By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 16, 2012

Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker may be the hardest working woman in YA literature. She’s young, talented, and whip-smart. Her bestselling novels include Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design, Violet in Private, Lovestruck Summer, and Small Town Sinners. She also blogs her heart out at IHeartDaily, BeforeYouWereHot, and ReaderGirlz. Melissa’s most recent novel Unbreak My Heart will be published on May 22. Listen in as we discuss writing, motherhood, and what happens when you break up with your best friend.

Nicki Richesin: Congrats on Unbreak My Heart (out this May 22 from Bloomsbury). Love the title! Could you tell us a bit about the novel and how the character of Clem first appeared to you?

Melissa Walker: It’s the story of a girl who has lost her best friend, through some fault of her own, and is dealing with the aftermath of the friendship breakup. But she’s also about to spend the summer with her family on a sailboat–not the best place to wallow alone. At the end of the day, my editor wrote the line that sums it up best; the book is about “The year that broke her heart. The summer that healed it.” Clem has been in my head for a long time, since I suffered a friendship breakup. I always knew I wanted to write about someone who experienced that same thing.

NR: You got your start working as an editor for ELLEgirl and Seventeen. What did working for these publications teach you about writing?

MW: I think that having a “real job” that let my inner seventeen-year-old speak made me realize that there’s a place for that voice (the one in my head).

NR: I had the pleasure of meeting your mom in your hometown Chapel Hill, North Carolina as part of the Crush tour (full disclosure: Melissa contributed a beautiful essay to the collection). She said you have always been a writer. Did having such a strong identity as a writer early on help to instill confidence while building your career?

MW: Aw, Mom. Yes, my parents were always hugely supportive of my writing, even when it involved banging out paragraph-long stories on our typewriter in the dark ages! They would read what I wrote, praise me, give ideas and encourage me to keep going. It was the ideal environment for a little writer and I credit them with so much having to do with my career.

NR: You maintain some incredible blogs (IHeartDaily and ReaderGirlz) and also incredibly funny (BeforeYouWereHot). What does it feel like to be connected to so many readers online versus having readers devoted to your books? Does having this amazing connection affect how you work on your novels?

MW: I like talking back and forth with readers, and those sites are another way to do that. It definitely energizes my writing.

NR: You’ve also contributed to Barnes and Noble’s blog about cover stories. What have you learned about our initial perception of a book’s cover and do you believe one can judge a book by its cover?

MW: I don’t think you can judge a book by its cover, no. There are so many amazing books with lackluster covers (and vice-versa). But the thing is: We DO judge books by their covers. It’s impossible not to—it’s what we see first! I think you have something like 1.7 seconds to catch the eye on a newsstand/book table, and you’ve got to do it. Covers absolutely sell books. It’s a plain fact, even if—idealistically—we don’t want it to be that way.

NR: How did you become a “diva” for ReaderGirlz and could you tell us a bit about your mission and future goals for the organization?

MW: I was asked to blog for ReaderGirlz a few years ago, and I just love the supportive group of writers who keep it going. It’s fun, it’s lively, and I especially adore the Rock the Drop initiative that we do in April to accompany YALSA’s Support Teen Lit Day.

NR: You became a mother last year and I’m sure motherhood must have made a significant impact on your writing life. Has it changed how you approach your writing?

MW: Ha! I actually haven’t started a new book since June was born (she’s 9 months old now, and I’m revising a book I started before she arrived). I have wondered if it’s going to make me more sympathetic to parental characters… we’ll see! In the practical sense, I have a lot less time to write and daydream—babies demand that you be in the moment. But that is such an amazing thing, too, so I have no doubt she’ll shape whatever comes next in many ways.

NR: Do you have a vision for a book (with a story you’re dying to tell) that you have to write before you die?

MW: I have a lot of ideas in my head, but none that stand out as “the one.” With Unbreak My Heart, it was very cathartic to write about a friendship breakup—that happens so often and it takes a backseat to romantic breakups, but I think it’s even more painful a lot of the time. So that was one I had to share, and now it’s out there!

