Like many of you, I read the Wall Street Journal Weekend opinion piece, “Darkness Too Visible: Contemporary fiction for teens is rife with explicit abuse, violence and depravity,” and am beside myself with what? Outrage? Not really … annoyance … I am exasperated by yet another article/essay/editorial expressing the writer’s dismay at the state of young adult fiction. Oh the horror! (I imagine hands thrown in the air in front of the Barnes and Noble teen rack). The dystopia! (I imagine a mother’s face with mouth shaped in an oval like classic Munch paingint, The Scream). For heaven’s sake give it a rest. There is as wide a range of genres in Young Adult fiction as in adult — mystery, chick lit, romance, historical fiction, adventure, trauma, survival, speculative fiction, sports, light humor, and books set in other cultures. Do you make your adult reading selections from the mass market rack at the Seven/Eleven? Accompanying the article, the Wall Street Journal offers links to other points of view:

On Twitter, the hashtag #YAsaves asks readers to talk about how YA fiction has affected them (highlights gathered here — use the arrow key on your computer to scroll through. LOVE this one: “If adolescence is a cage, books are the key.”). Libba Bray’s defense, in thr form of tweets, are gathered here Plus, there is a link to an essay by author Christopher John Farley in the WSJ “Speakeasy” blog, Should Young Adult Books Explore Difficult Issues?

We should also add, Laurie Halse Anderson’s eloquent response to Mrs. Gurdan’s concerns. Let me add mine. Even if you accept Meghan Cox Gurdon’s premise (which I don’t; I also don’t accept her absurd generalizations about the state of mind of the editors of the books she decries), just off the top of my head, there are recent alternatives that show the true bredth of YA fiction:

A contemporary teen looking and finding meaning and passion in her life through a satisfying retail job despite a not-so-perfect home life — Rules of the Road, Joan Bauer (Speak/Penguin, 2005). Or every other title by Joan Bauer.

Young adult fiction gives us the opportunity to see the world from other points of view whether it is half way around the world as in Deborah Ellis’s examination of what it is to be female in Taliban- ruled Afghanistan — The Breadwinner (Groundwoood, 2001). Or, experience the forced deportations during WW II of Eastern Europeans to Siberian camps in Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, (Philomel/Penguin, March, 2011). Uplifting? Strong generational bonds with an urban community coming together sans what could be considered realistic vernacular language — where was your review of We Could be Brothers by Derrick Barnes (Scholastic, 2010)?

What about a great summer reads — fresh, funny and emotionally engaging? May I introduce your teen to Jordan Sonnenblick’s Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie (Scholastic, 2005) or Notes from A Midnight Driver (Scholastic, 2006)?

Something really light, funny and meaty? Do not pass go, grab Meg Cabot’s The Princess Diaries (HarperTeen, 2000). Already saw the movie? The books are better.

Is that teen of yours in a post Harry Potter/ Lightning Thief phase but enjoys word play and social satire? Perhaps this a perfect time to introduce her to Tiffany Aching, the wee big witch and her ever-watchful companions the wee free men in Terry Pratchett’s four volume Discworld series (HarperCollins).

Wait, wait, I have it–the deep psychological twists of Donna Jo Napoli’s fairytale retellings;  Zel, (Puffin/Penguin) Beast (Simon Pulse, 2004) and Bound (Atheneum, 2004).

Epic fantasy? Shannon Hale’s, Goose Girl, (Bloomsbury, 2003). Court intrigue, romance and politics? The Queen’s Thief series, (Greenwillow), from Megan Whalen Turner.

Want a little Steampunk? Scott Westerfield’s Leviathan series, (Simon Pulse, 2009) with its alternative history set during WWI should keep the teen busy for a while and a prolific speculative fiction genre if the kids gets a taste for it…see Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve (HarperTeen 2003),

Whoops my thoughts were hijacked by Dystopian fiction. I can’t stop myself…AHHRRRR…

Just reissued with traffic-stopping new covers is Westerfield’s Uglies series (Uglies, Pretties, Specials and Extras; Simon Pulse). Set in a future where plastic surgery is the norm and conformity is the only way to succeed. These are thought-provoking, page-turning adventures. And as long as we have stopped here, a teenager’s attraction to dystopian fiction is not new… lets start with 1984 … This Perfect Day …  Alas Babylon and A Canticle for Lebowitz, all read by this writer as an eighth grader. Dark? Wasn’t Lord of the Flies required reading in the ‘70s?

