Librarians who regularly look at Amazon’s daily accounting of “Movers & Shakers” know how unusual to see several children’s titles suddenly dominate the list. Sunday was one of those exceptions. The 100 titles on the rise was full of books for the toddler crowd.

Why the sudden attention? A bookseller with a point to make sent parents on a buying spree. Last week Time Magazine posted a list of the 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time. Their top picks? Where the Wild Things Are, The Snowy Day, Goodnight Moon, and Blueberries For Sal.

These tried-and-true (and old) titles are not the ones that ruled Amazon, however. Instead, it’s newer titles, including Maps by Aleksandra Mizielińska and Daniel Mizieliński (Candlewick Press, 2013) and Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Beaty, illus. by David Roberts (Abrams, 2013; OverDrive Sample) – titles Time completely overlooked.

Jordan B. Nielsen, a children’s book buyer for The powerHouse Arena bookstore in Brooklyn and a blogger on The Huffington Post took exception to Time ‘s selections. “A curmudgeon’s voice took hold in my head as I clicked through the list: The Wild Rumpus is still in vogue? Must we bid the Moon Goodnight once more? Surely piling on one more commendation will fell The Giving Tree!”

She offered her own list of “20 New Classics Every Child Should Own.”

Her description of Rosie Revere, Engineer shows why the Mover & Shaker list is a buzz:

“With all due respect to the Pink brigade, here’s hoping Rosie Revere, Engineer elbows one or two princesses right off the bookshelf. One hardly knows what to be more excited about here: that this story features a young girl enthralled with math and invention, or the book’s overall message that failure is a key stepping stone to success, so long as you don’t give up. Colorful and sweet, this tale of creativity and perseverance will delight parents and daughters alike.”

Who wouldn’t rush to buy that one?

Maps gets this recommendation: “At the bookstore where I work we order it by the case and still cannot keep it in stock. A book kids and adults can pour over together, finding new details every time.”

Nielsen’s list offers a strong counterpoint to Time‘s  golden oldies (for more new titles to recommend, check EarlyWord Kids Correspondent Lisa Von Drasek’s various lists of “best books to give kids you don’t know very well.”)

The live chat is now a wrap — see what you missed, below.

Live Chat with Caroline Starr Rose, BLUE BIRDS

(01/14/2015)

  

Close

4:42	Nora - EarlyWord:  We'll begin our chat in about fifteen minutes. Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:42 Nora - EarlyWord

4:44	Nora - EarlyWord:  We'll be chatting with Caroline Starr Rose, author of BLUE BIRDS. Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:44 Nora - EarlyWord

4:44	Nora - EarlyWord Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:44

4:49	Nora - EarlyWord:  Here's a quick plot summary: Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:49 Nora - EarlyWord

4:50

Nora - EarlyWord:  Plot summary: It’s 1587 and twelve-year-old Alis has made the long journey with her parents from England to help settle the New World, the land christened Virginia in honor of the Queen. And Alis couldn’t be happier. The streets of London are crowded and dirty. But this new land, with its trees and birds and sky calls to Alis. Here she feels free. But the land, the island Roanoke is also inhabited by the Roanoke tribe and tensions between them and the English are running high, quickly becoming deadly. Amid the strife, Alis meets and befriends Kimi, a Roanoke girl about her age. Despite not even speaking the same language these girls form an impossible bond becoming as close as sisters, willing to risk everything for the other. Finally, Alis must make an impossible choice when her family resolves to leave the island and bloodshed behind. With a beautiful, tender story of friendship and the meaning of family, Caroline Starr Rose delivers another historical gem. Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord

4:50

Nora - EarlyWord:  Kirkus reviewed it earlier this month: “Composed in varying formats, the descriptive and finely crafted poems reveal the similarities the two girls share, from loved ones lost to hatred between the English and the Roanoke to a desire for peace… Fans of Karen Hesse and the author's May B. (2012) will delight in this offering.”— Kirkus Reviews Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord

4:52	Nora - EarlyWord:  I see chat participants gathering! We'll begin chatting at 5:00, EST, but you can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Caroline before the end of the chat. Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:52 Nora - EarlyWord

5:01	Nora - EarlyWord:  Our moderator is Lisa Von Drasek, curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota, one of the world’s largest collections of children’s literature manuscripts and original art. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord

5:02	Nora - EarlyWord:  Say hi to everyone, Lisa! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 Nora - EarlyWord

5:02	lisa von drasek:  Hi Everyone! Caroline are you here? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 lisa von drasek

5:02	Caroline:  I am. Hello, all! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 Caroline

5:02	[Comment From Pam, Public LibrarianPam, Public Librarian: ]  Hi, Caroline, thanks for BOTH your beautiful books Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 Pam, Public Librarian

Caroline:  Thank you, Pam.   Caroline

5:02	[Comment From Lila, NewportLila, Newport: ]  I’ve lurked on many of these chats. Now I’m out of the shadows! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 Lila, Newport

5:02	[Comment From Junie BJunie B: ]  Ready to chat! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 Junie B

5:03	lisa von drasek:  I have a great Question form Deborah Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:03 lisa von drasek

5:03	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Do you have any Teacher Guides or extension activities available for "Blue Birds?" Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:03 Deborah Baldwin

Caroline:  Not yet. But things are in the works!   Caroline

5:03	[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ]  Can’t wait to share this book with my kids! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:03 Julie Wolf

5:04	lisa von drasek:  Julie, How old are your kids? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:04 lisa von drasek

5:04	[Comment From Reads for a livingReads for a living: ]  Let’s get this party started! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:04 Reads for a living

5:04	[Comment From Janice P.Janice P.: ]  Looking forward to the chat. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:04 Janice P.

