SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

August 13, 2007 by Betsy Bird

The Fancy Has Been Struck

August 13, 2007 by Betsy Bird   5 comments

We had a lovely librarian in from Japan just in. Well, former librarian. Apparently her particular city felt that all civil servants are interchangeable and one day she was told, "Surprise! You’re working in the tax bureau now!" I’ve had that nightmare before. For her, it is real. *shudder*

Onward:

  • The Wes Anderson penned adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Fantastic Mr. Fox proceeds, insofar as I can tell, on schedule.  Voices for this animated wonder?  George Clooney as Mr. Fox and Cate Blanchett as the missus.  Could I make this kind of stuff up? 

  • There’s a wonderfully British article in the Guardian Unlimited asking where all the anti-heroines of children’s fiction have gone. The author takes quite a bit of time praising the adventures of one Flossie Teacake. It got me to thinking about who the "bad girls" of 2007 would be. Definitely Queen from The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street. Maybe Theodosia. Definitely a Kiki Strike gal or two. There aren’t that many, I’ll admit. Feel free to name your own.  Article found via Shaken and Stirred.

  • I like idea behind the Unread Authors Challenge currently hosted by Sycorax Pine (nice nice blog name, by the way). Between the months of September to February you read six authors you’ve never read before. Sounds good to me. Seems as if this would be particularly easy forkidlit bloggers . After all, children’s book publishers are hardly afraid of publishing a new name or two in a given season. I think I’ll go with JulietMarillier, Sari Bodi, Joan M. Wolf, Tim Wynne-Jones (can you believe I’ve never read him before?), Tom Sniegoski, and Michael Scott for starters. Thanks to Becky’s Book Reviews for the link.

  • There’s a Bath Festival of Children’s Literature? Sounds cute but do they have anyone good coming. Uh…. yes. I certainly hope Frances Hardinge was asked as well. Anyone care to buy me a plane ticket? Bath is gorgeous to begin with and combined with kidlit info, it sounds like pure heaven. Thanks to Bookmoot who gets extra points for her adapted Dark Is Rising movie poster.  Actually, while I’m thinking of festivals, any of you who happen to be in Scotland for the Edinburgh Film Festival may get a chance to see author/illustrator Mark Newgarden’s, "eclectic collection of lost footage, found footage, silent animation and toy films" on August 23rd.  Mr. Newgarden was the fellow that brought us this year’s magnificent Bow-wow Bugs a Bug, in case you’ve forgotten.

  • Fun Fact of the Day: Mark Hamil, former Skywalker, reads for the audiobook of The Spiderwick Chronicles. Thanks to Your Neighborhood Librarian for the info. Guess it makes sense. He did do The Joker on Batman, the Animated Series. She also directed me to Whichbook.com, a neat little site that helps you figure out what books to read next.
  • Judy Blume: Teen Author? Not to me, man. But the piece Blume’s Day (I would have called it "Blumesbury") discusses the woman in question. Thanks to Bookninja for the link.
  • How cool is this?  It’s the Google map pedometer. Found thanks to Brooklyn Arden. Now New Yorkers can justify visiting a different borough, if only to figure out how many calories you’ll burn.  Oh, and I don’t know if this is still available, but Scholastic is looking for some fall interns.
  • Finally: AAAAAA!!! Wimpy Kid sequel!!!!! Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme! Please.

Filed under: Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

July 2022

Review of the Day: Listen to the Language of the Trees by Tera Kelley, ill. Marie Hermansson

by Betsy Bird

June 2022

Review of the Day: Zia Erases the World by Bree Barton

by Betsy Bird

June 2022

Review of the Day: Book of Questions / Libro de las Preguntas by Pablo Neruda, ill. Paloma Valdivia

by Betsy Bird

June 2022

Review of the Day: Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

by Betsy Bird

May 2022

Review of the Day: The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

5 Books I’m Taking Out East

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Publisher Preview: Ellen Myric Presents Small Presses (Part Four!)

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Casagrandes | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

Continuing the Mock Newbery Process: Time for July Suggestions

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Cindy Crushes Programming: Percy Jackson After Hours

by Cindy Shutts

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Shark Week, Vanilla Ice Cream, and the Honda CRV: Bob Shea and Brian Won Team Up for ADURABLE

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

26 Titles to Read This Caribbean American Heritage Month and Beyond

Meet Suzanne Bloom: Creator of Classic Books That Celebrate Childhood

SPONSORED

Star Journey: The Intense Collaboration Behind 'Ain’t Burned All the Bright' by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin

Humor Keeps Teens and Tweens Reading. Why Isn't There More? 

Time to Refresh the Canon: Here Are Our Picks

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. klonghall says

    August 13, 2007 at 6:10 am

    I share your joy on the Wimpy Kid sequel! My 5th grade son will also be thrilled. It’s been his favorite book this summer. I need to work on getting it in their school library.

    Side note–I read No Talking this weekend. I agree that it is Andrew Clements at his best. I’ve thought about it so many times since I finished the last page. I’m still not sure how long I would last in the experiment. I also keep thinking about which teacher I’d be most like.

    I just started A Drowned Maiden’s Hair which will keep me from finishing many things on my “to do” list today. I was hooked after the first chapter.

    Thanks again for pointing me to so many great books this summer!

  2. nw says

    August 13, 2007 at 6:33 am

    I don’t know about anti-heroines in Britain, but here we have Junie B. Jones and the much more likeable (but well-intentioned) Clementine. And what about that appalling child in the picture book called something like 17 Things I’m Not Allowed to Do Anymore?

  3. your neighborhood librarian says

    August 13, 2007 at 10:33 am

    Don’t forget Franny K Stein, she’s an antihero.

    I think they picked Mark Hamill for Spiderwick b/c of his very fine whine: “If there’s a bright center to the universe, you’re on the planet that it’s farthest from.” The Grace children must have been a piece of cake! But he does a terrific job with the various goblins etc too.

  4. free mp3 music downloads says

    December 24, 2007 at 2:36 pm

    Yhanks you
    933a2a2e463b19908e1de04de3e0529b

  5. free mp3 music downloads says

    December 24, 2007 at 3:23 pm

    Yhanks you
    8f91fdb05df5bb4503d7578d2df4a562

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2022


    COPYRIGHT © 2022