Themed Reviews: Gardens

Gardens are a vital part of children's literature. They are the setting for favorite stories such as The Secret Garden and Oscar's Wilde's The Selfish Giant, and more recently, young adult novels The Poison Diaries and Forget-her-nots. Gardens also tell us about significant times in American history, such as the role of vegetable gardens during WWII as seen in the picture book Lily's Victory Garden. Many nonfiction titles explore the diverse ways people have used gardens over the years—from Dr. Carver's lessons about sustainable agriculture to how to grow an elementary school garden.

Because gardening is one of those activities that can be done at nearly any age—and in nearly every location—it is a perfect way to expose children to the joy of growing their own flowers and food. There are so many different and creative ways to grow a little, or a lot, or simply learn how to identify basic items found in a garden. The highlighted selections below are recently published titles about gardening, and of course, many more titles can be found when you search the CLCD database.

Full feature: http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/th_garden.html

For more information and ideas for gardening with kids visit:
http://inkrethink.blogspot.com/2009/04/10-reasons-why-kids-need-garden.html
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/garden-activities-for-kids.htm
http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/gardening-kids

The Imaginary Garden

Andrew Larsen

Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher

Theo loves her Poppa's garden, and is concerned when he moves to an apartment and has to leave it. Since Poppa says it will be too windy on his balcony for real flowers, Theo suggests an imaginary garden. When spring arrives, Poppa puts a big blank canvas on the balcony. With paint they "build" a stone wall and create soil. Poppa paints crocuses and scilla coming up, and adds a visiting robin. When Poppa goes on holiday, he leaves Theo in charge. She adds blossoms in many colors and eagerly awaits his return. This delightful imaginative story combines sketchy black ink drawings with particularly colorful multimedia collages for illustrations. The decorative iron fence on the balcony makes a fine contrast for the great canvas that becomes the garden. There is a logic to the way it grows, with paints added in time for the crocuses and then tulip bulbs, while vines cover the stone, for a sense of magic to the colorful creation. The love between Theo and her grandfather is evident. If only a real garden were as easy to establish and flood with blooms as this one! 2009, Kids Can Press, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).

Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award, 2010 Shortlist Canada
Governor General's Literary Awards, 2009 Finalist Children's Literature (Illustration) Canada
Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award, 2010 Shortlist Picture Book Canada
ISBN: 9781554532797


Contributor: Emily Griffin

Children’s Literature Continues Under Leadership of Marilyn Courtot

Children’s Literature Continues Under Leadership of

Marilyn Courtot

Marilyn Courtot, the founder of two companies, Children’s Literature and the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) announces that she will continue as Proprietor of Children’s Literature and has sold her other company, CLCD.

Children's Literature, currently an independent on-line review source, was founded by Marilyn Courtot in 1993 as a monthly print newsletter. It now consists of a review team of more than 125 individuals who read and critically review more than 5,000 books annually. Children's Literature reviewers include book authors, librarians, writers and editors, teachers, children's literature specialists and physicians. The company mission is to help teachers, librarians, childcare providers and parents make appropriate literary choices for children. To that end, Children’s Literature is not affiliated with any publisher and accepts no advertising. Additionally, Children’s Literature currently assists schools, museums, conferences and other organizations in identifying authors and illustrators for speaking engagements. Authors and illustrators provide valuable insight into their craft and connect their audience with the world of literature.

The Children's Literature reviews are licensed to Barnes & Noble and to Borders Books for use on their web sites and in store kiosks. The reviews will continue to be licensed to CLCD, LLC whose new President, Ajay Vijay Gupte, will take ownership on July 1, 2011. Marilyn Courtot will continue as a consultant for the CLCD for the next two years to ensure a smooth transition. Her responsibilities will include many of the tasks that she is currently engaged in.

As Marilyn has said in the past and continues to believe today “A love of books is one of the most treasured values you can give a child. As a trained librarian, I founded Children’s Literature because reading is the most important skill there is in determining a child’s future success. It takes root early on with infants and board books and it never stops growing.” Children’s Literature will continue reviewing and growing to fulfill this mission.

CLCD Welcomes Its New President and Owner

Marilyn Courtot, President of the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database Company, LLC, announced the sale of the CLCD to Dr. Ajay Vijay Gupte. Ownership will be transferred on July 1, 2011.