5:04	lisa von drasek:  Caroline , Can you talk a little about what inspired you to write this book? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:04 lisa von drasek

5:05	[Comment From Jonas P.Jonas P.: ]  Thanks for taking the time to chat with us , Caroline Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:05 Jonas P.

Caroline:  Happy to be here!   Caroline

5:05	Caroline:  Absolutely. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:05 Caroline

5:05	[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ]  My kids are all ten year olds. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:05 Julie Wolf

5:06

Caroline:  In 2008 I was teaching fifth-grade social studies. We’d gotten to those textbook paragraphs about England’s first colony in the Americas. Not Jamestown, the Virginia settlement started in 1607. Roanoke, the community established twenty years before… Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:06 Caroline

5:07	Caroline:  … Reading about the Lost Colony along with my students, I remembered the fascination I’d felt the first time I’d encountered the story: 117 missing people. The word CROATOAN the only clue left behind. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:07 Caroline

5:07	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Where did you get the idea for the character names and spelling? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:07 Deborah Baldwin

5:08	lisa von drasek:  were you at a reader as a kid? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:08 lisa von drasek

5:08	Caroline:  In reading first-hand accounts from the 1500s, it didn't take long to notice nobody consistently spelled their names the same way... Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:08 Caroline

5:09	Caroline:  ...Sir Walter Raleigh ususally spelled his name Ralegh... Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:09 Caroline

5:09	Caroline:  ...Alis was one of many variations of Alice.... Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:09 Caroline

5:10	Caroline:  ...So little is known about the Roanoke, I ended up taking both Kimi and Alawa's names from an Algonquin name list I found on-line! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:10 Caroline

5:10	[Comment From Jonas P.Jonas P.: ]  This is your second book and both have been in verse form. Why do you like that form? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:10 Jonas P.

Caroline:  Verse is as close to the bone as I can get.   Caroline

5:10	[Comment From Jonas P.Jonas P.: ]  Are there any drawbacks to the form? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:10 Jonas P.

Caroline:  I see verse as a collection of snap shots and prose as a running movie. There isn't always a lot of room to work within a snap shot, but you can certainly evoke emotion and really focus on the moment.   Caroline

5:13	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Verse form seems to really place an emphasis on choosing your words carefully and helps to get to the heart of the thought. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:13 Deborah Baldwin

Caroline:  Yes. Exactly. Drafting can be very slow work!   Caroline

5:13	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Your book is spot on for fifth graders. It works well as a mentor text for creating "aged" journal entries. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:13 Deborah Baldwin

Caroline:  I love hearing this, especially because the book started for me when I was teaching fifth grade. A circle completed.   Caroline

5:13	[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ]  Did you come across any great discoveries in your research? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:13 Julie Wolf

Caroline:  One thing that didn't make the book but I found to be both interesting and a cruel irony: The day Gov. White returned to Roanoke in 1590 was his granddaughter, Virigina Dare's, third birthday.   Caroline

5:16	lisa von drasek:  I noticed that you had a very specific sense of place. Did you think about including maps? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:16 lisa von drasek

5:17	Caroline:  I hoped Putnam would choose to include a map. So happy they did... Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:17 Caroline

5:18	lisa von drasek:  whoops I missed it Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:18 lisa von drasek

5:18	lisa von drasek:  it is right in the front! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:18 lisa von drasek

5:18	Caroline:  ...It required a flurry of emails and conversations with rangers at Ft. Raleigh. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:18 Caroline

5:18	lisa von drasek:  Can you tell us a little about your own childhood reading? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:18 lisa von drasek

5:19	lisa von drasek:  Any authors who inspired you? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:19 lisa von drasek

5:19	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  The map is very helpful! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:19 Deborah Baldwin

5:21	Caroline:  My computer froze! Sorry about that. Trying again. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:21 Caroline

5:21

Caroline:  I was a voracious reader! Reading was a huge part of my life. I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder, LM Montgomery, Beverly Cleary, Mary Poppins, Doctor Dolittle, Cheaper by the Dozen, Ginger Pye, The Railway Children, Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles, the Shoe books (Ballet, Dancing, etc.) and so many more… Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:21 Caroline

5:22

Caroline:  … My school librarian used to host a "kite contest" every year. She hung a kite on the ceiling and attached a long tail. When a child finished a book, a paper bow was added to the kite. This was magical to me. I read like crazy to get my bows added. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:22 Caroline

5:22

Caroline:  Authors that inspire me: Katherine Paterson. I want to be her when I grow up. She writes with such compassion. I feel the same way about Beverly Cleary. Is there a more human character than Ramona Quimby in all of children's literature? Karen Cushman has taught me so much about historical fiction. Karen Hesse so much about verse... Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:22 Caroline

5:23	Caroline:  ...And here are the books that inspired me to write historical fiction: Catherine, Called Birdy - Karen Cushman Our Only May Amelia - Jennifer Holm Fever 1793 - Laurie Halse Anderson Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:23 Caroline

5:23	[Comment From Josie, School LibrarianJosie, School Librarian: ]  I'm SO stealing the kite idea! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:23 Josie, School Librarian

Caroline:  Your kids will love your for life! I'll come be a student in your library.   Caroline