NR: In your last novel Small Town Sinners, you tackled some weighty issues like religion and teen pregnancy in a sensitive and tender way. What has the overall response been to the novel and were you satisfied with its reception?

MW: Oh, I was so nervous about Small Town Sinners, but the overall response has been just as I’d hoped! People see that I was just telling the story of this group of people, without judgment or agenda. I wasn’t sure I could pull that off, but I think (I hope!) I did, based on the readers who’ve contacted me. There’s still some talk out there about it being a crazy Hell House book, but I think that’s mostly from people who haven’t read it yet. And I hope they do read it one day, but hey, if they want to talk about it in the meantime, I’ll take the buzz!

NR: If you could be reincarnated as your favorite character from children’s literature who would it be and why?

MW: Fancy Nancy. Does she count? She is to-die-for fabulous.

NR: Which projects are you currently working on and what can we expect to read from you soon?

MW: I’m staying somewhat mum for the moment about my next release… but it’s coming! I have a letter in the Dear Teen Me anthology, out in October, and I’m in great company so check it out.

NR: THANK YOU, Melissa!

MW: Thank YOU, Nicki!

Nicki Richesin is the editor of four anthologies The May Queen, Because I Love Her, What I Would Tell Her, and Crush. She is a regular contributor to Huffington Post, Daily Candy, 7×7, Red Tricycle, and San Francisco Book Review. Nicki has been reading to her daughter every day since she was born. For more information, visit: www.nickirichesin.com.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Author Showcase

The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 15, 2012

Come and discover a new character in a new world, Talee and the Fallen Object.

Talee and the Fallen Object

By: Jacquitta A. McManus

One early Saturday morning, Talee had nothing to do. So she ate a puffy muffin and decided to read one of her favorite books. Just when she was about to start chapter three of her book, out of the corner of her eye she saw a mail flyer drop something from a bag. It fell through the air and landed on one of the smaller floating landmasses. A bag of treasure, she thought as she looked out the window. But is it a bag of treasure?

Review by: Wayne S. Walker (HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW)

Eight-year-old Talee lives on the planet Gala, which has two moons. She loves to read and write about great adventures, especially treasure hunts. Her favorite colors are purple and yellow, and her favorite food is wild puffy yellow muffins with pink icing, which her mother fixes every weekend. Gala is an amazing planet because the land floats in the air. People get from place to place by Calpas, which are big, friendly, flying animals. Early one Saturday morning, Talee has finished her puffy muffins and is reading one of her favorite Captain Jewel books about a bag of treasure that was hidden in a lost city when she sees a mail flyer go by outside her window and something falls out of the mail flyer’s bag.

The object lands on a small floating landmass and starts to smoke when it hits the ground. Thinking it might be a bag of treasure, Talee takes one of her family’s Calpas to look for it. Will she find it? What will it be? Like McManus’s Labyrinth’s Door: Anyia—“Dream of a Warrior,” Talee and the Fallen Object is a fantasy adventure tale, but for a slightly younger set. In addition to the storybook, there is an accompanying coloring book for youngsters with an artistic bent. It begins with a page, which starts the adventure, and as the child looks at each scene and colors it in, all the scenes together will make up Talee’s story. At the end, there are some pages where the readers can write their own Talee adventure based upon the pictures, which have been colored. Children who like to think about living on or visiting other planets will especially enjoy these books.

Available in Paperback and Kindle.

For more information, visit: www.WorldsToDiscover.com

The Author Showcase is a place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works. This article was provided by the author. Learn more …

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 14, 2012

Enter to win one of two autographed paperback copies of Julia K. Rohan’s Weaverworld: Grimsnipe’s Revenge.

Weaverworld is a mystical place that can also be a dangerous. With friends at his side, Jack must find a way to fight an evil force before it succeeds in destroying both his family and the Weaver way of life.

Giveaway begins May 14, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends June 10, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Reading level: Ages 9 and up

Paperback: 365 pages

Overview: Jack Fisher is a boy in trouble. Disobedient and rebellious, he fights with his sister Jillian, challenges his parents’ authority and fails his classes at school. But when temptation overpowers his better judgment during the annual family reunion the consequences are more drastic than anyone could have imagined.

