Book, Booker, Bookest

From Koala to "Ko-wall-a" at St. James in South Pasadena

2011-12-12T15:58:00.000-08:00

Life imitates art, and, apparently, parish day schools imitate picture books. At a recent visit to St. James in South Pasadena, a koala transformed into a "ko-wall-a" right before my very eyes. The timing couldn't have been more perfect-- I had just finished reading Animal House to a wonderful group of kids.

Many thanks to Amy Jones for documenting this most amazing occurrence (and for helping make my visit equally amazing!)

The Picasso Picture Book Scale: The Art of Bullshifting and the State of the Contemporary Picture Book

2011-11-26T19:49:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Picasso's Read Period, a growing preference for less bull in my own picture book writing, and recent discussions on the health and prognosis for picture books, I decided to create the "Picasso Picture Book Scale," subtitled "The Art of Bullshifting."

Based on Picasso's lithograph series from 1945 titled Le Taureau, I find it useful to imagine the spectrum of picture book lengths as analogous to Picasso's abstraction of the bull.

Am I just feeding you a cock-and-bull story? Absolutely not! Though I hope by the end to impart a little of what I've learned from the art of bullshifting.

Here's a run-down of the featured picture books:

Bull 11: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (1,149 words)
Bull 10: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (1,054 words)
Bull 9: Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág (965 words)
Bull 8: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith (863 words)
Bull 7: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson (737 words)
Bull 6: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (657 words)
Bull 5: The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant and Stephen Gammell (523 words)
Bull 4: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (418 words)
Bull 3: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (336 words)
Bull 2: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (221 words)
Bull 1: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems (161 words)

Picture book writers and readers can follow the genius of Picasso from "Bull 11" to "Bull 1," as he shifts from full bull to essential bull, from the corpulent to the core. By the way, don't you find it apropos that our token toro, Ferdinand, would settle his hind-quarters nearly two-quarters the way through the scale? (And never before or since has bullsitting been so provocative, or would that be provacative for my Spanish readers?).

Comparing Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings (1,149) to Mo Willems's Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (161), we observe how different choices (both in word counts and art styles) made by different artists affect the stories they tell-- neither one intrinsically better than the other, but certainly revealing what each artist felt to be the best way to tell his story.

Peruse the "Picasso Picture Book Scale (PPBS)" and take stock of where most of your favorite picture books line-up. Are they all over the place? Do they stack up near "Bull 11," "Bull 7," or "Bull 4?" Do your tastes in art and music follow suit? Do you prefer realism, abstraction, or a balanced blend? Are you a "flesh and fur" lover? Or do you feel everything's in "the bones?"

One of the recent discussions on the ailing state of picture books cites brief texts as the main culprit-- what would appear on the PPBS as all bulls charging towards "Bull 1." In her School Library Journal article, Anita Silvey writes, "But in the picture book arena, the prevailing wisdom is to shackle writers and get them to be as creative as possible with very few words." She goes on further to state that, "...I’d have to argue that a basic diet of picture books with an anemic amount of text doesn’t really do the trick."

Gulp, those words are like a red rag to a bull for me, but I do understand Silvey's perspective and appreciate her boldness in sharing it. I'm of the persuasion, however, that the problem isn't inherently in the shortness of contemporary picture book texts, but rather in the crafting of those texts.

I think the Picture Book Proclaimers hit the bull's-eye with this statement: "Imitation, laziness, and timidity are poisoning a great art form." What more can I add? Life's just too short, folks, and my tolerance for shoddy art is even shorter.

This is a rallying cry for all of my comrades writing short picture book texts-- we must overcome the stigma of "less is less," when we know that "less is more." Occam's Razor has served many fields well, and ours should be no exception.

We should take the bull by the horns and work from the wisdom of Einstein's words, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." So, it's okay if "Bull 1" is your target, just make sure you give it its requisite legs.

Minimal text should achieve essential meaning. The great haiku Masters have already paved the way. And so it is, I feel, that for the sustainability of shorter texts, the picture book writer must become more poet than storyteller the closer we move down the scale to "Bull 1."

For the writer of short picture book texts, sound and image overtake plot and character. The latter two elements shift more to the domain of the illustrator. The shorter the text, the harder each word has to work to elevate the writing. This is what poetry is all about-- working with constraints to create language as art.

And so I've made my stand-- I will remain bull-headed in my determination to write short picture book texts. I've moved from "Bull 7" with Animal House (752 words) to "Bull 1" with Ribbit Rabbit (158 words) and Moo Hoo (157 words), and I've found home. For me, it's all about the bones.

I know that I currently write for the five-and-under set. And I feel my greatest challenge is to intimate to children the beauty and complexity of our wondrous language. There are patterns as profound in language as any in nature, and I write to discover and share them.

I don't create according to the Duchess's words to Alice, "Take care of the sense and the sounds will take care of themselves," but, rather, by the words Bruce Ross delivered in a paper to the 1986 meeting of the Modern Language Association, "Take care of the sounds, and the sense will take care of itself."

Let's honor the musicality of language and do right/write by our young audience. Put story to the service of sound and see if that doesn't take us homeward bound. No matter what, there's no room left anymore for bull-- unless it's the return of a bull market for picture books. Toro, toro!

Notes:

Titles selected based on this list compiled by Betsy Bird.

Word counts obtained from this website.

By the way, there's an amazing dearth of picture books with word counts in the 500s and 1000s. Who knew?

Oh, and if anyone sees dear ol' Ted driving from Springfield, Mass., to La Jolla, CA, could you please tell him that I left my sunglasses in his car? I'm blinded without ~~him~~ them.

ANIMAL HOUSE Green Art Activity at Santa Monica Public Library

2011-02-21T23:09:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all the hard work of ultra-organized Children's Librarian Christa Muscatine, the Santa Monica Public Library's Creative Kids' Club was a smashing success on February 16th!

Lots of wonderful folks donated "green" art materials so that kids could create their very own "furnimals" based on the ones in Animal House. Some extra-creative kids even dreamed up their own.

A pair of snailboxes.

A hampster and a refrigergator.

A hampster.

One cute furnimal!

Elepants before a trunk extension.

A toucan of soda complete with straw.

A cowch and a refrigergator.

A dragon + drum = dragum (imaginative kid creation)

A catstle (imaginative kid creation).

A salt snaker (imaginative kid creation).

A catstle (imaginative kid creation).

A caterpillow (imaginative kid creation).

A trio of critters, including a hampster in the center with an articulating mouth.

A kangaroom.

A hampster and unfinished sculpture. "Do I have to go home now?"

I Love L.A.!

2011-02-21T21:50:00.001-08:00

This was a two-minute drive from my house yesterday. God, I love L.A.! (Those are the San Gabriel Mountains, by the way).

Happy Birthday, RIBBIT RABBIT!

2011-02-01T23:51:00.000-08:00

One salmon onigiri and Ramune coming up! Only the best for my book... (thanks Suehiro and Little Tokyo:-)

We communed with cormorants much of the day. Who knew they were such fans of kidlit? Yes, happy times on the L.A. River in the Year of the Rabbit!

Green Art Activity: ANIMAL HOUSE Furnimals from Reusable Materials

2010-11-27T19:40:00.001-08:00

Are you in a school, a library, or even at home? Are you eager to make your very own "furnimals" based on Nathan Hale's amazing Animal House illustrations? Then look no further than your nearest recycling bin or trash can.

Chances are that you have everything you need to turn the above pile of reusable materials into...

...these adorable and loving literary companions.

The toucan of soda, cowch, and refrigergator were made by 3-5 year olds in Victoria Howard's incredible "Art & Stories" class at Barnsdall Junior Art Center last winter.

Mix a Pringles-like container with some stray buttons, construction paper scraps, and a piece of cardboard, and presto-change-o........you get a toucan of soda.

Shake together some loose buttons, a sheet of styrofoam, an empty soap bar-like box, felt scraps, construction paper pieces, and four corks to get a ....................... brand new cowch!

Don't forget to add the udder underneath. You need some way to be able to milk your cowch.

Gently toss some cute buttons, an Altoids-like metal container, a couple of corks, scrap pieces of felt, and left-over construction paper to get a handy-dandy new..................refrigergator.

Don't forget to stock your new refrigergator with yummy "food" buttons of all shapes and sizes.

So, the next time you see this (Note the pen-drawn reptilian scales on the empty applesauce-like container. Yes, it does look like a proto-skink)........................

.............try and turn it into this.

And the next time you empty a strawberry basket, can you imagine turning it into a chandeldeer? If so, I'd love to see a picture.

In the L.A. area and excited about creating green art activities for large numbers of kids? Check out Trash for Teaching, reDiscover, and CReATE STUDIO.

ANIMAL HOUSE Celebrates "Neighborhood Toy Store Day"

2010-11-13T22:54:00.000-08:00

This year marks the first annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day on November 13th! The day is organized by ASTRA, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, and will be held on the second Saturday of each November. ASTRA hopes to raise awareness about the advantages of shopping at locally-owned, independent toy stores.

Why does this excite me? Because I love supporting local, independent businesses! The Animal House Experience, my traveling amusement park for "small hands and big minds," is made almost entirely from critters bought at independent toy stores.

The refrigergator, I'm sad to admit, is the one exception. We rescued him from a mega-toy store corporation. He's so much happier now.

Here's an inside peek of the gorvilla, currently the main attraction at The Animal House Experience. Devoted fans will recognize the floormingos and whalepaper.

This beautiful silverback gorilla from Safari Ltd. was adopted from the amazing Dinosaur Farm in South Pasadena. Yes, they don't just carry dinosaur toys!

What do you get when you combine a gorilla with a villa?

A gorvilla, of course!

This Lakeshore giraffe was adopted from the Wear It Once, Wear It Twice children's resale shop in Burbank. They've got some real finds!

What do you get when you combine a giraffe with a roof?

A giroof, of course!

Okay, so the fish pictured above isn't actually a perch, but he was the right size. This sweet lantern fish was adopted from Mrs. Nelson's Toy & Book Shop in LaVerne. I can't seem to leave this store without picking up a toy or two.

What do you get when you combine a back porch with a perch? A back perch!

These critters are freshly adopted from the San Marino Toy & Book Shoppe in San Marino. I love their selection of Japanese erasers, toy instruments, and books!

The beaver comes from Safari Ltd., and the ray comes from Wild Republic. They await transformation into a BeaVo and RayStation, respectively. Of course, they will both need to be stored somewhere....

Enter this raccoon, a Wild Republic critter also adopted from the San Marino Toy & Book Shoppe. He will soon become a media storage rackoon, and he couldn't be more excited.

Photos to come...

In the meantime, run out to your neighborhood toy store and indulge your imagination! By the way, if you happen to find a semi-realistic looking plastic or resin snail, please let me know. The Animal House Experience is in desperate need of a fully operational snailbox. Thanks!

ETA: Oh, in case any of you were wondering who the master craftsman is behind The Animal House Experience, that would be my lovely hubby. Yes, he's more proud than exasperated whenever he declares, "Her inspiration is my perspiration." Gotta love him.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #21 Celebrate a Holiday

2010-09-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

The Westchester-Loyola Village Branch of the L.A. Public Library held a festive Chinese New Year celebration this year, complete with red lanterns, yummy treats, story time, and art activities.
Beware of "The Dragon in Moo Boots."
The Camarillo Library got into the spirit of the new year with a traditional Chinese lion dance.

What holidays have you celebrated at your local public library?

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #20 Explore a Different Language

2010-09-20T23:04:00.000-07:00

With a library card, you can explore an unfamiliar language online, in a newspaper, in reference materials, in a book, on a CD, or in a DVD.

Want to take your passion for Mexican wrestling to a whole new level? Read all about Lucha Libre in Spanish and see how there can never be too mucha lucha.

Interested in the books above? They can be checked out from the Hollywood Regional Branch of the L.A. Public Library.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #19 Play with Toys

2010-09-20T21:12:00.000-07:00

Books and toys!!? It just doesn't get any better than that. Ask this patron at the new La Crescenta Library. (P.S. I want a Hungry Caterpillar rug of my own!)

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #18 Promote Literacy

2010-09-18T23:28:00.001-07:00

Take part in a literacy promotion event at your local public library. This young reader/yoga practitioner participated in the October 8, 2009, "Read for the Record" event at the Eagle Rock Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.

In the above photo, he poses for Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar line, "In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf."

