USBBY meets here at ALA in Chicago. I will spend most of the day indoors in meetings, but I am relieved that the temps are lower and the attendees here seem to appreciate that as well. I will be tweeting and blogging as time permits. In the meantime, here is the one snapshot I managed to grab before we got underway. More later.

Ah, Chicago, where it is a balmy 79 degrees (versus the triple digits back home). But things are heating up very quickly here as word about a possible change to the BBYA Committee broke yesterday on Twitter and spread to LJ and YALSA-BK. Alex Flinn and David Gill and the Bookends bloggers (Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan) and some others have already cited chapter and verse about why this is an awful idea. I hope loads of folks show up at the meetings (almost impossible for those of us on selection committees, BTW) and shout it down.

On a brighter note, I got upgraded to first class on the trip in and managed to read THE TREASURE MAP OF BOYS from cover to cover on the flight. Brilliant deliciousness. I loved the first Ruby Oliver book, THE BOYFRIEND LIST and perhaps this is when I fell in love with E Lockhart and her inimitable style. Of course the NBA and the Printz Committee had the great good sense to concur and THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU BANKS has been honored, too.

THE TREASURE MAP OF BOYS (Delacorte, July 2009) is book three in the Ruby Oliver saga. It seems Ruby is almost back to square one, living in Noboyfriend land and having trouble with some of her gal pals as well. Her parents seems to remain clueless despite their good intentions (and I love that they name their new dog Polka Dot and get into all the t-shirts and totes and stuff on which one can display a love for a particular breed), and Ruby learns more about her therapist than she really needed to know (TMI, OK?). The tone is breezy and funny but that belies some of the hard truths Ruby faces. The English teacher in me adores the footnotes which only serve to underscore the wonderfully redemptive sense of humor Ruby possesses. Smart, funny, irreverent as needed: this was the perfect book to begin my ALA experience.

In a couple of hours, I head off to Chicago for ALA. Got up a little early to have coffee and play with Scout. Also managed to find time to read Rene Saldana's THE CASE OF THE PEN GONE MISSING (Arte Publico, 2009). This slim novel is a mystery along the lines of the Encyclopedia Brown books of the past. Fifth grader Mickey helps solve the case of a rare pen that goes missing in the classroom. The chief suspect is Toots, a classmate Mickey adores from afar. There is a nice twist with a mysterious letter from an "angel" which assists Mickey in solving the case. This new series will appeal to tweens and adds to the precious few books for this group with Hispanic main characters ( and Mickey's librarian is cool, too).

worked today on a presentation for ALA and one for San Angelo. Here is the San Angelo PPT. Took most of the day to get it almost complete. I need to add some videos and podcasts when I have more time. Now it is time to eat, my favorite American pasttime. No burgers today: chicken, tossed salad, and baked potatoes. Yummmmm.




Happy b-day to Julia Grace Bunyea, one year old today.

The first note is unsettling; the second one unnerving. Miranda is receiving cryptic notes from someone she must know warning her that she and her friend are in danger. What is the danger? How does this person know what will happen in the future? Perhaps Miranda's love of A WRINKLE IN TIME will point readers in the right direction in this mystery set in the late 1970s with a sci-fi element as well. Stead blurs lines between and among the genres to create a novel that will challenge readers intellectually and emotionally. Trying to describe any more of the plot would either be too confusing or give away too much. Better to read this one yourself and discover the truth: books for young readers are not easy reads for the unformed mind.

Nothing like triple digits to keep me locked inside with books. I had been waiting for some time to read the new Crutcher and am thrilled to have had uninterrupted time to red it from start to finish. Three novellas comprise this story of Mr. Nak, the counselor called into a new position to help students with anger issues. In the first novella, Angus Bethune hooks up with Sarah Byrnes. Angus takes Sarah on a road trip to once more locate her mother. Perhaps the best last line of any story here: "Sarah Byrnes has a face ike the moon."

