Fusenews: Pigs, Bassoons, and Sandcastles

• It’s so nice when someone shares your interests.  Alison Morris at the ShelfTalker blog has never remained mum on the topic of book jackets she has seen, both good and bad.  Not too long ago she commended the rather fascinating Laurie Halse Anderson cover for Chains, and I agree that it’s a beaut.  But Alison also took time to give mad props (see kids, I’m with it, I’m hip!) to a new little Chicago publishing imprint going by the name of Featherproof Books.  Check out this logo.  Hands down the nicest I’ve seen in a long time.  Alison has more information on the publisher itself.

• [Said while trying to suppress the rising note of panic in my voice] Say… uh… have any of you guys already gotten the books you shipped to yourselves from the last ALA Conference?  Cause, I dunno, I just, uh, haven’t.  So much.  At all.  And I had some signed books in that box that I’d really love to have again, so . . .  just wondering.

• Judith Ridge of the Misrule Blog drew my attention to another Aussie related children’s literature site that is WELL worth your time and interest.  Called We Heart Books, the site is described in this way: "We are two 30-something mums who have spent our lives with our heads between the covers of kids’ books. Part way along the track we met working between the shelves of the kids department of a big bookstore in Melbourne, Australia, and since then we have both continued to work with books, in retail and in publishing."  In time I think the Kidlitosphere could become global.  Finding great blogs like this one is merely the first step in the process.

• It’s been a long time since I added an entry into my Animals That Should Really Have Their Own Picture Books series.  Fortunately Bottom Shelf Books is there to pick up the slack.  Awww. Wook at the widdle wellies.

• When I saw on Bookninja that a children’s book had been adopted and adapted by some composers I had about 10 seconds of wondering what the title would be before the window popped up.  Something Sendakian?  What Will Fat Cat Sit On? (I imagine a lot of bassoons in that particular piece)? Love You Forever (one lonely violin interspersed with a wall of keyboards)?  Well, it seems that the Australian Chamber Orchestra will perform a composition inspired by Shaun Tan’s The Red Tree.  The book is actually available here in the states thanks to the small and wonderful publisher Simply Read Books (they of the beautiful titles).  Those of you who enjoyed Tan’s The Arrival might want to consider taking a gander at this earlier work of his as well.

• Good news!  Meghan McCarthy’s blog Fireside Chat is back in business.  Love that lovely lady’s stuff, I does. (pssst! Rebecca Sherman, when am I getting that thar astronaut book of hers, eh whot?)

• I tell you that there is a new alphabet book.  You tell me that you need another alphabet book like you need a hole in the head.  Ah, but what if I told you that it was a BEAUTIFUL abc title?  You agree that it’s very pretty but like you said . . . . At which point I stick my fingers in my ears and sing, "LALALALALALALA!"  Sara O’Leary has the scoop on the book.

• Daily Image:

The weekend is almost here.  Go enjoy some pretty sandcastles while ye may.

Sure, there are some there that vaguely apply to children’s literature.  Yet when push comes to shove I’ll go for the cheap visual gag any day of the week.  Thanks to Brooklyn Arden for the link.

Filed under: Fusenews