Away to Chicago

I’m off shortly to ALA in Chicago where I will be seeing many friends from the publishing world — authors, illustrators, editors, marketers, publicity folks, agents, librarians, academics, reviewers, educators, teachers, bloggers, booksellers, and book lovers of all stripes. Can’t wait to see them all and do some socializing, gossiping, hear about and see new and forthcoming books, and otherwise have a grand time.

In addition to all the socializing and networking, I also plan to:

• Stop by the Mo Willems reading at the Art Institute’s “Picture Perfect: Caldecott Award Books: 2006-2009) exhibit on Friday afternoon, 3-5.
• Wander the exhibits on Saturday morning. (This is perhaps my favorite thing to do — see what is coming down the pike for all of us.  I’m also on the look-out for next year’s Battle of the Kids’ Books contenders.)
• Meet up with some fellow child_litters for lunch on Saturday at the convention center food court (thanks to Cheryl Klein for organizing this).
• Hopefully make it to the Saturday 1:30 session, “Books and Blogs: Made for Each Other?”
• Sit in on the Notables meetings (their discussion list is available here) at various times.
• Also on Saturday, at 3:30, get to the session, “Mixing it Up: The Process of Bringing International Children’s Books to the US” with Cheryl and others.
• On Sunday at 1:30, go to The Pura Belpré Celebración; I’ve never been before and hear it is wonderful!
• Be at the Newbery Caldecott Wilder Banquet on Sunday.  I went to my first one of these in 2002 when my dear friend Roxanne Feldman was on the committee that honored Linda Sue Park with the Newbery Medal for A Single Shard.  She arranged for me to sit at the FSG table where I had a blast with Jack Gantos.  Since then I’ve gone yearly and it has been wonderful each time.  Last year was, of course, particularly special because it was when I was on the Newbery Committee and we got to see one of the best banquet speeches to date by our winner, Laura Amy Schlitz.  Neil Gaiman is an amazing speaker (and, as this blog’s readers well know, I was a huge advocate for his book winning), but I’m dubious that even he can beat Laura’s mesmerizing presentation of  last year. Still he is NEIL GAIMAN, arguably the biggest celeb to win this award (biggest outside this world of children’s books, I mean), a great guy, and a wonderful storyteller in his own right — so I’m sure it is going to be one hell of a night.  I cannot wait!
• Listen to Melba Beals on Monday morning.
• Attend the presentation of the Batchelder, Carnegie, Geisel, and Sibert Awards later on Monday morning.

Sadly I am returning to NYC on Monday afternoon so cannot attend the Odyssey Award Presentation and Reception, the Printz Award Program, the Coretta Scott King Award celebrations (really, really sorry I can’t do these — I’ve gone to the amazing breakfast several times and this year there are more events to celebrate 40 years of the award), and too many other cool looking activities.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

School Library Journal’s first every Battle of the (Kids’) Books ends tomorrow with the finale judged by the honorable Lois Lowry. As the instigator and half of the Battle Commander, I had a complete blast doing the BoB and am glad to know others enjoyed following it as well.  I’m particularly tickled at the finalists as they are as far on opposite ends of the children’s book spectrum as you can go.

On one side you have Suzanne Collins’  The Hunger Games, the quintessential page-turner — the front runner from day one in the People’s Choice Poll. I’m with Judge Ellen Wittlinger who wrote in her first round decision:

The suspense never lets up for a second, and I found myself constantly surprised by the twists and turns here. Even though the ending does not tie things up neatly—a sequel appears this year—it was completely satisfying and brought a tear to my crusty old eye. In fact, I haven’t fallen in love with a book like this in a long time.

And then, as far as you can possibly go and still be a children’s book (and I know there are arguments all over the place about this— I’ve been part of them) there is the second volume of M. T. Anderson’s Octavian Nothing.  Judge Tim Wynne-Jones said it best in his second round decision:

I read the first half intermittently over a three-month period. I could put it down. But the important thing is that I couldn’t leave it down. It demanded to be read (albeit in a respectful tone, without raising its voice). Partly, I think the book itself – its tome-like physical entity – cast a spell over me. It looks portentous, right down to the well-cut version of Caslon, which, the colophon explains, was the very typeface used to set the Declaration of Independence. A book this thoughtfully designed exerts a lot of gravity upon a reader.