Part Two pairs Montana West and Trey Chase (do you remember their origins in Crutcher's other works?) who team up to take on censors of the high school newspaper. The final novella combines Marcus Jams, the only African American gay student at his school and Matt Miller, a minor character from DEADLINE. All of these stories are vintage Crutcher which means they are thoughtful and thought provoking and provocative and evocative, too

Lulu wants to be a big chick and so heads off from home to look for a far away place where she will be treated in a manner more befitting a big chick. Of course, there is no place like home. Bloomsbury




A beauty contestant's sash floats away on a breeze and lands on a pig who now declares herself to be a princess. Be careful what you wish for, Princess Pig. Knopf




Wilson is puzzled when he arrives at school and no one is there. Where is Miss Lovely and what is that strange sound? Random House




Arnold Lobel's daughter used her father's line drawings as the basis for this illustrated collection of poems about frogs and toads. HarperCollins

Here is a lift the flap book that takes one snake and transforms it into its opposite: skinny to plump, straight to tangled, and quiet to loud. Little Simon




Reminiscent of Lois Ehlert's books, this one features die-cuts in various shapes and they combine to create a dinosaur. Little Simon

How about these two for a pairing?




Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean team up again for a fanciful adventure. This time the journey takes a young girl into a head of wild and crazy hair full of animals and oddities.




And here is Laurie Halse Anderson's wild hair story, the tale of poor Zoe whose hair requires its own crib, chair, etc. All is well until a teacher asks the hair to behave...

Not sure why there are so many books about butts, but this one os charming and perfect for reading aloud. Rhyming text tells us of the importance of the rear end. Feiwel and Friends




From the bottom to the top with this book about a hat found abandoned on a park bench. The young adventurer who finds it imagines himself in all sorts of situations where an oversized hat might just help. Bloomsbury




Almost is one of those words..the boy in the story is almost six and almost never cries. He can almost do lots of things, almost. HarperCollins

Drew, that is. I devoured the Nancy Drew books when I was a tween. If this book had been around, it would have been a perfect book for me. I listened to this book as I was driving hither and yon (are those Texas terms) over the last week or so.






Sophie, Margaret, and Rebecca are all students in the 7th grade at St. Veronica's Catholic School. Before you can say "Holy, Nancy Drew!" they are smack in the middle of a mystery. A gift from a long gone father to his daughter is hidden somewhere in the church. There are clues for the girls to follow, of course. The clues involve some pretty fancy thinking, too. Charming characters, including some eccentric ones, some novel twists and turns (shades of Charles Dickens no less), and a totally satisfying conclusion make this a near perfect tween book. Please, may we have some more???

I cleared about 50 books off a shelf (of course there were more than that to take their places) and took another time out to read through the towering stack of picture books on the desk (maybe I can see the top of the desk later???).




Classic Ed Young illustrations combine with spare text to tell the story of a young egg abandoned. A boy gives the egg over to the care of a mother hen who is surprised to discover her newest chick is not meant for the earth. (Roaring Brook)






David McPhail provides readers a fable of war and its ultimate victims in this nearly textless book. (Roaring Brook)




James Warhola tells another tale of his Uncle Andy (Warhol). Andy begins with two cats and somehow ends up with a building overrun with cats, all but one named Sam after their father. Not only do we see great good humor, readers also meet Andy Warhol as a person and as an artist. Putnam




After you read CHICKA CHICKA BOOM, read THE SLEEPY LITTLE ALPHABET. Bedtime can be hectic for the alphabet, but eventually there are some ZZZZZZZZs in their future. Knopf

David Adler's picture book biographies are always wonderful introductions for young readers. This is no exception as readers will learn about the life of Harry Houdini.




Muslims helped rescue Jews during the Holocaust by using one of their mosques as a way station of sorts. This little known story is brought to life by the somber yet hopeful illustrations.




Harriet Quimby became the first female licensed pilot in the US. This picture book tells of her challenges as she pursued her goals. Illustrations by Catherine Stock accentuate the sometimes hectic world in which Harriet lived and worked.

At the office playing some catch up with shelving and weeding books. Took a break to read some of the new books sent to me by Holiday House (thanks, Terry!). Here are a handful of some of their new titles for the fall.




Yo Mama Goose pulls together an array of animals for a barnyard slam. Charley Horse recites a poem about his distaste for hay; cow's rhyme tries to dispel rumors about cows. Lamb's selection is entitled "Lamb I Am." Lots of fun and language at play here.




