This Biographer and Her Living Subject
I wonder how often a picture book biographer has been friends with her subject for several decades and then worked closely with that person to get her manuscript just right.
librarians
Gandalf Lives!
I’m not certain, but I suspect stories have played significant roles in the lives of most librarians. We are story people, after all — their sacred keepers, and we delight in helping others discover their wonders.
Library Girl
I eagerly waited for this book. I wasn’t prepared to fall in love, which I most definitely have.
Banned Books as Speaking Truth to Power
There is a difference between keeping peace and making peace. It is not about avoiding discomfort and trying to keep everybody happy, but bravely joining in the work of justice.
Tracy Sue Walker
This month we welcome Tracy Sue Walker, author, public librarian, and professional storyteller.
She’s recently been revealing “the truth about” a series of mystical creatures, so far including dragons, Bigfoot, and unicorns, for Scholastic Book Clubs.
Tracy describes herself this way, “A booklover, daydreamer, and goofball, I’m pretty quiet unless I’m telling a story, then I’m pretty loud.”
Libraries and Librarians
We’re posting this when it’s National Library Week, but we believe every week should be Library Week. If you love public, school, and special libraries as much as we do, add these books to your reading list and share them with your favorite readers.
As always, if you have a book you believe should be on this list, let us know in the comments or send us an e‑mail.
… more The Awards
In the children’s literature world, awards happened this week. They don’t receive quite the press or airtime (which is unfortunate) as The Tonys and Oscars, but they’re important and exciting all the same. Darling Daughter and I have just discussed them at some length over supper.
I love the awards. I love feeling like I predicted a few of them.… more
A Story for the Ages
For the past two years my husband and I have had the good fortune to spend the waning days of summer in Door County, Wisconsin. There we have discovered a vibrant arts community. A bounty of theatre, music, and fine arts is there for the picking.
This year, as I scanned the possibilities for our visit, I was particularly interested in the Peninsula Players’ Midwest première of a new play by Kenneth Jones called Alabama Story.… more