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… .”

• Luisa had the opportunity to hang-out with Eric Wight (via e-mail) as they discussed his “rip-roaring-good-read” Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom.

• Douglas E. Richards conversed with Luisa about his science-fiction/mystery series, The Prometheus Project. What an interesting guy!

• Awestruck, I sent questions to one of my all-time favorite author/illustrators, Loren Long. We talked about many things, including his middle grade series Sluggers.

• Dessert First was the fantastic debut novel from Hallie Durand. I enjoyed it so much, I just had to know more.

• Amanda corresponded with Lynn E. Hazen about her books which capture a wide array of audiences (Shifty, Cinder Rabbit, and more).

• Keeping busy, Amanda also connected with Micheal Spradlin. Amanda is an Historical Fiction enthusiast and just loves his series The Youngest Templar.

• One of the big highlights of 2009 was when Susan Patron e-mailed us to say thank you for our thoughtful reviews of her Lucky Trilogy (it’s nice to feel appreciated). I couldn’t resist asking for an interview. Now it’s my turn: thank you, Susan!

• Luisa quizzed the intriguing Mark Karlins on poetry, parenting and children’s books.

• Jon Scieszka joked with us about who would be the next National Ambassador for Young Poeple’s Literature.

• And last-but-not-least, I chitchatted with Carin Berger (in person) about ALL of her books— including her soon-to-be-released treasure, Forever Friends. Carin, you are so lovely!

The following authors were also very generous with their time, pausing from their busy schedules to write interesting and entertaining articles just for TCBR:

• Toni Buzzeo: Toni Buzzeo explores historical fiction.
• Kristina Springer: How the heck did you come up with that?
• Steven Hornby: Secrets of a Christmas Box
• Lauren McLaughlin: Who am I? The power of self-invention during the teen years.
• Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin: Even if you don’t become famous …

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

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:

Little Oink

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Author), Jen Corace (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 2-6

Hardcover: 36 pages

Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 1, 2009)

TCBR analysis: Amy Krouse Rosenthal is brilliant. Little Oink, along with Little Pea and Little Hoot, should be staples in any family with toddler to preschool aged children. She turns everyday battles upside-down and inside-out, helping children and parents alike to see the lighter side of these oh-so-familiar situations. Humor is a powerful tool!

Publisher’s synopsis: From the creators of Little Pea and Little Hoot comes this tidy tale of a decidedly different pig. Little Oink is a neat little fellow. Clean clean clean that’s all he wants to do. But Mama and Papa won’t have it! They say in order to be a proper pig he has to learn to make a proper mess. “Don’t come out until your room is a pigsty ” says Papa Pig. “I won’t have any child of mine going out looking so neat and clean. It’s just not acceptable ” says Mama Pig. Readers who hate to clean up will love this humorous twist on a universal dilemma.

Add this book to your collection: Little Oink

The Curious Garden

by Peter Brown

Reading level: Ages 3-7

Hardcover: 40 pages

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 1, 2009)

TCBR analysis: An empowering ecological fable that is classy and relevant. Just beautiful!

Publisher’s synopsis: One boy’s quest for a greener world… one garden at a time.

While out exploring one day, a little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, gray city, transforming it into a lush, green world.

This is an enchanting tale with environmental themes and breathtaking illustrations that become more vibrant as the garden blooms. Red-headed Liam can also be spotted on every page, adding a clever seek-and-find element to this captivating picture book.

Add this book to your collection: The Curious Garden

Otis

by Loren Long

Reading level: Ages 3-7

Hardcover: 40 pages

Publisher: Philomel (September 22, 2009)

TCBR analysis: Loren Long is one of my all-time-favorite illustrators, the art in Otis does not disappoint. Each picture is gorgeous and comforting and connects young readers to an endearing little tractor. The tractor, Otis, becomes a hero — the kind of hero you want your kids to know.

Publisher’s synopsis: New York Times bestselling author/artist Loren Long creates an unforgettable children’s classic.

Otis is a special tractor. He loves his farmer and he loves to work. And he loves the little calf in the next stall, whom he purrs to sleep with his soft motor. In fact, the two become great friends: they play in the fields, leap hay bales, and play ring-around-the-rosy by Mud Pond.