The 2010 "Read for the Record" event on October 7th will feature Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #17 Play a Game

2010-09-18T21:10:00.000-07:00

The most exciting libraries go beyond bringing people together with books, they bring people together with people. Here's one way libraries make that happen-- National Gaming Day @ Your Library.

This year, National Gaming Day will be held on November 13th and promises to be" the largest, simultaneous national video game tournament ever held!" Wow, now that's some build-up. You gamers better get your thumbs ready.

Interested more in board games than video games? There will be plenty of the former variety offered on National Gaming Day, as well-- like this version of "Seuss Bingo" played at the La Pintoresca Branch of the Pasadena Public Library.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #16 Attend a Birthday Party

2010-09-18T20:51:00.000-07:00

Is it the first week of March, and you've got nothing to do? Search the calendars of surrounding local libraries and you're bound to find one of them celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The above super-cool party was thrown by the La Pintoresca Branch of the Pasadena Public Library.

Although the beloved "Good Doctor" was born on March 2nd, libraries celebrate his birthday throughout early March.

Can't get enough of the amazing Dr. Seuss? Try celebrating his birthday Seuss-athon style. Click here to see what I mean.

Has anyone attended a library birthday party for a different kidlit author? Drop a comment.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #15 Share a Bonding Moment

2010-09-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

Bond over a book at your local library. Take your child, nephew, neighbor, tailor, barber, date, mechanic, grand-niece, cousin, or favorite juggler and check out an exciting book together. Happy adventures!

The dragon-adventure above began at the Hastings Ranch Branch of the Pasadena Public Library and continues to this day...

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #14 Sit Down with a Rare Book and James Joyce

2010-09-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

At the #42 position on the ALA's "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" list is: "Check out a special collection of rare books."

I got cozy with this edition of James Joyce's The Cat and the Devil at the Los Angeles Central Library. I had to get cozy with it there because I couldn't take it home (and it had nothing to do with the $0.15 late fee on my account).

That's part of the definition of a rare book-- one you can peruse at the library but cannot check-out.

You can read more about my visit with Mr. Joyce and his contribution to kidlit by clicking here.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #13 Internet Literacy

2010-09-14T23:57:00.000-07:00

"Find out how to navigate the Internet," is #11 on the ALA's list, "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card." This young library patron surfs the Net at the Montrose Branch of the Glendale Public Library.

Note the "pirate flag" mouse pad. Rumor has it that it also doubles as a treasure map. Where can all the treasure be found? At your local public library, of course!

"52 Ways to Use a Library Card" Challenge: #12 Curl Up with a Book

2010-09-12T15:29:00.001-07:00

"Find a quiet spot, curl up with a book and enjoy."

Yes, this is the obvious one, #51 on the ALA's "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" list. This photo was taken at the Pasadena Public Library's Hastings Ranch Branch.

The young lion tamer takes a reading break on a couch designed as an open book. The armrests are the spines of closed books. These cool couches can be found in libraries throughout the San Gabriel Valley of L.A. County. Give a shout-out if your library owns some, too!

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #11 Enjoy a Concert

2010-09-11T23:57:00.000-07:00

"Enjoy a concert" is #40 on the ALA's list of "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card."

Appearing in the photo above is the UCLA Gluck String Quartet (yes, there should be umlauts above the "u" in "Gluck," but I'll be darned if I can make it happen).

They played at the Echo Park Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library this past March. From Mozart to Irish folk tunes, the "Music and Munchies" concert was a special treat for the ears and tummy.

Heard any great music lately at your local public library?

Random Acts of Publicity: Shout-Out to Merrily Kutner's Z IS FOR ZOMBIE

2010-09-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

As part of Darcy Pattison's Random Acts of Publicity Week, I'm giving a well-deserved shout-out to friend Merrily Kutner's picture book Z Is for Zombie, illustrated by John Manders.

Selected as a "Read On Wisconsin!" book by that state's First Lady, Jessica Doyle, Z Is for Zombie will be read and discussed by elementary school students across Wisconsin during the month of October. Also, the book has recently been reissued in paperback by publisher Albert Whitman. Just in time for Halloween!

Light a spooky Halloween candle for Z Is for Zombie during the upcoming Banned Books Week. Back in 2002, the book was challenged in a library in Oregon for having "graphic illustrations inappropriate for young children." Fortunately, the book was retained and the freedom to read prevailed. (And now you're all going to have to get your hands on a copy to see what all the fuss was about!)

For more villainous verse sure to turn any reluctant reader into a bookworm, check out Merrily's The Zombie Nite Cafe, illustrated by Ethan Long. Looking for something a little less spooky? Try Merrily's "fuzzy bunny" book (as she calls it), Down on the Farm, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand.

Love picture books and want to learn how to write your own? Merrily is teaching an online course through UCLA Extension this fall. You can take it from anywhere in the world. Click here for more info.

Random Acts of Publicity: Book Review of Diane Browning's SIGNED, ABIAH ROSE

2010-09-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

As part of Darcy Pattison's Random Acts of Publicity week, I'm spotlighting a friend's book, Signed, Abiah Rose. You can read more about my friend, author/illustrator Diane Browning, by clicking here.

Abiah speaks to anyone who's ever had to struggle to claim part of their identity.

Despite prevailing attitudes towards women in the 18th and 19th centuries, Abiah Rose perseveres in her conviction that art exists above any category that society can impose on it. With rich, folk art-inspired illustrations, author/illustrator Diane Browning crafts a fictional account of the likely history of many anonymous female artists from early America.

Conforming to social norms of the day, members of Abiah's family dissuade her from signing her own work. "Best not, Abiah Rose," they would tell her, "Serious painting is not girl's work." Instead, Abiah signs all of her work secretly, with a hidden rose on each canvas.

Guided only by her passion for painting, Abiah does everything she can within the constraints of her society to nuture her artist's spirit and take charge of her creative life. With sheer determination, Abiah sets a course for her life's path. The destination is the day she can write the following words, "Signed, Abiah Rose," upon the work of her own hands.

Whether or not Abiah, or others like her, ever arrived at that place of acceptance remains unknown. The fact does remain, however, that they helped make it easier for the rest of us to do so.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #10 Hire Mr. Plumbean to Do an Extreme Home-Makeover

2010-09-09T21:25:00.000-07:00

Taking the #13 spot on the ALA's "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" list is: "Get new ideas for redecorating your house." With the combined forces of your library card and the imagination of Daniel Pinkwater, you could do wonders for your home.

Look no further than the picture book The Big Orange Splot. Inside is a wealth of home decorating ideas, all executed by design guru Mr. Plumbean (with a little assistance from a mysterious, paint-can-carrying seagull).

Incorporate some of these Plumbean design elements, and you can't go wrong:

*big orange splot
*little orange splots
*stripes
*elephants and lions
*pretty girls and steam shovels
*clock tower
*palm trees, baobabs, thorn bushes, onions, and frangipani
*hammock
*alligator
*nice, tall glass of cool lemonade

And this is just for your home's exterior! I hold out hope that Mr. Plumbean will invite us all inside his amazing home someday-- Inside the Big Orange Splot, if you will.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #9 Tailless Monkeys and Online Databases

2010-09-08T01:20:00.000-07:00

It happens to all of us. You wake up in the middle of the night with a keen urgency to research "tailless monkeys." You can't get back to sleep until you discover whether or not tailless monkeys ever inspired restaurateurs to open "South Sea" styled nite clubs in Los Angeles during the 1940's.

Well, Zamboanga!! You're in amazing luck if you follow through with #47, "Learn how to use a database or computerized catalog" on the ALA's "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" list.

It just so happens that the library in my own backyard, L.A.P.L., carries a "Menu Collection" database online. Whew, no more insomnia! I can follow the trail of tailless monkeys 'til the cows come home, all with my handy-dandy library card.

Characters for my next picture book? Hmmmm........

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #8 Create a Passport to F(read)om

2010-09-06T18:22:00.001-07:00

This is my "Robot with a Rocket" Passport to FREADOM. Without my library card, it would just be sci-fi eye candy, another cute notepad.

With my library card, it becomes an inter-galactic governmental document, allowing me passage to all corners (and curves) of the universe.

Most of my stamps come from the stellar outposts of Los Angeles Public Library branches.

But, wait, there's more......a passport to FREADOM is free! It just takes a single library card (robot is optional, but extremely cool).

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #7 Miniature Golf Ball Marker

2010-09-05T22:31:00.000-07:00

I neglected to mention in the previous post, that when you're biking home from the library, you can make a scheduled stop at your local miniature golf/Mongolian grill hang-out.

In the northern steppes of Los Angeles, for example, you can meet-up with your own Golden Horde at Golf 'n Grill. Bein' the library lovin' folk that you are, you'll definitely want to drop down your library card as a ball marker.

Even the koi in the nearby pond will stand up and take notice, especially if they see flashy colors. If there's a lot of red, a hummingbird might even dive down for a look.

On the outside chance there's a Genghis-spotting, just concede that he has the cooler library card. It's kind of a miniature-golf/Mongolian-grill-etiquette thing. Plus, he's known for being a bit ill-tempered at times. You can ask the 13th century Chinese about that one.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #6 Become a Spoke 'n Word Advocate (Use As a Spoke Card)

2010-09-05T17:47:00.001-07:00

Painstaking research by library card scientists has revealed that library cards secretly covet the lifestyle of another kind of card -- the spoke card.

Now it's not that library cards don't want to be library cards anymore, it's just that they wouldn't mind getting out on the open road now and then with the wind whipping against their barcodes and the smell of bike grease in, well, whatever it is they breathe through.

So, wedge your library card (or probably a color-photocopied and laminated version) between your spokes, and turn your velo-ride into a bikebrary (or biciloteca for the Spanish-speaking among you). Added bonus: your velocity will help create Velo City, and the Earth will thank you for it.

*No library cards were harmed in the staging of this photograph. The cards appearing are two Los Angeles Public Library cards and one Glendale Public Library card. And yes, they all get along famously together.

**Blog post author is not advocating that you should stick a library-card spoke card on your bike and enter an alleycat race a la fixed gear/bike messenger folk. Blog post author is advocating that you stick that special spoke card on your bike and head to the nearest library to research the history of library cards and bicycles.

ETA: Too funny! I came across this event hours after publishing this post. "The Library Bike Ride," hosted by the Bicycle Kitchen, will take riders past several libraries en route to the West Hollywood Book Fair on September 26th.

Too bad I'll be getting ready to jump on-stage at the very same book fair when the ride is underway. Get this-- they're even gonna have limited edition spoke cards available! I've gotta try and get my hands on one of those.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #5 Make a Book Do the Walking (Use Inter-Library Loan)

2010-09-05T01:50:00.000-07:00

Those of you in "the know" recognize my #5 as the ALA's #35 -- "Get a book from interlibrary loan." Truly, I feel like a wizard when I whip out my library card and command books from all over Los Angeles to march their leafen legs to my local L.A.P.L. branch.

Both of these books came from beach-area branches to take a two-week vacation with me up in the mountains. They came in smelling like salt air, and they'll go back smelling like dusty trails. If they're good, they might even get to stay longer. Ah, the power of renewal.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #4 Make a Fashion Statement

2010-09-03T00:07:00.001-07:00

We may never be as fashion-forward as this hip teen. Witness the library key-card dangling from his left ear (by a paper clip, no less). And to give it that extra zing of coolness, it's a highly-sought after L.A.P.L. piece. He's got bookshelf cred to spare.

Still, I'm sure you all could style your very own biblio bling. There's just one thing you need to do it-- a library card. Get to it!

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #3 Eat Something Adorably Yummy

2010-09-02T03:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think books are just an excuse for librarians to throw parties....and, boy, can they throw 'em. Just ask this young patron and her owly friend at the Los Feliz Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.

By the way, just for the record, I could never eat something that cute. But nothing's stopping you! Seek out Party Central, otherwise known as your local public library, and find something equally cute to devour. Bon Appetit!

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #2 Change the Color of Your Hands (Make Art)

2010-09-02T03:08:00.000-07:00

Tired of your current hand color? Want to impress the King of Color, Roy G. Biv? Make art at your local library and watch your hands glow as they try on the latest in chromatic couture.

This young patron did just that at the Los Angeles Public Library's Los Feliz Branch. His butteraffe approves.

