That’s a wrap: Author and Illustrator Interviews of 2009
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: January 7, 2010
What a great year! Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the authors we met in person and via e-mail during 2009 …
- Emily Gravett, who I actually met back in 2008 during her promotion of Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears, was the first interview that we published in 2009. Actually, it was our first ever podcast!
- I traded e-mails with Ingrid Law to produce an interview about her debut novel, Savvy, which won a Newbery Honor Award. She’s a fabulous author with a great personality—we even learned about her own savvy and her favorite stain-remover.
- Our next visitor was Bonny Becker, author of the acclaimed A Visitor for Bear. We chatted about her book and what we could expect from Bear in the future, as well as a little tip on love, “All the clichés are true—as in, when you least expect it… .”
Best Children’s Books of 2009 … Beyond the Half-Way Mark
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: October 23, 2009
Good books make the best books. But … what makes a good book, good?
It may be a matter of opinion, however, whether it’s non-fiction or fiction, a “good book” is one that entertains its readers and has them eager to turn the next page. The author and/or illustrator connects the reader to the characters or subject, provoking an emotional response. “Good books” are original, and often spark imagination and curiosity.
Here is our list of “good books” for 2009, thus far:
Loren Long Talks About His New Book, Otis
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 27, 2009
In this video, bestselling illustrator Loren Long talks about his latest book, Otis, which releases September 22. Otis is the tale of an endearing tractor who lives on a farm. Get a sneak peek here …
The Sluggers Series Giveaway Winners
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 13, 2009
Congratulations to the two lucky winners of the Sluggers series giveaway . The winners have been selected by the random sequence generator at random.org, and have each won a set of the Sluggers series (4 books) by Loren Long (Author & Illustrator) and Phil Bildner (Author).
- K. Michael from Best Book I Have Not Read
- Cathy B
Both winners will be notified by email and have 72 hours to claim their prize, and they must be able to tell me the name that the Sluggers series was previously published under. Unclaimed prizes will be awarded to an alternate winner. Thank you to everyone who participated. Special thanks to the publisher of the Sluggers series, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, for sponsoring the giveaway.
Special mention for my favorite comment:
Disclaimer: Names, e-mail address and physical addresses of all winners will be used solely for the purpose of fulfillment of the giveaway.
Giveaway: The Sluggers Series (4 Books)
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 2, 2009
Calling all baseball fans! Hold on to your caps because the Sluggers series contains so much adventure, mystery, magic, and baseball, that it might be blown away. It holds all the right ingredients to satisfy even the biggest baseball fans; including collectible baseball cards. A fantastic family read — a definite four-bagger! Check out TCBR’s full review here.
Thanks to the publisher of Sluggers, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, I have two sets of the four book series (the series will be a six book series when completed) by Loren Long (Author & Illustrator) and Phil Bildner (Author) to give away to two individual lucky winners.
Here is what you have to do to enter (maximum entries, 5):
- Visit our interview with Loren Long and find out the name that the Sluggers series was previously published under. Hint: Read it all, or just interview question 4. Once you have the answer, keep it to yourself and leave your name and a message in the comments field below. If you are one of the lucky winners, I will contact you directly and you will need to tell me the old series title before the mailman will deliver the book.
- An extra entry will be given for each time you twitter about the giveaway and/or blog about it. Be sure to let me know if you do so by pasting a link in a separate comment. Click here to follow me on Twitter.
- Don’t forget to leave me your contact information with your comment — a valid e-mail address is a must.
- The giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only.
- The contest will run July 2, 2009 – July 12, 2009, with the winners being drawn July 13th. Administrator’s computer is the official time keeping device for the Giveaway. Winners will be picked at random using a random sequence generator (your comments are numbered in the order they are received and the numbers are like raffle tickets drawn from a hat). Winners have 72hrs to claim their prize. Unclaimed prizes will be awarded to an alternate winner.
- Comment away!
Disclaimer: Names, e-mail address and physical addresses of all winners will be used solely for the purpose of fulfillment of the giveaway.
Sluggers: Loren Long & Phil Bildner
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 1, 2009
Adventure, mystery, magic, camaraderie, and a serious dose of baseball is what you’ll get from the Sluggers series. It holds all the right ingredients to satisfy even the biggest baseball fans, including collectible baseball cards. With a whip of the willow (a swing of the bat) Loren Long and Phil Bildner have combined their talents of illustrations and writing to create a “screamer” of a series. A fantastic family read — a definite four-bagger!
by Loren Long (Author & Illustrator), Phil Bildner (Author)
Reading level: Ages 8-12
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (February 24, 2009)
In book 1, or game 1 as it may be, readers receive a nice introduction to the well developed characters. The scene is set clearly, and the tale begins to unravel slowly in a well formulated manner that is carried through all of the books. Long’s superb charcoal rendered illustrations are masterfully placed, and the useful annotations that explain 1800’s baseball terminology are worth their weight in gold. The series is also based around family strength and the power of faith, which is delivered in many ways — I treasure the wonderful words of wisdom that are shared.
