Fusenews: Pro-Selly-Tize

Clutches and mobiles and earrings, oh my!  Alison Morris has done us the ultimate favor in collecting the best possible book-related Etsy offerings.  If you’re getting in on some last minute shopping or have been brain dead until now, consider her your savior.  I was a fan of the bracelet that uses your favorite words from the dictionary.  Though I think that they could be more imaginative in their sample image, don’t you?  Wouldn’t you love a bracelet that said things like "sloth", "turgid", "moot", and so on?  Of course you’d have to know someone pretty well to assume their favorite words . . .

• I like it when people explain things to me.  So to have J.L. Bell at Oz and Ends discussing the greater implication and ramifications of the recent Borders/Harper Collins agreement is a boon beyond measure.  The Wall Street Journal announced it in these terms: "Borders Group Inc. has agreed to accept books from HarperStudio on a nonreturnable basis, departing from a decades-old publishing tradition."  Bell’s thoughts siphon off the cream.

• On the one hand the Washington Post released their Best Kids Books list just the other day (not the best of 2008 since they have a 2007 title on there).  On the other hand they *yawn* just rewrote the Anita Silvey article on the Newbery.  Blah de blah de blah.  I love how reading for pleasure can only mean one thing in the world of these writers.  For example, I know lots of kids who use Good Masters, Sweet Ladies as audition fare and enjoy reading certain monologues over and over so that they can get the cadences just right. Articles like this one are just so doggone limited in their definitions.  Non-fiction readers?  Your needs might be met but if your taste is not that of the masses then your opinion doesn’t apparently count.  Thanks to Shaken and Stirredfor the links.

• If the discombobulation of various authors and illustrators suits you, you may be interested in Peter’s post over at Collecting Children’s Books.  It contains such memorable nuggets as Lloyd Alexander getting questioned as a scruffy individual and Jean Craighead George offering guests dog food.

• In spite of the fact that Hollywood seems to take a particular liking to destroying Ursula LeGuin’s books in the most painful ways possible, according to Galleycat (who got it from Publishers Marketplace) she has, "sold the film rights to The Left Hand of Darkness."  Well, gee.  They couldn’t possibly screw this one up as well, could they?  Could they?

• Everyone’s favorite literature consultant Judy Freeman was on NPR’s Morning Edition this past weekend.  The piece was called A Holiday Reading Tradition for the Whole Family and in it Judy gets to proselytize the advantages of reading aloud.  Sounds good on my end.  It also includes her annotated booklist of Children’s Books For The Holidays.  Coo.

• New York City graphic and web designers take note.  My buddy-o Don has created a new social networking site with you folks specifically in mind.  Called NYC Designers it’s just getting off the ground, but if you are so inclined you might want to join.  FYI.

• Daily Image: 

Too much fun.  Self button eye-i-fication is possible in the Other Mother Workshop as per the upcoming Coraline movie.  I admit I may have tried a little too hard for creepiness:

Can you blame me?  Thanks to Educating Alice for the link.

Filed under: Fusenews