5:23	[Comment From Reads for a livingReads for a living: ]  I'm always curious about the editing process. What was it like for you? Do editors need any special skills to deal with books in verse? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:23 Reads for a living

Caroline:  This was my editor's first verse novel and only my second. I am generally an under writer (not the insurance company type...the kind that needs to flesh things out). We talked a lot about things I would suspect would be true of any book: rising tension, believable character development.   Caroline

5:26	lisa von drasek one map from the front of the book Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:26

5:26	[Comment From FranFran: ]  You certainly seem drawn to young women who are living in difficult circumstances! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:26 Fran

Caroline:  It's kind of funny, actually. I'm a self-proclaimed wimp. I think that's why I'm fascinated with these strong girls living in challenging times.   Caroline

5:26	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  I love the kite idea too! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:26 Deborah Baldwin

5:26	[Comment From Blue StockingBlue Stocking: ]  In both your books, the main characters are 12-year-old girls. Are you just a 12-year-old at hearts, or is there some other reason you pick this age? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:26 Blue Stocking

Caroline:  Twelve feels like a middle grade sweet spot to me. I taught sixth and seventh grade for most of my teaching years. It just feels like a good fit for me.   Caroline

5:28	[Comment From Jane DoeJane Doe: ]  The Roanoke story seems to be ones that kids are fascinated by, as you were. I wonder if it's because it's one of the few historical stories where text books just admit nobody now for sure what happened? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:28 Jane Doe

Caroline:  I think that's a huge part of it. There are still debates now. No one really knows. Did they go inland, as a recent map seems to indicate? Did they go to the Chesapeake, as planned? Some surely went to Croatoan. Jamestown settlers spoke of possibly seeing white-skinned men working Native copper mines. It is fascinating!   Caroline

5:28	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  How long did it take for you to write this book? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:28 Deborah Baldwin

Caroline:  The first niggling idea came in 2008. I sat down to research in 2010. Drafted 2011-2012. Sold it in 2013. Worked and reworked and reworked until last summer, 2014.   Caroline

5:29	[Comment From Blue stockingBlue stocking: ]  Good answer about 12-year olds -- I agree. It's old enough for middle graders to look up to, but not so old that they can't relate. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:29 Blue stocking

Caroline:  Yes! Exactly.   Caroline

5:32	[Comment From Jane DoeJane Doe: ]  Thanks for understanding my question -- ugh, typos! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:32 Jane Doe

Caroline:  :) Didn't even notice.   Caroline

5:32	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Do you do author visits or Skype with schools? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:32 Deborah Baldwin

Caroline:  I do both and absolutely love it...   Caroline

5:33	Caroline:  ...I feel like I get to pretend for an hour that the students are mine. I also really love seeing kids get excited about reading and history all at once. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:33 Caroline

5:33	[Comment From Jane DoeJane Doe: ]  Have kids every asked you questions out of left field? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:33 Jane Doe

Caroline:  Yes. And they're extra fun. If you've read May B., they're often about the fate of Mrs. Oblinger. Sometimes they get gruesome.   Caroline

5:34	lisa von drasek:  Have the kids made you think any differently about your writing? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:34 lisa von drasek

5:35

Caroline:  Yes. I realize how different our world is today. Things like the responsibilities a young person might have. I want kids to really feel those differences. With May B., which is a frontier story, I have kids think about all the ways they've used water up to that point in the day… Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:35 Caroline

5:35	Caroline:  ...and all the ways they'll use it later. Then I tell students pioneers in the 1870s didn’t have running water. If they were really lucky, they had a well. It’s one of many ways to show how different life is now… Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:35 Caroline

5:37	Caroline:  ...But I also love talking about the similarities... Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:37 Caroline

5:38	Caroline:  ...Those come in an emotional connection. We have all felt anger, sadness, joy, or fear. These are the timeless things that connect us. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:38 Caroline

5:38	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Those different perspectives and life experiences are so important to have represented. Thank you! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:38 Deborah Baldwin

Caroline:  Yes! I remember once telling children to imagine no cars, TV, computers, etc. I asked how they might spend their time. One boy told me he'd play Monopoly. I had to tell him even that wasn't around during pioneer times!   Caroline

5:38	lisa von drasek:  You really captured Alis's loneliness . Was there really only one girl in Roanoke? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:38 lisa von drasek

5:39

Caroline:  17 English women and 11 boys made the journey to Roanoke. No young girls were on the 1587 manifest. But with both the Dare and Harvie families having babies a few days apart, adding Alis to the Harvie family felt practical. She could serve as a nursemaid to both children. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:39 Caroline

5:40	[Comment From Jane DoeJane Doe: ]  I loved your comments about spelling. I've read that it was actually PRINTERS who made us regulate spelling. I always say I prefer the creative approach, rather to the tyranny of printers! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:40 Jane Doe

Caroline:  Preach it!   Caroline

5:40	[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ]  How difficult was it to get your first book published? And, BTW, congrats on the success of it. I loved it and this one will be received at least as well. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:40 Julie Wolf

Caroline:  My goodness. Thank you! It took me a long time to sell a first book. May was novel number four (I also had written six picture books). Though I got some kind feedback from agents, most felt verse was a really hard sell, and literary historical MG was the trifecta of difficult.   Caroline

5:42	[Comment From Junie B., ChicagoJunie B., Chicago: ]  Do you have another book in the works, or do you need a break? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:42 Junie B., Chicago

Caroline:  I'm working on a prose novel, which is a new challenge for me. It's about the Klondike gold rush with a Huck Finn-like character. My sons (sixth and eighth grade) have wanted me to write about a boy for years.   Caroline