"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #1 Photo-Collect a Quote

2010-09-02T00:44:00.000-07:00

This popular Groucho Marx quote greets patrons at the adult reading room of the Los Angeles Public Library's Mid-Valley Regional Branch in Northridge.

A Kafka quote spans the wall above the entrance to the children's reading room. I think it's for those kids who can't get enough bug-based literature. You know the ones I'm talking about. They shelve Kafka's Metamorphosis next to Eric Carle's The Grouchy Ladybug.....they'll slap their library cards down for anything with six legs.

Get Carded! September is Library Card Sign-up Month/ "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge

2010-09-01T23:52:00.000-07:00

The American Library Association has a list titled "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card." Click here for a looksie.

Why not have some fun during "Library Card Sign-up Month" and see how many of the 52 challenges you can meet in 30 days?

Of course, feel free to make substitutions or amendments to the list to make it all your own. And, yes, feel free to cheat. You can count those three things you did in August with your library card, or those five fabulously fun things from February.

The point is to celebrate all the amazing things that can be done with a library card. If you're not (or that cool kid in you life isn't) already carded, then get to it!

Feel free to leave word of how you're doing with the "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge.

And Now Introducing RIBBIT RABBIT...(Hopping Into Bookstores 2/1/2011)

2010-08-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

Jacket art copyright Mike Lowery

Didn't illustrator Mike Lowery knock it out of the park on the cuteness factor?

Here's a teaser from the back cover:

"Frog and Bunny are best friends.
Ribbit Rabbit. Rabbit Ribbit.

But what happens when they get in a fight?
Ribbit Rabbit. Yip it, yap it.

You'll have to read the book to find out!
Ribbit Rabbit. Grip it, grab it."

Dr. Seuss and Maurice Ravel: A Convergence of Crescendos

2010-08-28T23:04:00.000-07:00

Dr. Seuss's first picture book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, showcases the visual imagination of Marco, the story's protagonist. What follows is a consideration of what Marco might have experienced had he indulged his aural imagination to the same extent.

What if the brass band on Mulberry Street had played Maurice Ravel's Bolero?

The entirety of this conjecture is based on an apparent convergence of forms in Dr. Seuss's Mulberry Street and Ravel's Bolero. Apropos of much, it all begins with rhythm.

Many of us in the kidlit community are familiar with the apocryphal-seeming, but true, story of Ted Geisel writing And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street to the chug of a ship's engine. In poetic lingo, Dr. Seuss interprets this seafaring sonic experience into a predominantly anapestic meter when crafting Marco's fantastic imaginings.

In the case of Ravel, he begins with the rhythm of the bolero, a Spanish dance form. From it, he spins a fifteen-minute long crescendo, sustained only by a masterful orchestration and the use of dynamics. The entire piece is anchored by the relentless rhythm of a basso ostinato, Ravel's equivalent of a chugging ship engine.

Interestingly enough, NPR music commentator Miles Hoffman notes in "Bolero's Industrious Nature" that, "Ravel said the pulsing, rhythmic composition was inspired by one of the factories he had visited with his father, who was an engineer."

Whether the inspiration springs from the mechanical music of a ship's engine, or that of an industrial factory, these two works rely on repetitive rhythmic structures as a foundation for their respective fireworks shows.

Formally, Mulberry Street can be seen as a visual crescendo. What Marco actually sees, a dull horse and cart, is transformed time and again into increasingly more exciting possibilities. From a zebra to a charioteer, to a reindeer, a sleigh, an elephant, a rajah, and so on, the images become "louder" and "louder," climaxing into a visual cacophony only Seuss could create.

In Dr. Seuss: An American Icon, kidlit scholar Philip Nel has this to say about the rhythm of Seuss's verse, "It aids in building up suspense, amplifying the outrageousness of the tall tale as it grows taller and taller."

And here's what composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein had to say about Ravel's Bolero on a Young People's Concert episode:

"It's just one long tune repeated over and over, with the orchestration changing on each repeat, gradually getting bigger and louder and richer, adding to itself, growing and growing until it finally ends in the biggest orchestral scream you ever heard."

When comparing Mulberry Street and Bolero in the most basic formal terms, both would appear to begin as whispers and end as roars. In works like these, tension and excitement are created by "amplifying the outrageousness." And before these works conclude, in the words of Leonard Bernstein again, "...you'll have heard all kinds of strange sounds, colors and combinations."

Bolero's "strange sounds" include, among others, a French horn, celesta, two piccolos, and a flute playing together to create a completely new instrumental timbre. Indeed, Ravel's innovative orchestration and his command of tonal color shine through as the crowning achievements of Bolero.

Mulberry Street's "strange sounds" are its strange sights, culminating in a virtual circus-parade block party, complete with confetti and police retinue.

Seuss colored word and image with the same genius that Ravel colored sound. In Mulberry Street and Bolero, the literal rhythms can be tapped, if not the metaphoric ones topped. In the modified words of Marco, "And that is a rhythm that no one can beat, and to think that I heard it on Mulberry Street."

Happy Birthday to My First Picture Book, ANIMAL HOUSE!!!!

2010-07-20T01:49:00.000-07:00

What more can I say? I'm speechless................

Please join the Animal House wordplay antics going on right now at illustrator Nathan Hale's blog.

Visit the "My Books" page on my website to get your very own copy and to read reviews of the book. I'd especially love and appreciate your efforts to support independent bookstores when you support me. Thanks!!

Plus, you can have a chance at winning an autographed copy of Animal House on Goodreads by clicking here. The giveaway will run through the month of August. Good luck!!

Monsters and Miracles Family Day at the Skirball Part 3: Gerald McDermott

2010-07-19T23:33:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Gerald McDermott is a rock star? Well, not technically, but more on that later...

Caldecott Award-winning author/illustrator Gerald McDermott shows the crowd what his early artistic attempts looked like, when he tried to draw things as he saw them. Such early efforts did not impress the young Gerald.

One day, he decided to try and draw things as he felt them. The above image demonstrates how Gerald learned to express a subject's energy and not just its form. Such results were far more pleasing to the young Gerald.

Mentored by Joseph Campbell, Gerald McDermott is widely-acclaimed for exploring myth and folklore in his children's books. Here, he shares a spirited reading of Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest.Musician Aaron Nigel Smith joins Gerald for a grand finale rhythmic reading of Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa. And now Gerald rocks on!

"Monsters and Miracles" Family Day at the Skirball Part 2: Tao Nyeu and Erica Silverman

2010-05-18T23:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday at the Skirball was jam-packed with family fun as L.A. celebrated some of its local children's authors and illustrators.

Tao Nyeu presented Bunny Days and her widely-acclaimed debut, Wonder Bear. The latter book sent my son into a "playing-with-magical-hats" phase last year. Of course, I was more than happy to indulge him.

(Come to think of it, I bet Rene Magritte had a relationship with his hat akin to the one the boy and the bear have in Wonder Bear. Speaking of hats, I love Eric's collection in the film Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Am I digressing enough?)

Here's an avid magical hat collector after returning from a personal intermission, trying in vain to catch up with Tao.

Here's Erica Silverman, children's book author and librarian extraordinaire, getting audience members with imaginations to raise their hands. Erica went on to assure everyone that as long as you have a brain, you have an imagination.

Why did we all have to summon our imaginations? Because Halloween came in May, as Erica led us through a spirited reading of Big Pumpkin.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!! That ghost's about ready to jump off the page!

Warning: don't read this book unless you're prepared to get cravings for a gigantic slice of pumpkin pie.

From Halloween to horses, Erica lassoed the audience in for selected readings from her endearing Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa series.

Erica recently launched the sixth installment of Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa, Spring Babies, with a fun event at Once Upon a Time Bookstore in Montrose, complete with a real, live pony. Yes, the pony was actually inside the store. Too cool!

Erica wraps up her presentation. And, finally, I must be really smitten with the mohawked boar, seeing as I've given him so much frame space in all my photos. I guess he seemed like the silent partner to my eye.

Another digression: The boar comes from the land of Noah's Ark at the Skirball, another exhibit to definitely check out.

Now I'm over and out...

"Monsters and Miracles" Family Day at the Skirball Part 1: George McClements

2010-05-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

Public Service Announcement: If you're in L.A. and still haven't checked out the "Monsters and Miracles" exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center, do yourself a favor and go.

Today's "Monsters and Miracles" Family Day featured a celebration of local children's book authors and illustrators, including Gerald McDermott, Susan Goldman Rubin, Tao Nyeu, Erica Silverman, George McClements, Zach Shapiro, Alva Sachs, Patricia Krebs, and a musical performance from Aaron Nigel Smith.

I didn't get to see everything, but I'll share several blog posts worth stuff I did catch.

I'm still wondering why George McClements's publisher doesn't add "dinosaur wrangler" to his basic author/illustrator description. Probably because they'd have to pay him more. Well, it certainly doesn't mean that he wouldn't be earning every extra penny of it. Just look at what Milo, his blue dinosaur, puts him through.
I'm pretty sure that George's books come with extra special coatings to protect them from dino slobber.

In this picture, you can practically see the slobber dripping off the pages of Dinosaur Woods. I think some even got on George's hand.

I loved George's message: When you use shapes,

you can draw anything!

Milo gets a lot of "oooohs and aaaahs" from the crowd for his impressive circle. George had a hard time hiding his jealousy.

A Night of the Veggie Monster interlude. Check out them peas. I'm sure it's enough to give many a kid a culinary coronary. Wow!!!!!George drawing Milo.Milo surveying George's work.

Milo thinks he can do it better.

A hardcore contingent of Milo fans in the audience agrees. Poor George musters everything he can to hide the green monster while holding the blue one.

To be continued...

How Rene Magritte Invented the iPad

2010-05-10T23:27:00.000-07:00

Skirball Family Workshop: Art from Discarded Book and Magazine Pages

2010-05-04T23:03:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of fun this year discovering artists who repurpose discarded books, such as Lynn Klopfer of Brown Bag Books, Suzanne Keolker of Mugwump, and Tyler Bender of Tyler Bender Book Co. These artists primarily reuse the covers, which left me wondering about how the pages themselves could be repurposed......until now.

The owl, peacock, and flying bird are amazing papier mache/paper sculptures by artist Kate Burger. My family and I had the chance to participate in a Kate Burger and Milk + Bookies workshop event this past weekend at the Skirball Cultural Center. To my delight, Kate's paper of choice was discarded book and magazine pages.

(By the way, Michael Fritzen, Director of Family Programs at the Skirball, consistently cranks out incredibly creative programming. Check it out if you're in L.A. and have the chance.)

The brown and black tinting on the peacock's wing tips was achieved using spray paint.

The birds' beaks (except for the owl's) were fashioned from Model Magic.

At the workshop, we helped feather a papier mache owl that Kate had prepared ahead of time. This book page has been stenciled with the owl's soon-to-be wing feathers.

Expert owl-maker hard at work.

It takes a village to build an owl.

Every feather just so..........

Here's some fun effects that can result from the use of colored pages. From faces on feathers........

to a man offering grapes (the latter courtesy of my ever-imaginative hubby:).

The expert owl-maker surveys the evolving avian artwork.

Before leaving the workshop, we all had the chance to create bouquets from discarded book and magazine pages. The expert flower-maker invites me to sniff his creation. Ah, the smell of reincarnated books.

How Poets Are Like Astronauts

2010-05-02T23:49:00.000-07:00

This happy astronaut-poet was recently caught smiling on Sunset Boulevard in the Silver Lake neighborhood of L.A. If I would hazard a guess, I'd say it was because he discovered a great pupuseria.

How poets are like astronauts:

--We live among the stars.

--We're in our own orbit.

--We're likely to experience weightlessness on the job.

--We're always in search of the uni-verse that seems just beyond reach.

--A poet would go to an observatory to "observe-a-story," and an astronaut would measure a poem's meter in meters.

This friendly astronaut-poet, part of Micheltorena Street School's Reach! mural designed by Kiki Giet, waves to passerby on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake. She's known to stuff sonnets in her bonnet.

--When riding, astronauts know that planets move onward in elliptical orbits.

--When writing, poets know to plan it (move one word) in elliptical obits.

Ellipse,

Ellipsis,

My lips slipsis...

Onward ho, fellow astronaut-poets!!

The 2010 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Déjà Vu/ Déjà View, or How Dueling Jarrett Krosoczkas Support the Existence of Parallel Universes

2010-05-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

I've been reeling since my recent discovery concerning the nature of the universe. As might be expected, this paradigm-shifting discovery has brought on a bad case of existential crisis mixed with a touch of post-nasal drip.