Ignoring his grandmother’s warning to stay out, Jack goes up to the attic and tries on his grandfather’s old bomber jacket and boots. Suddenly transported to a world called Weaverworld, Jack must quickly adjust to his new reality. Weaverworld is a mystical place and the longer he’s there the more willing he is to let go of the rules from his life in the Realworld.

But not everything is as enchanting as it seems. Jack soon learns that Weaverworld can also be a dangerous and terrifying place as the vengeful Grimsnipe enmeshes him in an ever more dangerous web of intrigue. With his new friends at his side, Jack must find a way to fight this evil force before it succeeds in destroying both his family and the Weaver way of life.

Available in hardcover, paperback and e-book (to come).

About the author:  From the time Ms. Rohan could put pencil to paper she began escaping the Realworld through her drawings and stories. As a young teenager her creative energy turned to music and she began a part-time career as a musician and singer-songwriter. She returned to school as an adult and earned an Honours English Literature degree from Concordia University. Ms. Rohan’s short stories and poems have been published in literary magazines and her two independently-released music CDs are available online. She resides in the country outside Montreal with her husband and a charming tabby cat named “Twister”. Weaverworld is her first full-length work of fiction.

How to enter:

• Fill out the required fields below

• Maximum entries: Three (3)

Giveaway Rules:

• Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to all participants with a US or Canadian mailing addresses.
• Giveaway begins May 14, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends June 10, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST, when all entries must be received. No purchase necessary. See official rules for details. View our privacy policy.

Prizing courtesy of Julia K. Rohan.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Best Young Adult Books: Top Picks from YA Bloggers in the Know, #2

By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 9, 2012

We asked the sassy ladies at Forever Young Adult (you know Sarah, Jenny, Erin, Meghan and Megan) to choose the five books they’re most anticipating reading this spring and summer. A website devoted to all things YA, Forever Young Adult consists of five women who say they haven’t yet grown up. They write a mix of book reviews, movie analysis, TV posts and fashion, all with a hefty dose of sarcasm and hyperbole, that can be found at foreveryoungadult.com. We’ve enjoyed reading their hilarious accounts from everything to an obsessive love of Dolly Parton to their guilty confession about secretly reading novels by Nora Roberts.

At Forever Young Adult, the only thing we love more than new books is an early summer vacation in which to read those books.  Here are five books that are piled at the very top of our suitcases.

Underworld

By Meg Cabot

In this second book of Meg Cabot’s Abandon series, seventeen-year-old Pierce Olivia is being held captive in what we’re pretty sure is hell.  Not metaphorical Hell.  Actual Hell.  Her captor’s the mysterious (and scorching hot) John Hayden, who claims that he’s keeping her safe from the malicious Furies haunting Pierce’s life.  But can John Hayden be trusted?  And can Pierce manage to escape Hell for a second time?  This book is from reigning YA Queen, Meg Cabot, so expect a lot of humor, some super-swoony love scenes and an ending that has you begging for more.

Ages 14 and up | Publisher: Scholastic, Inc | May 8, 2012

When You Were Mine

By Rebecca Serle

In this refreshing twist on Shakespeare’s classic play, author Rebecca Serle explores the perspective of Rosaline, the girl Romeo kicked to the curb after he met Juliet. Heartbroken after being dumped by her long-time crush, Rosaline must pick up the pieces and redefine herself, even as tragedy unfolds around her. Set in present day, this novel is a deeply compelling look at adolescent identity and transformation, and Serle manages to breathe new life into the cliché of star-crossed lovers. Every character’s voice hums with authenticity, and the romance is intense enough to make even Shakespeare jealous.