“–how we deal with it.” The three Paynes finished the sentence.
Add this book to your collection: Magic in the Outfield
by Loren Long (Author & Illustrator), Phil Bildner (Author)
Reading level: Ages 8-12
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (February 24, 2009)
In book 2, game 2, the adventure continues with perfect continuity. A new addition to the easy to follow format is the useful scoreboard which is illustrated at the end of each chapter. It enables you to truly lose yourself to the strengthening mystery and increasing magic. “Huzzah” to Long and Bildner.
“Huzzah!”: common cheer to show appreciation for a team’s efforts.
Publisher’s synopsis: As the team heads into the River City, Griffith is beginning to realize that there’s more at risk than meets the eye, something beyond the need to raise money — something involving the ball that could put his entire family in danger.
Ruby is eager to help solve the mystery of the ball and plans on keeping her eyes and ears wide open and writing everything down. She knows the answer is out there. All she has to do is see the things that others don’t. And figure out what those things mean.
Then there’s Graham, who usually only thinks about how to get more time on the baseball field. Even he’s beginning to notice that there are strange and shady characters at just about every turn.
Finally there’s the Chancellor, one of the wealthiest and greediest businessmen in the entire world. And it looks like he’s got his eye on the ball!
Add this book to your collection: Horsin’ Around
by Loren Long (Author & Illustrator), Phil Bildner (Author)
Reading level: Ages 8-12
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (April 14, 2009)
In book 3, game 3, the mystery and adventure are building with strong momentum. Drama and danger are added– enough to compel readers forward, but never too much to scare them away. The ending is thrilling and leaves readers urgent for book 4.
Publisher’s synopsis: Pulling into Chicago, Griffith has a run-in with an enormous thug and is more convinced than ever that the nefarious robber baron called “The Chancellor” knows about their magic baseball.
Ruby also has an encounter with a mysterious stranger, and even though she doesn’t know why, she knows that he will change the Travelin’ Nine.
And Graham launches a towering shot out of the park when he thinks no one is looking. Unfortunately, the wrong eyes may have seen what the youngest Payne can do with a baseball.
Chicago is a hot town, so the Paynes better keep their cool. The Travelin’ Nine still have more money to make!
Add this book to your collection: Great Balls Of Fire
by Loren Long (Author & Illustrator), Phil Bildner (Author)
Reading level: Ages 8-12
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing; 1 edition (April 14, 2009)
In book 4, game 4, the stage is set effectively with a climactic carry on from game 3. Long and Bildner’s talents shine even more brightly in Water, Water Everywhere when they manage to maintain their uncanny way of delivering their mysterious and magical story, while gallantly adding new elements like discrimination. This fabulous pair are in scoring position for the last two books in the series.
Publisher’s synopsis: Griffith has a run-in with the Chancellor and learns that the baseball isn’t the only item the infamous industrialist is after. Even more mysteriously, the Chancellor claims to have something that the Paynes want.
And Ruby. Where in the world has she vanished to? Does her disappearance have anything to do with the Chancellor’s threats? Or is there some other plan in play?
And finally, Graham makes a heartfelt birthday wish and somehow gets exactly what he asks for. But questions still remain: Was it real? Can it possibly be true? Or is it all just a dream?
If they don’t watch out, Griffith, Ruby, Graham, and the Travelin’ Nine may find themselves in deep water in the Land of 10,000 Lakes!
Add this book to your collection: Water, Water Everywhere
To read more about the series, check out our interview with Loren Long or visit: http://www.philbildner.com/ and http://www.lorenlong.com/
Younger readers may enjoy: Casey Back at Bat by Dan Gutman
Interview: Loren Long talks about Sluggers!
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 19, 2009
Summer is approaching fast, which means school will be out very soon. It also means it’s baseball season. What better way to entice our kids to read over the summer than by giving them a series of books that is based on a sport that they love — topic can be everything! SLUGGERS, a series about three kids who travel the country playing baseball, is sure to captivate its audience with mystery, fantasy, and even some historical fiction. Loren Long, one of my all-time favorite illustrators and the guy who thought up the series, has ever so kindly answered some questions that shed some light on his career and SLUGGERS.
Bianca: Can you tell us about your journey to becoming an illustrator?
