Our White House at the National Book Festival!

OUR WHITE HOUSE:Looking In, Looking Out at the
Library of Congress National Book Festival!!

NCBLA Vice-Presidents Katherine Paterson and Steven Kellogg, with special guest Jon Scieszka, the Library of Congress Children's Book Ambassador, and NCBLA President Mary Brigid Barrettwill discuss NCBLA's new book Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out at the LOC National Book Festival. The Festival takes place Saturday, September 27, 2008 on the National Mall in Washington D.C., between 3rd and 7th streets from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public.

Katherine, Steven, Jon, and Mary Brigid are looking forward to sharing Our White House with Book Festival middle grade readers, their friends, family, and all who share an interest in our nation's rich history!

Katherine, Steven, Jon, and Mary Brigid have also participated in the Festival's great educational outreach project, the 2008 National Book Festival Young Readers Toolkit, now available online at www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/. Bringing the festival into libraries, schools and homes across the country, the Toolkit features information about National Book Festival authors who write for children and teens, podcasts of their readings, teaching tools and activities for kids. This interactive resource also shows educators, parents and children how they can host their own book festival.

For more information about the LOC Book Festival go to:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/

For Katherine's toolkit interview, go to:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/authors/bio_kpaterson.html

For Steven Kellogg's toolkit interview, go to:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/authors/bio_skellogg.html

For Jon Scieszka's toolkit interview, go to:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/authors/bio_jscieszka.html

For Mary Brigid Barrett's toolkit interview, go to:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/authors/bio_mbbarrett.html

And discover all the great festival author/illustrator toolkit interviews at:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/

OUR WHITE HOUSE LOOKING IN LOOKING OUT: AUTHOR APPEARANCE!

Our White House Contributors
Katherine Paterson,
Steven Kellogg,
Lynda Johnson Robb, and
Mary Brigid Barrett at
Politics and Prose
Book Store
in Washington D. C. this Friday!


Come By, Visit, Chat and Take at Look at
Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out!

On Friday afternoon, September 26 at 4:30 P.M. hear
award-winning authors Katherine Paterson and Steven
Kellogg, along with Our White House contributors Lynda
Johnson Robb and Mary Brigid Barrett read from their
contribution to Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out!
Then stay and participate in a discussion of Our White House,
an anthology of original art, poetry, and prose that uses the
White House to tell the story of America!

Katherine Paterson, twice the winner of both the National Book
Award and the Newbery Award and Steven Kellogg, an award
winning author and illustrator, are two of the most
's book creators in America. Lynda Johnson Robb is
Reading is Fundemental's Chairman Emerita, former First Lady
of Virginia, and daughter of President Lyndon Baines Johnson and
First Lady Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson. Mary Brigid Barrett is an
author, illustrator, teacher, and the president of the National
Children's Book and Literacy Alliances the literacy organization
that, with 108 gifted contributors and publisher Candlewick Press,
has created Our White House Looking In, Looking Out, a creativetour de force that will energize and inspire young readers on their journeys to becoming the civic leaders of tomorrow!

For more information about the NCBLA event at Politics
and Prose, go to:
http://www.booksite.com/texis/scripts/
community/eventdetail.html?
sid=1425&cal=3&eventid=489df7d765
For more information about Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out go to:
http://www.thencbla.org/ncblanews.html

Our White House!

Our White House Podcast:
A Not to Missed Interview!

NCBLA Board Member
Natalie Babbitt interviewed by
First Book about
Our White House:
Looking In,Looking Out

Esteemed writer Natalie Babbitt, author of Tuck Everlasting, Kneeknock Rise, Goody Hall, and most recently the delightful Jack Plank Tells Tales, talks about the mysteries of her home state of Ohio, the joy of illustrating, and her latest work, “Seven From Ohio,” featured in the new book Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out just published by Candlewick Press!

P.S. Don’t forget — if you plan to be in the Washington, D.C. area on September 27th, don’t miss other contributors to Our White House when they discuss its creation at the National Book Festival on the Mall!

For more information go to:
http://blog.firstbook.org/2008/09/22/first-book-podcast-tuck-everlasting-author-natalie-babbitt-chats-with-first-book/

Our White House

Our White House
Looking In, Looking Out:
Part of the Performing Arts Series
at the
Kennedy Center!