Previously, many of my afternoons had been spent managing my citrus-colored minions, as they painstakingly built a stylish, Sputnik-like craft designed to seek out and prove the existence of parallel universes. No more. For the humble book festival in my own backyard has changed Everything, with a capital "e."

And here's the man around whom the fabric of space-time tore like a cheap picture book in a toddler's mouth-- Jarrett Krosoczka.

Here's a picture of Jarrett channeling his awesomeness. This doesn't take but a few seconds, by the way, for Mr. K is very extremely awesome (just ask my son, a big Lunch Lady fan).

Nobel prize-winning scientists, with whom I've consulted, believe that it was during this very awesomeness-channeling moment when life as we know it changed forever.

According to extensive data sheets, this change began on 4/25/09 (the date Jarrett Krosoczka first appeared at the L.A. Times Festival of Books) and erupted into total systemic googolotronic breakdown on 4/24/10 (the date of Jarrett's second L.A. Times Festival of Books appearance).

For a brief period between those two points in time, Universe A212 and Universe BN89 existed simultaneously on the same space-time continuum. And, yes, blog readers, I was there to capture every quantum-physics-tickling moment of it.

Universe A212 Jarrett does battle with Universe BN89 Jarrett to see who can draw the better Lunch Lady. Methinks it's a "draw," but I wouldn't want to get between two space-time bending doppelgangers, would you?

Universe BN89 Jarrett points to his face, insisting that he was the first Jarrett to come up with the clever Q-styled "mole communicator" for the Lunch Lady's sidekick/assistant, Betty.

The dueling doppelgangers challenge each other to a "Betty's gadgets" draw-off. I think I have to give it to the Universe A212 Jarrett this time. He got those totally tubular fishstick nunchucks in there.

Now let's follow the Jarretts through a reading of Punk Farm. Universe A212 Jarrett is thoughtful enough to let the other Jarrett go first.

They're going strong.

The battle rages on...

A high pitch frequency pulses through the UCLA campus, signaling the disentangling of Universe A212 from Universe BN89. In the next nano-second, the two Jarretts will be individuated again and free to return to their respective universes. They have finished making history.

And they all lived happily ever after. Feel free to rock on with your bad selves, a la Jarrett.

P.S. Even though there was only one picture book panel at the whole festival (can we change this, folks? While we're at it, how about book prizes for PB, MG, children's poetry, and children's graphic novels?), it was super rad. Hats off to Sonja Bolle for moderating a hilarious discussion with Kadir Nelson, David Shannon, and Pam Munoz Ryan.

Hoppy Easter!

2010-04-04T23:49:00.000-07:00

Mission accomplished: no man or egg left behind! The Easter Bunny consulted with the grandparents on an extra-fun egg hunt/manhunt.

Each soldier had an egg to guard, but they were no match for our fearless special operations "Candy Commando." Witness the photo below. The "Candy Commando" sports blue and green striped shorts (some new faves by designer Paulina Quintana) to camouflage as a striped Easter egg. Those poor eggs couldn't see him comin'!

Special Ops makes preparations in Venice at the cool Tales & Toys free Easter egg dyeing event one week prior to mission launch. (By the way, if this store's amazing elephant logo doesn't pull you in, then the healthy picture book selection sure will!)

A new Eastertime tradition? Intensive egg-dyeing maneuvers call for some special rations. The "Candy Commando" happily marches his nom de guerre over to the Nom Nom Truck. We are all banh mi bunnies! Nom nom for Vietnamese street food!

Librarypalooza! Los Angeles Public Library: Frances Howard Goldwyn-- Hollywood Regional Branch

2010-03-23T23:38:00.000-07:00

Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Frances Howard Goldwyn Hollywood Regional Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library is a monument to the movies and a great place to check out books.

Built with funds from Samuel Goldwyn, Jr., the film producer dedicated the library to the memory of his mother, Frances Howard Goldwyn. What a cool son!

"Here's lookin' at you reading, kid!"

Cleopatra keeps a watchful eye over the children's department.

The area outside the windows of the children's department originally featured a reflecting pool, but it has since been drained by the City of Los Angeles. Oh well...

Children's Librarian Kim Woo provides awesome programming for the neghborhood's kids. Of special note is "Storytime al Fresco," held off-site on Sundays at the Hollywood Farmers' Market. Unfortunately, this program will disappear if city budget cuts kill Sunday hours.

To kick up the movie theme of the Hollywood Regional Branch Library another notch, consider taking a stroll one block away along Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame. You can search out biographies of some of the stars at the library.

We visited on the first day of spring, March 20th, so I had to take a picture of Igor Stravinsky's star. What better rite of spring than honoring the composer of The Rite of Spring (probably best-known as the dinosaur extinction episode in Fantasia)?

Can't get enough of the movie theme? Travel to the library on the Metro Red Line, and exit at Hollywood/Vine. The station is full of "reel" fun film images. When you surface on Hollywood Boulevard, it's a short walk along the Walk of Fame to the library.

L.A.'s palm trees a la Egyptian Revival/Art Deco.

Vibrant art surrounds you in this Metro station!

And that's a wrap!

Inspired and Inspiring Writing Journals

2010-03-19T23:29:00.000-07:00

In the vendor room of a recent children's literature conference, I happened upon Lynn Klopfer's repurposed book business, Brown Bag Books. Taking discarded books and "gutting them like fish," Lynn transforms them into wonderfully humorous, ironic, and whimsical writing journals. (They remind me of the literal "book bags" I've seen at the L.A. Central Library Store, made by Suzanne Keolker of Mugwump.)

I picked up the journal on the far left for my ship-loving hubby, and I grabbed the other two for myself. The Biography of a Buzzard reminded me of my dear ol' dad, and Breaking the Sound Barrier: A Phonics Handbook called to me like a bowler hat to Magritte.

Let's take a closer look. This journal begs me to rewrite the book. Here's one little thing I've written in it so far: "Ahhh," sighed the mannequin, "To be a man again."

I have high hopes that this journal will rocket me to the next quantum level in my quest to BREAK THE SOUND BARRIER!!! Stay tuned...

Greeting the Grunion on Green Day!

2010-03-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

You can't pinch this St. Patrick's Day picture! There's enough green in it to start an environmental movement.

These alligators were hungry for a bedtime story, so their wrangler reads them a yummy tale-- A Fish Out of Water, written by Helen Palmer (first wife and editor of Dr. Seuss) and illustrated by P.D. Eastman. You, too, can visit this special alligator sanctuary at the Harbor City- Harbor Gateway Branch of the L.A.P.L.

This just happened to be the first book the alligator wrangler selected from a basket full of books in the children's room. Not only did it especially captivate his audience, it also helped set the stage for the quintessential spring SoCal Irish tradition of greeting the grunion at Cabrillo Beach.

For those not in "the know," grunion spawn during the spring and summer months by wiggling onto the beaches of southern California during late nights hours, calibrated precisely according to lunar phases and tidal patterns.

They become "fish out of water" for up to twenty minutes to complete their fascinating reproduction cycle.

Check out this cool tattoo I let my son get at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium's "Meet the Grunion" event. Well, it's actually a stamp, but the racy image of spawning fish sure makes it tattoo-worthy.

Here are a couple of excited grunion midwives. Just shake the jar full of grunion eggs vigorously and voila! If you enlarge the photo, you can see teeny-tiny baby grunions swimming above a bed of as-yet unhatched eggs. Grunion eggs must be agitated in order to hatch.

After viewing a Beverly Hillbillies episode titled "Grunion Invasion" at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium's John M. Olguin Auditorium earlier in the evening, I couldn't help but chuckle when these little silver fellers slid up the beach.

This little grunion said that she wished she had feet so that she could wear boots as crazy as mine. I guess I'll take that as a compliment.

By the way, taking along a copy of Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies could be a fun pre-Grunion Run read. After all, it's very likely you might actually see some bats at the beach, considering that grunion love spawning around midnight.

Save the Los Angeles Public Library System!

2010-03-16T23:19:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick's Day seemed to arrive a day early as a few dozen L.A.P.L. supporters donned their favorite green outfits and turned out at the L.A.City Council meeting in Downtown this morning. Wearing green (or blue) to show solidarity with the L.A. Librarians' Guild, many spoke during the public comments section of the need to preserve vital library services for all patrons.

For those of us with an interest in the quality of youth services across the city, we should be especially concerned about the effects of lay-offs on the central and southern regions. The youth services librarians in these areas are among the newest hires in the L.A.P.L. system. If they are let go, their positions will either go unfilled, or adult services librarians would likely replace them. Neither option does these kids justice.

Across the city, kids need to access books, computers, and enriching programs. More hours equal more opportunities. More opportunities equal more of a future.

Please consider joining us at City Hall again next Wednesday, March 24th, at 10:00am to give voice to the importance of protecting our library system. Councilmember Tom LaBonge encouraged us to bring as many people as we can. If you can't make it, Mr. LaBonge also stated that "snail mail" is more effective than email in making an impact. Wear green, or blue, and be prepared for a stimulating time.

The Echo Park "Lady of the Lake" says "No more library cuts!" as L.A. library advocate and children's book author/illustrator Leo Politi watches over her in a detail from a mural in the Edendale Branch Library. After a great day at City Hall, my family and I enjoyed a LACMA-led art class at this supercool branch.

Finally, I ended my "library-loving" day at the Echo Park Branch, where Adult Services Librarian Erica Silverman organized a mesmerizing "Music and Munchies" evening with the UCLA Gluck String Quartet. Bravo!

Please visit the Save the Library website to ensure the preservation of quality programming in our libraries.

Leonardo May Be a Terrible Monster, But He Makes for Great Book/Body Art

2010-03-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

Here's our latest installment of "From Head-to-Tome," featuring Mo Willems's Leonardo, the Terrible Monster. Got some fun photos of kidlit book/body blends? Send them to the Corpus Libris Blog, run by Emily Pullen of Skylight Books.

"Yoga Storytime" at the El Sereno Branch Library

2010-03-09T22:09:00.000-08:00

Shoes off! It's time for "Yoga Storytime!!"

Vivienne Khan, Children's Librarian at the L.A.P.L.'s El Sereno Branch Library, has begun an exciting "Yoga Storytime" program on Tuesday afternoons (twice a month) for 2-5 year olds.

Using a "Storybook Yoga" CD to structure the hour-long session with soothing music and verbal instructions, Vivienne also selects an appropriate picture book to inspire animal-based poses.

Warming-up.

Vivienne reads from Denise Fleming's Barnyard Banter. I love over-sized picture books, so that everyone can see!

As the story is read, children listen to the sounds made by different barnyard animals. When the story ends, children do poses of some of the characters in the story, including the mouse, cat, cow, frog, donkey, chicken, and pigeon.

Vivienne and another library employee demonstrate a familiar asana to yoga practitioners, the child's pose. In the context of "Storytime Yoga" and Barnyard Banter, however, it becomes known as the "mouse pose." Adapting yoga for use with children and books can be as simple as renaming a pose.

Here is the "donkey pose," before the right leg is extended backwards into a "kick."

Working on the "donkey pose."

Demonstrating part of the "pigeon pose." This one could work for any number of Mo Willems's books;)

More of the "pigeon pose."

Interested in experiencing some "Storytime Yoga" for yourself and your little ones? Check the El Sereno link above for times and more information. Don't forget stretchy clothes. A towel or mat is also suggested, along with a bottle of water.

****Warning, political message for Angelenos follows: If you think programs like this are cool and worth supporting, please consider making your voice heard and contacting your L.A. City Councilmembers. It's programs like these that are threatened by the current budget-cutting proposals. Contact Save The Library for more information on what you can do to help.

REDCAT International Children's Film Festival

2010-03-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Great and small at Disney Hall.

I fed my brain today at the REDCAT International Children's Film Festival held at the Roy and Edna Disney Calarts Theater at Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

Sometimes, it's great to put a book or pen down and soak up words and images through other media. In its fifth year, the 2010 Festival featured five days of cool kiddie films. There were even cushions for those inclined to recline on the floor at the front of the theater.

Today's screenings included Latvian puppet animation and "inventive international animation." My brain left full and happy. It's all fuel for the imagination.

