THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S BOOK AND LITERACY ALLIANCE

February is Black History Month

2012-02-03T06:50:00.001-05:00

Celebrate African-American History
with Books!

Share the inspirational story of how slave Frederick Douglass found his way to freedom one word at a time in Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome. This picture book biography chronicles the youth of Frederick Douglass, one of the most prominent African American figures in American history. Douglass spent his life advocating for the equality of all, and it was through reading that he was able to stand up for himself and others. Award-winning husband-wife team Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome present a moving and captivating look at the young life of the inspirational man who said, “I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.”

Book Lists, Activities, and Other Resources!

To check out the The Horn Book's recommendations of new books to celebrate Black History month, click here.

Don't miss the Black History Month page on ReadingRockets.org, which provides not only recommended books, but also video interviews with authors, poets, and illustrators; activities for home and classroom; and other resources.

Explore classroom lessons, activities, and other resources on Thinkfinity.org.

Presidential Trivia of the Week

2012-02-01T07:15:00.000-05:00

Presidential Trivia Questions to Share with Your Class, Family, or Friends!

In honor of this year's presidential campaign, the NCBLA is posting three presidential trivia questions each week. Why not take a few minutes to share these trivia questions with your family, class, or group of young people and see what they know?!

This Week's Trivia Questions

Who was the only presidential candidate to ever be elected by a unanimous vote?
Which president considered himself to have been a "sissy" as a child, having said, "If there was any danger of getting into a fight, I always ran?"
Which president was the first one to throw the first pitch in a major league baseball game?

A perfect resource for discovering more about America's presidents is the NCBLA's interdisciplinary anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, and it's coordinating educational website OurWhiteHouse.org! An incomparable collection of essays, personal accounts, historical fiction, poetry, and a stunning array of original art, Our White House offers a multifaceted look at America’s history through the prism of the White House.

Answers and Information for Learning MORE!

George Washington. When it came time for the newly born United States to elect its first president, everyone knew George Washington was the best man for the job. Not only had Washington led the Continental Army to victory in our fight for independence from the British, he had also presided over the Constitutional Convention that gave birth to our new democratic government. Washington had proven himself to be not only a strong leader, but a national hero. No campaign was needed to convince anyone. Washington therefore ran unopposed and was subsequently elected unanimously–not once, but twice in 1789 and 1792. To learn more, click here to read "Persuading the People: Presidential Campaigns" on OurWhiteHouse.org.
Harry Truman. Truman's poor vision and glasses prevented him from playing sports. His mother forbade him from roughhousing, so he spent most of his free time playing the piano and reading history books. Truman experienced his first combat when he fought in World War I. There he impressed many with his courage and his ability to lead. He called upon these strengths in 1945, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died, and Truman was thrust into the presidency. To learn more about our president's imperfections, click here to read "Presidents Are People Too!" by Heather Lang on OurWhiteHouse.org.
William Howard Taft. Taft threw the first pitch at a game in Washington's American League Park on April 14, 1910. To learn more about presidents' connections to baseball, read "The First Pitch" by Stephanie True Peters and illustrated by Matt Tavares in Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out.

Our White House is available in both hardcover and paperback from Candlewick Press. Ask for it at a library or bookstore near you!

And be sure to check out the companion educational website, www.OurWhiteHouse.org, which provides expanded book content that includes additional articles, resources, activities, and discussion questions related to book topics as well exclusive resources and articles regarding the presidency, presidential campaigns, and presidential elections.

In Case You Missed It!

2012-01-30T07:43:00.000-05:00

New York Times Article Explores the Birthplace of Dr. Seuss, Inspiration for His Books

In the New York Times article "Mulberry Street May Fade, but 'Mulberry Street' Shines On," journalist Michael Winerip visits Springfield, Massachusetts, the childhood home of author Theodore Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss!), in honor of the 75th anniversary of the publication of And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

Winerip writes, "Dr. Seuss has sold 600 million books, so I figured there had to be something going on Mulberry Street. Springfield is where Ted Geisel was born in 1904 and thought his formative thoughts, before going off to Dartmouth in 1921 and becoming Dr. Seuss. ...Dr. Seuss books aren’t primarily schoolbooks. They’re read-to-your-children-in-bed books. Christin LaRocque, a librarian at the Central branch in downtown Springfield, says Seuss books need to be replaced more often than any others — they wear out or disappear. Dr. Seuss is good for most anything that ails a child. To paraphrase Sylvester McMonkey McBean: He’s heard of your troubles, he’s heard you’re unhappy, but he can fix that all up, he’s the Fix-It-Up Chappie."

To read the article, click here.

On ReadingRockets.org, you can watch a video interview with Audrey Geisel, Theodore Geisel's wife, in which she talks about meeting her husband, their life together, and his books. Click here to watch the interview.

Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt to Appear in PBS KIDS Show "Martha Speaks"

2012-01-27T07:41:00.000-05:00

Animated PBS KIDS Show "Martha Speaks" Helps Kids Build Their Vocabularies

February 20th Episode to Feature
Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt

The PBS Kids show "Martha Speaks" stars a family dog named Martha. When she eats alphabet soup, the letters go to her brain instead of her stomach and she speaks!

Actor Jon Hamm and writer/director/actress Jennifer Westfeldt will be appearing as themselves in a special two-part episode of "Martha Speaks" titled "Cora! Cora! Cora" on February 20. To watch a video from this upcoming episode, click here.

To learn more about how "Martha Speaks" engages kids and helps build their vocabularies, click here.

To check out some fun word games you can play with your kids featuring PBS Kids' characters , click here.

For vocabulary-building games, click here.

Presidential Trivia

2012-01-25T08:26:00.000-05:00

Have Fun Learning About America's Presidents by Playing Presidential Trivia!

In honor of this year's presidential campaign, why not play some presidential trivia with the young people in your life?! Play in the car on your way to band practice or play while you're cleaning up the table after dinner!

A perfect resource for creating questions is the NCBLA's interdisciplinary anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, and it's coordinating educational website OurWhiteHouse.org! An incomparable collection of essays, personal accounts, historical fiction, poetry, and a stunning array of original art, Our White House offers a multifaceted look at America’s history through the prism of the White House.

Here are a few questions to get you started:

Which president campaigned successfully in 1840 using the populist slogan "Log Cabin and Hard Cider?"
Before the passage of the 22nd amendment, presidential terms were not limited to two. Which president served FOUR terms?
Almost any adult American citizen is qualified to become president. Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution establishes the exact qualifications. What are they?

Answers and Links to Articles in OurWhiteHouse.org to Learn MORE!

William Henry Harrison. Harrison and his advisors brilliantly transformed a disparaging remark from a critic (“ . . . with a supply of cider and a pension, [Harrison] would happily sit by his log cabin for the rest of his days.”) into an effective campaign slogan: “Log Cabin and Hard Cider.” The down-to-earth slogan was well received by the public because it presented Harrison as a humble country boy whose “created” image contrasted well with that of his opponent, the incumbent Van Buren. To learn more, click here.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt won a second term by pledging to keep the U.S. out of World War II. He in fact signed the U.S. Neutrality Acts, a series of laws passed in response to the growing turmoil that led to World War II in an effort to prevent the U.S. from becoming involved. Later, after it became necessary to join the war, Roosevelt continued to be reelected because the people were unwilling to change leadership during wartime. Such circumstances and sentiment led Roosevelt to be the only president elected to serve four terms. To learn more, click here.
Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution establishes that anyone who is a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least thirty-five years old, and has lived in the United States for at least fourteen years can become president. To learn more, click here.

Our White House is available in both hardcover and paperback from Candlewick Press. Ask for it at a library or bookstore near you!

American Library Association Announces 2012 Youth Media Award Winners

2012-01-23T12:14:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to All of This Year's
ALA Youth Media Award Winners,
Including Newbery Winner Jack Gantos and Caldecott Winner Chris Raschka!

The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audiobooks for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting in Dallas. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work.

The 2012 award winners are:

The John Newbery Medal, which recognizes the most outstanding contribution to children's literature was awarded to "Dead End in Norvelt,” written by Jack Gantos. The book is published by Farrar Straus Giroux. Two Newbery Honor Books also were named: "Inside Out & Back Again," written by Thanhha Lai and published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers; and "Breaking Stalin’s Nose,” written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin, and published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC.

Jack Gantos is a contributor to the NCBLA's national reading and writing initiative The Exquisite Corpse Adventure.

The Randolph Caldecott Medal, which recognizes the most distinguished American picture book for children, was awarded to “A Ball for Daisy," illustrated and written by Chris Raschka. The book is published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Three Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Blackout,” illustrated and written by John Rocco, and published by Disney · Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group; "Grandpa Green" illustrated and written by Lane Smith, and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; and “Me … Jane,” illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell, and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

The Michael L. Printz Award, which recognizes excellence in literature written for young adults, was awarded to “Where Things Come Back,” written by John Corey Whaley. The book is published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. Four Printz Honor Books also were named: “Why We Broke Up,” written by Daniel Handler, art by Maira Kalman and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group; “The Returning,” written by Christine Hinwood and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group Young Readers Group USA; “Jasper Jones,” written by Craig Silvey and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.; and “The Scorpio Races,” written by Maggie Stiefvater and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

The Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award, which recognizes an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults, was awarded to Kadir Nelson, author and illustrator of “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans,” is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Two King Author Honor Book recipients were selected: Eloise Greenfield, author of “The Great Migration: Journey to the North,” illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; and Patricia C. McKissack, author of “Never Forgotten,” illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon and published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Patricia McKissack is a board member of the NCBLA. She is also a contributor to the NCBLA's interdisciplinary anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, as well as a contributor to the NCBLA's national reading and writing initiative The Exquisite Corpse Adventure.

The Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award was awarded to Shane W. Evans, illustrator and author of “Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom." The book is a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership. One King Illustrator Honor Book recipient was selected: Kadir Nelson, illustrator and author of “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans,” published by Balzar + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

The Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Ashley Bryan. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton.

Storyteller, artist, author, poet and musician, Bryan created his first children’s book in first grade. He grew up in the Bronx and in 1962, he became the first African American to both write and illustrate a children’s book. After a successful teaching career, Bryan left academia to pursue creation of his own artwork. He has since garnered numerous awards for his significant and lasting literary contribution of poetry, spirituals and story.

The Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults was awarded to Susan Cooper.

Cooper's books include: The Dark Is Rising Sequence: “Over Sea, Under Stone”; “The Dark Is Rising”; “Greenwitch”; “The Grey King”; and “Silver on the Tree.”

Susan Cooper is a board member of the NCBLA. She is also a contributor to the NCBLA's interdisciplinary anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, as well as a contributor to the NCBLA's national reading and writing initiative The Exquisite Corpse Adventure. Cooper's most recent book is "The Magic Maker: A Portrait of John Langstaff and His Revels."

To read the complete list of winners, click here.

ACTIVIST ALERT!

2012-01-20T07:46:00.000-05:00

Call Your Congressional Rep and Ask for Support of the SKILLS ACT

Every child in America deserves access to
an effective school library program.

This week, U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ, 7th), along with Representatives Rush Holt (D-NJ, 12th) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA, 6th) introduced the Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLS) Act. The SKILLS Act, numbered H.R. 3776 in the House, is a companion bill of S. 1328 that was introduced in the Senate by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) back on July 6, 2011.

Both the House and Senate version of the SKILLS Act would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to do the following:

Defines an “effective school library program” to be staffed by a state-certified school librarian, have up-to-date materials including technology, teaches digital literacy skills, and finally, has regular collaboration between other education professionals over curriculum.
Replaces Improving Literacy Through School Libraries with Improving Literacy and College and Career Readiness Through Effective School Library Programs which would award competitive grants to underserved local schools and school districts to develop an effective school library program.
Allows school librarians access to professional development funds under Title II of ESEA.

H.R. 3776 was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. No further action has been announced for this legislation. S. 1328 was introduced as an amendment to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee mark-up of the ESEA reauthorization in October 2011. That amendment was unfortunately withdrawn due to lack of support on the committee, and ESEA was reported from the HELP committee without a library provision.

This legislation is critical to the future of school libraries. Please call your Congressional Representative today at the capitol switchboard (202.224.3121) and ask him or her to support the SKILLS Act! To find direct contact information for members of Congress, click here.

For more information about how you can support literacy and libraries, visit the NCBLA's "Become an Activist" page.

The Horn Book Publishes Its 2011 Fanfare List

2012-01-18T07:30:00.000-05:00

Check Out the Horn Book's 2011 Fanfare List of 30 Great Books for Children and Teens

The Horn Book's Fanfare list spotlights their reviewers' and editors' choices for the very best books published for children and teens in 2011. Books in the fanfare list are categorized into Picture Books, Fiction, and Nonfiction. More than a simple list, the fanfare includes a short description of each book, as well as recommended reading levels for each.

To see the entire list on hbook.com, click here.

Why not take advantage of a cold winter afternoon or evening to visit your local library and check out some of these fabulous books?!

Celebrate MLK Day with a BOOK!

2012-01-16T08:28:00.000-05:00

Check Out These Recommendations About the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Reading Rockets!

Reading Rockets features tons of themed book lists to help parents, homeschoolers, guardians, teachers, and other adults make finding the perfect book at your local library or bookstore a piece of cake! Why not visit the library with your kids today and read about Martin Luther King and other civil rights activists together?

To visit the Reading Rockets' book list for recommendations about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., click here.

CONGRATULATIONS to Walter Dean Myers!

2012-01-11T11:04:00.000-05:00

Author Walter Dean Myers
Inaugurated as
Third National Ambassador
for Young People's Literature

In a ceremony held in the Library of Congress' Jefferson Building yesterday, author WALTER DEAN MYERS was inaugurated as our nation's third National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Myers is the recipient of two Newbery Honors, three National Book Award finalists, the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the Michael L. Printz Award, and five Coretta Scott King Awards. His titles include We Are America, Carmen, Looking for the Easy Life, Kick, and Cruisers.

The position of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature was created to raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education and the development and betterment of the lives of young people. For his two-year tenure as Ambassador, Myers has chosen to proclaim the message that "Reading is not optional."

Students from area schools attended yesterday's ceremony to hear Myers speak and to participate in the inauguration. Following the ceremony and speeches, Myers chatted with students and signed copies of his books for the attendees.

Left to Right: Katherine Paterson, Walter Dean Myers,
and Jon Scieszka.

Myers succeeds Katherine Paterson, who served as Ambassador for the 2010-2011 term, and Jon Scieszka, who served as Ambassador for the 2008-2009 term. The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature is named by the Librarian of Congress for a two-year term, based on recommendations from a selection committee representing many segments of the book community. The selection criteria include the candidate’s contribution to young people’s literature and ability to relate to children.

To learn more about Myers and his books, visit his website.

To learn more about the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature program, visit Read.gov.

All photos courtesy of Abby Brack, Library of Congress.

Activist Alert!

2012-01-11T08:52:00.000-05:00

Help Ensure Every Child in America Has Access to an Effective School Library Program

Every child in America deserves access to an effective school library program.

We ask that the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provide dedicated funding to help support effective school library programs. Such action will ensure more students have access to the resources and tools that constitute a 21st century learning environment. Reductions in school library programs are creating an ‘access gap’ between schools in wealthier communities versus those where there are high levels of poverty. All students should have an equal opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to learn, to participate, and to compete in today’s world.

To sign the petition asking the Obama administration to support this dedicated funding for effective school library programs, click here.

Hint: If you experience difficulty signing in to the petition, please log out and try again. You might also want to try a different web browser or computer if possible.

THANK YOU for supporting school libraries!

Help Kids Connect with the 2012 Presidential Campaign!

2012-01-09T07:16:00.001-05:00

Our White House Book and Website Provide Resources to Help Adults Who Live and Work with Kids Connect Them with Current Events

All eyes are on New Hampshire this week as that state's voters go to the polls tomorrow to vote in their primary election for the Republican party's presidential nominee. Parents, homeschoolers, guardians, teachers, librarians, and other adults who live and work with kids can help our nation's children understand and connect with the presidential campaign using the award-winning anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out!

In Our White House, marvel at Calef Brown's painting "Freedom of Speech" and discuss the impact of this freedom on this year's presidential campaign with the young people in your life. Read Rocket Boys author Homer Hickam's account of meeting John F. Kennedy on the campaign trail in "The White House, the Moon, and a Coal Miner's Son." Read Natalie Babbitt's essay "Seven from Ohio," which ponders why so many presidents have hailed from that midwestern state and discuss the home states and experiences of each of the Republican candidates...are the candidates' states representative of the nation as a whole? How has each candidate's life, political, and private sector experiences prepared them for the presidency?

Check Out the Free Resources Available on OurWhiteHouse.org!

On the companion educational site OurWhiteHouse.org, you and the kids in your life can learn how long it took to expand the right to vote in "Who Gets to Vote?" and discover how the electoral college works in "Getting the Votes and Getting Elected: The Popular Vote vs. the Electoral College." Learn about our country's history of presidential campaigns in "Persuading the People: Campaigning for President." And have fun reading about the original campaign "button" in "From Buttons to Pins: Campaign Tokens Evolve."

Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out is a masterpiece of poetry and prose, art and photography, created by over 100 of America's most gifted storytellers and artists as a project of the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance designed to encourage young people to read more about America’s rich history and culture; to think more about America’s future; to talk more about our nation’s leadership; and to act on their own beliefs and convictions, ensuring this great democratic experiment will survive and thrive. Our White House is available in both paperback and hardcover from Candlewick Press.

Ask for Our White House at a library or bookstore near you!

In Case You Missed It!

2012-01-06T07:01:00.000-05:00

Author Katerine Paterson Shares Experiences and Insights Regarding Her Two Years as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

Fans of Katherine Paterson say good-bye and thank you next week as she hands over the reins of the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature position to newly named Ambassador Walter Dean Myers for the 2012-2013 term.

In the Huffington Post article titled "My Term As The National Ambassador For Young People's Literature," Paterson writes about some of her most moving moments as Ambassador:

"One of my best adventures was finding myself the prize of a national contest won by a tiny school in Sebago, Maine. A friend and I drove through a blizzard in the White Mountains of New Hampshire to get to Sebago, but it was worth it.

To introduce the day, the teacher picked up four books. "These were some of my best friends when I was growing up," she said. The first was a nearly worn out Little Golden Book. Her mother would take her and her brother grocery shopping and each week the children could take a turn selecting a book. They were to share the books. "But," she said holding up the book, "I must not have learned how to share, because, see, I've scratched out my brother's name and written my own."