And please, while I am on this topic, have you actually read The Hunger Games? On its surface. it is about teens fighting each other to the death. Dig a little deeper…if I may quote from my own review,

One of the most pleasurable aspects of the book is the treatment of the contrasting Districts and their struggles. When Katniss finds an unlikely ally in slight birdlike Rue, we find out that even in the agricultural districts the farmers are starving, a faint echo of the Irish Famine. The behavior of the oppressed may remind readers of the occupants of the Warsaw or Lodz Ghettos, with the internal hierarchy of governing class that collaborated with the oppressors to maintain order. Other elements of the society bring to mind the former Soviet Union’s domination of satellite states. No one will miss the similarity of the inhabitants of the Capitol to some present-day citizens of the United States, who combine an obsession for entertainment and celebrities with a blindness toward those who are suffering. Are these topics for seventh graders? Twelve-year-olds are certainly familiar with these themes. In the microcosm on the classroom, children experience cruelty and deprivation, some just trying to survive to adulthood. Behind closed doors some are abused, and small kindnesses take on disproportionate meaning. Survival sometimes depends on letting others help. A good classroom culture emphasizes the need in a strong community for compassionate members who care for the weakest. Young readers will be able divine a deeper meaning from what on the surface might seem to be the depiction of a violent reality-television show.

Turning our eyes to supernatural romance–werewolves anyone? Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, (Scholastic, 2009) is an insightful examination of a teen whose parents neglect borders on abuse. Oh, yeah, and not all vampire books are created equal. Perhaps we have overlooked The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks, (Harcourt Children’s, 2009), the most accurate portrayal of an adolescent living and surviving with chronic illness.

Mrs. Gurdan states that “Adolescence is brief; it comes to each of us only once, so whether the debate has raged for eons doesn’t, on a personal level, really signify.” I beg to differ … looking back adolescence is brief. However, while living it, adolescence is endless. Darker themes are actually perfect for this age group. Books that address dysfunctional families, addictive and harmful behaviors,like cutting and bullying, let teens know that that they are not alone. Songs like “Hold On” and “Everybody Hurts” speak to the high rates of teen suicide. Wouldn’t we want YA authors to deal with these difficult topics?

I moderated the first BEA Middle Grade Editors Buzz session, with five editors presenting the picks of their lists. Each of the titles is a fast-paced fantasy with twists and turns, centering on the theme of the unlikely hero, perfect for the Harry Potter/Lightning Thief crowd. Below are the books that were presented, with my quick book talk for each.

The Unwanteds Lisa McMann Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 400 pages Publisher: Aladdin – (2011-08-30) ISBN / EAN: 1442407689 / 9781442407688

Imagine a a future where all children are separated by ability and those that display any hint of creativity at age 12 are sent to their death.

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Wildwood Colin Meloy Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 560 pages Publisher: Balzer + Bray – (2011-08-30) ISBN / EAN: 006202468X / 9780062024688

There may be a forest filled with talking animals and border skirmishes just beyond the sedate everyday suburbs…shades of Narnia, extensively illustrated, a handsome volume.

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Icefall Matthew J. Kirby Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 336 pages Publisher: Scholastic Press – (2011-10-01) ISBN / EAN: 0545274249 / 9780545274241

Set in a time and place of Norse gods, we follow the trials of the second born overlooked daughter of a king as she struggles to protect her brother, the heir apparent. The power of story is evident as she grows in confidence and maturity.

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The Apothecary Maile Meloy Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 368 pages Publisher: Putnam Juvenile – (2011-10-04) ISBN / EAN: 039925627X / 9780399256271

In the seemingly old fashioned 1950’s London, a fourteen-year-old girl transplanted from Los Angeles, finds herself plunged into a high-stakes world of magic and intrigue.