And now, may I present to you, a cast of very cool characters:

Hip cat, hep cat, here comes REDCAT!

Meow!!

Our favorite fire engine with legs...

"Art Stories & Pictures" at the Barnsdall Park Junior Art Center

2010-03-05T20:39:00.000-08:00

Barnsdall Park Junior Art Center's "Art Stories & Pictures" class, taught by art instructor Victoria Howard, has just finished an exciting six weeks together. In this class, designed for 3-5 year olds and their parents, picture books spring to life.

In the above photo, a very familiar Power Ranger constructs his own "Happy Tree," inspired by the gorgeous beech in When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang.

Victoria encouraged students to decorate their trees with objects that would bring them happiness, especially useful for those difficult, dark days that can pop-up out of nowhere.

Crockett Johnson's classic, Harold and the Purple Crayon, formed the framework for an amazing art activity, "Crayon Room Drawings."

Classroom surfaces were covered with blank white paper, until students transformed them with the help of purple crayons and their own imaginations.

Victoria Howard looks on as a student makes busy with her own purple crayon.

As imaginative as Harold's imagination.

Notice the train tracks on the floor. Harold would be proud.

On the last day of class, Victoria Howard prepares a watercolor painting activity in connection with a reading of Eric Carle's The Very Busy Spider.

Victoria's enthusiasm, passion, and upbeat attitude are infectious.

Victoria and a student discuss The Very Busy Spider.

A student checks Eric Carle's pig illustration for reference.

Voila! A very busy art student creates "a very busy spider."

Over the six-week period, we read and made art projects based on seven books, including Animal House! I will share those incredible "animal house" characters in a future post.

In the meantime, have some fun coming up with ideas for creating picture book-inspired art projects of your own!

More on our amazing art instructor: Victoria Howard also oversees the "Living Arts at Barnsdall Park" program, which offers free, high-quality art instruction to children and adults with disabilities. To learn more about this and other art instruction opportunities, contact her at: vqharts at att dot net.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

2010-03-02T23:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! L.A.P.L. librarians Karla Valdez and Erica Silverman organized a fabulous Read Across America event at the Echo Park Branch Library today in honor of the "Good Doctor's" birthday.

Refer to the above photo for the names of volunteer author readers in attendance. An amazing crowd of kids turned out for the two-hour "Dr. Seuss Day" read-a-thon.

Author Ann Whitford Paul reads the book Little Monkey Says Goodnight, inspired by one of her sons.

Ann engages the audience. "Little monkey says goodnight!"

L.A.P.L. librarians Karla Valdez and Erica Silverman make sure everyone can see the pictures with extra copies of Little Monkey Says Goodnight.

L.A.P.L. librarian and author Erica Silverman reads her picture book, Big Pumpkin.

It takes a lot of strength to move the biggest pumpkin the witch has ever grown. Who will help her move it, so that she can make her yummy pumpkin pie?

I had a blast reading Jan Thomas's Can You Make a Scary Face?, even though I suffered a major shoe malfunction doing the chicken dance. More on that later, or maybe not (If anyone knows an excellent cobbler, send word my way:).

Librarypalooza: Happy Birthday to the James S. Thalman Chino Hills Branch Library!

2010-02-28T20:40:00.000-08:00

Walking inadvertently into a library on its first birthday ranks high on the Registry of Auspicious Biblio Events (especially when it's your first visit ever to that library). Check out the cool birthday display that greets patrons as they enter. Go picture books!

I racked up my "library good fortune" points today after visiting the James S. Thalman Chino Hills Branch Library. Part of the San Bernardino County Library system, the Chino Hills Branch contains a fun children's room with a theme that could be described as "animals around the world." Assorted animals parade around a globe positioned above computer stations in the photo below.

Natural light floods the children's room through its many windows, some of which feature decorative etched glass and photo-realistic animal decals. This chimpanzee was very nice and well-behaved when I visited. He's hoping to get his own library card soon.

Ahh, to be a kid again and rock, roll, and recline in those amazing purple chairs. Of course, it takes two for best effect!

There are no shortage of meerkats in this library, which is a good thing. Every library needs at least three (they're great for finding mis-shelved books).

I'm sure this little guy knows the Huntington Beach Public Library meerkats, or at least he can meet them at this post over here. Come to think of it, if I fail at making a living writing books, I could always become a Library Meerkat Match-Maker. What a relief!

The Chino Hills Branch Library has lots of programming. Some activities include "Itsy Bitsy Baby," "Toddler Boot Camp," "Talewaggers," "Homework Helpers," "Story & Craft Time," "Movie Night," and "Mommy & Me Yoga."

What better way to end a visit to the library than a stroll along a burbling waterfall? Get a kid to this library today!

How to Spell "SCIESZKA"

2010-01-03T23:43:00.001-08:00

Whew, it's taken months of laborious work (enough to keep me away from this blog and my family), but I think I finally figured out how to spell "Scieszka," as in Jon (or is it "John?").

Anyway, I came up with what has proven in early trials to be a promising mnemonic for spelling our outgoing Ambassador's name. Please bear with me while I work out the kinks:

1. You start with the word "science," as in the great Scieszkan Science Verse (sure to convert the science averse, by the way). Both words share the same initial four letters. Stop after #4:

S-C-I-E

2. Okay, next comes ska music, because it has to, right? So we get: S-C-I-E-S-K-A

3. Wait, not so fast. We still have that pesky "Z" to deal with, something that might be known as a "free radical" if we follow the science metaphor. That crazy, zany "Z" interrupts the rocksteady beat of S-K-A music by wedging itself between the "S" and "K." Thus, we get:

S-C-I-E-S-Z-K-A

4. Voila! Now spelling "Scieszka" is a piece of cake, right? As you may have guessed, I've returned to the deep recesses of my linguistic laboratory, trying to decipher the actual pronunciation of "Scieszka." I've made some major breakthroughs and expect to reemerge in the winter of 2012 with exciting results.

In the meantime, here's a partial SCIESZKA acrostic (with sincere apologies to those who know their trocheedactyl from their pteradactyl):

HOW TO SPELL "SCIESZKA"

It starts with an "S,"

A nod to the Stinky Cheese Man.

And follows with a "C,"

'Cuz only Scieszka can--

Can masterfully pull an "I,"

Which stands for irreverently wry,

Proceeded by "E," woops, excuse me,

(Interrupting this poem to say that Jon helps all Guys Read).

In case you missed it once, there's a second helping of "S,"

And now it's all too easy to say that Jon's the ________ .

Instead of that, I have a question.

What the heck is "Z" doing there?

Whenever people try to spell,

It ends up everywhere.

Oh, "K," I haven't forgotten

That you're the penultimate letter,

Who stands before "A" of "Ambassador, hey,

No one could have done it better!"

Many thanks to Mr. Jon ~~Sciezka~~ Scieszka, our esteemed inaugural Children's Literature Ambassador, for representin'!

Read more Scieszka appreciations at A Year of Reading blog by clicking here.

Jacqui Robbins's TWO OF A KIND Book Release Alert (Imagine You Saw This on 6/7/09)

2009-06-09T12:39:00.001-07:00

It's Buy Indie Day!

2009-05-01T13:27:00.000-07:00

What did you buy?

The World As It Is...the World As I See It

2009-04-11T21:34:00.001-07:00

The real travesty of the world today is that giant roadside clowns aren't peddling the best drug around-- the imagination.

Speaking of the circus and books, has anyone taken a look at Bruno Munari's The Circus in the Mist? Wow, what book design genius!

Book a Trip: La Tierra de la Culebra Art Park Is Where the Wild Things Art

2009-04-09T12:19:00.000-07:00

Nestled in the hills of Highland Park in Northeast Los Angeles is the funky, bohemian La Tierra de la Culebra Art Park, otherwise known as the Land of the Serpent.

My son and I visited recently and realized a strange parallel between our experiences and Max's from Maurice Sendak's kidlit classic, Where the Wild Things Are. With sincere apologies to that book's creator, here's a super-abbreviated and paraphrased account of our day among serpents:

Max made mischief.

"I'LL EAT YOU UP!" he said.

That night a forest grew in Max's bedroom.

When Max got to the place of the wild things, they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth...

Max tamed the wild things with a magic trick of staring into their eyes...

Max, the king of all wild things, cried, "Let the wild rumpus start!"

Soon, Max grew lonely and wanted to be where he was loved best of all...

He traveled in and out of weeks and through a day...

And when he got home, his comfy chair was waiting for him, along with his supper-- and it was still hot.

Okay, so there was no comfy chair waiting for Max, but it's supposed to be symbolic of the comforts of a parent's love, blah, blah, blah. Also, I just thought the chair in the park was so cool that it had to be included.

If you "book" a trip to the Land of the Serpent, let us know which book you take along to read, or which book best reflects your experiences there.

"Booking" a trip elsewhere? Let us know about it.

Submit Photos of Your Child's Bookshelf to the PaperTigers Blog

2009-04-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

I'm a sucker for fun-lovin' bookshelves. Remember my son's "On Beyond Zebra" bookshelf? I just sent a photo of it covered in books to a cool contest, "Around the World in a Hundred Bookshelves," being sponsored by the PaperTigers Blog.

Click here for more info about the contest and to see kids' bookshelves from around the world.

Hungering for more amazing bookshelves? Check out this blog, totally devoted to the art of the bookshelf. Some of the bookshelves here are so amazingly beautiful that it would be a shame to clutter them up with books.

Librarypalooza! Los Angeles Public Library: Cypress Park Branch

2009-04-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

"Great Books Are the Golden Keys to the Palace of Wisdom" is the title of the mural that decorates the Children's Room at the Cypress Park Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.

Don't worry if the big apple falls on your head. It'll probably just lead to another revolution in physics. The mural also includes a vision chart in Hebrew and the entire alphabet of ASL hand signs.

The Cypress Park Branch contains a large number of books in Spanish. This ninja-in-training takes a break from La Historia de Spider-Man to search for ninja secrets in Owen's Marshmellow Chick by Kevin Henkes. You'd be surprised how many secrets are buried deep within the "Way of the Marshmellow."

The pride of the library's community room is a large mural that celebrates the adjacent L.A. River and honors the life work of César Chávez as a farm labor advocate. Why not plan a class field trip here to learn more about his life?

Currently, the Cypress Park Branch features pre-school storytime and LACMA art classes for kids. Check it out!

Celebrate Poetry Month with 30 Poets/30 Days

2009-04-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

I'm sending you on a field trip to this place, otherwise known as the 30 Poets/30 Days Poetry Month blog event at the GottaBook blog. Unlike art at the museum, these poems you can touch. Have at it!

Fuse #8 Inspired "Top Ten Favorite Picture Books of All Time"

2009-03-31T12:42:00.000-07:00

This is my all-time favorite picture book list as of March 31, 2009. It was different yesterday, and it will be different tomorrow. As I change, so does it.

I tried to choose books that I have lived with for some time, but not all books behaved themselves (thank goodness) and listened to my futile attempts to impose order on them.

Maybe in a few years my list will contain books by Mo Willems, Laura Vaccaro Seeger, Adam Rex, Emily Gravett, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Mini Grey, and so many other contemporary talents.

Disclaimer: Only one of the books on the list did I fall in love with as a child (i.e. under age 8), but it wasn't because of my discerning tastes. I had little exposure to picture books as a kid.

Some Scholastic book fair books, a couple of Golden Books, and a few Dr. Seuss "Beginner Books" provided my foundation in picture books. I was only read to on Christmas Eves, and they were the same couple of Christmas-themed books at that.

I fell in love with most of these books as an adult, or an emerging adult, as the #10 selection makes clear.

#10 The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey. I first discovered this book as a poster (I had no idea that it was adapted from a book). I was in middle school at the time and didn't know anything about Edward Gorey, or Jonathan Swift for that matter.

It spoke to my burgeoning sense of satire, and I took it home that day to hang on my closet door. I've never looked at ABC books the same again.

#9 The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. It's probably because I am literally and figuratively Mr. Plumbean.

#8 Zoom by Istvan Banyai. This book will either send you hurtling into an existential dilemma, or it will help you appreciate "the size" of life and the universe. That's power.

#7 Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni. Abstract art with a heart. And someone said it couldn't be done. If we listen carefully enough, even torn pieces of paper have something to tell us.

#6 The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss and Crockett Johnson. This book should be issued to every kindergartner the world over and reviewed at the beginning of each school year through post-graduate studies. A powerful message of believing in what nobody else will.