But when Otis is replaced with the big yellow tractor, he is cast away behind the barn, unused, unnoticed . . . until the little calf gets stuck in Mud Pond. Then there is only one tractor—and it’s not big or yellow—who can come to the rescue. It is little old Otis who saves his friend. It is Otis who saves the day.

In a wonderful new palette, and in the tradition of classics like Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and The Story of Ferdinand, Loren Long has crafted an unforgettable new story—and character—celebrating the power of friendship and perseverance.

Add this book to your collection: Otis

All in a Day

by Cynthia Rylant (Author), Nikki McClure (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers; Library Binding edition (March 1, 2009)

TCBR analysis: Heartfelt rhyme and beautiful illustrations with classic appeal. This is a book that parents will enjoy as much as the children they read it with.

Publisher’s synopsis: This lovely book illuminates all the possibilities a day offers—the opportunities and chances that won’t ever come again—and also delivers a gentle message of good stewardship of our planet. Newbery Medal winner Cynthia Rylant’s poetic text, alongside Nikki McClure’s stunning, meticulously crafted cut-paper art, makes this picture book not only timeless but appealing to all ages, from one to one hundred.

Add this book to your collection: All in a Day

Egg Drop

by Mini Grey

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (July 14, 2009)

TCBR analysis: Mini Grey’s Egg Drop is one of the nuttiest picture books I have ever read that still manages to send its message home: err on the side of caution. It takes talent to be an author and illustrator, but with Egg Drop the real talent lies in Mini’s talent to be so shocking and still have the reader being able to see the sunny side up. A truly original tale!

Publisher’s synopsis: Now for something completely different from Mini Grey!

A mother hen tells her chicks about the egg that wanted to fly. “The egg was young. It didn’t know much. We tried to tell it, but of course it didn’t listen.” The egg loves looking up at the birds (yes, it has eyes). It climbs 303 steps (yes, it has legs) to the top of a very tall tower—and jumps. It feels an enormous egg rush. “Whee!” it cries. “I am flying!” But it is not flying, it is falling. Hold your tears, dear reader—there is a sunny ending for this modern-day Humpty Dumpty. Impossible to categorize, Egg Drop is Mini Grey at her zaniest.

Add this book to your collection: Egg Drop

The Lion and the Mouse

by Jerry Pinkney

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 40 pages

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 1, 2009)

TCBR analysis: A wordless well-known fable has been turned into a masterpiece. Bravo!

Publisher’s synopsis: In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney’s wordless adaptation of one of Aesop’s most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he’d planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher’s trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes.

Add this book to your collection: The Lion and the Mouse

Pigs Make Me Sneeze!

by Mo Willems

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 64 pages

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (October 6, 2009)

TCBR analysis: A charismatic, knee-slapping fun take on a recognizable friendship. One of my favorite series for beginning readers.

Publisher’s synopsis: Mo Willems’ award-winning Elephant and Piggie series continues to charm readers. Featuring two lovable and funny characters — an optimistic (and sometimes reckless) pig and a cautious, pessimistic elephant — these books make reading irresistible to the beginning readers.  Children who sat on their parents’ laps to have Pigeon read to them will eagerly take the plunge with these books to start reading on their own.

Each book has been vetted by an early learning specialist (and many adorable early learners).

In Pigs Make Me Sneeze!, Gerald believes he is allergic to his best friend! Will he have to stay away from Piggie forever?

Add this book to your collection: Pigs Make Me Sneeze!

Slob

by Ellen Potter

Reading level: Ages 8 -12

Hardcover: 208 pages

Publisher: Philomel (May 14, 2009)

TCBR analysis: This is a book for everyone: smart,devious, overweight, underweight, shy, courageous and everyone in between.

Publisher’s synopsis: Twelve-year-old Owen Birnbaum is the fattest kid in school. But he’s also a genius who invents cool contraptions— like a TV that shows the past. Something happened two years ago that he needs to see. But genius or not, there is much Owen can’t out-think. Like his gym coach, who’s on a mission to humiliate him. Or the way his Oreos keep disappearing from his lunch. He’s sure that if he can only get the TV to work, things will start to make sense. But it will take a revelation for Owen, not science, to see the answer’s not in the past, but the present. That no matter how large he is on the outside, he doesn’t have to feel small on the inside.