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Ashtown Burials #1: The Dragon’s Tooth N. D. Wilson Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 496 pages Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers – (2011-08-23) ISBN / EAN: 0375864393 / 9780375864391

Cyrus and Antigone Smith lost their parents, their home and live in the care of their college aged brother Daniel in a run-down, moldy motel. Unlikely hero? Check. Bullying peers? Check. Really really scary evil-doers? Check. Secret societies? Check. Roller coaster, video game-like adventure. Check. Dying to read number 2? You bet.

The BEA show floor produced some high-interest finds for reluctant readers.

Ghost Diamond is an English import from Lerner, an early chapter book for the Cam Jansen crowd It’s a funny story about the adventures of a kid spy, illustrated with line drawings; perfect for those 2nd and 3rd grade readers who are between easy readers and big chapter books..

Ghost Diamond: Agent Amelia #1
by Michael Broad; illus. by Michael Broad
Ages 7 and up; 144 pages
Darby Creek Pub (Oct. 2011); 9780761380603
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I wasn’t expecting another Origami Yoda book; the first one, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda was a satisfying stand-alone, a school story told from multiple points of view. I know my kids will go nuts for this followup.

Darth Paper Strikes Back
by Tom Angleberger
Ages 9 and up
Amulet Books/Abrams (August 1, 2011)
9781419700279
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The Mystic Phyles: Beasts is a high interest scrapbook, reminiscent of Regarding the Fountain, an easy hand-off for the kids who can read but just don’t. Lots of details to pore over with hidden visual clues.

The Mystic Phyles: Beasts

By Stephanie Brockway; Illus, byRalph Masiello
Charlesbridge (July, 2011)9781570917189

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Coming soon; the second in the Guys Read bookshelf; the first collection was Guys Read Funny Business. This time around, Jon Scieszka has gathered stories that “thrill.” The publisher describes it this way,

James Patterson, Anthony Horowitz, Margaret Peterson Haddix, M. T. Anderson, Walter Dean Myers, Gennifer Choldenko, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Matt de la Peña, and more, not to mention cover and interior artwork from Brett Helquist. And in the stories, you’ll find an eleven-year-old ghost, a Somali pirate, the world’s worst private detective, and a warehouse full of snakes…and that’s just the beginning.

As with the first book, this volume will be available simultaneously in both hardcover and paperback. What more could a guy ask for?”

Guys Read Thriller by Jon Scieszka
Harper (September 20)
Hdbk, 9780061963766; pbk, 9780061963766

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Okay, full disclosure…
I had no idea who Tony Hawk was…
FYI, he’s star of the X games, the first skateboarder to ever land a 900.  It was one of skating’s most gripping moments, playing out in front of a huge crowd of his peers and fans, and on national TV. That exposure, along with his successful video game, gives him rock star status.

Check it out in the YouTube video below (You can skip all the preliminary drama and begin watching 7 minutes in).

At BEA, fans among the attendees began lining up an hour before the signing.

Tony Hawk’s 900 Revolution Series: Drop In: Volume One
by Donald Lemke, illustrated by Caio Majado;
Stone Arch Books/Capstone (Aug, 2011)
Hdbk,  978-1-4342-3214-4; pbk, 978-1-4342-3451-3

As the sound of packing tape being ripped off  hundreds of rolls echoed through the cavernous Javits Center, so ended another Book Expo. Three days of talking and shouting and love for the book (whatever the delivery system). Yes, there were celebrities.. a John Lithgow sighting…droves of attendees waiting patiently for a glimpse of Jane Fonda…Exhausted publishers’ representatives who have been standing on concrete for three days were ready to ship those boxes and return to home base.

Here are my day three picks…(part one; more to come later)

Plagues, Pox and Pestilence by Richard Platt ; illus. by John Kelly
Ages 8 and up
Kingfisher (Oct. 25) 9780753466872

Facts about disease and its transmittal illustrated with sticky, gooey cartoonish illustration.

Accurate straightforward information with a light touch.

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Below is a photo of Christopher Paolini signing posters (like the one on the left) for BEA attendees. Look for Inheritance, the fourth and final volume in the series that began with Eragon, on November 8, weighing in at 704 pages.