#5 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I fell in love with this book as a kid. My fingers read the holes like Braille, and my eyes salivated at the textured colors of Eric Carle's incomparable collage art.

#4 Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton. There should be a law against how funny this book is, it just steals laughter from your belly. Wow!

#3 Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. I don't know if the word "genius" is applied often enough to the work of Crockett Johnson, but this is Nobel Prize material. And the ending, oh... be still my beating pun heart.

#2 On Beyond Zebra by Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss proves he's the Einstein of kidlit with this book. It took a while for the world to "get" E=mc², blowing the roof off Newtonian physics. Dr. Seuss blows the roof off the alphabet and language itself with this book.

Cool kidlit scholar Philip Nel writes in Dr. Seuss: American Icon, "...On Beyond Zebra is Seuss's Finnegans Wake." 'Nuff said?

#1 The Red Tree by Shaun Tan. After reading this book, I'd been wondering since 2005 how long it would take the world to discover Shaun Tan. Then came The Arrival, and the world started taking notice.

Please do yourself a favor and read this book. Show someone you love them by sharing a copy of this book. Achingly beautiful artwork overflowing with humanity-- it's not something you see everyday.

That's it! Thanks, Betsy Bird, for giving me something to sweat and churn over for one month in coming up with this list. Unfortunately, I didn't burn any calories doing it, but I did have a lot of fun contemplating great picture books!

P.S. Notice how many of my faves feature the names of colors? I didn't mean to do that, really. My brain just has a mind of its own sometimes.

Writer2Writer Revision Workshop with Lisa Yee

2009-03-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

On March 1st, Squiddy and I made our way to the Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse to visit with Peepy. Oh yeah... her sidekick, Lisa Yee, was also there presenting a Writer2Writer workshop on revision. It was kind of hard to hear Peepy with Lisa yacking away in the background, but we somehow managed.

I took the above photo of the two when Lisa presented her first Writer2Writer workshop at Flintridge last summer. (Check out this much better picture Lisa took by clicking here.)

Before the revision workshop began, Squiddy cemented his Peepy fandom with the help of a yummy dish from Little Tokyo. What the heck am I talking about? Click here for all the visual details. Just remember not to bite at the tempura, unless you want a mouth full of pixels.

So it's taken me a month to write this post, but that's part of the point. You see, I've been diligently revising it ~~day and night, night and day,~~ continually since some of Lisa's words of wisdom on revision must have seeped into my brain between joke-telling sessions with Squiddy and Peepy.

What was the great take-away from the day? Well, there was the joke about how many Peeps it takes to change a lightbulb, and who could forget the one about why the squid crossed the road, but there was also something Lisa said-- that revision is all about the chance to do something over, a chance we don't usually get in real life, but one that is freely available in writing.

That's when a light went off (yes, probably one a Peep screwed in), and I realized why I love writing so much. It's a do-over's paradise. It's for those of us who secretly thrill to changing through four and a half outfits before deciding what to wear to the library. (Okay, maybe five, but it's important to color-coordinate with the covers of the books you're checking out.)

So, go forth, writers, and change your minds, try different words on for size, take advantage of the ability to make complete do-overs. Take inspiration from Bill Murray's character in Groundhog Day. It's never done until you get it right.

P.S. Absolutely, definitely check out Lisa's first foray into YA, Absolutely, Maybe.

The Soles of My Feet...

2009-03-25T23:52:00.000-07:00

On an audio recording, I once heard Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, say something to the effect of, "The soles of my feet lead to the feats of my soul."
She was referring, of course, to the oft-cited relationship between walking and creativity. The one (walking) increases the other (creativity).

While I would love to claim credit for Cameron's brilliant use of a punning antimetabole, I'll settle for appreciating the connection between my soles and my soul.

Although I'm not walking in the photo above, my soles are ready to dance across the alphabet with tip-tapping toes like a typewriter, because that's the type of writer I am. A few words later, hopefully, and that's where I'll find my soul.

Having Fun With Bertolt Brecht From Head to Tome

2009-03-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

In the above photo, my son takes on the role of Uncle Ede from head to tome in Bertolt Brecht's Onkel Ede Hat Einen Schnurrbart.

A book of twelve Kinderlieder, or children's songs, the titular piece translates roughly as such:

Uncle Ede Has a Moustache

Uncle Ede has a moustache
The moustache has five hairs.
And so that he doesn't lose any of them
Each one has a name.

They're named Fritz and Otto
And Max and Karl and Paul.
Max is somewhat sickly
And Fritz is somewhat lazy.

What are your must-have moustache picture books? Add them in the comments section if you feel so moved. Thanks!

We Are Here! We Are Here! We Are Here!

2009-03-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

The "Share a Story -- Shape a Future" Blog Tour for Literacy may have ended, but the fun continues. In one of the site's contests, my son and I won this Horton Hears a Who Pop-Up, courtesy of Eva, the wonderful blogging children's librarian at Eva's Book Addiction.

My son loves to use manipulatives in tandem with the books he reads. Those familiar with Horton Hears a Who know that a single clover plays a singular role. Since clover is in short supply in our garden (read "non-existent"), we settled on that ever-ready stand-by-- a dandelion seed head.

If you look close enough at the photo, you will see the tiny speck that is Whoville. We could even hear them chanting, "We are here! We are here! We are here!" -- that is, up until my son made a wish. Well, they were there...

Please welcome Spring, who's two days old today! And if you're in sunny Southern California, ripe with dandelion seed heads, please send us word of any suspicious specks. We do miss our little Whos so, and my son promises to make wishes only with pennies from now on.

ReJoyce in Children's Literature: James Joyce's Kid's Book

2009-03-17T22:26:00.000-07:00

[The above image is from the 1964 Dodd, Mead & Company The Cat and the Devil, written by James Joyce and illustrated by Richard Erdoes. The Los Angeles Central Library also contains a copy of the 1981 Schocken Books edition, illustrated by Roger Blanchon.]

It is with great pleasure that I bring this Joycean kidlit post on St. Patrick's Day, spotlighting a little known work by the Irish icon of literary iconoclasm. Somewhere between The House That Jack Built and "the hoax that jokes bilked" lies James Joyce's children's book The Cat and the Devil.

Written in 1936 as a letter to his grandson, Stephen James Joyce, The Cat and the Devil reveals Joyce as an endearing "Nonno." It begins, "My dear Stevie: I sent you a little cat filled with sweets a few days ago but perhaps you do not know the story about the cat of Beaugency."

Based on an "old French story," according to the James Joyce Centre, The Cat and the Devil bubbles forth in Joysprick now and then, but otherwise reads like Joyce "the Grandpa," having fun spinning a yarn.

[The most Joycean word we find is "Bellsybabble" (see photo excerpt below), which, incidentally, is misspelled in the Schocken edition as "Bellybabble."]

The Cat and the Devil recounts the origins of the bridge over the Loire River in Beaugency, France, built in one night by the Devil after striking a deal with the Lord Mayor. The Devil built the bridge on the condition that he could keep the first soul to cross it.

The Lord Mayor, Monsieur Alfred Byrne (named after an Irish nationalist politician), ultimately outwits the Devil with the aid of an unwitting cat. No spoilers here. You're going to have to visit a library, or buy your own copy, to read the rest.

Joyce had a wonderful sense of humor, although that fact is sometimes lost on readers who writhe in the rhythms of the Wake. Nevertheless, behold the biting humor in the photo above (be Joyce the devil himself?), which concludes the story of The Cat and the Devil. Enjoyce!

P.S. For extra fun, check out this link to see super-cool illustrations of The Cat and the Devil for a Croatian edition of the book by illustrator and painter Tomislav Torjanac.

I wonder how one translates "Bellsybabble" in Croatian? Comment away if you have any idea. Thanks!

Librarypalooza! Los Angeles Public Library: Eagle Rock Branch

2009-03-16T23:45:00.000-07:00

Not far from the intersection of Eagle Rock Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard, lies the cozy neighborhood Eagle Rock Branch Library.

The Children's Library contains a permanent collection of original artwork by such local children's book author/illustrators as Tim Egan and the late Leo Politi.

What better way to encourage the next generation of art collectors than to give their little eyes access to "the real deal"?

An über-loved Winnie-the-Pooh takes a break from guard duty between two "Tim Egans."

Please click the link above to access current toddler and preschool storytimes. Interested in art classes for your kiddos? You're in luck-- LACMA runs art classes here on a regular basis.

What to do on Mom's or Dad's night out? Check out the Knit and Lit Club that knits while listening to books-on-tape. How cool is that?

When you're done at the library, there's lots of fun restaurants, shops, and art galleries to explore. Have at it!

On Beyond Zebra, the Bookshelf

2009-03-11T21:08:00.001-07:00

Scrap wood, homeless books, a 4 year-old's imagination-- these were the ingredients needed to bring this bookshelf to life. The fact that one of our cats cowered at the sight of the zebra's eye gave it just that much more credibility.

For the bookshelf's christening, all it needs is a copy of Dr. Seuss's On Beyond Zebra. After all, this zebra's imaginative life begins where that of other zebras ends.

I'm a fan of fun book furniture. Please describe your favorites. Even better, send links to pictures!

"Share a Story -- Shape a Future" Blog Tour for Literacy

2009-03-10T23:32:00.000-07:00

Please visit the Share a Story -- Shape a Future Blog Tour for Literacy this week for lively discussion and practical literacy-building tips.

Seuss-athon: Party # 5 of 5!

2009-03-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

We made it! Woohoo! Yesterday was the 5th and final Dr. Seuss party of our week-long Seuss-athon, held at the Los Angeles Central Library.

There was lots of Seuss silliness to be had, as we listened to readings of "The Sneetches" from The Sneetches and Other Stories, Fox in Socks, Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now!, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Horton Hatches the Egg, and Green Eggs and Ham.

Plus, we enjoyed a rare reading from the oeuvre of the mysterious Theo. LeSieg- Ten Apples Up on Top!

See these books? 99.9% of them were checked out by a book-hungry mob of ravenous children by the end of the program. What a beautiful sight!

Children's Librarian Miss Linda treats us to a felt board performance of One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. With all those felt fish up there, I probably didn't have to tell you that.

Children's Librarian Miss Joanna joins Miss Linda in a boisterous reading of Green Eggs and Ham. Don't you just love how librarians show the pictures so nicely when they read?

What's a birthday party without a birthday cake? Since the library doesn't own 105 felt candles (and they would have obscured the cake anyway), we were asked to imagine the other 100 candles-- not too difficult a task considering our imaginations had just been given a super Seuss work-out.

For the grand finale, our lovely librarians staged a puppet performance of Horton Hatches the Egg. Here's a photo of Horton with that no-good, lazy Mayzie.

Well, that's all for now folks, until "the Good Doctor" turns 106! In the meantime, hang out with him in Seussville.

Seuss-athon: The Cat in the Hat Rocks the Library!

2009-03-05T20:28:00.001-08:00

Party #4 of our Seuss-athon! Woo-hoo! The La Pintoresca Branch of the Pasadena Public Library threw a fantabulous Dr. Seuss party under the direction of the wonderful Children's Librarian Mr. William, a.k.a. The Cat in the Hat.

Check out this amazing display he set up behind the information desk.

After a super spirited reading of his eponymous story, The Cat in the Hat engages us in a game of Seuss Jeopardy. "What is...Theodor Geisel!"

Next, we settle in for some vintage television Seuss. We can't get enough of that Sam-I-Am! Here he is in the 1973 "Green Eggs and Ham" adaptation from Dr. Seuss on the Loose.

Two die-hard Seuss fans create the most iconic hat to ever grace a head, feline or otherwise, perfect for having "good fun that is funny."

One more Seuss party to go. Onward ho!

Seuss-athon: Happy Birthday, Dr. Sweet Horse!

2009-03-04T20:31:00.002-08:00

Day #3 of the Seuss-athon brought us to the Chatsworth Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. The Children's Librarian treated us to some of Dr. Seuss's more obscure works, including "What Was I Scared of?" from The Sneetches and Other Stories and "King Looie Katz" from I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and Other Stories.

The latter tale is particularly well-suited for young activists-in-training. In his book, Dr. Seuss: American Icon, scholar Philip Nel states, "Zooie's 'I QUIT!' demonstrates how activists can promote democratic ideals by speaking out and standing up for their rights."
Kudos also to the Children's Librarian for making age-appropriate Seuss biographies available at the program! Yay!