With her trademark humor, Ellen Potter has created a larger-than-life character and story whose weight is immense when measured in heart.

Add this book to your collection: Slob

The Magicians elephant

by Kate DiCamillo

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Hardcover: 208 pages

Publisher: Candlewick; 1 edition (September 8, 2009)

TCBR anaylsis: An enchanting, tall story that will linger in the heart of its readers. Magical!

Publisher’s synopsis: In a highly awaited new novel, Kate DiCamillo conjures a haunting fable about trusting the unexpected — and making the extraordinary come true.

What if? Why not? Could it be?

When a fortuneteller’s tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller’s mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true. With atmospheric illustrations by fine artist Yoko Tanaka, here is a dreamlike and captivating tale that could only be narrated by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo. In this timeless fable, she evokes the largest of themes — hope and belonging, desire and compassion — with the lightness of a magician’s touch.

Add this book to your collection: The Magicians elephant

Tales from Outer Suburbia

by Shaun Tan

Reading level: 12+

Hardcover: 98 pages

Publisher: Templar Publishing (March 2, 2009)

TCBR anaylis: A poetic look at human nature through 15 imaginative and abstract tales that create a mysterious, yet philosophical, world.

Publisher’s synopsis: An exchange student who’s really an alien, a secret room that becomes the perfect place for a quick escape, a typical tale of grandfatherly exaggeration that is actually even more bizarre than he says… These are the odd details of everyday life that grow and take on an incredible life of their own in tales and illustrations that Shaun Tan’s many fans will love.

Add this book to your collection: Tales from Outer Suburbia

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

by Jacqueline Kelly

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); 1 edition (May 12, 2009)

TCBR analysis: An original story with charming qualities that will hook any reader with an imaginative and inquisitive  mind.

Publisher’s synopsis: Calpurnia Virginia Tate is eleven years old in 1899 when she wonders why the yellow grasshoppers in her Texas backyard are so much bigger than the green ones.With a little help from her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist, she figures out that the green grasshoppers are easier to see against the yellow grass, so they are eaten before they can get any larger. As Callie explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century.

Debut author Jacqueline Kelly deftly brings Callie and her family to life, capturing a year of growing up with unique sensitivity and a wry wit.

Add this book to your collection: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Going Bovine

by Libba Bray

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 496 pages

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (September 22, 2009)

TCBR analysis: A fantasy rich in absurdity. Pulchritudinous!

Publisher’s synopsis: Can Cameron find what he’s looking for?

All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

Add this book to your collection: going bovine

Shiver

by Maggie Stiefvater

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (August 1, 2009)

TCBR analysis: The adventure and the romance created by Stiefvater’s strong characters make this a compelling and well written story for fans of the supernatural.

Publisher’s synopsis: For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf–her wolf–is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human–or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Add this book to your collection: Shiver

When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 208 pages

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books (July 14, 2009)

TCBR analysis: A wondrous amount of mystery and fantasy, not to mention the superb intensity of drama, will have readers turning page after page after page. A winning novel!

Publisher’s synopsis: Four mysterious letters change Miranda’s world forever.

By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner.

But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:

I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.

The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.

Add this book to your collection: When You Reach Me

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

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 …

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

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).

1. K. Michael from Best Book I Have Not Read
2. 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.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

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.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

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!

Magic in the Outfield

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.

Add this book to your collection: Magic in the Outfield

Horsin’ Around

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

Great Balls Of Fire

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

Water, Water Everywhere

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

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

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.

This continued to shape my artistic direction as I began to have my work accepted into national juried illustration exhibits such as The Society of Illustrators and Communication Arts magazine. After some time, publishers began calling me to do book covers for the YA book market. I loved it. My very first book cover assignment was Gail Carsen Levin’s novel, Dave at Night. I remember the excitement of reading a manuscript for a novel that was yet to be published and the pride that I’d been chosen to create one piece of art that would be the face of the book on the bookshelf. It also helped that I loved the stories they were sending me.

