About Children's Books

The Not So Fantastic Mr. Fox

2009-11-25T00:01:49Z

Although I love many of the entertaining and quirky children's books by author Roald Dahl, I don't particularly like Fantastic Mr. Fox. I think it is a mean-spirited book, and I am uncomfortable with the derogatory tone of all of the comments about Mr. Fox's human adversaries. The plot of the story is slight, and the book is certainly not of the caliber of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or James and the Giant Peach. The movie version of Fantastic Mr. Fox seems to be quite different in many ways from the book, which in this case, might be a good thing. I would be interested in knowing what you and your kids think of the book and the movie and how you would compare them. I hope you will share your opinions by clicking on "Comments" below and posting a message. Thanks.

The Not So Fantastic Mr. Fox originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 00:01:49.

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2009 National Book Award Winner Announced

2009-11-24T01:17:02Z

The National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards, has announced the 2009 Award winners. The winner in the Young People's Literature category is Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, by Phillip Hoose, which was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. "How could we not know of this courageous teenager and her remarkable contribution to the U.S. civil rights movement? Phillip Hoose's riveting and intelligent portrait incorporates photographs and other galvanizing primary source illustrations, as well as Claudette Colvin's own voice, to draw the reader fully into 1950s Montgomery." (National Book Foundation).

For information about other awards for children's literature, see my Award Winners / Notable Children's Books directory. Are you more apt to buy children's books if they are award winners? Let me know by clicking on "Comments" below and posting a response. Thank you.

2009 National Book Award Winner Announced originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 01:17:02.

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Award-Winning Gifts for Beginning Readers

2009-11-23T00:51:00Z

If you want to give a beginning reader a book for Christmas but aren't sure what to buy, I suggest you look at some of the books that have been honored through the annual Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. The award is named after Theodor Geisel, known to generations of children and their families as Dr. Seuss. Some of the beginning reader books that have been honored include: Are You Ready to Play Outside? (2009) and There Is a Bird on Your Head! (2008), which are Elephant and Piggie beginning reader books by Mo Willems, and Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas (2006), by Cynthia Rylant, with illustrations by Su�ie Stevenson.

(Cover art courtesy of Hyperion Book for Children, An Imprint of the Disney Book Group)

Award-Winning Gifts for Beginning Readers originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 00:51:00.

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What Is SCBWI?

2009-11-22T00:01:55Z

Do you know what SCBWI is? SCBWI stands for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I have attended several interesting SCBWI workshops on writing children's books, finding a publisher and getting a children's book published. I think that the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is a very helpful resource for aspiring children's book authors and illustrators. Do you have any experience with SCBWI? What do think of the organization? Click on "Comments" below and share your opinion.

What Is SCBWI? originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 00:01:55.

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Best Children's Books About Thanksgiving

2009-11-20T00:01:56Z

Check out my brief reviews of some of the best children's books about Thanksgiving. The books range from the nonfiction book 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving to humorous children's Thanksgiving picture books to books about the beauties of nature. What are your family's favorite children's books about Thanksgiving? Click on "Comments" below and post your recommendations.

(Cover art courtesy of National Geographic)

Best Children's Books About Thanksgiving originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 00:01:56.

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The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

2009-11-19T00:01:21Z

The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo, is an odd and engrossing novel-length fairy tale. In fact, it has a lot in common with Grimm's fairy tales. The hero, Despereaux Tilling, is a mouse with large ears. The Tale of Despereaux is not only a excellent book for 8-12 year olds, it is also a terrific read aloud for younger kids. Kate DiCamillo was awarded the Newbery Medal for this very entertaining novel, which was first published in 2003 by Candlewick Press. The Tale of Despereaux continues to be very popular with children and families, as well as with elementary school teachers who use it as a read aloud, to the delight of their students. A special boxed edition of the book (pictured) is also available. Have you and your children read the book? What about Kate DiCamillo's latest book, The Magician's Elephant? If so, click on "Comments" below and share your opinions about one or both of the books.

(Cover art courtesy of Candlewick Press)

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 00:01:21.

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Spotlight on Ezra Jack Keats

2009-11-18T00:01:29Z

Ezra Jack Keats was born on March 11, 1916. He died on May 6, 1983, at the age of sixty-seven. The talented artist and author is remembered as something of a pioneer in his use of African American children as main characters and in his use of mixed media collages to illustrate his stories. Ezra Jack Keats was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1963 for his picture book The Snowy Day, which is still popular today. The Snowy Day is also included in Keats's Neighborhood, a collection of popular stories by Keats. Do you and your kids have a favorite picture book by Ezra Jack Keats? If so, click on "Comments" below and post information about it. Thanks.

(Cover art courtesy of Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers)

Spotlight on Ezra Jack Keats originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 00:01:29.

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We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers

2009-11-17T00:01:09Z

If you are looking for a good book to introduce your 3- to 6-year-old children to recycling and what they can do to help protect the environment, I recommend We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers. This picture book features big brother Charlie and his "small and funny" little sister, Lola, and wonderfully quirky mixed media collages. You may remember Charlie and Lola from the picture book I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, for which British author and illustrator Lauren Child received the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in 2001 or from I Am Not Sleepy and Will Not Go To Bed or I am Too Absolutely Small for School. Perhaps your kids' have enjoyed the animated TV series named after the brother and sister. In addition to an entertaining story that also explains what recycling is, why it's important, and what kids can do to help, the book also includes a removable poster so kids can track their own recycling efforts.

(Cover art courtesy of Penguin)

We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 00:01:09.

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The Invention of Hugo Cabret

2009-11-16T00:01:02Z

Brian Selznick achieved the highest honor a children's picture book illustrator can receive in the United States when he was awarded the Caldecott Medal for The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which he wrote and illustrated. His win was something of a surprise, because The Invention of Hugo Cabret is not your typical picture book, although like good picture books, both illustrations and text are used to tell the story. Instead, it is a fascinating adventure novel for 9-14 year olds, set in 1931 Paris. As the title page describes the book, it is "A Novel in Words and Pictures." The book is more than 525 pages long; 284 of those pages contain Selznick's dense pencil drawings. Along with the text, sequential double-page spreads of illustrations wordlessly move the reader through time, space, and the story of the orphan Hugo Cabret. I highly recommend it. Have you and/or your children read The Invention of Hugo Cabret? If so, click on "Comments" below and share your opinion.

(Cover art courtesy of Scholastic Press, An Imprint of Scholastic)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 00:01:02.

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Celebrate National Adoption Month with Children's Books

2009-11-15T00:01:56Z

November is National Adoption Month. Celebrate with children's books about adoption. There are not a great many children's books about adoption for beginning readers. However, Canadian author Jean Little has written an excellent series of chapter books for beginning readers that focus on a young girl, Emma, and her adopted younger brother, Max. Emma's Yucky Brother, the first book in the series, tells the story of how four-year-old Max joins Emma's family and how the children begin to care for, and trust, one another. For additional books about adoption, see Adoption Guide Carrie Craft's adoption book reviews.

Related Links

All About National Adoption Month (About: Adoption / Foster Care)
Fun Things to Do with Children's Adoption Books (About: Adoption / Foster Care)

(Cover art courtesy of HarperCollins)

Celebrate National Adoption Month with Children's Books originally appeared on About.com Children's Books on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 00:01:56.

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