Dr. Gupte is currently a partner in the CLCD and has been a part of the CLCD team from its beginning. He developed the software to build the database that supports the product and has continued to do the CLCD monthly updates ever since joining the organization. Dr. Gupte has worked in the Library Automation industry since 1988 starting with The Library Corporation, TLC. He was intimately involved with the MARC data updates and with library data in the early years. Later, he was responsible for the second generation of the Public Access Catalog and was instrumental in development of the associated production system. Dr. Gupte has diverse computer software industry experience having worked as a senior manager in a number of global organizations.

“There will be little noticeable change initially,” states Ms. Courtot. “I will continue as a consultant for the CLCD for the next two years to ensure a smooth transition. My responsibilities will include many of the tasks I am currently engaged in. It is both satisfying and gratifying to know that someone so familiar with the CLCD will be moving the company forward. Ajay has supported the underlying database at Children's Literature since its inception in 1999. He also brings a new perspective and energy at a time when small businesses need to be revving up to encourage economic growth. ”

“Although I left the world of libraries and books for youth for a while, I gravitated back through my work with the CLCD,” comments Dr. Gupte. “Children and their books continue to intersect my personal life, as well. I have been married to a pediatrician for 17 years, and we have a 11-year-old son who just happens to be a voracious reader. The purchase of CLCD is an exciting opportunity for me, and I am already planning ways to further enhance the database and its usability for our customers.”

Dr. Gupte has a Doctorate in Computer Science from George Washington University and a Master’s Degree from George Mason University in the same field. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech.

Effective July 1, 2011, the new address for the company is CLCD, LLC; 322 Shore Road, Somers Point, NJ 08244. The web address will be http://www.clcd.com/. The Toll Free Help Line is still 1 800 469 2070.

Graphic Novel Resources

Here at Children's Literature we see so many new graphic novels coming in for review—our shelves are overflowing with them! We want to know how you use graphic novels in your classroom, library, and at home. The resources below are helpful tools for getting the most out of graphic novels for children and teens. Don't forget that you can use the CLCD database to search for thousands of graphic novel reviews, curriculum tools, plus awards and best book lists. For a free trial go to http://clcd.odyssi.com/admin/form.pl

Recommended Resources:

Cooperative Children's Book Center
http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/graphicnovels.asp

SUNY Buffalo
http://library.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/graphicnovels/

The Comic Book Project
http://www.comicbookproject.org/

Good Comics for Kids - School Library Journal
http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/goodcomicsforkids

Teaching Comics
http://www.teachingcomics.org/

Graphic Novel Reporter
http://www.graphicnovelreporter.com/

Get Graphic
http://www.getgraphic.org/teachers.php

No Flying No Tights
http://noflyingnotights.com

Articles:

"Can the X-Men Make You Smarter?" by Drego Little, a graduate student in the Language, Literacy, and Culture program at the University of Washington in Seattle
http://www.parents-choice.org/article.cfm?art_id=140&the_page=reading_list

"Using Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom" by The Council Chronicle, NCTE
http://www.ncte.org/magazine/archives/122031

"Graphic Novels for Kids Make Comic Books Accessible to All" by GeekDad blog at Wired Magazine
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/03/graphic-novels-for-kids-make-comic-books-accessible-to-all/

Best Book Lists:
Great Graphic Novels for Teens - American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/gn.cfm

Selected Book Reviews:

The Readers' Advisory Guide to Graphic Novels
Francisca Goldsmith
     The American Library Association (ALA) adds another excellent and, in this case, much-needed volume to its readers' advisory library with this succinct guide by transplanted (to Nova Scotia) California librarian and graphic novel expert Goldsmith. After dispelling the two main myths that ghettoize graphic novels--they are just for adolescents and they are far less complex than texts without pictures--Goldsmith emphasizes that Graphic Novels (GNs) are a format and not a genre. She suggests active and passive ways to offer readers’ advisory (RA) from face-to-face encounters with patrons to book displays and book groups and offers guidance on helping established GN readers to find new titles they might enjoy. Goldsmith includes lists of "crossover" titles by genre to urge readers' advisors to include the format of GNs when offering RA; and since graphic novels share characteristics with visual media, she includes instruction on advising movie lovers or gamers on graphic format literature they might find to their tastes. There are two separate annotated lists of "books to know." The first is broken down into the usual-suspect genres plus some less expected: science, religion, and health and wellness. The second list includes categories such as adaptations, instruction, and even wordless narratives. For the experienced RA professional, there are lists of print and online resources to offer further assistance. Although for the completely uninitiated professional seeking a foot in the door, the after matter includes a ten-step "short course" with specific title suggestions and pointed questions followed by an abbreviated glossary of manga terms. All in all it is a valuable and quite readable resource that belongs in every library's professional collection. 2009, ALA Editions, 126p.; Glossary. Index. Biblio. Source Notes. Further Reading. Appendix., $45.00 pb. Ages adult professional. Reviewer: Timothy Capehart (VOYA, February 2010 (Vol. 32, No. 6)).
ISBN: 9780838910085

