Nonfiction Monday miscellany

It's Nonfiction Monday again.

As I'm in the midst of writing reviews of Cybils finalists that I can't post yet, this is my Nonfiction Monday miscellany missive.


For nonfiction news, I've been checking out these sites lately:

• I.N.K. Interesting Nonfiction for Kids  - a great site written by a group of nonfiction authors - always something interesting here!
•  Nonfiction Matters - Marc Aronson's blog, hosted by School Library Journal - news of interest to librarians interested in nonfiction (if you can't access the blog today, try again - apparently there's been server trouble @ SLJ.)
• Another Side: American History Revisited - this site has nothing to do with children's literature, but it a brilliantly written blog by Barry Denenberg, author of (among other books), Lincoln Shot! and Titanic Sinks! Each post is thoroughly researched and offers a wealth of information on whatever topic intrigues the erudite, Mr. Denenberg.  He describes it best:

  ANOTHER SIDE is a subjective, serendipitous and idiosyncratic investigation into the evolution of words, phrases and objects in America. Its entries are unique, thoroughly researched, hand-crafted historical short stories that collectively take a kaleidoscopic alternative look at American culture. The provocative perspective is politically incorrect by design and irreverent and iconoclastic by nature.

 Do you have any "go-to"sites for kidlit-related news, not reviews?

In other news:

Politically savvy librarians and library supporters (and we all should be politically savvy - we can't afford not to be) are debating the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  Take time out of your busy day to learn about how these issues may affect you, your job, your children, or your students.

SOPA sounds plausible on the surface, but "the devil is in the details."  It appears that it will cause more harm than good.  As for ESEA, I believe in supporting strong school media centers. As a public librarian, I view the local school media specialists as my partners.  We are both essential components in the success of young students.

Any thoughts on SOPA or ESEA?

Next, if you haven't heard ...

Walter Dean Myers has been chosen by the Library of Congress as the 2012 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. I love his chosen slogan,

Reading is not optional

And finally, it's MLK, Jr. Day. If you don't have to work today,

"Make it a day on, Not a day off."

Today's Nonfiction Monday roundup is at The Swimmer Writer.  Please stop by.

Nonfiction Monday will be here next week, January 23.

Bigger than a Bread Box - a review

A brief review today with lots of extras...

Snyder, Laurel. 2011. Bigger than a Bread Box. New York: Random House.

Like Wendy Mass' "birthday series" books, Bigger than a Bread Box is realistic fiction infused with an element of magic - in this case, a mysterious bread box that appears to grant whatever wishes can fit inside its limited dimensions. At first 12-year-old Rebecca is delighted,but she belatedly discovers the consequence to her wishes.

Told in the first person, Bigger than a Bread Box is a unique story in which magic doesn't necessarily makes things right - or wrong, just different. Most touching in the story is the evolving relationship between Rebecca and her brother, Lew, a toddler. With no one else to turn to after her mother spirits them away to Georgia against their father's will, Rebecca "discovers" her younger brother,

The only difference was that now, when I was alone in the afternoons, I wasn't so alone. Each day I spent a little more time with Lew, and that felt different. It was like he'd been a piece of furniture before, a big doll, and now he was a person, just because I'd noticed he was.

Worth checking out.

Read an excerpt here.
A Study Guide is available here.

Other reviews @

• 100 Scope Notes
• Pink Me
• Dog Ear

Dumpling Days - a review (redux)

Lin, Grace. 2012. Dumpling Days. New York: Little Brown

I very seldom, if at all, repeat reviews, however, today I make an exception of sorts.  I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of Grace Lin's Dumpling Days, more than six months ago.  There is some debate within the kidlitosphere about when is the best time to post reviews of Advance Reader Copies.  Most would agree that mine was too early.

In any case, when the publisher mentioned that I had posted my review a tad early (6 months - can I help it?  I liked the book!), I offered to re-post it at a later date. 

Well, the time is now.  Dumpling Days is due out on January 21.  However, rather than re-post my review, I offer you a booktalk, a link to my previous review, and a look at Grace Lin's book trailer.

