I just finished reading Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. I was thinking of doing a post and then heard it was the Newbery winner, so that gave me the added incentive to get this done! I saw Gantos at the National Book Festival in September. You can see his talk if you go to this site: http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/author/jack_gantos/
He is hilarious, had the audience in stitches. He could definitely make a living as a stand-up comic. But, the book? Not so much. It kind of stretched on and on, the main character was likable, but the whole thing was just not what I look for in a good children's book. Interesting that the whole Newbery Committee could be so wrong. (Oh, that was said tongue in cheek!) Well, if you get bogged down in the book, like I did, just check out his National Book Fair talk. You'll get the gist of the story and it is quicker and pain free!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Picture book of the month
I will try to post one outstanding picture book each month. So many are coming across my desk and many are extremely high quality.
This month it is The Prince's New Pet by Brian Anderson.
In this cleverly illustrated story, the prince lives in a kingdom without color. When he receives a colorful wooglefoof for his birthday, the royal color catcher is determined to catch the wooglefoof and wipe out any color that it brings to the kingdom. Of course there is a happy, and colorful ending. But, it is also a book that can be used to talk about sorrow, joy, discipline and so much more! I loved the literate language in the book as well as the cartoon-like illustrations.
Here is a link to Anderson's website. Enjoy!
http://www.dogeatdoug.com
This month it is The Prince's New Pet by Brian Anderson.
In this cleverly illustrated story, the prince lives in a kingdom without color. When he receives a colorful wooglefoof for his birthday, the royal color catcher is determined to catch the wooglefoof and wipe out any color that it brings to the kingdom. Of course there is a happy, and colorful ending. But, it is also a book that can be used to talk about sorrow, joy, discipline and so much more! I loved the literate language in the book as well as the cartoon-like illustrations.
Here is a link to Anderson's website. Enjoy!
http://www.dogeatdoug.com
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Top Ten books of 2011
After looking through the books read in 2011, I have picked my top ten. These are books that stand out for me because the writing is exceptional and the book spoke to me in some way. While I read many enjoyable books in 2011, and some of my favorite go-to authors did not make the top books of 2011 list, these books are on the list because they were exceptional, not necessarily the most enjoyable, but definitely the most memorable books. Happy reading!
1) The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (December)
2) South of Superior by Ellen Airgood (July)
3) One of Us by Mark Osteen (April)
4) The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst (March)
5) Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones (June)
6) Middlemarch by George Elliot (July)
7) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (January)
8) Sweet Jiminy by Kristen Gore (October)
9) State of Wonder by Ann Pratchett (November)
10) Twelve Rooms with a View by Theresa Rebeck (May)
1) The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (December)
2) South of Superior by Ellen Airgood (July)
3) One of Us by Mark Osteen (April)
4) The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst (March)
5) Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones (June)
6) Middlemarch by George Elliot (July)
7) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (January)
8) Sweet Jiminy by Kristen Gore (October)
9) State of Wonder by Ann Pratchett (November)
10) Twelve Rooms with a View by Theresa Rebeck (May)
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