More Fun With Lists

Remember how I told you how much I enjoy lists? The end of 2009 is drawing near, with a multitude of lists. Not only the traditional "Best Of" end of year lists, but I'm also seeing many "Best Of" decade lists. Check out some here.

(The magazines also have their "Best Of" issues out. Some, like Rolling Stone-which I've recently rediscovered thanks to airport newsstands-have a "Best Of" this decade as well. Fun reading, even if you don't agree with the lists....which is part of the fun.)

I read a really, really good YA book over the break, which I'll tell you about in an upcoming post.

Fun With Goodreads

One of the things I love about Goodreads are the many lists that members have created. Lists are fun, whether they are Top 10 lists or 1001 Books/Movies/Recordings/Foods/Wine you should read/see/hear/eat/taste before you die. When I was a child, one of the books I repeatedly checked out from the St. Charles Parish Public Library was a book of lists for kids (that was probably its title; I've tried Googling it, but haven't found it). It was a slightly oversized book with an orange cover with white lettering, I think, and had a ton of lists, ranging from the best roller coasters to babysitting tips.

While browsing the Goodreads lists, I noticed an interesting pattern in several teen fiction lists. There seems to be one book that's popping up on quite a few lists, such as the "Best Books Ever" list, the "Books I Have No Intention of Reading" list, the "Books I Regret Reading" list, the "I'm Glad Somebody Made Me Read This Book" list, and for those who march to the beat of a different drummer, the "Popular Books That Annoy Me" list.

Go here for more lists from Goodreads users, such as the "Read These in School-Would Have Preferred a Root Canal" list.

(Admittedly, yes, I do agree with some of these, but The Red Pony? Seriously? It's too short to be that dramatic about it!)

You can check out my Goodreads profile here.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Wow! Talk about a snowstorm! Now, those from more northern parts might scoff at the excitement over this recent snowstorm, but for someone originally from the New Orleans area, this was a big deal. Just in case you haven't had enough of snow, here are my favorite read alouds for a snow-themed story time (I read these during last week's toddler story time).



The kids totally made my day when I held up the cover of The Snowy Day. "We read that! I have that at my house!" This classic story about a young boy's adventures in the snow continues to entertain children 47 years after its initial publication. African-American characters were rare at that time, especially by Caucasian authors. This gentle story about a young child's fun in the snow never fails to charm.



Before I begin to read a story, I always hold up the book and announce the title and author. I also make a little comment or observation about the story, cover, etc. When I announced Winter is the Warmest Season, the children and I briefly discussed the title. Isn't that a strange title? Winter is usually cold, isn't it? Well, Lauren Stringer is here to tell us that winter is actually a very warm time, full of cats on laps, warm hugs, warm fireplaces, and warm blankets at night. Even the parties seem warmer. This is a lovely and comforting picture book that's perfect for reading aloud on a cold winter night while snuggled under blankets.



Lois Ehlert is one of my all-time favorite picture book authors. Ideal for toddler (and younger) story times, her books burst with creative illustrations and story lines. Snowballs is a must for any snow-themed story time; we see a snow dad, snow mom, snow boy, and snow girl created, along with a snow cat and snow dog! It's difficult to adequately describe Ehlert's books, since they are so visually oriented, but this one has a lot of charm and appeal.

I didn't read it out loud, but we also have an illustrated version of Frosty the Snowman.

Thumpity-thump thump. Thumpity thump thump. Now I have an earworm!

Removed Twitter application for now

I'm getting someone else's Twitter feeds on my blog. Can't figure out why, but will work on it tomorrow. In the meantime, follow me @Kiddosphere on Twitter.

Seasons Readings

In which I plug my favorite Christmas reads.



Ramona and Her Father

Not a Christmas book, per se, but I count it, since it opens with Ramona making her Christmas list (in the fall) and ends with the girls' Sunday School Nativity pageant. Although first published in 1977, Ramona and Her Father remains timeless and relevant, even more so today, with many families dealing with a parent's unexpected unemployment.



The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

"Hey! Unto you a child is born!" This book remains insanely popular, and with good reason. Not only is it laugh-out-loud funny, it makes you rethink the Christmas story. Love it!




There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve

The Christmas Pageant

I'm reading these books to my Sunday School class next week. The books are a little above their comprehension (I teach the toddler class), but they're excellent read alouds for most young children. We have several picture books using the Book of Luke as text, but Jacqueline Rogers's book is pretty special, for the illustrations are of a Sunday School class rehearsing and ultimately performing their Nativity pageant. You need to pore over the illustrations, because there are many small details that are absolutely precious.



Too Many Tamales

I'm a big fan of Gary Soto's prolific body of work, but Too Many Tamales is tops on my list. Centered around a young Latina's dilemma with tamales and her mother's missing wedding ring, this is a gorgeously told and illustrated tale of Christmas and family. It works well as a read aloud for older preschoolers, kindergarten students, and lower elementary school children.



Silver Packages

A coworker and I were discussing weepy children's Christmas books (she had a question about a particular book). After telling her about one of the saddest children's Christmas picture book ever (it's a beautiful story and has outstanding illustrations, and it does end with hope, but....waaaaaaaah), I told her about another Christmas book that never fails to make me tear up at its end, "but in a good way!" Cynthia Rylant's West Virginia heritage informs many of her picture books, and Silver Packages is no exception. It also works well as a read aloud for older children (however, another coworker and I don't read it aloud, because it makes us both weepy at the end!). Just one of those very, very satisfying reads.