5:43	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Your writing lends itself to the reader to form "text to text" and "text to self" connections. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:43 Deborah Baldwin

Caroline:  Oh, I love this! One of my favorite moments is a small one: Alis talks about the "luxuries" of London. I wanted readers to really see and reflect on her concept of a luxury vs. their own.   Caroline

5:44	[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ]  Thanks for saying that about literary historical MG being a tough sell. I wondered about that! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:44 Julie Wolf

Caroline:  It's too bad. BUT. I have to believe a good story will get its chance. My writing motto for years has been "maniacal optimism".   Caroline

5:44	lisa von drasek:  I was wondering what your writing day was like. Can you say a few words about that? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:44 lisa von drasek

Caroline:  I'm not sure if there is a typical day. I do almost always start with a trip to the gym or am out the door for a run. Then I settle in. I try to hold to Roald Dahl's philosophy: At least two hours a day with your work, whether or not you have something to say. Of course, some days it's much longer. Other times life butts in.   Caroline

5:46	[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ]  But I haven't found it tough to sell to kids -- they open it and immediately see that it's easy to read (it doesn't hurt that there are fewer words on the page than in other books). Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:46 Julie Wolf

Caroline:  I am SO happy to hear this. There is sometimes resistence to verse...but to me it seems to be coming almost exclusively from adults. I think kids are very, very open and accepting and curious.   Caroline

5:46	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  My students enjoy reading verse as well! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:46 Deborah Baldwin

5:48	lisa von drasek:  Is there any questions you had wished I had asked? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:48 lisa von drasek

5:48	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Our Third Graders loved May B. I've introduced our fifth Graders to Blue Birds. Our Fourth Graders will most likely enjoy the Gold Rush book. All of them fit our history studies nicely. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:48 Deborah Baldwin

5:49	Caroline:  Let's talk about why I write children's books... Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:49 Caroline

5:49	[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ]  Going back to the issue of an MG historical novel in verse -- what on earth made you decide to do that? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:49 Julie Wolf

Caroline:  What on earth indeed??? I didn't plan it at all. I had actually only read two verse novels before writing May. But as I started drafting, I was frustrated with the distance I felt between my ideas and the words on the page. I returned to my research and noticed the patterns frontier women used to communicate. Spare language. Everything contained. I realized if I could mirror this I could best show May's world and tell her story.   Caroline

5:49	Caroline:  These are the books I shared with my former students and the ones I read with my children. They're also the ones that have had a biggest impact on me in my reading life… Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:49 Caroline

5:49

Caroline:  …I love the way children's books validate children's lives and experiences. My older boy went into the hospital with a staph infection when he was ten days old. As nurses poked around on him, I remember them telling me he wouldn't remember the pain. So what? I wanted to say. He's feeling it right now!… Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:49 Caroline

5:49

Caroline:  … I think as well-meaning adults we do this sort of thing all the time -- downplay the moment for kids. The truth is those moments, all moments, are real. Children's literature provides an honest, safe place for kids to hear their big and small moments count. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:49 Caroline

5:51	lisa von drasek:  Do you have contact information for school that would like author visits either real or skyped? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:51 lisa von drasek

Caroline:  Yes! If you go to my website, click on the "author visits" option.   Caroline

5:51	[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ]  You've just brought tears to my eyes! What a GREAT way of putting it! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:51 Julie Wolf

Caroline:  Ramona Quimby and Anne Shirley taught me that.   Caroline

5:54	lisa von drasek:  Unbelievably the time has sped by and we must say thank you to Caroline. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:54 lisa von drasek

5:54	Caroline:  www.carolinestarrrose.com Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:54 Caroline

5:54	lisa von drasek:  Any last words from the peanut gallery? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:54 lisa von drasek

5:54	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  Thank you! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:54 Deborah Baldwin

5:54	Nora - EarlyWord:  Caroline just gave us the link to her Web site, where you can contact her for author visits. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:54 Nora - EarlyWord

5:55	Caroline:  My absolute pleasure. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:55 Caroline

5:56	[Comment From Julie+WolfJulie+Wolf: ]  This peanut loved the chat!! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:56 Julie+Wolf

5:56	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  What advice do you have for young writers? Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:56 Deborah Baldwin

5:57	Caroline:  Two things: You have something unique to say. Your writing can only get better if you keep trying. These sustained me in the almost fourteen years it took me to see my first book on the shelves. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:57 Caroline

5:57	Nora - EarlyWord:  That's a great place to end -- Thanks, Lisa and Caroline and all the rest of you -- this was so much fun! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:57 Nora - EarlyWord

5:58	Nora - EarlyWord:  The next title in our program is Ms. Rapscott's Girls, by Elise Primavera, coming in March. Click here to read more about it: Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord

5:58	Nora - EarlyWord:  http://penguinyrauthors.ear... Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord

5:58	Nora - EarlyWord:  Happy reading, everyone and thanks for joining. Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord

5:59	[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ]  So glad you persisted, Caroline! Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:59 Deborah Baldwin

Caroline:  Thank you. Me too.   Caroline

 

 

We’re coming down to the wire for seasonal gift giving.Continuing my series about books you can recommend, and give with confidence, we turn to kids who like books about real subjects.