Loren: My journey as an illustrator started with a confused college education from the University of Kentucky majoring in a number of different areas from Business to Communications to Architecture and finally to art in my senior year. Next came one year of art school at The American Academy of Art in Chicago which led to my first professional job as an illustrator at Gibson Greeting Cards in Cincinnati, Ohio. I worked at Gibson illustrating greeting cards by day and trying to forge a freelance illustration career by night. Left Greeting card land after almost 4 years to freelance full-time mostly working for magazines. I had become a student of the American Regionalist painters from the early 20th century such as Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood. This began to show up in my illustration samples and seemed to give me an identity of style on the national illustration scene. I began to get jobs from magazines like Time, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Atlantic Monthly and Reader’s Digest. Read more
2009 Summer Reading Suggestions: Preschool – Kindergarten
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 13, 2009
Summer reading is a brilliant practice you can kick-off with your child. I’ve hand-picked some of my favorite titles, new and old, that are well-suited to the season. Ocean, camping, countryside, learning to swim, and a bit of baking with mom.
NOTE: Please remember that all children develop at a different pace and learn in different ways. During each reading phase there will be a a wide range of development taking place. I have included extra tips on “emergent readers” to help you understand your child’s needs.
I hope you enjoy this list!
Wave
by Suzy Lee
Reading level: Ages 2-6
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 16, 2008)
TCBR review: ” … The illustrations are very simple, and capture the sweet energetic essence of their main character and the ocean. A must for any beach lover! …”
Add this book to your collection: Wave
by Lynne Berry (Author) and Hiroe Nakata (Illustrator)
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co (April 28, 2009)
TCBR review: ” … The engaging rhyme makes this tale a perfect read-aloud book, and it also is a great resource for first time campers.”
Add this book to your collection: Duck Tents
by Marion Dane Bauer (Author) and Ivan Bates (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 3-7
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Orchard Books (February 1, 2009)
TCBR review: ” … Finding friendship is the main purpose to this charmer of a book, but the numerical reference and lilting rhyme are what carry this story to its positively perfect ending…”
Add this book to your collection: One Brown Bunny
by Anita Lobel
Reading level: Ages 0 – 5
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow (March 25, 2008)
TCBR review: ” … With its beautiful illustrations and straightforward text, which includes a new animal sound on each page, it’s the perfect progression from the trusted old board books…”
Add this book to your collection: Hello Day!
by Karen Beaumont
Reading level: Ages 3-7
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (May 27, 2008)
TCBR review: ” … The simplicity and repetitiveness of the words, combined with the rhyming, make this a story that is really easy for youngsters to listen to, and is perfect for an interactive story time…”
Add this book to your collection: Who Ate All the Cookie Dough?
The House in the Night (2009 Caldecott Medal Book)
by Susan Marie Swanson (Author), Beth Krommes (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 2 – 6
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (May 5, 2008)
School Library Journal review: “This picture book will make a strong impression on listeners making their first acquaintance with literature. It is a masterpiece that has all the hallmarks of a classic that will be loved for generations to come.”
Add this book to your collection: The House in the Night
The Pout-Pout Fish (A New York Times Best Seller)
by Deborah Diesen (Author), Dan Hanna (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-6
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (March 18, 2008)
TCBR review: ” … I really enjoyed the clever work of both Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna – mood-enhancing for even the most sulky pre-schooler…”
Add this book to your collection: The Pout-Pout Fish
by Jon Scieszka (author), David Shannon (illustrator), Loren Long (illustrator), and David Gordon (illustrator)
Reading Level: Ages 3-8
Hardcover: 42 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, (October 28, 2008)
TCBR review: ” … an energized series based on very personable truck characters, and teamed with great pictures from a very notable team of illustrators…”
Add this book to your collection: Melvin Might?
by Edel Rodriguez
Reading level: Ages 2-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (May 1, 2008)
TCBR review: ” … Sergio is such a like-able character, and he makes a wonderful role model for anyone learning to swim …”
Add this book to your collection: Sergio Makes a Splash
Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy
by David Soman (Author, Illustrator), Jacky Davis (Author)
Reading level: Ages 3 – 7
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Dial (March 5, 2009)
Publishers Weekly review: ” … Soman’s pen-and-ink characters are remarkably emotive-this is a story that delights in children’s enthusiastic imaginations…”
Add this book to your collection: Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy
by Bonny Becker (Author), Kady Macdonald Denton (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 56 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (February 26, 2008)
TCBR review: ” … The story and its soft illustrations have such an honest and genuine feeling that you’ll be wanting to read it over and over again–as much as your child will!”
Add this book to your collection: A Visitor for Bear
by David Shannon
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: The Blue Sky Press (October 1, 2008)
TCBR review: ” … The way award-winning David Shannon depicts the struggle between mother and son, as they sort through the toys, is priceless…”
Add this book to your collection: Too Many Toys
How I Learned Geography (A 2009 Caldecott Honor Book)
by Uri Shulevitz
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (April 1, 2008)
Washington Post Book World review: “Shulevitz’s simply worded text can be read to preschoolers, but it packs an emotional punch that will resonate with older children and even adults. The watercolor and ink illustrations add further depth as Shulevitz switches from a monochrome palette to a chorus of colors spotlighting how the map stirred his imagination.”
