Newbery/ Caldecott predictions

It's time for me to make up a reading list for the fall.

Every year I check out Elizabeth Bird's Newbery/ Caldecott predictions and print out a list of great books for my fall reading.

Then I go check the ShelfTalker blog to see if she also has suggestions.  Hmm. September 3's post seems to have some suggestions.  Keep on checking this blog for more as fall progresses.


All of which gives me piles of reading to keep me happy - for a while.

Go thou and do likewise!

This week in writing

I haven't posted much this week because I was completing the application for the Vermont College Picture Book Certificate Program. This is a one semester course that can be taken separately from the whole MFA course at Vermont College of Fine Arts. (I probably will never be able to take the whole course, but this one part of it speaks to me.)

And I probably won't be reviewing a nonfiction book tomorrow because I'll be doing a "Babies Love Books" program Monday morning, then preparing for a School Visit on Tuesday. No, not as an author. This is part of my job as a Children's Librarian in a public library system. We all go to the local schools and talk up the Summer Reading Program (Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!) and also suggest great new books the kids could read to reach their summer goal of reading 10 books.

Yes, I said bugs.
(Lucky for me, spiders are NOT bugs/ insects.)
Maryland has joined the National Summer Reading Program and the theme this year is Insects -- CATCH THE READING BUG!
We're even going to have a butterfly cage where caterpillars turn into butterflies before your very eyes. I can't wait.

Just opening the boxes of Summer Reading Program supplies gives me a thrill -- it's just like Christmas.

-wendieO

Nonfiction Monday -- BUGS !

Many public librarians already know this, but the rest of you might be interested to learn that the National Summer Reading Program theme this year is BUGS!
"CATCH THE READING BUG" to be exact.

And these two books will be just perfect to hand out to young bug fans.

Giant Pop-out Bugs, a Pop-out Suprise Book -- has a laser-cut cover showing four bugs on the title page.
Inside the riddle on the left gives hints about the bug hidden on the right. To discover the bug the reader must lift the right hand page out to a double spread. Seems simple enough. Except when you do that, it's not a simple flap -- it's a giant fold out picture of the bug -- many times larger than life sized.
Great for using with groups.
I'm not so sure about its use as a lap book, because those giant sized bugs startled me. Heavens only knows what small children will think.
(Chronicle Books, 2008. Book design by Wendy Lui.)
On shelves now

Backyard Bugs, 6 Amazing Pop-up Scenes -- is a more traditional pop-up book featuring bugs. Each page has a bit of information about the bug popping off the page. For those who wish more scientific information, Each bug page has a large pocket with a pull out page of more information. This one could be useful for reports.
(DK Publishing, 2007. Still available for purchase. The cover says it is by richard Ferguson. However, the bib info says "written by Marie Greenwood. Who to believe? Our library cataloged it in the picture book section under Ferguson)

Another similar book by Richard Ferguson for your enjoyment is filed in our nonfiction section -- 591 -- and is called, On Safari, 6 Amazing Pop-up Scenes.

To read more blogs which talk about Nonfiction this Monday click here.

-wendieO