Graphic Novels Beyond the Basics: Insights and Issues for Libraries
Martha Cornog and Timothy Perper
     This collection of essays is geared toward the librarian who already knows that graphic novels are a critical part of a library collection. Practical concepts covered include issues with selection and acquisitions, cataloging and processing, and housing the materials, as well as information about censorship and dealing with related problems in a library, which supplements the historical and sociological context in the book. Title lists are featured throughout to aid in the development of collections and displays. Programming suggestions are offered as well. Contributors to this book include librarians, scholars, and publishers, giving the reader a well-rounded perspective from trustworthy sources. The tone is encouraging and empowering, and the information and advice is practical. This title would be an asset to any public library professional collection. Content is useful to library media specialists, academic librarians, and teachers and should be considered by those teaching in library science and media programs at the graduate level. It will serve as a reference resource to those developing a core collection, planning programs around graphic novels, academic libraries considering adding or expanding a graphic novel collection, and those writing policies or dealing with challenges of the format. 2009, Libraries Unlimited, 325p.; Index. Biblio. Appendix., $45.00 pb. Ages adult professional. Reviewer: Molly Krichten (VOYA, February 2010 (Vol. 32, No. 6)).
ISBN: 9781591584780

The Librarian's Guide to Graphic Novels for Children and Tweens
David S. Serchay
     Confused about all the graphic novels out there? Wondering which ones are appropriate for young audiences? Asking yourself why graphic novels should be included in your library at all? Youth services librarian and comic book fan David S. Serchay answers all these questions and more in 10 easy-to-follow, yet content-rich chapters. Tracing the history of comic books back to cave paintings and hieroglyphics, Serchay takes readers on a ride that explores how comic books are made, the diverse genres covered by graphic novels and the enormous appeal of Asian manga and other graphic novels from different countries. Newcomers to the world of comic books will be amazed to learn how effective graphic novels can be in teaching English, developing visual literacy and helping reluctant and enthusiastic readers improve their vocabulary. Those wondering which graphic novels to select for their libraries will be happy to know that the book provides three appendixes with lists of recommended graphic novels, further reading and online resources. Practical issues, including the best way to purchase, preserve, and promote graphic novels for libraries, are also covered. And while graphic novels currently enjoy greater respect from librarians, Serchay is aware that prejudices still exist, and devotes an entire chapter to strategies for dealing with potential problems. Given the many misconceptions surrounding graphic novels today, Serchay’s book is an essential primer for any parents, teachers or librarians who would like to expand their own horizons and those of their children, students and patrons. 2008, Neal-Schuman Publishers Inc, $55.00. Ages 17 up. Reviewer: Michael Jung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9781555706265


Emily Griffin
CLCD

Ally Condie

When I heard Ally Condie speak at the 2010 ALAN Workshop following the NCTE conference she began by telling the audience that she had always pictured herself attending the conference as a teacher—not a writer. How things have changed for this former high school English teacher! Her novel, Matched, a dystopian tale for young adults, was published by Penguin in November 2010. Its highly anticipated sequel, Crossed, is due out this November with the third book planned for the following year. Despite her explosive career, Ally still keeps her teaching license current—just in case.

Ally has her degree from Brigham Young University. Following college, she spent several years teaching high school English in Salt Lake City and upstate New York. During her first year of teaching, Ally discovered that one of the girls in her class was the daughter of author Chris Crowe, best known for the award winning young adult novel Mississippi Trial, 1955—an intimidating way to kick off your teaching career. Other memorable moments from this period in her life included chaperoning school dances with her husband as a way to make a little extra money. Recalling that junior prom was her favorite to chaperone, Ally explained that all the students were on their best behavior—the boys made sure all the girls had dates. One year Ally witnessed a boy proposing during prom. This set off a dual reaction in her. From wanting to jump in and fix this bad idea and then also stopping and recognizing that it's the couples' own life to do with what they will.

