Picture Books are necessary

Love Picture books, but aren't sure how to defend their use with children to others?

Well, here's a link to an article in Psychology Today that talks about

THE VALUE OF A PICTURE BOOK: 5 Life-Lessons Your Child Gets From Stories

enjoy.

Author Advocates using Skype to visit classrooms

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to make a Skype visit to a school, take a look at this guest post from the internationally known Australian children's book author and writing instructor, Margot Finke.

Terrific SKYPE Virtual Visit
  --

I would like to report that my SKYPE session for grade one today (three classes
 together), went super well. The kids asked lots of questions about writing, books, where ideas for writing come from, Australia, and my favorite book as 
a kid.

I got to read 2 of my books ( Horatio Humble Beats the Big D -
dyslexia + Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind) and I asked them questions as 
well. 

They like paper books better, covers are what grabs their interest, and they
 look for authors they like as well. It was supposed to be 1/2 an hour, but 
it went for a full hour. I learned from these smart kids and I hope they
learned from me. 

There was spontaneous clapping after I read each book, so I 
guess they liked what they heard, and I am invited back there after summer
 vacation to read my soon to be published PB, “Kangaroo Clues.” 


This Skype session really hyped me UP!!

Skype allows me to visit classrooms that have never had an author visit.  No travel, no expensive hotels, and all from the comfort of my own writing den.  All I need are teachers or librarians with a Skype connection. This allows me to bring my books and my class program to schools anywhere in the world, and introduce kids to the fun and adventure of reading and writing.  

This is the FUTURE of book promotion. . .  run with it, mates!


This is a link to me chatting about “Skype Makes it Happen!”

Margot Finke

Books for Kids – Manuscript Critiques

http://www.margotfinke.com

Put some Resonance in your Writing

Writing Picture Books?
Here's some advice from Marion Dane Bauer -- Resonance is the key.

Click on over to her blog and read all about it.

How Book Publishing Has Changed

Christine Kohler talks compares her adventures getting books published in the "olden days" (my granddaughter's term for most of my own life experiences) versus what happened with her latest book coming out this year.  Click on over to her blog, Read Like a Writer, a Teaching Blog.

My, has the publishing world changed.

75th Anniversary of the American Library Association Caldecott Award Celebration

Caldecott 75th Anniversary Task Force Member Tessa Michaelson Schmidt announces:

The yearlong celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Caldecott concludes at the end of June at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.  Be sure to enjoy the following free online offerings:

·         David Ezra Stein will participate in a Caldecott 75th Anniversary Facebook Forum at 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. 
Stein won a Caldecott Honor in 2011 for his illustration of "Interrupting Chicken," which he also wrote (Candlewick Press). As part of the Forum, ALSC will interview Stein about his Caldecott experience. This event is open to the public and a Facebook account is not required to view the event. Participants can access the forum via the ALSC Facebook page.

·         Four webinars were offered free to ALSC members for the Caldecott 75th Anniversary celebration.  Although the webinars have already taken place, they are now available to the public as webcasts (webinar recordings).    At the Caldecott Academy , you can find links to these recordings: 
1.  "Caldecott Uncovered: What You've Always Wanted to Know About the Caldecott Medal", 
2.  "Expanding the Caldecott Experience: Programming with Caldecott Winning and Honor Books", 
3.  "The Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration", 
and 4.  "Get to Know the Caldecott Winners."

·         Download our beautifully-designed Caldecott anniversary bookmarks<http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott-75th-anniversary-bookmarks> free-of-charge. The bookmark features the anniversary logo illustrated by Brian Selznick and clues to five characters, from past Caldecott Medal-winning books, which appear on the logo.

·         Attending ALA Annual in Chicago?  
Join us for a cocktail reception before the Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder banquet.  
This entertaining video gives you an idea of the special festivities in store.  See you on the red carpet!

Dear UPS

message from UPS, left on my door last Friday:
THE CUSTOMER WAS NOT AVAILABLE ON THE 1ST ATTEMPT. 
A 2ND ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE

Message from me to UPS:
I was home ALL DAY.
 I did take a few moments to pick the kid up from school. 
As usual, your timing was perfect.

Message from me to UPS today (Monday):
Dear UPS. 
Your Friday message said you'd deliver my package between 10 and 2pm on Monday. It is now almost 2:30 in the afternoon. 
Your online tracking says that my package was put on your truck at 4:30 am. 

There are many things I'd rather be doing than waiting all day for you to show up. (taking a shower would be nice.) 

In a little while I'll be going to pick up my granddaughter from school. Shall I assume that you are going to "attempt to deliver" during that time -- just like you did on Friday?

Carnival of Children's Literature

Hey!
The monthly Carnival of Children's Literature is up.
Click on over and explore all the great books at the Yellow Brick Reads.