Monday, February 8, 2010

Runaway Storm

"Escapist fiction" is usually just a figure of speech, but a new adventure series by D.E. Knobbe puts escape front and center. Runaway Storm (Emerald Book Co., $16.95), the leadoff title, takes readers 12-and-up along for the ride as an unhappy teen kayaks through Canada's Gulf Islands in a desperate show of independence from his estranged parents.

Nate has spent a miserable year in New York with his mother and can't wait for the two of them to return home to Vancouver, B.C., where his father still lives. But now his mom is wavering on her promise to limit the New York stay to one year -- and a so-called emergency has prompted his dad to cancel their summer plans for kayaking together through the Gulf Islands. With his dad out of town and his mom vacationing in Paris with her new boyfriend, Nate decides to fly to Vancouver on his own -- misleading both his parents about his whereabouts.

From there it's just a short hop to Galiano Island, where Nate's ill-conceived solo voyage teaches him valuable life lessons. Namely, that cash and currents flow surprisingly quickly, that some kids have it tougher than he does, that drinking water and sunscreen are essential and that it's best to keep one's distance from friendly strangers who turn out to be drug smugglers.

There are some good, gripping moments in Runaway Storm, but they come relatively late in the story. There's a lot of unnecessary plot setup, some of it revolving around a ne'er-do-well New York kid named Sam who talks big and smokes big but otherwise isn't very well developed. (Perhaps we'll meet him in a future installment?) In addition, the dialog is unconvincing in spots. I can't picture teens uttering lines like, "...That doesn't mean you can't use a helping hand from a friend once in a while," or, "Nothing like the runaway school of hard knocks to change a person." Still, once the action starts rolling, this is a fun read.

Author Dawne Knobbe, who lives in California, says she was heavily influenced by Hatchet, Gary Paulsen's classic survival tale, and by Down River and River Thunder, by Will Hobbs.

Knobbe doesn't have Paulsen's awe-inspiring mastery of the written word -- but on the other hand, my kids thought Hatchet was boring, so go figure. Hobbs is a very accessible writer. I especially like Leaving Protection (treachery and a dangerous storm on an Alaska commercial-fishing trip) and Crossing the Wire (the desperate journey of a 15-year-old illegal immigrant). Click the links to read more about Hobbs and Paulsen.

On her website Knobbe explains how she came to write Runaway Storm:

"The idea for Runaway Storm formed when I was about 15. My brother and I were on Galiano Island at a place called Montague Harbor. We met a runaway there who was about my age and I was fascinated by his experiences. He told us that on his first night on the island he’d unrolled his sleeping bag too close to the water and the rising tide had crept up and soaked him and everything he owned in the middle of the night. It was illegal to camp on the beach in the park, so by day he hid his supplies under the roots of an old oak tree so that the park ranger wouldn’t kick him out.

"He seemed to enjoy talking to us, and I got the feeling he was lonely. He invited us to stay for lunch and promptly donned a mask and snorkel. He disappeared under water only to pop up moments later with a crab in each hand. We didn’t stay for lunch, but I never forgot the boy, and the nut of the idea for Runaway Storm has been with me ever since."

Although Nate's escapades make for good armchair adventure, Knobbe acknowledges that runaways face potentially serious dangers, including involvement in pornography or prostitution. Her website includes a page of advice ("Things to Do if Your Teen Runs Away") and help-line numbers for at-risk youth. The U.S. phone number is 1-800-375-5683. In Canada call 1-800-387-7962. Still, this is not an "issue" book, it's coming-of-age entertainment that revels in escapist fantasy. And that's fine by me.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Reading: Fun for One or Social Pastime?

The New York Times has an intriguing piece in this Sunday's "Week in Review." It explores whether book clubs and online forums have changed the essentially private nature of reading for pleasure.

I was happy to see the article focused quite a bit on books for children and teens, because the books we read and cherish when we're young feel so intensely personal. In fact, writer Motoko Rich begins the piece by citing a scene from When You Reach Me, which last week won the Newbery Medal for most outstanding contribution to children's literature. (You can read Rich's article at by clicking here. )

The article describes how the book's narrator, 11-year-old Miranda, squirms as a schoolmate chats with her about A Wrinkle in Time, Miranda's favorite book. "The truth," Miranda muses, "is that I hate to think of other people reading my book."