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
Knopf Books for Young Readers (Nov 8) 9780375856112

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The upcoming Wimpy Kid Number 6 has no name yet. The one-day laydown is November 1st. Meanwhile, we have the promo art on the left, and a snow globe, based on that design, on the right.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Number 6
Abrams/ Amulet (Nov 1) 9781419702235

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Children’s book illustrator Sophie Blackall created a blog in which she illustrated the romance of “missed connections.” These are collected in this sweetly hopeful volume. (The blog was featured in a Valentine’s Day story on NPR)

Missed Connections by Sophie Blackall, YA/ crossover
Workman Publishing  (Sept. 22) 9780761163589

Following up on my previous post, below are the highlights of day two on the BEA show floor.

Coming in August is Mary E. Pearson’s The Fox Inheritance, the companion volume to The Adoration of Jenna Fox. It is two-hundred-and-sixty years after the original story and Jenna Fox’s friends are still alive, but they’ve lost everyone that they knew. Except Jenna.

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson, YA
Henry Holt and Co.   August 30, 2011  9780805088298

…

So there I was scooting down the aisle and I notice a line of people waiting. A really, really long line stretching across many aisles. At the beginning was Alice Hoffman. Her new book is a historic retelling of the tragedy of Masada in 70 CE.

Stunning cover, huh?

The Dovekeepers, Adult/ YA crossover
Scribner (October 4, 2011); 512 pages
9781451617474

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And I ran into Caldecott winner, Jerry Pinkney and he showed me his hot-off-the-press book, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (Little, Brown, 9780316056960, Oct).

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I was thrilled to discover two reprints.

First from Workman Sandra Boynton’s lap-sized editions of her board books.

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Finally back in print, the Mythomania series. Funny fantastic fractured Greek Myths (for those who don’t know these books, they will be available on NetGalley.com at the end of the month).

Kate McMullan signing Nice Shot Cupid in the Capstone Booth.

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What do you really want to know? Yes, there is a new Elephant and Piggie (Should I Share My Ice Cream?; Mo Willems, Hyperion, 9781423143437; 6/14)

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A bit of silliness at the end of the day is always welcome. From How to Speak like a Wookie (Chronicle, August, 9781452102559; 16.95), with sound effects, of course.

Below are my picks of Day One (photos courtesy of my cell phone):

The Hot Galley

Brian Selznik, with his new book Wonderstruck (and Hugo Cabret)

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznik
Scholastic Press (September 13, 2011)
9780545027892; 608 pages

Similiar to Hugo Cabret in format…story is told in the illustrations as well as the words.

Not to Be Missed

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Candlewick (September 27, 2011)
9780763655983

Sly humor, limited language and a twist at the end. It will delight readers who appreciate Emily Gravett’s Wolves and reading teachers obsessed with inference in books.

Robie Harris Tackles the Big Questions

Who Has What? by Robie Harris
Candlewick (September 13, 2011)
9780763629311

Ran into Robie Harris in an aisle and she let me peek at her new book coming this fall. Perfect for preschoolers… answers all those questions in a developmently appropriate way.

From the Illustrator of Eloise

Nina in That Makes Me Mad by Hilary Knight and Steven Kroll
Toon Books/Candlewick (September 27, 2011)
9781935179108

Can’t Wait to Read

The Cheshire Cheese Cat, by Carmen Deedy, illustrated by Barry Moser
Peachtree Publishers (October 1, 2011)
9781561455959

For middle graders.

Thanks to hundreds of wonderful teachers and librarians, nearly ten thousand first- and second-graders voted on four finalists for the Irma Black Award and they chose How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills (Schwartz & Wade).

That so many of you read the finalists aloud to your students, led them in discussions, and encouraged them to vote, attests to the importance of the picture book format in supporting the development of critical thinking skills. As one of my second grade students put it, “Rocket should be the Irma Black winner because it tells the truth. You can’t learn to read in a day. It takes time. A lot of time. You can tell from the pictures; it takes seasons.”

Not only that, Rocket is a joy to read aloud, again and again.