Happy reading!

Who Will Win the Shiny Gold Medal?

I'm attending the ALA (American Library Association) midwinter conference in Boston this January (ALA....where you winter in Boston and summer in New Orleans), and I'm pretty excited (although I have a deadline for an article that is fast approaching). The midwinter conference is very different from the annual conference (which is in DC this summer! Score!). It's primarily a business meeting for committee members, so you don't go to the typical informational sessions and seminars that you would attend at a regular conference. Still, there are the publisher exhibits with their advanced reader copies (thanks to Betsy Bird's publisher preview posts, I have a list of books for which I will be scavenging) and, most of all, the announcement of the Youth Media Awards!

The Youth Media Awards consist of the two most distinguished awards in American children's publishing, the Newbery and the Caldecott, newer awards such as the Printz and Geisel, and very specific awards such as the Schneider Family Award and the Pura Belpre Medal. The big winners will be announced on January 18 (unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the announcement in person, but getting a cheaper flight home won out over attending the awards announcement).

The winners are always kept secret until the announcement (only the committee, the winners, and the publishers of the winners' books know of their respective wins), but that doesn't keep librarians, teachers, and other children's literature fans from guessing! There's been a lot of speculation this year, and far be it for me to not jump in. I have never correctly guessed the winners, but that doesn't stop me from trying!

(Previous years' picks-The Wednesday Wars and Penny From Heaven-have been named Honor books, so I've been close. But no cigar.)

These picks are all for the Newbery. I'm never a good judge of the Caldecott, so I won't even bother. Frankly, my record shows that I'm not a good judge of the Newbery either, but I have a stronger grasp and knowledge of titles in that age range.




A Season of Gifts

Uh-oh. There seems to be some controversy over the Princess Kickapoo story line.

When You Reach Me

Lots of buzz on this one. I will confess that I'm not head-over-heels in love with this book as many are. I liked it enough, sure. Wouldn't be surprised if it won, but anyone can name books that had a lot of buzz for the Newbery, but failed to earn even an Honor citation.



The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

I adore this book. I love this book like others love When You Reach Me. I reviewed it for School Library Journal and it ended up on SLJ's Best of 2009 list. It has received a ton of attention and I couldn't be happier. However, some say that it lags in places and have other criticisms. So we'll see. If it won, I would be thrilled.



The Magician's Elephant

Beautifully written. I don't think this is DiCamillo's year (this might not even be fiction's year-will explain later), though.

Anything but Typical (by Nora Raleigh Baskin)

This book is on order, so I don't have a link for it yet. It's an affecting story of a preteen boy's struggle with autism. At times funny and heartbreaking, this book had an effect on me long after I read the last page. However, I've read some criticisms about certain aspects of the author's portrayal of autism.

Those are my top fiction possibilities. However, some are saying that with this year's strong crop of exceptional nonfiction, a nonfiction title might walk away with the prize. The last time that happened was 21 years ago, for Russell Freedman's Lincoln: A Photobiography. Which nonfiction title might break this dry spell?

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

Winning the National Book Award's Young People's Literature prize is not a guarantee that you will win the Medal, much less the Honor (see: The Penderwicks). However, this marriage of Colvin's testimony to Philip Hoose's fantastic writing may earn it a shiny gold medal on its cover.



Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don't You Grow Weary

I saw this mentioned on the Heavy Medal's Mock Newbery discussion list. I think it's a terrific book, but I need to reread it again (I read it for Jefferson Cup, so I'll be rereading it anyway).

Good, good titles.

'Tis the Season

Yes, the season for "best books of 2009" lists! I'm keeping an ongoing list on the right-hand side of the page. General adult fiction and nonfiction lists are included, and children's/teen literature specific lists are indicated if they are not already obviously children's lists (like Parents' Choice).

Thanksgiving Reads

I read several books over the Thanksgiving break, but I want to tell you about one in particular. After learning that Rita Williams-Garcia won the National Book Award

was a finalist for the National Book Award (Young People's Literature) for Jumped, I realized that I had missed this book. Ooops. I started reading it around 9 AM two Saturdays ago, while I was waiting for a plane. All the magazines and other books I had brought for my trip were quickly forgotten as I was absorbed with this tale of three girls heading toward an (ultimately) vicious fight: the bully, her unsuspecting (and how) victim, and the bystander who has to chose whether or not to warn the victim.

The only time I stopped reading this book was when I snapped into my seat belt and paid attention to the flight attendant's safety instructions (I've heard it umpteenth times, but I feel rude not paying attention, and I'd rather get it into my head rather than act like I'm too cool for school). Voicing believable teen characters is a gift; it's not an easy task by any means. Williams-Garcia does this beautifully.

This would be an outstanding book discussion with a teen group, particularly with reluctant readers (the book is 169 pages, but the length of the physical book is shorter than most books). Who would they identify with the most? Discussing Trina, the oblivious bouncy girl who unknowingly skips to her fate, would definitely be a high point. Why is she always so bouncy and constantly doing her "famous Trina shake?" Does it seem like she has many close friends? What would they do if they were in Leticia's shoes? And so on.

Truly well-deserved, in my opinion, and I can't wait to read her upcoming book. Very excited.