The Times article goes on to quote Rebecca Stead, author of When You Reach Me, as saying, "For me, as a kid, a book was a very private world. I didn't like talking about books with other people very much, because it almost felt like I didn't want other people to be in that world with me."

I know the feeling. As a child, I liked to imagine that the hay-filled loft Alm Uncle fashioned for Heidi was a little nest she shared only with me and the moon. Laura, Mary, Carrie and Ma and Pa Ingalls were like members of my extended family -- yet closer and more familiar than many of the offshoots on my own family tree.

Today I like to pretend that Jamie Fraser, the larger-than-life, 18th century Scot in Diana Gabaldon's time-travel series, is my own personal hunk. But my good friend Nancy, who introduced me to the books, also calls dibs. Here I concede the argument in favor of the "read and discuss" school of literature. There's nothing like swooning in tandem with a like-minded friend to bring out the full flavor of a great escapist fantasy.

I'd love to know your thoughts. Is reading best savored as a solo pursuit, or do book clubs, fan fiction and discussion forums heighten the pleasure?

Monday, January 18, 2010

Newbery, Caldecott Awards Announced


We have a winner....and another winner...and another! At its midwinter meeting in Boston this morning, the American Library Association announced winners of the top prizes for children's books, audio books and video.

When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead, won the 2010 Newbery Medal for most outstanding contribution to children's literature. The publisher is Wendy Lamb Books, a division of Random House Children's Books.


The Lion and the Mouse, written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown) , won the 2010 Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book for children.

Going Bovine, by Libba Bray (Random House), took the 2010 Printz award for excellence in books written for young adults.

Here is a list of other top award winners, including Honor Books, announced by the ALA:

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R.Gregory Christie. The publisher is Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award

My People, illustrated by Charles R. Smith Jr., written by Langston Hughes. ( Ginee Seo books, Atheneum Books for Young Readers)


Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award

The Rock and the River, written by Kekla Magoon ( Aladdin/ Simon & Schuster)

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement

Walter Dean Myers won the first-ever Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, which honors the works of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. Myers’ books include: Amiri & Odette: A Love Story (Scholastic); Fallen Angels (Scholastic); Monster, (Amistad and HarperTeen/ HarperCollins), and Sunrise Over Fallujah (Scholastic).

Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience

Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day; Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros, illustrated by Rafael López, written by Pat Mora (Rayo/ HarperCollins).

Pura Belpré (Author) Award

Return to Sender, by Julia Alvarez (Alfred A. Knopf/ Random House).

Two Belpré Author Honor Books were named: Diego: Bigger Than Life, written by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, illustrated by David Diaz (Marshall Cavendish Children), and Federico García Lorca, written by Georgina Lázaro, illustrated by Enrique S. Moreiro (Lectorum Publications Inc.).


Honorary Winners

Newbery Honor Books:

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, by Phillip Hoose (Melanie Kroupa Books/Farrar Straus Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by Jacqueline Kelly (Henry Holt and Company)

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin (Little, Brown)

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, by Rodman Philbrick (The Blue Sky Press, An Imprint of Scholastic Inc.)

Caldecott Honor Books:

All the World, illustrated by Marla Frazee, written by Liz Garton Scanlon (Beach Lane Books)

Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Joyce Sidman (Houghton Mifflin)


Printz Honor Books:

Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith, by Deborah Heiligman (Henry Holt/Macmillan)

The Monstrumologist, by Rick Yancey (Simon & Schuster)

Punkzilla, by Adam Rapp (Candlewick Press)

Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance, 1973, by John Barnes (Viking Children’s Books/Penguin Young Readers Group).

King Author Honor Book: Mare’s War, by Tanita S. Davis (Alfred A. Knopf/Random House).

King Illustrator Honor Book: The Negro Speaks of Rivers, illustrated by E. B. Lewis, written by Langston Hughes (Disney - Jump at the Sun Books).