Ages 14-17 | Publisher: Simon Pulse | May 1, 2012

Bitterblue

By Kristen Cashore (Graceling #3)

It’s been nearly a decade since Katsa and Po rescued Po’s cousin Bitterblue from her vicious, evil father King Leck. A decade in which Bitterblue has struggled to grow up and figure out how to be a good queen to a deeply wounded country. Sneaking out at night, a simple act of curiosity and rebellion, she meets two thieves who are destined to change her life, and maybe the entire kingdom. When she starts to question her advisers’ policies of forward thinking, she discovers the path to healing is more complex—and dangerous—than she can ever imagine. The third book in Cashore’s series manages to be more captivating and heart-pounding than the first two books combined.

Ages 14-17 | Publisher: Penguin Group | May 1, 2012

Fear

By Michael Grant

A year after all the adults disappeared overnight, the kids in the FAYZ have had more than their share of problems. But now that the Darkness has taken over the FAYZ, the kids will meet their biggest challenge yet.  As their worst fears become manifest and traumatized children are pushed to the edge of madness, the residents of the FAYZ find themselves having to trust each other more than ever to survive. The fifth in Michael Grant’s Gone series, expect yet another heart-pounding, edge-of-the-seat descent into madness.

Ages 12-14 | Publisher: HarperCollins | April 3, 2012

Insurgent (Divergent #2)

By Veronica Roth

After narrowly escaping the chaos that was unleashed by one faction on the entire city, Tris Prior joins her friends—and some she thought were her enemies—in seeking an alliance with the remaining factions to prepare for war.  But as lines are drawn and sides chosen, Tris, crippled by her own grief, discovers that the war about to be waged could destroy an important truth—a truth her parents died trying to protect.  If she follows her instincts, she just might be able to save that information, but she’ll have to betray the one person she loves to do it.  In this much anticipated sequel, Roth takes us on a thrill ride deeper into the world of the Divergent, and those who would use mind control to keep an entire city enslaved.

Ages 14-17 | Publisher: HarperCollins | May 1, 2012

A big thank-you to the talented and funny ladies of Forever Young Adult!!!

Nicki Richesin is the editor of four anthologies The May Queen, Because I Love Her, What I Would Tell Her, and Crush. She is a regular contributor to Huffington Post, Daily Candy, 7×7, Red Tricycle, and San Francisco Book Review. Nicki has been reading to her daughter every day since she was born. For more information, visit: www.nickirichesin.com.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Five Family Favorites: Leading Bloggers Share their Family Favorite Books, #2

By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 8, 2012

From left to right: Catherine, Cindy, and Madeleine Hudson.

For our second installment of Five Family Favorites, we asked Cindy Hudson to share her family’s all-time favorite books. Cindy is the author of Book by Book: The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs (Seal Press, 2009) and the creator of the wonderful Mother Daughter Book Club.com. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two daughters.

From the time our girls were born, my husband and I had fun reading to them. We started with titles like Pat the Bunny and Dr. Seuss books before working our way up to novels to read out loud as a family when they got older.

Reading time was always my favorite time of day, as the four of us piled together on the bed, snuggling under blankets in the winter or enjoying the feel of a breeze from the window in summer. Often, our favorite books were ones that made us laugh or painted a vivid picture of another time or a different world. Here are five of our all-time favorites, books we’ve read more than once and wouldn’t hesitate to read again, even though the girls are all grown up now.

Charlotte’s Web

By E. B. White

Until I read the book by E. B. White I thought Charlotte’s Web was just a cute movie for kids. But the rich story in the book about the unlikely friendship that develops between a spider, Charlotte, and a pig, Wilbur, stole my heart. What seems to be a simple story on the surface has so much more beneath it, from the meaning of true friendship, to being resourceful while bringing about change to your world, to suffering grief from loss and learning how to carry on afterward. And as you would expect from a classic that has stood the test of time, adults can appreciate the deeper meanings while both generations enjoy the surface story. (Ages 6-11. Publisher: HarperCollins)

Boy: Tales of Childhood

By Roald Dahl

Ever wonder where Dahl got the ideas for some of the wacky and evil characters that punctuate his fiction? You’ll find out when you read Boy: Tales of Childhood. Dahl’s memoir of his childhood and school days is fascinating both because of things he experiences—tonsil surgery in his kitchen, having his nose sewn back on after going through the windshield of his sister’s car—as it is for the people he encounters—a grimy-fingernailed candy shoppe owner and cruel boarding school teachers. My family still talks about the incident of the rat in the candy jar and the story about how Dahl played a joke on his older sister’s boyfriend with “goat tobacco.” (Ages 8-12. Publisher: Penguin Group)

