I'm currently gearing up for the first ever Kidlitosphere Conference. I don't have my bags packed, and I'm not sure how I'm going to get around town, and I can't quite figure out where the place I'm staying is in relation to the actual conference . . . but I'm gearing up! See these gears? See where they're pointing? Up! Up up up! That also means that I have to prepare some stuff for the interim. While I do that, chew on these.
Walter over at The Monkey Speaks has a really interesting library-related news story straight out of my former sorta alma mater. Quote: "Dominican University has received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to conduct a study of the effect summer reading programs in public libraries have on children’s reading levels . . . Because so little research has validated the importance of what most public library youth librarians knock themselves out doing every summer, this project could give public libraries a critical boost in the eyes of teachers, principals, parents, and the government officials who vote library budgets. We should be keeping an eye on this project. Library consultant Carole Fiore has been recruiting libraries and schools who would like to participate. Read more about the project, and volunteer if you can. (By October 15!)" What he says! I'm a big advocate of getting numbers whenever and wherever we can. We know the good we do. Now let's work to let others know as well.
Yet another books for kids are sad article has come out. It's all so very Lizard Motel, don't you think? Which is to say, we've heard it all before. Besides, I think that at the point you start saying that Day of Tears reached over the "shock line", you're in seriously suspicious territory. Thanks to Omnibus for the link.
SupperTime Entertainment, with producer Chris Henderson , has acquired all rights to the Tom Trueheart book series, from well-known author and illustrator Ian Beck . SupperTime and Henderson have begun developing the first title in the series, The Secret History of Tom Trueheart , as CGI animated feature film. The Secret History of Tom Trueheart was published in the US earlier this year by Greenwillow Books , an imprint of HarperCollins, while Oxford University Press published the book in the UK, where it is titled The Secret History of Tom Trueheart - Boy Adventurer , in summer 2006. The second book in the series, Tom Trueheart and The Land of Dark Stories , is slated for publishing in March 2008, with a third to follow. Small piece of trivia for you - in addition to writing/illustrating a number of kid's books, among other books and magazines, Beck holds a place in the world of pop culture. Those who remember 1973 somewhat clearly (not that I do, I was just a baby ... okay, I was young) will be familiar with what is likely Beck's best-known artwork, which graces the cover of Sir Elton John's album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Guess I should get around to reviewing that one, eh? I read it a couple months ago, but when I didn't hear any buzz about it I just figured it would sink into the pavement, forgotten. I liked it fine, just didn't see much review-potential in it. I'll have to give it a second going over. Hey, J.L. Bell at Oz and Ends! Did you know this about Beck and the cover of Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road?
Pooh News Alert: Path to Pooh's Playground is Blocked. Blocked by what, you ask? Why, by an "an equestrian sand school". I'm with the commentator on the piece who wrote, "Forgive my being the stereotypical ignorant American, but just what the heck is a 'sand school'?" Thanks to Achockablog for the link. I'd tell Pooh but he's too busy being wrapped up in news surrounding that court case against Disney.
Mo Willems, damn his hide, has started blogging regularly again. I don't check the man for one measly week and already there's post after post after post of cool stuff. Sheesh. Who are these crazy people who put up a post a day? Madness. In one piece Mr. Mo recently visited the Charles M. Schultz Museum and Research Center and lived to tell the tale. Actually it's pretty cool. Particularly the part where you get to see the original 1953 Peanuts strip from Mr. Mo's personal collection. I also appreciated the link to a shot
of Mo that palsy walsy Eoin Colfer once took. As Mo said, no picture can really compare with Mr. Colfer's, "photographic abilities of capturing my soul."
