The City of Ember

My son and I loved this book. I can't wait to see the movie.

Readers Annotations

I'm taking Materials for Children this semester. Our latest assignment was to compose readers annotations (i.e., brief, enticing descriptions) for three picture books and one novel (from this week's reading list). I loved all four of these books, and thought I'd post my readers notes here:

And Tango makes three
By Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole

The engaging true story of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo and how, with determination and the help of their enlightened keeper, they become a family. (Picture book - all ages)

The Higher Power of Lucky
By Susan Patron, illstrated by Matt Phelan

Lucky Trimble is tired of waiting for her higher power; she’s tired of waiting for her guardian to admit she’s leaving. Her survival kit packed, Lucky decides to take control of her life, and heads out into the desert. (Novel - middle grade and up)

Orange Pear Apple Bear
By Emily Gravett

One playful bear, three pieces of fruit, and five simple words add up to delicious wordplay, and a deceptively simple look at language and the power of the comma. (Picture book - baby and up)

Zen Shorts
By Jon J Muth

Karl, Michael and Addy have a new neighbor—a giant Panda with a red umbrella—whose amazing stories help them see the world in new ways. (Picture book - all ages)

Middle Grade Books for Boys (and Girls)

Okay, so it has been a while. These are terribly outdated, but here are some things my son read and enjoyed at age 11:

Boba Fett by Terry Bisson

Hoot by Carl Hiasson

Flush by Carl Hiasson

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Recommended books from the SCBWI Winter Conference

Last month, I attended my first writers' conference in New York. I'm working on a post about it for my other blog. Here's a quick list of some of the authors and illustrators from the conference and links to some of their wonderful books I brought home with me (signed!):

Middle Grade/Young Adult

The Fire-Eaters (Whitbread Children's Book of the Year), by David Almond. This is the first YA book I've read since I was a YA. :) Wow. There is a lot happening - bullying, parental illness, abuse, justice, redemption, poverty, class, isolation, spirituality, the Cuban missile crisis, and mental illness as a result of war - in this deceptively simple, lyrical story. I plan to re-read this together with my 5th grader.


Picture Books (for all ages)

Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Dinosaurs, by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart. Robert Sabuda's pop-up books are amazing! I hear so many parents (and teachers - even librarians!) say, "Oh, they're beautiful, but the kids would destroy them in a minute." How tragic! These are exactly the books that should be shared with kids. The amazing illustrations jump out of the book at kids and then draw them into a different world. "Look!" I say, "Touch! Explore! Experience! Enjoy!"


Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato, An Irish Folktale, by Tomie de Paola. Okay, so I didn't get this one at the conference. But Tomie was there and he was just fabulous! I read this to the 3rd graders in my children's school in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

Rosa, by Nikki Giovanni and Bryan Collier (illustrator). A powerful, beautifully illustrated telling of Rosa Park's personal story and summary of the Civil Rights movement. Nikki Giovanni's keynote was one of the most powerful I have ever heard. Brilliant and totally unexpected for a conference of children's writers and illustrators. She shook us out of our seats. I plan to seek out more of her work.


Wild About Books(Irma S and James H Black Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature), by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown. Written in Seussian rhyme in honor of Theordore Geisel's birthday, this book is a joy to read aloud. (Marc Brown read it to us at the conference!) Find out what happens when librarian Molly McGrew accidentally drives her bookmobile into the zoo!



Picture Book (for the little ones)


Party Animals by Katie Davis. Ant is watching all of the farm animals open their party invitations. Will he be invited, too? This book is perfect for the little ones, and even my 7-year-old twins - as we struggle with birthday party invitations coming for only one or the other from their classmates. And Katie Davis personalized it for the girls so adorably! You have to see it to appreciate it. I'll try to scan and post it as a comment here later.


There were so many talented authors and illustrators at the conference: Francine Pascal, Pat Cummings, David Diaz, Elizabeth Levy, and so many others I missed. I can't wait until next year!