So without further ado ...

a booktalk

In Dumpling Days, Pacy Lin, her parents and two sisters (one older, one younger) are going to Taiwan for Pacy's grandmother's 60th birthday - for 28 days! Twenty-eight days?! What is Pacy supposed to do for 28 days without her friends in a country where she may look like everyone else, but inside, she's definitely not. At least there will be dumplings!

my review

Click here

the trailer

and, just for fun, a photo of me and Grace Lin

 She was ever so gracious at her book signings in New Orleans.

Enjoy Dumpling Days!

Cybils shortlist

After months of hard work by the first round judges, the shortlists are out for the 2011 Cybils, the Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards.  I'm pleased, honored and humbled to be a Round 2 judge in the Nonfiction Picture Books category.

Following are this year's finalists in the NFPB category (linked to my review where applicable):

All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon
Atheneum

Bring On the Birds
by Susan Stockdale
Peachtree




Can We Save the Tiger?
by Martin Jenkins
Candlewick Press



I Feel Better with a Frog in My Throat: History's Strangest Cures by Carlyn Beccia
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children



Planting the Wild Garden
by Kathryn O. Galbraith
Peachtree



The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs: A Scientific Mystery by Sandra Markle
Millbrook Press




Thunder Birds: Nature's Flying Predators
by Jim Arnosky
Sterling Publishing


To date, I've read only four of the seven finalists and reviewed only two, but I will be posting more reviews as we lead up to the announcement of the winners on February 14th.  I look forward to working with my fellow judges, Terry Doherty, Family Bookshelf, Adrienne Mason, Tough City Writer, Karen Terlecky,  Literate Lives, and Laura Wadley,  PCL Children's Book Review.  Thanks to our organizer, Fiona Bayrock,  Books and 'Rocks.

Let the fun begin!

Links to the Cybils finalists in all categories may be found here.

Titanic Sinks! a review

Barry Denenberg. 2011. Titanic Sinks! New York: Viking.

Employing the recently recovered journal of a fictional journalist on board the Titanic, Barry Denenberg has seamlessly and expertly blended fact and fiction  to create a gripping re-telling of the Titanic's doomed voyage.  Titanic Sinks! is well-researched and documented with extensive use of period photos.  Timelines, menus, and more are also included in this large-sized picture book for older readers.

Titanic at the docks of Southampton
April 1912
Public domain photo

 As historical fiction, Titanic Sinks! is a phenomenally successful exercise in creating an exciting method of presenting history to young readers.  As nonfiction, Titanic Sinks! is a wealth of well-documented facts, quotes, photos, and timelines from one of modern history's worst and best-known disasters.  As a "unique presentation of fact and fiction," as stated on the book's jacket, I find Titanic Sinks! mildly troubling.  Barry Denenberg has done such a tremendous job of creating the fictional Modern Times magazine, complete with masthead, table of contents, an explanatory "Letter from the Publisher," and even editor's notes, that it will be difficult for readers (both young and old) to discern fact from fiction.  Granted, there is "A Word from the Author" in the book's final pages which explains the melding of fact and fiction, however, a reader might easily pass over the author's note, or be so convinced by the previous publisher's letter and editor's note that he is left confused and unsure of what is fact and what is fiction.

That being said, I would not discourage anyone from reading this compelling account of the Titanic's sinking.  In fact, I highly recommend it, but with a word of caution that some explanation may be in order.  Alternatively, it would make excellent subject matter for older students to learn the process of determining authenticity in a work of nonfiction.

Other reviews @
Kirkus
Publishers Weekly

Barry Denenberg's previous book, Lincoln Shot! is done is a similar vein. He is a prolific author of quality nonfiction and historical fiction titles.  His website offers a link to his blog Another Side, which, if you are a lover of history, you will find incredibly well-written and interesting!  It's now on my list of "must read" blogs.

It's Nonfiction Monday.  Today's roundup is at The Nonfiction Detectives.