After illustrating a couple dozen book covers I began to get calls to try my hand at chapter books (more art) and picture books (even more art). I was hooked. I fell in love with children’s publishing. I love the fine art of making a picture book and as my own son began learning to read chapter series, the idea for SLUGGERS hit me.

Bianca: How does illustrating picture books compare to illustrating chapter books?

Loren: There is a significant difference for me between illustrating a picture book and a chapter book.  In simple terms, (in my opinion) art for a picture book is essential to help the text tell the story. The illustrations work in symphony with the words. They work together along with the voice of the reader and the imagination of the child to complete the picture book experience. The art in a picture book is vital.

In a chapter book, the overall design and art of the book is also important but in a different way. The packaging of a chapter series is vital. The jackets are important. The interior art is also important to help the story create mood, a sense of drama and to support the setting and character development. Especially in our series SLUGGERS, where a magical element creates quite bizarre occurrences on the baseball field such as magical horses thundering through the baseball diamond during the game or baseball bats going up in flames while the hitter is swinging at the ball. But the art cannot tell the story as significantly as picture book art can. In my mind, the art in a chapter book seems to “enhance” the book rather than in a picture book the art “is” the book. I do not mean to diminish the role of art for chapter books OR the role of text in picture books. Each component is vital for the audience. They each depend on another. The roles are just  different.

Bianca: With it being baseball season, tell us about the series SLUGGERS and how you collaborate with Phil Bildner?

Loren: SLUGGERS is a baseball chapter series about three kids who travel around the country with a quirky band of barnstorming baseball players in the summer of 1899. It is part mystery, part drama, part historical fiction with a fantasy element in which the kids have possession of a very special, magical, mysterious baseball. And when the 3 children hold the ball at once, strange, bizarre and mysterious occurrences appear on the field during the baseball games. The children learn that they are being followed by an evil villain who wants what the children have.He wants more than one thing they have and he also has something that the children want.

Readers will learn lots of “vintage” baseball terms that were common in the old days of baseball such as calling a ground ball a “daisy cutter”, a fly ball a “rain maker” and the baseball bat a “willow”.

The initial “seed” idea for SLUGGERS came from my own experience playing on a vintage baseball team here in Cincinnati in which we wore 1869 uniforms and played and performed the game of baseball to the rules, practices, sportsmanship and vernacular of the day. It was such fun playing the grand old game that I thought it would make a wonderful backdrop for a chapter series for today’s young readers.
Being only a picture book illustrator at the time, I felt I needed a writer to make my dream project come true. This is where Phil Bildner came in. I was aware of his work from his picture book, Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy and I thought he’d make a good co-creator for SLUGGERS. I pitched my “seed” idea to Phil and together (by way of e-mail and phone) we concocted the entire arc of the 6 book series. In the early days it was great fun exchanging ideas, developing the characters, naming the characters and coming up with the story-lines of SLUGGERS. From the very beginning, Phil and I knew where and how we wanted the 6 book series to end. It was a blast. I would call Phil from Cincinnati to Brooklyn with all these crazy ideas. And let me make it clear that I may have pitched the initial idea for the project to Phil but he brought so many of his own ideas to the book series that together we shaped and crafted the books into what they are today. It has been an interesting collaboration and one that I am very proud of.

It is a co-creation collaboration where even though I am the chief artist and Phil is the chief writer, our roles are much more involved than the simple designation of one writer and one illustrator doing separate work. We weigh in at every step of the way on the work each of us are contributing.

Bianca: What was the decision making process behind changing the series name from Barnstormers to SLUGGERS?

Loren: To read more about the decision process that went into changing the name of the series from Barnstormers to SLUGGERS, please go to www.LorenLong.com. The main issue was that in large part, the title “Barnstormers” was not an easily identifiable “baseball” term and we felt that we were not reaching the audience we are trying to reach with SLUGGERS, the series that saved baseball. In short, if you write a book about baseball for emergent readers, you want your title to say “baseball” and many folks did not understand that “Barnstormers” was about baseball! It was a learning experience. Changing the title of our series was a decision that we did not take lightly. But ultimately, we feel that it was the right decision. Please go to my website for more scoop and visit Readsluggers.com to see more and even hear some SLUGGERS music written specifically for the books!

