My Favorite Blog

There are a number of blogs I check regularly, but my very favorite is Alison Morris' at Publisher's Weekly. Alison is the children's buyer at the Wellesley Booksmith in Massachusetts. This link is a good example of why I love it so: http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/660000266/post/1120016312.html?nid=3340 In fact, I loved it so much I just had to share it with you!

Click

I recently received an ARC of Click, a fascinating collaboration by authors such as Linda Sue Park, Eoin Colfer, Roddy Doyle, Nick Hornby, and Gregory Maguire. It's fantastic! Here's my review:

Maggie is a young girl whose beloved grandfather, a famous photojournalist called “Gee,” has just died, leaving her a special package. Rather than opening it right away, Maggie goes through a grieving process for weeks. Finally, she is ready, and what she finds in Gee’s package sends her on the journey of a lifetime. This is a “jump” story, one where several authors write short stories, all tied together with one “jump character” or “jump object.” In this book, Grandpa Gee is the “jump character” whose story is told by a wide range of popular authors of both adult and children’s fiction. Maggie and her adopted brother Jason show up in some of the stories, aging into mature years as the book progresses. Other installments introduce people and situations from Gee’s past: two Japanese brothers during World War II, a couple of Irish boys who met Muhammad Ali, prisoners in a Russian jail, and a mysterious girl who lives by the sea. The stories work well together and create a fascinating blend of fantasy, realism, science fiction, and historical fiction. Collected by well-respected editor Arthur A. Levine, this collection has something for everyone and each purchase benefits Amnesty International!

Wicked Lovely

I recently read Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. Here is a description I wrote:

Aislynn has the Sight, which means that she can see the faeries, sprites, fey and nymphs that invisibly live in the world among humans. Fun, right? Wrong. These are malevolent creatures that play painful, dirty tricks on humans. Aislynn and her Grans have always had the Sight, but the faeries can't know or they might blind or even kill them. So, Aislynn walks through life, through the faeries, rigidly ignoring them. There are rules that apply to the faeries and suddenly they're breaking a lot of rules. Two of them, royal ones, seem to be following Aislynn. Soon, Aislynn is swept into a battle of wills when the Summer King wants her to be his queen and she must conceal her knowledge and resist his magic. Ancient rules, modern life, and the power of love come together in this gorgeous and richly woven urban fantasy.

This was a truly unique and awesome read. Highly recommended reading from a first-time author. Pick it up for your teenaged friend or yourself.

Picture Book Shelf

Sometimes when you are a librarian, especially a children's librarian, your desk can become overwhelmed by all of the picture books you are saving for upcoming storytimes. Let me give you an example by listing what all is on my picture book shelf right now.

The Hallo-Wiener, by Dav Pilkey
Peek-a-Boooo! by Marie Torres Cimarusti
The Three Bears' Halloween, by Kathy Duval
Sheep Trick or Treat, by Nancy Shaw
What a Scare, Jesse Bear, by Nancy White Carlstrom
Room on the Broom, by Julia Donaldson
Skeleton Hiccups, by Margery Cuyler

Oliver, Who Would Not Sleep, by Mara Bergman
A Splendid Friend Indeed, by Suzanne Bloom
Hippos Go Berserk, by Sandra Boynton
Can You Growl Like a Bear? by John Butler
Peek in My Pocket, by David Carter
If You're Happy and You Know It, by Jane Cabrera
Penguin, by Polly Dunbar
Color Zoo, by Lois Ehlert
Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug! by Ed Emberley
I've Got an Elephant, by Anne Ginkel
The Doorbell Rang, by Pat Hutchins
Adventures of Cow, by Cow (a.k.a. Lori Korchek)
Mother Goose's Little Treasures, by Iona Opie
The Great Gracie Chase, by Cynthia Rylant
Russell the Sheep, by Rob Scotton
What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas
The Boy Who Thought He Was a Teddy Bear, by Jeanne Willis



Some notable picture books that are also there that I'm just reviewing:
What Could Be Better Than This? by Linda Ashman
Mary and the Mouse, The Mouse and Mary, by Beverly Donofrio
Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal, by Paul Fleischman
Inventor McGregor, by Kathleen T. Pelley
Pssst! by Adam Rex
Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf, by Judy Sierra
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, by Peter Sis