Let the celebrating begin! Please join us:

May 19, 2011
Bank Street College of Education
610 West 112th Street
New York City

8:30 AM Light Breakfast | 9:00 AM Award Ceremony | 10:00 AM Book Signing

To RSVP or to make a contribution to the Irma S. and James H. Black Fund at Bank Street College of Education, please email Alesia Yezerskaya, or phone 212-875-4608.

Keynote Speaker: Perri Klass is a pediatrician who writes both fiction and non-fiction. She writes about children and families, about medicine, about food and travel, and about knitting. Her newest book is a novel, The Mercy Rule, and the book before that was a work of non-fiction, Treatment Kind and Fair: Letters to a Young Doctor, written in the form of letters to her son as he starts medical school.

Perri lives in New York City, where she is Professor of Journalism and Pediatrics at New York University. She is also Medical Director of Reach Out and Read, a national literacy organization which works through doctors and nurses to promote parents reading aloud to young children.

Questions about the truth of Greg Mortenson’s books and his handling of his charity continue to roil in the press in the wake of a 60 Minutes investigation. The AP reports that Montana’s attorney general is now looking in to the charity, which is headquartered in Bozeman. Publisher Viking is also investigating the book.

On school librarian listservs, many are vigorously defending Mortenson. As one librarian put it,

I can tell you this: our school did an all-school read this year using the Three Cups book. I wanted our students to see how important education is in other parts of the world and to realize how we take it for granted here. This project would not have been possible without the generous donation from the CAI of 650 books totally FREE. I know that many other schools and libraries have also received such donations.

Author John Krakauer, who contributed money to Mortenson’s charity, the Central Asia Institute, has published his own 89-page inquiry [downloadable free through today. After that, it can be purchased through Amazon’s Kindle Singles]. According to Krakauer, books donated to programs like the one at the above school library are bought at retail by the CAI from outlets that report to bestseller lists. As a result, Mortenson receives a royalty on each book and the sales help to boost best seller list rankings.

If the donated books are $16 paperbacks, that is $10,400 of the CAI’s money literally donated to the school. I doubt that the people who gave money to Mortenson’s cause would be happy to hear their money went to this, rather than to building schools and educating those without resources.

Librarians who have upcoming programs based on the books are left in a sticky situation. They aren’t the only ones; the University of Louisville had just announced plans to present Mortenson with an education award and are left wondering whether to go ahead with it. Officials told the local newspaper that they hope “the reports are unfounded, but will watch closely as the situation unfolds.”

Should libraries cancel upcoming programs? Given the ongoing investigations, it may be premature to do so now. And, this does offer the opportunity for a rich discussion of responsibility and accountability.

What about withdrawing the books? I think most of us would agree that access gives the reading public an opportunity to consider all the information and draw their own conclusions. For children’s selectors there is the further issue of the spin-offs. The middle-grade adaptation and the picture book are both simplistic retellings and perhaps selectors should just pass until the smoke clears.

Poetry month officially begins this Friday, April 1st — time to get ready!

Instant Programs

Pull out all those 811’s and face them out…stack ‘em on tables. Mark your  favorite poems with sticky notes so you can spontaneously read them aloud. Copy them and put them a bulletin board.

• Pick a theme like haiku. Print and post instructions on how to create these short poems and ask staff to write a few to post. Leave markers hanging on a string with blank paper posted for instant inspiration.

• Enlist those teens who have been hanging out and “causing trouble” to copy their favorite poems on paper.

• Replace those falling apart copies of Jack Prelutsky’s Something Big Has Been Here (Greenwillow) and Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends (HarperCollins). Display the well-loved de-accessioned copies or (shoot me, I have done this) tear out the pages and post the poems. If you are still stamping books the long list of circ. dates are also fun to post.

