Archive for the ‘children's book’ Category
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
I remember feeling intensely sad the first time I heard the story about Elena Desserich - the five-year-old girl diagnosed with brain cancer who hid hundreds of little notes around the house for her parents, Brooke and Keith, to discover after she had died.
This sad story and the notes have been turned into a book called Notes Left Behind and the Today Show focused on the Desserichs this morning. Notes Left Behind was originally self-published but has since been picked up by the publisher, William Morrow.
Here is an excerpt from the book…(I can’t read it - I have two young daughters.)
By the way, all proceeds from this book go towards the family’s cancer foundation.
Posted in author, books, children's book, family, news, writing | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
The Guardian has posted a list of the 20 most beloved characters in children’s literature as voted on by children aged 5-12 in Brittan. There’s a few I don’t recognize (because I’m Canadian, I’m supposing), and there are a couple for which complete media saturation can be blamed *cough*Hannah Montana*cough* but I was pleasantly surprised to see that children are still reading, and enjoying, some classic characters that I loved as a child.
1. Harry Potter
2. Horrid Henry
3. Tracy Beaker
4. Biff, Chip and Kipper (school reading scheme characters)
5. Hannah Montana
6. Doctor Who
7. Ben 10
8. Winnie the Pooh
9. Captain Underpants
10. Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
11= Cinderella
11= Gruffalo
11= Peter Pan
11= Charlie and Lola
15. Matilda
16= Alex Rider
16= Fantastic Mr Fox
16= Spiderman
19. Thomas The Tank Engine
20. BFG
Posted in Harry Potter, UK, books, children's book, comics, lists | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
The UK reading charity Booktrust has just released the results of its survey of over 3,000 children and parents. While the results show that reading has become more popular with children, one in 20 families have less than 10 books and only one in three parents read to their children each day. This is particularly sad since 96% of the children said they enjoyed reading and books.
More results from Booktrust’s press release:
• More dads reading with their children than in previous years: 40% increase since September 2008.
• 60% of children like to share a book with their parents/carers as it shows that they like to spend time with them.
• Households with girls have ten more children’s books than those with boys. One in every 20 family homes in
Britain today has fewer than ten books.
• Children enjoying reading more: 96% of all children surveyed say that they enjoy reading, peaking at 99% among
seven year olds and falling to 89% of 12 year olds (overall, this represents a year on year increase of 5%).
• 56% of all parents and carers (and almost half of all parents of 4-5 year olds [48%]) say their child spends more
time facing a screen, playing computer games and watching DVDs rather than reading.
• Parents and carers of boys are twice as likely not to read with them compared to those who have girls.
• Technology, home entertainment and work (through emails and home working) are impacting on book time.
While flexible working is supposed to enable a positive work-life balance, children are increasingly losing out.
• Bookshelves under threat in a third of British homes: one in three parents and carers (34%) say shelves are
increasingly being filled up with DVDs and computer games, especially in homes with older children (this is the
case in 41% of homes of 11-12 year olds).
• The UK’s all time favourite fictional character according to over 1,300 children is Harry Potter, followed by Horrid
Henry and Tracy Beaker. Action heroes Captain Underpants and Ben 10 relegate children’s classic Cinderella and
Peter Pan out of the top 10. Roald Dahl’s characters including Matilda, Charlie (from Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory) and the Fantastic Mr Fox make multiple entries in the top 20 all time favourite characters.
See the full results.
In an effort to encourage more reading, two free books programmes - Booktime and Booked Up - are giving away 2 million free books to schoolchildren across Britain.
Posted in Polls, UK, books, children's book, family, life, reading | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Over-protective parents - and there are lots of them - who think the movie version of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are is too frightening for children can “go to hell”, says the author.
Excellent, fighting talk. I have a new found respect for Sendak. It’s a shame the movie has been battered by so many critics. The NPR review was scathing. Even the local guy on CBC Radio here in British Columbia said the film would have no appeal for children and warned they would “fidget” all the way through it.
Posted in author, children's book, film, movies, news | 1 Comment »
Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Regarding the excitement around the impending opening of the film adaptation of his book Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak comments, “I kind of want it over. I’m not used to this invasion.”
An interview with Sendak in The Globe and Mail also reveals surprising feelings of resentment towards the popular children’s book. The book which has sold more than 10 million copies since publication in 1963 and has been honoured with the prestigious Caldecott Medal, has overshadowed most of his other work. Work that may merit more attention that that of his 10-sentence tale of Max, who is sent to his room for being naughty and embarks on a marvelous adventure of the imagination.
“At one time, that was a bitter, bitter pill. It no longer is,” says Mr. Sendak. “ Where the Wild Things Are is no longer an enemy. It’s now Spike Jonze’s [the movie's director] and lots of nice people who have become friends.”
But why not do Mr. Sendak a favour and take a look at Brundibar, In the Night Kitchen, Higglety Pigglety Pop! or another one of his books and appreciate the wider talent of the author/artist?