Then she held up "Little House in the Big Woods," a book that taught her how people lived years ago and showed a shy child how good it was to be strong and independent. The third was a story book about Japan that made her long to go to Japan and to learn about the world outside her small home town. The last book was a book I had written: "Jacob Have I Loved." "This book," she said, "helped me understand how I felt because I was Louise. My mother saw how much I loved this book, and so she read it, and to my surprise, she thought she was Caroline. So I learned that two people can read the same book and learn very different things."

Click here to read Katherine's entire article.

To learn more about Katherine Paterson and her books, click here.

To learn more about Walter Dean Myers and his books, click here.

For more information about the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature program, click here.

Congratulations to Young Writers Inspired by "Exquisite Corpse Adventure" Authors and Illustrators

2012-01-05T12:04:00.001-05:00

Winners of The Exquisite Prompt Redux Writing Challenge Announced

This past fall Reading Rockets challenged students across America to exercise their imaginations by writing the end to a cliffhanger, the review of a magical object, a poem in the voice of a Whinoceros, or the adventure of two time travelers...writing challenges inspired by the authors and illustrators who collaborated to create the progressive story game The Exquisite Corpse Adventure.

The creative efforts of several winners were recently selected by Reading Rockets from hundreds of entries. The NCBLA congratulates the creative efforts of these young people and invites you to read these fabulous winning selections on ReadingRockets.org!

What Is The Exquisite Corpse Adventure?

The Exquisite Corpse Adventure is a progressive story game originally published on the Library of Congress' Read.gov website as the foundation of a national reading and writing initiative, created by The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. The Exquisite Corpse Adventure is now available in paperback and hardback from Candlewick Press. It is also available on audio.

To learn more about The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, click here.

To check out the NCBLA's extensive online educational resources that support The Exquisite Corpse Adventure (including supplemental articles, classroom activities, reading lists, art activities, discussion questions, and more!), click here.

Ask for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure at a bookstore or library near you!

Happy New Year! Resolve to Read to the Kids in Your Life This New Year!

2012-01-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

Reading to Children Has Long Impact, Says OECD Study

Children whose parents frequently read with them in their first year of school are still showing the benefit when they are 15, says an international study.

BBC reports that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development analysis examined the long-term impact of parental support on literacy. Discounting social differences, the study found children with early support remained ahead in reading. It found a strong link between teenage reading skills and early parental help. Click here to read the entire article on the BBC website.

Literacy Advice, Tips, and Resources

For authoritative and practical tips on making literacy a priority at home and helping your kids become life-long readers, check out these articles provided by the NCBLA:

"Parent and Guardian Literacy Basics"

"Why Do Kids Need Books?"

"I Will Read to My Kids...If I Ever Find the Time!" by Mary Brigid Barrett

"Kids See, Kids Do! Become a Literacy Role Model" by Mary Brigid Barrett

"Creating a Home Atmosphere That Supports Great Writing" by Mary Brigid Barrett

"Parent Tips for Encouraging Reading and Literacy Development" by Melanie Walski

New National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Named!

2012-01-03T08:43:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Walter Dean Myers!

Award-winning author Walter Dean Myers has been named our nation's third National Ambassador for Young People's Literature by Librarian of Congress Dr. James H. Billington! Myers is the recipient of two Newbery Honors, three National Book Award finalists, the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the Michael L. Printz Award, and five Coretta Scott King Awards. His titles include We Are America, Carmen, Looking for the Easy Life, Kick, and Cruisers.

Regarding the importance of reading and his plans for his term as ambassador, Myers said in a New York Times interview that he hopes to speak directly to low income minority parents, “I think that what we need to do is say reading is going to really affect your life. ... You take a black man who doesn’t have a job, but you say to him, ‘Look, you can make a difference in your child’s life, just by reading to him for 30 minutes a day.’ That’s what I would like to do.” Click here to read the entire interview.

Learn more about Walter Dean Myers and his prolific body of work at his website. And read more about the naming of Myers as ambassador in Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal.

The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature raises national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education and the development and betterment of the lives of young people. Visit Read.gov to learn more.

Help the NCBLA Continue Its Vital Work Helping Our Nation's Young People!

2011-12-19T08:20:00.000-05:00

The NCBLA Needs YOU!

Please consider making a donation this holiday season to the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. Large or small, we value and honor every dollar, every donation.

We believe that literacy is essential to the development of responsible citizens in a democracy. And we believe that citizens, both young and old, must have equal access to stimulating books and information sources that invite them to dream and give them the tools to achieve their dreams. As writers and illustrators, teachers and mentors, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles—as citizens and neighbors—our ultimate question is always how can we best serve all of our nation’s children?

Consider the educational impact made by the NCBLA in 2011:

Our progressive story game titled The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, originally published on Read.gov as the foundation of a national reading and writing initiative created by the NCBLA and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, was published by Candlewick Press in hardcover and a kid-friendly paperback. The Exquisite Corpse Adventure is also available on audio. Click here to check out the extensive educational materials created by the NCBLA designed to support The Exquisite Corpse Adventure.

The NCBLA presented a free, interactive workshop for kids at the Northwest One Neighborhood Library in Washington, D.C., which featured some of the nation’s most-popular children’s authors and illustrators, including National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Katherine Paterson; Jack Gantos; Patricia McKissack; and illustrators Chris Van Dusen and Calef Brown. Moderating the discussion with the young people in attendance was Mary Brigid Barrett, also a children's book author and illustrator and founder and president of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance.

The NCBLA opened the 11th Annual National Book Festival events in the Children's Pavilion with a dramatic reading of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure. Participating in our dramatic reading were: National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Katherine Paterson, Mary Brigid Barrett, Calef Brown, Susan Cooper, Jack Gantos, Gregory Maguire, Fredrick McKissack, Patricia McKissack, and Chris Van Dusen.

The NCBLA joined forces with the Cambridge Public Library and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to present The Exquisite Conversation: An Adventure in Creating Books!, which featured a distinguished panel of eight award-winning authors and illustrators discussing the creative process. This presentation was free and open to the public and included M. T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Susan Cooper, Timothy Basil Ering, Steven Kellogg, Patricia MacLachlan, James Ransome, and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Katherine Paterson! NCBLA founder and president Mary Brigid Barrett moderated the discussion.

As the presidential primaries and election grab national attention, the NCBLA continues to educate our nation's young people through the Our White House book and companion website. Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out is an award-winning art and literature anthology, which includes original poetry, paintings, photographs, historical fiction, nonfiction, and primary source materials about American history that use the White House as a unifying theme. The OurWhiteHouse.org website includes a vast array of articles, resources, and activities to help young people connect with American history. Sample articles to share with young people include Presidential Menageries: George Washington, Hound Dogs, and Super Mules, as well as Persuading the People: Presidential Campaigns and Getting the Votes and Getting Elected: The Popular Vote vs. the Electoral College.

The NCBLA expanded its communication efforts by creating a facebook page, helping us to reach even more families and educators by promoting the educational programs sponsored by the NCBLA and other literacy organizations; highlighting pertinent literacy, art, and education news and information; and encouraging citizens to act upon critical legislation that affects our nation's kids! Click here to check it out...and be sure to friend us!

In 2012, we hope to launch a new national literacy education initiative with the Library of Congress, the Children's Book Council, PBS Reading Rockets, and other educational partners. We need your help to make it happen! Your donation to the NCBLA is tax-deductible! Thank you!

The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit.

To make a donation by credit card, click here.

If you would like to send a check or money order, please mail your donation to:

Mary Kemper, Treasurer
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance
P. O. Box 1479
Brewster, MA 02631

As the NCBLA settles down for a holiday "nap," our staff and board would like to wish you and your family a delight-filled holiday season and a joyous New Year!

Holiday Shopping Made Easy...Try Your Local Bookstore!

2011-12-16T07:18:00.000-05:00

Tips for Finding the Perfect Gift Book

Finding the perfect book or two for the young people in your life can be a daunting experience. Bookstore shelves are overflowing with tall books and tiny books, books that tell tales of faraway princesses and books about animals both cute and exotic, even books that sing, talk, and sparkle!
How does one choose?

In the article “A Holiday Gift Book Buying Guide for Your Family,” librarian Natacha Luzzi offers these tips:

Find out what the child or teen has read already. Ask them what authors they like to read.
Discover the subjects and topics that interest them.
Find out if they prefer fiction or nonfiction, fantasy or reality.
Don't be afraid to ask your neighborhood children's librarian or children's books seller for suggestions and advice.
Read your local newspaper's book section. Many newspapers and magazines feature book suggestions this time of year.
Be consumer savvy. The books with biggest marketing budgets are not necessarily the best books for you child or teen. And conversely, a book you've never heard of may contain the story that changes your child’s or teen's life. Natacha says, "Just because a book jacket may look promising does not mean the story is going to live up to it. We all fall victim at one time or another to 'judging a book by its cover.'"
Take into consideration the content and age recommendation. I think great care needs to be taken, especially if a young reader is at a higher reading level. Even though the child can read the material the content is not always appropriate.
No one is ever too old for a picture book!!
Consider all possibilities: great literature and fun, entertaining books. Says Natacha, "Think of books in terms of chocolate mousse and a Hershey kiss. There are moments for both!"

Read the complete article on the NCBLA website here.

Reading Rockets Buying Guide Makes Recommendations for Kids 4 Through 9
If you prefer to walk into the bookstore with a list in hand, be sure to check out Reading Rockets’ fabulous annual Books as Gifts Buying Guide! This year’s buying guide includes a carefully selected collection of books so engaging the TV is happily turned off and the iPod and other electronic games are put away.