That idea of being torn between wanting to fix young peoples' lives and stepping back to let them make their own way is a critical part of the narrative thread in Matched. In the world Ally created, the governing body, known as The Society, selects everything for you in return for a long life. Your job, who you marry, when you die: all determined by Society officials. The heroine in Ally's novel is Cassia, a teen who during her Matching ceremony experiences a rare occurrence: a mistake by The Society. After the screen shows the face of her mate, a second face briefly appears. This sets off a chain of events that lead to what Cassia never expected—a choice.

The desire for control is an important element in many dystopian novels. In Matched, messiness is unacceptable. The Society, through control, has been able to extended the life span and "improve" the quality of life for its people. The science behind the matching process in Ally's novel was influenced by her husband, an English major turned economist, who would often talk about algorithms for relationships. Since relationships can be a particularly messy element in anyone's life, it isn't a huge leap to see why controlling that would be appealing to a society striving for perfection. But as Ally pointed out, in life messy is real and unavoidable. In that regard, high schoolers are often in a strange place where feelings of both power and powerlessness exist. That painful juxtaposition is a natural fit with dystopian literature. While students in our world may not have Big Brother or a harsh government repressing them as in Matched, they can identify with the struggle against something or someone. In a recent piece written for MTV about dystopian novels Ally wrote, "when we read dystopia, we root for these people to break free because we are these people; hoping and fighting against things that are bigger than ourselves."

Matched is often recommended for fans of The Hunger Games and The Giver and, as do many young adult novels, it has a broad cross-over appeal. With a lot of buzz surrounding her book, Ally has been busy touring and promoting Matched. Her fans look forward to reading the next two installments in the trilogy--the start of a promising career.

Ally Condie lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and three sons. For additional information about Ally, visit her web site http://www.allysoncondie.com/. To read the MTV article, visit http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2011/05/06/matched-ally-condie-on-dystopian.
Photo source: http://www.allysoncondie.com/



Emily Griffin
CLCD

Themed Reviews: Memorial Day

Honoring those who have given their lives for their country has a long history in every culture. Monuments, poetry, psalms, music, parks, bridges, buildings, and even highways have been created and named to honor the fallen. In the United States the history of a nationally observed Memorial Day has a variety of origins but is generally commemorated on the last Monday in May, having been changed from May 30th by an act of Congress to create a three day week-end. For many the holiday marks the beginning of the summer season and is a time of picnics and outings. There are many others who would like to see the date returned to the 30th to give more solemnity to the observance. The following information gives more background and history for Memorial Day as it has evolved in the U.S.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women’s groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University’s Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860’s tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war).

Since the late 50’s on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye’s Heights (the Luminaria Program).

http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/th_memorialday.html

For more information visit:
http://dc.about.com/od/hoildaysseasonalevents/a/MemorialDay.htm
http://www.history.com/topics/memorial-day-history
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/memorial-day-crafts.htm

Arlington: The Story of Our Nation’s Cemetery

Chris Demarest

Honor echoes in images and words chronicling Arlington National Cemetery’s history. Capturing the essence of America’s iconic burial ground, the nonfiction narrative presents readers essential information from early nineteenth-century construction of Arlington House through interment of twenty-first century Iraq and Afghanistan war casualties. A U.S. Coast Guard artist, Demarest, whose father is buried at Arlington, comprehends military subjects and traditions, effectively portraying scenes from Arlington’s past and present in pastel watercolors which convey sentimental and patriotic tones. His artistic interpretations distinguish this work from other Arlington Cemetery picture books which consist primarily of photographs. Demarest identifies notable veterans and presidents interred at Arlington, describes ceremonies, and discusses monuments memorializing the U.S.S. Maine, military nurses, Challenger astronauts, and 9/11. Paintings of the best-known Arlington landmark, the Tomb of the Unknowns, exemplify rituals expressing respect and dignity. Arlington’s Freedman’s Village, illustrated with an archival photograph is placed adjacent to supplementary material instead of the Civil War section. Concludes with author’s note explaining Demarest’s affinity for Arlington and bibliography. Adults can consult Robert M. Poole’s On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery (2009) to elaborate about aspects Demarest introduces which intrigue young readers. 2010, Flash Point/Roaring Brook Press, $17.99. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Elizabeth D. Schafer (Children’s Literature).