Posted in author, bestsellers, books, children's book, film, illustration, interview, movies | No Comments »
Friday, October 9th, 2009
Maybe, just maybe, the NY Times book review is over analysing here? Where The Wild Things Are is a very short children’s book. And I agree with the kid in this article.
Posted in author, books, children's book | No Comments »
Monday, October 5th, 2009
On Saturday, we had a family outing to see Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. It is a good children’s book and now a good movie too.
I don’t know if the book was ever published in the UK, but I’d never heard of it until we took it out of the library a couple of years ago. My oldest daughter loved it and it certainly made a welcome change from the constant diet of books about princesses and fairies. Within the movie, there are little parodies of Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Independence Day, and a few other films. Bimbo TV weather girls are also taken to the cleaners. Mr T and James Caan are excellent. The movie also chips away at America’s super-size-me culture of all-you-can-eat-buffets, breakfast-served-all-day and eating-more-even-when you-are-full.
Posted in children's book, film, movies | No Comments »
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
I’m not sure if it’s cute or creepy or a bit of both but today marks the release of a fur-covered edition of The Wild Things by Dave Eggers.
Frightening or fantastic, you be the judge (but maybe don’t test it on a 4-year-old).
Posted in books, children's book, design, odd | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
On the heels of the news that Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York has been sued for unpaid bills are reports of her signing a film deal to bring her children’s books to film. Potentially worth millions, the deal will prop up the Duchess’ bank account nicely.
The Duchess told Richard Kay of the Daily Mail, “‘A major U.S. film company has just bought up rights to my series of pre-school children’s books. The films will run as a series. I cannot yet tell you the name of the film company. I cannot tell you how exciting that is for me. America has been so good to me. I failed in Britain, and when I gave it a go in America I was ready to fail there, too - but they have really embraced me.”
Her six most recent books have indeed been sucessful in America - The Little Red series and Tea for Ruby have all been bestsellers there.
The Duchess’ first children’s books surrounding a little helicopter called Budgie were also popular and inspired a cartoon TV series.
But you have to admit, having a royal title doesn’t hurt your chances of success…
Posted in TV, UK, author, bestsellers, children's book, film, movies | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
It’s that time of year again - Banned Book Week. And from the American Library Association (ALA) here are the top 10 most frequently challenged books of last year:
- And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group
- His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman
Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence
- TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
- Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence
- Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and violence
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group
- Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
- Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen
Reasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group
- The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group
- Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper
Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group
Posted in books, celebration, children's book, lists | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
Will this mean a tougher Mickey?!
Watch out Spider-Man, here comes Mickey!
In a reported $4-billion deal, the Walt Disney Co. is purchasing Marvel Entertainment. Disney hopes that the action heroes of Marvel will appeal to boys who are not that taken with the ever-so-popular Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers and Disney Princesses (I can hear my 5-year-old niece squealing with glee at the mere mention).
Does this mean Cinderella is going to go all Ninja on us?
Not to be missed is the Telegraph’s picture gallery of Marvel Disney mashups! This image of “Logald Duckerine” is just one example of the clever mashups presented there.
Posted in TV, children's book, comics, news | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
The White House confirmed that Michelle and daughter Malia were reading Yann Martel's Life of Pi
There’s a lot of buzz at the moment about President Obama’s reading list but what about the First Lady? What books does she like to read?
While there isn’t an official White House list, the good folks over at Oprah.com went on a treasure hunt through articles and photos and came up with this list of books she’s enjoyed reading with her daughters and children at elementary schools:
- The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
- The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
- Olivia by Ian Falconer
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
What books would you recommend that Michelle Obama read with her daughters or at elementary schools?
Posted in Barack Obama, books, children's book, lists, reading | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
I just looked at the Top 20 Children’s Books chart on Bookseller.com and am thoroughly depressed…
Numbers 1-4 are occupied by Twilight books and number 5 is the Miley Cyrus book, Miles to Go. Book 9 is the Twilight movie tie-in.
These can’t represent classic children’s literature for this decade…can they?!?!
That’s not an earthquake you’re feeling, it’s Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton and Beatrix Potter rolling in their graves.
Posted in bestsellers, children's book, lists | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) has just signed a deal to write a further series of books.
Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events has sold more than 60 million copies throughout the world and will be published in paperback for the first time next year.
The unfortunate event for fans is that the first book of the new four book series won’t be released until 2012. That’s right - more than two years to wait.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Vols. 1-13. Each book is signed and inscribed by Lemony Snickett, his salutation, "With All Due Respect, " and stamped and embossed with his special stamp.
Posted in UK, author, books, children's book, writing | No Comments »
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Karla Kuskin, the children’s author and illustrator famous for Roar and More, a 1956 book about animals and their noises, has died at the age of 77.
Posted in author, books, children's book, news | No Comments »