For Kids Who Want to Know About Real People

  Viva Frida, Yuyi Morales, Tim O’Meara, (Roaring Brook Press), Ages 4 to 8, Grades P to 3Morales’s stunning mixed media art captures Khalo’s life and spirit.The following video explores the creation of the illustrations.The Pilot and the Little Prince, Peter Sís, (Macmillan/FSG), Ages 5 to 8, Grades K to 3This sophisticated picture book biography explores the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.Sis talks about his inspiration in the video below:The Right Word, Jen Bryant, Melissa Sweet, (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers), Ages 7 to 18

From the award-winning creators of A River of Words, the life of Peter Mark Roget the creator of Roget’s Thesaurus is expressed through language and collage.A masterpiece.

For Kids Who Like Trucks

Giant Vehicles, Ron Green, illus.by Stephen Biesty, (Candlewick/Templar), Ages 6 and upRemember last year’s Caldecott winner Locomotive by Brian Floca?Here is a book for a little younger crowd displaying lift-the -flap cross sections of vehicles from jumbo jets, to trains to spectacular rockets to the everyday dump trucks.

For Kids Who Are Wild About Animals 

Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents, Lita Judge, (Roaring Brook), Ages 6 and upSimple language shares facts about animal families with delicious watercolor and pencil naturalist illustrations (take a look at several here)Chasing Cheetahs: The race to Save Africa’s Fastest Cats, Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop, (HMH), Ages 9 and upThe Sibert Award winning author and illustrator for Kakapo Rescue explores a species on the edge of extinction.Animalium, Jenny Broom, Katie Scott, (Candlewick/Big Picture Press), Ages 8 to 12Number one on my wish list is this oversized lushly illustrated book that is modeled on a turn of the last century natural history museum.One can imagine a family sprawled out on the carpet for hours, poring over tiny details of the fact-filled pages.

Three novels in verse stood out this year. All are great read alouds and all exhibit greatness in that intangible but essential quality. “voice.”  All three made me long to read them aloud to classes of students.

The Red Pencil, Andrea Davis Pinkney, (Hachette/Little Brown; Hachette Audio); OverDrive Sample

The Red Pencil sets us down in the Sudan. We enter the life of young girl yearning for an education but caught in a horrific war as she finally arrives at a refugee camp. Pinkney’s spare language gives voice and a window into the cultures and lives we don’t hear or see every day.

How I Discovered Poetry, Marilyn Nelson, (Penguin/Dial Books); OverDrive Sample

Acclaimed poet, Nelson (A Wreathe for Emmett Till) reflects on her life as a child raised on army bases during the 1950’s where the only black people were her own family.

Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson, (Penguin/Nancy Paulson; Listening Library); OverDrive Sample

Winner of the National Book Award, Ms. Woodson’s memoir is more than her own story, it is the story of a generation raised in the sixties and the grounding power of family.

Continuing my series about books you can recommend, and give with confidence, below are some sure-fire titles published this year for middle-grade kids.

 Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson, (Penguin/Nancy Paulsen)

For the smart kid who wants to get into the head of another, there is Woodson’s National Book Award winner, Brown Girl Dreaming, a book that sings and shouts and, with the help of the NBA judges, sends its song to an even wider universe.  Also consider her backlist, now available in paperback, including Feathers and After Tupac & D Foster.

El Deafo, Cece Bell, (Abrams)

This has been on the top of my lists since I read an advance copy half a year ago. It stands with the best in the repertoire of middle grade school stories. Don’t be fooled by reviewer shorthand that says this is a book about hearing loss and disability. It is about that, but even more, it is about growing and friendship, misunderstanding and secret thoughts. Bell has bravely shared her own story so that children will know they are not alone as they negotiate the mysterious trials of elementary school society.

Rain Reign, Ann M. Martin,  (Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends; Brilliance Audio)

I am a sucker for a good story about a girl and her dog. If you have readers who want a very real story that can be a bit of a weeper, this it.

Good spoiler alert: Don’t worry, the dog doesn’t die.

Guys Read: True Stories, John Scieska illus, by BrianFloca (Walden Pond Press)

I didn’t forget about the boys. This title should have been on the informational books list, but rules are meant to be broken especially by John Scieska. He asks our favorite informational book authors — Candace Fleming, Elizabeth Partridge, Jim Murphy, Steve Sheinkin, and Nathan Hale — to present high interest narrative non- fiction in short format.

Continuing my series about books you can recommend, and give with confidence, below are some sure-fire titles published this year for young adults.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Jenny Han, (Simon & Schuster; Recorded Books); OverDrive Sample

A Blind Spot for Boys, Justina Chen, (Hachette/Little Brown); OverDrive Sample

For the kids who love John Green and want some romance with complications, don’t miss these.

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces, Isabel Gabi Quintero, (Cinco Puntos Press; Listening Library); OverDrive Sample

When I lecture to classes in creative writing, the questions I receive often have to do with what will sell. What are publishers looking for? What are you looking for? The answer is “voice,” which is frustratingly difficult to define.

Debut author Isabel Quintero nails the voice of a late teen wondering, questioning and finding her place in a world unwilling to accommodate who she really is.

See for yourself in the following clip from the audio:

SLJ blog Teen Librarian Tool Box attested to that voice,  “It’s funny, sad, honest, raw, bold, and hopeful. It’s about the many things that can go on in one’s life, great and small.”
—

We Were Liars, E. Lockhart
(RH/Delacorte; Listening Library); OverDrive Sample

On nearly all the best books lists for the year, this is a winner for the kid who is sophisticated and can handle psychological drama.