Belpré Illustrator Honor Books:

Diego: Bigger Than Life, illustrated by David Diaz, written by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand (Marshall, Cavendish Children)

My Abuelita, illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Tony Johnston (Harcourt Children’s Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Gracias Thanks, illustrated by John Parra, written by Pat Mora (Lee & Low Books Inc.)


Saturday, January 16, 2010

Countdown to Awards Day

Oscar night may be weeks away, but come Monday we'll learn the winners of the so-called "Oscars of children's books" -- the prestigious Newbery, Caldecott and Printz medals awarded by the American Library Association.

The awards event begins at 7:45 a.m. EST (4:45 a.m. PST) on January 18. If you're an early bird, you can watch the proceedings live by logging onto http://alawebcast.unikron.com/. Online connections are limited, so availability is first-come, first-served. The ALA has more details about online viewing at http://tinyurl.com/b9crfe . I'll announce the winners on Cover to Cover Kids as soon as I get the information.

The Newbery and Caldecott medals are the big enchilada of children's book honors and provide a huge boost to sales, with winning books bearing a distinctive gold-foil seal on their covers. The seal is silver on Honor Books, the runners-up.

The ALA announces book and video awards each year at its midwinter conference, taking place this year in Boston. Although the Caldecott and Newbery medals are the best-known of the annual awards, many others, from the Coretta Scott King award to the Theodor Seuss Geisel award, are announced each year. Collectively, they are known as the Youth Media Awards.

I attended the awards ceremony three years ago, when the ALA met in Seattle, and it was filled with suspense and excitement. There was no red carpet, but the applause and tears were worthy of Hollywood's own Oscar bash --if a tad less theatrical. (You can read about it at
http://www.seattlepi.com/books/300670_kidbook23.html

Last year's Newbery Medal, awarded to the author of the year's most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, went to Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, illustrated by Dave McKean (HarperCollins).

The Caldecott Medal, which recognizes the artist of the most distinguished American picture book, went to The House in the Night, illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson (Houghton Mifflin Company).

The top teen title was Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta (HarperTeen). It won a Michael L. Printz award for excellence in young adult literature.

Who will be annointed next? In less than 48 hours, we'll have the answer.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

"Ambassador" Katherine Paterson

You already know how important children's literature is, but the message doesn't always get the prominence it deserves. That's why some of the heavyweights of the field created the post of National Ambassador for Young People's Literature two years ago.

Jon Scieszka, the inaugural ambassador and a wildly funny overgrown kid in his own right, has completed his term and a successor has been chosen. Bring on the white smoke!

The new ambassador is Katherine Paterson, who has won virtually every big honor in the children's book field, including Living Legend, a title bestowed in 2000 by the Library of Congress.

Paterson's trophy wall -- figuratively speaking -- includes two Newbery Medals (for Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved) and two National Book Awards (for The Great Gilly Hopkins and The Master Puppeteer). She also has won the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and the (Vermont) Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts.

Just as important, she's a big booster of literacy, which is what the ambassadorship is all about. Her theme: "Read for Your Life."

The ambassadorship, sort of a children's book equivalent of the Poet Laureate, was created by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, the Children's Book Council and its foundation, Every Child a Reader.

The Librarian of Congress announces the appointment based on the recommendation of a selection committee that evaluates the author's contributions to literature and ability to relate to children. Nearly a dozen major publishers provide financial support for the program.

To learn more about Paterson, check out her Web page at
www.terabithia.com
And if you're interested in a look back at Jon Scieszka's appointment, here's a link to a Q & A I did with him shortly after his appointment:
http://www.seattlepi.com/books/349941_laureate05.html







Saturday, January 2, 2010

Baby-Sitters Club Back in Business

Never was babysitting more alluring than in the late 1980s, when Scholastic launched a children's book series that went on to become a pre-adolescent rite of passage and one of the blockbusters of the publishing world.

The Baby-Sitters Club, designed as a four-book run, grew to include four related book series, a TV show and a movie and was the first children's series to hit the USA Today bestsellers list after the books' 1986 debut. Today there are more than 176 million Baby-Sitters Club books in print.

