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Scholastic Stars Read, Joke with Librarians
"Cher? Cher who?" But Avi—that’s a one-word name my 12-year-old daughter knows. She got to speak with the Newbery winner last Sunday, at Scholastic’s author brunch during ALA. But before Jazzy met Avi, she and more than 300 librarians waited and talked outside Ballroom E at the Marriott in downtown Chicago. "Those librarians are just as loud as the people they tell to be quiet," Jazzy noted.
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In Brief: July 16
This week, Chicago "SHELebrates" the life of its native poet and artist, and we give word of two contests for young readers.
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Cover of the Week: 'Geektastic'
If you look closely at the cover of Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd, edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci (Little, Brown, Aug.), you’ll notice that many of the avatars look exactly like M.T. Anderson, Kelly Link, Scott Westerfeld and other well-known writers. No coincidence, since the 20-odd writers on display on the jacket all contributed stories to the collection. We spoke with designer Ben Mautner about the idea and execution for the book’s cover image.
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Hoping for 'Runaway' Success
A parody of a well-known children’s book may, at first, seem designed to appeal more to adults: Goodnight Bush put a political spin on the bedtime story, while Pat the Husband found humor in spousal relationships. However, one recent parody found its place with kids as well: Goodnight Goon, a monster-infused parody of the Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd classic Goodnight Moon, though it is by no means the only classic ripe for child-sized parody.
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Spreading 'Fire’
Few words strike deeper dread in the heart of a writer than 'orphaned manuscript'—a book acquired by an editor who leaves before seeing it to publication. So last December, when editor Kathy Dawson announced she was leaving Harcourt for Dial, author Kristin Cashore did not hesitate to say she would switch publishers, too. But would 'Fire' follow? The companion to Cashore’s bestselling debut, 'Graceling,' which has sold 80,000 copies in hardcover, was less than 10 months from publication.
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Children's Book Reviews: 7/13/2009
New picture books from Dan Andreasen, David Lucas, Lane Smith, Neil Numberman and more; fiction from Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Kate Saunders, Richard Peck, Beth Kephart, Richard Lewis; and a back-to-school roundup.
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“Children’s Book Authors for $1,000, Alex...”
The answer: “This 30-year-old kids’ book writer just appeared on Jeopardy! and won $44,200.” The question: “Who is Tui Sutherland?” She is the author, under both her own name and four pseudonyms, of more than two dozen novels, including This Must Be Love, the Avatars trilogy, and her Pet Trouble series. And last month, TV viewers saw her win big on the long-running game show hosted by Alex Trebek.
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Sisterhood of the Traveling ARCs?
Plenty of authors go on road trips, meeting fans at bookstores and other venues. Mary Pearson, however, is taking it a step further. Four advance reading copies of her latest YA novel, The Miles Between, headed out last week on a cross-country road-trip — without the author accompanying them. The four galleys began their odyssey on May 28, and are scheduled to wind up on the desk of Pearson's editor, Kate Farrell, in the Flatiron Building by September 1.
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Capstone Turns to Sports
Capstone Publishers is teaming with Sports Illustrated Kids to publish three lines of sports books for children. Fiction and nonfiction titles containing sports themes will be produced for elementary and middle-grade readers in three different formats: high/low informational, graphic novels, and illustrated chapter books. The partnership will continue through spring 2012, with a total of 82 titles scheduled for release over the course of the next three years.
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Q & A with Michael Grant
Michael Grant has written over 150 books, most notably the Animorphs and Everworld series (which he co-authored with his wife, Katherine Applegate). The Gone books, his first solo novels, feature a distinctive hook: everyone over the age of 14 in the small California town of Perdido Beach has gone missing. To make matters worse for the children, there’s an impenetrable forcefield around the town and some of the kids are starting to develop strange powers.
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In Brief: July 9
This week, we watch Mo Willems's Pigeon send out his first tweets from ALA, and give word of a middle-grade launch party in Cambridge, Mass.
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In the Media: July 9
A roundup of articles about children's books in the media this week.
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Author Throws Online Party to Benefit School
Children’s author Cynthea Liu believes in putting her money where her mouth is. And she’s succeeded in encouraging others to put their money down for a good cause. Liu, a native of Oklahoma and author of The Great Call of China, launched her second book for middle-grade readers, Paris Pan Takes the Dare (Putnam, June), with an online "slumber party," featuring an auction to benefit a Title I school in an impoverished and crime-ridden area in Oklahoma City.
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Children's Book Reviews: 7/6/2009
This week: picture books from Matthew Cordell, Elizabeth Bluemle & Randy Cecil, Ross Collins, Uri Shulevitz and others; novelists including Mary Ann Hoberman, Devin Jordan and R.A. Nelson; plus nonfiction and series favorites.
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Scholastic Reconfigures Book Fairs
As part of its effots to centralize its book fair operations, Scholastic last month closed seven distribution centers and laid off about 100 book fair employees.
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Children's Book Reviews: 6/29/2009
Reviewed this week: the latest picture book from the Emberley clan, a picture-book biography of the inventors of Day-Glo paint, new novels from Richard W. Jennings and Elizabeth Scott, as well as a round-up of concept books for younger readers.
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Winning ‘Hunger Games’ Essay Announced
Scholastic announced today that 17-year-old Kayley Hyde of Seattle has won the publisher’s The Hunger Games essay contest. As grand prize winner, she will receive a trip to New York City, where she will be treated to lunch with author Suzanne Collins. Kaylee will also be given a signed, personalized copy of The Hunger Games, an autographed ARC of Catching Fire, and a collectible “mockingjay” pin.
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Dowd, Rayner Win Carnegie and Greenaway Medals
The 2009 CILIP Carnegie Medal was awarded posthumously to Siobhan Dowd for Bog Child (David Fickling Books) at a ceremony in London today. Dowd finished Bog Child in 2007, just before her death from cancer. Set in Northern Ireland in 1981 at the height of the Troubles, it tells a story of growing up against a background of sectarian violence. “Siobhan Dowd was a writing phenomenon,” said David Fickling, who edited all of Dowd’s books.
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Licensing Hotline: June 2009
Cartoon Network is extending its boy-skewing television franchise The Secret Saturdays into books, through a partnership with Random House Children’s Publishing. The first books will debut later this summer. “Everyone always says boys don’t read,” says Christina Miller, v-p, Cartoon Network Enterprises. “So we asked, how do we get them to read? How do we engage them?” Read on to see many more licensing stories.
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Q & A with Sharon M. Draper
Sharon M. Draper has been busy of late, with her new Sassy series for tween girls from Scholastic, as well as the release of Just Another Hero (Atheneum), the final book in her Jericho trilogy. The former teacher now writes fulltime, and does school visits and appearances. PW caught up with the author to talk about her writing life.
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