Add this book to your collection: How I Learned Geography
Emergent Readers (preschool – first grade):
- They understand that written words express messages
- They pretend to read by turning pages of a book, and invent a story based on the images and their memory from being read-to
- They begin to match spoken words with print
- They may know some letter names and some letter sound associations
- They may recognize some words and letters in their environment or in texts; but not again in a different context; they may still be unsure of the concept of “word” or “letter”
You can nurture your child’s desire to read by reading books with him/her that are engaging and predictable with pictures that clearly relate-to and illustrate the story line. Emergent readers only recognize a few words, so it is important for your child to have reading modeled to him through listening to good stories. Practicing with rhyming and other word plays is also very helpful, and a great car activity, too. Here is a list of what to look for in a book during this literacy phase:
- Repetitive refrains or patterns
- Repeated vocabulary
- Large text
- Repetitive patterns
- Repeated vocabulary
- Wide letter spacing
- Familiar concepts
- Short books
- Limited text on a page
I found the following websites very helpful: Bank Street: Literacy Guide and ReadingA-Z.com
Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers
by Bobby Lynn Maslen (Author), John R. Maslen (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 16 pages
Publisher: Scholastic (May 1, 2006)
Add this book to your collection: Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers
Are You Ready to Play Outside?
by Mo Willems
Reading level: Ages 3 – 6
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (October 28, 2008)
Each book has been vetted by an early learning specialist (and many adorable early learners).
In Are You Ready to Play Outside?, Piggie can’t wait to go play in the sunshine. But will a rainy day ruin all the fun?
TCBR says: “This is a fantastic series!”
Add this book to your collection: Are You Ready to Play Outside?
NOTE: Some of your older board books that you think your child has grown out of can be just the right reading material for this level reader. Try Go Dog Go, and Hop on Pop.
Black History Month, 2009: Book List
This Black History Month book list is made up of wonderful books that celebrate African-Americans and their history. With so many amazing books out there, it was incredibly hard to select which books to include in my 2009 list. I plan on expanding this list for 2010 — in the meantime, please feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions by leaving a comment at the end of this post. The list begins with books suitable for babies and finishes with a great book for young-adult readers. Enjoy!
by Eloise Greenfield (Author), Jan Spivey Gilchrist (Illustrator)
Reading level: 0 – 6
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Amistad; 1st edition (December 24, 2002)
by Nikki Grimes
Reading level: 0 – 6
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Orchard Books; 1 edition (September 1, 2006)
by Karen Ehrhardt (Author), R.G. Roth (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books (November 1, 2006)
by Karen Katz
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks (April 3, 2007)
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
by Kadir Nelson
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Dial (August 8, 2005)
by Angela Johnson (Author), Loren Long (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (January 9, 2007)
by Robert Coles (Author), George Ford (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (June 1, 2004)
When Marian Sang
by Pam Munoz Ryan (Author), Brian Selznick (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1st edition (October 1, 2002)
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope
by Nikki Grimes (Author), Bryan Collier (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing; illustrated edition edition (August 26, 2008)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Dragonfly Books (January 8, 2002)
by Rosa Parks (Author), Jim Haskins (Author), Wil Clay (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Puffin (December 1, 1999)
by Cheryl Willis Hudson (Author), George Ford (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Just Us Books (November 1, 1990)
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Reading level: Ages 5 – 9
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Scholastic (2001)
by Nikki Grimes (Author), Earl B. Lewis (Illustrator), B. Moser (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 7 – 10
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Orchard (November 1, 2002)
Jackie Robinson and the Story of All-Black Baseball
by Jim O’Connor
Reading level: Ages 8 -12
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (May 6, 1989)
Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman
by Dorothy Sterling
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (May 1, 1987)
Women of Hope: African Americans Who Made a Difference
by Joyce Hansen
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Paperback Nonfiction (January 1, 2007)
March On!: The Day My Brother Changed the World
by Christine King Farris (Author), London Ladd (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 1, 2008)
Through my Eyes
by Ruby Bridges
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (September 1, 1999)
Jabberwocky
by Lewis Carroll (Author), Christopher Myers (Illustrator)
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; Library Binding edition (September 4, 2007)
Link and a Quote: Drummer Boy by Loren Long
Link and a Quote is my version of a coffee break with a good piece of cake …
Link: Tis’ the season to be jolly. Or is it, yet? Well, I am here to tell you that if Christmas brings joy, it’s never too early! Franki, from a Year of Reading, just got her Christmas groove on, and has posted on my favorite 2008 holiday book (so far), Drummer Boy by Loren Long.
Quote: And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood
puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It
came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he
puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought
of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t
come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~ Dr. Seuss
What a great interview! I have to admit that I had never heard of Loren Long…he really answered your questions well! I learned so much! I think my children would like these books!