And when I was drawn back into its orbit, I found that, as with the first volume, the second half of it – well, the last third, anyway – proved to be a real page-turner, a belated thriller. This is the prize awaiting the steadfast reader. Hang in there; there’s action aplenty up ahead!

Two stellar books. Two completely different reading experiences.  I’m sure glad I don’t have to decide between them!  Do be sure to check in tomorrow to see who won.

Sixteen Books!

Delightful interview with the intripid Everdeen Sisters (otherwise known as the creators of that video-gone-round-the-children’s-book-world:  Now Or Never (Battle of the Books Style).

Book Tweets

So this week there are only two matches at the BoB so we wanted to come up  with something for the other days.  At first we considered facebook updates, but since they’ve changed them the look isn’t as icon and so that wouldn’t have been  much fun. So, instead, we did what we are doing — twitter!  Yes, our contestents all twitter.  Here are some of their tweets. Be sure to go to the BoB blog over the next few days to see more.

And the BoB Rages On!

We are on to Round 2 in SLJ’s Battle of the (Kids’) Books. Yesterday after Match 2 I was able to briefly catch up with the two opponents of that competition.

EA: Congratulations, Chains.  You are off to Round 3 now!

C: I’m so excited!  Tender was a fantastic opponent, I’ll say that.  We are pretty different, but managed to fight it out fairly, I’d say.  My great thanks to Judge Booth for deciding for me.   I’m a bit nervous about going up against that BIG BOOK next week, but I’m in good shape and he may be surprised!

EA:  It is going to be quite a match, I grant you that. Can’t wait to see it.  I mean, you both are set in the same time period, but are otherwise so very different!  Now Tender Morsels hope you aren’t feeling too tender after your defeat.

TM: It was tough.  Chains was a worthy contender though.  I’m not happy, understandably (and Margo is disappointed too as is only to be expected). But it is all in good fun, after all.  A few nicks — nothing more.

EA:  Go for a lovely long bath and a massage — both of you!  And thank you so much for taking time to talk to me.  Hope you and everyone else check out today’s match — another intense one between two remarkable books!

Battle of the (Kids’) Books Round One Is OVER!

As one of the folks running SLJ’s Battle of the (Kids’) Books, I have to say I am very happy with it so far.  The judges have been magnificent.  Our idea was for this to be fun, for people to look at these books freshly and it is clear from the comments that many are doing so.  While some wondered at the idea of even attempting to compare two very different books, I am delighted at how each of our first round judges found ways to do just that in thoughtful, sensitive, intelligent, and respectful ways.  Each came up with his or her own criteria, wrestling mightily with this difficult task, but prevailing in every case.  Surprises have been the norm for many different reasons and  I hope that the BoB’s spectators consider each book anew and perhaps take up a book they hadn’t previously planned to read.   Mashing up books this way got some fascinating issues out to be considered.  Fantastic food for thought.  And now on to Round Two!

• This Monday Tim Wynne-Jones will decide between Octavian Nothing Vol. II and The Trouble Begins at 8.
• On Tuesday Coe Booth will decide between Chains and Tender Morsels.
• On Wednesday John Green will decide between We Are the Ship and The Hunger Games.
• On Thursday Nancy Werlin will decide between Graceling and The Lincolns.

Absolutely Fabulous Video about the BoB!

Check out the lyrics and a bit about how they did it here.

SLJ’s Battle of the (Kids’) Books Begins with a Bang

Call off all bets. Children’s book ambassador Jon Scieszka left little doubt that School Library Journal’s first annual Battle of the (Kids’) Books won’t be business as usual. Scieszka, part of a panel of 15 children’s book authors that will determine the contest’s winner, immediately knocked Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book, this year’s Newbery Medal winner, right out of the running. To learn more about Scieszka’s decision, visit SLJ’s Battle of the (Kids’) Books blog.

SLJ’s Battle of the (Kids’) Books Begins with a Bang – 4/13/2009 – School Library Journal

Only a Few More Hours Until the BoB Begins!

SLJ’s Battle of the (Kids’) Books starts tomorrow and I can’ t wait! I’ve had so much fun getting it up and ready (neglecting this blog, I know) and I’m confident that it will be even more fun once the matches begin.  In the meantime, we’ve got a People’s Choice Poll up and running.  So go vote for your favorite among the 16 contenders here and check out the standings here.

Who’s The Baddest?

Come find out!  Our first post is up at BOB!