Fusenews: I’m freaking out. La-di-da-di, there ain’t no doubt, I’m freaking out.

• Sometimes it’s nice to find something to take the edge off.  To get home, relax, put on some slippers, and read charming little children’s short stories like 1882’s The New Mother.  Oh, pardon me.  Did I say charming?  I meant horrifying.  Roger Sutton is the man who has introduced us to this wonder.  And before you start mouthing the words "Cor-a-line", Jane Yolen’s comment on Roger’s post reassures us that Gaiman was well aware of the tale.  It’s rather brilliant.  I think anyone could come up with glass eyes, but a wooden tail?  Paging Dr. Freud . . .

• I know that I rounded up my Newbery/Caldecott predictions the other day, but essential reading on the subject is probably more along the lines of the recent Educating Alice piece Thoughts on Newbery: Appeal.  For that matter, why not read a well-spoken librarian winner on the subject as well?  My Newbery winner Susan Patron does as much in Don’t Discount the Newbery.  Thanks to Monica for the links.

• Shannon Hale kicks ass and takes names when it comes to parents trying to wean their small children off of pictures.  Sheesh.  And we wonder why graphic novels have so much trouble finding acceptance.  Thanks to Jen Robinson for the link.

I admit to being a little more than surprised to hear that Jon Anderson took the helm at the Simon & Schuster children’s division.  There.  Now doesn’t that sound all kinds of insidery?  Turns out, I’m lying.  Not about Anderson becoming the new Rick Richter, but that part when it says I was surprised.  Truth be told, I had no idea who Mr. Anderson was or even that he was also known as William Boniface, the author of those Ordinary Kid books written for middle graders.  I remember seeing a man who I believe was Mr. Boniface (could have also have been Stephen Gilpin, I suppose) once at a signing at ALA.  The man had an unenviable position across from Neil Gaiman, who was signing copies of Anansi Boys at the time.  Poor fellow.  Glad to see that whole ruling-S&S is working out for him.  Thanks to Bookninja for the link.

• What do you called marked-up manuscripts that no longer have any weight in this world?  Dead matter, of course. Barbara O’Connor looks over the "dead matter" of Greetings from Nowhere and decides to keep it.  This is a good idea.  After all, if the book ends up winning a big pretty golden award, that packet of paper could be worth a pretty penny. Thanks to Wagging Tales for the link.

• Geez.  Two bits of movie related news for you today.  When it rains, it pours.  The first from Variety says: "Daniel Lagana will adapt Jake Wizner’s young-adult book ‘Spanking Shakespeare’ for Paramount Pictures and MTV Films."  Kudos to you, Jim Thomas.  And from Dark Horizons we also learn that "’Coraline’ director Henry Selick says that his next project will be an adaptation of ‘Golden Compass’ author Philip Pullman’s children’s book ‘Count Karlstein’."  As I recall Count Karlstein was never more popular than at the height of the Series of Unfortunate Events hype.  For a while there kids would grab anything with a Olaf looking Count on the cover.  I should probably read it too.  More information on the subject is to be found here.

• Tired of reading the blogs of English-speaking illustrators? Up for a little some new? Something different?  Something Spanish?  Well Pep Montserrat (who illustrated Eric Kimmel’s McElderry Book of Greek Myths, as well as that wacky wonderful picture book Ms. Rubinstein’s Beauty) has a new blog.  And boy I wish I spoke the language.  I don’t, so all I can do is pray that this post means he has worked on a Chaplin biography for kids and that maybe someday it’ll get shipped over here.  That might be a lot to hope for, though.  Monica, take note.

• Boni Ashburn recently pointed me towards a review of her book Hush, Little Dragon that she found particularly interesting.  Now normally I wouldn’t go about linking to other people’s reviews unless there was something particularly pertinent in them.  But Ms. Ashburn caught my interest when she told me this: "The blog as a whole is rather charming- and I’m not just saying that because they liked my ‘funny, cute, little, horrifying book.’ Although, coming from an 8-year-old, it’s the best review I’ve had all year."  True, few reviews take the time to consider just whom exactly they would go about eating if they had the chance.  Or, for that matter, include fan art that display the author and illustrator being devoured by their own creations.  Perhaps it’s something we should all consider adopting.

• Abraham SuperLincoln gets a partner in crime-fighting.  Meet Benjamin ElectriFranklin .  I’m holding out for Rex’s Mesmero Van Buren, as he has promised.  Or maybe something to do with Millard Fillmore.

• Daily Image: 

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