Telling Stories: Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out

Thursday, November 6, 2008 Grades 5-8 Nationally recognized creators of books for
young people, Katherine Paterson, Steven Kellogg and Mary Brigid Barrett, share insights into a recently released book titled Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out. This book is a compilation of history, historical fiction, personal essays, poetry, drama, and original art by 108 renowned authors and illustrators that offers a view of American history as seen through the eyes of the White House. Our White House was created by the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, NCBLA, in an effort to combat historical illiteracy and to get students excited about reading. The program will be hosted and moderated by children's literature and library expert, Maria Salvadore.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in cooperation with the Prince William Network, offers arts-based educational programming free to teachers and students across the country through the Performing Arts Series. Programs feature artists and companies who perform at the Kennedy Center and explore the areas of music, dance, theater, and literature.

For more information, go to:
http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/pwtv/

Rave Review for Our White House!

Children's BookPage calls
OUR WHITE HOUSE a "spectacular anthology," a "glorious and multifaceted collection that showcases the talents of more than 100 acclaimed authors and illustrators."

Children's book reviewer Ellen Trachenberg at Children's BookPage says, "Eight years in the making, as a special project of the National Children's Book and Literary Alliance, the arrival of Our White House is truly a major event in children's publishing."

For BookPage's full review of
OUR WHITE HOUSE: LOOKING IN, LOOKING OUT, go to:
http://www.bookpage.com/0809bp/children/our_white_house.html

Our White House Author Appearance

OUR WHITE HOUSE at the
Library of Congress National Book Festival!!

NCBLA Vice-Presidents Katherine Paterson and Steven Kellogg, with special guest Jon Scieszka, the Library of Congress Children's Book Ambassador, and NCBLA President Mary Brigid Barrettwill discuss NCBLA's new book Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out at the LOC National Book Festival. The Festival takes place Saturday, September 27, 2008 on the National Mall in Washington D.C., between 3rd and 7th streets from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public.

Katherine, Steven, Jon, and Mary Brigid are looking forward to sharing Our White House with Book Festival middle grade readers, their friends, family, and all who share an interest in our nation's rich history!

Katherine, Steven, Jon, and Mary Brigid have also participated in the Festival's great educational outreach project, the 2008 National Book Festival Young Readers Toolkit, now available online at www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/. Bringing the festival into libraries, schools and homes across the country, the Toolkit features information about National Book Festival authors who write for children and teens, podcasts of their readings, teaching tools and activities for kids. This interactive resource also shows educators, parents and children how they can host their own book festival.

For more information about the LOC Book Festival go to:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/

For Katherine's toolkit interview, go to:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/authors/bio_kpaterson.html

For Steven Kellogg's toolkit interview, go to:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/authors/bio_skellogg.html

For Jon Scieszka's toolkit interview, go to:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/authors/bio_jscieszka.html

For Mary Brigid Barrett's toolkit interview, go to:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/authors/bio_mbbarrett.html

And discover all the great festival author/illustrator toolkit interviews at:
http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/2008/toolkit/

Our White House in the Washington Post....

Splashed Across the Kid's Post Pages
in The Washington Post:
Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out!

Read about the NCBLA's new book, Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/05/AR2008090502752.html

Great News!

Our White House:
Looking In, Looking Out
named a National Endowment for the Humanities
We the People Bookshelf Selection!

The NCBLA is honored that the National Endowment for the Humanities has named
Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out as a We the People Bookshelf selection for 2009-2010, when the book shelf theme will be “Picturing America.” The NEH has indicated that they will be purchasing 7,000 copies of Our White House to make them available for school and public libraries in need across the country.

The We the People Bookshelf is a set of classic books for young readers from kindergarten through high school. Each year the NEH identifies a theme important to our nation's heritage and selects books that embody that theme. This collection of theme-related books is the Bookshelf. In addition to introducing young readers to good literature; the Bookshelf promotes understanding of abstract or general ideas through the power of particular stories. NEH awards these Bookshelves to libraries across the country for use in programs primarily for young people. U.S. public and school (K-12) libraries are eligible to apply for Bookshelf grants. In return for receiving a Bookshelf, libraries organize programs that highlight the theme and encourage young readers to explore the selected books.

The American Library Association(ALA) collaborates with NEH to deliver this program. ALA staff and libraries help to select the books, and work directly with the nation's libraries to disseminate information and to encourage libraries to take part in the We the People Bookshelf grant program.