When a boy is captured by a ghost, he delays his untimely end by telling the ghost he has a fabulous recipe for boy dumplings. Of course, there is much trickery involved and a happy ending.




Bridget yearns for a wee cabin to call her own. Unfortunately, it does not seem to be in the cards for the woman abandoned as a child. Wee men come to her rescue on Christmas evening, though.

The combination of words by Marilyn Nelson and photos by Susan Kuklin results in a mot incredible book. Nelson's lyrical text with repetitive patterns accompanies photos of young ballerinas in intricate poses.




Short biographies of peacemakers is the subject of this picture book. From Christ to Gandhi to Sojourner Truth, Oscar Romero, and Marla Ruzicka, stories of heroism in the face of intense danger will provide for an interesting read.

No cover to show until I scan it, but TESTING THE ICE by Sharon Robinson with illustrations by Kadir Nelson is a beautiful book. Nelson somehow always manages to capture the subjects in his illustrations as both larger than life and simply human at turns and often in the same frame. A true story about Jackie Robinson told by his daughter, this book demonstrates that athletes are, ultimately, human.

Turkeys strut, take off awkwardly, and communicate without words in this rolling rhythmic story by Jim Arnosky. A downloadable original song will accompany the book.




Golden auras shine from the illustrations in this holiday story about the animals heading to the manger to see the new Christ child.




A retelling of the story aout a lost mitten which becomes home one night for many cold animals.




STICK MAN is picked up by a dog one day when he wanders too far from his home. Thus begins a grand adventure which takes him many places. He is ultimately reunited with his family just in time for Christmas.

The final post wedding activities are done (except for the pics which still need to be uploaded). The couple is safely in the V.I. and officially having a "blast" according to their text yesterday. I finally had some time this morning to pick up some new picture books to read. They are actually F & G's (and the first time I heard that term I thought it was an effing G) of forthcoming picture books from Scholastic. Here goes.






After her father returns from the war, a young girl heads off one morning to go hunting with the man wh is practically a stranger. They share a magical day, becoming reacquainted as father and daughter in the process. In some ways, the story reminds me of OWL MOON: spare and lyrical with breathtaking illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline (who did the ones for Kate DiCamillo's MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWRD TULANE). Quiet, reflective, and musical: this is the hallmark of Lowry's writing.




UJrsula LeGuin offers some insight into the content of a cat's dream in this cozy picture book. Cats dream of huge bowls of kibble and cream, of being lulled to sleep by a flock of jays, of raining mice. Most of all, cats love to seek out the safety of a beloved lap for good dreams and gentle purring.

Earlier this week, I spent some time at airports waiting for flights. Managed to read the new Sid Fleischman, THE DREAM STEALER. When I get the chance, I will scan and post the cover with art by Peter Sis who also has black and white sketches inside this short chapter book.

One night as Susana dreams, the dream stealer whisks away her dream before it is over. Susana is determined to get her dream back no matter what it takes. She tricks the dream stealer into eating some hot peppers. In return for some water, the dream stealer promises to take her to his castle where she can find her interrupted dream. Off they fly on an adventure that should feed Susana's dreams for many nights to come.

Stuff from nightmares, far off friends, and other citizens of sleep make appearances in this wonderful weave of family, myth, and dreams.


Here is a photo of Scout to entertain you until I have th chance to scan the cover.

The wedding is now a joyous memory and I will write more about it once we recover from lack of sleep. Her eis a photo from my cell phone. Not the best but it is hard to shoot a picture while you are crying...

Mem Fox writes the BEST picture books. So few words and such language play and also a lovely little emotional resonance to boot. Steve Jenkins' collage illustrations are spectacular as well.




I love how Puzzlehead searches for a place he can "fit." Not sure young readers will love the book as much as older ones who will see how Puzzlehead and his friends all fit together. The illustrations reminded me somewhat of Chris Raschka.






Little Mouse carefully dons all his clothes until his mother gently reminds him that mice do not wear clothes. Jeff Smith is the creator of BONE. This is his foray into comics for young readers.




What is it about this year that we have seen multiple books all about butts? Hmm. I loved the rhyming text of ALWAYS LOTS OF HEINIES AT THE ZOO. Kids w3ill adore hearing the book read aloud and seeing how there are some things happening in the illustrations not necessarily reflected in the text.