Afterworlds, Scott Westerfield, (Simon and Schuster; S&S Audio); OverDrive Sample

You can’t go wrong with this for the fantasy reader, but it is also a good selection for the aspiring writer. In the video made for the audio edition, Scott gives writing advice.

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia, Candace  Fleming, (RH/Schwartz & Wade; Listening Library); OverDrive Sample

For the teen that wants something REAL. The dramatic story of the Russian royal family.

It’s that time of year when many of us are looking for just the right present for kids that we don’t see all that often, and books are a natural choice. As the nieces and nephews and godchildren gather around the tree or finish lighting the menorah, it’s great to offer each one an alternative to the inevitable pile of gadgets and software, and as the saying goes, a book really is a present you can open again and again.

But with the number of titles available, how do you choose? Not a day goes by after Black Friday that I don’t get five or six emails saying something like this:

I’d love some ideas for 5 grandsons, ranging in age from three to twelve. The ten-year-old loves to read, but the twelve-year-old only loves sports. Last year’s suggestions were very well liked!!

When you’re faced with such a plea, a little reconnaissance pays off big. How old is each recipient? Do you have a clue about likes and dislikes — particularly any subjects, toys, or themes that add up to an obsession? Even a small amount of information, will help you achieve the goal of getting a smile when the gift is unwrapped.

To aid you in your mission, I’m offering my picks from the thousands of children’s books published this year, sorted by age group, with notes to help you spot just the right book for that young reader, attempting to answer the question that plagues adult gift givers with children in their lives: “How do I buy a book for a gift for a kid I don’t know very well?”

We’ll divide this into sections.  Below, selections for the very young. In the following posts, I’ll suggest titles for early elementary and older kids.

This is more art than science, so I may have overlooked some of your favorites. Please mention them in the comments section.

For Families With A New Baby Or Toddler

No Two Alike, Keith Baker, (Little Simon, Board Book)

Particularly appropriate for families with new twins, but it works for others as well.  Baker’s art and ear for language is pitch perfect for young children and their parents. In the book, we observe a pair of red birds making their way in the snow-covered world.

Moo!, David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka, (Bloomsbury, Board Book)

This was a read aloud delight when it arrived as a picture book in 2013. There never was a more expressive story told with just one sound — “Moo.” Now available in a board book edition we can share our enthusiasm with the pre-reading set

Honk, Honk! Baa, Baa!,  Petr Horacek, (Candlewick)

This heavy stock board book has a comforting familiarity with Horacek’s mixed media illustrations of common farm animals and the noises they emit. As we turn the die cut pages they form a black and white bovine surprise on the last spread (if you’re having trouble imagining that, watch a kid discover it for himself in this video).

Also from Horacek is Las Fresas son Rojas, (Candlewick)

This is a new Spanish language edition of Strawberries are Red a cornucopia of fruit and colors with a die cut surprise at the end.

Pat-a-Cake and All Fall Down, Mary Brigid Barrett, illus. by LeUyen Pham, (Candlewick Press)

The familiar nursery rhymes are stretched and expanded in these delightfully silly rhyming romps. Have you ever patted a pickle cold and bumpy? A fuzzy caterpillar? Did your recitation of “Ring around the Rosie” include “potatoes in a mound, plopping green peas all around”?

For Families With Preschoolers Ages 2 To 5

This is the age when kids start to get reading ready. It important for them to explore colors, numbers, and shapes as well as concepts like up and down and in and out through pages of a book. The following will bring surprise and wonder from that most jaded of readers, the parent, who often has to read them again and again.

Countablock, Christopher Franceschelli, ills. by Peskimo, Abrams 16.95

From the team that brought us Alphablock (Abrams, 2013), this is a brick of a book weighing in at almost 1 ½ pounds of counting fun. We count from 1 to 10 as 6 balls of yarn become 6 sweaters and 7 pots of paint become seven colors of the rainbow in bold graphics that include an oversized depiction of the number then we count by 10s to read a double page spread of 100 puzzle pieces (see more interior photos here).

Circle Square Moose, Kelly Bingham,  illus, by Paul Zelinsky, (Greenwillow Books)

The creators, Z is for Moose broke down the structure and predictability of the alphabet book. Shapes are the feature of this reprise of the adventures of Moose whose enthusiasm for the subject matter exceeds his social skills. See below for

Number Circus: 1-10 and Back Again!,  Květa Pacovská (minedition, Dist. by IPG)

This playful, tactile volume with embossing, die-cuts, and interactive lift-the-flaps is an artistic volume that nods to the influences of modern masters such as Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, and Joan Miró.

For Families Sick of Reading the
Same Bedtime Books Over and Over

Thank You, Octopus,  Darren Farrell, (Penguin/Dial)

Absurdist humor seems to be a winner this year and I would give the prize to this one. The familiar structure of the children’s games “Fortunately/ Unfortunately” and “That’s Bad/ No That’s Good” are used here as a knitted cap-wearing Octopus offers what at first seems a to be typical bedtime rituals of a warm bath, bringing a “Thank you, Octopus!” But, wait, that bath is made of egg salad. “Gross! No, thank you, Octopus!” This holds up to repeated readings, as we explore the ship where the boy and the octopus reside.

Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night,  Jon Davis, (HMH)

Small Blue is white bunny. Small Blue is imagining scary creatures like gremlins and goblins when the lights are turned off at night. The grownup in the house is Big Brown, an enormous bear. Big Brown suggest imagining something fun not scary in the dark like delightful doggies riding unicycles. The bunny’s bedroom when lit is a cozy space of glowing yellow strewn with toys and books contrasting with the deep blues where the fantasy beings appear in the dark. Sure to become a favorite.