For more information about the NEH's Bookshelf program and information concerning grant applications go to:
http://www.wethepeople.gov/bookshelf/picturingamerica.html
http://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf/

Children's Literature Lovers

Maurice Sendak's 80th Birthday Celebrated Next Monday in New York by Wild Things of Many Varieties!

Interesting don't miss article on Maurice Sendak in the New York Times. If you are not familiar with his work, Mr. Sendak is a decidedly brilliant creator of books for young people, a genius author and illustrator of picture books. He is also an Honorary Board member of the NCBLA.

To read the NYT's article go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/arts/design/10sendak.html

Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out!

First Book Podcast with Mary Brigid Barrett, NCBLA President about
Our White House:
Looking In, Looking Out!

Jenny Wrenn, the effervescent director of First Book's National Book Bank, interviews NCBLA President and Executive Director Mary Brigid Barrett about The National Children's' Book and Literacy Alliances incredible new book, Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out.

To listen in on the podcast, go to:
http://blog.firstbook.org/2008/09/09/first-book-podcast-mary-brigid-barrett-welcomes-you-to-%e2%80%9cour-white-house%e2%80%9d/

To learn more about First Book, one of our nation's most stellar literacy organizations, and the First Book National Book Bank, go to: http://www.firstbook.org

Author Audios

Katherine Paterson,
Kate Di Camillo, and
Patricia McKissack
talk about
Our White House:
Looking In, Looking Out
on Washington Post Website!

Hear Katherine Paterson's, Kate
Di Camillo's, and Patricia McKissack's remarks about the NCBLA's new book, Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out on the Washington Post's website at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/audio/2008/09/05/AU2008090501980.html

Hurrah! In stores September 9th!

NCBLA's
Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out
Lands Starred Review from School Library Journal!


NATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK AND LITERACY ALLIANCE. Our White House: Looking in, Looking Out. illus. by authors. 256p. Candlewick. Sept. 2008. RTE $35. ISBN 978-0-7636-2067-7. LC number unavailable.

Gr 3-8–More than 100 authors and illustrators contributed to this wide-ranging collection of short pieces about the First Family residence. Most participants are creators of books for youth, along with a sprinkling of other figures, such as historian David McCullough, and actual White House occupants. Arranged in general chronological order, the chapters are delightfully varied in form, tone, and subject matter. They include straightforward history, brief essays, personal narratives, and even fantasy, as in Meg Cabot’s lighthearted time-travel story. The handsome layout and excellent-quality illustrations provide strong appeal. The pairing of words and art is often inspired, as in Maybelle Mayer’s paper doll cutouts from 1938 that accompany Nancy Willard’s poem about White House dresses. There are powerful visual moments as well, such as the dazzling series of spreads featuring visual interpretations of Roosevelt’s "Four Freedoms," each by a different artist. Many segments convey personal details that humanize the presidential families, such as Virginia Euwer Wolff’s introduction to the musical sophistication of the Tafts and Anita Silvey’s look at Jackie Kennedy’s literary career. Humor plays a role too, as in Steven Kellogg’s artistic rendering of an imagined "Best in Show" contest among White House pets. Some readers will progress straight through from Jane Yolen’s imagined conversation between John and Abigail Adams to the first National Book Festival in 2001, while others may browse and jump about; either way, this entertaining introduction to the White House is full of fascinating information, challenging ideas, and appealing artwork.

Read more at: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6591908.html

The National Endowment for the Humanities Awards the NCBLA a Grant of $25,000 to Build www.OurWhiteHouse.org

The National Endowment of the Humanities has awarded the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance a $25,000 grant to build a companion educational website for the NCBLA publication Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out!

www.OurWhiteHouse.org will be written primarily for adults who live with and work for young people—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, guardians, teachers, librarians, mentors, coaches, and community leaders. We hope that the additional historical content, and the ideas and activities we present on the site, will help adults ignite young people’s interest in our nation’s past as well as provoke them to thoughtfully consider our future. In her introduction to the first White House historic guidebook, Jacqueline Kennedy wrote, “it never hurts a child to read something that may be above his head.” With that in mind, we also hope that many young people will find our site compelling and useful.

In www.OurWhiteHouse.org you will find expanded Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out book content, as well as ideas, activities, and discussion questions related to book topics. And you will find an American history resource and literacy center, a guide to presidential field trip destinations, and an extensive young people’s bibliography. We will be continually adding to the site to include more book related content and activities, as well as information on civic education and media literacy.