Reading Lists for Older Kids
If you are looking for a book to treat an older child, be sure to check out the Young Adult Library Services Association's list of the 2011 Best Books for Young Adults, which includes dozens of fiction and nonfiction titles. You may also want to peruse AdLit.org's expert list of Great Books for Teens, which includes themed lists with categories such as Baseball Books, Fantasy, Multicultural Stories, Poetry, and Romance & Relationships.

One Additional Recommendation
Consider Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, an award-winning anthology includes original poetry, historical fiction, nonfiction, and primary source materials about American history using the White House as a unifying theme. It's a perfect book for kids of all ages, families, teachers, classrooms--anyone who loves art and history and literature!

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough introduces this creative tour de force, in which 108 renowned authors and illustrators have donated their poetry, prose, and art to help advance the cause of young people’s literacy and historical literacy. The illustrations, essays, short stories, presidential letters, personal reflections, and historical accounts in Our White House inform and entertain, offering a window on more than 200 years of American history.

Our White House is now available in a paperback edition and includes a NEW poem by Nikki Grimes and coordinating illustration by A. G. Ford about President Obama's inauguration. Look for the hardcover and paperback editions at a bookstore new you!

ACTIVIST ALERT!

2011-12-14T08:27:00.000-05:00

Ask Your Representative to Vote NO
on SOPA (H.R. 3261)

TOMORROW at 10:00 a.m. (EST) the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary will meet to mark up and potentially vote in committee on H.R. 3261, the “Stop Online Piracy Act” or SOPA.

According to the American Library Association, this bill, introduced in October by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), not only threatens the future of the Internet as we know it, it jeopardizes protections currently enjoyed by individual citizens, as well as libraries. The bill has the potential to do significant damage in a number of ways – including the possibility of criminal prosecution of a library for streaming, censorship of internet activity, invasion of privacy rights, and even threatens national cyber security, among others.

Please call your U.S. Representative and ask them to vote “NO” on SOPA.

For libraries, the bill strikes at copyright protections by creating the possibility of criminal prosecution of a library for streaming.
SOPA’s requirements to monitor internet traffic violates free speech and privacy protections, not to mention raises the significant likelihood of a “chilling effect” on using the Internet for commerce, communication and participation in a democratic society.
SOPA’s monitoring of the internet equates to surveillance potentially inviting new forms of government intrusion (within and outside the U.S.).
Such monitoring or regulating of the Internet creates cyber security vulnerabilities as noted in a letter by top cyber security experts at Sandia National Laboratories (funded by the Department of Defense and Department of Energy).
Finally, the predicted consequences of SOPA are far reaching. If passed, the potential for new jobs, innovative new ventures and economic growth would be stifled.

Click here then enter your zip code in the "CALL NOW" box for your representative's calling information.

For more information on SOPA, click here.

The NCBLA Needs You!

2011-12-13T08:58:00.002-05:00

The National Children's Book

and Literacy Alliance:
Help Us Help All of Our Kids!

We need your help in order to do our work. In this season of giving, please consider making a donation to the NCBLA. We need you to help us fight the good fight, making sure that all of our nation's kids have equal and ready access to school libraries and healthy neighborhood libraries.
We need your help in educating the adults who live and work with children and teens to the literacy needs of young people in their lives.

We need your help educating the United States Congress concerning the literacy and library needs of all of our young people.

We need your help raising our nation's awareness to the fact that a democracy can only survive and thrive if its citizens, young and old, are literate and educated.

We need your help so that we can continue to create innovative national literacy outreach projects that reach millions of children across our nation and the world:

the multiple award winning book and website Our White House:Looking In, Looking Out and www.ourwhitehouse.org; and

our Internet reading/writing world-wide initiative with the Library of Congress, The Exquisite Corpse Adventure story game, book, and educational support webpages.

We need your help so that our authors and illustrators can visit more classrooms, libraries, book festivals, and museums to work with our kids, exciting kids and their families about reading!

Please consider making a donation this holiday season to the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. Large or small, we value, and honor every dollar,every donation.
We believe that literacy is essential to the development of responsible citizens in a democracy. And we believe that citizens, both young and old, must have equal access to stimulating books and information sources that invite them to dream and give them the tools to achieve their dreams. As writers and illustrators, teachers and mentors, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles—as citizens and neighbors—our ultimate question is always how can we best serve all of our nation’s children?

In 2012, we hope to launch a new national literacy education initiative with the Library of Congress, the Children's Book Council, PBS Reading Rockets and other educational partners. We need your help to make it happen! Your donation to the NCBLA is tax-deductible! Thank you!

The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit.

To make a donation by credit card, go to: http://www.thencbla.org/donate.html

If you would like to send a check or money order, please mail your donation to:

Mary Kemper, Treasurer
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance
P. O. Box 1479
Brewster, MA 02631

Thank you! We hope you and your family have a delight-filled holiday season and a joyous New Year!

Celebrating the Holidays at the White House

2011-12-12T10:25:00.000-05:00

White House Decorations Honor
America's Military Families

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The official Christmas tree was delivered to the North Portico of the White House in a horse-drawn carriage and presented to First Lady Michelle Obama, who was accompanied by daughters Malia and Sasha, on November 25. The 18-foot-6 inch balsam fir is decorated with holiday cards created by military children and ornaments featuring medals, badges, and patches from all of the military branches. In the photo at right, President Barack Obama shows military officials the White House Christmas Tree in the Blue Room following a meeting, Dec. 1, 2011.

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

And on December 8 President Obama, the First Lady, Vice President Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden hosted a Hanukkah celebration in the White House in which the President remarked,

"Let’s honor the sacrifices our ancestors made so that we might be here today. Let’s think about those who are spending this holiday far away from home -– including members of our military who guard our freedom around the world. Let’s extend a hand to those who are in need, and allow the value of tikkun olam to guide our work this holiday season."

Learn More About American
Holiday Traditions and White House History

The December holidays provide a fabulous opportunity to help young people learn about their own history and heritage, as well as the history, heritage, and traditions of others. Following are some resources you can share with young people to engage their natural curiosity and introduce them to holiday traditions at the White House:

Watch a video of the delivery of this year's douglas fir Christmas tree from Lehighton, Pennsylvania to the White House on November 26.

Watch a video of the lighting of the menorah and the Hanukkah celebration at the White House.

Discover how the Christmas tree became a White House tradition and how farmers across America compete to grow the “Grand Champion” selected to adorn the White House each year in "Grand Champions of the White House" by guest writer Renee Critcher Lyons on OurWhiteHouse.org. Read on for an excerpt:

A tree has not always graced the White House at Christmastime. In fact, Franklin Pierce (1856), our 14th president, became the first to embrace the 500-year old tradition of bringing a tree into the home to celebrate the hope of Christmas morn. And, the practice did not become a yearly event until the 1880’s. Only one president since has frowned upon the use of an official White House Christmas tree, Teddy Roosevelt. Our 26th president (1901-1909), at a time before Christmas tree farms were prevalent, believed the harvesting of Christmas trees might deplete our national forests, and thus banned the practice from the White House.

Read about the history of the National Christmas Tree, which graces the Ellipse between the White House and the Washington Monument, in "Our National Christmas Tree" by Cheli Mennella on OurWhiteHouse.org. Here is an excerpt:

The magnificent blue spruce towers above the Ellipse, the ground between the White House and the Washington Monument. Throughout the year it is a silent reminder of yuletide pleasures and joy. Then in December the tree takes on new significance. Dressed in strands of colorful lights and trimmed with ornaments, the tree, our National Christmas Tree, becomes a beacon of beauty and brilliance.

Read Newbery-medal winning author Susan Cooper's contrasting memories of the White House--one at a time of sorrow and another at a time of Christmas splendor--in "Memory of the White House" on OurWhiteHouse.org.

Discover More About the White House and American History in Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out
For even more information and stories about White House holiday traditions, the presidents and first ladies, and American history, check out a copy of Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out from your local library and share the extensive fiction and nonfiction pieces and plethora of original art illustrations with the young people in your life. To learn more about White House holidays, you might choose to read how the American hostage crisis in 1979 affected the lighting of the national Christmas tree during President Carter’s term in office in “From Christmas in Plains: Memories” by Jimmy Carter.

Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out is sold in hardcover and paperback at bookstores everywhere. LEARN MORE about this anthology at OurWhiteHouse.org.

Start Your Holiday Shopping Now with Book Suggestions from Reading Rockets

2011-12-06T11:06:00.000-05:00

The 2011 Gift Book Guide Makes Holiday Shopping Easy!

Reading Rockets' 2011 Books as Gifts Guide makes it easy to find great books kids will enjoy. Created by children's literature expert Maria Salvadore, the list is a delightful collection of 80+ terrific nonfiction and fiction titles for kids ages 0-9 and includes recommendations for kids to read on their own and books for kids to read with a caring adult. Purchase from the annotated list online or print the buying guide to take with you on your shopping trip to the bookstore.

You can also share Season’s Readings using Reading Rockets' free e-cards. Reading themed holiday e-cards were created for Reading Rockets by award-winning children's book illustrators Bruce Degen, Mary Azarian, Loreen Leedy, David Carter, Robert Sabuda, Marie-Louise Gay, Chris Raschka, and Marc Brown.