ISBN: 9781596435179

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything

by Uma Krishnaswami and illustrated by Abigail Halpin

Ages 8 to 12

Dini loves movies—watching them, reading about them, trying to write her own—especially those oh-so-stunning Bollywood movies where you don't even need to know the language to get what's going on. But when her mother reveals big news, it does not jive with Dini's script. Her family is moving to India! Not to Bombay, the "center of the filmi universe" (and home to Dini’s all-time favorite star, Dolly Singh). No, they're moving to a teeny, tiny town that Dini can’t even find on a map. Swapnagiri. The name means Dream Mountain: a sleepy little place where nothing interesting can happen…. But wait a movie minute! Swapnagiri is full of surprises: rose petal milkshakes, mischievous monkeys, a girl who chirps like a bird. And is that...?Could it be...? Dolly herself?

Check out the activity kit for The Grand Plan to Fix Everything:
http://www.umakrishnaswami.com/sites/default/files/GrandPlan_activitykit.pdf

“A Grand Plan, a grand read! A modern-day fairy tale whose crazy threads tie up perfectly in the end. Truly a delight!” Linda Sue Park, Newbery Award-winning author of A Single Shard.

Fiction contains large helpings of both truth and make-believe. What’s real? What’s invented and why? How do you make it all come together? How do you know what to show and when to tell? Whose story it is or what voice to tell it in? How do you decide where it takes place? Finally, how do you choose words and sentences with energy, to create images that move through space and time in a reader’s mind?

Uma Krishnaswami speaks by invitation to school and community groups all over the country and overseas. She reads, and draws connections between finished work and the ideas, sounds, music, and memories that went into making it. She uses writing exercises to get her audience to reflect on their own words and ideas. Gr. 3-7. Other presentations are also available across the age range.

 

Uma will be appearing at the National Book Festival and Politics & Prose in September 2011. She will be available for author visits in the DC area at that time. If you are interested in having Uma visit your school or organization please contact Emily Griffin at Children's Literature, emilyqgriffin@gmail.com.
 
Uma has written many books for children. She was born in India, and when she was young, she lived in a house named Sunny Villa with blinky-looking shutters, just like the house in her new middle grade book, The Grand Plan to Fix Everything. Now she lives and works on fixing plots in Aztec, New Mexico, but like her character Dolly, she is all over the place. She also works for the Vermont College of Fine Arts, teaching grownups who want to write for children.

For more information about Uma visit:
http://www.childrenslit.com/bookingservice/krishnaswami-uma.html
http://www.umakrishnaswami.com/
http://umakrishnaswami.blogspot.com/



Themed Reviews: Celebrate Mother's Day

In the United States Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. The holiday was created in 1908 by Anna Jarvis as a day to celebrate one’s own mother. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day as an official national holiday in 1914.

In 2011, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday May 8th. Though around the world many countries celebrate Mothers at different times of the year. In fact, over 60 countries have their own version of Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day is an excellent opportunity to incorporate family reading. Browse through the following selections for stories to share with any mothers in your life.

http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/th_mothersday.html

For more information on Mother’s Day:
http://www.biography.com/womens-history/mothers-day.jsp
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/mothers-day-gift-alternatives.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/mothers-day-kids-activities
http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/mothersday.html

My Mother is So Smart!

Tomie dePaola

Having written extensively about families in the past, DePaola now presents his homage to mothers. The book is dedicated to his mother, Flossie, and "all the other smart mothers in the world." We see a young child and his mother in a variety of scenes, all drawn in the award-winning style that is so famously "Tomie." Right from the earliest days, the baby recognizes that his mother is smart because she knows "when to change [his] diaper" and when he is hungry. Told in the first-person from the child’s point of view as he grows into a school-aged child, we learn that his mother knows how to dress him for cold weather and let him explore outside. Later, he appreciates her baking skills and willingness to interact with all of the neighborhood children. She teaches everyone to sing songs and be "VERY careful" using sparklers on the Fourth of July. One Halloween, she turns him "into a bird." The costume is adorable, and the child wears it with pride. When he describes how "she makes our house the best house at Christmas," he adds that he and his father help. Her versatility astonishes him, and he is impressed that she can drive his grandfather’s old delivery truck, sometimes even taking him to school in it. It is obvious that the narrator is impressed that she can "change into a movie star" when he sees her dressed to go out for the evening with his tuxedoed father. Her exuberance is portrayed as she teaches him to dance the polka and in his telling the principal of his school that "she can stand on her head." The blurb on the jacket cover explains that the generalized scenes in the book were inspired by DePaolo’s mother but the scene with the principal "actually happened." If only all mothers and children could have the loving relationship depicted here. Perfect for Mother’s Day or any day when children and adults share stories. 2010, Putnam/Penguin, $16.99. Ages 18 mo. to 5. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 9780399254420

