New Ideas, New Books

During this season local florists are featuring a Teleflora Peter Rabbit cookie jar with a beautiful floral arrangment. Although several florists were supposed to have the cookie jar -- only one actually did --
Stejskal Florist's Inc (319) 365-2643.

But I now have the bouquet. Such fun. Visit my Peter Rabbit page for more.





Meanwhile -- two new books not to be missed are coming.
Tanya Lee Stone has a great new book out, Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. I got the book one afternoon began to read it, thinking I would browse through it over the next few days. Not to be, I started reading and the story was so compelling that I read it word-for-word without putting it down. Good thing I had started dinner or my husband and granddaughter might not have gotten dinner before she had to go to class. It is a book that anyone who wants to inspire young learners must read aloud with them. Booktalk the book, read a chapter or two aloud, read it all aloud but somehow get this book into the hands of those you want to aspire to greatness. Every library needs this book, and anyone interested in encouraging young people to do their best - to achieve greatness should find a way to share this book.


And a younger audience will want to enjoy Jim Aylesworth's retelling of The Mitten. The book isn't out yet but watch for it. It'll be sure to be a winner.

Visiting Lincoln

Last week I traveled to Springfield, Illinois to observe Jim Aylesworth receiving the Prairie State Award for Excellence in Writing for Children. The banquet and award ceremony was held in the Abraham Lincoln ballroom/hotel in Springfield Illinois which provided my friend and I to spend a day or so visiting the awesome Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. One of the most impressive displays (and there were many) was the projection of "Civil War in Four Minutes." Graphically the show presented the movement of boundary lines and the main battles and events that took place during the five years of the war. A DVD showing the same show is available from the museum's store (available on line from the museum site) for $12.99. Well worth the price if you are interested in the Civil War or are teaching the era in a classroom of any type. Not all items available in the Museum store is available online. I was able to purchase a blue and white pitcher, one similar to the china used in Lincoln's Springfield home. Presidential china was also available but the price was a "little" out of my research budget. Another highlight of the trip was a trip to the Lincoln home.

Travels

Just finished my registration for ALA -- it's in Chicago so will be driving. Arranged for my own hotel - a few $ more but got the HQ hotel, worth not having to take cabs everywhere. Amelia Bloomer Breakfast and the Coretta Scott King 40th Anniversary breakfast is on the agenda as is the Newbery-Caldecott Banquet. This year there is not the option to purchase a table. not sure I would have anyway but it was fun last year to have a "author" table of friends who were able to sit together.
But before that there's the SDE 1st grade conference in Indianapolis, PSLA in State College Pennsylvania, and the International Reading Association conference in Minneapolis.
And in between will be two special high school graduations -- Jade on the 30th of May, and Aubrey on the 31st of May -- very special days.

Happy Birthday, Jane Yolen

Check out the entry featuring Jane and her daughter (and fellow writer) Heidi Elizabet Yolen Stemple (and chocolate) in Author's in the Kitchen: Recipes, Stories, and More by Sharron L. McElmeel (Libraries Unlimited, 2005) -- pages 197-200; or Jane's biographical entries in 100 Most Popular Children's Authors: Biograhical Sketches and Biblioigraphies (Libraries Unlimited, 1999) -- pages 467-472 and in 100 Most Popular Picture Book Authors and Illustrators: Biograhical Sketches and Biblioigraphies (Libraries Unlimited, 1999) -- pages 528-533.

Visit Jane's website.

And Jane's birthday twin is also celebrating on this day. Visit this site and find out who shares a birthday with Jane. Two of the world's wonderful children's book writers.

Sharron

Laura Ingalls Wilder - Happy Birthday

A post from Sharron who is eating gingerbread with chocolate icing -- but alas no lemonade; only hot tea.

Today is Laura Ingalls Wilder's birthday or rather anniversary of her birth - born Feb. 7, as she died in 1957. There is much discussion about the worthiness of her books given the image of Native Americans that is given throughout the books. There are indeed arguments both ways -- I prefer to say that they should always be used in the context of history and with much discussion about the times during which they were written. Actually I prefer the collections of stories that Harper has been putting together on thematic issues - dog stories, Christmas etc. With the addition of the wonderful illustrations these make great reading and do eliminate much of the stereotypic images that were in the novels themselves.

But it is her birthday and she traditionally served gingerbread with a chocolate icing, and often with lemonade, when company came.

Check out her own gingerbread recipe on the Hornbook site -- http://www.hbook.com/history/letters/wilder_1953_letter.asp or on the Purple House Press site which also has it.

http://www.purplehousepress.com/liw/recipe.htm

Bake it and enjoy it.
Sharron

Sandy's Circus by Tanya Lee Stone - AMAZING

I often speak about author visits and the wonderful work that teachers and librarians do to prepare their children for meeting the author/illustrator. Equally as important is the follow-up activities that further extend the experience. This YouTube video is a wonderful example. Put together some exceptionally talented educators with an award winning and very creative author (Tanya Lee Stone) and a tremendous book (Sandy's Circus) and what do you get? Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr9bbuNvezc -- absolutely inspiring.

For more information about Alexander Calder and his art work check out the article --McElmeel, Sharron L. "In the Spotlight: The Calder Game." Reviews and offers curriculum connections for The Calder Game by Blue Balliet, illustrations by Brett Helquist (Scholastic, 2008); and cites Sandy's Circus: A Story about Alexander Calder by Tanya Lee Stone. Library Sparks (November 2008): pages 16-19. Balliett's book is fiction for the intermediate reader; Sandy's Circus is a picture book.

Ashley Bryan - A GREAT new book

If you have ever read a book by Ashley Bryan you will be mesmerized with his wonderful art, and his rhythmic words -- whether it is his poetry or his folklore tales. Anyone who loves children's books and especially Bryan's books will not want to miss this book, ashley bryan: words to my life's song -- just released January 9, 2009 from Simon and Schuster/Atheneum.
This book is one of the best biographies -- take a look at the "toys" he collects; the things he makes from found objects, a look at his beloved cranberry islands off the coast of Maine—and his wonderful art. A warm family story about growing up in New York City and his heritage from Antigua, the birthplace of his parents. A lot of insight into his inspiration, writing, and his wonderful art.