• Pick an author to highlight…Prelutsky, Joyce Sidman, Doug Florian, Charles Smith, Kristine O’Conner George, Nikki Grimes, Maryann Hoberman, Karla Kuskin, Naomi Shihab Nye

• Host a Poetry Slam or open mike

What I Am Doing

1. Reading aloud my favorite short poems like “Florian’s Coyote” (Mammalabilia, Douglas Florian, HMH),  Kristine O’Connell George’s Little Dog Poems (Clarion), and Bank Street kid’s favorites from Patricia MacLachlan’s Once I Ate a Pie (Cotler/HarperCollins) and Jane Yolen’s Here’s a Little Poem, (Candlewick)
2. Asking children 8 years and up to copy their favorites on a half sheet of heavy stock paper in various pastel colors. Grown ups are participating and younger students can dictate their favorite rhymes.They write the poem, the author, the title and the book it came from. They may draw a picture and decorate if they wish. (most do not)
3. Collecting these poems. On Poem in Your Pocket Day, April 14^th, I will will paper our school hallways with poems for people to grab and put in their pockets.

Don’t Miss These New Poetry Books

Emma Dilemma: Big Sister Poems by Kristin O’Connell George, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter, Clarion, 2/22/11

Having a four-year-old little sister isn’t all fun-and-games for fourth grader, Jessica. There is a lot to put up with like Emma always tagging along, getting into her stuff and embarrassing her at a soccer game. These short poems give us the good, the bad and the frustrating of the complications of sibling relationships.

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raszka, illustrated by Peter Reynolds, HMH, 10/4/10

From last year, in case you missed it…Just what the title promises…haiku for guys.  Four seasons of short poems, funny, sweet and engaging. You will want to write your own.

Poem in Your Pocket for Young Poets, ed. by Bruno Navasky and the Academy of American Poets; Library Edition (nonperforated pages ISBN 9780810998827); Amulet/Abrams; 4/1/11

I bought the edition with the rip-out pages at a local bookstore before I discovered there was a non-perforated, library edition. A wide-ranging collection of poems from mostly well-known poets that would be perfect for adults and young adults.

I Am the Book, ed. by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Yayo, Holiday House, 3/15/11.

Hopkins has collected poems from masters like Jane Yolen, Naomi Shihab Nye, Karla Kuskin, and Kristine O’Connell George for this exuberant read-loud treasure. As they say in the review media…”an essential purchase.”

Announcement and invitation….

Join us this Thursday (see invitation) to celebrate the winners of this years Bank Street College of Education’s Children’s Book Committee will be honored on March 17th.

Sharon Draper will be accepting the fiction award for Out of My Mind. A moving first person… (more…)

For the last 13 years, I have had the privilege of participating in the Irma Black Award process. Every year, I have read piles and piles of picture books to help create a “short” list of about 100 titles. I have had joyful, frustrating, exuberant meetings with graduate faculty, reviewers, teacher/librarians, public librarians and colleagues, arguing and advocating about what makes the best picture book of the year, illustrations AND words.

Then the letting go… leading conversations about these books but also trusting that 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds can make the choice of the four finalists. That they internalize these questions…do the pictures tell more than the words? Show me. Is the story clear? Age appropriate for 1st and 2nd graders? Do you want to hear the story again? Why? Do you want to share this book with someone else? Does the art reflect the mood and tone of the story?

And they do… whew! They select the best read-aloud books of the year. Those of you looking to boost your read-aloud collection need look no further than the past winners. This list of winners and honor books is a fine collection of backlist books that are a joy to share with children.

Previously only twelve cooperating schools’ students were invited to participate. This year, in conjunction with School Library Journal, we invite you, your librarians and your communities’ children to revel in the best picture books of the year and vote.

Think of it as a pop-up program. Do you have school visits with 1^st and 2^nd graders? After school programs? Are you pressured to show that your programming is tied in to state standards?

To join us, please register on the SLJ site. Then, read aloud and discuss the four finalists with 1st and 2nd graders, several times over four weeks. Ask the kids to vote on their favorites, through the links we send once you have registered (more information is available here, under the FAQ). Help us make our goal of 10,000 kids voting.

The Four Finalist for the 2010 Irma Black Award

How Rocket Learned To Read by Tad Hills, Schwartz & Wade Books

Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown, Little Brown

A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea written by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, Simon and Schuster

Dust Devil written by Anne Isaacs, illustrated by Paul Zelinsky, Schwartz & Wade Books

Above: Author Megan McDonald with Jordanna Beatty, who plays Judy Moody in the upcoming movie

The movie Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer will be released in the US on June 10, 2011.

