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

October 8, 2007 by Betsy Bird

Attaching Faces to Names Should Never be Approached Lightly

October 8, 2007 by Betsy Bird   2 comments


(CONTINUED FROM PART TWO)

Promotion Ideas for the Kidlitosphere was led by Jen Robinson once the group had reconvened.  Jen had some good points and the conversation on this topic was lively.  Someone pointed out that there is no online definition of the term "Kidlitosphere", which should really be a top priority.  I was a little sad when it was proposed that we link books to Amazon.  Certainly I post reviews on Amazon, but when it comes to buying the titles themselves I either link to the publisher’s page for that title or to Powells.com.  Better an independent bookstore with a wide web presence than a site that doesn’t really need my help in terms of promotion.  I’m happy to report that it was during this presentation that Kane/Miller got serious props for their support of children’s literary bloggers.  The discussion also gave me the idea of printing out a paper list of recommended blogs for parents who come into my library looking for great electronic resources. 

Lunch was spent in a Steak & Shake and involved me stealing fries from Ellen Klages for half an hour. 

Pam Coughlan of MotherReader led Kitlit Blogging, Part 2 – the business side and talked me up considerably.  During the conversation that followed, Greg of Gotta Book mentioned that the best way to attract readers to your blog is to "misspell" something.  For example, he once wrote a piece called "The Spiderweb Chronicles" about an encounter with an arachnid.  The hits to that piece just keep on coming as a result.  So from here on in I’ll be giving all my posts titles like "His Dark Materials Is Rising" and the like.

During Kidlit Blogging, Part 3 – the creative side the point was made by someone, possibly Brenda Ferber (my notes are a little shaky on who exactly said this, actually), that sometimes group blogs are better beasts than those created by single writers because self-promotion is easier (if one Longstocking talks about another Longstocking then you, the reader, do not usually mind) and the reader doesn’t get sick of a single voice.  All very interesting.  There is also the fact that when you have a single blog author, that person doesn’t tend to sleep much.  FYI. 

I’d like to take a moment to mention that the acoustics in the conference room were superb.  Even the low-talkers could be heard if everyone was quiet and listened carefully.  At this point in the proceedings, chocolate chip cookies were broken out and they were approximately the size of my head.  Well played.

Of all the topics held at the conference, the one that I felt could have been a full day of discussion in and of itself was The Ethics of Reviewing as conducted by Liz Burns.  Of course the subject of whether or not a person should do negative reviews came up, and Liz made the interesting point that often we have so much material in front of us that it’s difficult to find the time to merely finish a bad book, let alone review it.  Due to the fact that I had read a pretty terrible book on the CTA ride to the conference center (and never picked it up again) I could see where she was coming from (though I’ll be writing some mighty critical reviews in the next month, so watch out).  Other concerns included that old bugaboo of whether or not you should make it clear on your reviews where you got one item or another.  I suppose I could make some kind of "Where Did I Get This Book" note at the end of each of my reviews, just so that I was completely transparent every time I talked about a title.  That might be easy enough.  At the very least it’s something to consider.

(CONTINUED IN PART FOUR)

Filed under: Uncategorized

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

May 2023

That Time I Asked Chris Rufo a Question

by Betsy Bird

May 2023

Maintain the Domain! A PSA for Authors/Publishers

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Announcing the Stinetinglers Winner! The Kettle's Dark Secret by Clara J.

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Bologna Presentations: IBBY Doing the Good Work That Needs to Be Done, Worldwide

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Sydney Taylor Book Blog Award Tour Interview: Featuring Mari Lowe of Aviva Vs. the Dybbuk!

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Listen to Gene Luen Yang on TED Radio Hour

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Anatole by Eve Titus, ill. Paul Gadone

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Suee and the Strange White Light | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

More Mock-Newbery Titles Needed: Share June Suggestions Now

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Book Review: Code Red by Joy McCullough

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Trying Something New: SPEED ROUND w/ Marla Frazee, Doug Salati, Dan Santat, and Amina Luqman-Dawson

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Bank Street Announces 2020 Cook Prize and Irma Black Award Winner

Bank Street Names Irma Black Award Semifinalists

2022 Notable Books: NCTE's 21 Best Poetry and Verse Novels for Kids

SLJ Reviews of the 2023 Youth Media Award Winners

Bank Street Announces Winner of Best Spanish Language Picture Book Award

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. SHEILA RUTH says

    October 8, 2007 at 7:49 am

    I personally think the issue of where you got the book is ridiculous. I’m not going to give a book props just because the publisher sent me a copy. I’ve written glowing reviews of books that I’ve purchased, and I’ve written critically about books that were sent to me for review.

  2. Gregory K. says

    October 8, 2007 at 9:35 pm

    I’d just point out that the best way to attract readers is to write great posts like this four parter. The best way for someone like ME to attract readers is to name posts creatively and hope for the best :-). Thanks for the Conference recapping!

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 © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023