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

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

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.

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 Special Guests!

 

Patricia MacLachlan

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!  

 

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! 

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. 

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.

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. 

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

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!

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

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.