Fred Bowen

For many in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area, author Fred Bowen is known not only for his sports stories but his weekly column that appears in the Washington Post. Fred has several new books and has also been testing a variety of new techniques with his school and conference appearances. He recently tried a webinar, but then he discovered that he really missed the feedback from the kids. When you actually see your audience you immediate feedback and you know immediately if thing are "clicking." Fred also noted that he is used to walking and talking which is not what happens in a webinar. He also remarked that it will also be a learning curve using Skype which does offer more possibilities for interaction than a webinar.

Fred remarked that PowerPoint presentations, while often overdone, can be effective. For example, he can show his books and other pictures such as his high school golf team buddies and then that same group 37 years later. This kind of long term relationship is really an important part of the books that he writes—friendships that develop or are related to sports. What are his sources? Fred told me that there are always "things going on" in the sports world. His experience coaching kids for many years resulted in Playoff Dreams. The same is true of Off the Rim, a story about a kid who wants to be a star but has to learn to contribute, especially in a team sport like basketball. The same is true of football—"sure everyone would like to be the quarterback and when one tries out and doesn't make quarterback, it is those who are really interested in playing the game and being part of a team that stick it out in another position. The ones who just wanted to be stars leave. You need more than Michael Jordan on your team to win."

If you follow soccer, you probably know how many games are decided by one goal, or one play, even though every player has to play hard all the time. There seem to be so many different plays that can appear to be meaningless, but that person who got the ball at midfield and manages to assist in making a score certainly can make a difference. There are plenty of situations/issues that arise in sports and that kids see and understand. They can relate to issues when they are brought up in a sports related milieu--especially issues such as honesty which in turn carries over into their daily lives. He related a story about a Cornell team that tossed themselves out of the playoffs when they realized that they had not won the game fairly. Fred not only tackles these tough issues in his book, he does the same in his sports column, like his piece about Hamm and how he probably should have returned the medal when it was discovered that the score was miscalculated. Also the football player Albert Haynesworth who stopped trying to play his best, had an attitude and action that was really unacceptable no matter how you feel about a coach (or teacher). Not working hard or not going to work are examples of unacceptable behavior. The penalty in this case was suspension from play and in all probability never playing for the Redskins again.

Stepping back in time, Fred related how he really began his writing career. He wrote movie reviews for a local newspaper and after his son, Liam, was born he moved to movie video reviews. This type of writing was quite a change from his work life—as a lawyer his writing was not geared to the general consumer like those who would be reading movie reviews. His career for the government as an attorney at the Department of Labor ended in 2008 after 30 years. He is now devoting his full energies to writing books and his newspaper column. As Fred noted--"It really is hard to believe that I have been writing it for ten years. The column is fun, but it also keeps my name alive and kids always want to know when my new book it going to be published." He also gets a real kick about being on top of "hot" sports issues. For example, his editor called on a Tuesday with the news about Haynesworth and requested that it be the subject of the next column. In two hours Fred had his 450 words ready to go and it appeared in the Thursday edition of Kids Post. He knows that his columns are read and discussed in schools and is delighted when teachers compliment him on what he has written. It gives Fred a real chance to say something—present his message.

Why sports books? Well in addition to playing sports himself, Fred discovered in reading sports books to his son that they were "clunky." They did not seem to take sports seriously and believe me, said Fred, kids do take sports seriously. His first attempt at writing a book didn't work—but over time he honed his craft and then wrote T.J's Secret Pitch. One of the people who helped Fred is Valerie Tripp—yes the one who writes the American Girl stories. The idea of marrying history and the story is what helped set her series apart, so why couldn't Fred do the same? He did, and the result has been a very successful series—all published by Peachtree with more books under contract at the time of this interview. Lest people think that Fred is rolling in dough—he made it a point to say that he has not made piles of money. He is just delighted that he gets to write more books and feels that they are at a good price point for this economy (Fred Bowen's Sports series are original paperbacks). So far Fred has written about basketball, football, baseball and soccer. Nothing on golf and yet he is a golfer. Kids have also requested stories about lacrosse. But Fred is branching out. His first picture book No Easy Way: The Story of Ted Williams was quite successful and he has another one that will be published soon.

