini festival that is tons of fun.

The illustrations are fun and joyous, too. Sam Williams's pencil and watercolor spots are full of warmth. His characters remind me of Helen Oxenbury's and a bit of Harry Bliss or early Maurice Sendak--the children are sweet and doughy but with a definite weight--I love a solid child with her feet firmly on the ground.

George is having a book party this Saturday at All For Kids Books in Seattle to celebrate Busy in the Garden. I plan on being there and hope you will come, too!

Last night I attended our final monthly SCBWI WWA for the season. Kirby Larson, the main session speaker, always brings down the house. Her topic of Voice Lessons was pitch perfect. Kirby, a wit and a wonder, provided no easy answers for finding your character's voice but DID provide a great handout of strategies as well as mention some great picture books, MG readers and YA novels to look to for voice inspiration.

Having read Hattie Big Sky it was thrilling to see Kirby's early writing and pre-writing exercises. Hattie Big Sky is a FANTASTIC debut young adult novel. It won't be out until October 10th but put it on hold at your library or pre-order it from Amazon NOW.

And to give us all hope--Kirby worked on Hattie for four years! Research and development included, yes, but the final product reads as effortless and true as if Hattie had left the manuscript waiting for Kirby in that 1917 Montana claim shack.

Just read it. Inspired by Hattie's grit and gumption you, too, will accomplish things you never thought you had the power or wherewithal to do!

Some of the books Kirby mentioned last night in relation to strong character voice are:

The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey
Zelda and Ivey written and illustrated by Laura McGee Kvasnosky
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Chicken Boy by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Lowji Discovers America series by Candace Fleming (Kirby calls series readers the SOAP OPERAS of the children's book world)
Angel Coming by Heather Henson, illustrated by Susan Gaber
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
Are You Going To Be Good? by Cari Best, illustrated by G Brian Karas
and OF COURSE
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

Finally, to combat all your writer jealousy of the above hot titles she recommends reading page 122 in Anne Lamott's Bird By Bird

Keep being inspired! Check out Kirby's gorgeous website complete with writing tips and her blog.

Blogwide disclaimer: I am NOT a qualified reviewer of books or anything else reviewed in this blog except for cupcakes. But children’s books and YA novels are my passion and I’m writing about them because I want some feedback and/or I want to share with you great books or things that should be a part of your life, too.

Having just finished Paula Danziger's The Cat Ate My Gymsuit I can’t BELIEVE I didn’t read this when I was going through my own Marcy Lewis (the main character) phase—an overweight, quiet girl in junior high with a domineering father. Originally written in 1974, this book has hardly aged—or so I suspect.

So much of CAMG reminded me of my everyday battles at that age—but Marcy (her voice is fantastically authentic) was finding an inner strength and taking part in an outer rage that I didn’t know I had the right to have. I felt so uncommon and alone then. No books ‘fit’ what was going on with me and my family. It would have been great to read something empowering that didn’t involve escaping into fantasy books—if only I’d had Paula and Marcy in 1989!

A reviewer on Amazon wrote “In 2006, this book would be counterproductive for young and older women.” I agree Marcy’s mom seems especially weak, but it only helps to underline the outrage girls today should feel for themselves and their mothers in such relationships. If they are baffled by such dynamics today I hope that means they’ll nip in the bud any similarly skewed relationships they find themselves a part of.

How is this book received today? We are back to the same political battle of having our government involved in a war the public has mixed feelings about. How are kids treating the idea of patriotic dissent in CAMG and do they see the book’s relevance in America today?

Are the “mes” of today finding any solace in Marcy’s transformation? Are domineering fathers and cowtowing mothers a thing of the past? Where are overweight girls finding support? If it is usually a symptom of a bigger issue are they getting more help these days?

No! I haven’t read any Amber Brown yet. I will. I’ll get through all of Paula’s books.

Paula passed away in 2004 and there is still an outpouring of remembrance in the children’s book community. I’m sorry I never got to meet her, she sure seems like a firecracker.

jaime temairik

Chompo bars are the delicious candy of choice in the badgery world of Frances, her sister Gloria and--I assume--the entire children's book world.

For those of you who DIDN'T grow up with Russell Hoban's Frances books I urge you to run out and get them in both book and audio tape/CD form.

My favorite bedtime story was a recording of Glynis Johns (the mother in Mary Poppins and the female lead in The Court Jester) reading the Frances stories. It lulled me to sleep almost every night and I have a terrible feeling if I had a younger sister all that Frances behavior pumping subliminally into my ears (read the stories!) would have had me eating my sweet baby sister's birthday presents and kicking her under the table.

Those recordings also saturated my young brain with silly singsong ditties... My adult ditties are no more sensical and surely haunt my poor boyfriend and neighbors. If you, too, would like to make up tunes for your everyday activities please learn from the master: you can't beat Glynis as Frances and her rendition of the jam songs.

Below is a semi-panorama of chompo headquarters minus chompo mascot Bebop, who must be sleeping on a heater somewhere.