Parents, guardians, homeschoolers, and other family members might want to check out snowy storytime ideas with Reading Rockets’ Family Literacy Bag featuring The Snowy Day. Designed to encourage hands-on fun and learning centered around paired fiction and nonfiction books, The Snowy Day Family Literacy Bag offers interactive activities to encourage parents to read to their children and talk about what they are reading together in order to promote a joy of reading and literacy achievement.

In Case You Missed It!

2011-12-05T06:32:00.002-05:00

Interview Provides Insights Regarding the Future of How Children Read

"In 5 years you will have an entirely new marketplace of digital reading material for young children, in all new forms."
-Karen Lotz, President of Candlewick Press

Karen Lotz

In "How Will We Read: Children's Books?,"
C. M. Rubin interviews Karen Lotz, President of Candlewick Press, the largest independent children's publisher in the U.S., regarding the future of children's books. You won't want to miss Karen's insights regarding past and future sales trends, the importance of bookstores and school libraries, and the evolution of print to electronic book platforms.

Click here to read the entire interview in Education News.

Photo courtesy of Candlewick Press.

Join Us TOMORROW for "The Exquisite Conversation: An Adventure in Creating Books!"

2011-12-02T07:55:00.000-05:00

The Exquisite Conversation:

An Adventure in Creating Books!

starring

Katherine Paterson

National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

M. T. Anderson + Natalie Babbitt

Susan Cooper + Timothy Basil Ering

Steven Kellogg

Patricia MacLachlan + James Ransome

Mary Brigid Barrett, Moderator

Author and illustrator
Steven Kellogg

The Cambridge Public Library, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance invite you to join us tomorrow, December 3 at MIT for an afternoon of literary events designed for everyone who loves literature for young people--and the authors and illustrators who create it!

Author Katherine Paterson

Tomorrow's afternoon of events begins with a lively roundtable discussion featuring some of America's most gifted storytellers and illustrators: M. T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Susan Cooper, Timothy Basil Ering, Steven Kellogg, Patricia MacLachlan, James Ransome, and Katherine Paterson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, at 1:00 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium.

Author M. T. Anderson

This presentation is FREE and open to the public. Everyone who loves literature for young people and would enjoy learning more about the creative process, writing, and narrative illustration (including kids 10 and older) is welcome! No registration or ticket is required. Attendees are encouraged to bring a new paperback for a child or teen to donate as a holiday gift to children and young adults in family shelters in Cambridge.

Saturday's Schedule of
Exquisite Conversation Events

Noon - 1:00 p.m.: Book Sale by Porter Square Books in lobby of Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Avenue.

1:00 - 2:20 p.m.: Exquisite Conversation: An Adventure in Creating Books! Presentation in Kresge Auditorium.

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.: Book Sale and Autographing in lobby of Kresge Auditorium.

3:30 - 5:00 p.m.: Wine and Cheese Reception with the Authors, Illustrators, and Special Guests, including Silent Auction, in Room 307 on the third floor mezzanine of the Stratton Center, a short walk from Kresge. Tickets are required. Read below for more information and to buy tickets.

Wine and Cheese Reception
with the Authors and Illustrators!

Auction Item:
Sketch by Chris Van Dusen

Beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the Stratton Center, the NCBLA invites you to our ticketed, adults-only Wine and Cheese Reception with the authors and special guests! Here you can meet each of the participating authors and illustrators and ask each of them the questions you've always wondered about!

Auction Item:
Illustration by Timothy Basil Ering

Included in the reception is the Silent Auction, featuring an exciting and diverse collection of themed book baskets; manuscript critiques from editors at Candlewick Press, Houghton Mifflin, and Curtis Brown; sketches and illustrations by David Macaulay, Timothy Basil Ering, Chris Van Dusen, and Trina Schart Hyman; and MORE!

All Silent Auction items and their complete descriptions will be on display at the Wine and Cheese Reception beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 in Room 307 of the Stratton Center at MIT.

Tickets are still available for the Wine and Cheese Reception!

Click here to order your tickets for the Wine and Cheese Reception now. And please note that the NCBLA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Ticket purchases are TAX DEDUCTIBLE to the extent allowed by law.

For complete information about all the Exquisite Conversation events, including ticket purchases for the Wine and Cheese Reception, click here. For directions to the event venues at MIT, click here.

Author Katherine Paterson to Inaugurate National, Phone-In Book Talks

2011-11-30T18:12:00.001-05:00

Children’s book author Katherine Paterson, selected by the Library of Congress as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, will answer questions from writer Tanya Lee Stone at 7 p.m. this Thursday, December 1, in a live, national, phone-in event hosted by the Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, Vermont.

Readers from across the country can sign up for the call at booktalknation.com, where they may also order personally-inscribed books including Paterson’s The Flint Heart; Bridge to Terabithia; Brother Sun, Sister Moon; and The Great Gilly Hopkins.

BookTalk Nation is a new series of phone-in author interviews sponsored by the Authors Guild to support traditional booksellers and highlight the key role they play in promoting a vibrant literary culture. Each talk in the series will be hosted by a local bookstore with ties to the featured author.

“I just hope everybody will support their independent bookstores,” said Paterson, who lives in Vermont. She said she was eager to participate because she’s seen first-hand how knowledgeable, committed booksellers help readers find just the right book.

Paterson will also be one of nine celebrated authors and illustrators speaking this Saturday, December 3, at 1:00 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium at MIT as a part of The Exquisite Conversation: An Adventure in Creating Books! This roundtable discussion moderated by NCBLA Executive Director Mary Brigid Barrett will feature: M. T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Susan Cooper, Timothy Basil Ering, Steven Kellogg, Patricia MacLachlan, James Ransome, and Katherine Paterson!

This presentation is FREE and open to the public for kids over 10. Everyone who loves literature for young people and would love to learn more about the creative process, writing, and narrative illustration is welcome! Click here to learn more.

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! Afternoon with Nine Authors and Illustrators Scheduled at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts

2011-11-26T18:09:00.000-05:00

The Exquisite Conversation:
An Adventure in Creating Books!

Don't Miss an Afternoon of Literary Events Featuring an Author and Illustrator Presentation, Book Sale, Autographing, Wine and Cheese Reception, and Silent Auction!

Katherine Paterson

The Cambridge Public Library, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance invite you to join us next Saturday, December 3 at MIT for an afternoon of events designed for everyone who loves literature for young people--and the authors and illustrators who create it!

Susan Cooper

Beginning at 1:00 in Kresge Auditorium, we proudly present a roundtable discussion moderated by NCBLA Executive Director Mary Brigid Barrett featuring some of America's most beloved authors and illustrators: M. T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Susan Cooper, Timothy Basil Ering, Steven Kellogg, Patricia MacLachlan, James Ransome, and Katherine Paterson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature!

M. T. Anderson

This presentation is FREE and open to the public for kids over 10. Everyone who loves literature for young people and would love to learn more about the creative process, writing, and narrative illustration is welcome!

Natalie Babbitt

No registration or ticket is required.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a new paperback for a child or teen to donate as a holiday gift to children and young adults in family shelters in Cambridge.

Schedule of Exquisite Conversation Events

Noon - 1:00 p.m.: Book Sale by Porter Square Books in lobby of Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Avenue.

1:00 - 2:20 p.m.: Exquisite Conversation: An Adventure in Creating Books! Presentation in Kresge Auditorium.

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.: Book Sale and Autographing in lobby of Kresge Auditorium.

Wine and Cheese Reception

with the Authors and Special Guests!

Patricia MacLachlan

Our entire Exquisite Conversation panel will be there to meet you: M. T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Mary Brigid Barrett, Susan Cooper, Timothy Basil Ering, Steven Kellogg, Patricia MacLachlan, Katherine Paterson, and James Ransome!


Steven Kellogg

An added feature of our reception is the Silent Auction, featuring an exciting and diverse collection of themed book baskets, manuscript critiques, sketches and illustrations, and MORE! See the catalog of Silent Auction items below.

Tickets are still available for the Wine and Cheese Reception!

Silent Auction Catalog of Items

Manuscript Critiques

Three manuscript critiques by Editors at Candlewick Press.

Manuscript critique by Executive Editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Picture book critique by Executive Vice President at Curtis Brown Ltd.

Artwork

Pencil sketch by Chris Van Dusen

Pencil sketch by Chris Van Dusen for Episode 17 of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, "Speak, Memory," written by Susan Cooper. (Image at left.)

Illustration by Timothy Basil Ering for Episode 23

Color illustration by Timothy Basil Ering for Episode 24 of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, "When Is a Door Not a Door?" written by Natalie Babbitt. (Image at right.)

Book Baskets and Specialized Items

Author and Illustrator
James Ransome

A collection of books by author and illustrator James Ransome, all signed.

One signed copy of Eric Carle's The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse with one family pass to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

Basket of assorted books from publisher Barefoot Books.

Two baskets of Curious George books and gift items.

Author and Illustrator
Timothy Basil Ering

Exquisite Conversation Authors' and Illustrators' Basket, which includes: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party by M. T. Anderson; Finn Throws a Fit! written by David Elliott and illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering; A Joyful Christmas: A Treasury of New and Classic Songs, Poems, and Stories for the Holiday illustrated by James Ransome; The Flint Heart by John and Katherine Paterson; Shoebox Sam written by Mary Brigid Barrett and illustrated by Frank Morrison; The Dark Is Rising: The Complete Sequence by Susan Cooper; Jack Plank Tells Tales by Natalie Babbitt; Lala Salama: A Tanzanian Lullaby by Patricia MacLachlan and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon; And I Love You written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Steven Kellogg; The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson.