Bianca: Of all of your works, which has been the most rewarding for you on a personal level? Why?

Loren: I’ve been very fortunate that on most every level, all of my books have been incredibly rewarding. I’m perhaps most honored by the opportunity to have illustrated the classic, Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper because of what the book has meant to so many of us and in particular, what it meant to my mother and me and our lasting close bond.

It has now been very rewarding to begin writing and illustrating my own picture books such as the recently published DRUMMER BOY and the upcoming Fall ‘09 picture book OTIS…because I never thought I’d be a writer.

And it is very rewarding to create a chapter series like SLUGGERS that I hope will ignite an interest in reading for that sluggish, reluctant young, emergent boy or girl reader. And with SLUGGERS, it may be because they simply like baseball or the idea of how three children help save their family with a magic baseball.

Bianca: Please tell us about winning the two Golden Kite awards.

Loren: I’m a big supporter of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (the scbwi). My very first picture book, I DREAM OF TRAINS won the Golden Kite for picture book illustration. And later, WHEN I HEARD THE LEARN’D ASTRONOMER won the Golden Kite Honor for picture book illustration. I was over the moon to be recognized and those awards will always be a little happy place in my career in publishing.

Bianca: My favorite version of  Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could is the 2005 edition that you illustrated. Do you have any plans to re-illustrate anymore classics?

Loren: I’ve been excited that my 2005 edition of Watty Piper’s THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD has been accepted and well received by so many for young and old. What an honor, I’m pleased that folks are gifting it to graduating seniors and older kids and adults alike who are “struggling in medical school” and loved the book as a child. It’s been rewarding to hear those stories and to know that I’m a small part of the rich The Little Engine That Could publishing history.

It was digging into the classic Little Engine That Could as an illustrator that ignited my interest in creating my own books that I hope to have a classic feel such as TOY BOAT and I very much had my favorite classic books in mind as I created OTIS (Philomel, Fall’09).

Bianca: What should we expect to see from you in the near future?

Loren: I’m working on the last two books in the SLUGGERS series for Spring 2010 and I mentioned my newest picture book, OTIS coming this September 2009 about a little tractor who befriends a baby calf on the farm.

Bianca: If you had to illustrate a picture book which was about a well-known children’s author or illustrator, who would you choose and what story would the pictures tell?

Loren: Hmmm, if I had to illustrate a picture book about a well known children’s author I’d probably zoom in on Virginia Lee Burton and try to get to the heart of how she came up with Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel!

Thank you so much for your time, Loren!

Check out the SLUGGERS series (Ages 8-12) at www.lorenlong.com

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

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

Duck Tents

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

One Brown Bunny

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

Hello Day

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!

Who Ate All the Cookie Dough?

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

Melvin Might?

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?

Sergio Makes a Splash

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

A Visitor for Bear

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

Too Many Toys

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.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Honey, I Love

by Eloise Greenfield (Author), Jan Spivey Gilchrist (Illustrator)

Reading level: 0 – 6

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Amistad; 1st edition (December 24, 2002)

Welcome Precious

by Nikki Grimes

Reading level: 0 – 6

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Orchard Books; 1 edition (September 1, 2006)

This Jazz Man

by Karen Ehrhardt (Author), R.G. Roth (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books (November 1, 2006)

The Colors of Us

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)

Wind Flyers

by Angela Johnson (Author), Loren Long (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (January 9, 2007)

The Story of Ruby Bridges

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)

Something Beautiful

by Sharon Dennis Wyeth

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Dragonfly Books (January 8, 2002)

I am Rosa Parks

by Rosa Parks (Author), Jim Haskins (Author), Wil Clay (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 48 pages

Publisher: Puffin (December 1, 1999)

Bright Eyes, Brown Skin

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.

by Doreen Rappaport

Reading level: Ages 5 – 9

Hardcover: 40 pages

Publisher: Scholastic (2001)

Talkin’ About Bessie

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)

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

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

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.