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

February 26, 2009 by Betsy Bird

Fusenews: We Thought He Was a Goner, but the Cat Came Back

February 26, 2009 by Betsy Bird   2 comments

A fair amount of my friends here in New York own rescued feral kitties.  Some may have even have gotten their pets from the Anjellicle Cats Rescue in New York City (your call; a T.S. Eliot-inspired name or no?).  Now that shelter has inspired the ‘Art for Cats’ Online Auction, where a multitude of hip and happening artists have contributed their work, so as to benefit the kits.  "With the first $2,500 raised, the organization plans to build a separate room for two kittens with feline leukemia who must be kept separate from other cats. So far, 40 artists have donated works."  Artists that have made picture books in the past and who have contributed include Brian Floca, George Booth, Roz Chast, Calef Brown, Robert Neubecker, Barbara Ensor, and more.  Check out the full auction here and look quickly!  Bidding ends in a day!  For the record, the cat featured here is an original pen-and-ink and watercolor illustration from Floca’s Siebert Honor winning book Lightship.  But, y’know.  If you’re totally into kittens getting leukemia I’m sure they’ll understand . . .

  • Roger Sutton gives ample props to one of my favorite ghost stories as a child, Wait Till Helen Comes.  Along the way he also speculates about children’s books where the kids confront their own fear of death.  Such talk reminds me once again of that remarkable little picture book Garmann’s Summer, and how gutsy it was to end the tale with a child still scared of something (albeit school, but you get my drift). 


  • A Snapshot Look Into How I Find New Links: First I lament the lack of Frances Hardinge’s Gullstruck Island here in the States.  Then Molly from HC tells me it is coming out here under the name The Lost Conspiracy.  Brief debate occurs in my comments over whether or not this name is an improvement.  Then Leila blogs about it. And in her comment section a "Brian" of sorts says that there was a podcast interview with Ms. Hardinge herself on the Harper Collins site.  Hat and all, right next to the Lemony Snicket one.  And that, my children, is how a tiny blog post gets born.


  • I like to keep a keen eye on children’s books that have been turned or will be turned into movies.  Nothing compares to the Collecting Children’s Book list of Newbery winners turned cinematic, (amongst other delicacies) however.  A few of these films I have seen.  I remember liking Caddie Woodlawn, though it sort of threw me off that the preacher was played by the dad from Mork and Mindy.  At least that’s how I remember it.  It mean, it’s such a random memory that it has to be true, right?  Peter’s finest discovery, however, is bound to be The Story of Mankind.  As he says, "1922 THE STORY OF MANKIND by Hendrik Willem van Loon was made into a 1957 blockbuster starring Ronald Colman, Hedy Lamarr, Vincent Price, the young Dennis Hopper and…the Marx Brothers? The advertising slogan was ‘No Greater Cast Ever! Rarely So Vast An Undertaking!’ Surely any movie in which Harpo Marx played Isaac Newton was destined to flop."  Vincent Price, Dennis Hopper AND the Marx Brothers?  Sweetheart, you’ve just described my own perfect movie.  In contrast, the fact that they’re turning The Secret Life of a Lonely Doll (the Dare Wright bio) into a film gives me the heebies (to say nothing of the jeebies).


  • Cool. Kids Lit just announced and posted the winners of the 2009 Red House Children’s Book Awards.  It’s the only national book award in the UK that is decided by kids.  No surprises seeing Beware of the Frog included.  That one has a rather Monty Pythonish sense of humor as it is.


  • I should probably read this Nathan Bransford literary agent character on a regular basis, shouldn’t I?  *sigh*  So much to read.  I moan this to myself because he recently posted a rather clever breakdown of where the dollars paid for your average $24.95 hardcover ends up.  Basically if the author has 10% retail royalty (big ole "if") then it works out to $2.12 per book.  He tackles paperbacks as well.  Mesmerizing, in a strange horrible way.  A big thank you to Wagging Tales for the link.


  • Editorial Anonymous is currently investing in a series that is mighty useful called Definitions for the Perplexed.  Topics covered (as of this post) thus far include the terms cast-off, galleys, ARCs, proofs, PPB, ISBNs, F&Gs, Advances, and CMYK.  If there are any professors of Intro to Children’s Literature classes out there, I highly suggest, nay demand, that you print out each and every one of these posts and distribute them to your students.  This is invaluable information that any newbie (or person who has been faking it for years *cough*) needs to know.


  • Daily Image:


I don’t mean to sound petty about this but there are some people in this world who have too much BLOODY TALENT!  And no.  For once I am not talking about Kadir Nelson.  No, I’m talking about Alison Morris.  A woman who single-handedly ups the bar for all us media-related bloggers.  Sure, I write posts on my blog every day.  So what does she do?  Just look:

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

 


Suffice it to say, your eyes do not deceive you. That’s a Harold and the Purple Crayon birdhouse and a Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus birdhouse. Go over to her site and see all the clever details (note the purple crayon perch). Yet another use for F&Gs.  Doggone creative, brilliant people.

Filed under: Fusenews

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

January 2019

Fusenews: All the news that's fit to fuse

by Betsy Bird

December 2018

Fuse 8 n' Kate: Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

by Betsy Bird

November 2018

Fusenews: She Has a Name

by Betsy Bird

October 2018

Fusenews: We Would Have Also Accepted "Fast Food Fairies"

by Betsy Bird

September 2018

Fusenews: STEM Girl Fashions, the Death of "Hypothesis", and More

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

One Star Review, Guess Who? (#184)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Announcing the 2022 Winners of the Annual Blueberry Literary Award!

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Here Be Monsters: On Horror, Catharsis, and Uneasy Truces with Yourself, a guest post by author Rebecca Mahoney

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Luminous Review, Twitter Exodus, and a Thoughtful Airport Encounter | Readers Respond

Get Creative and Go Big: Successful Large-Scale Events are Possible at the Library

Librarians Strike Back Against Censorship | The Year in SLJ Covers

SLJ Average Book Prices 2022

Florida Governor Claims Book Ban Hoax, South Carolina Public Library Considers Removing 24 Books | Censorship News

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. Brian Floca says

    February 26, 2009 at 8:21 am

    I thank you, Fuse! And in their own special way (clawing? hissing?) I know the cats thank you, too.

  2. WendieO says

    February 27, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    I see what you mean about weird things happening with your comment function. My comment, yesterday, in this area was I was sure the cats were Purring about this. -wendieOld

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