Candlewick will publish five totally Moody movie tie-in titles which go on-sale May 24th.

In more Moody News, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Judy Moody books, Candlewick has reissued the entire series, with new covers (below is the first title; see them all in Candlewick’s Spring Catalog, pg. 92 or on the new Judy Moody Web site).

Judy Moody (Book #1) Megan McDonald Retail Price: $15.99 Hardcover: 160 pages Publisher: Candlewick – (2010-02-09) ISBN / EAN: 0763648507 / 9780763648503

See Candlewick’s Spring Catalog, pgs. 93 to 95 for the movie tie-ins.

A teacher completing her MLS last fall wrote on the school librarians listserv,  LM_NET, that she was concerned about being able to get a job. With all the doom saying on listservs, blogs and professional journals, she wanted learn how to make herself more marketable as she applied for jobs in the coming spring.

I started to write some advice about marketing; how to focus a resume, what to include in a cover letter, how to prepare a demo lesson and what to avoid, based on things actual job seekers did that drove me crazy (like being late for interviews, bringing a friend and dressing inappropriately — yes, one candidate actually wore  flip-flops).

I  soon realized that it was way too much to post on LM_Net, and it evolved in to the cover story of the new issue of School Library Journal, “Hang in There: How to Get a Job Against All Odds.” It may give hope to those who fear they’ll never get a library job.

USA Today’s “Book Buzz” column reports that the majority of Mock Newbery’s are going to Rita Williams-Garcia’s One Crazy Summer.

Going against the tide, the Banks Street College kids (96 fifth and sixth graders), discussed and voted on a list of titles and picked Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper as the winner of their Mock Newbery.

Out of My Mind Sharon M. Draper Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Atheneum – (2010-03-09) ISBN / EAN: 141697170X / 9781416971702

Sam, 10 – liked that the story came out of the main character’s mind…that was interesting.

Alexandra, 10 – the story was touching and pulled you in and you wanted to read it all at once

Adam, 10 – you really saw how mean people can be to people who are different. Being disabled is not being stupid.

Carly, 10 – even though she went through tough stuff, she kept trying

Ayra, 10 – because I heard her story from her, it was like being in her shoes

Allie, 10 – I have never read a book like this

Jenna, 11 – it was really detailed and I felt a lot of emotion

Hazel, 12 – …dramatic- felt like a light read…I read fast…It was real.

Casy, 11 -…it touched me deep down. I felt real emotion. My heart was bursting for her.

Francesca, 11– it was cool how that over the time I could see her change and do things

Emily, 11 – I could not let this book go.

Ava, 11 – really realistic and unique. I liked that we could see inside her head. It was bittersweet.

Jules, 11 – there was a mix of emotions, I burst out laughing. The language was juicy.

Evie, 11 – it was great. I felt like I was reading her mind.

Eliana, 11 – it was a fantastic book.

Ghopal, 11 – I disagree. It was perfectly long

Maggie, 12 – draws you in fast. I liked the flashbacks. You really felt her frustration and wanted to scream with her.

Lauren, 12 – really good…I made a connection with her. Her thoughts were just regular.

Joshua, 11 – Original…great first person

Honor Books

Belly Up Stuart Gibbs Retail Price: $15.99 Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing – (2010-05-18) ISBN / EAN: 1416987312 / 9781416987314

Casy, 11 – fantabulous mystery – funny, cliffhangers…didn’t want it to end.

Imani, 10 – good interesting mystery. Cliffhanging a lot.

Ava, 10 – better than other mystery books. Characters were real

Adam, 10 – Kept you on your toes. A fun read.
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The Search for WondLa Tony DiTerlizzi Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 496 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing – (2010-09-21) ISBN / EAN: 1416983104 / 9781416983101

Dax, 10 – long, unexpected , good descriptions

Sam, 10 – it was a mystery and a fantasy. Satisfying and had many characters and places you wouldn’t expect.

Laura 12 – a whole made up world. Plot was good and characters weren’t human but you could relate to them.

Adrian 12 – I really enjoyed the references and connections to other children’s books.