Continuing my series of suggestions for gifts that are sure to bring smiles, below are titles for early elementary kids.

Picture Books, Ages 5 and up

Bad Bye, Good Bye, Deborah Underwood, illus. by Jonathan Bean (HMH)

Underwood, whose Quiet Book won the Geisel Award for beginning readers, has made me see books for emergent readers in a new way. One of my favorite picture books of the year, this just happens to have easy-to-read limited rhyming text. The ink and color pencil illustrations eloquently depict a child’s unhappiness about his family’s moving to a new home and his discovery that the new place has its compensations. Not to be missed.

Pardon Me, Daniel Miyares, (Simon and Schuster)

Here is the book for the kids who couldn’t get enough of Jon Classon’s I Want My Hat Back. Parrot is content to be alone on his small island when first a heron joins him with a polite “Pardon me.” As more animals join him, the more visibly annoyed he becomes. The twist ending will delight listeners while teachers will be thinking of ways to lead a discussion on inference. A keeper.

100 things that make me Happy, Amy Schwartz. (Abrams)

Amy Schwartz in my mind is one of the overlooked geniuses of children’s books today. She quietly produces perfect books without fanfare that reflect the everyday lives of children with a subtle subversive flair. Her Bea and Mr. Jones was selected for the first Reading Rainbow list and is as fresh and funny today as it was the year it was published, 1982 (give yourself a treat with this flashback to the great Madeline Khan reading it on the show) and there is not a better book about friendship for kindergartners than her 2001 book, The Boys Team.

That said, in her newest creation, Schwarts presents rhyming pairs of word phrases — curly hair…teddy bear, mermaid…lemonade. This is an illustrated catalog, a counting book, an easy reader, as well as delicious word play. The rhythm of the words and page turns slows down and speeds up as we follow a diverse population of children and their adults displaying the author’s favorite things from the simple “polka dots…forget-me-nots” to the sublime “city lights…starry nights” Families will be inspired to move off the page and observe their own world and list the 100 things that make them happiest.

A New Baby In The Family

The Baby Tree, Sophie Blackall, (Penguin/Nancy Paulsen)

For those who already own Robie Harris’s Its Not The Stork, this is the next perfect book for explaining where babies come from. The narrator receives bits of information from various sources — his babysitter, his grandfather, his teacher, and the mail carrier — but until his mom explains the biological information in plain language, none of it makes much sense.

Continuing my series of suggestions for sure-fire gifts, below are titles for kids who are starting to read on their own, plus a couple of suggestions for family readalouds.

For those who like their easy-to-read books in a traditional format there are some new books with favorite characters:

Drop it Rocket!, Tad Hills, (PRH/Schwartz and Wade)

Rocket (of the best selling Rocket Learns to Read) is back in what may be the first book a child reads to herself. With very few words on the page, the pictures give clues to the words and most importantly there is a good story. This kind of book is very hard to find. More please.

Waiting Is Not Easy, Mo Williams. (Disney/Hyperion)

Although this is another in the Elephant and Piggie series, it is not just another series book. Librarians sometimes joke that the ALA’s easy-to-read award, The Geisel, should just be given to Mo Willems every year. It’s hard to argue with that. Yet I have to say, as familiar as we are with Willems’s work, this one is amazing and surprising. To say any more would raise spoilers, so ,just trust me on this.

Ling & Ting: Twice as Silly, Grace Lin, (Hachette/ Little Brown)

Introduce your newly fluent early chapter book readers, the ones who are speeding through Henry and Mudge, to the silly sisters, Ling and Ting. Lin’s comic timing is exquisite in these six short chapters that capture the young girls’ imaginative adventures.

Cock-a-Doodle Oops!,  Lori Degman, illus.  by Deborah Zemke, (Creston, Dist. by Perseus/PGW)

Rhythm, rhyme and repetition combine in this absurdist barnyard tale of a rooster who goes on vacation and delegates his wake up duties to the other animals. This sleeper is a winner.

Ballerina Dreams: from Orphan to Dancer, Machaela and Elaine DePrince,  illus. by Frank Morrison. (Random House)

The autobiography of an orphan from Sierra Leone, who, encouraged by her adoptive American family, became a ballerina, this is for the kids who are reading independently and want a real story. Also available now for ages 12 and up is Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina (RH/Knopf)

The Whale Who Won Hearts: And More True Stories Of Adventures With Animals, Brian Skerry, (National Geographic)

In this short chapter autobiography we follow Brian Skerry, a National Geographic photojournalist specializing in marine wildlife and underwater environments. For a taste of his amazing photos (and his journalistic drive), take a look at this National Geographic video. For even more, see his TED presentation.

Family Read Alouds

The family with younger children, around 4 to 6, who have enjoyed Kate DiCamillo’s six Mercy Watson books, will want her new early chapter book Leroy Ninker Saddles Up (Candlewick), set in the same world and a hoot.

Shannon Hale, the Newbery Honor winning author of The Princess Academy (also a great read aloud) presents The Princess in Black, (Candlewick),  a grand adventure about a proper pinkish princess who has a secret life battling big blue monsters and rescuing goat herding boys.

The creator of Clifford the Big Red Dog, Norman Bridwell, died on Friday. He was 86 years old.