A Year Down Yonder

By Richard Peck

Peck’s down-to-earth voice and talent for capturing a scene carries this story of a girl who travels from her Chicago home to spend a year with her grandmother during the depression. Even though it’s told in the voice of Mary Alice, it’s more about Grandma Dowdel and her ungrandmotherly ways. Whether she’s getting back at boys who like to tip her outhouse or teaching a lesson to an unfriendly neighbor, Grandma Dowdel’s antics are laugh-out-loud funny. (Ages 10-14. Publisher: Penguin Group)

Framed 

By Frank Cottrell Boyce

I recently reread this book out loud with my husband and 17-year-old daughter, although my girls were 10 and 13 when we first read it. We loved it just as much the second time, and savored the story all the way through. We often had to put the book down to talk about what we liked about the story or take a laugh break, always a sign of a great book for us. Framed is full of eccentric characters, world famous art, and one boy who refuses to let his sleepy town slowly dwindle away to nothing when times get tight and people begin to leave in search of better opportunities. (Ages 8 and up. Publisher: HarperCollins)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

By J. K. Rowling

The first book in the series is still our family’s favorite. We read it out loud together when my oldest daughter was the same age Harry is in this book: eleven. Since then, each of my daughters has read it on her own several times, always finding something new to discover in Harry’s world. There is something truly magical in this story of an ordinary, unloved boy who discovers he is quite famous in the world that exists alongside the one he knows and would love to escape. Harry Potter sparks the imagination as it has sparked the reading habits of an entire generation. (Ages 9-12. Publisher: Scholastic)

Thanks to Cindy Hudson and her family for this incredible list of books!

Nicki Richesin is the editor of four anthologies The May Queen, Because I Love Her, What I Would Tell Her, and Crush. She is a regular contributor to Huffington Post, Daily Candy, 7×7, Red Tricycle, and San Francisco Book Review. Nicki has been reading to her daughter every day since she was born. For more information, visit: www.nickirichesin.com.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 7, 2012

Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.

Five Family Favorites with Catherine Newman

Books for Boys: 5 Funny Kids Books

Best Young Adult Books with Andrea Chapman of Reading Lark

How Picture Books Play a Role in a Child’s Development

Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online

THE NEW RELEASES

The most coveted books that release this month:

The Serpent’s Shadow (The Kane Chronicles, Book Three)

by Rick Riordan

(Ages 9-11)

Theodore Boone: The Accused

by John Grisham

(Ages 8-12)

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

by Eric Litwin

(Ages 4-7)

The Enchantress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

by Michael Scott

(Ages 12-17)

Big Nate: What Could Possibly Go…

by Lincoln Peirce

(Ages 8-12)

THE BEST SELLERS

The best selling children’s books this month:

PICTURE BOOKS

The Art of Miss Chew

by Patricia Polacco

(Ages 5-8)

I Want My Hat Back

by Jon Klassen

(Ages 4-8)

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site

by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Author), Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator)

(Ages 4-8)

Press Here

by Herve Tullet

(Ages 4-8)

Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet

by Jane O’Connor

(Ages 4-7)

_______

CHAPTER BOOKS

The Fault in our Stars

by John Green

(Ages 14-17)

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

(Ages 12 and up)

Heroes of Olympus, The, Book Two: The Son of Neptune

by Rick Riordan

(Ages 9-11)

The LEGO Ideas Book

by Daniel Lipkowitz

(Ages 8-12)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

by Brian Selznick

(Ages 9-12)

_______

PAPERBACK BOOKS

Divergent

by Veronica Roth

(Ages 14 and up)

Matched

by Ally Condie

(Ages 12 and up)

Between Shades of Gray

by Ruta Sepetys

(Ages 12 and up)

The Red Pyramid

by Rick Riordan

(Ages 10 and up)

