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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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!

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!  

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.

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.

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!

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!