Expect that number to grow in April, when Scholastic publishes The Summer Before ($16.99), a new "BSC" title -- a prequel -- by Ann M. Martin.

In addition, Scholastic will reissue new paperback editions of the original series. Look for Kristy's Great Idea and Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls in April, followed in June by The Truth About Stacey, with additional titles scheduled for fall release.

Here's how Scholastic describes The Summer Before:

Before there was The Baby-sitters Club, there were four girls named Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, and Stacey McGill. As they start the summer before seventh grade, each of them is getting ready for big changes. Kristy is still hoping that her father will return to her family. Mary Anne has to prove that she’s no longer a little girl. Claudia is navigating her first major crush. And Stacey is leaving her entire New York City life behind in order to find new friends in Stoneybrook, Connecticut. “The Summer Before” is a moving novel about four girls on the edge of something big—not just the club that will change their lives, but also the joys and tribulations of being a girl.

To give you another idea of how long this venerable series has been around, the guy who's overseeing its editorial direction -- David Levithan, vice president and editorial director at Scholastic Press -was in on the beginning, though far lower on the corporate ladder.

"I grew up at Scholastic working on The Baby-Sitters Club," he said, "starting in 1992 as an intern."

Now the torch of fan-dom passes to a new generation.







Sunday, December 20, 2009

Jan Brett -- a Treasury and Dueling Mittens


With 33 million books sold, Jan Brett is one of the most beloved children's book illustrators around -- and for good reason. Her artwork is flat-out beautiful, with bright colors, fine detail and lively good humor that speaks to children and keeps her stories moving smartly. If you haven't jumped on the Brett bandwagon, this is a good time to do it, as Putnam has two new releases that feature the writer-illustrator at her best.

Jan Brett's Snowy Treasury gathers four of her best-known winter-themed picture books into a single volume, packing a lot of value into the $29.99 retail price. The collection contains Gingerbread Baby, The Mitten, The Hat and The Three Snow Bears (an Arctic retelling of the Goldilocks tale).

All the stories feature Brett's lavish, folk-art style and narrative borders, which add a second layer to the storytelling. The tales are great for family read-alouds, and the richly embroidered pictures -- inspired by the landscapes of Switzerland, the Ukraine, Denmark and the Arctic -- will captivate all ages, from grandma on down.

The second title is a 20th anniversary edition of The Mitten ($17.99), the picture book that really put Brett on the map. Based on a Ukranian folk tale, it shows what happens when a succession of woodland animals muscle their way into a single lost mitten, with comically predictable results. The new edition features a revised, silver-foil cover and a note from Brett -- not reason enough to justify the purchase if you already own the book, but a nice occasion to add it to your shelf if you don't. In truth, I preferred the original cover and believe neither one does justice to the interior artwork.











In an interesting display of counter-programming, Scholastic has published its own version of The Mitten ($16.99), written by Jim Aylesworth and featuring cozy pictures by Barbara McClintock. Lots of career synchronicity here: The duo teamed up on The Gingerbread Man in 1998, a year before Brett came out with Gingerbread Baby. McClintock is a highly regarded illustrator in her own right, and four of her books have made The New York Times list of Best Illustrated Children's Books.

Nonetheless, when I looked at the cover, my first impression was: Why? Why try to redo a tale that is so closely associated with Brett, whose illustrations are so superlative?

Here's the answer: Aylesworth has fashioned the story into a beguiling read-aloud, with a longer, more rhythmic text, punctuated by the refrain: "My toes are cold as ice! This mitten looks so cozy, and warm toes would feel so nice!" The pictures are warm-hearted but not lavish, and the pages make abundant use of white space, giving this book an airier feel than the Brett edition.

So here's my verdict: Ayleworth's version has a catchier text that will please the preschool ear. If you're looking primarily for a read-aloud romp, go with his. Brett's version is more beautiful -- and the one I would choose if I had to pick just one. Twenty years after its initial publication, it's a gift that keeps on giving.