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

(Ages 14 and up)

_______

SERIES BOOKS

Trylle Trilogy

by Amanda Hocking

(Ages 12 and up)

Big Nate

by Lincoln Peirce

(Ages 8-12)

Percy Jackson & the Olympians

by Rick Riordan

P(Ages 9 to 12)

Hunger Games Trilogy Boxset

by Suzanne Collins

(Ages 12 and up)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

by Jeff Kinney

(Ages 9 to 12)

This information was gathered from the New York Times Best Sellers list, which reflects the sales of books from books sold nationwide, including independent and chain stores. It is correct at the time of publication and presented in random order. Visit: www.nytimes.com.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

(He won’t read it.  He hates everything.) #1

By David Teague, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 7, 2012

Sometimes, as I ponder tactics for encouraging the “reluctant readers” in my life (typically late-elementary through middle-school boys), I cast my mind back to an earlier generation’s paragon of averseness, Mikey [Life cereal commercial].  Only instead of confronting Mikey with healthy breakfast cereal, in my imagination, I confront him with fiction.

Try it along with me:

“What’s this thing?”

“Some book.  S’posed to be good for you.”

“Did you try it?”

“I’m not gonna try it.  You try it.”

“I’m not gonna try it.”

“Let’s get Mikey.”

“Yeah!”

“He won’t read it.  He hates everything.”

Pugnosed brothers shove the book at Mikey.  Mikey digs in.

“He likes it!  Hey Mikey!”

“When you bring a book home, don’t tell the kids it’s one of those nutritional things printed on paper you’ve been trying to get them to read.  You’re the only one who has to know.”

The more I think about it, the more I feel like this brief but brilliant piece of dramatic art offers everything a well-meaning mom, dad, grand-parent, teacher, librarian, author, or other concerned literacy advocate could ask for.  Conflict, suspense, and the power of creative omission to outwit the refusenik.  When it comes to fiction for Mikey, might as well keep the Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Thiamin and Riboflavin content to yourself.  And leave really appetizing stories lying around on the breakfast table.

Now, my cereal metaphor is only going to stretch so far.  Therefore, to the point.  Here are some titles old and new that I find delectable and predict will appeal to the appetites of particular Mikeys out there:

Sporty Mikey

A few books for Mikeys who believe that sports matter, REALLY matter, and by that I don’t mean “will Mikey win the big game” but instead:  will Mikey change his life, the lives of his friends, the history of his country . . . and, possibly, in so doing, also win the big game, or race, or whatever:

Crash, by Jerry Spinelli.

Jackie and Me, by Dan Gutman (or any of his “Baseball Card Adventures”)

Funny Mikey

A few books for Mikeys who demand an average fifteen jokes per page ranging from really corny to pretty classy, but always FUNNY:

Whales on Stilts, by M. T. Anderson

Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Louis Sachar (or any of the Sideways School series)

A Whole Nother Story, by Dr. Cuthbert Soup

Superhero Mikey

A few books for Mikeys who want be whisked away from their current school to a training facility that goes light on fractions and heavy on things that will enable them to become mighty, mythical, colossal, and endow them with powers enabling them to save the world if not the entire cosmos:

The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan (and then the rest of the series)

H.I.V.E.:  The Higher Institute of Villainous Education, by Mark Walden (and then the rest of the series)

Time-Traveler Mikey

A book for Mikeys who don’t mind reading a story with a girl for the main character, as long as she is really, really cool, knows a time-traveler, and is herself a huge fan of A Wrinkle in Time:

When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead

Thoughtful Mikey

A few books for Mikeys who, down deep, are really thoughtful guys and are starting to contemplate growing up into admirable men:

Onion John, by Joseph Krumgold

M. C. Higgins the Great, by Virginia Hamilton

Precocious Mikey

A stone-cold knockout brilliant beautiful book for Mikeys who are not reluctant, but hungry for something more sophisticated than what people usually recommend to middle-grade Mikeys, plus, it’s impossible to believe the same guy who wrote Whales on Stilts also wrote this (confronts issues of slavery, cruelty, and hypocrisy in the Revolutionary-era US):

Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation:  Volume I, the Pox Party, by M. T. Anderson

Coming next month …

More suggestions in these categories, plus a few additional categories including “Books for Dads to finagle into the hands of their Mikeys, and possibly read at the same time and discuss later,” “Books Mikeys won’t be suspicious of just because their moms recommended them,” and other topics and titles suggested by readers of this blog, if any of you feel so moved.  Let me know your ideas and books:  david@davidteague.net

David Teague is the author of Franklin’s Big Dreams (Disney/Hyperion).  He’s currently at work on his next picture book, Billy Hightower, forthcoming in 2013, and is collaborating with his wife, the novelist Marisa de los Santos, on a young adult novel, Margaret O’Malley.  For more about David and his books, visit http://www.davidteague.net/ or http://www.facebook.com/FranklinDreams.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Author Showcase

By James Rumpf, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 6, 2012

In the early 1980s, Joe Oriolo, creator of Casper the Friendly Ghost and producer of over 260 Felix the Cat episodes, originated a cartoon character named Professor Beetoven. He devised Professor Beetoven along with 25 other cartoon characters. Hundreds of scripts were created around these characters. There is a script for any subject or situation imaginable. In 1985, James Rumpf and Joe Oriolo created a 23-minute cartoon pilot titled “Friends Make the World Go Round: The Adventures of Professor Beetoven.” This pilot aired on HBO and was rated #1 for its category, beating out “The Smurfs”! Unfortunately, Joe Oriolo passed away from cancer during this same year. My father, who was partners with Joe Oriolo, never continued this great project. In 2012 after barnstorming on the best thing to do with these great characters, I decided to create a line of children’s storybooks.

James Rumpf II, April, 2012

“It was so fun, I didn’t know I was learning.”

For more information, visit: http://cartoongems.com/

The Author Showcase is a place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works. This article was provided by the author. Learn more …

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Reading level: 3-6

Add this book to your collection: Chloe, Instead

Video courtesy of ChronicleBooks: Molly always dreamed of having a sister who is just like her. But she got Chloe, instead. These two sisters are nothing alike: Molly loves to color with crayons. Chloe prefers the taste of wax. Molly loves to read. Chloe prefers to nibble a book’s spine. Molly is frustrated! But then she realizes that maybe sisters aren’t the ones next to you on the piano bench, they’re the ones dancing to the music you play! This humorous, perceptive snapshot of sibling love is perfect for those who may need a bit of convincing what fun little siblings can be!

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 4, 2012

Enter to win a copy of The Cupcake Club: Peace, Love, and Cupcakes by sweet duo Sheryl and Carrie Berk.

Introducing the delicious new children’s book series, The Cupcake Club—a treat for readers and cupcake connoisseurs, alike.

Giveaway begins May 4, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends June 1, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Paperback: 208 pages

Overview: Meet Kylie Carson.

She’s a fourth grader with a big problem. How will she make friends at her new school? Should she tell her classmates she loves monster movies? Forget it. Play the part of a turnip in the school play? Disaster! Then Kylie comes up with a delicious idea: What if she starts a cupcake club?

Soon Kylie’s club is spinning out tasty treats with the help of her fellow bakers and new friends. But when Meredith tries to sabotage the girls’ big cupcake party, will it be the end of the Cupcake Club?

About the authors: Sheryl Berk, New York Times bestselling author of Soul Surfer, and her nine-year-old daughter, Carrie, a cupcake connoisseur who has reviewed confections from the world in her Carrie’s Cupcakes Critiques newsletter, have cooked up a delightful new series sure to be a treat.

How to enter:

• Fill out the required fields below

• Maximum entries: Three (3)

Giveaway Rules:

• Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to all participants with a US or Canadian mailing addresses.
• Giveaway begins May 4, 2012, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends June 1, 2012, at 11:59 P.M. PST, when all entries must be received. No purchase necessary. See official rules for details. View our privacy policy.

Prizing courtesy of Sourcebooks, Inc.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.