All Silent Auction items and their complete descriptions will be on display at the Wine and Cheese Reception beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 in Room 307 of the Stratton Center at MIT.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

2011-11-22T08:48:00.000-05:00

Avoid the Kid's Table Syndrome, and Share Thanksgiving Stories of the Past This Holiday!

As families across America stock their pantries and begin late-night baking sessions in preparation for Thursday's holiday, why not take a few moments to think about your own family's meal-time traditions. In the NCBLA's article "Holiday Dinners: Avoiding the Kid's Table Syndrome," Mary Brigid Barrett offers sage advice for parents and guardians regarding how to encourage conversation and quality family time at the dinner table.

Looking for some stories of the past to share with your kids? Check out the NCBLA's education website OurWhiteHouse.org, which includes a treasure trove of articles, activities, and resources for families to share.

On OurWhiteHouse.org, you can learn which president offered the first presidential pardon for a Thanksgiving turkey in "Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Wild Animals at the White House" by Heather Lang. Discover which president and first lady are credited with serving the first annual Thanksgiving dinner at the White House in the Presidential Facts File and the First Lady Facts File! And foodies of all ages will want to check out White House recipes of the past in "A Taste of the Past: White House Kitchens, Menus, and Recipes" by Mary Brigid Barrett.

OurWhiteHouse.org is the companion website to the NCBLA's art and literature anthology,

Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out, a masterpiece of poetry and prose, art and photography, created by over 100 of America's most gifted storytellers and artists as a project of the NCBLA. Our White House is designed to encourage young people to read more about America’s rich history and culture; to think more about America’s future; to talk more about our nation’s leadership; and to act on their own beliefs and convictions, ensuring this great democratic experiment will survive and thrive. Our White House is available in both paperback and hardcover from Candlewick Press.

Ask for Our White House at a library or bookstore near you!

In Case You Missed It!

2011-11-21T10:35:00.000-05:00

Two New York Times Articles Provide

Food for Thought!

Parents, guardians, educators, and publishers won't want to miss these two recent articles in The New York Times:

In "For Their Children," Many E-Book Fans Insist on Paper," Matt Richtel and Julie Bosman write how parents prefer to read "old-fashioned books" to their kids!

In the op-ed piece "How About Better Parents?," columnist Thomas L. Friedman writes that educational improvement is not restricted to teachers---parents must also play a significant role!

Photograph by Suzanne DeChillo of The New York Times.

Meet Award-Winning Authors and Illustrators for Young People at Wine and Cheese Reception December 3

2011-11-18T10:46:00.000-05:00

Join Us for a Special Reception with Nine Authors and Illustrators for Young People!

Silent Auction of Book Baskets, Manuscript Reviews, and Illustrations Included

The NCBLA invites everyone who loves literature for young people--and the authors and illustrators who create it--to our ticketed, adults-only Wine and Cheese Reception with nine celebrated authors and special guests on Saturday, December 3 from 3:30 to 5:00 PM in the Stratton Center of MIT!

This is your opportunity to meet and talk to each of the participating authors and illustrators, including:

M. T. Anderson is the author of The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume 1: The Pox Party, a National Book Award Winner and Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Click here to visit his website.

Natalie Babbitt is the author of Tuck Everlasting, an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book, and the Newbery Honor Book Knee-Knock Rise. Click here to learn more about Natalie Babbitt and her books.

Mary Brigid Barrett is the founder, president, and executive director of the NCBLA, as well as a children’s book author and illustrator. Click here to learn more about Mary Brigid Barrett and her books.

Susan Cooper is the author of the award-winning Dark Is Rising series, including The Dark Is Rising, a Newbery Honor Book, and The Grey King, a Newbery Medal winner. Click here to visit her website.

Timothy Basil Ering is the illustrator of The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread, winner of the Newbery Medal. Click here to visit his website.

Steven Kellogg is the illustrator of more than one hundred children’s books, including Is Your Mama a Llama? and the Pinkerton series. He is a recipient of the Regina Medal. Click here to visit his website.

Patricia MacLachlan is the author of Sarah, Plain and Tall, a Newbery Medal winner. She is a recipient of the National Humanities Medal. Click here to learn more about Patricia MacLachlan and her books.

Katherine Paterson is the author of Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved, both winners of the Newbery Medal. She is the current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Click here to visit her website.

James Ransome is the illustrator of The Creation, winner of a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and an International Board on Books for Young People Honor Selection. Click here to visit his website.

At the reception you won’t want to miss the Silent Auction, featuring an exciting and diverse collection of themed book baskets, manuscript critiques by editors at Candlewick Press and Houghton Mifflin, and a picture book critique by a senior partner at the esteemed literary agency Curtis Brown Ltd.

The auction will also include illustrations by David Macaulay, Timothy Basil Ering, and Chris Van Dusen! We are also offering a pastel painting by Katherine Paterson!

Limited tickets are available! Click here to buy your tickets today. And please note that the NCBLA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Ticket purchases are TAX DEDUCTIBLE to the extent allowed by law.

For complete information about the Reception and Silent Auction, including ticket purchases, please visit thencbla.org.

For directions, please visit web.mit.edu.

Family Field Trip!

2011-11-17T08:58:00.000-05:00

Take Your Kids to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art this Fall!

Next week's Thanksgiving holidays offer many families extended vacation time. The enchanting illustrations of a picture book are often a child’s very first glimpse into the art world. If you are in the New England area, why not expand your child's world by sharing the magic of picture books at the Eric Carle Museum, located in Amherst, Massachusetts?!

Current exhibits include:

Growing Every Which Way But Up: The Children’s Book Art of Jules Feiffer
October 25, 2011 - January 22, 2012

The Art of Eric Carle: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse
September 10, 2011 - March 20, 2012

The Heartaches of a French Cat
May 17 - November 27, 2011

And The Rest Is History: Stories of America’s Children
September 3, 2011 - January 3, 2012

Click here to learn more about all these current exhibitions and to get directions.

In Case You Missed It!

2011-11-15T08:39:00.000-05:00

New York Times Publishes Special Section on Children's Literature

ATTENTION parents, guardians, aunts and uncles, home schoolers, teachers, librarians--all adults who live and work with young people! You won't want to miss The New York Times' Children's Books Special Section, overflowing with articles, book reviews, and recommended reading lists. Be sure to check out the picture gallery in the "Best Illustrated Books of 2011," the list of book recommendations in "Holiday Songs," and Leonard Marcus' review of The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg and others titled "Choose Your Own Adventure."

THANK YOU New York Times for your continuing quality coverage of books for young people!

Attention Children's Lit Fans and Emerging Writers and Illustrators of Children's Literature!

2011-11-11T09:53:00.000-05:00

Upcoming Events in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Feature Celebrated Authors and Illustrators of Literature for Young People

The Cambridge Public Library and the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance invite everyone who loves literature for young people--and the authors and illustrators who create it--to TWO very special events to be held Saturday, December 3 on the campus of MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts:

The Exquisite Conversation:
An Adventure in Creating Books!

Join us at 1:00 p.m. in the Kresge Auditorium for a lively presentation with a panel of distinguished authors and illustrators as they discuss creative writing, narrative illustration, and the creative process! This engaging roundtable discussion will be moderated by NCBLA Executive Director Mary Brigid Barrett and will feature some of America's most beloved authors and illustrators: M. T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Susan Cooper, Timothy Basil Ering, Steven Kellogg, Patricia MacLachlan, James Ransome, and Katherine Paterson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature!

This event is FREE and open to the public for kids over 10 and everyone who loves literature for young people!

Porter Square Books will be selling books before and after the presentation in the lobby of Kresge Auditorium (48 Masachusetts Avenue). All authors and illustrators will be available immediately following the presentation to autograph your favorite books!

Attendees are encouraged to bring a new paperback for a child or teen to donate as a holiday gift to children and young adults in family shelters in Cambridge.

Wine and Cheese Reception

with the Authors and Special Guests!

Reception Includes a Silent Auction of Manuscript Reviews, Original Illustrations, and Themed Book Baskets

Following the presentation, the NCBLA invites you to our ticketed, adults-only Wine and Cheese Reception with the authors and special guests! This is your opportunity to meet each of the participating authors and illustrators in an intimate setting--share a glass of wine with Katherine Paterson! Take your picture with Steven Kellogg! Ask each of our authors the questions you've always wondered about. Our entire “Exquisite Conversation” panel will be there to meet you: M. T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Mary Brigid Barrett, Susan Cooper, Timothy Basil Ering, Steven Kellogg, Patricia MacLachlan, Katherine Paterson, and James Ransome!

Also at the reception you won't want to miss the Silent Auction, featuring an exciting and diverse collection of themed book baskets, manuscript critiques by editors at Candlewick Press and Houghton Mifflin, and a picture book critique by a senior partner at the esteemed literary agency Curtis Brown Ltd. The auction will also include an illustration by David Macaulay, a pastel painting by Katherine Paterson, and much MORE!

The Wine and Cheese Reception will take place in Room 307 of the Stratton Center from 3:30 to 5:00 PM.

A limited number of tickets are available for the reception. Don't miss out! Order your tickets today!

For complete information about the "Exquisite Conversation" program and reception, including ticket purchases, click here.