What of the Dr. Sweet Horse reference? An obscure linguistic footnote in the marginalia of Seuss's life could include the fact that "süß" means "sweet" in German, and "sus" means "horse" in Hebrew.

Both words sound like "Seuss"-- hence, Dr. Süß Sus, or, Dr. Sweet Horse. (That's quite a tasty language treat for our die-hard Seuss fan to contemplate.

What's a Seuss party without an art activity? Here's next year's Halloween costume, perhaps?

This die-hard Seuss fan moves through the labyrinth of the "Good Doctor's" work, making nonsense of sense like any good disciple, because you're only absurd once!

Seuss-athon: ¡Celebre el Cumpleaños del Gato con Sombrero!

2009-03-03T18:47:00.000-08:00

Party #2 of this week's Seuss-athon was held at the Cypress Park Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. Serving a largely bilingual population, the Cypress Park Branch children's collection contains many Dr. Seuss books translated into Spanish.

¡Celebre el Cumpleaños del Gato con Sombrero! Tipping a hat to the Good Doctor's famous feline creation, the Cypress Park Branch also honored the 40th anniversary of The Cat in the Hat. ¡Viva el Gato!

The library's Seuss-celebration featured a Horton Hears a Who! craft project,

modeled here by a die-hard Seuss fan.

As if the elephant ears couldn't be topped, we were treated to the original 1970 Chuck Jones animated T.V. special, Horton Hears a Who!

Thanks to the planning and organizing of Children's Librarian Miss Alicia, we had popcorn* and fruit juice to carry us through the adventures of Horton and his "speck of dust."

Among our take-home goodies, Miss Alicia hooked us up with some Shel Silverstein tatoos. How cool is that? Yeah, I know it's not Dr. Seuss, but they're both full of nonsense. And nonsense is the best sense of all!

*Of course, no Beezelnut Oil was used in the making of the popcorn.

Seuss-athon: Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

2009-03-02T20:52:00.000-08:00

Probably because I don't have television service, Sudo Nimm and I come up with alternative activities to entertain the family. Sometimes, we brainstorm while gorging on strawberries, which can lead to mind-altering perspectives on life, the universe, and wardrobe selection.

(If you think I'm making this up, John Lennon knew what I was talking about-- "Strawberry Fields Forever," anyone?)

So, this week we came up with the idea of a Seuss-athon-- attending as many Dr. Seuss parties as humanly (and motherly) possible in honor of the Good Doctor's natal coming 105 years ago.

Tonight, on the official date of the birth of serious nonsense in this country, we attended a Dr. Seuss "Chocolate Party" at the Hastings Ranch Branch of the Pasadena Public Library.

The above photo depicts a spirited reading of Green Eggs and Ham, complete with the eponymous epicurian delight, of course!

I'll let you guess which one is trying to decline Sam-I-Am's beseechings.

The party shifted into high gear with a game of Seuss Bingo. Between the M&M "chips" and the jumbo Hershey's chocolate bar prizes, this party was really starting to live up to its name.

I'm not so sure how well the game worked for those little ones who decided to eat it instead, but, anyway...

The chocolate climax of the party came in the form of fondue.

Here is the chocolate fondue fountain only moments before an unfortunate mishap. Yes, librarians endure much in the line of fire, including the effects of a fondue malfunction. Oh well! "That's what dry cleaners are for," he said.

It would be too graphic to recount all the details. Besides, that's what imaginations are for.

A Mouthful of Words and Pancakes

2009-02-28T18:03:00.001-08:00

On Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras/National Pancake Day, my son's school hosted a Read Across America Celebration/Family Literacy Night. Whew!

With all those words, it was hard to slip a bite of pancake in edgewise. Of course, the school celebrated with a pancake-themed book.

We were treated to a reading of Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond's If You Give a Pig a Pancake by actor Gary Cole. Groups of students also read pancake-themed poetry by Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky.
As for our esteemed reader, talk about class. This was no read-and-run event for Mr. Cole. He stayed the entire evening to eat dinner, sign autographs, and mingle. Bravo!

I applaud the teachers, parents, students, and school staff for planning and organizing such a wonderful event. I only wish this could happen more than once a year!

The Kidlitosphere's Poetry Friday: Macaronic Verse

2009-02-27T13:00:00.000-08:00

According to H.L. Yelland's A Handbook of Literary Terms, macaronic verse is "humorous verse in which there is a mixture of languages, especially English and Latin."

Here is my submission for the "Monday Poetry Stretch" challenge at The Miss Rumphius Effect blog:

I have a lingua for lengua.
I got a schwa for bar mitzvah.
But not even I
Can use mein old eye
For decoding Joyce's Wörte.

Please click through the link to read other submissions.

Corpus Libris: Are You Book Enough?

2009-02-26T19:51:00.000-08:00

Are you such a bibliophile that you don't know your toe from your tome? Your vertebral spine from your leather-bound spine? Your appendix from your appendix? Then the art of Corpus Libris is for you!

Formalized by Emily Pullen of Skylight Books in Los Angeles, the art of Corpus Libris consists of photographing a book and subject such that the two appear blended. Please hop over to the Corpus Libris blog for some cool examples.

When I learned about the Corpus Libris phenomenon, I dug around in my digital archives to retrieve the above photo of my son with a monstrous spread from Deb Lund and Robert Neubecker's Monsters on Machines.

Link in! I'd love to see your kidlit Corpus Libris pics!

Librarypalooza! Los Angeles Public Library: Los Feliz Branch

2009-02-25T21:21:00.000-08:00

A view of the moon from a wintry clearing? Try again. How's about the domed ceiling of the "Storytime Room" at the Los Feliz Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library? (If someone has a better picture depicting the bare branches that encircle this space, please link away. My camera hasn't the lenses to capture the full effect.)

This room is all about roundness. With a window like this, why not pull out a submarine picture book and imagine away!

The size of this library's menagerie almost matches that of the L.A. Zoo, which is just a short trip away across Griffith Park. Spend a morning at the Zoo and come here to read more about your favorite animals in the afternoon.

You don't have to trek through the L.A. Zoo's Botanical Gardens to enjoy Mother Nature. Relax outside the Los Feliz Branch Library in the company of some architecturally-pleasing plants. I'm a sucker for succulents!

This may be a small library, but it's bustling with activity. Take the kids here for LACMA-run art classes, Mother Daughter Book Club, Boys' Book Club, Baby Mother Goose Storytime, Toddler Storytime, Preschool Storytime, Teen Anime Club, or Teen Book Club.

Adults can choose from the Book Club, Book Gossip, Chess Club, Scrabble Club, Quilting Circle, Architecture & Beyond, and the Family Art Class.

You get the idea. This is a vibrant book-loving community. What are you waiting for? Come on by and see what's happening.

Librarypalooza! Los Angeles Public Library: Arroyo Seco Regional Branch

2009-02-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

Situated in the Highland Park neighborhood of northeast Los Angeles, the Arroyo Seco Regional Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library is a beautiful Arts & Crafts destination for book lovers. Additional photos of the library can be seen here.

Remember the amazing library mural we featured on the blog recently? This is where it lives.

The above photo features the Children's Room. It almost looks too tidy, doesn't it? Send some kids, quick!

Here's the "storytime room," complete with a classic Arts & Crafts rocker and a cute child prop.

This is a totally staged photo. I directed the cute child prop to color-coordinate his outfit to Goodnight, Moon. Well, not really... but it worked out nicely, huh?

Conveniently, a park lies adjacent to the library. When you need to slide even further into your imagination, here's the place to do it.

Currently, the Arroyo Seco Regional Branch Library features fortune telling classes for adults and LACMA-run art classes for kids.

I suppose these programs really go hand-in-hand for those parents who want to divine if their child will be the next Rene Magritte. Hmmm... maybe that's not such a bad idea.

I Love KidLit!

2009-02-23T00:42:00.001-08:00

In honor of the Kidlitosphere's "We Love KidLit!" Blog Carnival of Children's Literature this month (which challenged a multi-media entry), Sudo Nimm created the above image. Need we say more? Check out the rest of the Carnival starting February 27th by clicking here.

Random Picture Book Thought, or THE GROUCHY LADYBUG and Whisperings of Space-Time Theory

2009-02-22T15:07:00.000-08:00

My son and I were reading Eric Carle's The Grouchy Ladybug recently, when a random question struck me. As a reader, I wondered what the difference was between experiencing a scene as multiple, double-page spreads, or as a gatefold.

Let me set the stage. In The Grouchy Ladybug, the eponymous insect meets various animals throughout the day and tries to pick a fight with each one of them. At "five o'clock," he meets a whale. The massive mammal doesn't respond to the insect's provocation, so the ladybug "flies on."

The grouchy ladybug then attempts to pick a fight with the whale's flipper and fin, but to no avail. By "a quarter to six," he reaches the whale's tail, and you either know what happens next, or you need to read it yourself to find out.

In any case, what fascinated me was the 45-minute flight the reader shares with the grouchy ladybug across the whale's body. Executed as a pair of gatefolds, this scene would have ably expressed one of the concepts explored in the book-- size; yet, executed as 4 double-page spreads, the scene expresses size and another important concept explored in the book-- time.

The use of 4 double-page spreads in The Grouchy Ladybug helps the reader to not only "take in" the size of the whale, but to also experience a sense of the 45 minutes it took the ladybug to fly the length of the whale. The page turns create a momentum of forward motion. And where there is motion, there is time to measure it.

Because the multiple, double-page spreads prevent the reader from being able to see the whale "all at once," there is also the effect of creating a sense of time having passed. The reader would have to go back to an earlier time, by turning the pages, to be at the "beginning" of the whale physically and temporally.

Finally, the use of multiple spreads makes the whale's size seem even larger, because the imagination has to piece the spreads together to form a complete mental picture. As a result, the whale's size can only be limited by the imagination of the individual reader.

The Grouchy Ladybug's use of multiple page spreads, instead of gatefolds, demonstrates the power of picture book design as an important, if somewhat "hidden," element of a picture book's text. And any addition to a picture book creator's arsenal makes even the grouchiest ladybugs smile.

Librarypalooza! Burbank Public Library: Buena Vista Branch

2009-02-16T11:56:00.001-08:00

In honor of Presidents' Day, Sudo Nimm and I are spotlighting the Buena Vista Branch of the Burbank Public Library. "Why?" you ask. That's easy. Check out the above photo.

The library is adjacent to Lincoln Park. Completed in 2002, the site features the bust of a "Thinkin' Lincoln" and grassy, tree-covered areas perfect for a picnic with picture books.

The enclosed play area is designed primarily for the toddler set and includes heaps of communal toys at the time of this posting.

When you're ready to visit the library to read picture books about Abraham Lincoln and other past Presidents, be sure to check out this public art sculpture of a boy reading a stained glass book.

Hop on in across the stones like this little guy, and you'll be on your way to a sylvan reading experience. Once you're done reading about Presidents, you'll want to snuggle in with books about forests and their creatures.

This tree should help set the mood. Look up to find all sorts of critters hiding among the leaves. I hope you're not afraid of snakes.

Hey, librarians! Wouldn't you love having these art tiles adorn your reference desk?

Here's an amazing reading room. Complete with clouded high ceilings and ample windows for natural lighting, you won't want to leave come closing time. Is that a real skunk in the picture? You're going to have to visit the library and find out.

With palm trees outside and pine trees inside, there's no mistaking you're in sunny Southern California. Nestle into the "mountainous" seat backs in this reading room and feel free to travel anywhere else your imagination fancies.

Are there any other forest-themed children's libraries out there? Comment and let us know. Thanks!

Los Angeles Public Library Mural

2009-02-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

In 1995, muralist Luis Becerra created Libraries Educate, Government Makes Cutbacks on two exterior walls of the Arroyo Seco Regional Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. Above is a detail of the mural depicting poet Maya Angelou.

In 2003, a new library was erected, and the mural was moved (i.e., two exterior walls) to its new location at the west end of the current library's parking lot. Click here to see images of the mural in its original location.

If you live in Los Angeles, or plan on visiting someday, put this mural on your list of must-sees. Besides, the Arroyo Seco Regional Branch Library is an architecturally-pleasing destination in and of itself. Click here to see photos of this Craftsman style library.

A library card wields much power,

especially in a world that favors controlled thought over free thought.