One of the real pluses of having a writing career is that Fred can now work from home. He also has more time to read books by other authors and pointed out how much he enjoyed Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. In addition, Fred now has more time for school visits. One of his programs incorporates a writing exercise with kids. It starts by developing a series of talking points—developing a list of what to write about. His goal is to demystify the whole writing process and to break in into logical pieces. It is a good exercise and seems to be a successful program.

I mentioned earlier that Fred used to read sports books to his son Liam. Well the love of sports must be part of the genes because his son is now a graduate assistant and pitching coach at a Division 2 school—Lincoln Memorial University and has aspiration of moving up to Division 1. He has also been struck by the writing bug and has maintained a notebook for himself about running a college baseball program. As Fred said, "until you have thought it out enough to write it out, you haven't really thought it out." His son was also number one in the state of Maryland for sports writing in a school newspaper and was one of the finalist in the Hemmingway award (it is only fair to mention that his mother also is a writer), so he had his talent coming from both parents.

Fred has a daughter who is a senior at the University at Mary Washington and has also had some wonderful experiences in sports. She played field hockey and managed to become a "mvp" during her high school career. Not only did her skill level increase, but so did her confidence and ability to see herself in a leadership role. For Fred there could be no better example of the positive influence sports can have on a young life. He plans to keep on writing books and wants more kids to discover his stories and take away the messages that he presents.

Contributor:
Marilyn Courtot
CLCD
http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/mai_bowen_fred.html

No Easy Way: The Story of Ted Williams and the Last .400 Season

Fred Bowen

Illustrated by Charles S. Pyle

Crack! Imagine the sound of the bat hitting the ball as major-league hitter, Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox brought his batting average to .406 at the end of the season. His passion was baseball and he practiced playing through his years in school, the minor-league and then the majors. Ted Williams wasn't satisfied with an easy way to hit .400; he was determined to go all the way. He learned how to determine which pitches to swing at and he practiced smooth, strong swings to constantly improve his batting skills. The story focuses on his journey toward his magnificent feat. Wonderful, color illustrations capture different moments in Williams' career as they lead up to his well-earned moment of a record batting average. In addition, there are a few photographs of Williams. On the back cover, fans will find his baseball statistics. For those readers interested in additional information on about Williams, the author cites a couple resources on the cataloging in publication page. 2010, Dutton Children's Books/Penguin, $16.99. Ages 7 to 9. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).

ISBN: 9780525478775

Themed Reviews: National Poetry Month

Since 1996 National Poetry Month is celebrated every April. Introduced by the Academy of American Poets, many different events take place all month long, celebrating and highlighting poetry. One such event, Poem In Your Pocket Day, falls on April 14, 2011. Another, the Poems on the Range Project, is a collection of videos and photos of places associated with iconic poems.

There are many ways to celebrate and teach poetry this April. Browse through the these titles and those from previous years for some selections to share. Books from the past year show the diverse subject matter of quality poetry available to young people--historical, passionate, inspirational, humorous--something for everyone.

And for more information on National Poetry Month visit:
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41
http://www.loc.gov/poetry

For more reviews visit:
http://www.childrenslit.com/childrenslit/th_poetry.html
 

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys

Bob Raczka

Illustrated by Peter Reynolds

Because poetry is not considered a "guy" thing, Raczka has written twenty-four poems in haiku form celebrating the seasons, with direct appeal to boys. He begins with a section for spring, with subjects ranging from wind and kite to grasshopper and fishing. In the summer, mosquitoes and toasted marshmallows are included. For the fall, there are falling maple tree "helicopters" and leaves: "From underneath the leaf pile, my invisible brother is giggling." Then, "Winter must be here. Every time I open my mouth, a cloud comes out." Finally, "Last week's snowman looks under the weather. Must be a spring allergy." Reynolds offers lively drawings of boys in all sorts of activities as visual interpretations, with watercolor yellows, browns, and greens plus digital additions. The text is hand printed. Notes from both author and illustrator on why they did this book add background interest. 2010, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, $14.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780547240039