For directions to the event venues at MIT, click here.

Photographs top to bottom: Katherine Paterson, Patricia MacLachlan, and Steven Kellogg, all taken by Adam David Kissick at the NCBLA's "White House on the Waterfront" event at the National Children's Museum in November 2010.

Attention Teachers, Homeschoolers, and Librarians!

2011-11-10T16:13:00.000-05:00

Twenty More Days Remain to Send Writing for EXQUISITE PROMPT Challenge!

Students in Grades K-12
Invited to Submit Entries

Reading Rockets and AdLit.org revived the Exquisite Prompt writing contest in exquisite corpse fashion with writing prompts inspired by winning student entries from their 2010 contest! Kids in grades K-12 have until November 30 to write the ending to a cliffhanger, a review of a magical object purchased from The Fairy Tale Catalog, a poem in the voice of the Whinoceros, or the continued adventures of two time travelers.

Autographed books await the winners! To learn more, click here.

What's an EXQUISITE CORPSE?!

To learn about the exquisite corpse art form and how it is played, click here.

To learn about The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, the progressive story game created by 20 of America's most gifted writers and illustrators as the foundation of a national reading and writing outreach project sponsored by the NCBLA and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, click here.

To buy the book, click here. Or, ask for it at your local library!

AND, for information about "The Exquisite Conversation: An Adventure in Creating Books!," a FREE presentation scheduled for Saturday, December 3 at 1:00 PM on the campus of MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts for all kids (ages 10 and up) and adults who LOVE literature for children and young adults, click here.

What authors and illustrators will be participating in this special presentation? M.T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Susan Cooper, Timothy Basil Ering, Steven Kellogg, Patricia MacLachlan, James Ransome, and Katherine Paterson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, will participate in a roundtable discussion moderated by Mary Brigid Barrett, Executive Director of The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance.

We invite you to join us!

Celebrate Veterans Day This Friday, November 11

2011-11-09T07:51:00.000-05:00

Honor Our Country's Veterans by Sharing Their Stories with Young People

This Friday Americans of all ages honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. A wonderful site that enables parents, guardians, teachers, and librarians to help young people understand the experiences of our veterans is the Veterans History Project on LOC.GOV. Here the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible personal accounts of American war veterans to ensure all Americans can hear their stories and better understand the realities of war.

The Project collects first-hand accounts of U.S. Veterans and support personnel from the following wars:

World War I (1914-1920)
World War II (1939-1946)
Korean War (1950-1955)
Vietnam War (1961-1975)
Persian Gulf War (1990-1995)
Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts (2001-present)

Included on the site are compelling video interviews, photographs, memoirs and other documents from American veterans, as well as links to other related articles, such as "Sweethearts, Buddies, Family Ties," "Women of Four Wars," and "Military Medicine."

Click here to visit the Veterans History Project site.

Activist Alert!

2011-11-07T15:34:00.001-05:00

Take Action for Libraries!
Net Neutrality in Jeopardy

This week the full U.S. Senate will vote on Senate Joint Resolution 6, a bill to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) order passed to adopt “net neutrality.”

Please call your Senators and ask them to vote “NO” on S.J. Res. 6. You can reach your Senators by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Your call sends a loud and clear message that libraries depend on an open and nondiscriminatory Internet to provide our the public unfettered access to information.

•    Voting no helps preserve the openness of the Internet which is essential to our nation’s educational achievement, freedom of speech and economic growth.
•    Without an open and neutral Internet, there is great risk that commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will give higher priority to some users (e.g. give entertainment priority over education).
•    ISPs may seek to impose additional fees on Internet users which could drastically impact libraries who require much greater bandwidth than households to serve their patrons, many at one time.

This anti-net neutrality resolution, if passed, would strike at the heart of libraries’ ability to ensure patrons have open, unfettered access to all types of information.

Click here for additional information, including links to the letter the ALA sent to Senate leadership.

ONE MONTH FROM TODAY! "Exquisite Conversation" to be Held on the Campus of MIT!

2011-11-03T08:03:00.004-04:00

The Exquisite Conversation:
An Adventure in Creating Books!

starring

Katherine Paterson

National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

M. T. Anderson + Natalie Babbitt

Susan Cooper + Timothy Basil Ering

Steven Kellogg

Patricia MacLachlan + James Ransome

Mary Brigid Barrett, Moderator

Mark your calendars NOW for our upcoming event designed for everyone who loves literature for young people (and the authors and illustrators who create it!) titled "The Exquisite Conversation: An Adventure in Creating Books," to be held Saturday, December 3 at 1:00 PM in the Kresge Auditorium at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

This lively and informative presentation will feature a panel of our nation's most gifted storytellers and illustrators together on stage. A discussion of the rollicking episodic story game The Exquisite Corpse Adventure (Candlewick Press) will quickly evolve into a fascinating conversation about creative writing, narrative illustration, and the creative process! We may even explore Andre Breton and the wild and crazy Surrealists who inspired our exquisite game!

This event is co-sponsored by the Cambridge Public Library and the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. It is FREE and open to the public! Suggested audience includes young people (ages 10 and above) and adults who love children’s books. Attendees are encouraged to bring a new paperback for a child or teen to donate as a holiday gift to children and young adults in family shelters in Cambridge.

Books will be sold by Porter Square Books before and after the presentation. Autographing will follow the presentation.

Wine and Cheese Reception

with the Authors and Special Guests!

Following the presentation, the NCBLA is hosting a ticketed, adults-only Wine and Cheese Reception with the authors and special guests. This is your opportunity to meet each of the participating authors and illustrators in an intimate setting--share a glass of wine with Katherine Paterson! Take your picture with Steven Kellogg! Ask each of our authors the questions you've always wondered about. Our entire “Exquisite Conversation” panel will be there to meet you: M. T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Mary Brigid Barrett, Susan Cooper, Timothy Basil Ering, Steven Kellogg, Patricia MacLachlan, Katherine Paterson, and James Ransome!

The Wine and Cheese Reception will take place in Room 307 of the Stratton Center from 3:30 to 5:00 PM.

A limited number of tickets are available for the reception. Don't miss out! Order your tickets today!

For complete information about the "Exquisite Conversation" program and reception, including ticket purchases, click here.

What Is The Exquisite Corpse Adventure?

To learn more about The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, click here.

To check out the NCBLA's extensive online educational resources that support The Exquisite Corpse Adventure (including supplemental articles, classroom activities, reading lists, art activities, discussion questions, and more!), click here.

And, to check out the Exquisite Prompt Redux Writing Challenge for students in grades K-12 from Reading Rockets and AdLit.org, click here!

Ask for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure

at a bookstore or library near you!

A Cornucopia of Books for Halloween!

2011-10-30T19:54:00.000-04:00

Check Out These Recommended Reads for a Trick-or-Treat Story Time Surprise!

In The New York Times, check out the Bookshelf: Boo! list compiled by Pamela Paul, which includes selections for ages 3 to 9.

In The Horn Book, check out the Halloween Reading list compiled by Katie Bircher, which lists picture books, younger fiction, intermediate fiction, and older fiction.

On Reading Rockets, check out Ten Books for Halloween and Fall Harvest of Books.

On AdLit.org, check out books for middle grade readers and teens in the Dragons and Myths & Folktales lists.

On the NCBLA Parent & Guardian Handbook, check out the extensive, annotated list of books in the article "Discovering Fantasy Beyond Harry Potter."

And parents, homeschoolers, and teachers, be sure to review the Celebrate Halloween pages on ReadWriteThink.org, which explain the history of this holiday and provides related Halloween activities for home and classroom!

Choosing the Best Books for Kids

2011-10-27T10:13:00.000-04:00

Author Dorie McCullough Lawson Recommends Parents, Guardians, and Teachers Give Kids the Very BEST Books!

At this year's National Book Festival, which took place last month on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., author Dorie McCullough Lawson told the audience that even though many reading advocates recommend giving kids anything to read--as long as they read--she disagrees with that advice; Lawson believes we should be giving our kids only the very BEST books to read!

But how do you find the BEST books?!

Start at Your Local Library!

The first place to find the best books is your local library. Introduce yourself to the librarian in the children's room and ask him or her what books he or she would recommend for your children or students. While visiting the library, check out some of the authoritative books that recommend titles and reading strategies for kids, such as 100 Best Books for Children: A Parent's Guide to Making the Right Choices for Your Young Reader, Toddler to Preteen, as well as 500 Great Books for Teens, both by children's literature expert Anita Silvey. Another excellent book to check out is A Family of Readers: The Book Lover's Guide to Children's and Young Adult Literature by Roger Sutton and Martha V. Parravano, editors of The Horn Book.

Check the Experts on the Web!

A second place to find recommendations of great books for kids is the web! Take a few minutes and browse the following lists available from such authoritative sources as the NCBLA, Reading Rockets, AdLit.org, The Horn Book, and The New York Times:

The "Parent & Guardian Handbook" on thencbla.org features not only a list of reliable articles to help you develop life-long readers, but also themed reading lists such as American Heroes, Baseball, and Fantasy Beyond Harry Potter.

The "Recommended Books for Kids" page on ReadingRockets.org includes DOZENS of themed lists created by expert children's librarian Maria Salvadore. Here you'll find lists of books about bugs, holidays, art, monsters, and even the tooth fairy.

The "Great Books for Teens" page on AdLit.org offers themed lists for adolescents, that include such topics as Air & Space, dragons, Poetry, World War, and Romance & Relationships.