I'd love for the above image to be on my library card!

The next generation takes it in.

Click here for more information about the mural.

Are there any library murals in your community? Comment and let us know. Thanks!

Why I Love My Hubby

2009-02-14T10:51:00.001-08:00

It even came with roses on the screen!

In all honesty, I've been coveting this monitor for months. When I recently discovered its clearance sale status, my hubby had to look no further than Office Depot to make his wifey uber happy.

Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!

P.S. Check out the love that's overflowing in the Kidlitosphere today. The Cybils have been announced. Click here.

There Are Cats in This Post

2009-02-13T15:33:00.000-08:00

Allergic to cats? Love cats, but can't keep them in your apartment? Want to prepare your child for the fun of owning cats? Then, here's the book for you: There Are Cats in This Book by Viviane Schwarz (Candlewick Press).

A novelty book that delivers (sadly, many don't), There Are Cats in This Book keeps readers busy following the playful requests of Tiny, Moonpie, and Andre. My son nearly threw the ball of yarn off the page! "What? How's that possible?" you ask. That's why you've got to pick up this book.

The ending also sets this up as a purr-fect bedtime companion. "P.S. There are fish in this book, too." And I must say that they are gorgeous.

If you're part of a KnitLit group (it's a kniterary literary thing), then you can knit the cats from this book by clicking here. Want to see what else the talented Ms. Schwarz is up to? Click here.

We Share a Certain Chemistry

2009-02-08T15:49:00.001-08:00

I went to a writing doctor months ago, and what did he prescribe?

"Candace, what you need is some good, old-fashioned
Sulfur, ChRomium, Iodine, and BEryllium."

I followed his advice, and now I take them with me wherever I go. I can describe anything now. Thanks, Doc!

What's on your writing bag?

Librarypalooza! Glendale Public Library: Montrose-Crescenta Branch

2009-02-05T20:37:00.000-08:00

The Montrose-Crescenta Branch of the Glendale Public Library is a cozy little spot located on the west end of the Montrose Shopping Park.

Adjacent to a fire station, the library ties in nicely as a follow-up destination from a firehouse tour. Maybe even search for some fireman-specific picture books?

The above photo features the Children's Department Reading Room.

This friendly giraffe sees if library patrons "measure up." The little guy passed inspection, thankfully.

Three baskets of eager puppets await flights of fancy. "Any hand will do."

This little guy is a letter herder. His job is to help collect all the letters that have fallen out of picture books. He makes about $932.00 a day. I'm clearly in the wrong business.

This treasure map may be the single most important reason to visit the Montrose-Crescenta Branch Library. Normally guarded fiercely by the puppets, this letter herder ably captured it from their secret cranny.

Only the true of art can follow its precipitous paths to untold treasures.

The letter herder receives special sonar transmissions from a pod of Beluga whales, who may have an inkling of where the treasure is.

Stay tuned... or, better yet, visit your local library today to find treasures of your own!

Librarypalooza! Huntington Beach Public Library

2009-02-02T19:57:00.000-08:00

Do you love water and books? Then the Huntington Beach Public Library is for you. Located at 7111 Talbert Avenue in Huntington Beach, California, there's so much water in this library that you'll want to bring a bathing suit along with your library card.

In the photo above, you're looking at an actual salt water aquarium, not an amazing trompe l'oeil vinyl decal. Plus, there's a cool, bubbly water column that flanks the sides and top of the entryway to the Children's Department.

Here's a lovely fountain in front of the library. His more informal brother wraps around the library's backside.

Not enough water for you, yet? There's a super cool indoor fountain inside the library. No pictures here. You're going to have to see it yourself.

Of course, what would water be without something to navigate? Kids can access this ship through an opening on the opposite side pictured.

Sharks have been known to frequent these carpeted waters, so reader-sailors are kindly reminded not to climb on the boat.

For Stuart Little's relatives, they can play on this impressive model ship and fight off monster books across the seven seas.

Any Cooper Edens fans out there like myself? Here's one panel from a tapestry inspired by the book If You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow. It hangs on a wall in the Children's Department, just waiting to fill you with whimsy.

Perched on top of a glass case are the two sentries of the Children's Department-- a Lego Statue of Liberty and a meerkat family (because Groundhog Day was just around the corner, these might also be groundhog stand-ins. But don't tell the meerkats I said that).

I included this photo because of the "skeleton leaves" glass panels. Aren't they too cool? I'm guessing they're Pella. I know because we had some windows with these inserts installed almost exactly one year ago. I get to see them everyday!

Am I talking about my windows again? I'm too in love with them. Anyway, check out the Huntington Beach Public Library, especially around the time of the annual Authors Festival. You'll be glad you did.

Hippo Birdie Two Ewes, James Joyce!

2009-02-02T17:05:00.000-08:00

You may have left us in your wake, but not before you made all of us Finnegans Wake up.

Thanks to you, Finnegans can have fun again, because language is not languid. And when you saw lengwhich, like Molly, you said yes, yes, Yes!

ALA Awards 2009

2009-01-26T21:44:00.000-08:00

Yay! Yay! Yahoo! Yee-haw!! Congratulations to all the winners!!!

It is a testament to the upstanding character of the kidlit community that we can experience a peaceful transition of award-winning power one Monday morning every January. Where else in the world does that happen?

Obama Was Here!: An Inaugural Interlude at Book, Booker, Bookest

2009-01-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

Well, he wasn't actually here at Book, Booker, Bookest, but President-elect Barack Obama and I share an alma mater-- Occidental College in Los Angeles (Eagle Rock), California.

Although he transferred from Oxy at the end of his sophomore year in 1981, Obama has indelibly left his mark on the College. All of these photos were taken at Oxy by yours truly after the November 4th, 2008, election.

Here's the Coons Administration building. According to PBS's Huell Howser of California's Gold, it's the likely location of Obama's first-ever political speech on divesting in apartheid South Africa. Click on the link for further information about the episode.

These are the steps in front of Coons.

Finally, here is the walkway in front of Johnson Hall. Obama encourages us to think differently about the world, including utility hole covers.

Yesterday, the nation was linked in at the Lincoln Memorial for the "We Are One" Obama Inaugural Celebration. Now, on the eve of Inauguration Day, also Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, many eagerly anticipate the end of an abomination, or "a bombin' nation," and the beginning of an Obama Nation.

Whatever your political perspective, it's hard to deny that Obama has inspired the imagination to imagine a nation anew.

A political life that began at 1600 Campus Road will soon arrive at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. From Eagle Rock, now to where the eagle rocks, rock on, Barack Obama!

Has Anyone Seen My Mouse?

2009-01-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

It was plugged in this morning. Drats! That's the third one this week.

On a totally unrelated note, since I already have your attention, can anyone recommend a good weight management food for my cat? He's been really packing the pounds lately.

Another Cause of Writer's Block

2009-01-16T13:54:00.001-08:00

Disclaimer: This post is targeted at Luddite writers, or those who may occasionally use a writing implement for the sheer novelty of it.

We've talked about a physiological cause of writer's block in this previous post. What I'm concerned with today is an external and often overlooked cause, an overworked pen or pencil.

Have a look for yourself in the photo above. This was my poor pencil after spending 5 months revising an 800-word picture book. No, I don't need your sympathies, but you could sure as heck direct them to my poor pencil. Despite 10,000 mg of penicillin, this pencil's still illin'.

But I'm not giving up without trying alternative therapies. I'm exploring Thai massage, and if I have to take a second mortgage on the house, I might just send my pointed, little friend to a chichi sanatorium in the Swiss Alps.

I must act fast, though, as his lead grows more limp by the minute. If any of you have folk remedies or special cures, please comment away. Until then, I'll just be using my trusty ol' cassowary quill (please don't tell my pencil, he has a bit of an inferiority complex). Thanks.

The Book Wrote Itself!

2009-01-15T23:40:00.000-08:00

Sudo Nimm's all excited because he took the above photo of our computer while I stepped away to reorganize my stamp collection. He's been seeking hard evidence against the demeaning notion of "artificial" intelligence for years now.

It all started with a crush he had on a one Miss Commodore 64K back in the day. But I promised not to bring that up again. [Excellent, but entirely too suggestive, pun removed to protect the innocent. Email me if you must know.] Anyway...

This photo has made me a nervous wreck. What if my agent, editor, and publisher learn the improbable, but still embarrassing truth, that my books "write themselves?"

Of course, they don't actually write themselves. It's really a precocious, if somewhat uppity, HP Pavilion VF17 monitor. She's nothing fancy, but boy can she turn an interesting tale or two. She's says if I'm good, she might split royalties with me 80/20.

Who writes your books?

Which of These Two Are Branded?

2009-01-12T22:21:00.000-08:00

Answer: Both.

Mr. Bo Vine writes edgy, paranormal fractured fairy tales (or is that dairy tails?) and Mr. Wesley Wiccup writes quirky fantasy, anthropomorphic tween novels (that oddly enough feature lots of cows).

Okay, so Bo is doubly branded if you count that epidermal mutilation thingy, which he asks you kindly not to refer to as a "rump roast." But, we digress.

Yesterday, writer and teacher Dianne White was cool enough to share her branding tips in the Writer2Writer program at the Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse. Organized monthly by Children's Books Manager Catherine Linka, the Writer2Writer program features fun and informative topics for kidlit writers.

Armed with a yummilicious mango smoothie, I spent an hour refining my understanding of the concept of branding for authors. Dianne provided a useful hand-out to help organize the process of whittling from a foundation of core values to a "succinct tagline."

Not as easy as it sounds, folks. I don't count whittling among my talents. Dhittling, yes. Fhittling, yes. Whittling, no. But that's part of the process. There's a mountain of thought behind a single word or concept.

In pondering all this branding stuff, I've gotten a strange urge to go out and get a tattoo. Yet, somehow, I don't think that was the point.

In any case, only time will tell if I'm able to figure out all the subtleties of branding. Either I'll be covered in tattoos by the end of it, or the very sound of my name will conjure a distinct commercial jingle in the minds of all sentient beings.

The Book Bully

2009-01-10T19:38:00.000-08:00

The Book Bully. You've met him. That all-looming, impossible book to wrap your head around.

For whatever reason, the content, characters, voice, or story just aren't getting through. Diligent reader that you are, you push forward anyway, but not without incurring a few book-borne bruises along the way.

Will you ever escape its pages? Will you ever reach the back cover, or will you be sucked into the vortex of its gutter forever?

Of course, I'm talking about any picture books you may have picked up lately, nothing like Finnegans Wake, or anything.

Who are your book bullies?

Superheroes Z, X, Q, and V

2009-01-09T00:22:00.001-08:00

Never have the stories of so many depended on the letters of so few. Where would science fiction be without "Z," "X," "Q," and "V?"

Zoltron wouldn't be able to fire his quasar beam at Voltron from the planet Xenon. In other words, sci-fi would be bland and lifeless.

I think it's high time for these letters to receive the recognition they deserve for working overtime for their genre. Can we say special holiday, people? Commemorative stamps, even?

Don't be surprised if these letters just up and walk out of the alphabet someday. They can only suffer the indignity of disregard for so long. And could we really blame them? Which words would you miss? Please write your Congressperson today.

So You Won't Be Up All Night (Again)

2009-01-07T23:55:00.000-08:00

[A photo of sour milk (removed by blog master Sudo Nimm in kind consideration of the lactose intolerant among you).]

I know you've been racking your brain on this one, so I can't allow you another sleepless night as I've had. This is the real reason we get writer's block.

Something literally stands between the bridge of two synapses in the brain, blocking the flow of electrical impulses. That something in this case is a relatively obscure process in search of a name.

Without further ado, may I present bonnyclabber: milk that is curdled by natural souring.

You've gotta love the Irish.

I'm an Honorary Silly Chick!

2008-12-29T14:55:00.001-08:00

So, I didn't get a hippopotamus for Christmas, which is probably for the best anyway. The goldfish in my pond were getting very nervous and grouchy at the prospect, even copping attitude like their piscine pal in Dr. Suess's The Cat in the Hat.

Forget hippos and fish, it's all about chicks this Christmas. The illustrious Three Silly Chicks have bestowed "Honorary Silly Chick" status on me. Take that Santa Claus! Please follow the yellow brick link for all the juicy details.

Here's What I Want for Christmas...

2008-11-29T17:55:00.000-08:00

Plus, I really love this video!