Scholastic published the first  Clifford book in 1963. The series became so important to the company that Scholastic adopted the dog as its official mascot.

In a statement released yesterday, Dick Robinson,  CEO, of Scholastic, paid tribute to the author, saying, “Norman Bridwell’s books about Clifford, childhood’s most loveable dog, could only have been written by a gentle man with a great sense of humor.”

In 2012, Scholastic celebrated Clifford’s 50th anniversary and released a video interview with Bridwell:

A live-action, animated 3D movie, Clifford the Big Red Dog is scheduled for release on April 8th, 2016.

The next book in the series will be published in April.

Clifford Goes to Kindergarten
Norman Bridwell
Scholastic: April 28, 2015
Ages 3 to 5, Grades P to K
Paperback
$3.99 USD

Get ready for a resurgence of the popularity of the name Ruby. Steven Spielberg has just announced that 10-year-old British actress Ruby Barnhill will star in his adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1982 children’s book, The BFG, (Macmillan/FSG YR).

In a statement, Spielberg gives the young actress high praise, “After a lengthy search, I feel Roald Dahl himself would have found Ruby every bit as marvelous as we do.” She will play a young girl named Sophie who befriends a giant, played by Mark Rylance.

Disney plans to release the film on July 1, 2016.

Meanwhile, BBC One has completed another Dahl adaptation,  a TV movie based on Esio Trot, starring Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman. It is scheduled to air in the U.K. on New Years Day. U.S. rights have been acquired by the Weinstein Co., but the U.S. release date has not been announced.

Calling her as “The Cover Girl For A New Kind Of Ballet,” CBS Sunday Morning featured African-American ballerina Misty Copeland.

Her autobiography, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina, (S&S/Touchstone; Tantor Audio), published in hardcover in March, is coming out in trade paperback this week.

She also published a children’s picture book in September, Firebird, illus. by Christopher Myers, (Penguin/Putnam) picked as a best book of the year by NPR:

“The book is for very young dancers who may not see many people who look like them in the world of ballet. It’s illustrated by Christopher Myers, whose collagelike work is painterly, vivid and emotional. Copeland’s writing and Myers’ art draw you into a beautiful world, rich with color, texture and drama. For all budding young artists who maybe don’t have role models they can relate to, this little book provides some inspiration.

Released just an hour ago, the first full length trailer of Insurgent. The movie arrives on March 20, 2015.

.

Announcing her next book via a tweet, picked up by Entertainment Weekly‘s “Shelf Life” column, Rainbow Rowell says,

In another tweet, Rowell teases that more news is coming.

I’m not trolling you. I mean, I WOULD troll you. But I’m not right now: Real live Simon Snow book. PLUS MORE FANGIRL NEWS LATER THIS WEEK! — Rainbow Rowell (@rainbowrowell) December 10, 2014

Fans, of course will be speculating. Could it be a movie? Film rights have been picked up for Eleanor & Park, but there have been no announcements for  Fangirl (don’t be confused by that Meg Ryan movie in the works, Fan Girl. It is not an adaptation, but an original script).

UPDATE: Turns out the news is about the special collector’s edition which we noted below.

Ordering information for Carry On won’t be available until early spring. A sneak peek will be featured in a new “collector’s edition” of Fangirl,  coming in May, described as including “Fan Art, a ribbon bookmark, an exclusive author Q&A, and an excerpt from her upcoming book Carry On.“

Fangirl: A Novel by Rainbow Rowell

St. Martin’s Griffin: May 12, 2015

9781250073808, 1250073804

Hardcover; $18.99 USD

The New York Times Book Review just completed their best books selections by releasing their Notable Childrens Books.

We’ve added their 25 picks to our downloadable spreadsheet, for your use in ordering and creating displays, 2014-Best-Books-Childrens-and-YA-V.6, bringing the total number of titles on the list to 280.

Two books continue to be the leaders in the number of picks, Jacqueline Woodson’s National Book Award winning memoir, Brown Girl Dreaming (Penguin) and E. Lockhart’s Y.A. novel, We Were Liars. (RH/Delacorte).

Middle Grade Leaders

The two leading middle grade books are about kids learning to deal with disabilities, Cece Bell’s graphic memoir, El Deafo (Abrams) and Ann M. Martin’s novel about a girl with Asperger’s, Rain Reign (Feiwel & Friends)

Leading Picture Book

Two-time Caldecott Honor winner Marla Frazee’s The Farmer and the Clown leads in the number of best books picks for the category.

The NYT BR describes this wordless book as ” visually poetic.”

NYT BR Unique Picks

The majority of the 280 titles on our collated list were picked by just one source. The NYT BR adds their own 3 unique picks (annotations from the Times):

Arcady’s Goal. Written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin, (Macmillan/Holt; ages 9 to 12.)

“In this memorable illustrated novel, the Russian-born, Newbery Honor-winning Yelchin tells the story of an orphan in Stalinist Russia whose skill at soccer offers an opportunity to transform his life.”

The Storm Whale . Written and illustrated by Benji Davies, (Macmillan/Holt; ages 3 to 8.)

“This charmingly illustrated picture book tells a simple but powerful story about a lonely boy, his hard-working single dad and a stranded baby whale that helps parent and child grow closer.”

The Jacket,  Kirsten Hall. Illus.by Dasha Tolstikova, (Enchanted Lion, $17.95; ages 4 to 8.)

“A character named Book is distraught when his jacket is ruined by his owner’s dog, but she makes him a new one in this ingenious and poignant tale.”