The Horn Book's "Recommended Books" page includes diverse lists, such as ghost stories, love stories, world religions, astronomy, and sports books.

The New York Times Children's Book column reviews groups of books for children through young adult by subject. Be sure to check out the "bookshelves" titled Night, Fairy and Folk Tales, America, Farm, and Growing Up.

Read Recommendations from Children's Literature Bloggers!
One additional place to look for book recommendations is the realm of children's book bloggers. To help you navigate this diverse sea of information, the NCBLA has compiled a list of "Blogs That Inspire" in our Literacy Resource Treasure Chest, which includes direct links to blogs like Anita Silvey's Children's Book-A-Day Almanac and The Planet Esme: The Best New Children's Books from Esme's Shelf.

Dorie McCullough Lawson's most recent book is the picture book Tex (Trafalgar Square Books).

Click here to read an interview with Dorie McCullough Lawson and discover her favorite books for kids!

In Case You Missed It!

2011-10-26T09:06:00.000-04:00

2011 Winners of the Jane Addams Children's Book Awards Announced

The Jane Addams Children's Book Awards are given annually to the children's books published the preceding year that effectively promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races as well as meeting conventional standards for excellence.

The Jane Addams Children's Book Awards have been presented annually since 1953 by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and the Jane Addams Peace Association. Beginning in 1993, a Picture Book category was created. Honor books may be chosen in each category. This year's winners are:

Books for Younger Children

Author Linda Glaser and Illustrator Claire A. Nivola for Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty.

Books for Older Children

Author Linda Sue Park for A Long Walk to Water.

Honors for Books for Younger Children

Authors Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Gwen Strauss and illustrator Floyd Cooper for Ruth and the Green Book. And, author Andrea Davis Pinkney and illustrator Brian Pinkney for Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down.

Honors for Books for Older Children

Jewell Parker Rhodes for Ninth Ward and Larry Dane Brimner for Birmingham Sunday.

THIS SATURDAY! "Sing to Me, O Muse" Symposium to be Held at Cambridge Public Library

2011-10-24T13:42:00.000-04:00

Symposium to Feature Readings, Talks, and Performances from the Greek Classics

SING TO ME, O MUSE takes its title from the opening lines of The Odyssey, and will feature readings, talks, and performances highlighting the impact of the epic poems, myths, and legends of the ancient Greeks on childhood, literature, and society.

October 29 from 10 am to 4 pm
Cambridge Public Library
449 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02138
Lecture Hall (Floor L2)

A remarkable chorus of artists, writers, storytellers, musicians, dancers, educators and students includes Gregory Maguire, Susan Cooper, Ashley Bryan, Sebastian Lockwood, Evi Gerokosta (on film), Tracy Barrett, Gareth Hinds, Jill Paton Walsh, John Rowe Townsend, Dr. John Pappas and his Metropolis of Boston Dance Group, Katherine Kleitz, Barbara Scotto, Martha Walke, Daryl Mark, Nora Tisel Farley, Connie Carven, Susan Flannery, and Barbara Harrison.

Registration
The program is free and open to the public. Reservations are required, and seating is limited. Please register for the event, by emailing Martha Walke at walkem@sover.net or by calling her at (802) 765-4935. In your message, include your name, email address, home phone and cell phone numbers.

Parking
As a courtesy to library patrons, we request that you do not park in the Cambridge Public Library underground garage. Please enjoy free parking in the parking lot of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, 1611 Cambridge Street (7:00 am-5:30 pm). This location is about 1 ½ blocks from the library (walk across Cambridge Street and follow Ellery Street to Broadway. Turn right on Broadway and you will see the Main Library). For directions to Harvard Vanguard please check their website: http://www.harvardvanguard.org/locs/directions.asp?ofc=Cambridge

Book Sales and Signing
Books by speakers will be available for sale from 9:00 – 9:45 am, and again during lunch, thanks to Porter Square Books. No book sales after the program.

Lunch
We encourage people to bring a bag lunch or to plan on a picking up a quick lunch at the nearby Broadway Market on Broadway or Darwin’s Ltd on Cambridge Street.

This event is hosted by Children’s Literature New England, The Examined Life: Greek Studies in the Schools, and the Cambridge Public Library, SING TO ME, O MUSE derives from a colloquy and study tour in April 2011 in which American, British, and Canadian writers, illustrators, and educators visited Greece.

Learn more about CLNE and its programs at www.CLNE.org.

In Case You Missed It!

2011-10-23T18:54:00.000-04:00

Technology Avoided in School

Attended by Tech Gurus' Kids

In the New York Times article, "Silicon Valley school sticks to basics, shuns high-tech tools," journalist Matt Richtel writes:

"The chief technology officer of eBay sends his children to a nine-classroom school here. So do employees of Silicon Valley giants like Google, Apple, Yahoo and Hewlett-Packard.

But the school’s chief teaching tools are anything but high-tech: pens and paper, knitting needles and, occasionally, mud. Not a computer to be found. No screens at all. They are not allowed in the classroom, and the school even frowns on their use at home.

Schools nationwide have rushed to supply their classrooms with computers, and many policy makers say it is foolish to do otherwise. But the contrarian point of view can be found at the epicenter of the tech economy, where some parents and educators have a message: computers and schools don’t mix."

To read the entire article, click here.

Above photo by Jim Wilson of The New York Times.

Best-Selling Authors Contribute Stories and Poems to Benefit Darfuri Refugees

2011-10-21T07:24:00.000-04:00

Collection of Stories and Poems, What You Wish For, Engages Young People with Themes of Hope and Aspiration

Eighteen authors with combined sales of more than 600 million books, including mega-bestsellers R.L. Stine (Goosebumps, Fear Street), Ann M. Martin (The Baby-sitters Club), Alexander McCall Smith (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency), Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries), and Cornelia Funke (Inkheart) have contributed to What You Wish For (ISBN 9780399254543), a collection of stories and poems for ages 12+ that went on sale recently. The Reston-based 501(c)(3) charity Book Wish Foundation organized the book, which is being published by Penguin/G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and will donate 100% of its proceeds to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, to fund libraries in Darfuri refugee camps. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Darfur advocate Mia Farrow wrote the foreword.

The all-star roster also features Newbery medalists Karen Hesse (Out of the Dust) and Cynthia Voigt (Dicey’s Song), National Book Award-winner Joyce Carol Oates (them), John Green (Looking for Alaska), Francisco X. Stork (Marcelo in the Real World), Jeanne DuPrau (The City of Ember), and Sofia Quintero (Efrain’s Secret); poets Nikki Giovanni, Naomi Shihab Nye, Marilyn Nelson, Gary Soto, and Jane Yolen; and graphic novelist Nate Powell (Swallow Me Whole). Their contributions explore the shared theme of wishes in the context of friendship, love, family, bullying and other topics teens care about. The American Library Association’s Booklist magazine awards a starred review to the collection in its October 1 issue.

Book Wish Foundation Co-Founder Logan Kleinwaks said that “What You Wish For offers literary riches to its readers, and its readers return the gift many times over by helping the Darfuris. By buying this book, anyone can join forces with these incredible authors.” To increase the humanitarian impact of purchases, online bookseller Better World Books (betterworldbooks.com) will donate its net profits from sales of the book.

Information about where to purchase What You Wish For, and the progress of the refugee camp library initiative, can be found at bookwish.org.

Attention Teachers, Librarians, Homeschoolers, Parents, and Students!

2011-10-19T09:02:00.000-04:00

Reading Rockets' Writing Challenge and Exquisite Corpse Online Educational Materials INSPIRE While Providing Reading, Writing, and Art Opportunities

Reading Rockets' fall writing challenge, Exquisite Prompt Redux, invites students in grades K-12 to write the ending to a cliffhanger, a review of a magical object purchased from The Fairy Tale Catalog, a poem in the voice of the Whinoceros, or the adventures of two time travelers!

Winners will be rewarded with online publication on ReadingRockets.org, as well as collections of books, including at least one autographed title. The deadline for submitting entries is November 30. For complete information and contest rules, please visit ReadingRockets.org.

Teachers, librarians, homeschoolers, and parents interested in finding additional FREE reading, writing, and art educational support materials should check out the NCBLA's The Exquisite Corpse Adventure Education Resource Center. Designed to support The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, these extensive materials provide a gold mine of literacy articles, web resources, classroom activities, games, reading lists, art activities, discussion questions, many of which can be adopted for use with books, stories, and art beyond The Exquisite Corpse Adventure. You won't want to miss:

"A Guide to Progressive Stories" and "Creating Your Own Exquisite Corpse Story Adventure" for instructions on how you can create the magic of a progressive story game in your home, classroom, library, or next camping trip.

"Parent Tips for Encouraging Reading and Literacy Development."

The "Literacy Resource Treasure Chest," which includes a list of authoritative articles, websites, blogs, and video interviews addressing a plethora of reading and writing topics.

Exquisite Corpse episodic materials, which include thematic reading lists, classroom activities, and art appreciation articles and activities. For example, the art activity for Episode 2 is titled "Wet Washes and Rich Color - Creating an Illustration Layer by Layer" and invites students to take a closer look at James Ransome's watercolor illustration then try the technique for themselves. Click here to check out this art lesson! Illustration at right (c)2009 James Ransome.

To learn more about The Exquisite Corpse Adventure, click here.

Ask for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure at a bookstore or library near you!