Patrick 12 – took me awhile to get into it but I stuck with it and now can’t wait for the next book.

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The Strange Case of Origami Yoda Tom Angleberger Retail Price: $12.95 Hardcover: 160 pages Publisher: Amulet Books – (2010-03-01) ISBN / EAN: 0810984253 / 9780810984257

Bobby, 12 – Different than all the other books we read this year

Ali, 12 – I didn’t think I would like this book that seemed random about a finger puppet but I did.

Kerem, 12 – something any student around my age would relate to. It was wack and crazy

Louis, 11 – Everything comes together in the end

Irene, 11 – Funny to boys and girls

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A Whole Nother Story Dr. Cuthbert Soup Retail Price: $16.99 Hardcover: 272 pages Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books – (2009-12-22) ISBN / EAN: 1599904357/9781599904351

Anya, 11 – really funny, not predictable

Adrien – Had a little bit of everything – adventure , fantasy, from the first moment draws you in – liked the dark grim humor.

Eric – made you want to keep reading

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Half Upon a Time James Riley Retail Price: $15.99 Hardcover: 400 pages Publisher: Aladdin – (2010-09-07) ISBN / EAN: 1416995935 / 9781416995937

Donnie, 11 – Most fairy tales are boring. This one was different. Didn’t have a happily ever after ending.

Hazel, 12 – I stayed up all night reading

Evie, 12– well done. I didn’t get bored.

Sophie, 10 – I was entertained…a new creative story from old stories

Raymond, 11 – Funny , creative with a big twist

Ghopal, 12 – I enjoyed the writing style especially the humorous asides

Josua, 11 – Corny, but funny and creative.

Forty seventh graders (12 and 13 year-olds) at the Bank Street School discussed and voted on a list of candidates for the Mock Printz, 2011. Below are the winner and the three honor books, with comments from the kids.

The Bank Street School 2011 Mock Printz Winner

Half Brother Kenneth Oppel Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 384 pages Publisher: Scholastic Press – (2010-09-01) ISBN / EAN: 0545229251 / 9780545229258

Student comments:

Andre — Everything you want in a book…drama…sadness…action.

Emma — I felt a lot of compassion for the character. I really got fed up with his parents.

Ana — This was the first book that I couldn’t stop reading. My mom made me stop. It was a page turner.

Katie — Interesting, unique plot

Ben — Unpredictable, in a good way

Josh — Entertaining, good story

Nicole — Interesting plot. Fresh

The Bank Street School 2011 Mock Printz Honor Books

Will Grayson, Will Grayson John Green, David Levithan Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Dutton Juvenile – (2010-04-06) ISBN / EAN: 0525421580 / 9780525421580

Brilliance Audio; UNABR
OverDrive WMA Audiobook

Student comments:

Maya — Some people think this book should be older but a lot of us in this age group know situations and people like this already. It was great to read a book where we get to know the characters in this special way that we have not met before.

Nicole — Interesting how the two Will Graysons met and the relationships that formed around them

Emma — It was really funny and realistic.

Josh — I liked that it was realistic and I could relate to the characters. I enjoyed the themes of friendship and acceptance.

Emily — It was easy to read, easy to relate to. I found myself laughing aloud.

Josh – I laughed out loud too. It is everything I want in a book.

The Search for WondLa Tony DiTerlizzi Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 496 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing – (2010-09-21) ISBN / EAN: 1416983104 / 9781416983101

Student comments:

Simon — Interesting story, very satisfying

Steven — Good descriptions but also an adventure mystery

Noni — Good because there was always something happening

Josh — I don’t generally like fantasy but this one had a lot that I could relate to.

Steven — The author really was able to make the very different world real.

White Cat (Curse Workers, Book 1) Holly Black Retail Price: $17.99 Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry/ S&S – (2010-05-04) ISBN / EAN: 1416963960 / 9781416963967

Student comments:

Lincoln — The characters were well-written. Less of a fantasy to me … more like a book about gangsters or mafia.

Nick — When you pick it up , you can’t stop reading.

Julia — I normally don’t like fantasy but this book had a very real element. The characters develop over time